Fantasy football: Be wary of Dolphins players in the cold

Historical past is greater than only a class you absorb faculty. It’s a document of previous human achievements and failures. It’s a guidepost of behaviors to imitate or keep away from. And it is among the most correct prognosticators of the longer term.

Of all the symptoms you may apply to any given scenario, routinely the one that’s most frequently appropriate is previous efficiency.

There’s a cause Mets followers are at all times ready for a calamity to undermine their season. There’s a cause the phrase “usual Jets” exists. There’s a cause nobody trusts the Dolphins after they play in chilly temperatures.

Simply as soon as since 2016 has Miami scored greater than 16 factors in a recreation performed in near-freezing temperatures, so chances are high the Dolphins aren’t going to attain a number of factors of their subsequent recreation in freezing climate.

What awaits the Dolphins at Buffalo on Saturday night time is the type of climate that give Dolphins followers these Grinch emotions whereas visions of sugar plums dance in Payments followers’ heads. The kickoff temp is anticipated to be within the low 30s, dipping into the 20s throughout the recreation.

Oh, and potential snow squalls. Did we point out the snow squalls?

Name us a bunch of Scrooges, however this offers us pause about enjoying our Dolphins this week within the fantasy playoffs. Granted, all roster selections are made primarily based in your different choices — you don’t sit Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle due to climate fears if it means you need to begin D.J. Moore or Allen Lazard. However for Chris Olave or DeVonta Smith? That makes us assume.

It isn’t that we have now some inside information that Hill hates the chilly, or Waddle will get finger cramps when the temps drop, or that Tua Tagovailoa  is an alien powered by tropical rays from the yellow Earth solar. None of that we all know to be true.

However we do have some historical past. Not a lot of those particular gamers in these particular circumstances, however way more about different Dolphins groups which have ventured into related circumstances.

In 2016, the Dolphins received a street recreation in opposition to the Jets, 34-13, with a kickoff temperature of 35 levels. Since that recreation, Miami has performed six instances in video games that have been 35 levels or colder at kickoff, in response to Professional Soccer Reference. In these video games, as a group, they’ve averaged 16 factors per recreation. That isn’t a complete that yields a lot fantasy manufacturing.

The quarterbacks have averaged 261.7 yards passing, they usually have a complete of three touchdowns and 10 interceptions in these six video games.

So historical past is telling us: Fear concerning the passing recreation. This doesn’t embrace Raheem Mostert — whose outlook we like if Jeff Wilson misses the sport with a hip damage.

We’re additionally not as fearful concerning the Payments counterparts, as a result of they don’t share the identical historical past of cold-weather turmoil.

However the others? We’re going to be taught from historical past and proceed with warning.

Huge weeks

Dak Prescott QB, Cowboys, at Jaguars (FanDuel $7,500/DraftKings $6,200)

Since Week 5, the one QB who hasn’t scored no less than the league common (15.9) in opposition to the Jags is Russell Wilson. The opposing QB common within the eight video games since is 22.7.

Pierre Sturdy Jr. RB, Patriots, at Raiders (FD $4,500/DK $4,000)

Rhamondre Stevenson is trying unlikely to play. Damien Harris is nearer, however reviews counsel he isn’t near one hundred pc. Sturdy might be the man who carries the Pats’ floor recreation once more.

Christian Watson WR, Packers, vs. Rams (FD $7,000/DK N/A)

Only a reminder, since he was type of a brand new factor then had a bye week: Since Week 10, he’s the WR1 general primarily based on weekly PPR common (24.8). The listing of WRs you’d begin forward of him is extremely brief.

Rex Burkhead RB, Texans, vs. Chiefs (FD $4,800/DK $4,600)

The whiplash response to Dameon Pierce’s seemingly absence is to pivot towards Dare Ogunbowale. However contemplating the Texans are prone to be enjoying from behind in opposition to the Chiefs, we just like the pass-catching Burkhead higher this week.

Small weaks

Deshaun Watson QB, Browns, vs. Ravens (FD $6,800/DK N/A)

We all know. You picked up Watson simply because he was obtainable. And now perhaps you’re itching to play him. Don’t scratch. He’s a next-year factor. Use Trevor Lawrence, Prescott, Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers as an alternative.

Leonard Fournette RB, Buccaneers, vs. Bengals (FD $6,600/DK $5,500)

We don’t like operating backs who don’t get carries. He obtained simply 4 final week, with Rachaad White trying like the brand new go-to man. Counting on RB receptions in fantasy playoffs is a nasty thought.

Garrett Wilson WR, Jets, vs. Lions (FD $7,800/DK N$6,000)

He will get Zach Wilson again at QB, with Mike White out with injured ribs. In three video games with White, Garrett averaged 21.5 in PPR. In seven video games with Zach at QB, simply 8.4. Don’t rely on Garrett this week.

JuJu Smith-Schuster WR, Chiefs, at Texans (FD $7,300/DK $5,800)

Reminder: Earlier than robust fantasy recreation final week, he was in single digits the earlier three. Texans fairly good vs. fantasy WRs, in all probability as a result of most groups don’t must move a lot to beat them.

Madness’s Every day Duel

Web site: FanDuel

Slate: Solar primary (10 video games)

Sort: $9 tourney

Prime prize: $20K

Pot: $100K

Drew’s Crew

QB — Dak Prescott (Dal, at Jac) $7,500

RB — Alvin Kamara (NO, vs. Atl) $7,600

RB — Najee Harris (Pit, at Automobile) $6,600

WR — Ja’Marr Chase (Cin, at TB) $9,000

WR — CeeDee Lamb (Dal, at Jac) $8,100

WR — Chris Moore (Hou, vs. KC) $6,000

TE — Chig Okonkwo (Ten, at LAC) $5,100

Flex — Zay Jones (Jac, vs. Dal) $6,300

DEF — Broncos (Den, vs. Ari) $3,700

Wilk’s Warriors

QB — Justin Herbert (LAC, vs. Ten) $8,300

RB — Miles Sanders (Phi, at Chi) $7,800

RB — Rex Burkhead (Hou, vs. KC) $4,800

WR — Mike Williams (LAC, vs. Ten) $7,200

WR — A.J. Brown (Phi, at Chi) $8,200

WR — Drake London (Atl, at NO) $6,300

TE — Greg Dulcich (Den, vs. Ari) $5,600

Flex — Alvin Kamara (NO, vs. Atl) $7,600

DEF — Lions (Det, at NYJ) $3,800

For late roster possibilities, observe @NYPost_Loftis and @NYPost_Roto on Twitter

Season risked: $108

Season winnings: Jarad $65, Drew $12