AFC Championship at Denver
Brandon LaFell's stat line from last week somehow summarizes his 2015 season, and outlook this weekend. He received five targets, but was only able put up a 3-6 line in the process. In an inefficient season, in a tough matchup, we are not projecting much for LaFell this weekend. He is playing for the Patriots, though, and there are only so many options to consider this weekend. We have him as WR8.
Week 19 vs Kansas City
Simply put, Brandon LaFell was horrible this year. After receiving six to nine targets weekly for two months, with little to show for it, LaFell's target volume finally dropped off. With ten targets in the last three weeks, and so little production even when targets have been there, it's hard to trust LaFell this weekend. Still, he figures to be the Patriots second wideout, and we have him as a fringe WR2 based off that fact alone.
Week 17 at Miami
After eight consecutive weeks of seeing between six to nine targets a game, and very little production to show for it, Brandon LaFell's target volume has finally dipped the last couple weeks. He has seen six targets over the last two weeks, five of which came two weeks ago. His 1-19 line in Week 16 isn't inspiring confidence in anyone.
The Patriots' wideouts are in a nice spot on paper in Week 17, against the 26th ranked aFPA matchup to opposing WRs. Someone figures to catch passes, but with LaFell's lack of targets of late, and lack of production even when targets have been present, he remains a WR4/5 desperation play only.
Week 16 at New York Jets
Brandon LaFell had an encouraging Week 15, putting up a 4-88 line on a season low five targets. The target volume wasn't ideal, but the 80 percent catch rate is easily his highest of the season, and his 88 yards are his highest total since Week 9. Still scoreless on the season, LaFell remains a desperation play only, despite all the injuries to surrounding WRs. We have him as a fringe WR4 or WR5 depending on your league size and scoring.
Week 15 vs Tennessee
After an eight target outing in Week 14, Brandon LaFell now has between six and nine targets in every game he has played in 2015. His receiving lines the last three weeks are 4-36, 4-27, and 5-32. While target volume keeps him in the fantasy relevant conversation, owners would do well to realize he has topped 70 yards once this season, and has yet to reach the endzone. Hopefully owners have better options, but we do have him as a WR4 option based off targets alone.
Week 14 at Houston
Brandon LaFell had a discouraging outing in a strong matchup in Week 13, with only a 4-27 line on the day. It's encouraging that LaFell has seen six to nine targets in every game he has played this season. It's discouraging that he has caught less than half of those targets overall and has yet to reach the endzone. For owners without better options, LaFell's target volume alone keeps him in the weak WR3 to weak WR4 conversation, depending on your league size and scoring.
Week 13 vs Philadelphia
Brandon LaFell turned in a lowly 4-36 line against the stingiest aFPA matchup to opposing WRs in Denver. He has now seen between six and nine targets in each of the six games he has played this season. While last week those targets came against the worst aFPA matchup to WRs, they come this week versus the best aFPA matchup. The Eagles rank 32nd in aFPA to WRs, so LaFell may be likely to see the boom side of his boom/bust fantasy nature. We have him as a WR2 in standard leagues, and on the fringe WR2/3 conversation in PPR.
Week 12 at Denver
Brandon LaFell saw his typical eight targets, turning them into a 4-66 line on the day. His boom/bust style of fantasy point scoring has continued from last year, in the same role he held then. Fantasy owners may take comfort, though, in the consistent target volume, having 6-9 targets in each game since returning. Missing some key offensive components, on the road against the stingiest passing game matchup for QBs and WRs, the Patriots offense may not fire the same sparks we saw earlier in the year. We have LaFell as a similar boom/bust fringe WR2 to solid WR3, depending on your league size.
Week 11 vs Buffalo
In Week 10, Brandon LaFell caught only two of his six targets, still gaining a nice 66 yards on the day. Playing 75 percent of the snaps last week, he has now played over 70 percent every week since returning four weeks ago.
While his role may not change too much, he may pick up some extra snaps or targets with WR Julian Edelman being sidelined with an injury. We have him as a WR2 this weekend regardless of format, and he figures to be a weekly boom/bust candidate
Week 10 at New York Giants
Brandon LaFell put up his first fantasy significant outing in Week 9, with a solid 5-102 line. With three consecutive weeks playing over 70 percent of the snaps, and with 7-9 targets each of those weeks, LaFell seems to have completely reclaimed his role as the Patriots second wideout. This is the role LaFell flourished in last year, as a weekly boom/bust candidate. He figures to have that similar outlook this weekend, facing one of the most generous aFPA matchups to WRs (ranked 28th and 29th in standard and PPR, respectively).
We have LaFell as a fringe WR2/3 candidate, or solid WR3 depending on your league size and scoring.
