While you can appreciate the sentiment behind benching Jameis
Winston, who’d been too careless with the football, to get a look
at Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the results have been uninspired
to say the least. In two games with DTR, the Browns have scored
just nine points. While you can’t put all of that on the quarterback
-- emerging receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been out
for more than a month with a concussion, and Njoku was inactive
in Week 17 -- you would be hard pressed to argue they’d have been
as ineffective with Winston pulling the trigger. After catching
just two passes for 20 yards against the Bengals in Week 16, Jeudy
was busy versus Miami, being targeted 18 times, which led to a
dozen catches and 94 yards. He posted a 5-79-0 line the last time
he faced Baltimore, and he should be a quality WR3 with upside
in a game where there could be a lot of garbage time for Jeudy
and QB Bailey Zappe.
Already without Nick Chubb (foot), the Browns lost Jerome Ford
(ankle) during last week’s game with Miami. He hasn’t practiced
this week, and it appears highly unlikely that he’ll suit up on
Saturday. That leaves Foreman as the next man up. The journeyman
has seen sporadic action with Cleveland this year, turning 61
carries into 205 yards (3.4 YPC) with last week’s 13-49-0 being
his top performance. The team also has Pierre Strong, but Foreman
should see the bulk of the work. While that affords him some fantasy
value, do keep in mind the Ravens rank first against the run (81.6
yards per game) and are playing for a division title. As a flex,
Foreman could pay dividends.
Fade: N/A
CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
With Houston looking utterly unprepared to contend with the one-two
punch of Henry and Jackson on the ground, the Ravens rarely went
to the air on Christmas Day. Jackson matched his season low in
pass attempts (15), and even though a third of them went to Flowers,
he still finished with just two catches and 31 yards. It was the
seventh time during the 2024 campaign that he has posted less
than 40 yards receiving. It’s that lack of consistency that
keeps him from no-brainer status. That being said, the Browns
were on the other side of one of Flowers’ best games of
the season as he caught seven balls for 115 yards in their Oct.
27th encounter. In the rematch, Flowers is a strong WR3 that could
deliver WR2 numbers.
A year ago, Mitchell looked like an emerging force, averaging
8.4 yards per carry before suffering a torn ACL in Week 15. He
made his return in early November but didn’t log any touches
until Christmas when he had 11 carries for 20 yards and added
a 28-yard reception. The Ravens are heavy favorites in this game
for a reason, and it’s entirely possible they’ll put
the Browns away early enough to pull their top guys, including
Henry, in advance of next week’s playoff game. If that happens,
look for Mitchell to get more work to shake off the rust and give
them another potential threat. Obviously, the risk here is that
the game stays close, and he only gets a handful of touches. While
he's a bit of a long shot, Mitchell might deliver as a flex.
Coming into Week 17, Gesicki hadn’t done much of anything in
games when Higgins had been active. That changed Saturday night
when he set season bests in receptions (10) and targets (12) while
posting 86 yards in a win over the Broncos. That victory means
Cincinnati still has a chance at a playoff spot, and since they
once again play on Saturday they won’t know if they’ll get the
help they need -- Denver and Miami, the teams that need to lose
to get the Bengals in, play Sunday. It’ll be all hands-on deck
to get a win versus the Steelers. Gesicki was solid in the earlier
meeting with Pittsburgh (5-53-0), and they had red-zone issues
the past two games with Mark Andrews (4-37-1) and Travis Kelce
(8-84-1) both finding the end zone.
Despite having a touchdown catch negated by a procedure penalty,
Iosivas still managed to collect three receptions for 59 yards
versus Denver. He had similar numbers in the team’s previous
matchup with the Steelers, logging a 3-35-1 line. As Cincinnati’s
No. 3 receiver, Iosivas has sprinkled in a few decent games, but
he’s only topped three receptions twice and hasn’t
reached the 60-yard mark. His only real path to playable value
is if he finds the end zone, but you’d be taking a big risk.
CIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
CIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
CIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
CIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1
With three losses in 11 days, the Steelers are in crisis mode.
That applies to Wilson as well, who has averaged just 177 yards
over his last four games, including those three defeats. Granted,
George Pickens was inactive for all but one of those games due
to a hamstring injury, but his return to action on Christmas didn’t
trigger an immediate turnaround, either, with Wilson settling
for 205 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. As of now, the Steelers still
have a shot at the AFC North, but that might not be the case if
Baltimore beats the Browns in the early Saturday timeslot. While
that could be a little deflating, Pittsburgh would still have
stakes as a win locks them into the fifth seed -- if they lost
to the Bengals, the Chargers could leapfrog them with a victory
of their own on Sunday, sending the Steelers right back to Baltimore.
This looks like a good matchup for Wilson, who passed for 414
yards and 3 TDs in a Week 13 win over Cincinnati. He’s a
legitimate QB1 candidate in the finale.
The backfield tandem of Harris (15 touches, 81 yards) and Warren
(16-102) put in yeoman’s work during the team’s Christmas
loss to Kansas City. It was the second time in a row that Warren
got more work than Harris, though by a much smaller margin than
what we saw in Week 16. Expect both to see plenty of touches again
this Saturday as the Steelers try to get back to their winning
ways. The last time these clubs squared off, Harris posted 129
yards and a TD while Warren managed a tidy 64 yards on just seven
touches. While Harris looks like an RB2 and Warren more of a flex,
that could flip if the Bengals light up the scoreboard and force
Pittsburgh into a shootout. Both deserve a spot in lineups, but
both also carry a little downside.
Coming off of his biggest performance of a stellar rookie season,
Malik Nabers is probably a “no-brainer” at this point,
but the matchup against an excellent Eagles defense could cause
concern for some fantasy managers. The Eagles held Nabers to his
worst performance of the season back in Week 7 when he caught
just four passes for 41 yards against them. However, the positive
spin on this matchup is that with a playoff seed already locked
up, the Eagles do not have much incentive to start, let alone
allow their normal defensive starters play for an entire game.
Nabers is a must-start in any matchup at this point, but it’s
worth pointing out that this one might not be as tough as it looks
at first glance.
It’s been a grueling season for Giants fans as they’ve had to
watch Saquon Barkley put up near record-breaking numbers while
playing for a division rival, but there’s at least some hope at
the position as rookie Tyrone Tracy has shown flashes of brilliance
while also displaying a surprising ability to shoulder a relatively
large workload despite running behind a bad offensive line. Tracy
matched a season-high with 20 carries this past week and while
he was only able to convert that opportunity into 59 rushing yards,
he did add two receptions for 14 yards and most importantly he
proved that he is the bellcow in this backfield. There’s always
the chance that we get another low yards-per-carry performance
from Tracy in this one, but the Eagles will almost certainly have
their foot off the gas pedal in this one which should allow him
to have plenty of opportunities against a defense that is potentially
loaded with backups.
A 309-yard, four-touchdown performance through the air was not
what anyone was expecting from Drew Lock coming into this past
week, and for good reason. Lock had thrown just one total touchdown
pass in his previous three starts for the Giants and while he
undeniably had an impressive statistical output in Week 17, the
much larger sample size from throughout his career should be screaming
“don’t trust me” to fantasy managers in Week
18.
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32
With Saquon Barkley already ruled out to save him for the playoffs,
the Eagles will turn to their backup running backs to shoulder
the workload here in Week 18. We’ve seen the team utilize a few
different backs throughout the season, but the most-utilized backup
for Barkley this season has been veteran Kenneth Gainwell, who
has carried the ball 64 times for 276 yards and a touchdown while
also catching 14 passes for 107 yards. There’s been no specific
indication that Gainwell will be the “starter” or see anything
close to a Barkley-like touch distribution, but Gainwell is the
best bet, over rookie Will Shipley, to see double-digit touches
in this backfield against the Giants.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has made it clear that the team
will be resting its usual starters, so fantasy managers need to
find alternative options for this pivotal Week 18 fantasy matchup.
Consistency has been the name of the game for Moore since Thomas
Brown succeeded Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator back in
Week 11. In fact, in those seven games with Brown calling the
shots, Moore has totaled exactly eight touches five times -- he
had six and 11 in the other two games. While the production hasn’t
been exceptional, especially for a No. 1 receiver, Moore is averaging
a respectable 76 yards per outing in that timeframe. When he faced
the Packers in what was Brown’s first game as the play caller,
Moore had seven receptions for 62 yards. With that steady level
of usage and production, he rates as a safe WR3.
Through his first eight games in a Bears uniform, Allen totaled
30 receptions for 282 yards and 2 TDs. Over the last six, that’s
ballooned to 37 catches, 437 yards, and 5 touchdowns. That’s
good, but much of his damage has been done when games have gotten
out of hand, and Chicago has played extended garbage time. Last
week, with Seattle holding just a three-point edge, Allen managed
a 5-25-0 line. That’s on par with what he did in the first
game against the Packers when he hauled in four passes for 41
yards. While he’s certainly capable of delivering under
the right circumstances, he’s also a risky play in frigid
conditions in what will be his final game before free agency.
As more than a flex, I’m not sure he’s worth taking
the chance.
Seattle brought Williams down seven times last Thursday. He has
now been sacked 67 times this year. Only David Carr (76) was sacked
more times as a rookie in NFL history. Whatever else you can say
about the Bears in 2024, that Williams has managed to stay on
the field is a testament to his toughness. Chicago has dropped
10 in a row now, and even with a lot of time in noncompetitive
games to pad his stats, Williams has still passed for under 200
yards in three of his last four. What kind of effort are we going
to see from the Bears this Sunday playing for an interim coach
that’s sure to be gone before the 2025 season kicks off?
While he ran effectively the last time he faced the Packers, he
didn’t account for a touchdown, and he doesn’t hold
much appeal in this Sunday’s renewal of the NFL’s
oldest rivalry.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12
While the Packers indicate they’re focused on beating the Bears,
it’d be shocking to see them overuse Jacobs when they could be
on the road in Philly next Saturday. As such, expect a healthy
dose of Chris Brooks and Wilson, both of whom have proven capable
as both runners and pass catchers this year. Of the two, Wilson
has been given more chances to handle the football. In his last
two games, the former undrafted free-agent has turned 18 combined
touches into 85 yards and two scores. Don’t be surprised to see
Wilson garner double-digit opportunities in Week 18, making him
a possible flex.
In what the Packers proclaimed was a litmus test of where they
were as a team, Love and company weren’t sharp in a road loss
to the Vikings. Green Bay’s triggerman threw for 185 yards and
one touchdown in an unremarkable performance where the offense
took far too long to get rolling. He had middling numbers that
last time he faced the Bears as well, posting 261 yards, 1 TD,
and 1 INT through the air, and adding 18 yards and a score as
a runner. As noted, Green Bay says they’re playing to win, but
if we reach halftime and Washington is crushing Dallas, thus ending
any hope of the Packers moving into the sixth seed, do the starters
continue? Or do we see Malik Willis take over at that point? There’s
too much risk with Love for modest reward.
Since returning in Week 12, Adam Thielen has been nothing short
of sensational. He’s averaging 17.5 PPR points per game
across these six contests and is the WR12 overall during this
stretch. This was highlighted by a 28-point explosion last week
against the Buccaneers.
Thielen is quite clearly the top target in Carolina, leading
the team in targets in four of six games since making his return.
He sees the volume to have a reliable floor and Bryce Young has
been playing well enough to allow Thielen to access a legitimate
ceiling.
Bryce Young has been playing some of the best football of his
career in the last two months. However, he still requires an incredibly
favorable matchup in single-quarterback leagues. The Falcons do
rank sixth in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks,
but they have shown an ability to keep weaker offenses in check,
holding both the Giants and Raiders to fewer than 215 passing
yards. Don’t be surprised if we see the Bryce Young of old
on Saturday.
Xavier Legette drew nine targets last week, the second-highest
mark of his young career. Unfortunately, he was able to turn these
looks into five receptions for 28 yards and 7.8 PPR points. Even
with Legette seeing lofty target totals last week, Thielen is
still the favorite to be the No. 1 target every week and this
isn’t an offense you want to bank on supporting multiple
receivers in fantasy. Don’t go chasing last week’s
targets in hopes of Flex production this week.
Without Chuba Hubbard last week, the Carolina backfield was a
mess for fantasy purposes. Raheem Blackshear operated as the clear
lead back, playing 76 percent of snaps, but scored just 2.0 PPR
points. With Miles Sanders potentially returning from IR this
week, there may be some interest in hopes that he takes over this
backfield. This is just to serve as a reminder that we’ll likely
see some sort of committee between Sanders and Blackshear and
neither of these backs should really be on anyone’s radar.
CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.5
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2
Darnell Mooney has developed into a consistent piece of the Atlanta
offense and has even become the team’s preferred downfield
weapon. Across the full season, Mooney ranks second on the team
with a 19.6-percent target share and leads the team with 20 deep
targets.
Mooney’s role, particularly his usage in the vertical passing
game, allows him to put up (fantasy) WR1 numbers in the right
matchup. The Panthers and their atrocious defense certainly provide
that matchup. Carolina holds the league’s No. 32 scoring
defense while also ranking 31st in EPA per dropback. Atlanta should
be able to move the ball down the field with ease and have plenty
of scoring opportunities while getting Mooney involved throughout
the game.
There isn’t much to be said about Kyle Pitts. He’s
been a complete and utter disappointment this season. His 13.1-percent
target share is not up to par and his film doesn’t paint
a pretty picture either. However, when a defense is allowing 31
points per game, any tight end who plays some sort of a role in
the red zone immediately becomes interesting to some degree. If
you’re interested in playing the touchdown lottery this
week, Atlanta could easily score four touchdowns in this one with
one of them going to Pitts.
This matchup also makes Michael Penix Jr. a somewhat appealing
option in fantasy. Anytime a team has an implied total of 28 points,
their quarterback becomes a viable option in fantasy. However,
there’s reason to believe that Atlanta is just going to
run the ball down Carolina’s throat. The Panthers are one
of the league’s biggest run funnel defenses and Atlanta
has not really opened up the passing attack with Penix under center,
holding a -2.8-percent PROE in his two starts. Penix may be able
to have the efficiency to get there this week, but don’t
expect him to drop back 45 times.
The Saints (somewhat surprisingly) opened the 21-day practice
window for Chris Olave a few weeks back. Multiple full practices
to open the week are an indication that he may suit up on Sunday.
If that is indeed the case, Olave slots in as the Saints’ top
offensive weapon and it wouldn’t be particularly close. Spencer
Rattler at QB1 isn’t an ideal situation for Olave, but you can
bank on him pushing for double-digit targets if he runs a full
complement of routes. Plenty of volume against the defense that
has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs makes
Olave an interesting option.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has also been banged up, missing a few
games as of late with a chest injury. However, when he’s
been healthy, he’s been the de facto WR1 in New Orleans
which has led to him leading all pass catchers in targets twice
in his last three games. If Olave suits up, Valdes-Scantling isn’t
in consideration. But if Olave remains sidelined, Valdes-Scantling
can be an emergency Flex in hopes he can rip off a long one against
a suspect secondary.
When Kendre Miller left with a concussion last week, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
stepped in as the team’s lead back, ultimately playing 45 percent
of snaps. Miller is still in concussion protocol and it appears
Edwards-Helaire will serve as the 1A once again. However, given
the current state of the New Orleans offense, a running back needs
to catch 4-5 passes in a week to have any hope of returning value
in fantasy. Edwards-Helaire could theoretically do that, but there
are better paths to go down at running back.
NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.23
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.9
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan has turned into one of fantasy’s
most valuable receivers as of late, coming in as the WR12 across
the last four weeks. Six touchdowns in these four games have been
helpful, but it’s clear that the coaching staff is making him
a more prominent piece of the offense. McMillan has now eclipsed
a 15-percent target share in two straight games and is taking
on a key role in the red zone. As long as Baker Mayfield is consistently
providing the offense with scoring opportunities, McMillan can
continue to capitalize.
Cade Otton has missed a handful of games with a knee injury,
but a limited practice on Thursday indicates that he’s trending
towards a return. If he’s back on the field, Otton is firmly
within the “touchdown or bust” tier of tight ends.
Mayfield has led the Tampa Bay offense to four or more touchdowns
in four consecutive games, so there is some hope that Otton will
be able to come down with one in the endzone this weekend.
Rachaad White had been able to keep Bucky Irving from fully taking
over for 16 weeks, but the floodgates opened in Week 17. White
played 36.5 percent of snaps last week, his lowest mark of the
season. White was also out-touched by Irving 24 to 7. In the first
half, before the game was a blowout, it was even uglier. White
played just 29.5 percent of the snaps and saw two touches, compared
to 18 for Irving. White is becoming a distant 1B in this backfield
and shouldn’t be considered in fantasy.
One of the seemingly few elite fantasy quarterbacks this season
who is not likely to be affected by the benching of starters in
Week 18 is Washington’s Jayden Daniels. Despite the Commanders
having already locked up a wild card spot, head coach Dan Quinn
said on Monday that the team will play to win this week against
the Cowboys. This should make Daniels a relatively safe bet to
play at least most of the game, although there is a chance that
the team could opt to sit him if the Commanders either get far
enough ahead or behind on the scoreboard.
Similarly, wide receiver Terry McLaurin will likely play the
full game this week in Dallas. Unfortunately, unlike Daniels who
is coming off another monster game, McLaurin managers are still
reeling from what was a catastrophically bad performance from
their star wide receiver in Week 17. McLaurin picked the worst
time to drop a dud, catching just one of the seven targets that
came his way for just five yards - his second single-catch game
of the season. While that game will be difficult to forget, it’s
worth noting that McLaurin had previously gone on a stretch of
12 out of 13 games where he scored at least 13 PPR fantasy points.
He’s been one of the most consistent players at the position
this season and he previously went over 100 yards on five receptions
and scored a touchdown against this very same Cowboys defense
back in Week 12.
The touches continue to be there for running back Brian Robinson,
but it’s become very difficult to trust him for fantasy
production since he came back from the two-game injury stint back
in Week 11. Since that point, Robinson has averaged over 15 touches
per game, but he’s scored fewer than 12 PPR fantasy points
in four of the six contests. The only games he exceeded that threshold
in were Weeks 11 and 13 when he got into the end zone on the ground.
Perhaps the most concerning performance came back in Week 12 against
this same Cowboys defense when he got just five carries for the
day despite the game being a surprising offensive shootout. Still,
with the Commanders looking to win this game and the Cowboys having
nothing to play for other than pride, this is a good on-paper
matchup for the Commanders’ top running back. He’s
not someone you must start, but he’s a good pivot option
if you’re without a usual starter in this Week 18 weirdness.
Tight end Zach Ertz got back into fantasy managers’ good
graces this past week with his first multi-touchdown performance
of the season in the Commanders’ win over the Falcons. Ertz
had previously dropped back-to-back stinkers in Weeks 15 and 16
so the big game was a welcome positive change and it came on a
seven-target day so there’s reason for optimism that he
could be a big part of the offense again this week. Ertz did previously
catch six passes, including a touchdown, against the Cowboys when
these teams played back in Week 12.
You could scour fantasy football experts throughout the world
and probably no one had it predicted that Commanders wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus would turn in back-to-back 20-plus-point PPR
fantasy days in Weeks 16 and 17. Zaccheaus has long been considered
an under-the-radar player who’s better in real life than
he is in fantasy, but he came through for the Commanders in these
past two games as he caught 13 passes for 155 yards and three
touchdowns. These types of performances, especially when they
happen in succession, can be intoxicating for many fantasy managers,
but it’s important to be cautious about these types of players
as they typically return to their usual roles within their respective
offenses and for Zaccheaus that would mean a player who had caught
four or fewer passes in all but one game this season prior to
Week 15. He also had not scored a single touchdown up to that
point. He might be a fun cheap option in DFS this week, but Zaccheaus
is a player to avoid in seasonal leagues.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
The Cowboys might have gotten completely stomped in their Week
17 matchup against the Eagles, but one interesting component of
the game is that the team still managed to get running back Rico
Dowdle over the 100-yard rushing mark for the day. Dowdle has
now, perhaps shockingly to some, gone over 100 yards on the ground
in four of the Cowboys’ past five games. This would be a much
bigger deal in fantasy circles if he had also managed to get into
the end zone more than once during this stretch, but it’s still
an important note, especially given that the team opted to release
veteran Ezekiel Elliott earlier this week, further securing Dowdle’s
role as the leader of this backfield.
The Cowboys’ first game without CeeDee Lamb went about as could
be expected against an excellent Philadelphia defense. Quarterback
Cooper Rush barely completed 50 percent of his passes while throwing
for just 145 yards and a single touchdown. There isn’t much to
be excited about going forward in this offense, but one bit of
positivity could be that wide receiver Brandin Cooks did lead
the team in targets with eight on the day. He only caught four
of them for 52 yards so it wasn’t a particularly big performance,
but it was his best target total - and target share - of the season,
so those who are desperate could look his way for a higher-than-usual
floor in Week 18.
With just one double-digit PPR day over his past six games and
still zero touchdowns on the season, there’s just not much
to be excited about with tight end Jake Ferguson. Some will be
excited to see that he’s been targeted 14 times over the
past two weeks, but he’s only managed to accumulate 58 total
yards on those targets, so the ceiling just is not there. Don’t
get caught up in the “CeeDee is gone so somebody has to
catch passes” narrative - Ferguson is not a good option
as long as Cooper Rush is behind center.
After seemingly getting benched in Week 16, Brenton Strange returned
to his role as Jacksonville’s primary pass-catching TE in
Week 17, running a route on 61.5 percent of dropbacks. Unsurprisingly,
Stange’s high-volume outing in Week 15 (12 targets) proved
to be a bit flukey and he returned to being a non-target-earner,
drawing just one look on 16 routes last week. Strange was merely
a flash in the pan and isn’t worth much of a second thought
this week.
The Jacksonville backfield has been a disaster for fantasy purposes
for over two months at this point. Usage is flip-flopping, roles
aren’t established, and neither Tank Bigsby nor Travis Etienne
have found their footing. You could write a good couple of paragraphs
about the strange usage of each back, but all you really need
to know is that neither back has scored more than 15 PPR points
in a single game since Week 8. There’s only been one instance
(Bigsby, Week 5) of either of these backs scoring 15-plus points
in a game where both were active. This is a clear situation to
avoid.
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6
It’s no secret that Joe Flacco’s presence under center in Indianapolis
completely transforms the outlook of the passing attack in Indianapolis.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs have looked good with Flacco,
both averaging more than seven targets and 14.5 fantasy points
per game.
Now that the Colts will host the Jaguars, there’s no better
time to fire up each of these receivers in lineups. The Jaguars
are a top-10 matchup for receivers in fantasy and are among the
league’s worst defenses when it comes to most defensive
passing efficiency metrics. The Jaguars have allowed at least
275 yards through the air six times this season and the Colts
have the receiving talent to make it a seventh.
Joe Flacco may garner some interest due to the matchup, but he’s
best left out of lineups this week. Flacco requires three-plus
touchdowns to deliver a top-12 performance due to his lack of
rushing production. That’s certainly possible against the
Jaguars, but the Colts tend to lean on Jonathan Taylor in the
red zone, often taking the ball out of Flacco’s hands. There
are better bets to make than relying on Flacco to throw a handful
of touchdowns
The Texans are unfortunately in a situation where it doesn’t
appear that anyone (starters or backups) will get enough playing
time to deliver meaningful fantasy production.
The Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed and technically don’t
have anything to play for this week. However, head coach DeMeco
Ryans said, “Everybody will be out there playing, and we’ll
see how the game goes” when asked if starters will take
the field.
Starters will play for an undetermined amount of time, but it’s
hard to see an outcome where they play into the second half considering
Houston has nothing to gain or lose in this game. With an unknown
plan when it comes to playing time for both starters and backups,
it’s best to avoid this offense entirely this week.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.10
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19
Tony Pollard missed last week with an ankle injury but has to
play after logging two limited practices to open the week. It
also appears that he’ll have the backfield to himself as Tyjae
Spears has yet to practice while dealing with a concussion. In
games without Spears this season, Pollard has regularly pushed
for an 80-percent snap share. When a back is explosive and talented
like Pollard, the potential for this many snaps makes them a shoo-in
for fantasy purposes.
At this point in the season, it’s quite obvious that Calvin Ridley
is nothing more than a one-trick pony. He needs to connect with
Mason Rudolph (or Will Levis) on a lengthy pass to produce in
fantasy. He did so last week, hauling in a 24-yard reception on
his way to 14.1 PPR points and a WR33 finish.
Ridley is by far and away the most talented receiver in Tennessee,
but it’s hard to get fired up about his outlook against
the vaunted Houston. The Texans hold the league’s No. 6
pass defense and rank third in EPA per dropback. It wouldn’t
be shocking if the Titans’ passing game is kept in check
this week. However, it’s feasible that Ridley could get
something going after the Texans’ starters are subbed out.
Third-year tight end Chigoziem “Chig” Okonkwo has
taken on a rather prominent role in the Titans’ offense
as of late. He has 28 targets across the last three weeks, leading
the team in targets in all three contests.
This sort of usage has provided Okonkwo with a very dependable
floor and he’s scored at least 10.9 PPR points in each game
during this stretch. The quality of the Tennessee offense limits
Okonkwo’s ceiling, but there’s not much to complain
about when a tight end is pushing for eight-plus targets every
week.
The Bills are expected to rest their starters for most of, if
not the entire game in Week 18, so rookie running back Ray Davis
may finally get his opportunity to shine in this game. Davis has
shown some promise throughout the season when he’s had opportunities,
but he’s only started one game, which came back in Week 6. He
ended up carrying the ball 20 times for 97 yards in that contest
and he also added 55 yards receiving on three catches, so he has
shown himself to be a valuable asset when James Cook was sidelined.
The concern, of course, is that the Bills may also bench the majority
of, if not their entire offensive line, so we may be in a situation
where it’s the Bills’ backups against the Patriots’ starters.
Still, this is an oddball week with lots of studs already ruled
out, so check to see if Davis is available in your league and
keep him from your opponent if nothing else.
Like fellow rookie Ray Davis, opportunities have been tough to
come by for wide receiver Keon Coleman. The rookie has shown up
with some huge explosive plays throughout the season, but he’s
yet to see more than seven targets in any one game. We don’t
know whether Coleman himself will be part of the starters who
sit out so fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on this situation
to get more information, but if he’s active then he may
see a higher-than-usual target share as what is likely the Bills’
top pass-catching weapon.
The Bills starters are expected to have a short afternoon this
week as the team doesn’t have much to play for before heading
into the playoffs. While head coach Sean McDermott has said that
Josh Allen will start on Sunday, he also clarified that he will
not be out there long. This could mean one play, one drive, one
quarter, or even one half, but there’s just way too much
risk to justify playing any of your normal Bills stars. They’ve
gotten you this far, but it’s time to look for alternative
options.
BUF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
BUF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
BUF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.14
BUF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
Drake Maye’s Week 17 fantasy performance was the worst
of his rookie season, so it’s understandable that many fantasy
managers will have some hesitations about starting him here in
Week 18. Maye completed just 12 of the 22 passes he attempted
for 117 yards and a single touchdown and while he did add 32 yards
as a runner, it still was far below what we’ve come to expect
from him as the Patriots were blown out at home by the Chargers.
The reason for optimism here isn’t that the Patriots are
suddenly a better offense - they’re not - but rather that
the Bills may opt to rest their defensive starters in addition
to their offensive ones. If they do then Maye could be in for
an even better day than the one he had in Week 16 when he faced
this same Bills team and threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns
while rushing for 30 yards.
New England gave what appeared to be a ceremonial “start” to
Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 17, then it was all Antonio Gibson
from that point on as the Patriots proceeded to get blown out
at home by the Chargers. The backfield change seemed to come in
response to Stevenson’s fumbling issues this season, so it’s possible
that it was a one-game “punishment” of some sort, but there’s
just way too much uncertainty for fantasy managers to trust Stevenson
or anyone in this offense not named Drake Maye.
The Chiefs are planning to rest their starters in this game,
for much if not all of the contest. In their absence, tight end
Noah Gray will likely be the most notable talent for quarterback
Carson Wentz to turn to. Wentz, for all of his limitations, has
had report with tight ends during his career – most notably with
Zach Ertz during his prime. Gray has a great opportunity to lead
the team in targets and can be viewed as a low end TE1 for this
game.
On the Fence: N/A
Fade: All Chiefs Normal Starters
All of the normally relevant fantasy starters and possible flex
options for Kansas City are off limits this week, due to the Chiefs
plan to implement rest for key components of their Super Bowl-defending
unit. Patrick
Mahomes, Xavier
Worthy, DeAndre
Hopkins and Marquise
Brown, as well as Kareem
Hunt, Isiah
Pacheco and Travis
Kelce can all be expected to see limited to no time on the
field in this one, and can be sat for those competing in Week
18.
Carson Wentz will take the start at quarterback, and will not
only face one of the toughest defenses in the NFL, but will do
so largely, if not entirely, with the Chiefs second unit. Wentz
is a marginal QB2 for the final week of the regular season.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.18
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.4
Quarterback Bo Nix has had a streaky rookie season, but while
he has flaws to work out, the Broncos 1st round selection has
certainly shown some promise. Of late, he’s put up at least 19.5
points in each of the last three starts. He’ll take on a Chiefs
team that should rest some key starters, including extraordinary
pass rusher Chris Jones. Nix has often benefited from low pressure
this season, and should stand to do so in Week 18. The Broncos
offensive unit doesn’t stand out, but with the playoffs on the
line and no motivation for the Chiefs, it should be a mismatch
in the Broncos favor. Nix can be viewed as a solid QB1 this weekend.
Courtland Sutton enters the final week as WR18 in total points,
and WR26 in FPts/G. Like Nix, he stands to drawn a depleted Chiefs
defense that will also avoid exposing its whole playbook. Sutton
is a very firm WR2 for the Broncos playoff push.
With at least 10 touches in each of the last three games, and
a 4.7 rushing average for the season, McLaughlin is the best bet
for fantasy owners picking among the Broncos backfield for a flex
option in Week 18. In a game the Broncos will surely control the
tempo, McLaughlin’s involvement will reasonably grow if
the Broncos get out to a lead – a very reasonably possibility.
He’s an RB3 with upside this week.
Even in a scenario where the Broncos take control of this game
early and control the clock throughout, it’s unlikely that
Javonte Williams gets involved enough to have any fantasy impact.
His 0-yard performance last week is likely the dying wail of his
time in Denver. He may be heard from again with another franchise,
but it’s unlikely to happen with the Broncos.
With the 49ers season shockingly in the tank, and starting quarterback
Brock Purdy out for the season’s final game, it would not be surprising
for the 49ers to lean into the ground attack as much as ever.
When Isaac Guerendo has been penciled in as the next man up out
of the backfield, he has consistently seen enough touches to warrant
RB2 production.
This should hold true against the Cardinals in the season’s final
week, even while he carries a pinch of boom/bust with him. Like
everyone who puts on a 49ers uniform, Guerendo certainly seems
to carry some added injury risk, but he also has the ability to
break off long touchdown runs and has plenty of RB1 upside to
close out the year.
Last time we saw Joshua Dobbs in any significant capacity, he
was having a moment with the Vikings, only to fade nearly as quickly,
after having a moment with the Cardinals earlier in the 2023 season.
The Passtronaut has the skill set typical of a respectable NFL
backup quarterback – offering some areas of strength (mobility
in this case), and areas of notable weakness (limited accuracy,
below average processing time). In fantasy football, Dobbs’
mobility is a special bonus. But he has rarely had enough talent
otherwise to produce QB1 results.
Dobbs does get to walk into the huddle with talents such as George
Kittle, (perhaps) Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and rookie 1st
rounder Ricky Pearsall, so the question is whether that’s
enough to push him into Top 12 fantasy territory at his position.
If the 49ers were healthier and firing on all cylinders, it could
very well happen. But this is a San Francisco team limping into
the off season, and Dobbs is best viewed only as a reliable starter
in deeper leagues.
Deebo Samuel followed up a return to relevance in Week 16 with
a quiet performance in Week 17, but 3 rushes for 16 yards and
a touchdown reception gave him a solid floor performance (8.5
pts). Samuel should be involved in both the running and passing
game, and his late season involvement on kick returns also strengthens
the notion that the Niners feel good about his abilities. But
two big questions loom: how much of a downgrade Deebo Samuel experience
with Dobbs at quarterback? The other question is whether Samuel
will even play, as he’s missed both practices to start the
week.
Health aside, the risk of falling into irrelevancy is greater
for Jauan Jennings, who does not enjoy the same level of involvement
in the running game as Deebo does. While this would keep Samuel
as a fringe Flex option, if active, Jennings is likely relegated
to WR4 territory.
Ricky Pearsall, who had the best game of his young career last
week (8-141-1, plus 2-6-0 on the ground), could be a rare benefactor
of Dobbs getting the nod, as 2nd unit receivers – which
is where Pearsall was for much of the year – often build
report with the backup QBs. Pearsall isn’t more than a WR4,
but can be considered in play in deeper leagues or for those playing
in a Daily Fantasy tournaments who are looking for a lower cost
investment with upside. Pearsall has been limited so far this
week, so keep an eye on his status.
Fade: N/A
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.30
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
Kyler Murray enters Week 18 as QB12 in FPts/G. While Murray has
not nearly met the Top 5-7 promise he had coming into the year,
it’s still been a positive season overall after two injury plagued
years. The prospects for Murray stepping into the Top 10 next
year are certainly high if Marvin Harrison Jr. can take significant
strides this off season, and Murray having a healthy year under
his belt (Week 18, permitting).
Against a 49ers defense that can be tough on opposing passing
games, Murray may have to do more with his legs in order to make
up for fewer big play opportunities in the passing game –
something he’s certainly capable of doing. All in all, the
matchup has Murray as more of a high-end QB2 than low-end QB1
to close out his 2024 season.
Harrison had a solid showing in Week 17 (6-96-0), but is still
only WR44 in FPts/G for the season. The news gets no better and
the year can arguably end no more difficult than facing the league’s
stingiest defense against opposing wideouts. Charvarius Ward,
whom Harrison stands to see a lot of, has a lot to do with that.
Let Harrison and his quieter-than-expected rookie year rest in
the dust this week and look another way if you’re competing in
Week 18.
It would’ve been completely reasonable to doubt that Jonnu Smith
could continue the pace that he’s been on, especially without
quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Smith somehow managed to keep
fantasy managers happy this past week as he caught a touchdown
during Miami’s beatdown on Cleveland. Smith has now managed to
score six touchdowns over his past seven games and while he may
not have quite the ceiling with Tyler Huntley that he did with
Tua, he’s clearly a major part of the team’s gameplan and should
be in fantasy lineups as usual.
A five-point fantasy day in Week 17 was absolutely brutal for
fantasy managers who rolled the dice on De’Von Achane while
Tua was out. Achane still saw 12 touches, but a 2.5 yards-per-carry
average was certainly not what we were hoping for, especially
given that the Dolphins won the game by multiple scores. Now we
have to look ahead to this Week 18 matchup against a Jets defense
that did an excellent job of locking him up on the ground when
they played back in Week 14, as Achane produced just 24 yards
rushing on 14 carries. He did, however, score a touchdown and
he added six receptions for 45 yards so the fantasy total ended
up being more than enough, but there’s some concern right
now that this could be a difficult situation for Achane in a potentially
low-scoring game.
Tua Tagovailoa being out meant that Tyreek Hill was firmly on
the bench of many fantasy owners in Week 17, and who could blame
them? Hill’s previous performances without Tua were mostly
disastrous this season and the receiver was coming off of a two
and a three-catch game even with Tagovailoa behind center. Hill
surprised just about everyone, though, by catching all nine of
the targets that came his way for 105 yards. This certainly isn’t
a lock to be a huge game for Hill, but it’s worth noting
that he had his only 10-catch game of the season against this
very same Jets defense back in Week 14. He’s a risky play,
but he’s definitely the top target in Miami still and that
makes him worthy of consideration as a WR2.
Jaylen Waddle’s horrific 2024 season won’t likely
end with a bang as the wide receiver is still suffering from a
knee injury that has kept him out in each of the past two weeks.
While there’s optimism that he could play, Waddle now has
to deal with Tyler Huntley at quarterback - a player who has thrown
just 10 career touchdown passes in 13 starts and has exceeded
225 yards through the air just once. Waddle has been bad for most
of the season and there’s not much reason to believe that
this game will be any different.
MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.13
It’s hard not to be a little worried going into what may be both
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams’ final game for the Jets. The
experiment has been decidedly disastrous for the team, but fantasy
managers have certainly been happy with Adams’ production for
most of the run. Even this past week, in what might’ve been Aaron
Rodgers’ worst game ever, Adams still managed to compile five
catches for 47 yards on a team-high eight targets. Not only that,
but the eight targets were actually the fewest he’s had since
Week 11, so things should only get better for him this week as
the Jets host the Dolphins in the regular season finale. Adams
caught nine of 11 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown when these
teams played back in Week 14, so trust the process and continue
having belief that Adams will come through in this one.
The Jets’ horrendous Week 17 loss to the Bills was felt
by practically every player on the team and Breece Hall was no
exception as the running back managed to compile just 45 yards
on the ground on 10 carries. Normally an active member of the
passing game, Hall was also held in check as a receiver as he
caught just one pass for eight yards, ensuring that his fantasy
performance was a disaster for the many managers who started him.
Things should be better for him this week against the Dolphins,
but we have to admit that Hall’s ceiling seems to be lacking
down the stretch. He’s had just one game over 15 PPR fantasy
points since Week 7 and he’s been held to single digits
three times during this stretch.
He hasn’t put up the huge performances that teammate Davante
Adams has since he came to New York, but Garrett Wilson has been
a solid WR2 performer in PPR leagues this season. He even managed
to scrape together a decent day this past week during Aaron Rodgers’
trainwreck of a game against the Bills, as the receiver caught
seven of the eight passes that came his way for 66 yards and a
touchdown - his second over his past three games. Wilson’s
ceiling is probably not WR1 level at this point and that’s
disappointing based on his pre-season ADP, but he’s become
a reliable WR2 and he performed well enough against the Dolphins
earlier this season to be trusted in this matchup.
Big games have been few and far between for the future Hall of
Famer this season, but the catastrophic outcome in Week 17 is
a big reason why we’ve been advocating staying away from
Aaron Rodgers in fantasy this season. Rodgers threw for just 112
yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in the Jets’
loss to Buffalo. If he still had some rushing potential then we
might be able to overlook these bad passing performances, but
the downside of no rushing along with just one 300-yard passing
day all season makes Rodgers a must-avoid.
Now ranked nearly 20 slots ahead of incumbent Seahawk alpha receiver
DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has taken the reigns as the go-to-receiver
of both the present and future for the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba
has more than begun to blossom into the receiver he was expected
to be coming out of the draft in 2023, and whomever is lucky enough
to be the Seahawks QB1 in 2025 with be thrilled to know that Metcalf
is the 2nd best wideout on the team.
For your fantasy team, JSN is probably not quite a WR1 this week,
but even against a Rams defense that has recently held two opponents
under 10 points, he is a very viable WR2.
Metcalf’s second half decline has him ranked just WR33
in FPts/G, after a hot start that saw him as a Top 12 wide receiver
through the season’s first month and a half. Metcalf is
still a significant threat to break a play, as well as score in
the red zone, but he’s only a modest flex option against
a Rams team that has been slowing the pace of games, and keeping
opponents out of the end zone.
While the decline for quarterback Geno Smith hasn’t been
as extreme as Metcalf’s, thanks to the connection Geno and
Smith-Njigba have developed, the veteran quarterback finds himself
far from fantasy QB1 territory, now just QB19 in FPts/G. With
just 17 touchdown passes this season, and drawing an opponent
that won’t give him much help, Smith is poised to close
out the year barely in the QB2 conversation. At best, he could
be a mid-level QB2 given the Rams are likely to rest starters.
It’ll be interesting to see if wide receiver Tyler Lockett
hangs it up after this season. His mention here is more out of
respect for the impact he has made during his career than out
of any consideration for him as a roster start at this point.
Whatever happens with Lockett, he was a legitimate WR2 or 3 in
fantasy football for the better part of the decade, and rarely
didn’t pay off on his ADP. He’s also the only qualifying
wide receiver in NFL history have a perfect passer rating on his
targets in a season – a telling accomplishment.
SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.27
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.16
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.22
No Brainers: N/A
Favorites: N/A
Update: Puka
Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams are listed as Doubtful and
not expected to play.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams are
clear no brainers if the Rams play their starters throughout their
Week 18 match up with the Cardinals. But Sean McVay is being coy,
and with only a small change in seeding on the line, it’s
very likely both players will see limited involvement. They are
no more than boom/bust candidates with extremely low floors as
a result.
Meanwhile, Week 17 seemed like a great opportunity for Cooper
Kupp to “get right” after some quiet games, but he’s now recorded
3 or fewer receptions in three of the last four weeks. One of
the fine arts of fantasy football roster management is weighing
a players’ history of success against recent activity (or lack
thereof). So, it is with Kupp whose long history of success, especially
with Matthew Stafford, cannot be ignored any more than his recent
lack of involvement can.
As it stands, all of that may be a moot point, and Kupp is poised
to enter Week 18 as high risk, high reward flex option. How much
reward fantasy owners can hope for may largely come down to playing
time which Kupp may not see a lot of.
The rather curious shift that the Rams have made from a pass
heavy attack following Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp’s returns, to
the very run heavy attack we’ve seen in recent weeks, raises a
number of questions. Some of those surround Matthew Stafford.
Are the Rams trying to preserve his arm, worried about it giving
out given his age, ala what appears to have happened to Kirk Cousins?
Are the signs already there? Or has Sean McVay and the Rams offensive
coaching staff just outsmarted a league that didn’t see this coming?
The answers to these questions would make the crystal ball clearer
for his fantasy prospects during the post-season, but don’t
expect Sean McVay to give away his hand on that either. Working
with what we know, Stafford has been more viable as a QB on the
field than in fantasy football, ranked just QB30 in FPts/G and
will take a seat and give Garoppolo a chance at the Seahawks.
Likely playing with backups in a game with a 38.5 total, this
isn’t a good recipe for success, making Jimmy G. a sit for
Week 18.
Ladd McConkey and J.K. Dobbins have been the two most notable
fantasy assets coming from the Chargers roster this season. McConkey
has been an easy WR2 for the stretch run, and Dobbins has been
an RB2 when healthy. But with coach Jim Harbaugh unclear about
how much they will play in Week 18, owners looking to play either
McConkey or Dobbins should understand with risk. McConkey, limited
with a toe injury, is especially likely to get rest. The Chargers
are already in the playoffs and may not view a change in seeding
as valuable enough to risk injury to their key players. As such,
McConkey and Dobbins are – at best – boom/bust flex
options.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Josh Palmer has a history of providing
flex value when he’s been moved up the depth chart (including
multiple double-digit fantasy performances when called upon in
2023). There’s no guarantee that will happen in Week 18, but Palmer
at least carries some floor as the Chargers regular WR3, and he
could lead the team in targets if McConkey and Quentin Johnston
rest for much of the contest, giving him at least deep flex appeal.
Of course, Palmer has missed two practices to start the week,
so his own status is very much up in the air and he would need
at least a limited practice on Friday to deserve any consideration.
Quarterback Justin Herbert may miss a portion of Week 18’s
matchup with Raiders, if he sees the field at all. Herbert has
only been a QB2 this season, even when he’s got his full
complement of talent and is on the field for all four quarters.
He’s an easy sit.
Taylor Heinicke may stand to see significant playing time as
a substitute for Herbert, but even as a full-time starter Heinicke
has never averaged more than 15.9 points per game in a season.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t even stand out as a Super Flex
option this week.
LAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
LAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.25
LAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.15
LAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27
Jakobi Meyers has seen at least 9 targets in five of the last
six games for the Raiders. With the chance that the Chargers lay
up in this game, that may lead Las Vegas to more of the ground
game as the evening proceeds. Nonetheless, Meyers is likely to
still see at least 6-8 targets and carries double-digit target
upside if the Chargers play their first unit for much, or all
of the game. He’s a flex for Week 18.
If the Chargers rest all of their key starters, Aidan O’Connell
could be a deep league option, but without any certainty, O’Connell
carries his typical low-end QB3 floor. The ceiling is arguably
not strong enough to turn to O’Connell in Week 18, especially
as the Raiders may run out the clock on their season of struggles
and focus towards another draft.
Possibly the single most unexpected success story of 2024 is
that of Darnold, the former No. 3 overall pick that has improbably
played like a franchise quarterback after bumping around the NFL
for six years with three different clubs. In Week 17, facing a
quality opponent, the USC alum passed for a career-high 377 yards,
3 TDs, and 1 INT in a win over Green Bay. That puts the NFC North
title and the No. 1 overall seed on the line this Sunday night
in Motown. In the previous encounter between these two clubs,
Darnold was solid but not spectacular, putting up 259 yards and
one score. Of course, the players on defense for Detroit that
day were different than the group he’ll face in Week 18.
The Lions have struggled recently under an avalanche of injuries,
giving up 30 or more points to three of their last four opponents,
and they just allowed 377 yards and 3 TDs to Brock Purdy on Monday
night. Darnold holds top-five value in this one.
In a lot of ways, Hockenson is the forgotten man on Minnesota’s
offense. At best, he’s the fourth option behind Jefferson, Jones,
and Addison, and last week his numbers were behind Jalen Nailor.
In nine games, he’s averaging 4.3 receptions for 49.5 yards without
a touchdown. Perhaps this is his week. In their last four games,
the Lions allowed Tucker Kraft and Cole Kmet to score TDs, George
Kittle to post an 8-112-0 line, and the tandem of Dalton Kincaid
and Dawson Knox to amass six catches and 95 yards. Detroit is
vulnerable, and Hockenson could still carry some extra motivation
going against his former club. The matchup is there, the results
haven’t been. That’s the risk.
Fade: N/A
MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.30
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.21
Goff has been completely locked in over the last month. In his
last four games, he has averaged 354 yards and 4 TDs -- that includes
303 yards and 3 TDs versus the 49ers this past Monday, which was
his third straight game with three or more passing strikes. The
Lions know they need to boost their ailing defense, and to this
point they have as Ben Johnson continues to add wrinkles that
somehow always take their opponents by surprise. Goff handled
Brian Flores’ defensive scheme in the previous get together
between these two clubs, passing for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns
in a road win. Goff has experience in big games. Expect him to
deliver in Week 18.
Life without David Montgomery (knee) continued Monday night with
Reynolds being used to give Gibbs a breather. After totaling five
touches against Chicago in Week 16, the veteran turned nine touches
into 66 yards versus San Francisco. You’d think that in
such a high-stakes matchup we’d see Gibbs almost exclusively,
but the team wants to keep their star back dynamic. Plus, if they’re
in a spot to protect a lead late, they might choose to give the
physical Reynolds some touches. If you’re in a bind, he
could offer some appeal from the flex slot.
