Each week Ray Flowers will give his thoughts on a serious of fantasy football players. Should you hold on to the guy? Should you be moving on from the player? Is his recent run of success sustainable? Why does he stink so bad – will he rebound? Ray will break it all down before rendering his verdict on the player.
QUARTERBACK
Ryan Mallett (Texans), Zach Mettenberger (Titans), Shaun Hill (Rams)
Oddly, putting the men in alphabetical order also aligns them with my thoughts as far as ROTW rankings (that's Rest of the Way). None is likely to be anything other than a desperation QB2 play in any week.
Verdict: SELL
Cam Newton, Panthers
Beat up and under-producing. Yep, that is who Cam is. That has caused people to seemingly forget just how talented Cam is. When I get questions like - do I start Newton or David Carr OR Newton or Shaun Hill - I throw up in my mouth a little bit. Seriously. He's still Cam Newton, even if he's operating at 90 percent capacity.
Verdict: BUY
RUNNING BACK
Alfred Blue, Texans
Arian Foster, in a PPR setup, is currently scoring the most points per game of any runner in football (yes, more than Matt Forte and DeMarco Murray). Foster also continues to deal with soft tissue injuries and it's looking more an more like he'll be a game-time decision this week do to his continual issues with his groin. Coming off a bye week he was supposed to be fine. Maybe not.
Verdict: BUY
Justin Forsett, Ravens
(1) He's on a bye this week. (2) He's coming off his best game of the year as he went for 112 yards and two scores against the Titans. (3) In Weeks 6-9 he didn't score a touchdown. (4) In Weeks 6-10 he caught eight passes... that's in five games folks. Sell high before he remembers who he is.
Verdict: SELL
Darren Sproles, Eagles
I just don't get it. Fact. Sproles has four carries in his last two games. Fact. He's run for 25 yards his last two games. Fact. Sproles caught one pass in his last game. Fact. Sproles has caught five passes in his last four games. Fact. As an offensive player he's scored twice in his last six games. Fact. He's not even close to being as productive as EVERYONE seems to think.
Verdict: SELL
WIDE RECEIVER
Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers
Mike Evans is getting the pub, as he should, but VJax is coming hard. Check out the numbers the last two weeks: 14 receptions and 161 yards on 25 targets. He's also had at least 12 targets in four of five games. Only thing holding him back is 5-straight games without a score.
Verdict: BUY
Jordan Matthews, Eagles
People seem convinced that Mark Sanchez is the second coming of Andrew Luck and that makes Matthews a lockdown WR2. Really? The rookie looked great in Week 10 with seven receptions for 138 yards and two scores. He and Sanchez did have a connection. But come on. Matthews is as rookie who has averaged seven targets a week. He's also been held under 60 yards in eight of nine games and only three times in nine has he even hit 50 yards. It's one game folks. He has a lot more proving to do before you should "believe."
Verdict: SELL
Cecil Shorts, Jaguars
Allen Robinson (foot) is done for the year. IF Shorts can stay healthy he will likely become the #1 target and security blanket for Blake Bortles. In a supporting role the last five games Shorts has seen at least seven targets each time out, and the past two weeks he's caught 10 passes for 159 yards. A WR3 option every week in PPR setups IF, notice the caps, he can stay healthy.
Verdict: BUY
TIGHT END
Vernon Davis, Niners
The 49ers' tight end scored 13 times last season. He creates mismatches on the gridiron. He's been totally incapable of taking advantage of them this year as he's averaging 24.1 yards a week with two scores in seven games. He flat out stinks. He's also on waivers in some leagues, and if he isn't his owner hates him. Can't find talent like this for nothing, except in this instance.
Verdict: BUY
Jordan Reed, Redskins
The breakout is coming. Can't you feel it? Robert Griffin III is about to make Reed and Pierre Garcon relevant again. Book it.
Verdict: BUY
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
Rudolph will likely return from a groin issue that required surgery this week. Two main points. (1) Over his last 11 games played he's averaged 3.6 receptions, 37 yards and 0.36 TDs a game. I get that he's a talent and that he will likely be the top red zone option for this club, but do those numbers suggest he is going to be someone you can start with confidence? (2) What is the offense doing right now for the Vikings? Nothing from Adrian Peterson at the moment. You could say the same thing about Cordarrelle Patterson. He's doing nothing. Teddy Bridgewater has thrown for three scores in six games and is averaging 213.5 yards a game over the last four. Not exactly a high powered offense Rudolph is returning to.
Verdict: SELL
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