My Friday Discord AMA was fun, as usual. Users asked a wide variety of questions. A player with emergency-starter appeal this week, and long-term handcuff upside was in a few questions. Another user asked about holding a defense, which was the opening I needed to discuss defenses below. Finally, a second-year wideout was the topic of a few inquiries.
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Is Trey Benson a Viable Desperation Option in Week 12 and a High-End Handcuff Going Forward?
Trey Benson had a slow start to his rookie season. However, he’s had at least 50 scrimmage yards in three of his last six contests, including back-to-back games before Arizona’s Week 11 bye. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, since Week 5, Benson has had 135 rushing yards (27.0 per game), 5.63 yards per carry, an 8.3% explosive run rate, 41.7% stuff percentage, 0.17 missed tackles forced per attempt, a rushing touchdown, 0.21 targets per route run, three receptions (0.6 per game), 43 receiving yards (8.6 per game) and 3.07 yards per route run.
Benson has flashed big-play potential, and his role grew before Arizona’s bye. He could be a post-bye rookie bump candidate in the Cardinals’ run-heavy offense. According to RotoViz’s pace app, since Week 7, the Cardinals have had the second-highest situation-neutral rush rate (52%).
James Conner has thrived in Arizona’s offense. He’s not in danger of being overtaken on the depth chart. Still, Benson could see enough work in a change-of-pace role to succeed against the Seahawks. Seattle is tied for the 10th-most half point-per-reception (half PPR) points per game (21.7) yielded to running backs this season. Thus, Benson is a viable emergency starter this week over players such as Cam Akers, Ameer Abdullah and Roschon Johnson — as long as D’Andre Swift is active.
Benson is also a high-priority handcuff for the fantasy playoffs. From Week 15 through Week 17, Arizona will play the Patriots, Panthers and Rams. The Patriots are tied for the 10th-most half PPR points per game allowed to running backs, and the Panthers have coughed up the most (28.3). Benson is an excellent handcuff for Conner. Yet, I’d also prioritize stashing him on benches over the backup running backs for the Dolphins, Packers and Eagles, even for gamers with De’Von Achane, Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley.
Should Gamers Hold Top Fantasy Defenses With Difficult Playoff Schedules?
I haven’t made it a secret. I prefer to stream defenses all year. However, holding a defense, even a top-shelf one, in matchups against top-shelf quarterbacks and offenses in the fantasy playoffs is an unnecessary misstep. I was explicitly asked about holding the Steelers DST. Their playoff schedule is a nightmare, and Pittsburgh’s DST shouldn’t be held.
Instead, gamers should stream. Moreover, gamers with a bench spot to stash a defense for the fantasy playoffs should consider the Chiefs, Ravens, Cardinals or Bills while streaming in the interim. Pairing the Cardinals and Bills is a fun combination. Arizona will face the Patriots at home, the Panthers on the road and the Rams on the road from Week 15 through Week 17. Meanwhile, the Bills have a brutal road matchup against the Lions in Week 15 before facing the Patriots and Jets in Buffalo in Week 16 and Week 17.
Should Gamers Start Josh Downs This Week?
Josh Downs had an excellent game last week in Anthony Richardson‘s return to the starting gig. Downs had five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth straight game of at least 60 receiving yards.
While Downs’s showing in Week 11 was encouraging, he had only five targets. The second-year pro is likely a more volatile fantasy option with Richardson as the starter instead of Joe Flacco. The following table has Downs’s stats via the data suite at Fantasy Points in three games (Week 7, Week 8 and Week 11) when Richardson had at least a 98% snap share and five (Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 8 and Week 9) when Flacco had at least an 80% snap share.
Flacco peppered Downs with shallower throws, allowing him to rack up a boatload of receptions. The second-year wideout has a more boom-or-bust profile on Richardson's deeper and, often, inaccurate passes. I was asked about Downs in start-or-sit questions versus Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jakobi Meyers, Jayden Reed and Jameson Williams. Meyers is the only member of the quartet I'd definitely start Downs over, and Reed is a toss-up now that Brock Purdy is out for the 49ers, enhancing the chances the Packers will be in a positive game script and able to lean on the running attack. JSN and Williams are slam-dunk picks over Downs.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.