Hold on to your crab legs people, because Jameis Winston might throw a fantasy party this week.
The rookie Buccaneers quarterback — who once notoriously “forgot” to pay a supermarket for his seafood feast while at Florida State, among other more serious allegations — appears to be catching up to the NFL after a rough start to the season. And this week, he gets a crack at a Giants defense that just gave up seven touchdown passes to Drew Brees and the Saints.
Through his first four games, Winston had four touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He wasn’t quite JaMarcus Russell bad, but he was leaning more that way than toward franchise-quarterback status.
In three games since, his numbers haven’t jumped off the stat page, but can be considered growth — because they were eye-popping early on for all the wrong reasons.
He has four touchdowns and no interceptions over the past three games while averaging 228 yards a game — or close to what Brees did against the Giants last week in the first half.
Sure, those numbers don’t translate to fantasy success — they are more like the skinny snow crab legs you get at a Chinese buffet than the meaty king crab you can find at a fine seafood joint — but they should give the coaching staff more confidence to let him throw more often.
Also bear in mind, Winston was without top receiver Mike Evans for much of training camp and the first two games, which paved the way for a big start by Vincent Jackson. So it’s taking some time for Winston and Evans to establish a rapport. More games like Evans’ Week 6 explosion — eight catches for 164 yards and a TD against Washington — should be ahead, and this week is prime candidate to deliver such an afternoon.
Though Doug Martin likely will get a healthy dose of carries — and expect a large portion to be directly at Jason Pierre-Paul, the most famous nine-fingered Giants pass rusher of all time — fellow running back Charles Sims has been an effective weapon in the passing game, and the Giants have been victimized by pass-catching backs this season for big yards or TDs — Lance Dunbar, Chris Thompson, Karlos Williams, C.J. Spiller.
And if tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) returns from a five-game absence, well that’s just the cup of drawn butter on the side for those delicious crab legs.
With six teams on byes this week, Winston can be a good fill-in, and with an affordable price tag at daily sites ($5,200 at DraftKings; $6,700 at FanDuel), he provides a cheap option with a big upside for tournament play.
Big weeks
Jay Cutler QB, Bears
at Chargers (DraftKings $5,200; FanDuel $7,100)
The Bears just lost their top weapon in RB Matt Forte, so a few extra passes should be in order. Chargers have yielded 19 or more fantasy points to opposing QBs five times.
Antonio Andrews RB, Titans
at Falcons (DK $3,600; FD $5,700)
Has taken over Titans feature role from Bishop Sankey. With rookie David Cobb unlikely to be activated this week, Andrews gets another crack — this one against a Saints run defense almost as bad as the Saints pass defense.
Robert Woods WR, Bills
vs. Dolphins (DK $3,500; FD $4,900)
With Percy Harvin likely out again, Woods should get plenty of snaps. Plus, starting QB Tyrod Taylor is expected to return. No EJ Manuel is a good thing for fantasy owners.
Heath Miller TE, Steelers
vs. Raiders (DK $2,700; FD $5,800)
He’s everything you want from a fill-in tight end: He has a good QB, he’s cheap on daily sites, likely available in full-season formats, and he is playing the Raiders. Jackpot.
Small weaks
Andrew Luck QB, Colts
vs. Broncos (DK $7,000; FD $8,700)
Furious fourth-quarter rally vs. Panthers week upgrade abysmal fantasy outing to just bad. Broncos put clamps on Aaron Rodgers and Packers last week.
Mark Ingram RB, Saints
vs. Titans (DK $6,500; FD $7,700)
Sure, Ingram owners no longer have to worry about Khiry Robinson vulturing TDs, but the Titans can play a little defense. Tennessee has given up one rushing score to RBs in the past four games.
Randall Cobb WR, Packers
at Panthers (DK $6,800; FD $7,400)
In season-long formats, it might be tough to find a replacement on a busy bye week. But in daily leagues, price is too steep here, going against stingy Panthers defense and cornerback Josh Norman.
Jason Witten TE, Cowboys
vs. Eagles (DK $5,200; FD $5,600)
Everything you want to avoid in a starting tight end: Bad QB, overpriced on daily sites, and he’s playing the fourth-stingiest defense for fantasy TE production. Plus he hasn’t scored since Week 1.
Tweet of the week
The Decision
Post fantasy Madman Drew Loftis and Roto Files columnist Jarad Wilk debate whom you should start this week:
LeGarrette Blount vs. Jeremy Langford
Drew: Blount — Maybe Langford’s great. Maybe he’s not. We haven’t seen enough of him to know. But what little we have seen isn’t overly impressive — 3.0 yards per carry, limited use in the passing game. Give me the bruising Patriots RB in a matchup against the Redskins that could get out of hand early. Like a Week 3 whitewashing of the Jaguars, expect garbage-time TDs for Blount.
Jarad: Langford — Langford’s 3.0 yards per carry is nonsense — he never had more than six carries in a game before receiving 12 last week while (3.83 yards per carry) filling in for Matt Forte. San Diego’s defense is awful. They’re allowing 5.0 yards per carry (most in the league), 124.6 rushing yards per game and 28.4 points per game. They also have allowed eight rushing TDs (Redskins have allowed just four). With the Bears averaging almost 24 points over their past four games, Langford will be busy on Monday.
Last week: Drew 38 (Eli Manning — 350 pass yards, 6 pass TDs), Jarad 8 (Ben Roethlisberger — 262 pass yards, 1 pass TD, 3 INTs)
Season series: Drew leads, 6-2