Welcome to this Week 8 edition of Mikey O Knows. Just like most weeks in the NFL, you are probably dealing with some injuries or bye-week fill-ins you need to replace. So, here are some alternative players that can give you the edge in your matchups this week!
More direct questions? Live at 11am Eastern we’re taking your questions via comment on our Advice Page.
Doug Baldwin – WR – Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)
Seattle Seahawks WR #89 Doug Baldwin looks to duplicate his week 7 performance this Sunday @ Carolina. Source: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Doug Baldwin time is here! For the time being at least. Baldwin is receiving both praise and doubt from fantasy owners and deservedly so. With Percy Harvin out of the picture, Baldwin is the clear #1 target in the Seahawks passing attack. The doubt? Harvin barely played last season and Baldwin did’t do a whole lot. That is not a slight on Baldwin, it was simply a Seahawks team that didn’t pass a whole lot. So can we expect anything different this time around?
I say yes! Because this is a different Seahawks team. This is not the same defense as last season, as they are allowing a ton of points. A poor defense for the most part benefits the offense in fantasy land. Seattle has given up 58 points in the last 2 games, leading to Russell Wilson throwing the ball a ton including a season high 36 pass attempts last week. 10 of those 36 passes went to Baldwin who hauled in 7 of them for 123 yards and a TD. The 36 pass attempts were the 2nd most Wilson has attempted in his NFL career, and topped any single game total from 2013. So the Seahawks having to lean on Wilson a bit more now will benefit Baldwin. He threw over 30 attempts last season 4 times. Baldwin totaled games of 77, 80, and 91 yards in 3 of those 4 games. The other bonus? The Panthers defense is a mess. They are 22nd against the pass and have given up the most passing touchdowns in the league this season! SO START BALDWIN!
Travaris Cadet – RB – New Orleans Saints (vs Green Bay Packers)
3-man backfield’s are hard to support. But when the number gets trimmed down I’m all in. This week, therefore, I’m all in on Travaris Cadet. Pierre Thomas is 3rd on the team in receptions and he is out, to be joined on the sidelines by RB Khiry Robinson. That yields a Mark Ingram and Cadet back-field on Sunday Night. This game has the makings of a shoot-out, that is of course, if the Saints can keep up with that high-flying Packers offense which is sizzling right now. And at home, in prime-time I like the Saints to keep it close and for Cadet to be a big part of that. When Ingram was out of the picture, Pierre Thomas had one of his best games posting 8 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Cadet himself was able to be productive as the 3rd back week 4 against the Cowboys posting 6 receptions for 59 yards. Now with no one to steal the receptions, Cadet can easily snatch 8 receptions and possibly even more. The Saints are going to have to move the ball through the air in this match up so make sure you’re all-aboard the Cadet train this week.
Davante Adams – WR – Green Bay Packers (@ New Orleans Saints)
Well, if there’s going to be a lot of points then its not a bad decision to choose players from this game. This is the case with rookie WR Davante Adams making some noise in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is putting on a show right now and is leaving his opponents in the dust. In his last 6 games, Rodgers owns a 17-0 TD-INT ratio. Can it get any better? It sure can! Rodgers gets to play indoors and draws the #28 pass defense in the New Orleans Saints. Points will be scored.
Let’s get to the talented rookie who set a season high in snap rate in 79% last week. The 1 target may make you nervous, but it did produce a touchdown, and that game was over after the 1st minute so there was no need to pass the ball a ton. I expect the Saints to put up more of a fight which will benefit Adams. The first-year WR impressed 2 weeks ago with a 6 reception 77 yard effort against the Dolphins, including making a play with Mr. Rodgers on the fake spike with time winding down. That’s some BROMANCE folks. Adams will be the guy the Saints forget about and he will make them play. Go ahead and start him. He wants to prove he’s the #1 rookie WR in this game over fellow rook Brandin Cooks. The Saints have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to receivers. Watch out!
Donte Moncrief – WR – Indianapolis Colts (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
I am feeling the young guys this week! When in doubt, go young and electric over old. The game is changing my friends. It’s a young man’s fast paced game. Just don’t tell that to Steve Smith Sr. Other than him, it’s time to turn the tides. And in Indianapolis, you want to be on the talented Moncrief over Hakeem Nicks who has been quite dreadful this season. Andrew Luck’s accuracy can boost any receivers numbers, but Nicks looks old and slow and can’t break away from anybody. Moncrief certainly can. He’s 6’2, 220 with speed. The 21-yr-old has game. He drew Demaryius Thomas comparisons from draft guru Greg Cosell. The time for him to make an impact is now, especially with Reggie Wayne ruled out.
Moncrief has already been receiving praise from OC Pep Hamilton, who stated that the WR is ahead of schedule and the Colts are not afraid of putting him in big situations. Moncrief out-snapped Nicks last week against the Bengals and you can count on the Colts designing plays for the gifted rookie in this game. The Steelers defense has given up the 13th most yards per game through the air this season. That’s a piece of cake for Andrew Luck. I smell some bromance between to the two in this one.
Shopping at the five and dime – Not Too Shabby Start of the Week!
Crockett Gillmore – TE – Baltimore Ravens (@ Cincinnati Bengals) – 2% owned
Look it’s a bird, it’s a plane… no it’s Crockett Gillmore flying on to the fantasy scene! And quite the juicy matchup it is for the little known Gillmore. The Bengals defense is a mess and has gotten trashed in the last 3 games. Specifically, they can not cover the tight end. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points in the league to the position. And in their week 1 matchup, a healthy Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels combined for 14 catches, and 117 yards. Both are out clearing the path for Crockett Gillmore to make a name for himself. The 3rd-round rookie is a 6’6, 260 pound beast!
Primarily a blocker to begin the season, Crockett saw a season high 65% of the snaps in last week’s game against the Falcons after seeing 60% in week 6. In Gary Kubiak’s tight end friendly offense, Crockett Gillmore will have a productive day against the those good ol’ Bungals. They called Davy Crockett the King of the wild frontier! They’ll be calling this Crockett the King of the Jungle! Put him in for a not too shabby of a start!
Any thoughts/opinions? Feel free to comment below!
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