Scott Engel 
Savvy Fantasy players know that coaches are often lying or twisting the truth somehow when they are talking to the media. What do they really mean and how does it apply to Fantasy Football and DFS this week? In this new feature, we operate as your Fantasy NFL Coach translator, breaking down the quotes from press conferences for Fantasy purposes.”
Browns NFL coach Freddie Kitchens on getting the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. more: “I am frustrated and disappointed in the loss (Monday night), not any kind of production from anybody. Of course, when production picks up, wins usually pick up. It goes hand in hand.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: The Browns are desperate for a win and will make it a point to get the ball to Beckham often against Seattle. He is a strong play this week against the Seattle secondary, especially at $6,800 on DraftKings.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor on fixing the Bengals offense: “The bottom line is we’ve got to score more points and move the ball. If that means getting into five-wide (receiver formation) and getting the ball out, that’s one way to look at it.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: Cincinnati is going to aggressively attack the Baltimore secondary this week. Running out a Bengals stack in some of your lineups will not be a widely replicated approach. Baltimore ranks 28th in pass defense so far this season.
Washington interim NFL coach Bill Callahan on the running game: “One of the league statistics we all look at is rush attempts, and a lot of the times, your rush attempts and completions, if you have more than your opponent, you’re in really good shape to win the football game.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: Callahan plans to hitch his Week 6 offensive wagon to Adrian Peterson against Miami. The Dolphins allow the most Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing RBs, so Peterson will be a popular play and attractive cash game selection at $4,500.
Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer on utilizing Dalvin Cook on screen passes: “You get him out in space. We’ve worked extremely hard on the screens, so I think when you can screen, it’s going to slow the pass rush down a little bit.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: The Eagles had 10 sacks against the Jets last week, and the Vikings will use Cook to try and make Philadelphia pay for their aggressiveness. He has caught six passes in each of the past two games and is worth spending up for at $8.400 despite the Eagles being third best in the NFC in FFPG allowed to opposing RBs.
Jacksonville NFL Coach Doug Marrone on D.J. Chark: “D.J. is a guy that is a big receiver. He has got really good speed. He could take the top off of the defense. He is a big target coming across the middle, he’ll do that. Those things will open up other opportunities for the other receivers. Right now Gardner (Minshew) has a good connection with him, but he has a good connection with the other guys.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: The Saints may try to shadow Chark this week with coverage by CB Marshon Lattimore, who is having good success limiting top WRs recently. Minshew may go elsewhere with the ball vs. New Orleans, most notably to Dede Westbrook ($5,100) in the slot.
Denver offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello on the Tennessee secondary: “I think it’s one of the best defenses in the NFL and it’s the best secondary we’ve seen all year.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: The Broncos ran the ball successfully last week against the Chargers and may continue to emphasize the ground game against the Titans. Philip Lindsay rushed for 114 yards and a TD last week and is just $5,100 on DraftKings. He may not be widely owned, either, so take the chance on him if you roll out multiple lineups. The Titans may be ready for such an approach, though, and their defense is a very viable play at $2,900. Denver-Tennessee could be a low scoring affair that features the best play from the RBs.
Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich on Mike Evans getting shut out by the Saints last week: ““We’ve just got to combat what they did. They just said, ‘We’re going to double him wherever he’s at on the field,’ and I can do a better job there also. He’s too good of a football player to go through a game without having a catch, to be honest with you. We’ll be better in all phases of our game.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: Evans will get the old cliched squeaky wheel treatment this week. He is a worthy Offensive Captain play in the Sunday Morning Showdown at $14,700.
Los Angeles Chargers NFL Coach Anthony Lynn on the Chargers scoring just 13 points in a loss to Denver last week: ““We like to be a balanced attack. Last week, we just weren’t balanced. The rushing game let us down a little bit. We have to be able to run the football and make people defend the run so that we can throw the ball better. I just think that we need to be a little more balanced.”
Coachspeak Fantasy translation: Look for Melvin Gordon’s role to increase this week after he carried 12 times for 31 yards in his season debut. He is an intriguing Captain Play in the Sunday Night Showdown at $13,500 or on the two game Sunday/Monday night slate at $6,000.
Featured Image via Erik Drost
