Aaron and Bennett’s Booms and Busts: Week 12
November 20, 2019
Aaron and Bennett’s Booms and Busts is an ongoing Fantasy Football Column. Our predictions are to help answer any of your difficult questions regarding who to start or sit each week.
Week 11 Prediction Results
Booms
Marquise Brown, WR – Predicted: 15.8 & Actual: 4.3
Josh Allen, QB – Predicted: 24.1 & Actual: 33.8
Ross Dwelley, TE – Predicted: 12.1 & Actual: 17.4
Busts
Odell Beckham Jr., WR – Predicted: 7.6 & Actual: 10
Kenny Golladay, WR – Predicted: 5.7 & Actual: 4.4
Ezekiel Elliot, RB – Predicted: 14.6 & Actual: 19.3
Booms
Steelers Defense (D/ST) Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
The Steelers are going into week 12 following an upsetting loss to the Cleveland Browns in which their impressive streak of a
The Steelers D/ST face a struggling Bengals offense, who have the third highest turnover rate per drive.
takeaway in the last eight games came to an end. However, they are playing possibly the worst team in the NFL: the lowest scoring 0-10 Bengals. The Steelers have averaged allowing only 15.29 points this season since week 4. However, don’t expect the Steelers to take this game lightly. At 5-5, they need to make a run in the last six games of the season in order to qualify for the playoffs. The Steelers defense has been the backbone of their team this year with the loss of many of their offensive stars from last season, so expect the Steelers’ defense to dominate the Bengals this Sunday to begin their campaign for the playoffs.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 18 Pts.
Tevin Coleman (RB) San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)
Tevin Coleman had a mediocre day when facing the Arizona Cardinals last week, which is likely a result of the 49ers inability to
Striving to bounce back after a 14 yard game, Coleman will face the Packers, who have allowed the third most fantasy points to running backs.
find their offensive groove throughout the game. This made for a close game against the Cardinals, forcing quarterback Jimmy Garrapolo to throw the ball. Garoppolo ended up with 424 yards through the air and four touchdowns. If George Kittle, who has been inactive the past two weeks due to a knee injury, returns in the matchup against the Packers, expect Tevin Coleman to see more action. The Packers’ run defense has been struggling this year and the 49ers’ run game has been excelling. Coleman will most likely see a lot of touches, so hope for Coleman to put up big numbers in the Sunday night showdown.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 20.6 Pts.
D.K. Metcalf (WR) Seattle Seahawks (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Heading into the season, D.K. Metcalf’s performance in the NFL was questionable for many. At the beginning of the year, the
With the question of Tyler Lockett’s health, Metcalf is a must start with at least nine targets in his last three games.
Seahawks were still determining how he would fit into their offense. However, he has since shown incredible growth during the second half of the season. This week, the Seahawks face the Eagles, who are ranked 27th in points allowed to wide receivers this year, making Metcalf a must-start coming out of his bye week. In Metcalf’s last two games, he has had 12 receptions for 193 yards and one touchdown. In a close matchup against the 49ers in their last game, Wilson relied heavily on Metcalf. Metcalf had 10 targets, tied for the most targets on the team. He is likely to carry this streak into the rest of the season, showing promise for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 18.4 Pts.
Busts
Nyheim Hines (RB) Indianapolis Colts (vs. Houston Texans)
With starting running back Marlon Mack out indefinitely due to a fractured hand, Nyheim Hines now fills the void. However, in week 11, when Mack exited the field, it wasn’t Hines who stepped onto the field, but Jonathan Williams, who amassed 116 yards
Even in the shadow of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines has been able to average 6.2 fantasy points per game.
off of 13 carries. Going into week 12, Hines will most likely be part of a committee rather than getting all the carries. Hines also faces a strong Houston rush defense, which ranks 14th in rushing yards allowed to running backs due to a tough defensive line, which has posed problems for fantasy running backs this season. In week 10, Houston held Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette to only 40 rushing yards, 50 yards less than Fournette’s per game average. Houston’s past matchup against the Baltimore Ravens may also hinder Hine’s success. Considering that the Ravens average 203.8 rushing yards per game, ranking first in the NFL, and the Ravens rushed for a total of 263 rushing yards in week 11, Houston will most likely focus on filling the gaps in their rushing game, resulting in Hines facing a well-prepared rush defense. Expect Hines to see a healthy amount of carries but struggle to find running lanes.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 12.1 Pts.
Davante Adams (WR) Green Bay Packers (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
We haven’t seen much of Davante Adams this season, whether it’s because of an injury that sidelined him for four weeks or
Missing four weeks due to a toe injury, Davante Adams returned to the playing field in week nine.
simply a lack of production. However, don’t expect week 12 to be his breakout week as the Packers face the notorious 49ers’ defense, which ranks first in passing yards per game, only allowing an average of 143.8 yards. When wide receivers such as Odell Beckham Jr. of the Cleveland Browns, Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the ruthless 49ers’ pass defense, the three wideouts combined for only a total of 72 yards. Frankly, any wide receiver of any skill level is bound to face issues against the 49ers. For Adams, who has faced injuries and low production this season, expect to see Aaron Rodgers struggling to connect with Adams.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 10.2 Pts.
Tom Brady (QB) New England Patriots (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
Tom Brady is a winning machine and is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean
With an 9-1 record and ranking first in the American Football Conference, the Patriots, headed by Tom Brady, are bound to make a run for another Super Bowl title.
Brady secures a high quantity of points as a fantasy quarterback. Brady has averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game this season, placing him in 11th for fantasy points among quarterbacks. Where we’ve seen Brady struggle this season, in terms of fantasy, is against strong pass defenses. When he faced Buffalo, who ranks third in passing yards allowed, in week 3, Brady only scored 3.4 fantasy points. So far this season, Brady has only faced a top 10 pass defense three times and thus far has had a fairly easy schedule. However, when facing Dallas in week 12, who ranks seventh in passing yards allowed, expect Brady and the Patriots to slow their offense in the air and utilize their running game, headed by running backs James White and Sony Michel.
PPR Scoring Format Projection: 15.4 Pts.