Sunday morning observations -- Week 17

Happy New Year, Fools! I hope each of you made it through 2016, and NYE, safely and that you're about to settle in for a very busy afternoon of NFL football with little, if anything, riding on the outcomes.

For me, I'll be battling for 5% of the pot in both of my leagues, as we hold our "Free for All Bowl," where the top overall scorer for the day wins a little financial consolation prize. It's basically a way for us to stretch the fantasy season out one more week without extending our championship game to Week 17, which is nuts.

Why is it nuts, you ask? Well, here are just some of the players who won't be competing at all today either due to injury or because their teams are playing meaningless games (versus the ones who will make token appearances and/or will just try to make it through their games unscathed): Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, Le'Veon Bell, Carlos Hyde, Melvin Gordon, Theo Riddick (just placed on IR), Lamar Miller, Jeremy Hill, Matt Forte, Chris Ivory, Adrian Peterson, Ryan Mathews, Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, A.J. Green (IR), Stefon Diggs, Taylor Gabriel, Jordan Matthews, Malcolm Mitchell, Donte Moncrief, Allen Hurns, Danny Amendola, Kendall Wright, Tyler Eifert, Ladrius Green, Cameron Brate.

Others who will likely play only a token amount of time or who are game-time decisions: Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Spencer Ware, Dez Bryant and Kenny Britt. The Giants have nothing to play for either, so don't be surprised if Eli, Odell and others hit the showers early.

It will be interesting to see just how much playing time Tony Romo gets once Dak jogs off the field this afternoon. Early betting is not much, and that Mark Sanchez will receive the bulk of the snaps. Don't count on a lot from any Cowboy player, though I wouldn't be surprised if the starters log a TD or two before hitting the showers. 50 yards and a TD sounds about right for Zeke Elliott in a quarter or more of play...

Trevor Siemian may only get a half's work of play, with Paxton Lynch taking over for the rest of the way.

There's good news if you're relying on any Patriots players, especially Tom Brady. They still have the first seed on the line, so expect big things from them against the Dolphins today. I think Jarvis Landry could have a nice outing as well, at home, with playoff seeding also on the line and Jay Ajayi dealing with a sore shoulder.

Some reports are suggesting DeAngelo Williams is the Steelers back to start today, while others point to Fitzgerald Touissant. They obviously have a tasty matchup with the Browns, but it appears the two backs will split the workload in some fashion. Either could come up big, or small. Sorry...that's why you shouldn't have a lot at stake in Week 17!

Now that we know about Doug Martin's suspension, and with Charles Sims placed on IR, Jacquizz Rodgers projects to have a busy day against the Saints. He's a solid Week 17 prospect, if you need a fill-in.

And you have to love tonight's game between the Packers and Lions, with a division crown on the line for both. If you've got 'em, start 'em!

That's it for now. Will turn next to Twitter for the final inactives report of the 2016 regular season. Enjoy the games, Fools! Tomorrow's column will feature the Perfect Draft: Final Edition. Always a crowd-pleaser...

Week 17 Starters & Benchwarmers

Week 17 is usually a crapshoot, with several teams resting starters or coasting into the off-season. Typical “no-brainer” starters aren’t so obvious this week, while seldom-used backups get their moments in the sun. In short, it’s a terrible week to contest your fantasy Super Bowl.

In my leagues, we play a “Free for All Bowl,” in which everyone except the champ sets one final lineup. The overall points winner gets a token share of the pot.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 17 of the 2016 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Stafford, QB, Lions vs. Packers. When last these two teams met, Stafford had a huge game and Marvin Jones (205 receiving yards, 2 TDs) became an instant fantasy hero. Since then, Stafford has held up his end of the bargain, while Jones has lost his fantasy relevance. The Lions have everything to play for, so count on Stafford to keep all of his receivers busy (except, inevitably, Jones).

Darren McFadden, RB, Cowboys at Eagles. Ezekiel Elliott is expected to receive only token carries, after which he will yield the backfield to McFadden. Run DMC looked sharp in his first extended playing time of the season during mop-up duty last week, so look for him to use this opportunity to audition for a nice free-agent contract in the offseason.

Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders at Broncos. Oakland is starting Matt McGloin at QB. So do you think they’ll emphasize the run or pass in this pivotal game? Exactly. Though he was out-played by DeAndre Washington last week, Murray remains the starter and the most reliable option in the Raiders backfield. Washington is worthy a flier, too, given the delicious matchup.

Davante Adams, WR, Packers at Lions. This game should be an aerial showcase, as neither team runs the ball consistently. Speaking of inconsistent, meet Adams. Now that he’s put his disastrous Week 15 performance behind him, trust him to hold onto the balls Aaron Rodgers flings his way.

J.J. Nelson, WR, Cardinals at Rams. Neither team has anything to play for, but Nelson will be looking to cement his position as Arizona’s No. 2 wideout heading into 2017. He has established a nice rapport with Carson Palmer, and the Rams are coughing up nearly two passing TDs per game, on average.

More thumbs up: QBs Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson; RBs LeSean McCoy, David Johnson, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Spencer Ware, Jordan Howard, LeGarrette Blount, Bilal Powell, Thomas Rawls, Jacquizz Rodgers, Jonathan Stewart, Derrick Henry, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram, Ty Montgomery, Rex Burkhead; WRs Jordy Nelson, Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones, Emmanuel Sanders, T.Y. Hilton, Julian Edelman, Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks, Doug Baldwin, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, DeSean Jackson, Kelvin Benjamin, Alshon Jeffery, Allen Robinson, Tyrell Williams, Jarvis Landry, Adam Thielen, Cameron Meredith.

Roll ‘em back

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers vs. Chiefs. Over the last three weeks, no secondary has been tougher on opposing QBs than Kansas City. The Chiefs need a win for a chance at the division title while the Chargers are already setting their tee times. Don’t expect a rousing performance against this stingy and focused defense.

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams vs. Cardinals. This season’s leading candidate for Fantasy Bust of the Year “honors” has yet to have a 100-yard rushing game and, even worse, has just one 100-combined-yard game in 2017. He managed a better-than-usual 82 total yards (without a TD) the last time he faced Arizona. If you’d be happy with that, go ahead and start him. Otherwise, look to someone with real upside.

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans at Titans. Lamar Miller (ankle) is unlikely to suit up for this pointless affair, leaving the starting role in Blue’s hands again. Though he came through with a solid performance last week, Sunday’s opponent is tougher against the run. Though he may eek in a short TD plunge, don’t expect big yardage from this backup.

Rishard Matthews, WR, Titans vs. Texans. With their playoff seeding set in stone, Houston could sit many of their starters. That’s the good news for Matthews. The bad news is he’ll be attempting to snare passes from Matt Cassel in a game that’s also meaningless for the Titans. This one could get ugly.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles vs. Cowboys. Carson Wentz continues to regress and Matthews is paying the price. Though he had a nice outing the last time he faced Dallas (11 receptions for 65 yards, 1 TD), he’s hard to trust against a secondary that has been playing well and lacks the depth to bench all its starters.

More thumbs down: QBs Dak Prescott, Ben Roethlisberger, Trevor Siemian, Carson Wentz, E.J. Manuel, Andy Dalton, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colin Kaepernick, Matt McGloin; RBs Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Jeremy Hill, Lamar Miller, Rob Kelley, Matt Forte, Shaun Draughn, Devontae Booker, Zach Zenner, Terrance West, Chris Ivory; WRs Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, Randall Cobb, Cole Beasley, Donte Moncrief, Robby Anderson, Brandon Marshall, Jeremy Maclin, Terrelle Pryor, Mike Wallace, Kenny Britt.

TAKING A FLIER

Steve Smith, WR, Ravens at Bengals. Though Baltimore has been eliminated from the postseason, this game has special meaning as Smith’s swan song. There’s no way this fiery competitor will go out with a whimper. Joe Flacco will do everything in his power to give Smith the victory lap he deserves.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO … assumes your stalwarts will suit up as usual in Week 17. The Steelers have already signaled that they will sit their stars, while the Cowboys’ young guns will likely see only minimal action. The Giants and Texans likewise have nothing to play for. Plan accordingly.

Week 16 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to play…

QBs

Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Torched the Vikings for 347 yards and 4 TDs, plus 13 rushing yards and a 5^th TD.

Russell Wilson, Seahawks – Passed for 350 yards and 4 TDs and ran for 36 yards, too; but lost a fumble.

Tyrod Taylor, Bills – Passed for 329 yards and 3 TDs, and added 60 rushing yards, without a turnover.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins – Just 1 TD and 270 yards through the air, but he added 30 yards and 2 more TDs on the ground.

Sam Bradford, Vikings – Actually showed up, with 382 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus a fumble. Not that anyone started him.

Tom Brady, Patriots – Hit the showers early after passing for 214 yards and 3 TDs.

Dak Prescott, Cowboys -- Had almost an identical passing stat line on Monday night, though he added 35 yards as a rusher.

Blake Bortles, Jaguars – Passed for 325 yards and a TD, and caught a 20-yard TD pass, without a blemish.

Andrew Luck, Colts – Had a couple of INTs, but also passed for 288 yards and 2 TDs and ran in an 11-yard TD.

RBs

Jay Ajayi, Dolphins – Rumbled through the Bills for 206 yards and a TD.

David Johnson, Cardinals – Ran for 95 yards and a TD hat trick, plus 4 catches for 41 yards. We’ll forgive the fumble.

Le’Veon Bell, Steelers – Rushed for 122 yards and a score, and grabbed 3 passes for 15 more yards and a second TD.

Tevin Coleman, Falcons – Ran for 90 yards and a TD, and caught 3 passes for 45 yards. On my bench.

Mark Ingram, Saints – Scored twice while rushing for 90 yards and caught 2 passes for 3 yards.

LeSean McCoy, Bills – Rushed for 128 yards and a score, plus 5 receptions for 17 yards.

DeAndre Washington, Raiders – Ran for 99 yards and 2 TDs and caught an 18-yarder.

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys – Despite being pulled early, ran for 80 yards and 2 TDs, and caught a 12-yard pass.

Zack Zenner, Lions – Punched in two TDs and collected 67 rushing and 25 receiving yards on Monday night.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns – Ran for 54 yards and a pair of TDs.

LeGarrette Blount, Patriots – His 50 yards and 2 TDs were just as sweet as Crowell’s.

WRs

Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Came up huge in the MNF spotlight, collecting 4 passes for 70 yards and 2 TDs and throwing a 10-yard TD pass as well.

Adam Thielen, Vikings – Snagged a dozen passes for 202 yards and 2 TDs. Wow.

Jordy Nelson, Packers – Grabbed 9 passes for 154 yards and 2 TDs.

Sammy Watkins, Bills – Caught 7 passes for 154 yards and a TD. On my bench.

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks – Busted loose for 171 yards and a TD on 13 receptions.

Cameron Meredith, Bears – Reeled in 9 passes for 135 yards and a score.

J.J. Nelson, Cardinals – Caught only 3 passes but took them for 132 yards and 1 TD.

Antonio Brown, Steelers – Once he got warmed up, he caught 10 passes for 96 yards and the winning TD. For my opponent.

Brandon LaFell, Bengals – Turned 6 passes into 130 yards and a TD.

Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants – In PPR leagues, his 11 receptions for 150 yards were gold.

Allen Robinson, Jaguars – He actually had 9 catches for 147 yards. Where has that been all year?

Marquis Lee, Jaguars – Had 3 catches for 37 yards and a TD, and threw a 20-yard TD pass to Blake Bortles.

TEs

Travis Kelce, Chiefs – Reeled in 11 passes for 160 yards and a TD, sinking my title hopes.

Charles Clay, Bills – Scored twice while catching 8 passes for 85 yards.

Antonio Gates, Chargers – Pulled down 8 passes for 94 yards and a TD.

D/STs

Patriots – Amassed 2 sacks, 3 INTs and a fumble recovery while holding the hapless Jets to 3 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs

Trevor Siemian, Broncos – Passed for just 183 yards without a score, and coughed up an INT.

RBs

Thomas Rawls, Seahawks – Ran for a measly 8 yards.

Jeremy Hill, Bengals – So did he. In my starting lineup…

Kenneth Farrow, Chargers – Ran for 28 yards and caught 4 passes for 29 more.

Ty Montgomery, Packers – Let down his bedazzled owners with just 23 rushing and 17 receiving yards.

WRs

Robby Anderson, Jets – Finished with a goose egg, not coincidentally after Bryce Petty went down.

Jamison Crowder, Redskins – Caught a 3-yarder.

Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs – Held to 9 yards on 3 catches.

Jordan Matthews, Eagles – Only 12 yards on 2 receptions.

John Brown, Cardinals – He got 12 yards on his only catch.

Taylor Gabriel, Falcons – Settled for 3 catches for 15 yards.

Kenny Britt, Rams – Caught a lousy 15-yard pass.

Marvin Jones, Lions – Came up short again, with just a 16-yarder to his credit.

Demaryius Thomas, Broncos – Only managed 20 yards on 3 catches, in my starting lineup.

Willie Snead, Saints – Just 21 yards on 2 balls.

Mike Wallace, Ravens – He got his 21 yards on 4 catches.

Chris Hogan, Patriots – Notched a 22-yard reception.

Tyler Boyd, Bengals – Only 25 yards on 2 catches.

Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos – Limited to a 26-yarder.

Ted Ginn, Panthers – Had just 29 yards on 3 catches.

Jarvis Landry, Dolphins – So did he.

Quincy Enunwa, Jets – Led his team with a 30-yard catch.

Brandon Marshall, Jets – He continued to implode with 2 catches for 28 yards.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – Stuck with 4 passes for 31 yards.

Terrelle Pryor, Browns – Had another disappointing day, with 3 receptions for 36 yards.

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks – Caught just 2 passes for 38 yards before exiting with a broken leg.

Holiday heroics cut both ways

What could be worse than losing your fantasy championship game on Christmas night?

I guess watching Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe complete a jump-pass touchdown to rub in a playoff-eliminating loss on Christmas night is worse.

It depends on your perspective.

My demise came earlier in that game, when Travis “Freaking” Kelce (his forever name to me now) took a bubble screen 80 yards to the house. Are you kidding me, Broncos defense?

Even though some serious scratch was still on the line, I didn’t even think twice about turning off the television and settling in for a raucous game night with the family. I could tell I was Scrooged.

In retrospect, the writing was on the wall when Antonio Brown reached over the goal line to seal the Steelers’ come-from-behind win over the Ravens. Until then, my opponent’s starting combo of Ben Roethlisberger and Brown had been under control. But after teasing us during a remarkably mediocre first half, Big Ben and AB found their mojo. It seemed inevitable that the duo would connect for the winning score on that fateful, final drive.

Oh well. David Johnson came through in the clutch like a Fantasy MVP must, but even he couldn’t do it all on his own.

For the record, I’m calling for Marvin Lewis to be fired for limiting Jeremy Hill to seven stinking carries on Saturday night. And those who were counting on Doug Martin must share that sentiment about Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter. Don’t they understand what’s at stake for us?

I’ll take some solace in seeing the fantasy gods smite them as well, with both of their teams tasting defeat over the weekend.

WAIVER WIRE PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling gaps in your roster with the occasional waiver-wire acquisition is also important. At this point in the season, the pickings are slim and your best bet is to stick with your regular starters. But here's a look at some players worth considering anyway, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup for the finale.

Catch ‘em while you can

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans. Blue ran well against the Bengals in Lamar Miller’s absence, and he could get the call again in Week 17 to allow the starter to rest his bum ankle for the postseason. Blue caught all four of his targets on Saturday, underscoring his value as a receiving threat as well.

Kenyon Drake, RB, Dolphins. Week 17 always gives us a handful of unheralded fantasy studs as teams rest or limit their starters. With hard-running Jay Ajayi having sprained his shoulder against the Bills, and the Dolphins safely playoff-bound, Drake could be one of those shooting stars against a New England team that has secured the AFC’s top seed.

Charles Clay, TE, Bills. With 18 receptions for 209 yards and three TDs over his last three games, Clay has emerged as a viable late-season weapon for the Bills. Any reservations I might normally have about adding a Buffalo tight end this late are erased by a look ahead to next week’s opponent. Against the hapless Jets, Clay could put up Kelce-like numbers.

Don’t be fooled

DuJuan Harris, RB, 49ers. With the news that Carlos Hyde has torn his MCL, Harris presumably will jump back into the spotlight for the 49ers’ final game. He performed capably earlier this season, but the combination of a tough Seahawks defense and a shared backfield with Shaun Draughn limits Harris’ upside in the finale.

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Buccaneers. So we are to believe that Koetter made Martin a healthy scratch because he thought Rodgers would be a “better fit” against the Saints? Super. So who’s a better fit against the Panthers? Rodgers, who put up 129 combined yards against them in Week 5, or Martin, who rang up 251 total yards and a TD in two contests last year? I’d rather not play the RB lottery.

Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seahawks. With the gruesome injury to Tyler Lockett, you figure Kearse will see more action moving forward. But it’s awfully hard to trust a receiver who just caught his first touchdown pass of the season in Week 16 and has essentially been the forgotten man in the Seattle offense.

Saturday morning observations -- Week 16

Merry Christmas Eve, Fools! I hope each of you is having a wonderful holiday weekend and that you've taken care of your shopping so you can properly cheer on your squad today. For me, there's big money and a fierce rivalry on the line in our fantasy Super Bowl. I'm counting on winning numbers from Matt Ryan, David Johnson and others, but I'm going to have to overcome some tough matchups to walk away with the title in that league, which I've led from wire to wire.

But enough about me. We know what's at stake. Let's go on one more stroll across the NFL landscape...

The big receiver news of the day is that Julio Jones is back. This is great news for Ryan owners like me, but I'll be putting Taylor Gabriel back on my bench. I don't think he'll be a bust; I just have a couple of better/safer options.

The news is decidedly less optimistic for Cincinnati. Both A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert will sit tonight in Houston.

You may need to scratch Lamar Miller, too. His ankle has him listed as doubtful tonight. Alfred Blue would take the lead in Miller's absence.

Adrian Peterson has been ruled out, but you weren't going to start him anyway, right?

Melvin Gordon is out, so look for Kenneth Farrow and Ronnie Hillman to share the load in a great matchup with the Browns. That said, I think they conspire to cancel out each other's upside.

Matt Forte is doubtful today, leaving the backfield fully in Bilal Powell's hands. I still think Powell will find tough sledding against the Pats, but this news helps.

Good news for those counting on Andrew Luck: Donte Moncrief will be back from his hamstring injury.

Sammy Watkins will play for the Bills, but not for me. Just too risky for my blood.

The Redskins will be without Jordan Reed, who will be inactive today.

Randall Cobb won't play for the Packers.

That's it for now. Inactives and other late-breaking news to come via Twitter.

HUGE luck today, Fools. Go getcha a trophy (and a check)!

Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Tom Brady and Shady McCoy, or to bench Robert Griffin, Jr. and Jerick McKinnon? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2016 season – Super Bowl weekend in Fantasyland!

Watch ‘em roll

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers at Browns. Rivers hasn’t thrown for fewer than two TDs in a game since Week 7. His bugaboo has been interceptions (and middling yardage). Fortunately, this week’s opponents have picked off just eight passes while giving up an NFL-worst 31 scoring passes. With Melvin Gordon likely out again, and a full complement of healthy receivers, Rivers should have a field day in Cleveland.

Spencer Ware, RB, Chiefs vs. Broncos. Aside from a salty, two-TD effort in Week 13 against Atlanta, Ware has cooled off dramatically from his early-season exploits. He should get back on track against the sorry Broncos run defense, especially since Denver’s strong secondary and the nasty elements will conspire against Kansas City’s passing game.

Jay Ajayi, RB, Dolphins at Bills. The last time Miami and Buffalo clashed, Ajayi steamrolled over the Bills’ defense for 214 rushing yards and a TD. While those heady days seem long gone, Ajayi should again be leaned on heavily in the poor conditions. Despite Matt Moore’s solid outing last week, he and his fair-weather receivers are likely to struggle with the slick ball, making Ajayi’s contributions paramount.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears vs. Redskins. Matt Barkley has been spreading the ball around fairly evenly between his receivers, but he got really comfortable with Jeffery late in the Green Bay game. Expect the duo to start off stronger on Saturday and for Chicago’s most skilled wideout to separate himself from the pack.

Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots vs. Jets. The weather outside may be frightful, but that rarely bothers the Patriots. Matt Moore racked up four TD passes against the Jets last weekend, so how much trouble do you think Tom Brady will have with that secondary? Edelman will carry a heavy load and both Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell offer decent upside as flex options, too.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Matt Stafford, Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Matt Barkley; RBs Jordan Howard, Ty Montgomery, Mark Ingram, Thomas Rawls, Doug Martin, Frank Gore, Todd Gurley, LeGarrette Blount; WRs Julio Jones, Ted Ginn, Davante Adams, T.Y. Hilton, Brandin Cooks, Michael Thomas, Tyrell Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Dontrelle Inman, Doug Baldwin, Dez Bryant, Golden Tate, Demaryius Thomas, Rishard Matthews, Michael Crabtree, Robby Anderson.

Roll ‘em back

Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins at Bears. Cousins is coming off one of his worst outings of the season, and frigid Soldier Field doesn’t figure to be a natural place to rebound. The Bears have been tough on opposing passers of late (albeit with a big assist from Davante Adams last week), so Cousins’ ceiling is low in this matchup.

Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons at Panthers. Carolina’s run defense has held up its end of the bargain for the most part, surrendering just 10 rushing scores to date. Devonta Freeman reasserted his role as Atlanta’s primary rusher last week, leaving Coleman to pick up the leftovers. In a game where rushing yards and scores will be contested fiercely, there may not be enough opportunities for the No. 2 tailback to excel.

Bilal Powell, RB, Jets at Patriots. If you were Bill Belichick, which Jets player would you focus on shutting down? Exactly. Powell has soared since Matt Forte injured his knee, but he will face a lot of unwanted attention from his division rivals. Forte likely won’t steal many of his touches, but Powell’s prospects for another stellar outing remain dim.

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals at Texans. There’s a good chance Green will return to the field on Saturday night, but he comes with great risk (including the possibility of tweaking his tender hamstring). Cincinnati is out of the playoff hunt and the Houston secondary can be stingy. Decoys have no place in fantasy lineups.

Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars vs. Titans. Chances are, if you drafted A-Rob, you aren’t playing in the fantasy Super Bowl. But if you are, it’s probably because you gave up on him long ago. A leading candidate for Fantasy Bust of the Year (dis)honors, Robinson can’t be trusted in most matchups, and particularly against tough foes like the Titans.

More thumbs down: QBs Jameis Winston, Carson Palmer, Tyrod Taylor, Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, Alex Smith, Joe Flacco; RBs Adrian Peterson, Carlos Hyde, T.J. Yeldon, Dwayne Washington, Chris Ivory, James White; WRs Kelvin Benjamin, Donte Moncrief, Jeremy Maclin, Terrelle Pryor, Tyler Boyd, DeSean Jackson, Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Sammy Watkins, Mike Wallace, John Brown, Brandon Marshall, Pierre Garcon, Quincy Enunwa.

TAKING A FLIER

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans vs. Bengals. I don’t care what your name is. When you’re as unreliable as Hopkins has been all season, he deserves the “flier” tag when he’s being recommended. My optimism is boosted by the 17 targets he saw from Tom Savage last weekend, and the ideal conditions inside his home stadium.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…forgets that Saturday is the new Sunday. This year, your fantasy title will most likely be won or lost on Christmas Eve, as the NFL has scheduled a dozen games for Dec. 24. So get your shopping done on Friday; you’ve got serious business to take care of on Saturday!

Week 15 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to play…

QBs

Drew Brees, Saints – Racked up 389 yards and 4 TDs without a fumble.

Matt Moore, Dolphins – Torched the Jets for 236 yards and 4 TDs, plus an INT, though no one on the planet started him.

RBs

Devonta Freeman, Falcons – Ran for 139 yards and a TD trifecta, and added 16 yards on 2 receptions.

LeSean McCoy, Bills – Rumbled for 153 yards and 2 TDs, plus 3 catches for 16 yards.

David Johnson, Cardinals – Ran for 53 yards and 2 TDs and caught 4 passes for 55 yards.

Ty Montgomery, Packers – Ran for 162 yards and 2 TDs.

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys – Raced for 159 yards and a TD, and caught 3 passes for 29 yards.

Bilal Powell, Jets – Rushed for 84 yards and caught 11 passes for 78 more.

Derrick Henry, Titans – Scored twice while rushing for 58 yards.

WRs

Brandin Cooks, Saints – Snared 7 passes for 186 yards and 2 TDs.

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks – Caught 7 passes for 130 yards and a TD.

TEs

Dion Sims, Dolphins – Scored twice with his 4 catches for 31 yards.

D/STs

Dolphins – Collected 3 sacks, 3 INTs, a fumble and blocked a punt for a TD, while holding the Jets to 13 points

Ks

Chris Boswell, Steelers – Nailed all 6 of his FGs (from 30, 40, 45 and 49 yards – 3 times).

This was a great week to play against…

QBs

Tom Brady, Patriots – Had another rough outing in Denver, with just 188 passing yards without a score (or turnover).

Marcus Mariota, Titans – Passed for 241 yards without a score, and coughed up 2 turnovers.

Aaron Rodgers, Packers – He was plagued by drops by his WRs and left with 252 yards and no scores or turnovers.

Trevor Siemian, Broncos – Racked up 282 yards but had 1 INT and no TDs.

Matt Stafford, Lions – Passed for 273 yards and ran for 13 without a score, but tossed an INT.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins – Passed for 315 yards, but had no scores and 2 turnovers.

RBs

Adrian Peterson, Vikings – Returned early to gain just 22 yards, and fumbled it away.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns – Ruined his favorable matchup with just 28 rushing yards.

Todd Gurley, Rams – Continued to punish his owners with 38 rushing yards.

Thomas Rawls, Seahawks – Just 34 rushing and 5 receiving yards.

Matt Forte, Jets – Little was expected, and he came through with 28 combined yards.

Rashad Jennings, Giants – Just 38 yards on the ground.

Devontae Booker, Broncos – Totaled just 33 scrimmage yards.

Doug Martin, Buccaneers – Held to 42 yards.

Chris Ivory, Jaguars – Finished with 44 rushing yards.

Kenneth Farrow, Chargers – Defying the other gurus’ grand predictions, he had just 53 combined yards and lost a fumble.

Jay Ajayi, Dolphins – Held to 51 yards on Saturday night.

WRs

Randall Cobb, Packers – Laid a goose egg in Chicago.

Sammy Watkins, Bills – Stuck on a 10-yard pass, which was twice what Robert Woods did.

Malcolm Mitchell, Patriots – Had a 14-yarder.

Chris Hogan, Patriots – Limited to an 18-yard catch.

Tyler Boyd, Bengals – Held to 13 yards on 2 balls.

Stefon Diggs, Vikings – So was he.

Tavon Austin, Rams – Ran for 13 yards and caught 3 passes for 14 yards.

Allen Robinson, Jaguars – Disgusted his owners with 15 yards on 2 catches.

Brandon Marshall, Jets – Limited to a 16-yard catch.

DeVante Parker, Dolphins – Caught a 17-yarder.

Terrelle Pryor, Browns – Just 19 yards on 4 receptions.

Tyrell Williams, Chargers – Only 20 yards on 4 catches.

Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers – He got his lousy 20 yards on 2 receptions.

Jamison Crowder, Redskins – Just 24 yards on 4 balls on MNF.

Davante Adams, Packers – Dropped a couple of sure TDs and settled for 25 yards on 2 catches.

Amari Cooper, Raiders – Stuck with a 28-yard pass.

Victor Cruz, Giants – Caught a 29-yarder.

T.Y. Hilton, Colts – Just 45 yards on 3 receptions.

TEs

Tyler Eifert, Bengals – Left with a measly 9-yard catch.

Jordan Reed, Redskins – Ejected after a catching a 6-yard pass.

Coby Fleener, Saints – Just 10 yards on 2 receptions.

Antonio Gates, Chargers – Caught an 11-yarder.

Jimmy Graham, Seahawks – Caught a 31-yard pass.

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