Adam Thielen’s coronation as fantasy royalty highlights this week’s NFL Week That Was.

Adam Thielen:  Adam Thielen has officially been knighted a fantasy stud.  The Vikes’ WR hauled in 8 passes for 166 yards and a TD on 12 targets (as many targets as Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph combined).  Over his last four games, Thielen has average almost 12 targets per game and has at least 8 targets in all but one game.  He is on fire, his QB trusts him and absent injury, he is sure to surpass his 967 receiving yards from a year ago.  He is lock and load every single week and is fast becoming an WR1 in all PPR formats.  If anyone still thinks he is just a possession receiver, well, you know what to do.  

T.Y. HiltonT.Y. Hilton had only two catches for 23 yards.  Hilton has become the anti-Thielen.  Yes, TY blows up for a huge game here and there but you simply cannot count on him to put up decent points week in and week out.  With a total of only 2 TD this year in 10 games played and with 3 or fewer catches in 6 of those 10 games, Hilton has become a huge risk to your fantasy team.  In deep leagues you have no choice but to run him out there but there is no way I risk it in shallow leagues or 50/50 type DFS games.  Advice: Wait for Hilton to have his next blow up (hopefully in week 12 after the bye) and trade him as soon thereafter as you can.  Literally and figuratively he has had no Luck this year.

Sammy Watkins:  Sammy Watkins has become completely TD dependent.  Fortunately, he found the end zone Sunday despite being targeted only 3 times (finishing 2-41 with a TD).  Unless you play in a completely TD-dependent league, then Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are likely to be the more valuable Rams pass catchers as you prepare for the fantasy playoffs.  Actually, when you think about it, Watkins and Hilton have a lot in common – high ceilings but quicksand floors.  In 7 of theRams 9 games this year, Watkins has 3 or fewer receptions.  Indeed, he has been targeted more than 5 times in a game exactly once all year.  Yes, the TDs are nice.  Yes, he is talented.  But no, you cannot count on him week in and week out.  You cannot.

Sterling Shepard:  Sterling Shepard and his team are going in opposite directions.  The Giants are circling the drain but Sterling shined Sunday hauling in 11 catches for 142 yards.  Yes, he has a hard time staying healthy.  However, he is healthy now and Odell is not.  Thus, Shep is the WR1 on a team that will throw a lot as they will play from behind a lot.  With 22 targets in his last two games and big offenses such as KC, Dallas, and Philly on the schedule, Shep may become the next Allen Robinson – the king of garbage time who leads his team to a fantasy title.  Buy.

Jamaal Williams:  Jamaal Williams rushed 20 times for 67 yards after both Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery left with injuries.  It should surprise no one that Montgomery has not been able to withstand the beating of an NFL running back.  After all, he was forced into converting to an RB last year when the Pack had no RBs at all.  As to Jones, it is wait and see on his injury.  If by waiver day you know Jones is out or may be out, JWill is worth a look.  First, any RB1 is worth a fantasy roster spot.  Second, he is a physical runner and in the short term could be quite effective.  Third, Green Bay gets Cleveland in week 1 of the fantasy playoffs.  Want a piece of that Browns matchup?  Abdullah and Riddick combined to go 15-87 against the Browns.  Nuff said right?  

Alvin Kamara:  Last week we wrote: “Alvin Kamara lit up the fantasy football scoreboard Sunday scoring two TDs, amassing 152 total yards and adding 6 receptions for good measure.  In most PPR set-ups, that amounts to 30+ fantasy points.  Awesome.  Kamara got equal time with Mark Ingram as he had just one less touch than the supposed RB1 on his team.  With Atlanta on the schedule in the critical fantasy playoff weeks 14 and 16, Kamara is a must own.  Moreover, given Ingram’s high profile, Kamara actually may still be a buy-low candidate.  Buy if you can.  [Note:  For those of you who ask whether one can play both Ingram and Kamara in your lineup, the answer is yes.  This week it would have netted you 40+ points. I for one am happy to get 40 total points from two RBs any day].”  Nothing but nylon!  Ok, I know that is a basketball phrase but still . . .   Seriously, if you followed this advice you had a MONSTER day.  Kamara ran for 106 yards and a TD (and added 5 catches for 32 yards) for a total of 25+ PPR fantasy points.  Oh, and he was not the best Saints RB.  Mark Ingram ran for 3 TD on his way to a 30+ fantasy points day.  With 4 of the next 6 games home in the dome, I continue to be all in on the Saints RBs.  

Final Note:  Loyal listeners and readers know that I believe that when all is said and done, Darren McFadden will have been the Cowboys RB to have owned during Zeke’s suspension.  Yes, McFadden got only one touch in the Atlanta game Sunday but remember when Joe Randle was named the starter ahead of him in 2015?  Remember when his ability to break off big runs, catch passes and block earned him a job and resulted in a big success despite not having a QB?  Just saying.