The more I think about it, the more I think about it, maybe New Coke didn't get the recognition it deserved.
Anyone old enough will remember New Coke. For those kids out there, in the mid-1980s Coca-Cola introduced a new formula to replace traditional Coke.
However, it didn't go very well. No one liked it. Sales plummeted, and the company revived the original and rebranded it Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke disappeared shortly after its introduction and was largely forgotten by consumers.
If cola drinkers had given it a chance, it might have had a George Pickens-like resurgence.
The wide receiver will enter the league in 2022, and many, especially fantasy managers, were eager to see what the Georgia product could do with his size and speed. Additionally, All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson compared him to DeAndre Hopkins.
However, he was traded to the Steelers in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. Who was going to throw him the ball? Kenny Pickett? Mitchell Trubisky? So despite his prototype specs, many fantasy managers ran away quickly after he got off to a decent start.
His best PPR fantasy week as a rookie was WR11 and he had nine weeks below WR40. I couldn't play him with confidence.
Therefore, even though production increased from the first year to the second year, it was not enough. Fantasy's manager still had a bad taste in his mouth. He was in the top 10 for two weeks during the fantasy playoffs, but if they relied on him they probably wouldn't have made the playoffs.
So when the season ended and he got off to a slow start again, this time with Justin Fields taking over as QB, Fantastic Manager also shoved him in the back of the cooler and left it next to the leftover can of New Coke. It was easy to collect dust.
Russell Wilson came in. If Pickens is the New Coke, Wilson is the Crystal Pepsi, which has failed even more in recent years.
But a funny thing happened when the two got together. Like soda crackling on ice, the two created a fantastic fountain, especially in the first game of Week 7.
Against the Jets' excellent pass defense, Pickens caught five passes for 111 yards and one touchdown, posting a PPR of 22.1, second-best among WRs. Great debut with Wilson. After that, he recorded 4 hits in 74 at bats, but did not score any points.
Another thing: 20.4 yards per catch in the two games against Wilson, compared to 13.8 yards per catch against Fields. And his catches per game increased slightly from 4.3 to 4.5. So he was able to catch more balls and gain more yards on those catches.
So far, the Steelers' new passing scheme is working much better than New Coke's. And this week, they'll take on rookie sensation Jaden Daniels and the Commanders.
Washington scored the second-most points in the NFL. That doesn't mean they'll shore up the Steelers' excellent defense, and we've seen Daniels & Co. misfire before (Bears two weeks ago).
Nevertheless, teams that can score big points provide better opportunities for their opponents to score, and scoring more points means they can score more fantasy points.
We have a lackluster CeeDee Lamb (with Cooper Rush at QB), a potentially limited Drake London (hip), or Davante Adams, Darnell Mooney, Marvin Harrison Jr., etc. Pickens would start ahead of someone like .
So if you're imposing bench time on Pickens because of his bad start, stop treating him like New Coke. This person still has a fantasy vibe.
important week
Daniel Jones QB, Giants vs. Panthers (FanDuel $7,200/DraftKing N/A)
The good news is he should be a great DFS bargain this week. The problem is that this game isn't the main one. He can also serve as a bye-week filler in seasonal leagues.
DJ Moore WR, Bears vs. Patriots (FD $6,500/DK $6,300)
Last week I played embarrassingly lazy. During that week, I said all the wrong things. But I smell a squeaky wheel scenario here. The Bears will at least try to appease Moore with additional targets this week.
Jameson Williams WR, Lions vs. Texans (FD $6,300/DK $5,900)
After serving a two-game suspension, Detroit will look to bait targets for big plays. All Williams needs to do to have a strong fantasy day is make one long grab, and he's good at them.
DeAndre Hopkins WR, Chiefs vs. Broncos (FD $6,000/DK $5,300)
Maybe we should stop being surprised when the Chiefs revive the fantasy relevance of dormant players. If he can hit nine targets like he did last week, he will win the league. Even in tough matches, you won't break a sweat.
small weakness
Drake Maye QB, Patriots vs. Bears (FD $6,800/DK $5,800)
We're buying into Maye's more productive future than when he first entered the league. However, we will hold that progress for a week. The Bears are tough against the toughest opposing fantasy QBs in the league.
Marvin Harrison Jr. WR, Cardinals vs. Jets (FD $6,800/DK $6,400)
The Jets have been mostly underwhelming this season, but you wouldn't know it by looking at their defensive performance against opposing WRs. They are giving up 6.6 fewer fantasy points per week to QBs than the league average, the fewest in the NFL.
Evan Engram TE, Jaguars vs. Vikings (FD $6,200/DK $5,300)
It was a very disappointing loss for the Jags and QB Trevor Lawrence. But if he can't go and they have to rely on Mac Jones as expected, even Engram, the only Jag anchoring the lineup, could find comfort on the bench.
TJ Hockenson TE, Vikings, Jaguars (FD $6,500/DK $4,700)
You made it through week 9 without him. It may take a few games for QB Sam Darnold to get used to his comfort zone. Don't get burned for weeks while that's happening. Leave TJ on the bench until he gets burned once, then use him.
Do you want to bet on the NFL?
crazy daily duel
Drew Loftis and Jarrad Wilk submit roster of duelists to DFS contest:
site: draft kings
slate: solar. Main (10 games)
type: $20 tournament
Grand Prize: 1 million dollars
pot: $2.75 million
Drew's Crew
QB: bock purdy
SF (TB time) $6,500
RB: Saquon Barkley
Phi (at Dal) $8,300
RB: aaron jones
Minimum amount (in Jac) $6,700
WR: george pickens
Pitt (at the time) $6,800
WR: deandre hopkins
KC (vs. Den) $5,300
WR: Ricky Pearsall
SF (TB time) $4,400
Te: hunter henry
Northeast (Chi) $3,900
flex: alec pierce
Ind (vs. Buf) $4,900
Summer time: broncos
Den (KC) $2,400
warriors of wilk
QB: Sam Darnold
Minimum amount (in Jac) $6,200
RB: james cook
Buch (India) $7,000
RB: d'andre swift
Chi (vs. NE) $6,500
WR: justin jefferson
Minimum amount (in Jac) $8,800
WR: darnell mooney
Atl (NO) $6,500
WR: Roma Odunze
Qi (vs. NE) $5,200
Te: Chigu Okonkwo
10 (at LAC) $3,000
flex: Ricky Pearsall
SF (TB time) $4,400
Summer time: broncos
Den (KC) $2,400
Please check the roster changes for the second half. @NYPost_Loftis of X and @nypfantasymadman on thread
Dangerous season: $140
Season prizes: Drew $180, Jarrad $113.50
