Conor O’Driscoll uses the RotoViz suite of tools to identify opportunities to buy low on players likely to post strong fantasy performances, and to help you see red flags before your opponents notice. The Strength of Schedule (SOS) Streaming App is particularly useful for this as it allows us to see which players have the easiest or most difficult upcoming schedules, a potentially league-winning edge.

We are at the point in the season where the schedule condenses down and the importance of schedule becomes about specific matchups rather than the aggregate over multiple weeks. For some teams, simply surviving week to week is the overwhelming priority. For others, the first round bye has already been secured or the full starting lineup is happily plugged (for now) and they have the luxury of stacking the bench with players possessing strong ceiling opportunities before others can even consider them. This week I will split the article into those two parts.

This Week’s Smash Spots

This section is going to primarily focus on players who have disappointed recently but should still carry starting consideration. These are players who aren’t necessarily top tier fantasy producers but have a greater than usual opportunity to provide a startable week.