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 each player as we come down the stretch before the fantasy football playoffs.


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QUARTERBACK

Robert Griffin III, Redskins
One of two things need to happen in Washington. They need to fire coach Jay Gruden or they need to trade RGIII. You can't have your head coach and quarterback yelling at each other in the press. That's a toxic mix. "Robert had some fundamental flaws [in Week 11]," Gruden said. "From his basic performance just critiquing Robert, it's not even close to good enough to what we expect from the quarterback position... Robert needs to understand he needs to worry about himself No. 1 and not everybody else... it's not his place. His place is to talk about himself..." You want to work for a guy like that? I certainly wouldn't. On the field RGIII is being hamstrung by a play calling setup that doesn't best utilize the players on the field. He's been sloppy no doubt, but he is completing 72 percent of his passes and looks pretty fluid running the ball. Still, remember the word I used above - toxic. Robert's merely in the QB2 discussion at the moment.
Verdict: SELL

Brian Hoyer, Browns
Josh Gordon is back and everyone is excited. They should be. Does the return of Gordon transform Hoyer into a weekly starter? Not likely. Facts. (1) Hoyer has appeared in 13 games with the Browns and thrown 16 touchdown passes. (2) Hoyer has a 57.1 percent completion rate. (3) Hoyer is averaging 254.2 yards per game this season, 15th amongst QBs who have appeared in six games. (4) According to Pro Football Focus Hoyer is the 24th ranked QB. (5) Hoyer is limited physically. Gordon back in the fold helps. Hoyer is still a QB2 though, make no mistake about that. 
Verdict: SELL

Matt Ryan, Falcons
At this point it's almost like folks are resigned to the fact that Ryan is a QB2 that might be a QB1 in a great matchup. Accurate? I don't think so,. but that is the perception. What that means is that his current owner is likely willing to deal Ryan to start guys like Josh McCown and Ryan Tannehill. Note the following. (1) Ryan has a 93.2 QB Rating which is better than Tannehill, Kapernick, Wilson, Stafford, Newton etc. (2) Ryan has a 65.4 completion percentage that is better than Brady, Luck, Stafford etc. (3) Ryan is averaging 279.3 yards a game. That is 5th in football among full-time starters. It's better than Rodgers, Cutler, Stafford, Brady etc. (4) His touchdown rate is down but if Ryan throws for 27 this season, his current pace, that's still pretty solid. His 17 scores are one less than Tony Romo and two less than Drew Brees by the way. 
Verdict: BUY

RUNNING BACK

Jonas Gray, Patriots
You can read all about my concerns in this week's Waiver Flavor piece. Now we can add to those concerns the fact that the Patriots signed LeGarrette Blount to a two year deal. It's likely that Blount just fills a depth role, but you never know with the Patriots, do you?
Verdict: SELL

LeSean McCoy, Eagles
McCoy is averaging 3.7 YPC this season and has two scores. He's not looked as sharp as last year, and the issues with the health of the offensive line has been an ongoing issue all year long. Still, I get the feeling that some folks seem to think that McCoy is a total failure. He isn't. Some facts. (1) McCoy is averaging 72.9 yards per game on the ground. For his career that mark is 73.8. (2) Over his last six games he's averaging 89.5 yards on the ground. (3) This weeks opponent, the Titans, is allowing 190 rushing yards a game over the last three contest. If you can buy McCoy at a discount do it - he's still a weekly RB1. 
Verdict: BUY

Latavius Murray, Raiders
If you're in a dynasty league Murray is an excellent stash. If you're in a redraft league only concerned with 2014, I simply can't understand why people are getting to excited with Murray. If you want to add him to you roster, fine. But start him in Week 12 - why would you do that? What are you folks looking at? FACT - The Raiders score 15 points a game, the worst in football. FACT - Derek Carr has failed to throw for 195 yards in four of five games. FACT - The Raiders have two games this season with 100 yards rushing. FACT - In two of the last three games the Raiders have failed to run for 40 yards. FACT - The Raiders have failed to run for 80-yards in 5-straight games. Is Murray worth of a larger workload? Yes. Is Murray the most talented runner on the team? Probably. Should Murray be starting for your fantasy team? Hell no. 
Verdict: SELL

WIDE RECEIVER 

Martavis Bryant, Steelers
Oh I warned about this guy. In three of five games he's been held to less than 45 yards. He's also caught three or fewer balls in three of five games. Dynamic talent but totally TD dependent, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to continue to score more than once a game. Come on, aren't you too?
Verdict: SELL

Marques Colston, Saints
Brandin Cooks is done for the year (thumb). Kenny Stills will likely pick up some looks going forward, but he is still more of a deep threat. The player most likely to see a boost in value is likely the Saints' slot man, Mr. Colston. Last week he saw eight targets, and he could be in the 8-10 range per game moving forward. Colston has been so unappetizing an own this year that I need to be clear. I'm not suggesting that he's going to start ripping off 8-100-1 games. I'm merely pointing out that buying low on the vet, especially in PPR leagues, could be a winning move. 
Verdict: BYE

Justin Hunter, Titans
Why and I still getting questions about him? He has one score in five games and has a total of eight receptions and 102 yards the past four games.
Verdict: SELL

Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings.
Not even wasting more than one sentence.
Verdict: SELL

TIGHT END

Zach Ertz, Eagles
Ertz is the most talented tight end on the Eagles and clearly could be a TE1 in fantasy. It's not going to happen in 2014. Why? As HC Chip Kelly said, the Eagles run a one tight end offense, and that means Brent Celek, not Ertz, will be the one on the field. "Brent's an outstanding blocker, I think he may be the best blocking tight end in the league...It'd be very [unjust] if I told Brent he has to sit because I want to put someone else on the field... It has to really do with how well Brent's playing." The Eagles want their TE to block. That's Celek's job. Sorry Zach. 
Verdict: SELL

Coby Fleener
Dwayne Allen (ankle) appears unlikely to suit up in Week 12. That leaves Coby Fleener, who has 18 targets the past two weeks and went for seven grabs and 144 yards in Week 11, to dominate the Jaguars in Week 12. He likely will. It would then be advisable to consider selling Fleener given that Allen shouldn't be out long term and that it's Allen who is the no doubt goaline option at the tight end position for the Colts (six scores in seven games). 
Verdict: BUY/SELL

Jordan Reed, Redskins
Dump him. Missing practice with yet another hamstring issue. Tremendous talent, but just not producing. At this point, you're most likely better off with Niles Paul.
Verdict: SELL

 

Make sure you tune in to the Drive at 7 PM EDT, Monday through Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius210, XM87), to hear Ray Flowers pontificate about the world of sports.