Thursday Fantasy Flier, Week 11: Jarvis Landry

Well, I suppose that if science can land a robot on a comet traveling 40,000-something miles per hour, then science should also be able to identify a viable fantasy starter in this week's Thursday night game. But please understand that these two undertakings are similarly difficult, only achievable through staggering expense and international collaboration.

[Join FanDuel.com's $2.5m Week 11 fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 21,840 teams paid]

Honestly, I don't want to be tied to this Thursday's game in any significant way. The bottom line here is that the defenses involved in this tilt, Buffalo and Miami, rank among the stingiest in the league. Additionally, both backfields are stuck in committee, due to injuries to Fred Jackson (groin) and Lamar Miller (shoulder). I've got Sammy Watkins and Mike Wallace on the approved-for-all-formats list, but that's about it. In leagues of unusual size/shape, I might roll with Bryce Brown and Charles Clay. And in mega-leagues, I'd give this rookie a try...

WR Jarvis Landry, Mia (14 percent owned, 9 percent started)

Landry saw a season-high 10 targets in the loss at Detroit in Week 10, catching seven balls for 53 yards. Over his last five games, dating back to Miami's bye, he's averaged 6.4 targets per week and he's found the end-zone twice. His usage hasn't been as steady or significant as Mike Wallace's during that five-game stretch (8.0 targets/week), but he's definitely surged past Brian Hartline (3.4). Landry hauled in 77 balls for 1193 yards and 10 scores at LSU last year, outproducing Odell Beckham Jr. (Seriously, EVERYONE went to either LSU or Clemson. How did those schools ever lose?) This week, Landry figures to be covered frequently by teacup slot-corner Nickell Robey, a player who's grading out poorly for the year. Robey is four inches shorter than Landry and 40 pounds lighter, so the matchup should tilt in Miami's favor.

Again, I wouldn't get aggressive with the skill players attached to Thursday's game, but Landry certainly has deep league/PPR appeal.