Will you all allow me a personal moment to curse rival fantasy football team "BOUNTY HUNTERS" in my Yahoo league? You see, I'm a T.J. Yeldon owner and although he hasn't been the model of consistency, he hasn't been terrible either (No 19. RB in standard scoring leagues). Plus, I'm incredibly thin at running back so I needed him for the semi-finals this week. When I saw him go down with a knee injury against the Indianapolis Colts, I immediately put a $20 bid in on our auction style waiver wire for backup Denard Robinson. Of course, BOUNTY HUNTERS bid $21. And that move is about to pay off.
"Running back Denard Robinson is a good fantasy play this week," ESPN Jaguars reporter Mike DiRocco wrote. "Even if RB T.J. Yeldon plays, which is highly unlikely, Robinson will get significant work. He filled in nicely last week (75 yards and one rushing TD) after Yeldon was hurt. Robinson is more explosive than Yeldon, and while has proven himself as a solid inside runner, the Jaguars are going to try to get him outside in space as well to allow him to use his speed. That raises the possibility of some big plays from the running game, which have been rare this season (only three runs of more than 30 yards)."
With Toby Gerhart on IR and Yeldon unlikely to suit up, Robinson has virtually zero competition for snaps at the position. Owners know that opportunity can trump even talent in fantasy football. But what also helps is the enticing matchup.
The Jaguars will take on the Atlanta Falcons this week and their defense ranks 15th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (105.6) and, most importantly, 31st in rushing touchdowns (17). Jags QB Blake Bortles has been on fire lately, but expect Jacksonville to go the ground in red zone situations. Atlanta has also allowed a league-high 88 receptions to opposing RBs and, overall, is surrendering 20.7 fantasy points per week to the position.
All of this is a long-winded way of saying that Robinson has the potential to put up major point in Week 15. If you're looking for an emergency injury fill-in, he's your guy.
