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Fantasy Football Heat Index: Mike White, Zay Jones, Brian Robinson

Fantasy Football Heat Index: Mike White, Zay Jones, Brian Robinson

Welcome to The Heat Index!

For those unfamiliar with the column, every Monday during the NFL season, we dig into the players whose performances through Sunday jumped out to us the most. Along with their stats (half-point PPR scoring) and positional rank for the week, we’ll rank their rest-of-season prospects on a scale of 🔥 to 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Week 12 saw Josh Jacobs (RB – LV) run all over the Seahawks, but we already knew he was good. Below are some players whose production was unexpected.

Quarterback

Mike White (QB – NYJ)

  • Stat-line:  22 of 28 passing for 315 yards with 3 TDs and no INTs
  • QB Rank:  6

Analysis:  Mike White got the call for the Jets this week with Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ) benched and had a better fantasy day than Wilson’s had all season. White showed flashes of potential last season over four starts but had a penchant for interceptions. The question is whether Coach Saleh will stick with White since the Jets are in playoff contention or go back to Wilson, who has struggled this season. If White remains the starter, he’s got an excellent schedule going forward, except for the Jets’ Week 14 matchup against the Bills.  

Heat Index:  🔥🔥🔥 if he’s starting

Wide Receiver

Zay Jones (WR – JAX)

  • Stat-line:  Eleven catches off 14 targets for 145 yards and a 2pt conversion
  • WR Rank:  5

Analysis:  Jones made the Heat Index after Week 3 but had been relatively quiet until this week. We thought it worth bringing him back up for two reasons. First, 14 targets are impressive. Jones has been heavily targeted all season, with a 19.5% share heading into this week despite missing one game due to injury. Second, his schedule is very promising over the next two weeks when the Jaguars face two of the worst pass defenses in the league in Detroit and Tennessee. He’s a solid streamer for those matchups, particularly if Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAX), who left Sunday’s game early with a foot injury, is out.

Heat Index:  🔥🔥🔥 for Weeks 13 & 14, 🔥🔥 after that

Isaiah McKenzie (WR – BAL)

  • Stat-line:  Six catches off ten targets for 96 yards and a TD, seven yards rushing
  • WR Rank:  7

Analysis:  McKenzie is the clear third receiver on the Bills, playing most of his snaps out of the slot. He led the Bills’ wideouts in yards on Thursday against a Lions’ defense that has been one of the worst against slot receivers in 2022. McKenzie has scored in double-digits only three times this season, and the schedule isn’t too favorable for the rest of the season. Outside of deep leagues, you will likely find better options on the waiver wire.

Heat Index:  🔥

Running Back

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS)

  • Stat-line:  Eighteen carries for 105 yards; two receptions off three targets for 20 yards and a TD
  • RB Rank:  6

Analysis:  Robinson had the best game of his career on Sunday, eclipsing 100 yards rushing for the first time on a stellar 5.8 yards per carry. His TD came through the air, which was a surprise since he had only four catches on the season coming into the contest. It helped that he faced a putrid Falcons’ run defense, but his usage is a good sign for fantasy managers as Antonio Gibson (RB – WAS) had been the more productive Commanders’ running back of late. Robinson has three more games on the schedule where he may be worth a flex start in Weeks 13 & 15 against the Giants and Week 17 against the Browns. How many snaps he plays may depend on the game script, though, so he probably needs to score to be worth the start.

Heat Index:  🔥🔥

JaMycal Hasty (RB – JAX)

  • Stat-line:  12 carries for 28 yards; five catches off five targets for 67 yards and a TD
  • RB Rank:  7

Analysis:  Hasty got the bulk of the work for Jacksonville on Sunday after Travis Etienne Jr. sustained an injury early in the contest. He wasn’t very efficient running the ball but had an excellent day as a pass-catcher. Should Etienne miss more time, Hasty will be on the fantasy radar. However, keep in mind that the Jags recently signed Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB – JAX), who was inactive this week. Henderson is the more accomplished back and could supplant Hasty while Etienne is out.

Heat Index:  🔥

Tight End

Josh Oliver (TE – BAL)

  • Stat-line:  Four receptions off six targets for 76 yards and a TD
  • TE Rank:  2

Analysis:  Oliver seemed to come out of nowhere this week, but he actually had played more snaps than the injured Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL) heading into Sunday. However, his usage in the passing game has been minimal, with only seven catches on the season prior to this week. Even if Likely misses more time, it’s unlikely Oliver will put together another fantasy-relevant day this season.

Heat Index:  🔥

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