MACK’S SUNDAY SAUCE: NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL (WEEK 9)

This is Mack’s Sunday Sauce comin’ at ya! Always fresh, never stirred, where I’m here to give you your weekly dose of anything goes, no filter FANTASY FOOTBALL advice.

In fantasy football, or just football in general, we’ve all seen it happen. We’ve seen players go off for weeks straight, then come back down to earth and look human. We’ve also seen stars hit such inconsecutive strides that they can’t be trusted every week. Whether a running back, receiver, or tight end for the FLEX case, it has been happening all year. So far in 2017 through just a half season, we’ve see TY Hilton go for 153 yards, 30 yards, 177 yards and 19 yards receiving in four consecutive games! He has beasted, then came back down to earth, then beasted again, and then came back down to earth again! He’s human right? We all are.

But EVERY YEAR, there seems to be that one player that doesn’t come back down to earth. This year it’s been none other than rookie Kareem Hunt, with Todd Gurley II coming in a close 2nd. Two machine-like RB’s that are must starts every week, that may single handedly carry one to a ship. So if you have them, all power to you. But, these guys are a dime a dozen, so sometimes, we need to analyze how the ‘inconsistent studs’ will play, or even the deep sleepers. So without further ado, let’s get to it; and while the sauce is always delicious, sometimes you just gotta’ go with that burger, fries and black and white milk shake of a gut!

1. Jared Goff, QB – LA Rams @ NY Giants - 1pm

Nor a star or a sleeper, Goff fits the profile for ‘The Sauce’ this week regardless. The Rams are rested coming off of a bye and are heading to New York to play the 1-6 NY Football Giants who are giving up the fifth most fantasy points to QB’s through eight weeks. QB’s have thrown for at least 1 TD in every single game vs. the G-Men this season, and have averaged about 20 fantasy points per game (just less than five points above the average). The Giants will also have their hands tied with Todd Gurley, and while they have been decent against the run, Goff should open doors and help complement the run game getting his receivers some serious burn. If you have a QB on a bye or one that is injured or traded, you can do worse than Mr. Goff this week. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 270 Yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s

2. Kenyan Drake, RB – Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders -- SNF 8:30pm

Well, sometimes it takes an injured or traded player to make room for a quoted young talent who hasn’t yet had a ‘real shot’. After picking him up in two leagues, second year RB Kenyan Drake gets his ‘real shot’ along with Damien Williams who will be battling for the starting spot after Jay Ajayi’s trade to Philadelphia. In the past, Williams has been a pass catching, third down type back, and it’s been rumored that Drake will start and be the early down back for at least this week hosting Oakland on Sunday Night Football. Thinking about the Dolphins’ offense, Ajayi’s workload alone tells you that Drake and Williams will need to step in and get ready to run the football. Separately, most of the time, just having the title of the starting back on the depth chart makes one roster worthy at the very least in fantasy, and Drake is one of those waiver wire guys this week. Oakland is giving up the eighth most fantasy points to opposing RB’s, so rolling with Drake is sneakily OK this week. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 15 carries, 63 yards 1 TD

3. Ted Ginn Jr. , WR – NO Saints vs. TB Bucs - 1pm

Oh Ted Ginn. One of the biggest boom or bust receivers in the last 10 years is now on the Saints with Drew Brees (which makes it even harder to predict when the boom will come). Well, actually, he is close to being on pace for a 1,000 yard season in 2017 if you look at his numbers; and this week, the Saints are at home against the Bucs. Drew Brees loves playing at home. Brees and Co. will also love facing off against a Bucs secondary giving up the second most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing wide receivers so far this season, and the seventh most fantasy points to opposing QB’s. Also, everyone is predicting a monster day from Michael Thomas, so there will be a lot of attention on the second year stud. Don’t be surprised if Ginn reaps those benefits and breaks one loose. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 3 CATCHES, 87 YARDS, 1 TD

4. Tyler Kroft, TE – Cincy @ Jacksonville - 1pm

The 6’6”, 260 lb. Kroft is slowly but surely coming into his own. In just five starts since Tyler Eifert went down yet again, this Tyler (Kroft) has 200 yards receiving, 3 TD’s, and at least four catches in each of his last four games. At a very thin position to begin with, the scrappy Jacksonville Jaguars are giving up over 10 fantasy points per game to the TE position so far this season, and Dalton’s favorable schedule as of late is giving him the opportunity for consistent solid play. Cincy played Indy last week, Jacksonville this week, and the Titans next week. Their offense should ride on last week’s spark for at least another two outings, and after catching five balls last week and a TD the week before, Kroft emerges as a top ten fantasy TE in Week 9. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 5 RECEPTIONS, 58 YARDS, 1 TD

5. Jeremy Maclin, RB – Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans - 1pm

Let’s start a new trend for the fifth slot; vets who have slowed down and a lot of fantasy players have forgotten about, but shouldn’t. In his ninth season, at almost 30 years old, Maclin falls into this category, especially this week. A fan favorite since coming out of Missouri, he has an OG reputation in the NFL. He has been slightly banged up, but when playing, he has been able to find the end zone in half of the games he’s played in. With so much going on in the NFL, many injuries, byes, and headlines, sometimes it’s easier to look on your bench than the waiver wire. This week, Jeremy heads to Tennessee, who are in the bottom 10 when it comes to defending WR’s in 2017 for fantasy purposes. As bad as Joe Flacco has been, he will still need to get Maclin involved and exploit Tennessee’s weak secondary. He does have a questionable tag, but if he plays, you can do worse than Jeremy Maclin this week. BOLD STATLINE PREDICTION: 4 receptions, 67 yards 1 TD

• MACK

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