🤔 2 Top Teams Need QBs. Now What??

What is dead may never die, the Taysom Hill Experience..

In today’s Fantasy Life Newsletter presented by Goldbelly:

Baker Mayfield asked for his release from the Panthers yesterday and the team happily granted him his wish.

The move makes sense for both parties:

• The Panthers want P.J. Walker to serve as Sam Darnold's backup, which means Mayfield would be a healthy scratch every week

• The Free Agent market for QBs is heating up with the Niners losing Jimmy Garroppolo for the year and with Lamar Jackson likely to miss a few weeks

Twitter had fun yesterday drawing the obvious line between Mayfield and the Niners, but it begs the question...

Is Mayfield even an upgrade over Brock Purdy?

I'd argue he isn't. He went 1-5 as a starter for the Panthers, submarined the fantasy value of DJ Moore, told a group of small children Santa Clause isn't real and finished with a QBR that ranked dead last among qualifying QBs on the year.

I don't care who is the first overall pick and who is Mr. Irrelevant, watch this throw from Purdy and tell me with a straight face that the Niners would be better off with Mayfield.

The Niners are still a legit playoff threat with their roster, while Mayfield is in the Zach Wilson zone. And that's a zone you don't want anything to do with.

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Cooterdoodle is back to walk us through the fantasy landscape from a buy, sell, hold perspective...

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🛒 Vintage CMC is back

With Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season and Baker Mayfield’s release from Carolina, rumors are flying as fantasy managers envision Christian McCaffrey's potential swirling down the drain with a new QB in town. The Baker / CMC duo didn’t look shiny and exciting at the start of the season when both players were wearing Panthers jerseys, but McCaffrey wasn’t a total bust. 

In fact, CMC still ranked RB10 or higher in three out of five weeks with Baker at QB. And as of right now, the rumors are still just that: only rumors. (Not to be confused with the best kind of Rumours).

With Elijah Mitchell back on IR, CMC hogged the RB carries and played over 80% of snaps for the 49ers in Week 13. Mix that usage with the 49ers' juicy upcoming schedule of Tampa and Seattle, and you’ve got the potential for more “vintage CMC” in the making.

🛒 Amon-Ra St. Brown, league-winner

There are two types of people in this world: (1) those who drafted Amon Ra St. Brown and (2) the rest of your league. If you roster ARSB, you know what it feels like to score big on your draft. 

St. Brown currently ranks 8th in receptions, 13th in passing yards, and is tied 9th for passing TDs. He’s surpassed 100+ yard games in four out of his 11 starts this season and has only looked better as we approach fantasy playoffs. Even with Jameson Williams back in action, St. Brown looks to continue feasting in Detroit’s offense.

With the unpredictable busts and player injuries that have surfaced over the last 13 weeks, ARSB is proving to be a valuable starter. The Lions face the Vikings in Week 14, who have allowed the most passing yards per game. As ARSB is primed for another big outing, enjoy the fruits of your drafting labor as we enter the home stretch.

HOLD

🛒 James Cook is taking over the backfield

It was clear on TNF in Week 13 that James Cook’s role expanded significantly against the Patriots. Cook’s season-high snap counts and fantasy points did not go unnoticed, but it was very unexpected. 

The Bills backfield is something to monitor as the season progresses, especially if you roster Devin Singletary or Cook. Sharing is caring, but it won’t help you set your lineups in Week 14. Even with his biggest week under his belt, Cook was heavily splitting work with Singletary and Nyheim Hines. 

Are we witnessing the start of Cook’s takeover? Does Buffalo have a 3-headed committee on their hands? Tune in next week to find out. *roll credits*

🙏 Good news on Kenneth Walker. Now we wait...and pray.

💔 Two stars broke up this offseason. And they still are both thriving. 

🤮 Remove Defense from fantasy. Rich explains.

🤢 Remove TE position too while we are at it. I mean, c'mon.

📅 Next Saturday is going to be fun. Check out this special 3-game slate.

🍀 We should all be as lucky as Jamaal Williams. I believe the video gamers call this "kill stealing."

Waivers are a crucial component of fantasy football, and nabbing the next league winner ahead of your leaguemates can help you edge out that title. Each Tuesday, Sam Wallace will highlight players to target in your redraft leagues. 

➕ WR D.J. Chark

• Available in 84% of leagues respectively

Veteran WR D.J. Chark has missed six games this season so it’s easy to forget how effective he’s been. He has at least four targets in games that he’s appeared in at least 50% of the snaps (PFF) and that trend continued this week.

The Lions trounced the Jaguars as Chark handled the No. 2 role alongside WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Chark’s 14% target share isn’t ideal, but it was good for second on the team behind St. Brown (29%). Chark has the athletic profile you want in a wideout and could offer WR3 value moving forward.

FAAB: 25%

➕ WR Jameson Williams

• Available in 53% of leagues

Rookie WR Jameson Williams made his long-awaited debut this week but only played eight offensive snaps (PFF). It’s likely wise that he’s being eased back in but fantasy managers are certainly eager to see what this talented wideout can bring to the field. The Lions have won four of their last five and are averaging 31 points per game over their last four.

Once Williams is back to full strength (hopefully soon), he could be the playoff hammer your fantasy team needs down the stretch.

• FAAB: 25%

➕ QB Tyler Huntley

• Available in 99% of leagues

QB Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury that, while reportedly isn’t season-ending, will likely cost him some time. Backup QB Tyler Huntley steps back into the starting role, a position he held at over the second-half of last season.

From Weeks 11-18 last season, Huntley appeared in five games. In those games, he averaged over 20 fantasy points per game. He also averaged 56 rushing yards per game. Like Jackson, Huntley offers a rushing floor. Couple that with an excellent offensive system and Huntley could be the ideal pivot as we near the fantasy playoffs.

FAAB: 30%

➕ RB Jordan Mason

• Available in 85% of leagues

It’s nice to see that RB Christian McCaffrey still has matchup-winning upside. It’s also nice that we have some clarity to the 49ers backfield which is something we don’t say very often.

RB Jordan Mason handled 30% of the rushing attempts while fellow RB Tyrion Davis-Price did not receive a single opportunity. Mason has seen an increase in both rushing attempts and rushing yards over the last three weeks which culminated in a respectable 8 / 51 line on the ground this week.

CMC is the only RB you want to start in this backfield, but Mason looks like the clear No. 2.

FAAB: 5%

Need more waiver wire guidance? Check out our Waiver Wire Hub for more picks from Sam & Dwain McFarland!