The Home Hammer: Drew Brees has averaged
30.15 fantasy points in home games this season.
Grab a Helmet Matthew
Stafford @ NO (MON): The Lions offense has left fantasy
owners in the dust many times this year, so why turn to Stafford
during a do or die fantasy playoff week? The Saints defense that’s
why! Although they were surprisingly competent against Winston on
the road last week, Stafford is a seasoned pro who has settled down
and put up decent numbers over the last three weeks (9 touchdowns
vs 1 interception), and while the Rams were eating his offensive
line for lunch last week, he still managed to complete 65% of his
passes for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns. These two teams played a
tight 24-23 game last year, and with the Saints at home, points
could come fast and furious. This has the look of a classic late
season fantasy feast, so run Stafford out there as a QB1 option.
Carson
Palmer @ PHI: Up to 31 touchdowns on the year it’s no
secret that Palmer is playing some of the best football of his career.
He’s got a coach that’s aggressive, playmakers all around him, and
is facing a secondary that’s giving up the 2nd most fantasy points
to quarterbacks. They’ve also been tagged for 8 touchdown passes
in their last three home games. With all of the injuries and shaky
play from fantasy mainstays at quarterback, Palmer has been one
of the most reliable options this season. If you’re reading this
then you’re still alive for a league title and Palmer probably helped
get you there. Don’t overthink things.
Drew
Brees v. DET: For all intents and purposes, it’s been
a down year for the once mighty Brees. Once the masterful ring leader
of a fantasy circus, Brees and the Saints offense have dropped a
few notches. But the old pro continues to compete, and has been
historically dominant at home. In his last three home games Brees
has a ridiculous 13 touchdowns, 7 of which came in an old school
shootout vs the Giants in Week 8. This week has the makings of a
similar contest, where the final score could combine to be in the
60s. There’s some magic left in Brees’ right arm, so go take advantage.
Grab a Headset
Sam
Bradford vs. ARI: Spin it anyway you want, but chances
are you gambled and took a chance on Bradford as your starting
QB later in your August draft. Then when he was dreadful during
the year you made a trade or scored big on the waiver wire with
Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, or one of the rookie signal callers.
If you’ve weathered the Eagles storm, and sit in your playoff
game this week counting on Bradford, all I can say is good luck!
Bradford has been pedestrian at home, even against wretched defenses.
Arizona brings exactly the opposite of wretched, as they’ve yielded
only 18 touchdown passes on the year. Look for ‘Zona to be aggressive
on the road and force some turnovers, leaving Bradford as a QB2
at best.
Johnny
Manziel @ SEA: In the immortal words of Chuck Berry,
“Go Johhny go!”. Although he didn’t grow up in a log cabin in
New Orleans, or play guitar very well, Manziel can sure sling
a football. He’s “led” the Browns to 2 of their 3 wins (that’s
not great when it’s Week 15), and has certainly looked like a
starting caliber quarterback when given the chance. But when you
have to go on the road to play the hottest team in the league
in the most hostile location, only bad things can happen. Manziel
has been at or over 70% completions in his last two starts, but
has lost reliable receiver Brian Hartline for the year. Look for
Cleveland to try and run the ball early and often until this one
gets out of hand.
Marcus
Mariota @ NE: Mariota has the physical tools and mental
game to be a great quarterback for years to come. But he’s
simply not ready to handle a mid-December road game against a
playoff hungry Bill Belicheck coached defense. As the Jets showed
last week, defensive talent and scheme can and will conspire to
make life terrible for the former Oregon Duck. New England has
been strong on the back-end all year, and Tennessee simply doesn’t
have the offensive talent to win many matchups. Mariota has been
a fantasy revelation this year, and is a dynasty league darling,
but for my playoff money, I’m going in a different direction.
