The point to be made here is December is critical not only for collecting the $1,000 owners get for winning their league, but also to make sure they stack 180- to 200-point weeks on top of one another over the final three weeks in order to keep themselves in the running for the big prize. In short, it is advantageous for owners to line up as many favorable matchups as possible for their best players. As such, I put a heavier emphasis on late-season matchups in the TFC format than I do on my other Big Boards. The uniqueness of the title run in The Fantasy Championship is what separates it from most other PPR leagues and makes it necessary to create another Big Board solely for it.

Unlike the first three Big Boards (PPR, Half-Point PPR and Non-PPR), I will move a player up or down the board a bit within his SSI tier in an effort to account for the unique nature of "The Championship." I am willing to admit my shortcomings - one of which being I am not so sophisticated to believe I can create an algorithm that includes the potential impact of a player's final four games without corrupting the integrity of my rankings.

For all of those unfamiliar with my Big Boards, allow me to explain the SSI concept as well as the color-coding system before we start:

SSI (Success Score Index) - A single number that reflects a score based on meticulously grading and assigning certain weights to several attributes that I feel are critical to fantasy success at a position. It is the number that allows me to compare apples to oranges across the positions.

Red – For lower-level players, a red matchup is the most difficult one a player can face. For a second- or third-tier player, drop your expectations for them at least one grade that week (i.e. from WR2 to WR3). For elite players, expect them to perform one level lower than their usual status (i.e. RB1 performs like an RB2).

Yellow – For lower-level players, he is a borderline start at best. For a second- or third-tier player, the slight edge goes to the defense in what is essentially a toss-up. For the elite players, expect slightly better than average production.

White – This one can go either way, but I favor the player over the matchup. In some cases, I just don’t feel like I have a good feel yet for this matchup. Generally speaking, these matchups are winnable for all levels of players.

Green – For non-elite players, the stage is set for a player to have a productive day. For the elite player, this matchup could produce special numbers.

Note: This week, I will release my final Big Boards for The Fantasy Championship (TFC) and FFPC Big Boards. As a way to eliminate "fluff" from the bottom of the board, I cut off quarterbacks and tight ends after 24 players. In most leagues - even ones with 20-round drafts like the TFC - there is not a lot of reason to carry more than two players at either position for an extended amount of time, unless the league scoring is significantly tilted in a particular direction (such as points per completion or 1.5 PPR points for tight ends). It's also another way to pack more potential difference-makers at running back and receivers onto the list.

Here is the scoring system that I used to rank the players in the TFC PPR format:

Most notably, Ezekiel Elliott has fallen out of my top four backs following the loss of C Travis Frederick. The loss of one four-time Pro Bowl center alone isn't enough for me to knock Zeke down, but the status of his fellow linemen along with Frederick's indefinite absence is enough to give me pause against what figures to be one more difficult schedules for a running back this season. LT Tyron Smith has a history of back injuries. RG Zach Martin has already gotten hurt, although he is expected back for the opener. If the Cowboys' defense takes the next step in 2018 (they have the talent on that side of the ball to do so) and the offensive line can stay healthy for the most part, then Elliott should get the volume necessary to make me look like a fool. But for all of Elliott's supporters who feel he will simply see 300-plus carries just because he is the only offensive weapon Dallas has, allow me to remind those people the Cowboys have to be able to make stops on defense and create holes for Zeke to lead the league in touches.

Reading too much into preseason anything is asking for trouble, but anyone still holding out on Christian McCaffrey because he's part of a "committee" probably needs to rethink their stance. The Panthers' first-team offense has run 66 plays through three games with Cam Newton and McCaffrey has been in on 59 of them. C.J. Anderson has the other seven. Either OC Norv Turner is trying to run McCaffrey into the ground as soon as possible or Carolina believes last year's No. 8 overall pick is their new workhorse. The only thing keeping his grade from moving into the top 10 is an offensive line I believe may end up being among the two or three worst in the NFL. If others feel Turner will simply turn to McCaffrey more often in the passing game as a result, they have my blessing to take him inside the top 10. For what it's worth, I currently have McCaffrey projected for 217 carries and 100 targets. Conversely, I have Anderson at 120 and 24, respectively.

On-again, off-again … I'm back on the Rex Burkhead train (as it relates to him being a weekly difference-maker in fantasy). I've always been a big fan of his real-world talent. If Jeff Howe of The Athletic was accurate in his recent assessment that Burkhead (and his knee) was treated with kid gloves this month because the Patriots know his value to the offense this year, then Burkhead's ceiling is immense. Already expected to be the goal-line back in New England, the former Nebraska standout could legitimately be a top 20 running back in fantasy if he simply maintains that role and stays healthy long enough this season to reach 200 touches. It's easy to forget that Burkhead narrowly outscored Dion Lewis in fantasy on a per-game basis for the brief time the two backs were both healthy during the second half of last season. While James White will have his usual satellite back role in the offense, there will likely be a lot of leads to protect once again in New England this season and White isn't going to get a lot of work in those situations. Sony Michel has likely missed enough practice time - he returned to practice Aug. 27 - and was reportedly struggling prior to undergoing a knee scope earlier this month to give Burkhead enough time to stake his claim to lead-back duties. Things don’t start off favorably with games against Houston and Jacksonville to begin the season, but those two contests may be as difficult as it gets for the New England running game.

The statistical evidence this preseason is pretty strong against Ronald Jones. Owners would be hard-pressed to find anything positive written by the press about the rookie, other than maybe how he looked on his 37-yard reception against Detroit in the team's dress rehearsal game against Detroit. He can't run (18 yards on 18 carries), he can't catch, he can't pass block, etc. Did I leave anything out? Barring an injury to Peyton Barber, the rookie probably isn't going to be the high-upside RB3 folks pegged him to be in early drafts, but before anyone declares him a bust, take a look at this Twitter thread and check out the accompanying comments from Adam Spinks. Running backs as explosive as Jones don't average one yard per carry unless they are dancing all day behind the line of scrimmage (he's not) or getting next to no help from his offensive line. To their credit, the Buccaneers have not called the rookie out or reduced his preseason snaps as a result of his "struggles." Barber is likely going to remain a factor all season long, but I'm still of the belief Jones will become the lead back in this offense before the end of the season. Buy, but buy as low as possible.

Wide Receivers

I took part in my first TFC draft of the season Sunday night and had the opportunity to pick between Mike Evans and Stefon Diggs at the 2-3 turn (or pick them both and put off getting my RB2 until the 4-5 turn, which is something I do not want to do). I ultimately chose Diggs in part because I've got my eyes set on something bigger than just trying to win each of my TFC leagues this year. If he "hits" and stays healthy - durability has been his only question mark for some time - the evidence is starting to mount that he is ready to break into the elite group of receivers in the league. To offer a bit of that evidence statistically, Diggs has been off the injury report in 21 games and on the injury report for six over the last two seasons. In his "healthy" games, he is the WR5 in PPR points per game (17) - a mark that trails only Antonio Brown (21.3), Odell Beckham Jr. (18.5), Keenan Allen (17.1) and Julio Jones (17.1).

The case for Evans is simple: he has massive scoring upside - 12 touchdowns in two of his four seasons - and he is nearly impossible for defensive backs to match physically at 6-5 and 231 pounds. The case against Evans: he has been a highly inefficient receiver throughout his career, he has a supporting cast capable of stealing targets from him and touchdowns by their very nature are highly unpredictable, especially when we consider he is almost certain to be catching passes from two different quarterbacks in September alone. (He will also draw Marshon Lattimore out of the gate. Evans totaled six catches for 68 yards and no scores in two games against New Orleans last season.) And for the edge Evans should have in contested catches and near the end zone, Diggs led all receivers in contested catch rate (64 percent). He also owns the best red zone receiver rating in the league since 2016.

To my earlier point about "something bigger than the league prize," I'm trying to win $200,000 in this format, not just $1,000. In my other high-stakes leagues, there is no grand prize - only a league championship prize. In other words, I am shooting for the monster upside in the TFC and simply trying to outwit 11 other owners in my other leagues.

Perhaps no player has seen his stock price over the last month or so than Marquise Goodwin, although it's hardly a surprise considering every beat reporter covering the team can't stop talking about how obvious it is he is Jimmy Garoppolo's favorite target. I'm completely on board with him as a high-upside WR3, but people have seemingly lost their minds when it comes to the reality of the situation. Sure, he may end up with 70 to 80 receptions, catch at least six touchdowns and stay healthy all season - but he's being drafted at his ceiling, which is usually a poor approach to take. Let's try to remember Goodwin couldn't stay healthy consistently in four years with Buffalo and checks in at 5-9 and 180 pounds. He scored twice on 56 catches last season and has seven touchdowns in five years in the league. Owners hoping for a fast start from him also might be disappointed, as he figures to draw primary coverage from Xavier Rhodes, Casey Hayward and Patrick Peterson in three of his first five games (assuming those defenses identify him - and not Garcon - as the No. 1 receiver in San Francisco).

It goes without saying while the season-ending knee injury to Marqise Lee hurts the Jaguars, but it provides a bit more clarity in their receiving corps. So who benefits the most? (Leonard Fournette, of course … wait, no? Too much?) Keelan Cole? Dede Westbrook? Donte Moncrief? Moncrief seemingly gains the least of the group because he appears destined to be the designated red zone target who will see less action in the middle of the field. Cole was running with the starters before Lee's injury and should only see more targets, but will he be asked to run shorter routes? Westbrook made his name as a vertical receiver at Oklahoma, but he has seemingly been groomed as more of a short and intermediate wideout in Jacksonville. If the Jaguars don’t change his job description, it could be Westbrook - and not Cole - who becomes the new Lee. Whether it actually ends up making much of a difference in fantasy is another story. Lee led Jacksonville with only 56 catches last season despite seeing 96 targets. Cole finished with 42 and 81, respectively.

One theme I continue to remind myself of this drafting season is the depth at receiver. For example, I still remain quite high on Cameron Meredith, but owners need to realize it's probably going to take a bit of time for him to be what the Saints envisioned him to be. I have him listed at No. 154 because owners may not get a decent contribution from him until at least October. Geronimo Allison could very well be the next James Jones, circa 2012 or 2015. Rishard Matthews was just cleared to practice, but he has WR4 upside if he is asked to fill (and ultimately succeeds) in filling the Robert Woods role in new OC Matt LaFleur's offense. He was No. 123 on my initial Big Board. Danny Amendola is a realistic candidate to catch 70-plus passes if he can manage to stay relatively healthy all season. Calvin Ridley drew pre-draft comparisons to Marvin Harrison. Courtland Sutton could finish with at least seven touchdowns. The point to be made here is that all of these receivers can be drafted well into the double-digit rounds.

First TFC Draft Thoughts

In my aforementioned TFC draft, it was stunning to see the likes of Randall Cobb (10.12) and Carson Wentz (11.01) fall in my lap as my WR4 and QB2. As much as folks in the industry like to talk about drafting early in order to take advantage of the unprepared and finding value, I'd argue there is a lot of merit to drafting late and letting others overreact to what they are saw (or didn't see) in the preseason. Sure, Cobb may get traded (doubtful) and isn't the most durable player, but he was a popular seventh-round sleeper pick about two weeks ago. Wentz may not be ready for the season opener and is due for some regression after posting an unsustainable 7.5 percent touchdown rate last season, but can we really say he isn't a top-five quarterback in the league when healthy? Other players that I think fell due to recency bias include: Dalvin Cook (2.06), Jerick McKinnon (3.12), Demaryius Thomas (4.12), Corey Davis (6.01), Allen Robinson (6.10), Isaiah Crowell (9.05), Matt Breida (12.09), DeVante Parker (15.03) and Mike Gesicki (17.08).

The draft also served as a great reminder of staying mostly true to my board in the middle rounds. By that, I don't mean simply taking the next player on the list. I mean understanding what is still available and what is not. For some odd reason, tight ends were coming off the board at a clip I can't remember ever seeing (multiple teams drafted three and one team ended up with five). As much as I wanted a backup for Trey Burton, I wasn't going to pass on potential upside at running back and receiver in order to snag a player I should not have to before Burton's bye in Week 5, especially when at least two or three reasonable options could very well be on the waiver wire over the next week or two.

In closing …

A subject I plan on covering's in next week's Bold Predictions is how the league's re-emphasis on downfield contact (this is an issue that seems to get reemphasized every three or four years by the officials and/or competition committee) on receivers is going to lead to another offensive explosion. I mention this only because the stars are aligning well for Ben Roethlisberger to enjoy his best season since 2014 (QB6 finish). The Steelers reportedly plan on embracing the no-huddle more than they ever have in 2018 and Big Ben has three receivers capable of putting up 100 yards and a touchdown in a game. But it obviously goes beyond that. As much as I'm down on Le'Veon Bell, he is another player of hitting those marks as a running back. And let's not forget Vance McDonald, who could truly make this offense nearly unstoppable if he stays healthy enough for at least 12 games. It could be argued no quarterback has a better overall supporting cast.

A player I'm choosing not to include on this board but may target late in TFC drafts moving forward is Alfred Morris. He doesn't have a guaranteed role and there's a slim chance he doesn't make the team, which is why he's getting left off. Obviously, Jerick McKinnon is the kind of running back HC Kyle Shanahan wants to build his offense around, while Matt Breida can serve as the Tevin Coleman-like changeup. What if one or neither of them isn't ready for Week 1? What if their preseason injuries were a harbinger of things to come? In 20-round drafts such as this one, it makes little sense not to use late-round picks on wild-cards, and Morris is definitely one. Most owners already know his history with Shanahan. Would it really surprise anyone if he ends getting the goal-line work in San Francisco?

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