Danny Amendola: Updated Fantasy Outlook & Analysis for Rams WR

Danny Amendola played his first game in over a month for the St. Louis Rams in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterback Sam Bradford chucked the football at him as if he never left.

In Amendola’s first four full games this season, he was targeted an average of 11 times per game. His best game came in Week 2 against the Washington Redskins: 16 targets, 15 catches, 160 yards and a touchdown.

His return against the 49ers: 12 targets, 11 receptions and 102 yards.

It would have been a much bigger day if the Rams weren’t penalized for an inexplicable illegal formation penalty at the beginning of overtime in St. Louis’ 24-24 tie with San Francisco.

Amendola made a nice catch-and-run down the right sideline for 80 yards. It ended two yards from the end zone, giving St. Louis a real chance to win the game before the play was erased and the Rams were relegated to trying to march down the field.

It didn’t work.

Amendola had two of his catches for 15 yards after the non-play in overtime.

Going forward, Amendola will likely be a matchup-proof fantasy football player—especially in PPR leagues—because of his early-season performances. Aside from the Thursday night game against the Arizona Cardinals that he left early, he has had at least five catches and 55 yards in every contest this season.

His matchup-proof status will continue to be tested soon and often. Two of his next three matchups will be against the two most stingy fantasy defenses in terms of points allowed to wide receivers entering Week 10.

The 49ers—Amendola’s Week 10 and Week 13 opponent—were one of those.

St. Louis also plays the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals in the meantime. New York gave up three receiving touchdowns to Seattle Seahawks wide receivers in Week 10. Arizona was on a bye, but has given up three receiving TDs to wideouts in each of its last two games.

Amendola’s late-season—and fantasy playoffs—schedule (from Week 14 to Week 17) is up-and-down. It includes two top-eight favorable defenses for fantasy WRs (Buffalo Bills in Week 14 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16) as well as two bottom-eight ones (Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 and Seattle Seahawks in Week 17).

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