Fantasy football owners seem to get smarter every year. The leagues seem to get deeper. The competition seems to get better. That's partially because of the sheer amount of information available to fantasy geeks willing to put the time in. But it's not always easy to find sound fantasy advice on players filling out the back ends of fantasy depth charts.
That's where we'll try to help fill in the gaps. Every week, we'll look at the Patriots matchup and try to help you decide which players to start and which to sit -- or which to invest in if you're playing in a daily format. You know you're playing Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and James White every week, regardless of format. You know you're playing Rob Gronkowski, when healthy. But this is where we'll delve a little deeper with the information we've gleaned by being on the beat. Hopefully someone somewhere finds it helpful.
START
JOSH GORDON, WR, PATRIOTS
Gordon was finally removed from the Patriots injury report, indicating that his hamstring is finally fully healthy. Perhaps now that he's healthy he'll be able to improve his conditioning level. Either way, he's still a threat in the contested-catch game, and Brady clearly trusts him. He's averaging eight targets per game over the last four weeks and will continue to be a critical part of the offense -- particularly if Rob Gronkowski misses more time. He's easily a WR2 and could even be considered a back-end WR1.
DION LEWIS, RB, TITANS
The Titans are going to have to dink-and-dunk their way down the field against the Patriots (second-fewest explosive plays in 2018, per ESPN), and there are few better weapons for that kind of attack than Lewis. In a PPR league, he's a legitimate RB2 this week. He played a season-high 84.3 percent of Titans snaps on Monday night against the Cowboys, and he had 23 total touches (19 carries, four catches on four targets). The Patriots have had their issues chasing backs out of the backfield, allowing 61 yards receiving on nine targets per game, ranking 25th in that department, per Football Outsiders. They've allowed 550 receiving yards in total to backs, second-most in football. Lewis is still dangerous as a runner as well as he is sixth in football in yards after first contact, averaging 2.42.
SONY MICHEL, RB, PATRIOTS
We thought there was a chance Michel might play last week. He didn't, but early this week ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Michel was on track to play in Tennessee. If he does, and if he sees something approaching a full workload, the rookie will have plenty of fantasy relevance. The Patriots simply don't have much else in the backfield. Cordarrelle Patterson has been a find for the Patriots running game with Michel out, but odds are the team would like to see the bulk of the carries that have gone to Patterson go to their first-round runner instead. Also, James White's usage as a between-the-tackles option will likely take a step back with Michel in. White is so critical to the offense as a pass-catcher that if the Patriots can preserve his health by running him less often, then that should mean more on Michel's plate. Remember: Before Michel was hurt, he was two yards away from back-to-back-to-back 100-yard games. He's an RB2 if healthy.
No-brainer starts in re-draft leagues: Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, James White
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE
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- Belichick puts Gilmore in class with Law & Talib
SIT
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ROB GRONKOWSKI, TE, PATRIOTS
Gronkowski clearly isn't himself. He's hurt, and he may be better off if he can get another week of rest leading into the bye week. That would end up being three consecutive weeks away from game action before hitting the stretch run. Not a bad idea if the Patriots feel as though they can get through Tennessee without him. If Gronkowski is active, you probably have to start him, but given his health, you should be making plans to keep him on your bench in the event he doesn't play.
COREY DAVIS, WR, TITANS
Davis is the clear-cut No. 1 wideout for Tennessee. He should be in line for a good percentage of his team's targets in a game where his team should be forced to throw the football to keep pace with the Patriots. I'm still benching him if he's on my team. This is the Stephon Gilmore Effect. Davante Adams scraped through with a good fantasy day because he got into the end zone, but he was held to two catches for 15 yards with Gilmore on him. Davis is bigger than Adams, but he's not the talent Adams is, and he doesn't have nearly the same level quarterback throwing him the football.
DERRICK HENRY, RB, TITANS
As Lewis' usage has surged, Henry's has gone in the other direction. The Titans will still use their two backs simultaneously on occasion, but Henry finished with just six carries on Monday night for 27 yards. He's capable of getting into the end zone, but the Patriots have allowed just three rushing touchdowns all season, and they had Henry's number in the Divisional Round last year. He had 12 attempts for 28 yards -- with a long of four yards -- that day.
CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, WR, PATRIOTS
This isn't to say that Patterson could all of a sudden lose his role offensively if Michel is back in the lineup. Maybe the Patriots have seen enough from Patterson to continue to feed him opportunities. Maybe they'll want to limit Michel as he works his way back from a knee injury suffered in Chicago. I just don't believe he can be trusted as a starter at this point in anything but a deep league where you're depending on the fact that he could go for a long score even if he only sees a few touches. He is available in most fantasy leagues as a running back now so if your depth there is lacking and you want to grab him and stash him on your bench in the event Michel gets hurt again, I'd support that decision.
MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, TITANS
Can't do it. Not that you were thinking about it. But don't. Maybe in a two-quarterback league. Maybe? Otherwise, you can't play Mariota this week. He's the second-worst quarterback in football on first down (72.8 rating), and he's one of the worst in the league outside the pocket (51.6 rating). He's mobile, but he doesn't throw on the run. He could have an opportunity at a scramble score, and maybe you're desperate enough to start him based on that opportunity alone. But the Patriots handled a mobile quarterback last week (albeit less athletic than Mariota), who also happens to be one of the most accurate quarterbacks of all time. And if you're hoping Mariota will be able to execute against New England's bend-don't-break defense (78 rating going into Monday night), I wouldn't.
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