Fantasy football owners seem to get smarter every year. The leagues seem to get deeper. The competition seems to get better. That's partially because of the sheer amount of information available to fantasy geeks willing to put the time in. But it's not always easy to find sound fantasy advice on players making up the back ends of fantasy depth charts. That's where we'll try to help fill in the gaps.
Every week, we'll look at the Patriots matchup and try to help you decide which players to start and which to sit -- or which to invest in if you're playing in a daily format. You know you're rolling with Julian Edelman on a weekly basis this year, but otherwise...? There are plenty of questions that hopefully we'll answer here.
START
SONY MICHEL, RB, PATRIOTS
You can trust Sony Michel in your fantasy playoffs. At least, I think you can. I know he had two touchdowns vultured by James Develin last week. I know he's looked bad in short-yardage and goal-line situations. I know he only had 63 yards last week against the Vikings. But the Dolphins aren't the Vikings. The Dolphins are one of the league's worst run defenses, allowing 5.0 yards per carry. Michel is an RB2.
JAMES WHITE, RB, PATRIOTS
Time to worry about James White's workload with Rex Burkhead back in the mix? In a word, no. He touched the football 13 times last week for 118 total yards. After a couple of down weeks against the Titans and Jets, White was right back in the thick of things. Despite the depth at his position in New England, there's still plenty of work available for White, who is likely the best one-on-one option in the short passing game for Tom Brady these days. He's an RB2 and a borderline RB1 in PPR leagues.
New England Patriots
JOSH GORDON, WR, PATRIOTS
Josh Gordon has been very efficient the past two weeks, catching all eight of his targets. We know he has the ability to break a tackle and break a long play any time he touches the football, and the fact that he says his conditioning has improved has to be viewed as a sign that he'll have more big-play opportunities moving forward. His hard-charging running style was on display last week as he picked up an average of 12 yards after the catch on his three grabs. He's a WR2 this week.
ROB GRONKOWSKI, TE, PATRIOTS
You can't start Rob Gronkowski expecting the old Gronk. Especially now that the Dolphins have top-tier safety Reshad Jones back from injury and patrolling the middle of the field. But do you have to start him? Yes. One encouraging note for Gronkowski fantasy owners? The Patriots may have dialed back his workload purposefully against the Vikings. There were instances when he had one-on-one coverage -- and even had room to run -- yet didn't see the football. He's not the player he was. There are weeks when opposing defensive coordinators treat him like any other tight end (though not every week, as we saw against the Jets), but Brady still trusts him, and he still has the ability to put up more fantasy points than most at his position. That's what matters here.
SIT
TOM BRADY, QB, PATRIOTS
Brady cracked the 300-yard barrier last weekend, but he still has just four touchdown passes in his past five games. The matchup against Miami, which appears as though it'll be without Xavien Howard, is a very good one on paper. But Brady's numbers in Miami -- particularly in Miami in December -- are brutal. His career December rating drops about 20 points when in Miami. His touchdown-to-interception ratio in Miami in December is 9-to-10. He's 1-5 in Miami in December in his career. You can't be blamed for looking elsewhere this week.
KENYAN DRAKE, RB, DOLPHINS
If fantasy is as much about opportunity as it is about talent, you can't feel good about rolling with Drake. He had nine touches last week in a close game with the Bills. In Weeks 9 and 10 he combined for 17 touches. He's had a nose for the end zone lately -- three scores in his past two games -- but with your fantasy playoff lives on the line, I wouldn't feel great about him.
REX BURKHEAD, RB, PATRIOTS
Do I think Rex Burkhead will have fantasy value before the regular season is through? Yes. Do I think it'll be this week in Miami? I think there's a chance. Do I think you should start him this week? No. Look, the Patriots had their backs touch the football a whopping 45 times the other night. (Burkhead had seven carries for 20 yards and two catches for 21.) They're OK with dinking and dunking given their personnel there. And if either Michel or White were ever to miss time, Burkhead would become a solid fantasy option. But until he establishes a greater role for himself, it's too risky to start him this late in the year.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.