The playoffs have finally arrived and hopefully you are still alive in at least one of your leagues. I had an electric Sunday and apparently saved the best football of the regular season for Week 13. I entered the day with a spot locked up in one of my four leagues, on the fringe for a couple more and completely out of it in the other. Despite missing the 2 seed for my best team by .4 points, there isn’t a 1st round bye and I likely even weakened my matchup by falling. In my other two leagues I faced an uphill battle in both and needed a win plus some help. In my most competitive league, a one full of former college buddies, I was sitting in 7th place after finishing 9th the year before (both years being a Saquon Barkely owner). When I needed it the most, I unleashed a league high 141 points and jumped all the way to the 4th seed! Electric. My other fringe team, which is my sole non PPR league, also posted over 100 points and locked up the 6 seed. If you made the playoffs remember to not take your foot off the gas, but to keep making those waiver pickups and checking for updates on who to start and sit. This has been a long (and weird) season of fantasy football, but if you are still alive in mid December you have made it. Anything is possible!
Key Waiver Pickups
Cam Akers – RB, LAR (41.3% Rostered)
Akers had the most productive game of his young career and finished with career highs in carries (21), yards (72) and points (16). Akers has out-touched Henderson and Brown in the last two events, however, is a risky start week 14. Akers is a great pick up and stash guy for a late postseason push.
Tim Patrick – WR, DEN (24.7% Rostered)
It would be bad advice to say any of Drew Lock’s targets would be a safe start, but Patrick has found recent success in the Broncos offense. Excluding the Saints game where the Broncos were without a true QB, Patrick has finished with double digit outings in 7 of his last 8 games.
Keke Coutee – WR, HOU (23.3% Rostered)
Coutee took over where Will Fuller left off and was Deshaun Watson’s top option last Sunday. Coutee was targeted a team high 9 times and recorded 8 receptions for 141 yards. He remains a risky option, but could be a great flex option down the road if he continues to succeed.
Fax or Fiction
Taysom Hill is a Starting Fantasy QB
Fax. Taysom Hill has proven to have a high enough floor, and despite having most of his success against the Falcons defense, he has become a great starting option. In two of his three games he has completed over 73% of his passes and has 10+ rush attempts in each game. He has committed a turnover in each of his three starts, but has made up for that with six touchdowns and four of those on the ground. As long as Brees is out with injury Hill is a worthy starting option.
Russell Wilson is out of the MVP Race
Fiction. Despite the rough outing against the New York Football Giants, Wilson is still second in the league in touchdowns (32) and third in completion percentage (70%) and yards (3,479). To put that in perspective, Wilson is throwing for 289 yards and nearly 3 TDs a game, however, he also has 11 interceptions. Wilson will need to clean up his game a bit, but there is still a lot of football to go and he has a solid base of statistics to build off of. As of now, it is a four way battle between Mahomes, Rodgers, Allen and Wilson.
Kyler Murray is Damaged Goods
Fax. In the two games since injuring his shoulder against Seattle, Murray has gone 44 for 73 for 343 yards, 3 TDs and 2 Interceptions. What is even more shocking is he only has 10 rushing attempts for 46 yards, which leads me to believe this injury may be worse than it is made to believe.
Start ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Taysom Hill @ PHI
Justin Herbert vs ATL
Ryan Tannehill @ JAX
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler vs ATL
Chris Carson vs NYJ
D’Andre Swift vs GB
Receivers
Corey Davis @ JAX
Robby Anderson vs DEN
Chris Godwin vs MIN
Sit ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray @ NYG
Jared Goff vs NE
Matthew Stafford vs GB
Running Backs
J.D. McKissic @ SF
Raheem Mostert vs WSH
James Conner @ BUF
Receivers
DeVante Parker vs KC
Calvin Ridley @ LAC
Brandin Cooks @ CHI
Injury News
Christian McCaffrey – RB, CAR (Ankle)
McCaffrey was expected to make his return on Sunday against the Broncos, however, popped back up on the injury report with a quad injury. McCaffrey was limited in practice on Wednesday, but it could just be precautionary in preparation for Sunday’s favorable matchup. Follow McCaffrey’s practice availability leading up to this weekend as this could go either way.
Update as of 12.10.20 – Christian McCaffrey missed practice and is now said to be unlikely to play Sunday.
Joe Mixon – RB, CIN (Foot) IR
Surprise, surprise…Mixon will miss week 14 according to coach Zac Taylor.
Kenny Golladay – WR, DET (Hip)
Kenny G continues to miss practices and things are not looking great if you have the young receiver. There is a chance we may never see Golladay play with the Lions ever again, as he is a pending free agent this coming offseason.
Drew Brees – QB, NO (Ribs, Lung) IR
Brees is now eligible to return from IR, but is not going to be rushed back due to the success the team has had with Taysom Hill. There is a chance that Brees could miss the rest of the regular season to recover, as long as the Saints continue to win.
Daniel Jones – QB, NYG (Hamstring)
It is looking like there is a high chance that Jones could return to the field on Sunday in a highly anticipated matchup between the first and second QB drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray won the last matchup between the two, but Jones will look to bounce back from injury and lead the hot Giants to victory.
DJ Moore – WR, CAR (Ankle/COVID)
Moore’s ankle injury ended up not being serious, however, he is on the COVID list and is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Broncos.
Josh Jacobs – RB, LV (Ankle)
Jacobs is expected to return from a minor ankle injury this Sunday against the Colts.
D’Andre Swift – RB, DET (Concussion)
Swift recovered from a concussion, but was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a non COVID related illness. Swift is an extremely risky flex play this week, especially with the success Adrian Peterson has found in his absence that will likely cause them to split carries in the best case scenario.
Antonio Gibson – RB, WSH (Toe)
Gibson missed most of his matchup against the Steelers with a turf toe injury and is unlikely to play this Sunday against the 49ers.
James Conner – RB, PIT (COVID)
Conner was activated from the COVID reserve list on Wednesday and is expected to be the starting RB against the Bills on Sunday.
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