As the blank chapter of 2022 presents itself to us, the final words of In-Between Media’s second fantasy football season are written.
So much has changed in my life since launching the company independently, just months before the 2020 NFL season. The city I live in, who I live in it with and the overarching direction of my life. I now have a team of amazing creators surrounding me, composed of individuals I now consider my best friends.
Together, our work has built us a network of other fantasy sports content creators who we – a company built on giving advice for all facets of life – lean on for direction. We’ve also built a connection with an audience that is so genuine that I’ll continue to write this column well past if I ever do find myself out of this in-between stage of life.
Since pushing off the dock 19 months ago into this adventure, I’ve created many new memories and reconnected with people who no longer have to be just memories. I’ve learned time and again that life is short. I now feel more empowered to never let anything ever take control of my life again – a job, people, a fantasy football championship-deciding start/sit decision.
I’d say the only thing that hasn’t changed is my hunger. The thing deep inside me that drives me to make whatever difference in the world I can. Whether that’s giving someone life advice, the motivation to chase their dreams or damn it, just the best fantasy football lineup advice I can give them.
That, and I still very much find myself within the in-between. I don’t know where this business, this industry and this unbelievable journey that is my life will take me. But I know wherever it does, I’ll be here – ready to embrace every open, shut and half hanging-on door it takes me through.
In this new chapter of your life – 2022 – I ask you to do the same. It may be scary. The uncertainty and unanswered questions may provoke unwanted feelings. But all of it will be worth it when you find those feelings of pure, uninterrupted bliss in your life.
Why don’t we do the same for fantasy football in 2022, as well? Let us relish in the rainy days of April leading into the NFL draft. Embrace the university humidity at training camps in August. And enjoy every single touchdown for your team.
Thank you to all those who came along for any addition of “Start, Sit & Seth” between the snaps of each regular season week of NFL football. One final installment offering my hits, misses and lessons learned from the 2021 fantasy football season will be released later this month.
Alright, and here we go.
The following start/sit selections are based on stats, trends and film research, reflecting value in Points Per Reception (PPR) Redraft Leagues.
Quarterback I’d Start this Week:
Russell Wilson (Seattle): There’s already been a ton of speculation that this week could be Russell Wilson’s final game as a Seattle Seahawk. While that’s a topic for another time, one thing is for sure either way: Wilson is going to go out with a bang.
Last week, Wilson had his season-high fantasy output at 27.8 fantasy points, thanks to four touchdowns, the first time he’s done that since Week 1. I think he rides the hot hand out of the season, largely due to the great matchup.
Arizona is banged up on both sides of the ball, which has led them to be a bottom-three matchup to quarterbacks over the past month. If both Jared Goff and Carson Wentz could handle this defense now, so can Wilson this week.
Quarterback I’d Sit this Week:
Derek Carr (Las Vegas): There is no doubt that what Derek Carr has done, leading the Raiders to a 9-7 record despite the chaos in the locker room, has been nothing short of amazing. But it has not translated to fantasy success.
I called Carr’s mirage of fantasy greatness early this season and suggested you move on from the Fresno State University product prior to his Week 4 matchup with the Chargers. Since then, Carr has been the QB25 on a points-per-game basis.
Some analysts are suggesting to go back to Carr this week now that the Chargers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the past month. I’m not buying and not risking it. Especially with the possibility that if the Colts lose, these two teams could kneel the entire game to end the game in a tie to make the playoffs.
Running Back I’d Start this Week:
D’Onta Foreman (Tennessee): With Derrick Henry seen practicing – eyeing a return after a potential first-round playoff bye for the Titans – this may be the final time for D’Onta Foreman to silence the critics and get a reasonable contract offer for next season.
Foreman has filled in valiantly for Henry, averaging 82.6 rushing yards per game since Week 12. To finish off his run as the Titans starter, Foreman will face the Texans defense that struggles to stop the position almost more than any team in the league. Starting running backs against the Texans over the past month have averaged 24.4 PPR points.
To say I’m interested in starting Foreman this week would be an understatement.
Running Back I’d Sit this Week:
Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta): After being arguably the best waiver wire addition across leagues for a majority of the season, it’s been a disappointing last three games for Cordarrelle Patterson who has 19.8 PPR points in the three outings combined.
Perhaps the biggest factor leading to the low production for Patterson has been his increased volume this season finally catching up to him. Patterson currently has 200 touches on the season. Prior to 2021, his career-high was 87 touches in any of his eight previous seasons.
Patterson’s wear and tear is met with a poor matchup against the New Orleans Saints this week. The Saints have allowed a league-low 3.5 Yards Per Carry (YPC) this season. Unlike many rush defenses that start out hot, the Saints have maintained it, allowing just one total touchdown to the position over the past month and pacing as the fifth-worst matchup for the position during that span.
Wide Receiver I’d Start this Week:
Christian Kirk (Arizona): Christian Kirk has quietly had a breakout season in his fourth with the Cardinals. Kirk has set career highs this season in catch percentage, receptions and receiving yards. And he’ll look to cap it off this week with the Seattle Seahawks visiting.
Seattle’s defense has certainly been toasted by receivers over the past month, offering an average of 40.1 PPR points per game to them during that time. However, this call is more about the increased volume Kirk has seen as the team’s No. 1 receiver since DeAndre Hopkins was lost to injury.
In the three games without Hopkins, Kirk has averaged 10 targets per game. He hasn’t set the world on fire with those numbers, but he’s averaged 16.7 PPR points per game, good enough for the PPR WR13 during that span. I expect at least that output this week, if not more in the regular-season finale in Glendale, Arizona.
Wide Receiver I’d Sit this Week:
D.J. Moore (Carolina): Despite the hot start, DJ Moore’s mediocre fantasy season has come at the helm of another disappointing season for the Carolina Panthers’ offense. The Panthers currently rank 30th in the NFL in total offensive yards, 29th in points scored and 29th in passing yards.
It hasn’t been any better since the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Brady as the Panthers have averaged just 198 passing yards since with a combination of Cam Newton and Sam Darnold playing quarterback.
While Moore’s matchup against Tampa Bay is nothing to be afraid of, the overall lack of momentum in the offense caps his ceiling. He hasn’t been north of 16 PPR points since back in Week 4, and I don’t see that changing now.
If you have a feel-good story that you would like to share for an opportunity to be featured in an upcoming edition of “Start, Sit & Seth,” please reach out.
And for more fantasy football and uplifting content, you can find me on Twitter @Between_SethFF.