Ohhhhhhhhh Rush Nation. *gulp* there is only two weeks of the regular season left. One for some, if your league has a week 14 bye for first and second place. Receivers can make or break that playoff push if played in the wrong matchup.
This is where the Lockdowns get real serious. This can be where the difference is made between the taste of a playoff berth or the sour, vileness of just missing out. As we like to say here at 5 Yard HQ, “you only need to get a ticket to the big dance. Anything can happen once you’re in”. Or something to that effect. Now let’s have a quick butcher at how the Wide Receivers I suggested would face Lockdown Cornerbacks did. As always it’s based on half-point PPR scoring.
Results
- John Brown – Projected 11.91 – Actual 11.22
- Amari Cooper – Projected 12.20 – Actual 00.00
- Darius Slayton – Projected 06.71 – Actual 08.70
Bills Alpha Wide Receiver John Brown (how many capitals can I get in a row?) Was better than I thought he would be but still dipped under his projection. Up until his diving 33-yard touchdown catch, Brown had one catch for five yards. The touchdown catch worth 9.5 Fantasy points saved his day and Brown has now found the endzone three times in his last two outings. He was poor against the Cowboys and then has Baltimore, Pittsburgh and finishes with the Patriots. Not a great Fantasy run in.
Cooper was a pooper against the Patriots this week. It’s the first time in 22 games as a Cowboy that he hasn’t caught a pass. Horrendous rainfall and Lockdown coverage by Stephon Gilmore meant Cooper ended the night with a big fat Zero. Two targets, Zero catches and an awful no Fantasy points scored. I did tell you to sit him. What can I say! Cooper did bounce back on thanksgiving against the Bills in the Cowboys loss. He picked up a knock on his knee but is fine and looks to suit up in a tough outing against the Bears in week 14.
Despite the return of Sterling Shepard, Slayton was still fantasy relevant. Shepherd led the team in targets with nine but Slayton was joint second with Tate in targets both having seven. Clayton caught four receptions for 67 yards in the loss to the Bears. With Evan Engram and now Golden Tate both ruled out for week 13 Slayton once again finds himself in the WR3 conversation. Slayton should be good for yardage and receptions, however, the Packers are limiting Wide Receivers in Touchdowns. They have given up just three in the last six weeks. Slayton should be an ok play this week.
All in all not a shocking week for the selections. Week 13 Receivers to watch for Lockdown Coverage. Here we go.
Week 13 Lockdowns
Tyrell Williams Vs The Chiefs
This might surprise you but Tyrell Williams hasn’t had higher than five receptions since week two. Funnily enough week two was against the Chiefs and he had five receptions.
The Kansas City Chiefs are stingy against Wide Receivers. They are only giving up 18.4 Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing wideout corps. Teams are running the ball on the Chiefs and it shows in Receiver production. On top of this, they are allowing a poultry 137 receiving yards per game. Watch out Tyrell owners expecting a big week.
I finish the Williams segment with why Derick Carr is hurting Williams. Carr is statistically among the most conservative quarterbacks in the NFL. He has an average depth of target (ADOT) of just 6.9 yards per attempt in 2019. Only five qualifying quarterbacks have an inferior ADOT to Carr this season. Carrs unwillingness to sling the rock downfield is hurting Williams. Hunter Renfrow seems to be Carrs boy now. However with Renfrow now out with a rib injury
Williams could be back in the frame. Only this frame is small as the Chiefs are currently great against Receivers.
Courtland Sutton Vs The Chargers
As much as it pains me to suggest Sutton for Lockdown, in week 13 I have to. Sutton is coking off his worst week of the season in week 12 against the Bills. He also picked up a knock but has been left off the Broncos injury report, meaning he will be a go against the Chargers.
Drew Lock. 2nd round draft pick out of Missouri. Rookie Quarterback and preseason deer in highlights darling has been activated off of IR and is set to start Sunday Vs The Chargers. There is your first red light Rush Nation. Lock was great at Mizzou. He has the touch, poise and pocket presence to work well in the Denver system. A younger more mobile version of Flacco you could almost say. However, he needs time to develop and thrusting him in against the second-best team against Receivers seems ludicrous to me.
The Chargers are currently allowing just 16.7 FPPG to opposing Wide Receivers. They rank second against wideouts in points allowed also. Chargers defenders are letting opposing Receivers rack up just 128.9 yards per game and in what could be a low scoring affair run by the two defenders Sutton is a risky play for all the reasons above. I hope Lock goes bananas and Sutton is the recipient but I can’t see it this year.
Marquise Brown Vs The 49ers
I’m not even sure myself why a Wide Receiver from the leagues most exciting team has found it onto the Lockdown list. The Ravens are hella fun to watch right now. Human Madden player Lamar Jackson is playing pretty football right now. He just isn’t targeting Brown all too much.
Over the last four weeks, Brown is averaging just 3.5 receptions. His Fantasy numbers have been saved by three touchdowns over this span. Brown and Lamar seem to have a good gel now and he may get one to break against a ferocious Niners defence. Actually dropping a touchdown against the Rams may spur Brown on to get another this week.
That’s where his foe comes into play. The San Fran 49ers are currently only giving up 127 yards to opposing Receivers. They have however given up nine receiving touchdowns, so Brown could catch one this week. He will be restricted in yardage so a touchdown will maybe save his day.
Here’s the Kicker, the Ravens run the least passing plays in the League. They Run the ball 54.7% of the time in what could be a low scoring game Brown could struggle to get the volume he needs. The 49ers defence has been stellar this year but maybe, just maybe we see the future Superbowl champions blow the lid off them too. Patriots, Seahawks and Rams who?
Here comes the Playoffs Rush Nation.
-Stocks @5yardrush
