Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 5 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Betting Odds: MIA -4, 40.5 Total on Oddshark
Network: FOX
Writer: Drew DeLuca (@DrewDeLaware on Twitter)
New York Giants
QUARTERBACKS
Mike Glennon (Sit), Daniel Jones (Sit)
Daniel Jones threw for over 200 yards for the first time in three weeks on Sunday. He also ran for 30 or more yards for the first time since Week 3. Unfortunately, he also injured his neck in the victory over the Eagles, so he’s expected to give way to Mike Glennon in Miami this week.
Glennon threw for almost 200 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5; he took over the reins after Jones suffered a concussion and tossed a pair of picks to go along with a touchdown. Last year, Glennon closed out his tour of duty as a Jacksonville Jaguar by throwing for 200 or more yards and two or more touchdowns in three of his five final games. Over the last year, Glennon has proven to be a competent backup. However, while he likely leads the league in neck length, he just doesn’t offer much from a fantasy perspective.
RUNNING BACKS
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB2), Devontae Booker (Sit), Elijhaa Penny (Sit), Gary Brightwell (Sit)
Saquon Barkley‘s 17 touches last Sunday were his most since Week 4. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much with them, finishing as Week 12’s RB31. Only the Baltimore Ravens have allowed fewer PPR points to running backs per game over the last five weeks, so we’re tempering our expectations for Barkley on Sunday. He’s still a must-start, but we don’t expect RB1-level production.
For the second week in a row, Devontae Booker did little to nothing of note, and we expect similar performances throughout the rest of the season. Gary Brightwell still has yet to see a touch since Week 4. Neither Booker nor Brightwell should be appearing in fantasy football lineups this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Kenny Golladay (Sit), Sterling Shepard (Sit), Kadarius Toney (Sit), Darius Slayton (Sit), Evan Engram (Sit), Kyle Rudolph (Sit)
You know it’s bad when Kenny Golladay is your team’s healthiest receiver, but that’s life for the New York Giants in 2021. Kadarius Toney continues to be bothered by a quadriceps injury. He did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for this Sunday’s game in Miami. Sterling Shepard likewise failed to practice on Wednesday; he is questionable with a quadriceps injury. This puts Darius Slayton in line for a few more touches than usual.
Slayton’s 53 total yards from scrimmage in Week 12 were the most by a New York Giants receiver since Week 8 (John Ross, 72). Unfortunately, we lack confidence in Mike Glennon’s ability to sling the ball downfield to Slayton, so we don’t see him capitalizing on his opportunity this week. We’re sitting Golladay this week for similar reasons, although we were encouraged by the 7 targets he received in Week 12, his most since Week 4. You could do worse as an emergency flex, but we’re not starting him otherwise if we can help it.
Kyle Rudolph did not practice on Wednesday; he is questionable with an ankle injury. Evan Engram drew a dream matchup last week against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that simply cannot cover tight ends. He managed just 3 catches for 37 yards, a downright disappointing performance in a surefire smash spot. We’re avoiding Engram until he gives us a reason to start plugging him into our lineups.
Miami Dolphins
QUARTERBACKS
Tua Tagovailoa (Sit)
Tua Tagovailoa has really been impressive lately, which is remarkable given that two of his top three wide receivers (Will Fuller and DeVante Parker) have played in a total of one game since Week 4. He finds himself in rarefied air as we approach the kickoff of Week 13:
QBs with an 80% completion percentage (minimum 30 attempts) in consecutive games — #NFL history
Peyton Manning (2013)
Drew Brees (2018)
Kyler Murray (2021)
Tua Tagovailoa (2021)Tagovailoa is the only player ever to accomplish the feat past October.
#Dolphins #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/YM8nTThmvh— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) December 1, 2021
Tua ranks just outside the Top 12 for us this week, so while he’s technically not a “Start,” we don’t hate the idea of sliding him into lineups as an injury or bye week replacement in leagues of just about any size.
RUNNING BACKS
Myles Gaskin (Start, RB2), Phillip Lindsay (Sit), Patrick Laird (Sit), Salvon Ahmed (Sit)
Phillip Lindsay has been limited in practice this week by a minor ankle injury. He received a dozen carries in his first game as a Miami Dolphin, yet Myles Gaskin logged 18 touches and a pair of touchdowns. Gaskin’s snap share (50 percent) dropped to its lowest level since Week 6, but if Linsday can’t give it a go this weekend, we expect Gaskin to pile up the volume and serve as a viable RB2 this week. Gaskin should be able to put up numbers in a favorable matchup, but Patrick Laird and Salvon Ahmed are unlikely to see enough volume to warrant starting consideration in any format.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Jaylen Waddle (Start, WR2), DeVante Parker (Start, Flex), Albert Wilson (Sit), Mack Hollins (Sit), Isaiah Ford (Sit), Preston Williams (Sit), Mike Gesicki (Start).
Will Fuller (finger) is eligible to return from Injured Reserve, but likely won’t suit up until Week 15. However, there’s a good chance we’ll see DeVante Parker (shoulder) for the first time since Halloween, and makes a decent low-end flex option against a fairly soft opponent.
Make no mistake about the identity of the team’s alpha wide receiver, however: Jaylen Waddle has outpaced all of his fellow wide receiver teammates in snap share, and the rookie from Alabama has racked up more than twice as many targets as any other member of the Miami Dolphins wide receiving corps. We expect another game of double-digit looks, which should yield solid WR2 statistics. Meanwhile, we don’t foresee much production from Albert Wilson, Mack Hollins, Isaiah Ford, or Preston Williams in this one.
Mike Gesicki retains his ranking as a Top 10 tight end for another week. If you have Gesicki on your roster, chances are he’s your best option at the position. He’s not someone we’d actively seek to trade for, but we’re comfortable starting him in just about all leagues of any size.