@Tha_Scizz – Took a week off for the Holiday but I hope you heard our Thanksgiving Diamonds and Fugazi podcast. We hit with Theo Riddick and told you Josh Norman was gonna shut down Dez Bryant and eat his Turkey. With all the injuries to elite Tight Ends (NSFW) like Gronk, Graham, and Eifert I figured I’d give you some thoughts on who to take a look at to keep it going heading into the fantasy playoffs with a special TE-only edition of Diamonds and Fugazi’s…
Diamond 1 – Vance McDonald. Don’t look now but the 49ers have actually looked better with Blaine Gabbert, who has thrown for a touchdown in each of his 3 starts. I hit when I gave you Garret Celek in Week 9 (you’re welcome ROX) but it’s actually been McDonald who has triple the targets and a TD streak of his own, and that was before Celek went down with an ankle injury. McDonald will get that all day breakfast and help your squad eat this week if you need to replace Gronk or Graham.
9 Targets, 60+ Yards, TD
Diamond 2 – Zack Miller. I’m sticking with the same game for my 2nd Diamond. Zack Miller has seen more time recently now that Adam Gase is using more of that 2-TE stuff over from Denver. That was before the Black Unicorn missed the Green Bay game last week, and I like Miller even if Bennett comes back this week. He’s got 4 TD’s in his last 4 games, and with this position being so TD dependent with the mid-tier guys it’s a good option for Touchdown Cilo – 4,5,6 and the 49ers become casualties of this dice game.
4 Rec, 50+ Yards, TD
Bonus Diamonds – I’m not mad if you go with the replacements, Scott Chandler in New England or Luke Wilson in Seattle. But don’t get fooled by these Fugazi’s
Fugazi 1 – Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings are a hot team right now (I look good for my Over Total wins bet) and Rudolph has been great lately with 19 targets in his last two weeks. But this isn’t the week for Reindeer games. Consider that before the last two against Atlanta and Green Bay, Kyle didn’t have more than 2 receptions in any game since week 2, and Minnesota will face Seattle and a Legion of Boom that’s rounding into playoff form and makes me think more Blitzen than Rudolph. Teddy Bridgewater only has 8 passing TD’s this year in 11 games, so you’ll have to help me find a reason to think this is where he goes off.
<5 Rec, <40 Receiving Yards
Fugazi 2 – Gary Barnidge. Remember when I correctly gave out Antonio Brown as a Fugazi and made the argument that it was tied to the Quarterback? Same logic here. Josh McCown was a much better option in Cleveland over whoever is gonna play for the Browns, and they are coming off the kind of loss where you just want to go back to the bye week and party some more. Austin Davis looked more towards the WR’s in his stint last week, and who knows what happens if the other guy plays. Cleveland also hosts the Bengals who give up the fewest PPG in the league (17.5) this week. This is not the week to get on the “LeBarn” train, Fuggeddoboughtit! He’s a Fugazi for week 13
<5 Rec, <60 Rec Yards