Last week in this space, I wrote about the fantasy ramifications of Mark Ingram’s breakout game against Dallas in Week 10. Ingram indeed had a terrific game, but it’s possible that his was not the most impressive out-of-nowhere performance from that week’s slate of games.
Rams wideout Tavon Austin had an NFL coming out party of his own in Week 10. Austin’s breakout came in the form of a 138-yard, two-touchdown explosion in which the former West Virginia star also took a punt 99 yards to pay dirt, becoming an instant SportsCenter sensation in the process.
Austin’s first great game in the league came as far less of a surprise than Ingram’s; the rookie had been pegged as a game-breaking performer coming out of college and was the first receiver taken in the 2013 draft.
St. Louis saw some return on that investment in Week 10, as Austin finally used his breakaway speed to burn an NFL defense. The question, for both Rams fans and Austin’s fantasy owners, is whether he can now begin to shred pro defenses on a more regular basis.
The fantasy world has had two weeks to ponder that conundrum, as the Rams had a bye in Week 11. St. Louis plays the Bears in Week 12, so, for this week at least, Austin becomes a must-start. Chicago’s defense has struggled mightily this season, thanks to both injuries and ineffectiveness, ranking in the bottom third of the league in yards allowed per game.
This defensive unit is a far cry from the terrifying Chicago squads that dominated the NFC in the mid 2000s and this season has already allowed four pass-catchers (AJ Green, Antonio Brown, Jimmy Graham and Jordan Reed) to rack up 130 yards or more against it. I fully expect Austin to break at least one big play this week and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him find the end zone more than once. Start him if you own him.
Austin’s performance for the duration of the season is harder to gauge. His knack for the highlight-reel play is undeniable; in addition to the 81-yard and 57-yard touchdowns he hauled in in Week 10, he also had a 64-yard TD catch in Week 7 that was called back because of a penalty. The downside to Austin as a fantasy option, though, is the inconsistency of his of touches he’s received this year.
The 22-year old Austin has had four games of seven targets or more, but he’s also had four games in which he’s seen the ball thrown his way three times or less. Indeed, he was only targeted three times in his Week 10 breakout; he happened to catch two of the passes for long touchdowns, but that type of performance is obviously very rare and fantasy owners should desire a little more consistency from their starters, especially as the playoffs approach.
The other factor working against Austin becoming a weekly fantasy threat is the Rams’ remaining schedule. After Chicago, St. Louis faces a string of stingy defenses that includes San Francisco, New Orleans and Seattle, all of whom rank in the top ten in pass yards allowed per game and will provide a much tougher challenge than the Colts’ struggling defense that Austin torched in Week 10. With the inexperienced Kellen Clemens under center for the Rams, Austin might not see many passes come his way in the next few weeks.
The bottom-line on Austin appears to be that he is a potential lottery ticket for fantasy owners that could just as easily be held to one catch for three yards, as he was against Houston in Week 6. I definitely recommend starting him against the Bears and then keep him waiting in the wings in the next couple of weeks to see what he can do against some of the league’s most formidable defenses. Austin will be a star in this league some day soon, but it remains to be seen if that day will come this season.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
