Top tips
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
The Shanaclan's experiment to feature Cousins as their starting quarterback worked out pretty well in Week 15; maybe they can get a second-round pick for him this offseason after all. From a fantasy perspective, there was a lot to like about Cousins' 21-point day, in the view of Tim Hasselbeck. Cousins had 45 attempts, which is a sign that he's going to be featured, and, although he did face a meager Falcons defense, he gets the Cowboys this week (with no Morris Claiborne).
Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Charles exploded for 51 points in standard scoring in Week 15, and, although he did so for a lot of teams that were already eliminated from the playoffs, he obviously swung a considerable number of matchups, as well. This week, the Chiefs take on the Colts, and their defense isn't as bad as Oakland's, but Eric Karabell still believes Charles is the best option at the flex positions.
Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins
Notice how Cousins was recommended at QB this week based partly on the matchup against Dallas? The guy lining up with him in the Redskins' backfield is facing that same underwhelming defense. Karabell has Morris in his top five at RB this week, over guys such as Adrian Peterson and Eddie Lacy (and well ahead of other analysts' rankings).
Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
In looking at the Patriots' game film recently, Hasselbeck noticed something: Edelman isn't just playing out of the slot (although he's been good there), he's lining up all over the place, and producing in a variety of ways. He won't be mistaken for a No. 1 WR, but he's producing consistently for his fantasy owners right now, averaging 16.5 fantasy points over the past four weeks, including 19 in Week 15. Edelman is a top-15 WR this week, in Tim's view.
Dennis Pitta, TE, Baltimore Ravens
It's been one good week and one bad week for Pitta since returning to the Ravens' lineup. What to expect this week? Tom Carpenter writes in "Fantasy Checkdown" that, given the matchup against the Patriots, Pitta is an intriguing option this weekend, especially with the injuries to other top TE options.
Playing the matchups
After a down week against Seattle -- and many have had a down week against Seattle -- Kaepernick bounced back with a cool 20 points against Tampa Bay. According to the projections from Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders, the good times will keep rolling this week with the Falcons on the docket; it's a plus-4 fantasy point matchup for Kaepernick.
Cam Newton and Drew Brees, QBs, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints
It's another double "lowered expectations" matchup as the top two teams in the NFC South stage a rematch of their Sunday nighter in Week 14. In that game (played in the dome), Brees looked fine, winding up with 28 points; on the other hand, Newton managed just 14. Unfortunately for the Brees owners in their championship this weekend, this game is being played outdoors at Carolina. It's a minus-5 matchup for Brees, and minus-2 for Newton, per Kacsmar.
Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Johnson is universally owned, but he has been a hit-or-miss guy this season, with single-digit games sandwiched in between several outstanding weeks. After an appropriate 15 points in Week 15, he may well be in line for even more against Jacksonville this weekend, as it's a plus-3 point matchup (tied for the best rating among RBs) in the Outsiders' projections.
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The matchup effect for Kaepernick (as described above) trickles down to 49ers wideouts, but there's a reason to believe that Crabtree is unique among them: As Hasselbeck writes, the Niners are certainly featuring the Texas Tech product now that he's healthy again, designing plays to get him working in space. Not only that but, given that he's just getting back, he's still widely available on the waiver wire.
Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Allen has caught only five passes in the past two games, but four of the five happen to be touchdowns. So yeah, he's still proving valuable every week as the season winds down. This week, he takes on an Oakland team that is vulnerable through the air, on the ground, at sea, in space … you get the idea. In fact, Allen's breakout game occurred in Week 5 against these same Raiders (17 points). It's a plus-1 point matchup in Kacsmar's estimation.
Injury impact
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Word came down this week that Rodgers still hasn't been cleared to play, so it'll be another week of the Matt Flynn Experience for the Packers (and risk-taking fantasy owners). The Steelers are visiting Lambeau Field this week, and, although they have the historical identity of a strong defense, they've been vulnerable to the pass this season; Kacsmar writes that Pittsburgh has been particularly generous when it comes to big plays through the air. That's not Flynn's bread and butter, but who knows; after all, if you're starting Flynn, you're pretty desperate anyway.
Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco is generally considered to be much less fantasy-relevant than Rodgers, but, then again, here are the point totals for the two over the past seven weeks: Flacco 89, Rodgers 1. Domination! OK, that's not exactly fair, but, in any event, the latest buzz is that Flacco should be fine to play against New England this week. You'd have to be pretty desperate to consider him in fantasy, as Karabell lists 20 other QBs ahead of him this week.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Peterson has been listed as questionable for Sunday's game after being limited in practice Wednesday and Friday and sitting out Thursday. It appears he has a fair shot to play, so we won't get another Matt Asiata bomb. If you managed to stay alive without your first-round pick in the playoffs, congrats; looks as if you're finally getting him back this week, and Karabell ranks him No. 8 overall on the flex ranks.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
If only MJD had been healthy this past week, he might've been the one to pad his owners' teams with 14 points against Buffalo. Jones-Drew got in some work this week and is questionable for Sunday; it's an important situation to monitor, as Tennessee has allowed the third most points to opposing RBs this season. Karabell lists Jordan Todman as the No. 40 option in the flex ranks.
Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants
Cruz's season is over after knee surgery, leaving the Giants without their top receiving option as they face the Lions' lackluster pass defense. However, his replacement, Rueben Randle, has shown occasional flash this season and is available in a fair number of leagues right now. As Carpenter acknowledges, however, Eli Manning has had his share of troubles this season, and the matchup with Detroit might not be enough reason to roll the dice with a player such as Randle.
Lottery tickets
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Tennessee Titans
Fitzpatrick is still owned in just a handful of leagues, but fantasy owners in 2-QB leagues could do much worse than Fitz, who has managed 112 points over the past six weeks (an average of 18.67). Not only has he been productive, but the Titans take on the Jags this week, a point that is not lost on Karabell.
Dennis Johnson, RB, Houston Texans
The Texans are looking to put some good performances on film (to be retained by Houston's new regime or for other teams in the free-agent market), and one player who is getting an extended look this week is Johnson, with Ben Tate put on IR. The Broncos have allowed the seventh most points to opposing RBs this season, but Karabell is quick to caution that Denver might be up big early, which will limit the number of times the Texans run the ball. Still, if you need a lotto ticket, Johnson is a starting RB.
Rod Streater, Andre Holmes, WRs, Oakland Raiders
Denarius Moore is owned in the vast majority of fantasy leagues, but the other two featured WRs in Oakland's offense are not. And, with the gregarious San Diego pass defense on the slate this week, all three pass-catchers crack the top 100 of Karabell's flex rankings.
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Back when the Seahawks acquired Percy Harvin, there was some thought that Baldwin could be released. It's a good thing (for Seattle and for fantasy owners) that this didn't come to pass, as he's become one of the more reliable targets for Russell Wilson (and for the handful of folks who have started him of late). With 61 points over the past six games, Karabell cites him as a player he'd start over such alternatives as Randle and stashed him in the No. 83 slot in the flex ranks.
Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
Ladarius Green has emerged as the dominant TE of the future in San Diego, but Gates can still have his moments. We've spent some time lambasting the Raiders' defense, and Gates is one of the folks playing against them this week, too. Carpenter calls him a "sneaky play."
Big question of the week
For the leagues that staged their championship week in Week 15, Charles was the big difference-maker, and anyone who owned him this season was obviously starting him. But could we see a more under-the-radar player -- Andy Dalton, Ben Roethlisberger, etc. -- who isn't universally started be the weekend's big scorer? Such is the joy (and frustration) of fantasy sports, and it makes all the time we spend doing our homework worthwhile. Good luck this weekend!
I'm gonna try to get some reps just to give em to you man...ppreciate it!!1
