Passing
Game Thoughts: Head coach Jeff Fisher is gone, but don’t
expect some sort of monumental turnaround for the woeful Rams
in the final three weeks of the season, especially as the head
on the road, in a short week, against one of the league’s
best secondaries on Thursday night. Sure, the Seahawks allowed
three touchdown passes this past week, but that was only their
second time doing so this season and it came on the road against
Aaron Rodgers. The only other time they’ve allowed three
touchdown passes against them was back in Week 6 against Matt
Ryan and the Falcons. Some might point to the Rams’ surprising
Week 2 victory over the Seahawks as a reason to have hope for
the Los Angeles passing game, but don’t forget that rookie
QB Jared Goff was sitting on the sidelines in that game and the
team, despite winning, scored zero touchdowns. The only player
who should even be considered for fantasy purposes in this passing
game is wide receiver Kenny Britt who is quietly creeping up on
1,000 yards for the season. Still, Britt is unlikely to have a
huge game against the Legion of Boom, so do your best to find
an alternative option if at all possible.
SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
Running Game Thoughts: Todd Gurley
has not broken the 100-yard rushing mark in a single game this
season. In fact, he has only broken the 80-yard mark once and
that came all the way back in Week 3. Sure, he’s getting
almost all of the touches out of the Los Angeles backfield, but
with the offense performing as poorly as any in the league, there
just aren’t enough opportunities for Gurley to produce RB1
numbers, especially in a matchup like the one he’ll face
on the road against the Seahawks in Week 15. Seattle has conceded
the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs
this season and they haven’t allowed a running back to score
a touchdown as a runner or receiver since Week 10. If you’re
looking for a player to get you high single digit production or
low double-digit production at best, Gurley is your guy. But if
you need more than that, find another option who has a bit more
upside.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Give all the excuses you want about lack
of a running game, protection issues or wide receiver drops, but
the reality is that Russell Wilson is not producing quality fantasy
numbers right now and that has to be a huge concern as we dive
deeper into the fantasy playoffs. Wilson has now failed to throw
for multiple touchdowns in a game in four straight contests while
throwing an uncharacteristic eight interceptions over that span.
We can chalk up Week 14’s horrendous performance against
the Packers to weather and a number of other problems, but it’s
now become evident that Wilson is not the rock solid, every week
fantasy starter that most of us believed he was heading into the
season. In Week 15, Wilson will be up against a Rams defense that
locked up he and the Seahawks back in Week 2, holding them to
just a field goal offensively. The Rams passing defense numbers
have looked bad recently, but they’ve been up against some
ridiculously difficult competition including Tom Brady, Matt Ryan
and Drew Brees. With the Seattle offense struggling as much as
it is, Wilson is a risky play even at home this week. Tight end
Jimmy Graham had his second-worst game of the season this past
week, but few tight ends have better upside than he does, so he
should remain in lineups despite what on paper appears to be a
tough matchup. Despite Wilson’s up and down numbers, Doug
Baldwin has remained a solid PPR option as he has caught four
or more passes in all but one game this season. He might not be
having the monster season that he did in 2015, but he’s
still a trustworthy high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.
LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.21
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.9
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.28
Running Game Thoughts: Averaging
over 5.0 yards per carry since his return in Week 11, Thomas Rawls
continues to play an important role in the Seattle offense as
the team’s primary ball carrier. With the passing game struggling
as much as it has been, look for Seattle to rely on him even more
heavily this week, perhaps allowing him to approach 20 touches
for the first time this season, especially if the game is in Seattle’s
control as many expect that it will be. The Rams have been getting
absolutely gashed on the ground as of late, having given up an
average of over 123 rushing yards per game over their past five
contests. One thing to keep an eye on in this game is the usage
of rookie running back Alex Collins, who took over as Seattle’s
backup running back this past week and carried the ball seven
times. Look for Rawls to continue to get the majority of the work,
but Collins could touch the ball between five and 10 times, including
the possibility of a goal line vulture. Still, Rawls has to be
considered a low-end RB1 this week with high-end RB1 upside against
a Rams team that has nothing to play for and just fired their
head coach.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was among
the monumentally awful quarterback performances in Week 14, but
at least his struggles were understandable as he was up against
the league’s most dominant pass defense, the Broncos. It
might be hard to look beyond that horrible fantasy day, but prior
to his struggles against the Broncos, Mariota had passed for at
least 225 yards and two touchdowns in seven straight games while
only throwing three interceptions over that stretch. Sure, his
receiving options aren’t spectacular, but Mariota simply
has been getting the job done all year as a fantasy option. This
week he’ll be against a Chiefs defense that played well
this past week against, but had previously given up an average
of over 300 yards passing over their prior five games. Mariota
has only thrown for 300 yards once this season, but he’s
a good bet to get to 250 yards with a good possibility of a couple
of scores in his game. Kansas City has quietly given up the most
receiving yards to opposing wide receivers in the league this
season, which should bode well for Rishard Matthews who has secured
his place atop the Tennessee depth chart. Kendall Wright should
have been a lock to be the WR2 in this offense but off-field issues
have led to him falling out of favor with the coaching staff and
he may have to battle for snaps against Tajae Sharpe and Harry
Douglas, thus making all three receivers tough to trust even in
what appears to be a good matchup. Tight end Delanie Walker is
a must-start given his high share of the passing volume in Tennessee,
but it’s worth noting that Kansas City has been excellent
against opposing tight ends this season, so temper your expectations.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.11
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.17
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.30
Running Game Thoughts: The bounceback
season for DeMarco Murray should continue this week as he matches
up against a Kansas City defense that has given up over 100 rushing
yards to running backs in three straight contests. The Chiefs
have only given up six total rushing touchdowns to the position
on the season, though, and with Derrick Henry starting to get
more carries down the stretch, there is some concern that Murray
might have a tough time getting into the end zone. Still, Murray
has touched the ball at least 18 times in every game this season,
so the usage alone should make Murray a solid RB1 once again.
If you’re truly desperate, Henry does have the possibility
of stealing a goal line carry or two and gameflow could cause
the Titans to run the ball 30-plus times again, which would almost
certainly mean that he touches the ball 10 or more times.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The explosive playmaking ability of wide
receiver / return man Tyreek Hill has been the topic of much fantasy
discussion this week as he and the Chiefs host the Titans and
their 32nd-ranked fantasy defense against opposing wide receivers.
Hill is still a very raw talent who needs to work on consistency,
but the upside is very much there in this matchup. The Titans
have given up an absurd 49 receptions to opposing wide receivers
over the past two weeks and while Alex Smith and the Chiefs will
almost certainly come nowhere near approaching those numbers,
there’s plenty of reason to think that Smith could break
his streak of six straight starts without throwing for multiple
touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce is the other exciting option
in this passing game. Kelce, who is currently the top-scoring
tight end in most formats so far this season, has now gone over
100 receiving yards in four straight contests. The Titans have
only given up two 100-yard games to opposing tight ends this season,
but they haven’t been tested by any of the truly elite tight
ends either. Don’t bet on another 100-yard day, but Kelce
should be in line for a nice day against the Titans.
TEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
TEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.30
TEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.3
TEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.13
Running Game Thoughts: Few running
backs have been more disappointing over the past few weeks than
Kansas City’s Spencer Ware. The Chiefs have gone 4-1 in
their past five contests, but Ware didn’t go over 70 rushing
yards in any of those games and he scored just one touchdown over
that stretch. His usage in the passing game has also been rather
weak, leading to some truly lackluster fantasy numbers. If the
appealing fantasy matchups that he’s had recently didn’t
yield great results, it’d be surprising to see some huge
shift toward big fantasy numbers this week as Ware matches up
against the Titans who have given up the fewest rushing yards
in the AFC this season.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Drew Brees has been one of the NFL’s
best quarterbacks throughout his time in New Orleans, but it’s
safe to say that his past two weeks are among the worst stretches
he has had since joining the Saints. Brees holds records for the
NFL’s longest games with a touchdown pass streak, but he
has now failed to throw a single touchdown pass in back-to-back
weeks while tossing an uncharacteristic six interceptions. Part
of his struggles certainly have to do with the health of rookie
wide receiver Michael Thomas who has arguably been the team’s
best receiver this season. Thomas missed Week 14 and is currently
questionable to play in Week 15 against the Cardinals. Brees and
the Saints will need him as they head on the road to face one
of the league’s best secondaries in Arizona. The Cardinals
have only allowed three multiple-touchdown passing performances
and with Brees struggling as much as he has been, there’s
a real chance that they do it again, especially if Thomas sits.
Brandin Cooks has failed to go over 100 yards in any game since
Week 6 and while he continues to produce a handful of catches
most weeks, his upside simply hasn’t been there as he has
also been held out of the end zone in five of his past six games.
One player who needs to be called out specifically for the terrible
matchup he has this week is tight end Coby Fleener. Fleener has
been up and down throughout the year, as most tight ends are,
but this looks like a definite “down” week as he’ll
be up against an Arizona defense that has given up just one touchdown
on the season to opposing tight ends and hasn’t allowed
more than 60 yards to the position in any game.
ARI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.25
ARI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
ARI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
ARI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32
Running Game Thoughts: The Saints
have always been a pass-first offense under Sean Payton, but the
health problems and general lack of performance from Mark Ingram
has forced their hand even more as of late. Ingram has played
in every game this season, but he’s seen fewer than 10 carries
in five of his 13 contests. That type of inconsistency makes him
a wildly unpredictable fantasy producer even in what would be
considered good matchups. Playing against an Arizona defense that
has given up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing running
backs, and with Tim Hightower splitting carries with him almost
evenly, Ingram does not look like a great fantasy option this
weekend. Pay close attention to the inactives on Sunday as Ingram
is not certain to play. If he is out, Hightower could move up
to be a decent RB2 option given the lack of other options that
the Saints have. If both play, however, their shared workload
means that they are not much more than Flex options.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The surprise release of veteran wide receiver
Michael Floyd does hurt the Arizona passing game overall, but
the positive is that it provides a lot more clarity for fantasy
owners. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will remain the team’s
top option, but J.J. Nelson – the team’s most explosive
playmaker this season at the wide receiver position – should
now be in line to play almost every snap. Nelson has been limited
in practice throughout the week due to a knee injury, but he is
expected to play and that should make him a viable fantasy option
as he battles against the Saints middle-of-the-road pass defense.
Fitzgerald was held to a season-low three receptions for 12 yards
this past week, but with Floyd out of the lineup and other players
nicked up, look for him to see a hefty share of targets in this
contest, which should give him a nice floor with a mid-level WR1
upside. Unfortunately, quarterback Carson Palmer continues to
struggle with consistency and while this matchup is one that he
would’ve exploited with ease in the past, it’s become
difficult to trust him as anything more than a mid-level QB2 in
two-QB formats.
NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.18
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.16
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.17
Running Game Thoughts: Consistency
is key in fantasy football and there simply hasn’t been
a more consistent player in all of fantasy football this season
than Arizona’s David Johnson. The second-year tailback is
putting up great numbers as a runner including being third in
rushing yardage and fourth in rushing touchdowns, but his 69 receptions
on the year lead all running backs and make him a powerhouse fantasy
performer in PPR formats. Simply put, there isn’t a matchup
that would keep Johnson outside of an RB1 ranking, but playing
against a low-level run defense like the Saints makes him perhaps
the top play in fantasy football this week. The Saints have given
up 17 touchdowns and well over 1,700 total yards to opposing running
backs this season –– numbers which should give David
Johnson owners plenty to be excited about in the fantasy playoffs.
Passing
Game Thoughts: With 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions
on the season, Tom Brady is having yet another MVP-caliber season
– and this time he’s doing it without superstar tight
end Rob Gronkowski. Brady has made use of his most consistent
target, Julian Edelman, who has seen at least 10 targets in four
straight contests, but he’s also spreading the ball around
the field to a plethora of new talent. In fact, the biggest splash
in the fantasy community this week came when the Cardinals unexpectedly
released wide receiver Michael Floyd following a DUI charge earlier
in the week. This led the way for the Patriots to sign Floyd,
further bolstering their wide receiver group. While Floyd is a
talented player, he’s unlikely to see significant playing
time this week if he plays at all, so don’t trust him for
fantasy purposes right now. Instead, look for Malcolm Mitchell
to continue to play his role as the de-facto “WR1”
with Chris Hogan primarily playing the role as a big play threat
with tight end Martellus Bennett fits in as a low-end TE1 with
high-end TE1 upside. Unfortunately, this dynamic passing game
has the toughest matchup in fantasy this week as they play against
a Denver secondary that has made even the best quarterbacks look
weak at times. Brady is still a QB1 simply due to other top QB’s
also having tough matchups, but make no mistake about it –
this is as difficult of a matchup as he’ll face all season.
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.11
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.24
Running Game Thoughts: While the
Broncos are the league’s best pass defense, the same cannot
be said about their run defense. In fact, if they weren’t
wearing the same jerseys, you might not even think this was the
same defense at all. Denver has allowed a shocking 1,375 rushing
yards this season – third only behind the lowly 49ers and
Browns. It hasn’t all come in one game, either. The Broncos
have conceded 100-plus yard rushing days to running backs in seven
contests so far this season and it would’ve been eight if
the Chargers’ backs had mustered just one more yard on the
ground. With LeGarrette Blount having surpassed career highs in
attempts, yards and touchdowns already this season, this has all
the makings of another heavy workload day for the bruising tailback.
Dion Lewis and James White continue to share the passing down
duties which has made both players difficult to rely on even in
PPR formats and that remains true in this game.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Either we drastically underrated Denver
quarterback Trevor Siemian’s fantasy potential or he’s
having one of the luckiest streaks in the league. Either way,
he’s producing numbers that have made him a viable QB1 in
four straight starts. Siemian has surprisingly thrown for over
700 total yards in his past two starts, adding four touchdowns
with no interceptions. This week, he’ll get a New England
defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league against opposing
quarterbacks on the season and has given up multiple passing touchdowns
in four of their past five contests, including a 324-yard, two
touchdown game to Joe Flacco this past week. What’s best
about Siemian, from a fantasy standpoint, is that he continues
to practically exclusively target his top two receivers, Demaryius
Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who caught 10 and 11 passes respectively
this past week. One thing to note in this matchup is that the
Broncos and Patriots played twice in 2015 and the Patriots opted
to shadow Sanders with their top corner, Malcolm Butler, while
heavily shading other coverages toward Thomas. Sanders was able
to produce decent numbers despite seeing Butler, but Thomas was
held to just three total catches in those two contests against
the Patriots. Still, both receivers are seeing enough targets
that they have to be considered WR2’s even in this difficult
matchup.
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.24
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
Running Game Thoughts: Part of the
reason that the Broncos have leaned so heavily on Trevor Siemian
and the passing game in recent weeks is that their running game
has been nothing short of awful as of late. With the signing of
Justin Forsett, Devontae Booker appears to have finally fallen
out of favor with the Denver coaching staff. This came despite
the fact that Forsett fumbled on his first carry as a Bronco.
Forsett had his best season as a pro as a member of the Ravens
under offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak who now coaches the Broncos,
so this shouldn’t be an entirely unexpected shift, but the
speed in which it happened was a bit surprising. Forsett was still
fairly ineffective with his touches, but he did out-touch Booker
by a total of nine to five. Booker will still likely be a part
of the offense, but Forsett is the player to own right now if
you’re hoping for production out of the Denver backfield
as they face New England here in Week 15. The Patriots have been
excellent against opposing running backs as of late, however,
so trusting anyone to provide fantasy-worthy numbers out of this
backfield might lead to disappointment. New England hasn’t
given up 100 rushing yards to an opposing team in a game since
Week 6 and they have allowed just two total rushing touchdowns
over their past 11 games combined.
Passing
Game Thoughts: After a huge letdown game against the Chiefs
this past week, fantasy owners might be hesitant to start Derek
Carr in another divisional game on the road. It’s worth
noting, though, that Carr has struggled to get the ball down the
field against the Chiefs while he hasn’t had nearly as difficult
of a time doing so against the Chargers throughout his young career.
Carr averages over 250 passing yards per game and has a 10-to-3
touchdown-to-interception ratio throughout his career against
San Diego – and he’s playing better this season than
he ever has in the past. Earlier this season he threw for 317
yards and a pair of touchdowns with one interception against the
Chargers. Both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree got into the
end zone in that contest with Cooper having one of his biggest
days of the season, catching six passes for 138 yards and that
aforementioned score. Casey Heyward has been having a nice season
for the Chargers, but most of the rest of the secondary has struggled
since the injury to Jason Verrett. Look for Carr and his talented
duo of receivers to put up nice fantasy numbers once again.
SD FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
SD FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.10
SD FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
SD FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16
Running Game Thoughts: He may not
have the sexy name that some others do, but few backs have been
performing as well as Oakland’s Latavius Murray as of late.
Murray should now enter the conversation as a weekly RB1 practically
no matter the matchup, as he was able to take 22 carries for 103
yards and a touchdown on the road against the Chiefs this past
week despite the Raiders trailing most of the game. Murray should
be in line for another heavy workload this week as he faces a
San Diego defense that ranks 24th against opposing running backs
this season and has given up a total of 17 touchdowns to the position
on the season – tied for second most in the league. San
Diego is no longer in real contention for a playoff spot so there’s
a real chance that Oakland could roll all over them, leading to
a big day from Murray and the running game.
Passing
Game Thoughts: While it’s been partially masked by
decent yardage and touchdown numbers, San Diego quarterback Philip
Rivers is simply not playing well as of late. He’s thrown
a shocking 13 interceptions over his past six games, adding two
fumbles this past week as well in what, at least on paper, appeared
to be a good matchup for he and the Chargers passing game. Wide
receiver Dontrelle Inman has been able to produce fairly consistently
as of late despite Rivers’ struggles, having caught a touchdown
pass in three straight contests while fellow wide receiver Tyrell
Williams continues to flash big play ability but also has been
shut down in quite a few games. Antonio Gates continues to see
more targets come his way than rookie Hunter Henry, but with Henry
scoring three times over his past four games, neither player is
doing enough to really be trusted as a TE1. Still, both will likely
find their way into some fantasy lineups given the tremendous
lack of depth at the position this season and both players have
shown to be favorites of Rivers’ near the goal line.
OAK FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.5
OAK FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
OAK FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
OAK FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11
Running Game Thoughts: Fantasy owners
of Melvin Gordon groaned in agony this past week as their breakout
superstar running back went down early in the game, costing many
owners a chance at their fantasy championship. The injury appeared
to be very serious as Gordon was taken off on a cart, but it turns
out that there is still an outside possibility that he plays this
weekend. In the likely scenario that he sits, however, the team
will likely again turn to backup Kenneth Farrow who actually performed
fairly well filling in for Gordon this past week. Farrow ran the
ball 16 times for 55 yards, but more importantly was an active
member of the passing game, catching six passes for an additional
23 yards. He did, however, miss a block which led to a huge hit
on Rivers – something which could force the Chargers’
hand in giving veteran Ronnie Hillman some additional playing
time this week. Either way, Farrow is an interesting option this
week against an Oakland defense that has been terrible against
the run this season. The Raiders have given up an average of 114
yards on the ground and a total of six rushing touchdowns over
their past four games. While Farrow isn’t a superstar talent
by any means, the situation dictates that he is a viable RB2,
especially in PPR formats, as long as Gordon doesn’t play.
Passing
Game Thoughts: It’s not often you are tasked with
discussing a potential playoff team’s passing game in week
15 and have to pretty much ignore the preceding 14 weeks. But
that’s the situation we find ourselves in with the Dolphins
as Ryan Tannehill sprained his ACL in last week’s win against
Arizona. Matt Moore will make his first start since 2011, a season
where he had a respectable 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions
in thirteen games. Moore is currently in his tenth season and
has never truly been asked to start on purpose. The thing is –
I’m not so sure this is all that bad. I am a firm believer
than Tannehill is terrible. Moore is no savior, but he’s
competent and one of the better backups in the league. Jarvis
Landry is coming off back to back quality performances, including
his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 3 and while I don’t
view Moore as much of a downgrade, if at all, the Jets are an
absolute mess and apparently can be gashed on the ground now.
Adam Gase is undoubtedly going to dial up a heavy dose of Jay
Ajayi, leaving as little for the passing game to do as possible.
If you’ve made it this far with Dolphins receivers, congrats,
but you should find better options this week.
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.14
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12
Running Game Thoughts: Remember that three game stretch where
Jay Ajayi was the greatest running back in NFL history? It seems
so long ago. Probably because it was. Ajayi posted back to back
200-yard rushing games and then went over 100 on the third, but
hasn’t topped 79 yards since. It’s been five weeks
and counting. With that being said, the volume is going to be
there as he’s touched the ball at least 18 times in every
game since Week 6 and the Jets just let Carlos Hyde run for 193
yards just 17 carries. The Jets once great run defense is essentially
getting “little big horn’ed” by opponents as
it is falling apart due to everything else collapsing around it.
With the Jets offense in absolute shambles and the Dolphins needing
this game for the playoff push, Ajayi looks like a player with
both a high floor and a high ceiling for your fantasy semi-final.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Bryce Petty deserves to start for the remainder
of the season. The Jets have nothing to lose…well…except
football games, but that’s a good thing that they managed
to screw up last week anyway. Petty threw for 257 yards, completing
65.7 percent of his passes, but failed to throw a touchdown and
threw one interception. It wasn’t a horrendous performance,
but given the opponent, you expect better from a quarterback.
The Dolphins were all over Carson Palmer last week as their front
four consistently penetrated the backfield. That does not bode
well for Petty. But you’re more concerned about Petty’s
receivers. For the second week in a row, Petty only had eyes for
Robby Anderson. The second team buddies seem to have a rapport,
even it involves a lot of haphazard heaves in Anderson’s
general direction. Meanwhile, why haven’t you dropped Brandon
Marshall yet? Seriously guys. I told you to do it weeks ago! His
6-67-1 game against the Patriots was a fluke. It would be mighty
impressive if you drafted Marshall in the first or second round
and made it to your fantasy semi-final. It’s even more impressive
if you did so starting Marshall any time within the past two months.
The Dolphins have allowed 23 passing touchdowns this season, but
you are not trusting any Jets this week. If you have to roll out
someone, it’s Anderson.
MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.8
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.20
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.10
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6
Running Game Thoughts: Well at least someone on the Jets came
to play. I’m looking at you, Bilal Powell. With the backfield
all to himself following Matt Forte’s early exit with a
knee injury, Powell touched the ball a whopping 34 times and was
the catalyst behind the Jets’ second half comeback win against
the 49ers. Powell rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 29
carries and added 34 yards through the air by catching all five
of his targets. With Forte reporting “cracking and popping”
in his knee and the Jets’ season well over, it’s highly
unlikely we see Forte again this season, despite his desire to
play through his torn meniscus. It just doesn’t make sense.
Hopefully we haven’t see the last of Forte as it would be
an unfitting ending to a great career for a guy who has hall of
fame numbers but probably won’t get in. I hope we see Forte
again, but it won’t be this year. The Dolphins are still
terrible against the run, allowing 4.8 yards per carry, good for
second worst in the league. The Jets will give Powell all he can
handle these last three weeks and he is looking like a potential
championship winning player. Roll him out with confidence.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Oh Cleveland. In their infinite wisdom,
the Browns decide the time to turn back to Robert Griffin is during
a snowstorm. It predictably went horrible. Griffin completed just
12 of 28 passes for 104 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
He did rush for a score on one of his seven carries. Griffin peppered
Corey Coleman with targets (11), but only connected three times.
He managed to make Terrelle Pryor invisible (1-3). Someone named
Randall Telfer had a better game than Pryor. The Bills defense
is not as good as it once was and this is now a team playing for
nothing, but the Browns make opposing defenses good. I don’t
know how you can trust Pryor this week against a team that’s
only allowed 15 passing touchdowns on the season.
BUF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.23
BUF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
BUF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.21
BUF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19
Running Game Thoughts: Despite only handling ten carries, Isaiah
Crowell had his best game since Week 4 with 113 yards. It’s
hard to know if this is a fluke or not, but I doubt many of you
have made it this far starting Crowell. It’s probably enticing
to insert him into your lineup after seeing Le’Veon Bell
eviscerate the Bills last week, but I would exercise caution on
starting any Browns. They are going to struggle to score, as always.
The Bills have surrendered 18 rushing scores on the season so
perhaps Crowell can cross the plane, but you know what you are
getting into if you trust a Brown.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Am I missing something? Tyrod Taylor is
getting blasted by reports every week and while he’s no
franchise savior, why are we treating him like he’s Brock
Osweiler? Taylor has 19 scores on the season against 8 turnovers.
This is not bad at all. Last week was his worst game as a runner
with only two yards, but we can attribute that to the weather.
Taylor threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He was fine if
you started him, especially on a week where QB play was exceptionally
poor. Sammy Watkins scored his first touchdown of the season and
if the Bills don’t shut him down, he could be a difference
maker for you these next two weeks. The Browns are horrendous
against the pass. They’ve allowed a league high thirty touchdown
passes. There are admittedly concerns about motivation, but I
am trusting Tyrod Taylor in a semi final matchup and so can you.
CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2
Running Game Thoughts: The only thing that can stop Tyrod Taylor
from having a strong fantasy day this week is LeSean McCoy stealing
all the touchdowns. The Browns just let Jeremy Hill rush for 111
yards. They are allowing 146.2 rushing yards per game and have
allowed 14 rushing touchdowns. The situation could hardly be better
for McCoy. Coming off an ugly game where he rushed for only 27
yards, but salvaged his day with a touchdown as well as 6-81 through
the air, Shady is poised to do what he’s done all season
– carry his fantasy owners to the promised land. The Browns
are so bad that Mike Gillislee could sneak his way into flex value
as well, but make no mistake – this is McCoy’s backfield
and he will get first and second bite.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The first thing I’m going to do is
swallow my pride and give credit where credit is due: the Giants
defense is legit. Janoris Jenkins has reemerged as a shut down
corner, but that actually may not matter against the Lions as
who exactly does he need to shut down? I’d argue the Lions
best receiver has been Anquan Boldin. He’s certainly been
the most sure handed and is the guy Matt Stafford trusts most
when he needs a big catch. Golden Tate is still too inconsistent.
Marvin Jones is just a guy. And Eric Ebron is ::insert average
tight end here::. Adding injury to insult, Stafford did some ugly
things to his right middle finger. While he is at no risk of missing
this game, I find it hard to believe this won’t affect his
play at all. Combine that with a Giants defense that has a nice
and even 1:1:1 touchdowns allowed:interceptions forced:games played
ratio and it may behoove fantasy owners to look elsewhere at QB
this week.
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.14
Running Game Thoughts: Dwayne Washington is the best running
back on the Lions. He ran well last week and had his best game
as a pro with 64 yards on 16 carries. He and Zach Zenner formed
a nice one-two punch. Washington could be useful again this week
if Theo Riddick sits. The problem is the Lions don’t like
to tell us things about player injury. Riddick was a surprise
inactive last week so regardless of his practice status this week,
it’s going to be impossible to know for sure if he will
suit up. If Riddick is out, I like Washington. If Riddick plays,
I don’t really like anyone. Jim Caldwell had been pushing
Washington more as of late even when Riddick was playing. So what
we’ll have is a situation where Washington is on the field
enough to sap Riddick’s value, but not enough to have standalone
value. Riddick has not practiced as of Thursday and Zenner is
limited while going through the concussion protocol. I really
only care about Riddick’s status, but Zenner missing would
make Washington’s outlook even brighter.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Ben McAdoo is so clever running all those
designed plays for Jerrell Adams and Will Tye! The Giants even
ran a designed screen for Sterling Shepard. Do you know how many
“let’s get the ball in the hands of our playmaker
quickly” type plays they ran for Odell Beckham? You guessed
it – zero. Credit again to the Giants defense for winning
this game in spite of their offense’s continued aversion
to scoring points. Eli Manning had another dreadful performance.
He lost two fumbles, threw a pick and had three more picks dropped.
He did throw a 61-yard touchdown because apparently when you throw
the ball to your best player, occasionally he makes magic happen.
Somehow, the Giants have found themselves on the cusp of greatness.
If they had an offensive coordinator with a modicum of a clue
about how to run an offense, things could be much different. With
that being said, Beckham remains the only relevant member of this
passing attack and the Lions have allowed 23 passing touchdowns
this season. It’s probably best if you just look at the
box score to see what Beckham did rather than watch the Giants
ignore him for bunches at a time, but he will get his numbers
in the end. It’s a testament to his talent that he is able
to do what he’s doing while not being treated the way Antonio
Brown or Julio Jones get treated by their offenses.
DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.13
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.26
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.4
Running Game Thoughts: Well. I got my wish. Shane Vereen came
back in time to be relevant…and then promptly left on his
first touch with a concussion. It speaks to the decrepit state
of the Giants running game that I opened this section discussing
Shane Vereen. Paul Perkins and Rashad Jennings each received exactly
15 carries and each totaled exactly 45 yards. That’s incredible.
Continue to ignore Giants running backs as usual.
Value Meter:
WR1: Odell Beckham Jr. (high end)
Bench: All other Giants
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Bucs have been the Mike Evans show for
the majority of this season. But recently, Evans has tailed off
a bit. He has a total of seven receptions for just 80 yards in
his last two games combined and both of those were in very favorable
matchups. The Cowboys present another favorable matchup, having
allowed 21 passing touchdowns on the season, but the problem when
facing the Cowboys remains – time of possession. The Cowboys
continue to limit opponents’ time with the ball, which naturally
decreases volume of production. Jameis Winston is not an option
as he won’t have the volume needed to perform. Winston somehow
only threw for 184 yards against the Saints last week. On the
season, Winston has scored 24 times, but also turned it over 16
times. Cameron Brate has been quite useful over the last three
weeks and will remain so in Dallas. He’s had at least four
catches or a touchdown in six of his last seven games.
DAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
DAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.29
DAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.15
DAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
Running Game Thoughts: Remember when Dirk Koetter said that Jacquizz
Rodgers would be more involved? Yeah about that. Quizz saw a whopping
two carries last week while Doug Martin handled 23. Martin looks
fine and will continue to be the feature back. Charles Sims returned
from IR last week, but only saw four carries. He was actually
being used more like a wide receiver and could hold flex value
if that role continues. No team sees fewer rushes per game than
the Cowboys so volume could be an issue, especially if the Cowboys
jump out to an early lead, but Martin is locked into goal line
touches and although his ceiling may not be where we expected,
his floor is relatively safe.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Back to back duds for Dak Prescott and the
rumor mill has once again begun swirling for Tony Romo. It’s
not happening – at least not this week. If Prescott flops
again and the Cowboys lose, I wouldn’t put anything past
ole Jer. After three consecutive weeks under 200 yards passing,
Prescott played his worst game of his career against the Giants,
rushing for just one yard and throwing two interceptions. With
that being said, this is a great spot for him to bounce back even
in the face of the Bucs systematic destruction of Drew Brees last
week. I can’t imagine Dez Bryant scores negative fantasy
points again this week, but I also can’t imagine many people
remaining who own Dez Bryant. One catch for ten yards and a fumble
is bad enough, but when you consider that Bryant saw a team high
nine targets and only caught one, it’s downright unacceptable.
The Bucs’ fourteen interceptions forced are only two behind
the league lead, but last week’s game notwithstanding, Prescott
doesn’t throw many interceptions. The Cowboys need to respond
after last week’s debacle and I think they will.
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.16
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.11
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
Running Game Thoughts: Ezekiel Elliott had yet another 100-yard
rushing day last week, his sixth of the season. He had a mediocre
fantasy day, however, because he didn’t catch a pass. The
no catch-no touchdown game is an anomaly. Zeke will be back to
his usual prolific ways against a Bucs defense allowing 4.3 yards
per carry. The Cowboys activated Darren McFadden this week and
he will play on Sunday, but even with Alfred Morris and Lance
Dunbar in the mix, no one is threatening Elliott’s workload.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Another week, another dud for Cam Newton.
The Panthers’ season is over and has been for a couple weeks
now and we’re starting to see Newton play like it. He has
posted back to back games with under 200 yards passing. His rushing
numbers are at a career low, averaging over ten yards fewer per
game. He’s on pace for career lows in passing yards per
game and total touchdowns (if you extrapolate the two missed games
in 2014). With Newton goes Greg Olsen and his status as an elite
TE1. Olsen hasn’t scored since November 6 and before last
week’s 4-87 performance, Olsen’s best game since that
date was 4-45. You would think that means Kelvin Benjamin is hogging
all the targets, but you’d be mistaken. Benjamin hasn’t
had a single double digit reception game all season. He hasn’t
topped 100 yards in a game since Week 2. And he has one touchdown
over his last nine games. Over his last four games, he’s
caught a grand total of eight passes. The matchup doesn’t
matter. The situation doesn’t matter. The Carolina Panthers
have checked out on the 2016 season. Given the state of TEs, you
can’t bench Olsen, but no one else can be trusted.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8
Running Game Thoughts: Jonathan Stewart has seen his goal line
opportunities increase, which has salvaged many a fantasy week
for him because his rushing numbers are nothing short of putrid.
He has the same number of 100 yard rushing games as you and me.
He’s caught five more passes on the year than you and me.
He has exactly two games with more than twenty touches. His 3.6
yards per carry are a career low. If not for his eight scores
in ten games, he’d appear droppable. That makes him very
hard to trust in a semi-final matchup as you’re really hoping
he scores. The good news is the Redskins have allowed 17 rushing
touchdowns this season and only four teams allow more than the
Redskins’ 4.5 yards per carry. JStew is probably the safest
of the Panthers, but his ceiling is not all that high.
Passing
Game Thoughts: I present to you Kirk Cousins, elite QB1.
When did this happen? Even in a game where Cousins threw a measly
21 passes, he still managed 234 yards and two touchdowns last
week. October 9th at Baltimore’s top three defense was the
last time Cousins failed to score multiple times. Pierre Garcon
has been mighty reliable over the past few weeks. His worst game
since Week 8 was his 4-43 dud against Dallas. Otherwise, he’s
had 6-67 or better in every game since then. He’s filled
the void left by Jordan Reed. Speaking of Reed, he is a complete
gamble this week. He’s going to play, but what that actually
means, I couldn’t tell you. Last week, it meant ten snaps.
If Reed is playing ten snaps, you don’t want him anywhere
near your lineup. At the same time, if Reed plays even half the
snaps, he’s a top five option. I think the most prudent
course of action is to sit him if you have a viable alternative.
If you’re going to have to scourge the waiver wire for someone
like Will Tye or Dennis Pitta, then you’re better off chancing
it with Reed. For what it’s worth, when I did see Reed on
the field last week, he looked very tentative – going out
of his way to avoid contact and protect his shoulder. Jamison
Crowder flopped last week, but he’s still been a WR 2 over
the past two months. He can be started with confidence. DeSean
Jackson is a boom or bust WR4 every week.
CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1
Running Game Thoughts: This is a terrible spot for Rob Kelley.
The Panthers are awful against the pass, but very strong against
the run, allowing 3.7 yards per carry and only nine touchdowns
on the season. This is a game where the Redskins should throw
because it’s what works. Kelley does not catch passes so
he will likely need to score to reach RB2 numbers. He’s
rushed for exactly 63 yards in each of his last two games. Without
a touchdown, that’s simply not going to get it done. His
volume raises his floor to the point where he should be good for
at least 6-7 points, but that’s probably not good enough.
Look elsewhere if you can.
Passing
Game Thoughts: With most fantasy leagues in payoff mode
it’s hard to rationalize using anyone from the Jags’
passing attack considering this offense has produced 232.8 passing
yards per game in 2016 (tied for 21st in the NFL). Then again,
that also means anyone still alive probably avoided Jacksonville’s
players in the first place. Those of you who place a lot of weight
on match ups while making lineup choices will feel better about
starting Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee in Week
15. Lee in particular has become a sturdy fixture in passing game.
He has seen 25 percent of Jacksonville’s passes come his
way over the past three weeks. That mark is tops on the team and
about 6.5 percent more than Allen Robinson during that span. He
may not be the best receiver on the team but the numbers say he
is being used like a WR1 and he is coming off his second 100-yard
game of the year (one more than Allen Robinson) so he should be
the first choice off the bench if you are thinking about starting
someone from the Jags in Week 15.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.27
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.12
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.28
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29
Running Game Thoughts: Chris Ivory was limited on Thursday as
he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. There is still a
chance he could play this weekend but a running back coming off
a hamstring injury that isn’t practicing at 100 percent
makes me nervous this time of year. The Jags have no reason to
rush him onto the field and I’d advise a similar approach
with him in regards to fantasy lineups this week. T.J. Yeldon
will be the only viable option from a fantasy perspective. Without
Ivory or Denard Robinson out of the lineup last week, Yeldon racked
up 90 total yards from scrimmage, including seven receptions of
the backfield. That’s pretty much the type of line everyone
has been expected of Yeldon over the past two seasons. Unless
the news becomes more positive on the Chris Ivory front, Yeldon
should be in line for another 20-plus touches in Week 15 placing
him squarely in the RB2 range for fantasy rushers this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Houston’s record says they are a first
place team but fantasy owners who invested in the Texans are probably
not sitting in first place. Brock Osweiler has been bad for business
and Jacksonville enters the weekend having allowed the second
fewest passing yards per game (213.5) in the NFL. The yards aren’t
there. The touchdowns aren’t there. With Osweiler reeling
under center, Houston has averaged only 19 points per game. Forget
DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, Nick Novak is the only one coming
up with worthy fantasy results lately. If you haven’t been
burned at least once this year by Osweiler and company consider
yourself lucky and continue to bypass the receiving corps. For
those that choose to gamble, please refrain from choosing Braxton
Miller (shoulder) who was placed on IR this week.
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
Running Game Thoughts: Lamar Miller atoned for his brutal Week
13 showing by rushing the ball 21 times for 107 yards and a touchdown
last week against the Colts. Fantasy owners can rely on enough
touches to make him a RB2 most weeks but his ceiling remains lower
than others due to his inconsistent use in the passing game and
ability to find pay dirt on a regular basis. He’s got a
lot miles on him at this point in the year but Houston will need
to lean on him this weekend to stay atop the division standings.
He hasn’t scored in back-to-back games since scoring in
four consecutive games in the middle of the 2015 season so I wouldn’t
get too optimistic about him being your savior this week. Nonetheless,
it’s tough to find an alternative to a guy likely to approach
twenty carries going up against a defense that is giving up 113.2
rushing yards per game.
Value Meter:
RB2: Lamar Miller
Bench: Everyone else
Passing
Game Thoughts: A favorable match up and team fighting for
the post season should allow Matt Ryan to help fantasy owners
get a win this week. Julio Jones’ leg injury is now being
classified as a sprained toe rather than turf toe but the only
thing that really matters now is whether he will be able to play
in Week 15. The Falcons’ star receiver missed practice Wednesday
and Thursday. Even if he does play, it’s hard to imagine
that Atlanta would want to risk further injury by making him the
focal point of the passing attack so I’d be extremely hesitant
on starting him unless he gets glowing remarks during pre-game
warm-ups. Matt Ryan has thrown for over 300 yards in his three
previous games against San Francisco but his outlook takes a slight
hit if Jones is kept on the sidelines. Mohamed Sanu will have
another week behind him since returning from a groin injury. I’d
expect his role to expand a little more this week but enough to
merit serious fantasy consideration. Taylor Gabriel has been the
steady secondary contributor to this offense and is a solid bet
to pick up the slack in the passing game. He has received at least
five targets in the Falcons’ past five outings and has scored
four times during that stretch. Outside of Ryan and Gabriel I’d
be hesitant to take a chance on anyone because the running game
should be tabbed to do most of the heavy lifting on Sunday.
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.21
Running Game Thoughts: Regardless of whether the Falcons play
this game with Julio Jones, the Falcons will attack the defense
on the ground with their dynamic duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin
Coleman. San Fran has given up 19 rushing touchdowns in 13 games
and the Falcons rank third in the NFL with 15 ground scores. The
touchdowns could be split in any number of ways but there should
be multiple and both runners have high fantasy ceilings this week
to get you through to the next round of your fantasy playoffs.
There is a little more risk involved with using Coleman due to
the lesser workload but he’s been pretty good at getting
the ball into the end zone enough to salvage days where his yardage
numbers have been down. Meanwhile, Devonta Freeman has been a
top 10 running back for his fantasy owners in two of the past
three weeks. The ideal match gives Freeman top five upside this
week and up couldn’t have come at a better time for anyone
looking to secure a championship. Start both running backs with
confidence.
Passing
Game Thoughts: 177.1 passing yards per game and ongoing
quarterback drama is about what you can expect from the 49ers
passing game these days. If you are absolutely forced to look
to San Fran’s talent pool to round out your starting roster
you might want to sit down and examine your lineup choices harder.
Your options begin with tight end Vance McDonald, who recently
signed an extension to be a part of the rebuild in the 49ers.
He will have to wait until next season to make a contribution
towards the future after being placed on IR this week (shoulder).
Next up is Jeremy Kerley (8 receptions over past four games and
no touchdowns), Quinton Patton (10 receptions over past four games
and no touchdowns), Torrey Smith (3 receptions over past three
games and one touchdown), or Rod Streator (5 receptions over past
four games and no touchdowns). It’s sad but for fantasy
purposes, it really comes down to whether you think Colin Kaepernick
will run enough to give you passable quarterback this week or
pass on everyone. Kerley has marginal upside considering somebody
will need to make up for the loss of McDonald’s modest donations
to the offense.
ATL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
ATL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
ATL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.12
ATL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.5
Running Game Thoughts: Carlos Hyde is on pace to pass FFToday.com’s
preseason predictions and land within the top 15 running backs
on the year (despite missing a couple of games). That’s
quite an achievement for a team that hasn’t had a whole
lot of success in 2016. Yet it’s hard to really trust a
running back that has scored nearly 47 percent of his entire fantasy
total in three great games. Nonetheless, he’s averaging
between 16-20 touches per game and is the best thing going in
this offense so he’ll remain a low end starter the rest
of the way. Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris have been getting
mix but neither running back poses a threat to Hyde.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Simply based on the number of times Wentz
has been throwing the ball makes him a viable fantasy option.
He’s averaging 53 passing attempts per game over the last
two games. Facing the Ravens’ defense, which ranks as the
toughest for opposing running backs, the Eagles quarterback figures
to continue to be a majority of the Philly offense. Wideout Jordan
Matthews and tight end Zach Ertz are his two most reliable targets.
The tight end has seen double-digit targets in three of the last
four games after none in his first seven contests. If Darren Sproles
(concussion) is inactive, TE Trey Burton (19 targets in last two
games) becomes and interesting play as well.
BAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
BAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
BAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
BAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27
Running Game Thoughts: The Eagles
running game is in shambles with Wendell Smallwood just placed
on IR and Darren Sproles in concussion protocol and unlikely to
be ready for this game. That leaves oft-injured Ryan Mathews and
Kenjon Barner (healthy scratch in Week 14) as the only choices
and facing the Ravens’ formidable run defense. Neither figures
to be any more than an RB3, at best.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Eagles cornerbacks are below par giving
up seven touchdown passes of 20-yards or more in the last five
games and Joe Flacco should be able to take advantage of the situation.
The Ravens’ quarterback hasn’t gotten much press,
but over the past five weeks, he’s posted the third-best
fantasy numbers (24.4 FPts/G), behind only Aaron Rodgers and Kirk
Cousins. While Flacco is a solid starter, he’s been spreading
his targets among four receivers and one tight end making it difficult
to predict from week to week. Steve Smith and Mike Wallace are
seeing the most targets with Breshad Perriman’s value being
almost totally touchdown reliant. Philadelphia is No. 2 against
opposing tight ends yielding just 4.5 FPts/G.
PHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.22
PHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.19
PHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.5
PHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.31
Running Game Thoughts: The Ravens fell way behind the Patriots
early Monday night and the result was more volume for Kenneth
Dixon than for Terrance West. That isn’t likely to be the
case against the slumping Eagles. Expect both backs to see double-digit
rushing attempts with West as the goal line option and Dixon seeing
the bulk of the receiving work. They will be borderline RB3/RB2.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t thrown more
than 36 passes in any of the last four games and it’s not
a coincidence that Le’Veon Bell has rushed for at least
100 yards in each of those games. Roethlisberger has only one
reliable target, Antonio Brown, though even he hasn’t earned
a 100-yard receiving bonus since Week 10. The loss of reliable
second options like Martavis Bryant (SUSP) and Markus Wheaton
(IR) seems to be catching up to this offense as Darrius Heyward-Bey,
Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers have shown only intermittent flashes.
Ladarius Green has taken over as the receiving tight end with
17 targets over the past two weeks.
CIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
CIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
CIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.30
CIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3
Running Game Thoughts: Bell’s
record-setting day (38-236-3, 4-62-0) likely carried fantasy owners
to victory last weekend. Though you shouldn’t expect another
42 touches this Sunday, it should be noted he was averaging almost
33 touches per game in the previous three contests. He’s
rushed for at least 118 yards in four straight games while still
catching 22 passes and is the hottest running back in the league.
That won’t change even if DeAngelo Williams (knee) is active.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Andy Dalton has been remarkably consistent
this throwing for 200 or more yards in 12-of-13 games this season
and at least one touchdown in the past ten straight games. He
should continue the trend against Pittsburgh, though it would
be much easier to reach those goals if A.J. Green returns from
his hamstring injury. Green will have to be healthy for Dalton
to be more than a QB2 and that’s likely to be a question
mark right up until game-time. Tyler Eifert has become the team’s
touchdown maker in Green’s absence with four over the past
three games leading all tight-ends by averaging 12.7 FPts/G. His
success should continue even against an above average Steelers
pass defense. Rookie Tyler Boyd and veteran Brandon LaFell can
get yards, but have trouble finding the end zone, so both have
minimal value.
PIT FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
PIT FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
PIT FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
PIT FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15
Running Game Thoughts: Jeremy Hill has been a workhorse since
Giovani Bernard went down with a season-ending injury and averaged
24 rushing attempts over the past two games. There is more good
news in that the Steelers have been vulnerable to the run, yielding
21.2 FPts/G this season. On the down side, Hill averaged 2.0 yards
per carry (11-22) against the Steelers back in Week 2.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Facing the sack-happy Vikings defense (13
over the last four games) isn’t a good situation for Andrew
Luck and his porous offensive line. Colts quarterbacks have been
sacked 40 times in 13 games this season. Despite his line’s
play, Luck is averaging 25.5 FPts/G which is fifth-best at his
position, but when faced with a top-five sacking team on the road
earlier this season (Denver) Luck produced a season-low 16.1 FPts
in Week 2. For that reason, despite his overall performance, Luck
is only a QB2 in Week 15. T.Y. Hilton is as hot as he’s
been all season with 18 catches on 23 targets for 261 yards and
a score the past two games. Donte Moncreif (hamstring) is questionable,
but a touchdown maker when on the field. Both Dwayne Allen and
Jack Doyle have the talent to be a solid TE2 or better, if they
weren’t sharing the position. But they are and it’s
impossible to predict which one, if any, might go off.
MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.30
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.31
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.22
Running Game Thoughts: Given the
veracity of the Vikings pass rush (35 sacks), the Colts must run
the ball to slow them down. That means a full dose of Frank Gore.
He’s averaged 16.4 rushing attempts over the past five weeks.
He’s also a decent receiving option and that’s another
way to slow the pass rush. If the Colts are to win this one, Gore
must see 20 or more touches. That makes him a viable RB2.
Passing
Game Thoughts: When Sam Bradford throws 40 or more times,
the Vikings lose. That’s not good for those who need Bradford
to produce. Neither is the drastic improvement of the Colts pass
defense. Indianapolis has been much better over the last five
games against opposing quarterbacks (17.7 FPts/G) than they were
at the start of the season. Stefon Diggs has been the team’s
best wideout, but since incurring a knee injury three weeks ago,
he’s been much less of a factor. Many of his targets have
shifted to Adam Thielen and tight end Kyle Rudolph making them
viable options.
IND FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.7
IND FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
IND FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.20
IND FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.10
Running Game Thoughts: Starter Jerick McKinnon simply doesn’t
run well enough (3.0 ypc) to help fantasy owners running and catching
between the 20-yard lines. Matt Asiata is the team’s goal
line runner, but six touchdowns in 13 games isn’t quite
enough to make him a viable fantasy option even against a Colts
run defense that’s allowed the 9th most fantasy points to
running backs.
Passing
Game Thoughts: It would be laughable for any fantasy owner
to think about not starting Aaron Rodgers, so we won’t waste
much time on the All-Pro quarterback. Suffice it to say he’s
gone four games without throwing an interception while tossing
10 touchdowns and averaging 279 ypg. Jordy Nelson has been a steady
a producer all season, but has raised his game of late averaging
14.1 FPts/G over the last five. The difference in the Packers
receiving corps is the improvement of Davante Adams’ game
at the detriment of Randall Cobb’s fantasy value. Adams
has become a WR1, while Cobb has become almost an afterthought
not having posted double-digits since October. Neither tight end
has fantasy value against a Bears defense who defends that position
well.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.25
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
Running Game Thoughts: The Packers
have a running game? What little they have, comes from Christine
Michael and fullback Aaron Ripkowski pounding the ball and Ty
Montgomery for explosiveness. None of the three is a great play
against a stout Bears run defense, but Montgomery, with his receiving
ability can be an RB3 with upside.
Passing
Game Thoughts: It’s been a surprising three games
with Matt Barkley at the helm. After failing in limited opportunity
with Philadelphia, he’s played solidly in three starts.
He’ll get an opportunity to put up viable fantasy points
against a Packers defense that has struggled against the pass
ranking 29th against opposing quarterbacks over the past five
games. Barkley will have another weapon at receiver, Alshon Jeffery
returns from a four-game suspension. Jeffery and Cameron Meredith
make a solid pair against a subpar Green Bay secondary.
GB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.9
GB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
GB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
GB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.7
Running Game Thoughts: The best part of the Bears offense is rookie
running back Jordan Howard. With almost 1,000 yards on the ground,
he’ll need to be at the top of his game if the Bears hope
to stay with the high-powered Packers. Howard has to keep Rodgers
off the field, by consistently grinding out first downs, so should
see more than 20 touches in this one. He also has decent receiving
skills and should rack up at least 120 yards from scrimmage.