Quarterback
Kyler Murray- Murray wasn’t on the injury report last week, and rushed the ball 13 times which was his highest total since Week 7 against the Seahawks. With the Eagles secondary banged up (see below) I am extremely in on this game and it can really pop off for a lot of points. Those injured DBs loosen the matchup through the air, while they have also allowed the most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. This is a ceiling spot for Murray who is all the way down to $7,000 on DK.
Jalen Hurts- If I don’t play Murray, I’m looking in the same game at Jalen Hurts who is coming off an incredible debut in which he rushed 18 times, with double-digit designed run play calls. Much like Murray, most of Hurts damage will come on the ground, but he doesn’t need to light it up through the air at his sub-$6K price tag.
Running Back
Derrick Henry- Coming off a classic DeHenber game, Henry now gets the defense allowing the most fantasy points to running backs as a massive home favorite. More importantly, I am completely bought into the narrative that the Titans will allow Henry to chase an elusive 2,000 yard season. Tennessee is listed as 11 point favorites and that makes Henry a near impossible fade (in cash) in expected positive game script.
Alvin Kamara- Kamara went from not even on my cash game radar to the cover boy of Building Blocks in one day on Friday. Not only did he get an upgrade with Drew Brees returning, but we also got the news that Michael Thomas would be out. Kamara averaged almost 10 targets per game in this situation earlier this season, and his price is way down on both sites due to the recent Taysom Hill experiment.
Jonathan Taylor- We finally got the Taylor game in Week 14, and we are primed for another one this weekend against Houston. The Texans have the worst run-defense in the league in my opinion, and now are without their starting Nose Tackle for this game. They have allowed the most PPR points to running backs this season, and JT has flashed his passing game ability multiple times over the last week.
Leonard Fournette- Fournette will definitely be a popular play if Ronald Jones misses this game, and this presents one of the toughest choices of the slate. I do think he will be the Bucs lead back, and I do think they can easily beat the Atlanta Falcons. That being said, while his touch projection sticks out at his price, there is a lot of opportunity cost at this position with the aforementioned trio all in smash spots. I will update my decision in Final Thoughts, but I will likely have a build with and without him before I pick one on Sunday.
Other Options: Cam Akers
Wide Receiver
DeAndre Hopkins- Hopkins was already on my radar this week seeing as I love the Cardinals/Eagles game, but now we have an extremely banged up Philly secondary. Two of their top safeties are out for this game, and Darius Slay has been getting dog-walked for the past three weeks. It’s clearly a pass-funnel spot for the Cardinals, and with Murray finally healthy I am looking to be overweight on Nuk in Week 15.
Brandon Aiyuk- Aiyuk is coming off a monster 16 target game and will be playing without Deebo Samuel vs the Cowboys. He has been remarkably consistent despite shaky quarterback play, and Dallas has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. He is too cheap on both sites and our projections portal thinks his ownership will reflect that.
Manny Sanders- Another guy that I wasn’t a huge fan of, but that all changed with Brees in and Thomas being ruled out. Brees being out means we can expect a more pass-heavy game script from the Saints, and they should need it to keep up with the Chiefs offense. He averages over 13 fantasy points per game in his last three games with Brees in.
Michael Gallup- Gallup has a sneaky good matchup against the 49ers, who have locked down the inside this season but been extremely vulnerable to perimeter receivers. He has built a reputation as a “boom or bust” receiver yet owns 30 targets over the last four games.
Other Options: Tyreek Hill, Allen Robinson, Chad Hansen
Tight End
Travis Kelce- We can’t overstate what Kelce has done this season as a tight end. Truly a historic season, you aren’t really spending up for a “tight end” when rostering Kelce. The Chiefs offensive line is extremely banged up, and there’s a good chance Mahomes leans on him even more this week as a safety blanket given that the Saints do have an above-average pass rush. Easier to fit on on FanDuel.
Cole Kmet- Kmet is coming off a career-high snap rate and has clearly passed Jimmy Graham for lead tight end duties. He found the end zone last week, and now has 14 targets over the last two games.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
