Lineup Prep: Super Bowl
Wed Feb 7 8:43am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Pacheco is playing at high level
Not sure about you, but there is not a better weekend in sports than Super Bowl weekend. It is as good as it gets. Just everything involved with it is so much fun. I am so looking forward to it all this weekend. Let’s hope it is a good game and lives up to the hype. Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . .
I will give you my pick for the game right off the bat. I think it will be a close game, but look for the Chiefs to squeak it out. I think the experience factor plays a difference here in the end, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes has been outstanding during the playoffs and think he has a huge advantage over Brock Purdy. Plus, the Chiefs defense has been outstanding lately, completely shutting down the opponent. I don’t see them shutting down the 49ers high-powered offense, but think they will cause Purdy problems. I’m going with a Chiefs 31-27 victory.
If you still don’t have any fantasy teams alive in the playoffs, consider playing our fun pickem contests. We have tons of options available to play with for the Super Bowl. I wanted to give you a few of my favorite pickem plays for the big game. Give me Travis Kelce more than 70.5-receiving yards. Kelce has 71-plus yards all three of his playoff games and is coming off arguably his best game of the season. And the 49ers struggled to stop the tight end last week, seeing Sam LaPorta rack up the receptions and yards. I also like Brandon Aiyuk less than 61.5-receiving yards. Aiyuk has failed to hit that mark two of three games and has just three catches each of his last three games. Lastly, I like Deebo Samuel more than 79.5-rushing and receiving yards. Samuel had 11 touches his last game and was a huge part of the offense. I look for the 49ers to get him involved early and often, giving him good potential to rack up some total yards.
I’m not sure how I feel about the Commanders hiring of Kliff Kingsbury. His offenses were fine in Arizona, but not as explosive as many thought and he struggled some using Caleb Williams last year at USC. I think the Commanders would have been better served keeping Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. I thought he did a great job with the offense last year in Washington all things considered. I’m not convinced Kingsbury is going to be an upgrade.
On a different subject, can we stop teasing and showing parts of the Super Bowl commercials before the game? I mean part of the fun of the game is the commercials. They are always entertaining and a part of the event. But now, you see parts of the commercials before the game, ruining the surprise. C’mon people. Let’s stop this tradition right now.
We had our first TFC draft of the 2024 season last night. And in a surprise move, the first pick of the draft was Breece Hall. And we also saw Sam LaPorta get picked before Travis Kelce. It is always interesting to see how these early drafts shake out. A lot is going to change between now and the start of next season, but trends are starting now. In this draft, four running backs were picked in the first round compared to eight receivers. And the quarterback position looks as deep as ever with guys like Jordan Love getting picked in Round 11. Brock Purdy and Kirk Cousins also went very late.
News and Notes: The Chargers hired Greg Roman as their new offensive coordinator. Roman tends to be more run heavy when it comes to play calling. . . . .Former Texans and Patriots running back Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.
HOT PLAYS
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has taken his game to new heights during the Chiefs playoff run. He has at least 15 fantasy points four straight games and found the end zone seven consecutive games. He even has 20-plus carries two of three games, getting a big workload in the Chiefs offense. Expect more of the same this week from Pacheco. The 49ers allowed 182-rushing yards to the Lions their last game and allowed 135-plus rushing yards each of their two playoff games.
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. Kelce has looked like a different player during these playoffs than the regular season. He had 11 receptions his last game and at least five catches all three playoff games. He has 14-plus fantasy points all three games. He has really elevated his game after a ho-hum second half of the season. Look for him to be the focal point of the Chiefs passing game once again this week. And San Francisco couldn’t contain Sam LaPorta in the Championship game, allowing him to get nine receptions for 97 yards. The Packers tight ends had six receptions and a touchdown in the 49ers other playoff game.
COLD PLAYS
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers. Aiyuk did score a touchdown his last game, which was a big positive, but he had just three receptions. He has just three cathodes three straight games. He has were than 40 yards two of three. And with the Chiefs secondary clamping down on receivers right not, it could be more of the same for Aiyuk this week. He could be held in check once again.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs. McKinnon is expected to make his long-awaited return this week, returning from a groin injury. He has not played since Week 15. Just remember he has not reached double-digit touches in a single game this year. Pacheco is the lead back in this offense and will get most of the work at running back. McKinnon played great during the Chiefs playoff run last season, but this is a new year. Plus, McKinnon has not played in several weeks, so you have to wonder how much he is even on the field. He will be a big risk to use for fantasy owners.
SLEEPERS
Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers. There are always surprise players in the Super Bowl, so why not Jennings. He could draw the most favorable matchups in coverage for the 49ers receiver options. And he has looked good in the playoffs, having six receptions for 69 yards in two games. He played 42 percent of the snaps last week - even with Deebo Samuel back in the lineup. Jennings might get a big play or two in this one, making him an intriguing fantasy play.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Chiefs. Valdes-Scantling had the game-clinching reception in the Championship game, making a sliding catch on third down to clinch the game. He finished with two receptions for 38 yards. But he played a season-high 83 percent of the snaps in that game, which is encouraging. If he is on the field that much again this week, his reception and yardage totals could rise in what might be a high-scoring game.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chiefs/49ers.
Low Scoring Games: None.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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- Titans put CB Chidobe Awuzie (groin) on IR
- Eagles WR DeVonta Smith out, A.J. Brown questionable vs. Bucs
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- Raiders WR Davante Adams, DE Maxx Crosby ruled out for Week 4
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The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored his second NFL touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. McConkey led the Bolts in catches, yards, and targets and was the only Charger to score a touchdown. He ended up seeing seven targets, making five catches for 67 yards, including a seven yard touchdown on an excellent catch and throw in the first quarter. McConkey heads into the Chargers bye week as the clear top target in the passing game and should be an asset in PPR leagues especially when the Chargers return for a Week 6 game in Denver against the Broncos.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also converted five targets into four catches for 19 yards through the air. On a more negative note, Stevenson did lose a fumble in the effort. He has now fumbled in all four games this season and has lost a fumble in each of the last two contests. Evidently, the running back's productivity and versatility on offense have been somewhat canceled out by his ball security issues. At the same time, fellow running back Antonio Gibson has tallied 219 scrimmage yards over the last three games, showing a combination of burst and ball security that we simply haven't seen from Stevenson in the last couple of weeks. Stevenson should still be the Patriots' No. 1 running back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, but the gap between the two of them is likely shrinking as Gibson makes a case for more snaps and touches.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving came into the game as questionable due to a hamstring issue. However, Irving suited up and played well during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie back rushed 10 times for 49 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of his career. It's worth noting that Irving saw just as many carries as lead back Rachaad White. Irving has continued to run the ball well on a weekly basis and that has earned him a larger role on this offense. He's beginning to creep into the RB3 conversation heading into Thursday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of his 32 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing for 32 yards on eight carries in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. It could have been a much bigger game for Watson but the Cleveland offense was plagued by multiple mistakes, including a holding penalty on center Nick Harris that wiped away an 82-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter. The interception was also hard to pin on Watson as he hit Amari Cooper in the chest but the receiver allowed the ball to go through his hands and right to safety Tre'von Moehrig for the pick. Watson has now thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions through four games while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record. He will look for a bigger outing in Week 5 against a red-hot Washington Commanders team.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted seven targets into three catches for 30 yards during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Polk had not commanded more than three targets in a single game through the first three weeks of the season, but that evidently changed this week as Polk led the Patriots with seven passes thrown his way. Despite the increased volume, Polk still didn't deliver a very appealing fantasy performance due to his lower catch and yardage totals. On a promising note, he made an impressive grab in heavy coverage along the sideline. It was ruled incomplete, but only because Polk just barely missed getting both feet in bounds. The play should give fantasy managers optimism that Polk can make flashy catches against starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The rookie isn't a reliable option for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, but his long-term value continues to grow as he makes an impression early in his Patriots career.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was considered questionable coming into Sunday's game due to an illness. Despite that, White suited up and had a decent day on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 49 yards while hauling in two receptions for an additional 35 yards through the air. The biggest problem for White is that fellow back Bucky Irving continues to out-rush. White has struggled on the ground and has a result the Bucs continue giving Irving more chances and it's paying off for them. Both backs saw 10 carries each during Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. White should be considered a low-end RB2 for the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had 60 yards off a team-high six catches in Sunday's win over the Panthers. The wideout returned from a two-game absence for the Week 3 loss to the Commanders. However, he had only three receptions in that one. But with 10 targets in Week 4, it appears Higgins still has the attention of Joe Burrow, making him worthy of a starting spot in all fantasy formats when the Bengals meet the Ravens in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets defense played well in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Jets were unable to notch any sacks but did force a turnover while holding the Broncos to just 186 yards of total offense in the close loss on a rainy afternoon in New Jersey. New York's defense got their lone takeaway when they recovered a Tyler Badie fumble in the contest. The Jets will have their work cut out for them when they take on a red-hot Minnesota Vikings offense in London in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins was bottled up again in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dobbins led the backfield in carries with 14 and also led in rushing yards, but with just 32. He was targeted four times in the passing game, making three catches for 30 yards. It was a rough day for the Chargers running game in general, as the longest play on the ground was a 12-yard run by Dobbins. For the first time this season, the Chargers offense threw the ball more times (27) than they ran it (24). Dobbins will have better games ahead, and his usage remains encouraging going forward, as no other Charger back had more than six carries in this game. The Bolts head into their bye week and will come out in Week 6 to take on the Broncos in Denver.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards received only six touches in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Edwards ran the ball six times, gaining 19 yards with a long gain of five. He was not targeted in the passing game. Meanwhile, J.K. Dobbins wasn't particularly effective (14 carries for 32 yards), but he clearly remains the RB1 in the Chargers backfield while Edwards fades further and further into a backup/change of pace role. Edwards is droppable in most formats right now and likely won't have much fantasy value this season unless Dobbins is forced to miss time.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed six times for 12 yards on the ground during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He left much more of an impact in the receiving game, hauling in three of four targets for an additional 67 yards through the air. He finished as the Patriots' receiving yards leader. Gibson now has 219 scrimmage yards over the last three weeks, but he's still searching for his first touchdown as a member of the Patriots. Nevertheless, he has demonstrated a tendency for breaking off big plays within a Patriots offense desperately searching for a spark after a 1-3 start. Gibson is still operating as the Patriots' No. 2 running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but given that Stevenson has lost two fumbles in the last two games and Gibson has impressed lately, the latter could be in line to earn more snaps going forward. He'll rank as a low-end RB3 heading into Week 5 against a suspect Miami Dolphins squad.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss had 15 carries for 51 yards in Sunday's win over the Panthers. He added four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Although Chase Brown was much more involved than he had been all season, Moss still had an efficient fantasy showing in Week 5. With a touchdown in three of the Bengals' four games on the year, Moss remains at least a flex option for the AFC North clash with the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made three of his four field goals in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Zuerlein provided all of the offense for the Jets on a rainy day in New Jersey in the close loss. The veteran kicker made field goals from 23, 35, and 40 yards out while missing on a 50-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter that would have given the Jets the lead. Zuerlein has struggled with his accuracy this season, missing on two of his seven field-goal attempts through four weeks. He will look to regroup ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had another solid showing in Sunday's win over the Panthers. After finding the end zone twice in Week 3, the wideout scored again in Week 4. Although Tee Higgins was more productive from a volume standpoint, Chase still had 85 yards off his three catches. With the Bengals offense returning to form, the former LSU Tiger is obviously a lock for all fantasy lineups when Cincinnati meets Baltimore in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield started off the season hot with a great performance in the season opener. After that, Mayfield and the Bucs hit a cold patch, but they found their footing on Sunday. Mayfield completed 30-of-47 passing attempts for 347 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He also added a third touchdown to his total with a read-option end zone keeper. It will be a short week for the Bucs as they turn around with a Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers can consider Mayfield a high-end QB2 for that one.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) had another pedestrian game in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert was listed as questionable all week with a high ankle sprain, but was able to play although clearly slowed by the injury. He ended up attempting 27 passes, completing 16 of them for 179 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and fumbled once, but it was recovered by a teammate. He also "added" three carries, but totaled zero yards on the ground. Herbert's touchdown came on an outstanding throw and catch to rookie Ladd McConkey. The Chargers head into their Week 5 bye with a 2-2 record and Herbert will get a much needed week of rest before taking on the Broncos on the road in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 19 of 32 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown, and one interception during a Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He also rushed for three yards and took six sacks behind a depleted offensive line. Furthermore, Brissett fumbled three times, with one of those fumbles being recovered by the defense. The veteran quarterback had not allowed a turnover through the first three games this season, but then he coughed up the football twice on Sunday. New England falls to 1-3 as buzz continues to grow for Drake Maye. For now, though, the offense still belongs to Brissett. He remains the Patriots' starting quarterback heading into a Week 5 clash with the ailing Miami Dolphins. Perhaps this favorable matchup next Sunday will be enough to get the Patriots back in the win column. However, Brissett is still off the fantasy radar given the Patriots' run-heavy approach on offense.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught five of his eight targets for 58 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Lazard wound up finishing second on the team in receiving yards while tying for the lead with his eight targets and five catches. The veteran has looked reinvigorated this season, having gone for at least 48 receiving yards in three of his four games while hauling in three touchdowns. Firmly established as a weekly flex option, Lazard will now get ready to take on the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught four of his eight targets for 17 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Conklin ultimately didn't do much in the box score but his eight targets tied him with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard for the team lead. Conklin has seen his target share tick up over the past two weeks, drawing 14 over that span as Aaron Rodgers has been looking his way often of late. Conklin will be on the fantasy radar as a TE2 heading into Week 5's London game against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams caught four of his five targets for 67 yards in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Williams managed to lead the Jets in receiving yards despite finishing second on the team in catches and targets in the low-scoring loss to Denver. Williams has slowly gotten better each game this season as he did not record a target while playing sparingly in Week 1. Fantasy gamers should continue to be patient with Williams, who has yet to score a touchdown this season but has been a prominent part of the New York offense in the red zone. Williams will be on the fantasy radar as a flex option heading into Week 5's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
From RotoBaller
