Postseason Shootout | RealTime Fantasy Sports

Lineup Prep: Super Bowl

Tue Feb 3 10:18am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Walker should get his chances

It is hard to believe but we made it. The Super Bowl is this weekend. And who would have thought the teams playing would be the Patriots and Seahawks? I’m not sure many had those teams on their list of Super Bowl winners this year. But that is what makes the NFL great. The unexpected is always a possibility every season.

As for the game this year, I think it is going to be a good one. At first, I thought it was going to be the Seahawks in a blowout but I’m coming around to a much closer game. I think these two teams are pretty evenly matched. Both teams are good on both sides of the ball. I give the Patriots a slight edge offensively but the Seahawks have the better defense. And I think an X factor could be the special teams, an area that Seattle excels. Rashid Shaheed is an elite return man and kicker Jason Myers had a career season. Little things matter in these big games, so don’t discount the special teams play to influence the outcome.

Both teams have some questions at quarterback. Drake Maye had an MVP season but hasn’t been quite as good in the playoffs against some really good defenses. You just don’t know what you are going to get from Maye in this matchup. The good news for Maye is he doesn’t seem to get rattled, so this stage might not be too big for him.

And on the other side of the ball, Sam Darnold led the league in turnovers but also moved the offense well. There were big concerns about him showing up and playing well in the big game, but he put some of those concerns to rest with his performance in the Championship Game. Can Darnold repeat that performance on an even bigger stage or will his nerves get the best of him? Both these quarterbacks will have plenty of eyes on them in this one. If one falters on the big stage, this certainly could turn the tide of the game in a hurry, which is another reason I don’t think you can count out either team in this one.

So in the end, I think the Seahawks do enough and squeak out a victory over the Patriots, winning 24-21. I just hope it is a good game. I have no rooting interest for either team and just want to be entertained. Let’s hope that happens for everyone this weekend!

HOT PLAYS

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots. Stevenson is dominating the work right now, playing a season-high 94 percent of the snaps in the Championship game. He didn’t have a great game against the Broncos top defense but had 25 carries in the game. He has 12-plus fantasy points five of six games. Stevenson is producing consistent numbers as the clear lead back for the Patriots. We expect another big workload from Stevenson in the Super Bowl. Plus, the Seahawks have allowed more than 100-rushing yards one each of their two playoff games.

Kennth Walker, RB Seahawks. Walker has 21-plus fantasy points in each of his two playoff games. He has topped 100 total yards three straight games. He is producing big numbers as the top back in the Seahawks offense, an offense that has been without Zach Charbonnet. Walker is taking advantage of a few more snaps and touches, producing great numbers. The Patriots have done well in limning the run this year but Walker should be able to get his yards as a runner or reviver in this one. Look for him to get 20-plus touches.

COLD PLAYS

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots. Henderson played just four snaps last week. It was a season low for Henderson, watching Rhamondre Stevenson playing nearly the entire game. Henderson ran three times for just five yards and didn’t catch a pass. He has fewer than double-digit carries two of three games. Henderson has less than double-digit fantasy points three straight and five os six games. The talented back just isn’t getting the looks right now and a change in that for the Super Bowl seems unlikely.

Stefon Diggs, WR, Patriots. Diggs had five receptions his last time out but managed just 17 yards. He has fewer than 50 yards four straight games and six of eight games. He is becoming a hard fantasy player to trust. And Diggs gets a Seahawks defense this week that has allowed less than 130-passing yards three of four games. Diggs could have another down showing in the Super Bowl.

SLEEPERS

AJ Barner, TE, Seahawks. Barner played 96 percent of the snaps last week, being out in the field for nearly the entire game. He has played the most snaps all season of any Seahawks tight end. He is the tight end to use for the Seahawks. Barner has been up and down all season but certainly capable of the big game. With the Patriots likely doing all they can to slow Jaxon Smith-Njigba, there are going to be some other players likely getting looks for the Seahawks. We think one of those players might be Barner.

Mack Hollins, WR, Patriots. Hollins played 61 percent of the snaps in his return to the lineup his last time out. He had two receptions for 51 yards, making a few big plays. Before his injury, Hollins had double-digit fantasy points three of six games. He had 17 targets his last two games before the start of the playoffs. Hollins could end up being the top target for the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: None.

Low Scoring Games: Patriots/Seahawks.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Lineup Prep: Super Bowl

The Paur Report