We continued our streak of crushing value at tight end last week, with a big performance from T.J. Hockenson against the Lions’ defense. That’s exactly what we’re looking for with these picks: identifying favorable matchups and overlooked players who can outperform their draft position. This week, I’m recommending four more players as cornerstones for your Quicktasy lineups.
>> Worried about injuries if you draft early? Don’t sweat it; you have two post-draft edits for each lineup.
Baker Mayfield (QB – TB)
Typically, drafting a quarterback who completed zero passes the previous week would be ill-advised. But it’s obvious Todd Bowles knew exactly what he was doing against an Atlanta run-funnel defense in a downpour. I’m not going to overreact to one unusual game, especially when Baker enters what is by far his best matchup of the season. All five of his starts so far have come against top-10 pass defenses. Now he gets an ideal game script against Chicago, a defense sitting in the bottom quartile. On Quicktasy, you can draft two quarterbacks, and with our premium QB scoring, it’s worth reaching for a quality gunslinger in what’s expected to be a favorable game environment. Don’t let last week’s box score scare you away from a quarterback who finally gets a chance to air it out.
Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)
Any time you can get a running back coming off a disastrous week, you know his Field% is likely to end up below 5%. That’s leverage over your competition, and it’s exactly the kind of opportunity we want to exploit. Judkins played just 39% of the snaps last week because the game got out of hand early in Pittsburgh, forcing Cleveland to rely more heavily on Dylan Sampson, its primary pass-catching back. But let’s not forget that Judkins racked up 78 touches over his previous four starts. That’s the workload I’m interested in, not one ugly game that was dictated by the scoreboard. With a healthier game script expected against a Saints defense that has been getting shredded on the ground lately, Judkins has a sneaky chance to find the end zone twice. Getting that kind of upside from a seventh- or eighth-round Quicktasy pick is exactly what we’re after.
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Rashee Rice (WR – KC)
You won’t find me hyping Rashee Rice very often. His ADP was wildly inflated in each of the past two seasons, but with the injury, his Week 9 ADP has plummeted all the way to a low-end WR2. That price would be acceptable on its own, but here’s what makes him so appealing: he has virtually no competition for targets in the Chiefs’ lackluster receiver corps. More importantly, the Jets have allowed an absurd 8.6 yards per pass attempt over the last three weeks, by far the worst mark in the league. That’s a recipe for a big performance from a receiver who could command a massive share of the passing offense. At his current draft cost, Rice is the single best value on the slate. Don’t let past ADP inflation keep you from taking advantage of what could be a tremendous buying opportunity.
Greg Dulcich (TE – MIA)
Healthy snap count? Check. Dulcich has played more than 70% of the snaps all season. Ideal game script? Check. As seven-point underdogs, the Dolphins should be forced to pass most of the game. Perfect matchup? SUPER check, and that may actually be an understatement. The Lions have already allowed tight ends to combine for 61 receptions, 684 yards, and 11 touchdowns in just seven games this season. Dulcich isn’t the most talented tight end in the world, but we don’t need him to be. We’re looking for a solid bet to finish inside the top 12 at a position where the matchup is practically begging us to take advantage. You can grab him with your final pick of your Quicktasy drafts or use a variation edit to create unique exposures. At that price, I’ll gladly take my chances.
Jett Morris is a Sr. Fantasy Analyst for Quicktasy. Draft against his rankings today…but try to avoid being sniped!
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