Dissenting Opinions: Can Cutler shake the Lambeau curse?

Group-think can be an especially scary thing when it comes to fantasy football rankings. After all, the unpredictable nature of the NFL game is part of what makes fantasy football so popular, and why some people like to say that the NFL acronym stands for "No F****** Logic." But when one of our Yahoo fantasy football analysts veers particularly far away from the rankings consensus, our curious nature begs for an explanation. So, with that in mind, I've identified two players from our Week 10 rankings that our Yahoo analysts love/hate significantly more than the rest of us, and have asked them to explain their reasoning. I'll kick things off with a couple of my outliers:

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Love him: Owen Daniels, Bal, TE - Funston TE rank No. 6 (Yahoo rank No. 11)

My colleagues aren't giving Daniels the respect he deserves this week. He's been targeted nine times in each of the past two games, delivering six catches and more than 50 yards in each contest (with a TD in Week 7). Since Week 5, his average of 53.8 yards per game ranks fourth at the TE position. And this week he faces a Tennessee defense that allows the 11th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. It's also a defense that Daniels is familiar with since he faced them twice a year as a member of the Houston Texans - Daniels scored a TD in two of his past three games against the Titans. I'm expecting Daniels to post something in the neighborhood of a 6/60/1.

Hate him: Jay Cutler, Chi, QB - Funston QB rank No. 16 (Yahoo No. 11)

Based upon his per game fantasy production over his past three games (ranked No. 17 at the QB position) I have Cutler ranked right at the level that he's been performing at of late. I think that's actually extremely generous of me considering the nightmarish history that he's endured at Lambeau Field as a member of the Chicago Bears - in his past three trips to his division rivals, he's averaged 190 passing yards and has combined to throw for just two touchdowns compared to a whopping 10 interceptions. And Green Bay ranks sixth in the league with 1.9 takeaways per game, so they have a defense in place that can continue to make Lambeau a house of horrors for Cutler this week. Expect more Chicago sideline drama in this one.

SCOTT PIANOWSKI

Love him: Jay Cutler, Chi, QB - Pianowski QB rank No. 5  (Yahoo No. 11)

I might be putting too much faith in Cutler and Marc Trestman after a bye week. I'm sure I'll get some pushback here. But I still love Chicago's offensive skill players, and I expect them to get their share of the goodies, even if it's in garbage time. The Bears defense is part of the float: those guys can't stop anyone. And Trestman will keep his primary players on the field for four periods, even if the game gets lopsided.

The Packers have routinely sacked Cutler & Co, beating him eight times in nine meetings since he came to Chicago. But a number of those games were low-scoring affairs, tied to defenses (and personnel) long gone. Does anyone expect another 21-13 game, or a 23-10 game, or a 10-3 game, or a 21-14 game? Vegas sure doesn't - they've slapped a 53.5-point total on this match. Smoke up, JC.

Hate him: Rueben Randle, NYG, WR - Pianowski WR rank No. 50 (Yahoo No. 38)

I just watched my dog scamper after some different squirrels, bounding here and there, changing lanes. That's Rueben Randle's route running. Randle stands 18th in WR targets, fourth in WR red-zone targets, and 45th in PPR receiver points. That's almost impossible to screw up. I suppose it's encouraging to see the Giants keep feeding him, but nothing much is coming of it. At some point, don't you have to say "enough is enough?"

Maybe Randle's responded poorly to coaching, maybe he's never been coached properly. I can't say. I'm not in the locker room. But when you suck for two months, fantasy owners are allowed to look at someone else.

DALTON DEL DON

Love him: Mark Sanchez, Phi, QB - Del Don QB rank No. 4 (Yahoo No. 9)

This is right around where I would've ranked Nick Foles if he were still the Eagles' starter, and many of Philadelphia's coaches reportedly prefer Sanchez in this system. I'm well aware this seems a bit aggressive considering Sanchez's career up to this point, but I have full faith in Chip Kelly's offense, as this is far more a bet on it than the specific player. Sanchez did get 9.2 YPA with two scores in relief last week, and now he gets a full week of starter's reps in practice before facing a Carolina defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Hate him: Martavis Bryant, Pit, WR - Del Don WR rank No. 36 (Yahoo No. 21)

He's scored five touchdowns over the last three games and already looks like a more exciting option than Markus Wheaton for the future. However, Bryant has averaged just 5.7 targets over that three-week stretch, reaching 45 receiving yards only once, so he's hardly a volume guy as of now. I recognize the touchdown potential, but it's hard to rank a WR in the top 30 if he's only seeing a handful of targets per game.

BRAD EVANS

Love him: Justin Hunter, Ten, WR -  Evans WR rank No. 30 (Yahoo No. 43)

The Baltimore secondary, sans Jimmy Smith, was pillaged by Big Ben on Sunday night. Dominique Franks and Lardarius Webb were often lost in coverage, surrendering chunk play after chunk play. Zach Mettenberger is no Roethlisberger, obviously, but given the vulnerabilities of the Ravens pass D, Hunter is a viable starter in 12-team leagues. Even with Smith on the field for much of the season, Baltimore has allowed the fourth-most pass plays of 20-plus yards. Off a 10-target game (Week 8 vs. Hou) with the rookie QB manning the controls, Hunter cashes in a 4-70-1 line.

Hate him: Frank Gore, SF, RB - Evans RB rank No. 26 (Yahoo No. 20)

At what point will the fantasy ‘expert’ consensus on Gore sour? He’s a thirty-something back whose seen a major production reduction over the past three weeks. During that span, he’s sloughed his way to 2.74 yards per carry and the 68th-best RB line. He also hasn’t scored in four consecutive games. It’s perplexing to see coach Jim Harbaugh stand by the veteran’s side. Rookie Carlos Hyde is more explosive, more versatile and every bit as effective in pass protection. Inevitably, the torch will be passed, possibly as soon as this week in New Orleans. After inexplicably losing to St. Louis at home, San Fran needs a spark. Hyde, and not Gore, will likely light the wick.

ANDY BEHRENS

Love him: Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR – Behrens WR rank No. 19 (Yahoo No. 26)

Under normal circumstances, you want no part of a wide receiver following a mid-season trade. The player generally faces a ridiculous learning curve - new system, new quarterback, new terminology - while the team has to figure out how to deploy the new piece. But the Jets have force-fed Percy, and it's made him a viable fantasy option. Harvin has seen 22 targets in his two games for NY, plus he's carried the ball five times. He's coming off an 11-catch, 129-yard week. Why worry?
 
Hate him: Doug Baldwin, Sea, WR – Behrens WR rank No. 40 (Yahoo No. 32)

C'mon, we're not exactly talking about a dynamic passing game here. It's not as if Seattle's offense is a lock to produce a start-worthy fantasy receiver. In three of his past four games, Russell Wilson has finished with less than 200 passing yards. Baldwin has caught 11 balls for 99 yards over his last two games, and he has just one touchdown catch on the year. He's also dealing with a groin injury. Fantasy owners, you can do better.