New England Patriots - Fantasy News

Who to Start: Rex Burkhead or Marshawn Lynch?

by Mike Rose

11/16/17

NFL

New England Patriots

Rex Burkhead

Had the Oakland Raiders not lost quarterback Derek Carr to injury for a couple of games, they might be better positioned in the AFC playoff race. There would also be a bit more intrigue to Sunday afternoon’s game in Mexico City between Jack Del Rio’s squad and New England Patriots.

Nonetheless, we could end up seeing a shootout across the border. Running backs Rex Burkhead and Marshawn Lynch could be key components of their respective offensive attacks as these two teams face off for the first time since 2014.

Fantasy Matchup: Rex Burkhead (7.0 PFP) vs. Marshawn Lynch (9.0 PFP)

Burkhead has averaged 9.0 Dober Fantasy Points per game entering Week 11. Despite averaging more than Lynch thus far, he is a two-point underdog in this matchup. Burkhead has played in only five of New England’s first 10 games, but he’s been an integral part of the passing attack when healthy as he enters the contest ranked outside of the Top 50 running backs in fantasy football.

Despite only rushing for 100 yards, he’s added other value by recording 15 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The No. 18 rushing attack in the NFL has been balanced between Burkhead and a pool of backs. The Pats hope to take advantage of a Raiders defense that has allowed 161.3 yards as well as 26.5 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields.

With the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL, New England needs its run game to offset the passing attack just enough. After not playing in Weeks 3 through 6, Burkhead’s fantasy production has begun to pick up. But after a nice week in which he logged 13.8 Dober Fantasy Points, a drop in production could be on the horizon as he’s only projected to reach 7.0 DFP in Week 11.

Meanwhile, “Beast Mode” is coming off of his first multiple-touchdown performance since Week 16 of 2015. He hasn’t been quite what the Raiders expected him to be this season, but as a team Oakland has had a down year. Lynch hasn’t reached 80-plus yards at all while carrying the ball 86 times for 323 yards and four touchdowns.

In Week 11, he’ll be facing a Patriots defense that ranks No. 25 in fantasy against opposing running backs. As the No. 40 fantasy back, he’ll look to improve a Raiders ground game that’s been atrocious at No. 27 in the NFL. He could be a goal-line option in a game that has shootout written all over it.

I like this matchup for Lynch because the Patriots defense has allowed the fifth-highest touchdown rate per drive to opponents this season. They’ve also given up 155.7 yards and 25.8 fantasy points per game to running backs.

Neither the Patriots nor Raiders have had a ton of success running the football this year, but something has to give, right? Go with the hot hand of Lynch and add him to your Dober Play Cards as he looks to take advantage of a weak front seven in hopes of tallying a couple of scores.

Week 11 Fantasy Projection: Marshawn Lynch (-2) vs. Rex Burkhead