Conflicting advice on Lofton and Atlanta tackle opps (1 Viewer)

[G-King]

This week Norton in Eyes of the Guru says the Bucs have been great in giving up tackles to LBers making Lofton and Peterson great starts. However Dr.Jene in IDP Matchups says Tampa Bay are in the "avoid" catagory. Although its hard to bench Lofton, I wonder why there is such a difference of opinions from the two? (I have other options over Lofton)

 

[Maroney=Sped]

MFL's "Points Against By Position" tool in my dynasty IDP league (which does not use bonuses to weight positions) ranks the Bucs 13th best on average for opposing LB's, giving up 26.75 ppg versus a league-wide 23.59 average.

Sounds like they're in the high end of the "average" strata to me.

EDIT - they're ranked 13th in my other IDP league too (which does use position bonuses/weights), with 38.86 ppg versus a league-wide 34.41 average.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Atlanta defenders Vs Tampa BayCurtis Lofton will be extremely tough to bench unless you're in a start 1 LB league, but Mike Peterson and Erik Coleman are risky starts against the Bucs this week.

There are a number of very strong matchups for linebackers this week. The Bucs are allowing an average of only 43 tackle opportunities a week. Only Oakland is worse. The nice thing about both matchups -- which is what's driving John's argument (and mine that Lofton shouldn't be benched unless you have another top ten option) -- is that the TB and OAK opportunities are strong LB opportunities. Both teams don't use many three WR sets, won't abandon the run and have a very strong TE as their primary receiving option. However, the raw number of expected opportunities limit upside here.This week, I think Lofton's expected range is in the 5-8 solo range rather than the 7-11 I'd usually have him in. More things have to go right for him to hit 8-9 solos this week than 6-7.

 

[ceo3west]

Atlanta defenders Vs Tampa BayCurtis Lofton will be extremely tough to bench unless you're in a start 1 LB league, but Mike Peterson and Erik Coleman are risky starts against the Bucs this week.

There are a number of very strong matchups for linebackers this week. The Bucs are allowing an average of only 43 tackle opportunities a week. Only Oakland is worse. The nice thing about both matchups -- which is what's driving John's argument (and mine that Lofton shouldn't be benched unless you have another top ten option) -- is that the TB and OAK opportunities are strong LB opportunities. Both teams don't use many three WR sets, won't abandon the run and have a very strong TE as their primary receiving option. However, the raw number of expected opportunities limit upside here.This week, I think Lofton's expected range is in the 5-8 solo range rather than the 7-11 I'd usually have him in. More things have to go right for him to hit 8-9 solos this week than 6-7.

Would you bench him for Laurinaitis?

 

[Gary Davenport]

Atlanta defenders Vs Tampa Bay

Curtis Lofton will be extremely tough to bench unless you're in a start 1 LB league, but Mike Peterson and Erik Coleman are risky starts against the Bucs this week.

There are a number of very strong matchups for linebackers this week. The Bucs are allowing an average of only 43 tackle opportunities a week. Only Oakland is worse. The nice thing about both matchups -- which is what's driving John's argument (and mine that Lofton shouldn't be benched unless you have another top ten option) -- is that the TB and OAK opportunities are strong LB opportunities. Both teams don't use many three WR sets, won't abandon the run and have a very strong TE as their primary receiving option. However, the raw number of expected opportunities limit upside here.This week, I think Lofton's expected range is in the 5-8 solo range rather than the 7-11 I'd usually have him in. More things have to go right for him to hit 8-9 solos this week than 6-7.

Would you bench him for Laurinaitis?

I wouldn't. I don't like Son of Animal's matchup that much more that it would compensate for the talent disparity. Lofton, last I checked, leads the NFL in tackles. Unless you have another elite-type option in your back pocket or a guy with a sweet matchup I'd just roll Lofton out there same as every other week, albeit with slightly tempered expectations.Do you sit AD against Pittsburgh? Of course not, but you start him with the knowledge that odds are this isn't going to be one of those 200 yard days, and maybe you make adjustments elsewhere in your lineup to compensate for that. Same principle, other side of the ball.

 

[AcerFC]

Anyone know his status for today