Biggest Winners
RB Kareem Hunt, CLE
After two games, Hunt gained 132 combined yards with 13 catches on 23 touches. His addition to the Browns’ offense gives Cleveland another playmaker to extend drives with a chance at big plays. His part over two games projected over 16 games would come to 1,056 yards and 104 catches. Even with playable success in PPR leagues, Hunt has been on the field for about 55 percent of the plays run by Cleveland. With no relevant WR3 and weakness at TE, the Browns will run many two running back sets, securing value for Hunt going forward while setting him up for a better opportunity in the Fantasy market in 2018. For now, Hunt is a must flex start in PPR leagues going forward.
QB Dak Prescott, DAL
The best team by a wide margin in the NFC East is the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve underperformed as far record (6-4), but their offense has all the tools to make a deep playoff run. The growth of Prescott as a passer is the most critical factor in the direction of the Cowboys. Next week, he’ll have a big chance to shine in his game in New England. Prescott is on pace to set career highs in passing yards (5,154) and passing TDs (34) while continuing to add value on the ground (33/193/3). His next step is pickup up a big contract along with a push toward a Super Bowl in 2019.
Atlanta Falcons Defense
I don’t know what happened in Week 9 when the Falcons had their bye week, but their defense saw the light. Over the first eight games, Atlanta allowed 30 TDs on 70 possession leading to 250 points (31.1 per game) with only two fumbles, two Ints, and seven sacks. Over the previous two games vs. the Saints and the Panthers on the road, the Falcons didn’t give up a touchdown on 21 possessions with four Ints and 11 sacks. Congrats to Atlanta’s coaching staff and their defensive players.
Biggest Losers
DE Myles Garrett, CLE
DE Myles Garrett, CLEThe heat of the battle can bring poor decisions. Garrett has been a great passer rusher (30.5 sacks in 37 games) in his two-plus seasons with Cleveland. In the meaningless moments of a great win over division rival Pittsburgh, Garrett set the franchise back even further in the eyes of public option with his insane swing of a helmet onto the head of QB Mason Rudolph. The NFL suspended him for the rest of the season, with more ramifications expected to follow. The move and lack of discipline by the Browns’ players will surely cost HC Freddie Kitchens his job at the end of the season. The only positive from this incident was that Rudolph didn’t get hurt.
TE O.J. Howard, TB
One catchable ball and a couple of unfortunate bounces led to an interception and benching for Howard early against the Saints. He teased Fantasy owners in Week 10 (4/47/1) after a two-game absence with a hamstring issue. Fantasy owners had to watch Cameron Brate catch ten of 14 targets for 73 yards as his replacement in playing time and opportunity in the passing game. Howard continues to crush Fantasy owners, but HC Bruce Arians has only made matters worse with his approach to his young upside TE.
RB Kalen Ballage, MIA
The Dolphins aren’t the brightest franchise when evaluating RB talent. They gave away Kenyan Drake to the Cardinals only to see him shine in his first start for the Cardinals (162 combined yards with a TD and four catches). After ten games, Miami gave Ballage 64 carries. He’s gaining only 1.9 yards per rush and 3.8 yards per catch. Over the past two games with starting snaps, he gained only 49 yards on 29 carries with a TD plus nine catches for ten yards. In 2018, he rushed for 75 yards on one run, which masked similar failure over his other 35 rushes (3.3 yards per rush). Ballage belongs nowhere near a starting Fantasy lineup.
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