Tag: Kyle Rudolph

Notre Dame in NFL: Week 12 highlights and photo’s

A look back at the best performances from former Notre Dame Football stars during week 12 of the NFL.

Every week former Notre Dame football players apply what they learned in South Bend and use it to perform in the NFL. Each week, we look back at the best performances from Irish alum and bring you highlights and photo’s of the action. This week was a bit odd as the final game was played this afternoon, but there were still plenty of big time plays from Notre Dame stars in The League.

Fanrasy Football Targets, Touches and TDs: Week 13

A look at the best and worst fantasy football schedules the rest of the way.

So we’re past Thanksgiving.

That not only means fewer than 30 shopping days until Christmas, but also that the fantasy football playoffs are essentially upon us.

In the majority of leagues, postseason play kicks off Week 14 and runs through Week 16 when the majority of 2020 champions will be crowned.

With that very stretch in focus, this week’s TT&T is referencing The Huddle’s extremely useful Fantasy Strength of Schedule tool and looking at the easiest and toughest postseason itineraries for each of the five main fantasy positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and team defense/special teams. The 10 easiest and 10 toughest are listed for each, followed by quick thoughts on what jumps out from the rankings.

All statistics and rankings are through Week 12 play Monday night.

Quarterback

Easiest Week 14-16 fantasy QB schedules

1) Rams, 2) Buccaneers, 3) Washington, 4) Packers, 5) Chargers, 6) Broncos, 7) Jets, 8) Lions, 9) Bears, 10) Falcons

Notable

  • Chargers rookie QB Justin Herbert had his first sub-20-fantasy-point game with 19.6 in Buffalo on Sunday, but he still currently ranks fifth among healthy quarterbacks with an average of 27.9 points per outing. According to the strength of schedule tool, the Chargers have faced the fifth-easiest fantasy QB slate so far this season (Weeks 1-12), and it’s not going to get any tougher in the fantasy playoffs with matchups against the Falcons, Raiders and Broncos, so plan to keep riding the rookie.
  • Grizzled veterans Aaron Rodgers (sixth among QBs with a 27.5-fantasy-point average) and Tom Brady (eighth with 24.7 points) should continue to defy Father Time, at least through the fantasy postseason, with top-four fantasy QB schedules that feature a combined three positive matchups (opposing teams in the top eight of average QB fantasy points allowed), three neutral contests (opposing defenses ranked ninth through 24th) and no negative matchups (25th and below).
  • The Rams’ Jared Goff is going to be tough to trust coming off his season-worst 11-point dud Sunday against the 49ers, but the fantasy postseason schedule is juicy, particularly matchups against two of the four most favorable fantasy defenses (Seahawks and Jets) in Weeks 15 and 16 if you get that far and still need a streaming or a QB2 option in a two-quarterback league.
  • The Lions’ Matthew Stafford and Falcons’ Matt Ryan also are set up as favorable streaming options, but definitely keep an eye on the health of their respective receiving weapons (namely WRs Kenny Golladay and Julio Jones) before rolling with either in a win-or-go-home fantasy playoff contest.

Toughest Week 14-16 fantasy QB schedules

1) Bills, 2) Texans, 3) Bengals, 4) Cardinals, 5) Colts, 6) Jaguars, 7) Panthers, 8) Vikings, 9) Eagles, 10. Cowboys

Notable

  • You’re almost assuredly still going to keep riding top-seven fantasy QBs Kyler Murray (first), Josh Allen (fourth), and Deshaun Watson (seventh) in the fantasy playoffs, but don’t expect smooth sailing with a combined nine-game postseason itinerary that features five minus matchups, four neutrals and no plus fantasy contests.
  • The Vikings’ Kirk Cousins is sixth among QBs (two-start minimum) with an average of 26.6 fantasy points over the last three weeks, and that should continue with favorable matchups against the Jaguars (third best for fantasy QBs) and Bucs (fifth best) ahead the next two week. But games against the Bears (third stingiest vs. fantasy QBs) and Saints (seventh) in Weeks 15 and 16 are cause for concern if you’re trying to map out possible streaming plans for the coming month.

Running back

Easiest Week 14-16 fantasy RB schedules

1) Titans, 2) Packers, 3) Bears, 4) Lions, 5) Broncos, 6) Buccaneers, 7) Dolphins, 8) Colts, 9) Ravens, 10) Panthers

Notable

  • League rushing leader Derrick Henry (1,257 yards) is already crushing with an average of 20.1 fantasy points (point-per-reception scoring) — and that’s despite only 23.3 total receiving points (14 catches for 93 yards and no TDs). And here’s predicting King Henry will be the crown jewel on a number of league championship teams with a fantasy postseason schedule that consists of plus matchups against the Jaguars, Lions and Packers — all top-six defenses in terms of average fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.
  • The Packers, with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, also are 3-for-3 in positive fantasy running back postseason matchups with games against the not-so-formidable run defenses of the Lions, Panthers and Titans.
  • If you’ve been hanging tight through the ups and downs with rookie RBs D’Andre Swift (Lions), Jonathan Taylor (Colts) and K. Dobbins (Ravens), it could very well pay off in the fantasy postseason provided that Swift recovers from his concussion, which kept him out in Weeks 11 and 12, and Taylor gains clearance from COVID-19 issues.
  • Those who spent the No. 1 overall draft pick on Christian McCaffrey have only received three games out of him so far due to injury, but they’ve yielded a whopping 90.4 fantasy points. And if you make it to the postseason despite CMC’s prolonged absence and he returns in Week 14, that top pick could very well pay off when it matters most as the Panthers face the 10th-most favorable fantasy RB postseason schedule with games against the Broncos, Packers and Washington.

Toughest Week 14-16 fantasy RB schedules

1) Vikings, 2) Chiefs, 3) Bills, 4) Cowboys, 5) Eagles, 6) Giants, 7) Seahawks, 8) Cardinals, 9) Texans, 10) 49ers

Notable

  • Among running backs who have played at least four games, Minnesota stud Dalvin Cook leads the way with an average of 25.1 fantasy points per contest. But it’s interesting to note that, according to The Huddle SOS, the Vikings have played the easiest fantasy running back slate to date (Weeks 1-12). Minnesota will encounter the toughest running back road in the fantasy postseason with games against the Bucs, Bears and Saints. You’re still rolling with Cook, but temper expectations that he’s going to single-handedly carry your squad to a league title.
  • Those fantasy general managers who have weathered the weekly roller coaster with high draft picks Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kenyan Drake and Miles Sanders need to be prepared for tough fantasy postseason itineraries and might need to seriously weigh other starting options come playoff time.

Wide receiver

Easiest Week 14-16 fantasy WR schedules

1) Rams, 2) Buccaneers, 3) Washington, 4) Bears, 5) Packers, 6) Lions, 7) Jets, 8) Ravens, 9) Chargers, 10) Titans

Notable

  • The Rams’ Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are both currently WR2s with 16.6 and 14.3 fantasy-point-per-game averages, respectively, and the going should be even more favorable in the fantasy playoffs with the easiest projected schedule for wide receivers, particularly the back-to-back matchups against the Jets and Seahawks in the Weeks 15 and 16. It’s a big reason why we just got done talking about Goff as a viable streaming option in the fantasy postseason.
  • Despite continued far from ideal QB play, the Bears’ Allen Robinson ranks 13th among wideouts with an average of 16.7 fantasy points per game, and he should continue to shine with a fantasy playoff slate that consists of the Texans, Vikings and Jaguars, all of which ranks among the top third of most favorable fantasy wide receiver secondaries.
  • The Lions’ Golladay has only played four full games — and none since Week 7 — this season due to injury issues, but if he can return in the coming weeks, he should be able to feast on a Week 14-16 slate that includes matchups against the Packers, Titans and Bucs.

Toughest Week 14-16 fantasy WR schedules

1) Panthers, 2) Jaguars, 3) Patriots, 4) Seahawks, 5) Texans, 6) Raiders, 7) Bills, 8) Steelers, 9) Dolphins, 10) Broncos

Notable

As mentioned with McCaffrey above, the Panthers’ fantasy postseason schedule is more of a run funnel, as the Carolina wideouts face the toughest playoff slate with games against the Broncos, Packers and Washington. That could mean an end-of-season damper for Panthers receivers Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore and the surging Curtis Samuel. To date, the SOS metrics say the Panthers have faced the easiest fantasy WR slate so far, but that’s about to change drastically.

  • The Texans’ wideout duo of Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks has been a boon for Watson, but now Fuller has been suspended for the remainder of the season and the next three weeks are brutal with a matchup against the Bears (fourth toughest vs. opposing fantasy wide receivers) sandwiched between the divisional home-and-home contests against the Colts (seventh toughest).
  • Seattle’s DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are both WR1s, with a combined average of 37.3 fantasy points per outing — tops among wide receiver duos. But playoff matchups against two of the three toughest fantasy wide receiver secondaries (Washington, Rams) in Weeks 15 and 16 is brutal timing.

Tight end

Easiest Week 14-16 fantasy TE schedules

1) Broncos, 2) Vikings, 3) Jaguars, 4) Falcons, 5) Ravens, 6) Texans, 7) Steelers, 8) Jets, 9) Seahawks, 10) Bears

Notable

  • Can Denver Noah’s Fant, currently 11th among active tight ends with an average of 9.6 fantasy points per game, finish with a florurish? A Week 14-16 schedule that consists of games against three top-third fantasy TE defenses (Panthers, Bills and Chargers) certainly throws the door wide open to that possibility.
  • The Falcons’ Hayden Hurst and the Steelers’ Eric Ebron, both tied for 12th at the position with an average of 9.5 fantasy points per game, have been solid high-end streaming options for most of the season, and both definitely should be locked in with favorable fantasy postseason schedules ahead.
  • Speaking of tight end streaming options with plus slates coming up, keep Vikings tight ends Irv Smith (if healthy) and Kyle Rudolph on the radar as Minnesota faces the Bucs, Bears and Saints — all beatable fantasy tight end defenses — in the fantasy playoffs.

Toughest Week 14-16 fantasy TE schedules

1) Bills, 2) Cardinals, 3) Raiders, 4) Colts, 5) Bengals, 6) Panthers, 7) Titans, 8) Washington, 9) Eagles, 10) Dolphins

Notable

  • Thanks to his tight end-leading seven touchdown grabs (tied with Travis Kelce and Robert Tonyan), the Titans’ Jonnu Smith ranks eighth among still-active TEs with his average of 10.2 fantasy points per game. But Smith is tied for 16th at the position in both receptions (30) and yards (338) and faces two of the eight toughest fantasy tight end defenses (Lions and Packers) back-to-back in Weeks 15 and 16.

Team defense/special teams

Easiest Week 14-16 fantasy D/ST schedules

1) Cowboys, 2) Cardinals, 3) Seahawks, 4) 49ers, 5) Panthers, 6) Browns, 7) Texans, 8) Chargers, 9) Saints, 10) Rams

Notable

  • This is where a fantasy strength of schedule lookahead is especially useful with the abundance of defensive/special teams unit streaming.
  • An intriguing list to be sure as six of these 10 D/STs (Cowboys, Cardinals, 49ers, Panthers, Texans and Chargers) rank in the bottom half at this position in terms of average fantasy points per game. Dallas, which is ranked 27th among D/STs with an average of 4.2 fantasy points per outing, presents the biggest conundrum as it has three plus-matchups (opposing offenses ranked among the eight most charitable in terms of average fantasy defensive points surrendered), including the Bengals in Week 14 and Eagles in Week 16.
  • Those already rostering the Browns, Rams and Saints — all current top-nine D/STs — will be wise to keep them locked in through the fantasy postseason.

Toughest Week 14-16 fantasy D/ST schedules

1) Lions, 2) Chiefs, 3) Colts, 4) Falcons, 5) Dolphins, 6) Packers, 7) Raiders, 8) Broncos, 9) Giants, 10) Jaguars

Notable

  • Figuring out how to handle the Indy and Miami D/STs, both current top-five units, will be challenging as neither has a top-half postseason matchup with the Raiders’ offense (17th-most-favorable matchup) coming the closest.
  • Stay away from streaming the Chiefs’ and Lions’ D/STs as they have five negative and one neutral fantasy playoff matchup between them in six combined games.

Fantasy football Week 13 waiver wire targets: Elite WRs are still out there

Heading into week 13, we examine the waiver wire as the playoffs get closer.

As Week 13 of the fantasy football season gets underway, we are now beginning to see players really make their marks for teams as organizations make their playoff pushes. In what has been a wild year of football, several players have really stood out over the past couple of weeks.

In particular, running backs are being highly valued over the past couple of weeks. Waiver wire running backs are becoming increasingly important, as depth becomes crucial,

As a result, waiver wire additions have been important over the past couple of weeks. I know for my team, those additions have been important to me playoff hunt.

We take a look at additions off the waiver wire that you should consider.

Notre Dame in the NFL: Highlights and photo’s from Week 10 action

Highlights and photo’s from the best performances from Notre Dame alumni in the NFL’s Week 10 action.

Each week there are plenty of Notre Dame alumni in the NFL, with over 30 former Irish alum playing on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night games.

Here is a recap of who (Chase Claypool, Harrison Smith, Romeo Okwara) stood out, with both videos and pictures of their performances.

More former College Wire players — NFL Week 10 Action:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio State / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC

Chicago vs. Minnesota: Which Vikings player would you want on the Bears?

The Vikings have no shortage of talent that they’ll be leaning on in Monday’s matchup, including RB Dalvin Cook and LB Eric Kendricks.

The Chicago Bears will face the Minnesota Vikings for the first time this season in a divisional primetime battle on Monday night. While there was a time when the Vikings game felt like an easy win, that’s not the case entering Week 10.

The Bears are coming off a disheartening 24-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans, a game that wasn’t as close as it appeared, which dropped them to three straight losses this season. Chicago’s offense has hit rock bottom, and they’re trying to find some semblance of a rhythm despite an array of concerns.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have won two straight games after starting the season 1-5. It feels like the Bears and Vikings are trending in different directions. Minnesota has found a rhythm with back-to-back wins over divisional foes the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, and they have their sights set on Chicago next.

The Vikings have no shortage of talent that they’ll be leaning on in Monday’s matchup, including running back Dalvin Cook, linebacker Anthony Barr defensive end Danielle Hunter and receiver Adam Thielen.

As Chicago prepares to face Minnesota, which Vikings player would you want on the Bears?

VOTE!

 

Notre Dame in the NFL: Highlights and photos of week 9’s action

It wasn’t a standout week 9 for former Irish stars, but there were still some impressive performances from this weeks NFL action. Check out below and see pictures and highlights of the best performances from former Notre Dame Football standouts. ND

It wasn’t a standout week 9 for former Irish stars, but there were still some impressive performances from this weeks NFL action. Check out below and see pictures and highlights of the best performances from former Notre Dame Football standouts. ND

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph talks about Minnesota’s 1-5 start so far

Minnesota Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph spoke recently about about Minnesota’s 1-5 start to the 2020 NFL season.

Despite the fact that the Vikings are coming off a 2019 playoff berth, Minnesota finds itself in quite the hole to start 2020.

The team is 1-5. The defense has struggled to keep opposing offenses off the field. Most quarterbacks have not had too many issues picking apart the young Vikings secondary.

But it’s not all on the defense. Kirk Cousins has been inconsistent. One thing Cousins has not done well is finding a variety of targets in the passing game. Players like Bisi Johnson and Kyle Rudolph haven’t been huge factors in the offense.

Rudolph recently spoke with CBS Sports about the Vikings’ start to 2020 and how the team addressed the bye week.

“When you go back and look at it — for us as an offense — we break things down and study and you wouldn’t believe at 1-5 you would be in the top five and top three in almost 10 statistical categories. And when you look at that it makes you wonder how we are losing football games. Then you go and look at ‘okay, what are we not doing so well’ and then you see our lack of execution in the third quarter and turnovers. Just like we were in the top three in a lot of categories, we were in the bottom three — if not last — in all of those.”

Rudolph also said the bye gave the team some perspective.

“We studied it and now we got to address it. We have a 10-game season starting with three straight division games to get this thing back on track.”

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph listed as a player Minnesota should consider trading

Hypothetically speaking, would you want the Vikings to trade tight end Kyle Rudolph?

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has been a regular in the Minnesota offense since he came into the league in 2011.

Now, with the Vikings in free fall amidst a cash-strapped roster, Rudolph has been tabbed as an expendable player by fans and analysts.

Bleacher Report is the latest to speculate on a hypothetical Rudolph trade. When the outlet listed one player that each NFL team should trade, Rudolph was tabbed as the Vikings’ candidate. Here’s what it said:

“Trading veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph would be another step in that direction. His contract has some dead money attached to it, but they would still save $8 million in 2021.

This is where general manager Rick Spielman should trust his drafting. He took Irv Smith Jr. in the second round in 2019. It’s time for them to see what he can do as the lead tight end and start trying to claw back to financial solvency.”

With Yannick Ngakoue already shipped off to the Ravens and Irv Smith Jr. ready to emerge, the Vikings trading Rudolph would certainly make sense.

Report: Vikings ‘very open’ to moving some key veterans

The Vikings are reportedly open to dealing some big names before the trade deadline.

Minnesota might be in trouble for the long term, due to the team’s current record and big-money players under contract.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the team could be rectifying that in an attempt to cut more salary cap space. La Canfora reported that the Vikings are very open to moving safety Harrison Smith, left tackle Riley Reiff and tight end Kyle Rudolph if they can find the right takers.

La Canfora also said that it’s possible wide receiver Adam Thielen is dealt before the deadline, but not likely.

The Vikings making any of those moves might be bad for 2021, but it does free up space for the team. It also means that younger players, like Irv Smith Jr. and Ezra Cleveland, have openings at positions they are able to play.

Report: Vikings are sellers, but not holding fire sale

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly been listening on anyone in regards to a trade.

There’s an awful lot to glean from the Vikings trading Yannick Ngakoue.

Minnesota acquired the defensive end in a trade with Jacksonville just before the season. The Vikings ended up giving him to the Ravens for less than what they gave to the Jaguars, basically.

That’s a sign that the team is rebuilding as opposed to retooling.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Vikings are sellers, but the team is not having a fire sale, per se. Here’s what else Breer said:

“They’ve let teams know they’ll listen on anyone, which is how Thursday’s Yannick Ngakoue deal came about. They’re open for business on guys in contract years, and teams have asked on veteran TE Kyle Rudolph (who isn’t in a contract year) as well. Pat Elflein, a 2017 third-round pick who has been a disappointment, could be another name to watch, with lots of teams hungry for O-line help. And Tajae Sharpe is one more name that I’ve heard out there.”

Sharpe is a surprising one, but maybe some teams will take a chance on his upside. Pat Elflein and Kyle Rudolph aren’t shocking names to be out there, though, despite inconsistent play. With guard Ezra Cleveland and tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the waiting, you could rationalize both decisions.