Top-ranked LSU visits No. 2 Alabama in a huge SEC showdown and the best college football matchup so far this season on Saturday afternoon. Here is a fantasy breakdown at wide receiver.
MORE LSU-ALABAMA: Fantasy breakdown of QB matchup | Fantasy RB matchup | Which team has better recruiting moving forward? | TigersDetails.com | BamaInsider.com
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ALABAMA RECEIVERS
The Crimson Tide have arguably the best receiving corps in the country, but from a fantasy perspective DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs do not rank in the top 10 of points producers.
That’s still fine, though, since Smith is No. 11 overall and Jeudy is No. 12 as both are having phenomenal seasons and both are producing huge numbers in Alabama’s passing attack. Smith is only owned in about 73 percent of leagues, so he still might be available for this matchup. Ruggs is somewhere in the 30s, so he’s having a strong year. That group, along with Jaylen Waddle, make up an outstanding foursome that will be difficult to defend this weekend.
There are two real concerns entering this weekend for Alabama’s receivers: Will star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa play after suffering a high ankle sprain a few weeks ago, and if not can Mac Jones deliver on the biggest stage in college football? And secondly, LSU’s defensive backs are outstanding and better than anything the Crimson Tide has seen so far this season.
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LSU RECEIVERS
Despite Alabama’s reputation for having the best receiving corps in the country, LSU has two receivers in the fantasy game who are scoring higher than anybody for the Crimson Tide.
Justin Jefferson is sixth overall among wide receivers in fantasy points and tops in the SEC with 55 catches for 819 yards and nine touchdowns, and then Ja’Marr Chase is eighth overall with 43 receptions for 749 yards and nine TDs. Those numbers are better than any Alabama receiver.
Terrace Marshall is also an interesting option. If fully healthy, the former five-star is only owned in 31 percent of leagues and could have a big performance, as Alabama will surely try to shut down Jefferson and Chase first.
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FANTASY ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA
I understand LSU has two receivers that are scoring more fantasy points than any Alabama receiver, but this game is in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide are the favorites and my guess is Jefferson and Chase will be dramatically slowed this weekend.
Jeudy, Smith and Ruggs are all scoring impressive fantasy points and when you throw in Waddle, there are too many weapons for LSU to slow down. There’s a good possibility that both teams score lots of points since the over/under is high, which is great for fantasy. My lean is to the Crimson Tide right now.
