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Bye Weeks: N/A
Grab a Helmet
Dez
Bryant @ WAS: Too easy, I’m aware, but I’m not sure people
comprehend just how insane Bryant’s production has been of late.
He’s scored more fantasy points per game than any receiver in
the league over his past five contests (21.7). Let’s just get
that part out of the way. That includes Calvin Johnson, naturally,
who just broke the venerable Jerry Rice’s record for most receiving
yards in a season. Bryant has also managed to amass 576 yards
over his last five games, a triple-digit average that is the envy
of everyone not named Megatron (775) or Andre Johnson (587). Additionally,
Bryant has scored a mind-boggling 8 times in his last five games
and 10 times in his last seven (hence, the robust 21.7 points/game
average). Finally, Bryant has managed to do all this on a mere
44 targets, good for…19th in the league over that span. Wait,
what? You mean to tell me he’s been targeted fewer times than
Donnie Avery the past five weeks? Donnie Freaking Avery? (Look
it up.) You weren’t sitting him down, but now you know precisely
how excited you should be to watch him perform this Sunday night.
Demaryius Thomas is one of Manning's two
favorite targets.
Demaryius
Thomas or Eric
Decker v. KC: Thomas has been the more frequently targeted
this year, but Decker has been the more frequent visitor to the
end zone. Appropriately, just 21.2 fantasy points – or a really
average day for the aforementioned Bryant, apparently – separate
these two from each other in the wide receiver rankings. Thomas
sits 5th and Decker 10th heading into Week 17, meaning they’re easily
the most productive combo in the league this year. I can’t say I
predicted that, but I did say the following way back in early August:
“Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, two third-year targets, are capable
and may, as others have before them, rise from relative anonymity
to fantasy glory with Peyton (Manning) at the helm.” Yeah, what
he said. Consider the rise to glory complete once these two thoroughbreds
finish torching the Chiefs secondary on Sunday afternoon. I’m guessing
if you’re still alive, you probably own at least one of them.
James
Jones @ MIN: The Pack’s receiving corps has become a veritable
M*A*S*H unit of late, but the offense keeps chugging along thanks
to the league’s most dangerous pass-hurler and one of its more unsung
pass-snatchers, the former San Jose St. Spartan, James Jones. If
he was on your radar back in August, you’re clearly clairvoyant
(or lying) because he wasn’t on most people’s, rating as Green Bay’s
fifth most interesting target behind Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings,
Jermichael Finley, and Randall Cobb in 12-team PPR leagues (according
to ADP data). Care to guess who the most productive fantasy option
is in the Pack receiving corps through 16 weeks? OK, so it’s actually
Cobb, but only by a nose (6.4 points). Cobb also played in one more
game so he and Jones are running virtually neck and neck despite
being marginal prospects just a few short months ago. Things change
fast in the NFL but no position experiences more volatility than
the receiver position does. If you hopped on Jones early, there’s
no reason to hop off now.
Grab Some Wood
Denarius
Moore or Darrius
Heyward-Bey @ SD: I don’t care who Dennis Allen elects
to start under center for the Raiders this weekend. His name won’t
be Carson Palmer and, for that reason, it’s hard to get terribly
excited about the Oakland passing attack. Not that Palmer was
terribly exciting to begin with, but he was at least a passable
option at the position and even more so during a midseason stretch
when he (briefly) led the league in fantasy production. That’s
one thing neither Matt Leinart nor Terrelle Pryor will ever do
no matter how long they play the position in the NFL. Incidentally,
that won’t be much longer for either player unless they show marked
improvement (Leinart) or an ability to master basic quarterbacking
fundamentals (Pryor). The latter at least has special athletic
ability and might be coming of age at precisely the right time,
when traditional drop-back passers make way for those with a more
versatile skill set. Until Pryor gets a legit chance, though,
and some reps…look away.
Roddy
White v. TB: White has already missed some practice time this
week and that doesn’t auger well for a breakout Week 17 performance,
especially since the Falcons have less to play for than any other
NFC playoff contender. The Pack can still sew up a first round
bye. The Niners and Seahawks are still vying for the NFC West
crown. The Cowboys, Redskins, and Giants could all potentially
win the NFC East. The Bears and Vikings can still make the dance.
Only the Falcons are firmly ensconced in their current playoff
position, the number one slot as it turns out. Is there any chance
they risk the health of their most potent offensive weapon in
a meaningless game against a divisional opponent that may harbor
resentment? White might have gotten you this far but he could
certainly derail your championship hopes all the same. Be very
careful with him.
Vernon
Davis v. ARZ: I started 2012 recommending his quarterback
for a Week 1 start against the Pack (pat, pat), so it only seems
fitting I’d close things down by recommending a sit-down
of that quarterback’s favorite target. Much has happened
in between, of course, not the least of which is that Alex Smith,
the quarterback in question, no longer runs the show in San Fran.
Instead, he prowls the Niner sidelines looking glum and disinterested.
Whether Smith was unfairly treated or not, the following seems
to be true: 1) The Niners are still a legit threat to win it all;
and 2) Colin Kaepernick, Smith’s replacement, seems only
marginally interested in Davis as a receiver (10 targets his last
five games). I doubt you relied too heavily on this poor man’s
version of Rob Gronkowski, but in the event he’s still hanging
around on your bench, grab him an overcoat and some hand-warmers.
You won’t be needing his services the rest of the season.
Speaking of which…
Good luck, folks, and thanks for joining me this season!
Quarterbacks 
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