Week 9 vs Washington
Brandon LaFell played 82 percent of team snaps in Week 8, up from 72 percent in Week 7, which is encouraging. LaFell earned seven and eight targets in his two weeks back, respectively. None of this has translated into fantasy numbers yet, with a combined 6-72 since returning. If his playing time and usage continues, this figures to change sooner than later. In a middling aFPA matchup where the Patriots figure to have plenty of volume, we have him as a middling to low end WR3, regardless of scoring format or league size.
Week 8 vs Miami
On a promising note, Brandon LaFell played 72 percent of the snaps and received eight targets in his return to the field in 2015. That's where the positives end, though, as he was credited with five drops on his way to a 2-25 line. We're still hopeful LaFell will come around this season, but in a middling matchup on a short week, we rank LaFell as a fringe WR4 or weak WR5, depending on your league size. Owners would be smart to keep LaFell on benches until then.
Week 7 vs New York Jets
Brandon LaFell may be back on the field this weekend for the first time in 2015. Until we see some performance on the field, though, he should be confidently left on every bench. It may be worth checking your waiver wire for his name though, as he was a solid performer with QB Tom Brady in 2014.
Week 1 vs Pittsburgh
Brandon LaFell put up some very solid fantasy numbers last season, but has been slow to heal this offseason. Still walking around in a boot, he starts the 2015 season on the PUP. With all the time he'll miss, he is cuttable in leagues with shallow benches.
Fantasy Upside
Jumping from his undrafted ADP to WR22 in standard and PPR formats, Brandon LaFell was a wavier wire gem for the brave souls who claimed him last year. While he will play through four games of non-Brady-at-QB play, we should remember that LaFell got off to a slow start last year, as well.
Fantasy Downside
We're not sure how LaFell will respond to the inexperienced Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm and there is always the risk of NEP depth chart shenanigans.
Bottom Line
LaFell goes off the board in the board in the 10th round in 10-team leagues and has generally been going in the 8th round of 12-team leagues. Those are excellent prices for a potentially solid WR3.
Week 20 vs Colts
With the Patriots focusing on attacking the Ravens' secondary last week, every starting WR enjoyed a fine day. LaFell put up what's become a rather typical type of LaFell stat line this year, going for 5-62-1. The Colts have a much softer aFPA matchup to WRs in standard scoring, ranking 20th, than in PPR scoring, where they rank 13th. We rank LaFell as a high-end "WR2" in either scoring format. We may think of LaFell as a bit of a "boom/bust" play, but his floor has been pretty reasonable far more games than not.
Week 19 vs Ravens
With the Patriots, LaFell set career highs in each of receptions, receiving yards, and TDs. His 74-953-7 line is even more impressive when you consider he had nearly no stats through the first three games, before 'breaking out' in Week 4. PPR owners enjoyed his surprising consistency, and floor, as well. This weekend he faces a secondary ailing since the loss of veteran CB Jimmy Smith. We have Lafell as WR8 on the weekend.
Week 17 vs Bills
In Week 16, LaFell put up a nice real football line of 7-64, enjoyed far more by owners in PPR leagues. There's a question of how much New England starters will play in Week 17, with the #1 seed already clinched, and BUF is seventh stingiest to WRs, via our aFPA. We do project LaFell as the leading Patriots WR this weekend, but that's not saying much given all the question marks. He is our WR33 and WR28 in PPR.
Week 16 at Jets
LaFell put up a nice real football line in Week 15, going for 6-66 on eight targets. The somewhat boom/bust LaFell has only scored touchdowns in one game in the last five weeks, since their bye. He remains a boom/bust flex play option in Week 16, as the third option in a good offense. We have him as a WR3 in either scoring format.
Week 15 vs Miami
LaFell posted his worst outing in Week 14 since his Week 5 outing, catching less than half of his nine targets on his way to a 4-41 line. LaFell has been always been a bit of a boom/bust option, though he has provided a reasonable floor of fantasy points most down weeks, with either 60 yards or a TD in seven of his previous nine weeks. Down weeks happen for every WR though, and we're not overly concerned. This weekend we have him as WR29, regardless of scoring format.
