Week 14 at Chargers
LaFell had up another solid outing in Week 13, with a 5-38-2 line. With three weeks left to play, LaFell is already enjoying career highs in every receiving category. His ranking of WR19 and WR23 in PPR in Week 14 reflect our continued confidence in LaFell.
Week 13 at Green Bay
In Week 12, LaFell put up a nice 9-89 line on 12 targets. LaFell has become a really solid real and fantasy football option. The targets ebb and flow a little, as the Patriots have an abundance of solid options, but LaFell has performed more often than not since Week 4. In an expected high-flying affair this week, we rank him as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 depending on your league size.
Week 12 vs Detroit
LaFell put up another respectable stat line in Week 11, posting 3-62 on only four targets. The Patriots went up early in this one and took heavily to the rushing game, so LaFell wasn't needed much. Since Week 4, LaFell is solidly in the WR2 conversation.
This week LaFell faces a team allowing the 5th lowest aFPA to opposing WRs. We rank him in the WR2/WR3 conversation depending on your league size.
Week 5 at IND
LaFell added a solid 6-53-1 line to his refreshing 2014 campaign. Since Week 4, he's now averaging a surprising 5.33-78-.83 line. It's odd to even write this about LaFell, but those averages are top 10 fantasy WR numbers, on a per game basis. He's been a bit of a boom/bust performer, but only has one real clunker in that span, with a 1-20 line in Week 5. He's also out targeted fellow WR Julian Edelman in each of the last two weeks. His chemistry with the white hot Tom Brady and target volume week in and out both seem quite real, at this point.
The game against the Colts present an interesting dilemma for fantasy purposes. While the Colts are generous to fantasy QBs, they have stifled opposing WRs in fantasy, sporting a bottom 10 aFPA. We still rank LaFell in the low-end WR2 / high-end WR3 range, though, with a PPR bump into the WR2 conversation. While there's some pause for nervousness, LaFell makes for a solid start this weekend.
Week 9 vs Denver
LaFell's strong season took another step forward in Week 8 with a strong 11-124-1 line. He led all WRs in snaps and targets, and has seemed to really develop some nice chemistry with Tom Brady, catching all 11 of his targets.
We're tenuous about trusting LaFell, but it's time to accept that he has been the most productive WR on the Patriots through the last few weeks. We're cautiously ranking him as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3, depending on your league size, and suggest you have him in your lineups this weekend.
Week 8 vs CHI
Lafell caught four of his five targets in Week 7, hauling in a 4-55 line. He played 96% of the snaps and has a lock on the Patriots WR2 role. 4for4 has long talked up LaFell as a potential sleeper, and it seems he may finally offer us some redemption on that front.
He should continue to find success in some weeks, but as the third or fourth target on the team, he'll be inconsistent week to week. We rank him as as WR39 and wR44 this week. LaFell can be considered a low-floor boom/bust play.
Week 7 vs New York Jets
LaFell has been playing well ahead of both Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson, and seems to have carved out a nice role as the Patriots WR #2. In Week 6, LaFell put together his second strong fantasy showing in three weeks, with a 4-97-2 line. As the 3rd or 4th target on the team, LaFell will remain a bit of a boom/bust option. However, he has entered starting consideration in your lineups, especially in deeper leagues. We rank him as WR44 and WR47 in PPR this week, but could take on a heavy blocking role on any given Sunday (or Thursday)
Week 6 at Buffalo
If the last two weeks are any indication, LaFell seems to have become the team's WR #2, after Julian Edelman. He's vastly out snapped Danny Amendola in that time. While this may be a nice real football accomplishment for LaFell, it may or may not translate to fantasy relevance. After a strong 6-119-1 line in Week 4, LaFell offered up only a 1-20 line in Week 5. He may put up a few points for your team, but he's tough to trust in any format or league size. We rank him at WR60 and WR63 in PPR.
Week 5 at Cincinnati
With Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson inactive, LaFell was the fantasy winner of the day. Playing on 100% of the snaps, LaFell seems to have taken over the #2 WR role, at least in fantasy if not in real life. I doubt many of you started LaFell last week, but if you did you enjoyed one of the lone fantasy bright spots on the Patriots Week 4 outing, as he had a season high 6-119-1 line on the day.
We are not projecting LaFell with a sudden ascension to fantasy starter status, especially as Dobson and Thompkins figure to be bigger factors in the future. In a tougher Week 5 matchup, we rank LaFell WR62 and WR67 in PPR.
Week 4 at Kansas City
LaFell seems to have carved out a consistent real football role for the Patriots, playing between 45-57% of the snaps each week. His blocking ability in the run game has helped him get on the field as much as he has. Despite having 14 targets on the season, he has only a 4-46 line going for him. Until anything changes, he's a fantasy non-factor this season.
