Fantasy Upside
After a relatively quiet season in Miami, Danny Amendola gets a fresh start in Detroit. During his nine healthy seasons (he missed all but one game in ’11), the slot WR has averaged over 50 receptions for more than 500 yards. In three of the past four years, he has registered at least 59 catches for 10.2 yards per grab during that span.
Fantasy Downside
Playing with the Dolphins last season, Amendola scored just once and he has totaled only three TDs that past two years. The veteran has missed at least one game in each of the past four seasons and is on the downside of his career, turning 34 during the season.
Bottom Line
Golden Tate had a remarkable four-and-a-half seasons as the Lions slot receiver and Amendola looks to become Matthew Stafford’s new favorite third-down option. With the release of Theo Riddick before the preseason started, Stafford will be looking for a veteran. While Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones will likely see most of the targets on the early downs, Amendola will still be an important part of the passing game. However, he shouldn’t be part of your lineup on draft day.
Week 17 at Buffalo Bills
Miami goes to cold Buffalo with nothing to play for in Week 17 (except maybe its head coach). The Dolphins have a miserable implied team total of just 17.5 points as 4.5-point underdogs. With Ryan Tannehill posting fewer than 15 combined fantasy points over the past two weeks, no player involved in this passing game is worthy of starting consideration in Week 17 against a tough Bills secondary.
Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Dolphins host the Jaguars in a game with a brutally low over/under of just 38 points, second-lowest on the Week 16 slate. Despite being 3.5-point favorites, Miami still only has an implied team total of 20.75 points. The Jaguars rank fifth in aFPA to WRs, and the complete dumpster fire that is the Dolphins receivers continues. Miami didn't have any receiver score more than six PPR points last week. This week, we can't confidently consider any Miami receiver as a FLEX option. Stay away.
Week 15 at Minnesota Vikings
Miami may have pulled off a miracle last week, but heading on the road to Minnesota this week may require the second coming. The Dolphins have an implied team total of just 18.5 points and are touchdown underdogs. The Vikings also rank first in aFPA to WRs. Despite Kenny Stills big game last week, this group of receivers has put up very few useful fantasy lines this season. In the toughest match-up possible this week, fade them all.
Week 12 at Indianapolis Colts
The Dolphins went from 10-point underdogs to 7.5-point underdogs with the news that Ryan Tannehill would make his return, but Miami's implied team total of 21.75 points is still less than ideal. The Colts are only 22nd in the league in aFPA to WRs, but given target distribution, we'd only trust Danny Amendola as a deep league FLEX option out of this group of Miami wideouts. Amendola has at least five receptions in five consecutive games.
Week 10 at Green Bay Packers
The Brock Osweiler experience continues at Lambeau Field, with the Dolphins having an extremely low implied team total of fewer than 20 points in Week 10. Plus, the Dolphins are basically deploying a WRBC. No Dolphins receiver over the past three games is averaging seven targets per game. Danny Amendola would be the best of a bad bunch of options for PPR leagues, with five receptions in four consecutive games.
Week 8 vs. New York Jets
With Albert Wilson on IR and Kenny Stills not practicing Wednesday and Thursday with a groin injury, Danny Amendola should continue to see heavy targets in the Dolphins passing game in Week 9. A touchdown pass saved those with Amendola in lineups last week, but he still had 18 targets in the previous two weeks before that. DeVante Parker's emergence adds a bit of risk to Amendola, but he's playing almost every snap at this point. In a heavy bye week, Amendola is on the WR3/FLEX radar in a juicy match-up. The Jets are just 25th in aFPA to WRs.
Week 8 at Houston Texans (Thursday)
Brocktoberfest rolls on in H-Town without two key members of the Dolphins receiving core - Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson. That makes Danny Amendola a sneaky start for those in need of FLEX/WR3 with upside help. Amendola has seen 18 targets over the past two weeks and turned them into 14 receptions, 143 yards and a score. Houston struggles covering slot receivers as well, evidenced by a below average aFPA to WRs. Amendola is viable in Week 8.
Week 7 vs. Detroit Lions
No Dolphins WR is averaging 5.5 targets this season. That's just hard to rely on in re-draft leagues each week. Amendola did have 11 targets in an overtime game last week with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, but he only posted 59 yards on eight receptions. If those targets continue, Amendola could be on the PPR FLEX radar, but we need to see more of it first, as 11 targets was a huge outlier from the rest of his games this season.
Week 6 vs. Chicago Bears
The Dolphins are 31st in the NFL in plays per game and face the Bears strong defense in Week 6 with an implied team total of less than 20 points. It's not as if any Dolphins receiver would be worth playing, even if this was a good match-up. It's impossible to project who will have a good game in a pass-catching core where nobody is averaging five targets per game. That includes Danny Amendola.
