Any given Sunday in the NFL gives us a whole new set of fantasy football trends each week. We have organized some of the big trends here in order to help you answer some of the questions you may have about these trending fantasy football players for NFL Week 13.
Should I hold on to Dameon Pierce? | Fantasy Football Trends
Dameon Pierce has been a source of concern for fantasy football owners for the past month and a half, with his low scoring and ankle injury being the two main contributors. His return in Week 12 was underwhelming, as he only managed five carries and a reception, accumulating a total of 18 scrimmage yards. This performance marked his third consecutive game with under five PPR fantasy points, 50 scrimmage yards, and being outscored by Devin Singletary.
As we enter the final stretch of the fantasy football regular season and approach the playoffs, it might be wise to keep Dameon Pierce if you have the available bench space. Despite his recent struggles, finding a backup running back who still receives solid carries and can contribute some scrimmage yards is challenging. Pierce serves as a valuable insurance policy, and in the event that Devin Singletary is unable to play, he could potentially become a reliable starter.
However, it’s essential to monitor the waiver wire for any enticing names that may emerge for the remainder of the season at the running back position. If a promising option becomes available and is likely to assume a starting role, you can consider making the move to secure that player and, if necessary, parting ways with Pierce.
Is Diontae Johnson’s “Behavior” Affecting His Fantasy Value? | Fantasy Football Trends
Diontae Johnson is having an adventurous last two games. First, the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada, then a little later it came out that Diontae Johnson got into a “heated argument” with Minkah Fitzpatrick until Cameron Heyward and TJ Watt broke it up. Then, you have the viral video of Johnson not wanting to block and not attempt to recover a fumble or try to tackle. Despite all of this, I don’t think this is going to affect the Diontae Johnson fantasy football value.
The Steelers recently achieved a noteworthy milestone by recording 400 yards of offense for the first time in 59 games. While that happened, I would approach that stat with caution, as it was only one game, but it did demonstrate that the Steelers offense has the potential to achieve positive results. In this game, Johnson garnered the second-highest number of targets, behind Pat Freiermuth.
Looking ahead, Johnson faces favorable matchups against the Cardinals and Patriots. The Cardinals have allowed wide receivers to go off in their recent two road games, allowing a 139-yard receiver to score a touchdown. Additionally, next week, they face the Patriots who have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position throughout the season.
Considering these enticing matchups, I would suggest riding the wave of Diontae Johnson over the next two weeks. This period will provide further insight into whether the recent success of the Steelers offense was a one-game fluke or a sign of positive developments that could impact Johnson’s fantasy production.
Zach Ertz is a Free Agent | Fantasy Football Trends
JJ Watt stole Adam Schefter’s role for the day and reported that Zach Ertz requested and was granted his release from the Cardinals. After that happened, Ertz cleared waivers and is now exploring options to sign with a Super Bowl contender. While this is a positive development for Ertz personally, it will likely not translate to significant fantasy value, given the limited number of Super Bowl-contending teams likely to boost his fantasy outlook.
Personally, there are only two teams where Ertz might find fantasy relevance, particularly as these teams are in playoff contention. The first is the Miami Dolphins, where Durham Smythe has not provided a great solution at tight end, with no games over 50 receiving yards and minimal targets since Week 1. The second potential landing spot is the Baltimore Ravens, where Ertz could serve as a replacement for Mark Andrews, especially if they decide to add depth despite having Isaiah Likely.
In summary, it’s reasonable to drop Zach Ertz in fantasy leagues, if he hasn’t already been dropped. There is just not enough time, as after this week there are only five more regular season games. There could be an adjustment period of one to two games, where he has to familiarize himself with a new playbook.
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