Every Thursday on 1500ESPN’s Fantasy Football Pants Party, Anthony Maggio and Bo Mitchell field their Ballsy teams—a full fantasy lineup comprised only of players available in at least half of ESPN.com leagues. Each week Zoneblitz.com will publish a preview, with Maggio’s top-rated at each position among the Ballsy-eligible players.

Josh McCown at Chicago

The prodigal quarterback returns. McCown, who revived his career in place of an injured Jay Cutler last year, will play in front of what were his home fans a season ago with some momentum on his side. Since returning from a thumb injury in Week 10, McCown is averaging 295 yards, two touchdowns and an interception per game—top 10 fantasy quarterback numbers. Granted, it’s a small sample size, but McCown now gets a Bears defense giving up the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks after racking up points against a similarly inept Washington defense. This 300-2-1 train should keep on rolling for at least another week.

 

Tre Mason at San Diego

The reasons for holding off on adding Mason are becoming weaker by the week. First folks could pass due to a muddy, three-headed monster situation. Then they could pass due to his schedule. But Mason showed against both the Cardinals and Broncos that he’s up to the task regardless of defense, and he’s getting the workload to produce every-week starter numbers. The Chargers are middle-of-the-pack against the run when it comes to fantasy points allowed to running backs, but after the last two weeks, I’d take Mason in this space regardless of opponent. He’s a must-add, people.

 

Malcom Floyd vs. St. Louis

This column looking a lot like last week’s? I’m going back to the well on my first three listings here again this week, after all three delivered for me in Week 11. Floyd continues to be the most consistent pass-catcher in San Diego: 3-5 catches per week starting in Week 4, No fewer than 44 yards since Week 5, and four touchdowns in 10 games. Interestingly enough, Floyd’s two lowest yardage outputs starting from Week 3 have both been accompanied by touchdowns, providing Floyd with week-to-week value. And it doesn’t hurt that he faces a Rams team this week allowing the fourth most fantasy points to wide receivers.

 

Marcedes Lewis at Indianapolis

My track record at the tight end position this week has admittedly been less than stellar. But I’m calling it a blip on the radar and sticking to my guns in my tight end evaluation. Unfortunately, that leaves me a bit exposed again this week as I’m basically doing the same thing I did in Week 11 by picking a solid tight end coming off injury in a nice matchup. Kyle Rudolph posted a goose-egg last week as he only dipped his toe in the water from a snaps perspective. If Lewis does the same, I’m in trouble. But in less than two games this season (he was injured in Week 2) Lewis has eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Colts are allowing the third most fantasy points to tight ends this season. And with Allen Robinson now out for the season, Blake Bortles needs pass catchers. Fingers crossed.

 

Billy Cundiff at Atlanta

The Falcons are one of nine teams allowing more than eight fantasy points per game to kickers this season, and they play indoors. That’s a nice recipe at this time of year especially, making Cundiff a solid streaming option. Sure, he’s missed field goals in back to back games and had only three attempts the last two weeks, but I think the return of Josh Gordon and the clarity in the backfield will help this offense move the ball better and get Cundiff back in line with his stretch from Week 5 through 9 in which he averaged 10 points per contest.

 

Colts DEF vs. Jacksonville

Indy looked horrible against the Patriots in Week 11, but the Jaguars are the perfect bounceback tonic. Jacksonville’s 15 interceptions are most in the league—Blake Bortles’ 14 leads all quarterbacks this year—and the Jaguars are second worst in the league with 22 giveaways this season. The Colts are nothing special on defense, but this matchup gives them a decent fantasy floor.

 

For even more Ballsy picks of the week, listen to 1500ESPN’s Fantasy Football Pants Party.