Well, Cam Akers may very well be a factor once more this week. And boy, are we drained of making an attempt to fake Cam Akers is fantasy related. If this had been taking place inside the film “Mean Girls,” any individual could be telling Gretchen to cease making an attempt to make Cam Akers occur.
Nevertheless, Joe Mixon is predicted to be sidelined with an ankle damage, and backup Dameon Pierce may very well be out with or restricted by a hamstring drawback.
So right here comes Cam Akers, once more. He has gotten probability after probability after probability, and he has completely upset just about each time. We’re drained of making an attempt to make Cam Akers occur on our fantasy rosters, with no success. No extra!
We carry this up as a result of we’re a tad apprehensive the man we’re about to discuss may flip into the subsequent Cam Akers. He has had some alternative in the previous however hasn’t achieved nice. But as a result of it's a small pattern measurement, and since we anticipate a wholesome quantity of work this week, we're going to give Trey Sermon the possibility to show he isn’t as aggressively mediocre as Akers.
In the previous, Sermon has been the presumed handcuff to Elijah Mitchell then Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. But he was not spectacular in restricted motion.
He landed in Indianapolis final season, the place he performed behind Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, and once more, bought restricted reps with no spotlight reel materials.
Now, Moss is not there, and Taylor will likely be out Sunday with a excessive ankle sprain. And Sermon is the man ready to take his place.
When Taylor was out to start final season, it was Moss who inherited the characteristic workload, and he excelled. Moss completed as a top-10 operating again in 4 of the primary 5 weeks — scoring higher than 20 in PPR three of these video games.
Moss is a tremendous participant, however he isn’t otherworldly. It isn’t like he units a regular too excessive for Sermon to attain. Sermon doesn’t have to be pretty much as good, he simply wants to be higher than Cam Akers. And Sermon has a pair of issues going for him.
First, quarterback Anthony Richardson may very well be out, too. He was restricted at observe all week with an indirect damage. If Richardson is out, Joe Flacco would get the decision. And Flacco isn’t going to vulture potential goal-line touchdowns the way in which Richardson would. And the offense would probably ship extra constant manufacturing, permitting for extra goal-line snaps general.
Then contemplate: Richardson has eight red-zone rush makes an attempt this season, and Taylor has 15. So the Colts are averaging nearly six red-zone rushes per sport. Sermon ought to get all of these if Richardson and Taylor each are out — Tyler Goodson is the one different operating again on the roster, and he has zero complete carries this season.
But this Sermon isn’t over. There is one other blessing bestowed upon him. The Colts are dealing with the winless Jaguars — who rank twenty sixth in opposition to opposing fantasy RBs, permitting 5.5 greater than the league common per week in PPR.
The Jaguars’ run protection may really be worse than that. None of the 4 groups they've confronted are even in the highest half of the league in dashing — so the Jags have produced bottom-tier outcomes whereas dealing with bottom-half run video games.
Against a protection like that, Sermon doesn’t have to be nice, simply higher than Cam Akers.
Now, if Richardson performs, Sermon is extra of a determined bye-week fill-in — since that will severely dampen his landing potential. Though primarily based on his restricted observe time all through the week, we’re getting ready for Richardson to be out.
When Sermon is named upon, we predict he can reply our fantasy prayers, and hopefully he doesn’t pull a Cam Akers.
Big weeks
Justin Fields QB, Steelers, vs. Cowboys (FanDuel $7,600/DraftKings $5,800)
The solely QBs the Cowboys have contained this season are Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones. Fields is getting extra cozy in the Steelers system — averaging 25.2 fantasy factors over the previous two video games.
Austin Ekeler RB, Commanders, vs. Browns (FD $6,000/DK $5,600)
Brian Robinson Jr. has been restricted in observe all week with a knee concern — he will likely be a game-time determination however laborious to envision he will get a full workload if he does play. Just like he cashed in with Ekeler out final week, anticipate Ekeler to do the identical this week
Alexander Mattison RB, Raiders, at Broncos (FD $5,800/DK $5,200)
Zamir White has missed practices this week with a groin damage. This ought to open the door for Mattison to get a big bump on touches. If he does properly, White may not return to his characteristic standing.
Tre Tucker WR, Raiders, at Broncos (FD $5,800/DK $4,100)
Davante Adams is predicted out once more. We nonetheless like Jakobi Meyers in this spot, however final week Tucker bought the most important enhance. Plus, you may nonetheless discover Tucker on waivers, not like Meyers.
Small weaks
Patrick Mahomes QB, Chiefs, vs. Saints (FD $8,300/DK $7,000)
Since Week 8 of final season (13 video games), Mahomes has completed among the many high 12 QBs simply twice (none this yr), with the best rank QB8 — averaging 16.6. No QB has reached 14 fantasy factors vs. the Saints this season.
Kareem Hunt RB, Chiefs, vs. Saints (FD $7,100/DK $5,500)
We had been shocked to see Hunt come straight off the road then get the majority of the backfield work final week. We will not be shocked if it's a completely different RB this week — be it Samaje Perine or rookie Carson Steele. Think that is going to be a large number till Isiah Pacheco returns. Plus, Hunt is coping with a shoulder concern.
Betting on the NFL?
Keenan Allen WR, Bears, vs. Panthers (FD $5,800/DK $5,800)
The third possibility in a restricted passing offense doesn't curiosity us. He may hit randomly 2-3 instances over the season, however he'll burn you extra typically in your lineup than he'll in your bench.
Trey McBride TE, Cardinals, at 49ers (FD $6,500/DK $5,900)
He is predicted to play after clearing concussion protocol. But his matchup is hard — anchored by LB Fred Warner. Hard to sit him in seasonal leagues at such a shallow place, however we’re fading him in DFS.
Insanity’s Daily Duel
Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters right into a DFS contest:
Site: FanDuel
Slate: Sun. essential (11 video games)
Type: $12 tourney
Top prize: $300K
Pot: $1.6M
Drew’s Crew
QB: Geno Smith — Sea (vs. NYG) $7,400
RB: Derrick Henry — Bal (at Cin) $9,200
RB: Jordan Mason — SF (vs. Ari) $8,700
WR: DK Metcalf — Sea (vs. NYG) $8,200
WR: Xavier Legette — Car (at Chi) $6,000
WR: Michael Pittman Jr. — Ind (at Jac) $6,100
TE: Erick All Jr. — Cin (vs. Bal) $4,400
Flex: Austin Ekeler — Was (vs. Cle) $6,000
DEF: Broncos — Den (vs. LV) $4,000
Wilk’s Warriors
QB: Geno Smith — Sea (vs. NYG) $7,400
RB: Kenneth Walker III — Sea (vs. NYG) $7,400
RB: Jordan Mason — SF (vs. Ari) $8,700
WR: DK Metcalf — Sea (vs. NYG) $8,200
WR: Amari Cooper — Cle (at Was) $6,200
WR: Brian Thomas Jr. — Jac (vs. Ind) $6,100
TE: Tucker Kraft — GB (at LAR) $5,300
Flex: D’Andre Swift — Chi (vs. Car) $6,400
DEF: Broncos — Den (vs. LV) $4,000
Late roster adjustments, test @NYPost_Loftis on X and @nypfantasymadman on Threads
Season risked: $67
Season’s winnings: Drew $180, Jarad $56.50
