| |  | | Tuesday, December 14, 2021 | | | | Well, the Fantasy playoffs are here. Finally. In the interest of full disclosure, I made the playoffs in seven of 13 leagues this season, including an undefeated regular season in one of my longest-running leagues and a second-round berth in the Scott Fish Bowl -- no small feat, given that 1,920 teams were competing in that one. Seven out of 13 isn't quite as good as I was hoping for, but I've got quite a lot to keep playing for over the next three weeks, and I hope you can say the same for yourselves. | | And I hope I played some small part in your march toward the playoffs. That's the whole point of this thing. If you're still playing for something, we've got Jamey Eisenberg's top waiver-wire targets for Week 15 plus a first look at my rankings for each position plus the top-150 flex rankings. Those will be updated throughout the week, obviously, but at the bottom of today's newsletter you can see how I view things as the week opens up. | If your season is over, well I hope you'll still hang out anyways! Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking ahead to the 2022 offseason and looking back at the 2021 season, trying to figure out where things went wrong, what we got right, and how we can improve moving forward. To that end, I'd love to hear from you, my subscribers, so feel free to email me at Chris.Towers@ViacomCBS.com with your biggest hits, biggest misses, and other general thoughts or questions moving forward. I'll be including your questions and comments in upcoming newsletters, so use the subject line "FFT in review" to be included. | | | | And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: | - ➕Top Week 15 Waiver Wire Targets
- 📈Week 15 Rankings📉
| | | | |  | There's no one obvious must-have player on this week's list, but if you're looking for RB help, there are some intriguing options available. You can find Jamey's full breakdown of his top targets here, but here are the top options: | | Jamey Eisenberg's top targets | - Rashaad Penny, RB, SEA (27%) -- Penny seems like the obvious add for this week, as he seems like the Seahawks No. 1 RB moving forward. Obviously, his injury history is a potential hindrance, but Penny has given the Seahawks more of a spark than any of their other RB options this season, including Chris Carson before his injury. I'm not sure how much of a passing game role Penny will have, but he's an RB2 for Week 15 for me.
- Boston Scott, RB, PHI (43%) -- With questions looming around the availability of Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard, Scott might just find himself as the lead back for the Eagles against Washington. Or, he might be a total non-factor if Howard and Sanders are available. Hopefully, we'll get some clarity by Tuesday afternoon.
- K.J. Osborn, WR, MIN (39%) -- In the first game without Adam Thielen in Week 14, Osborn had 83 yards and a touchdown, and he could have had even more had he caught more than three of his nine targets. The Vikings run much of their passing game through their top two WR, and Osborn looks like he could be a viable starter in Thielen's absence.
- DeVante Parker, WR, MIA (61%) -- Parker has been neck and neck with Jaylen Waddle in target share this season, and while there's no question you'd rather use Waddle, Parker has at least 62 yards in each of his past three games and four of six overall, with at least four catches and seven targets in each game. And he gets the Jets in Week 15. Parker is a WR3 candidate this week.
- Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF (7%) -- Davis flashed big potential as a rookie, but he hasn't really had the opportunity to follow up on it. However, with Emmanuel Sanders likely out with a knee injury, Davis has a huge opportunity here. He played a season-high 83% of the snaps in Week 14 and should see a similar role in Week 15. Given his big-play abilities and red zone skills, Davis could emerge as a must-start option down the stretch if Sanders' absence lingers.
| | | | 📈Week 15 Rankings📉 |  | Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 15 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here: | | | | Quarterbacks | | Week 14 was the best week of QB play we've seen Week 7, as we saw an average of 17.15 Fantasy points from just passing production in six-points-per-pass-TD scoring per game. No other week in the previous six had been above 16.2 -- so that's not nothing. Of course, it also would have been the lowest number for any of the first seven weeks of the season, when quarterbacks averaged 18.5 points per game; in seven weeks since, that average is down to 15.5 points per game. | | It's been a strange phenomenon, and even with bye weeks coming to an end in Week 15, injuries threaten to lower the level of play around the league anyway. It's going to be very interesting to see how these trends play out over the final four weeks of the season -- and how they impact the QB position for 2022 -- but the reality is, as we head into the Fantasy playoffs, I'm not sure I really trust anyone outside of my top eight in the rankings -- and three of those QBs have injury questions we'll need answers to this week. | | Injuries, news, and notes | - Josh Allen has a foot injury -- It's not clear if it's a foot issue or a toe injury, but Allen was in a walking boot after Sunday's game, putting his availability for Week 15 in some question. The concern would be that, even if he does play, Allen's rushing production would be limited. Considering he's averaging 8.4 Fantasy points per game from his rushing over the past three weeks (6.0 for the season), that would be a problem.
- Aaron Rodgers ' toe remains an issue -- Rodger told reporters after Sunday's game that he had a "setback" with his lingering toe fracture. Surgery remains a last-ditch solution, but it's possible they opt for that solution after Rodgers' latest setback. Even surgery is not expected to be a multi-week issue, but it's obviously something you need to watch for Week 15 just in case they do decide to fix the issue now.
- Lamar Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury -- The Ravens have downplayed the injury since he left Sunday's game, so I've got him ranked, but you can't ignore the risk here. Even if he's healthy enough to play, will Jackson run like he normally does? Or can he pass well enough against a tough Packers defense to be worth starting anyway?
- Cam Newton will start, but PJ Walker will have a role to play -- Newton played 75% of the snaps in Week 14, and I would expect much the same this week based on what we've heard. That makes Newton impossible to trust for the Fantasy playoffs.
| | Rankings | - Josh Allen vs. CAR
- Kyler Murray @DET
- Tom Brady vs. NO
- Jalen Hurts vs. WAS
- Justin Herbert vs. KC
- Aaron Rodgers @BAL
- Lamar Jackson vs. GB
- Dak Prescott @NYG
- Patrick Mahomes @LAC
- Tua Tagovailoa vs. NYJ
- Matthew Stafford vs. SEA
- Russell Wilson @LAR
- Taysom Hill @TB
- Justin Fields vs. MIN
- Jimmy Garoppolo vs. ATL
- Kirk Cousins @CHI
- Ben Roethlisberger vs. TEN
- Ryan Tannehill @PIT
- Joe Burrow @DEN
- Teddy Bridgewater vs. CIN
- Derek Carr @CLE
- Carson Wentz vs. NE
- Baker Mayfield vs. LV
- Cam Newton @BUF
| | Running backs | | Running back is probably the deepest position in Fantasy at this point, but there are also a lot of moving pieces at this point. Heck, we don't even know who will be available for the Dolphins -- they don't currently have a running back on their active roster after Myles Gaskin, Phillip Lindsay, and Salvon Ahmed are all on the COVID/reserve list. And there are real questions about how the running back situations in Los Angeles (both teams!), New England, Buffalo, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, and San Francisco will play out as of Monday. You're probably not going to be able to just set it and forget it this week. There are too many moving parts. | | Injuries, news, and notes | - Austin Ekeler (ankle) did not practice Monday -- The Chargers have publicly expressed optimism about Ekeler's chances, but the quick turnaround for their Thursday game against the Chiefs may be too much to overcome. Obviously, we'll be keeping a close eye on this over the next few days.
- Kareem Hunt (ankle) is unlikely to play this week -- That's what Kevin Stefanski told us Monday. Nick Chubb figures to see most of the RB touches, but D'Ernest Johnson could see an increased role for Saturday's game against the Raiders and is a must-add handcuff as he is now just one injury away from a potential league-winning role.
- Malcom Brown (quad, IR) could practice this week -- Brown has been out since Week 7 with this injury, but with the Dolphins COVID issues, he could have a big role to play against the Jets this week -- which would be enough to make him at least a low-end RB2. Lamar Miller is also working out for the Dolphins and could be part of their solution at the position if Gaskin, Lindsay, and Ahmed aren't able to play.
- Alexander Mattison tested positive for COVID -- Mattison was placed on the COVID list Monday, and with reports indicating he is not vaccinated, Mattison will miss Monday's game against the Bears at least due to isolation protocols.
- Michael Carter (ankle) is expected to return this week -- Carter should return from IR and resume his role as the team's lead back, and he's probably the only player on the Jets worth using for Fantasy. However, I would probably look at him as more of an RB2 at this point.
| | Rankings | - Jonathan Taylor vs. NE
- Dalvin Cook @CHI
- Leonard Fournette vs. NO
- Alvin Kamara @TB
- Najee Harris vs. TEN
- Joe Mixon @DEN
- Cordarrelle Patterson @SF
- Nick Chubb vs. LV
- Josh Jacobs @CLE
- Sony Michel vs. SEA
- Antonio Gibson @PHI
- Ezekiel Elliott @NYG
- David Montgomery vs. MIN
- Saquon Barkley vs. DAL
- Devonta Freeman vs. GB
- James Conner @DET
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire @LAC
- Javonte Williams vs. CIN
- Aaron Jones @BAL
- AJ Dillon @BAL
- Melvin Gordon vs. CIN
- Rashaad Penny @LAR
- Miles Sanders vs. WAS
- Michael Carter @MIA
- James Robinson vs. HOU
- D'Onta Foreman @PIT
- Chase Edmonds @DET
- Chuba Hubbard @BUF
- Jeff Wilson vs. ATL
- Damien Harris @IND
- Justin Jackson vs. KC
- Rhamondre Stevenson @IND
- Ty Johnson @MIA
- Godwin Igwebuike vs. ARI
- Ameer Abdullah @BUF
- Craig Reynolds vs. ARI
- Rex Burkhead @JAX
- Mike Davis @SF
- Devin Singletary vs. CAR
- Jeremy McNichols @PIT
- Nyheim Hines vs. NE
- Joshua Kelley vs. KC
- Zack Moss vs. CAR
- Corey Clement @NYG
- Darrel Williams @LAC
- Kenneth Gainwell vs. WAS
- Brandon Bolden @IND
- Matt Breida vs. CAR
| | Wide receivers | | If you're inclined to be optimistic about DeAndre Hopkins value moving forward, as I am, Monday's game against the Rams was actually pretty positive. Sure, he had just five catches for 54 yards, which isn't great, but he also had 12 targets in the game, his high for the season. The Cardinals were chasing points for nearly the entire game and ended up passing 49 times, but with their backs against the wall, they leaned heavily on Hopkins -- something I've thought they might do when the schedule toughened up. Hopkins wasn't great Monday, but I'll still take that game as a positive. He's still a solid WR2 at a position with surprisingly few reliable options right now. | | Injuries, news, and notes | - D.J. Moore (hamstring) is day-to-day -- That's about as vague as you can get. Moore did play through the injury Sunday, but who knows how he'll respond in the coming days. For now, consider him a risky start for Week 15 against the Bills, and make sure you've got some alternatives ready to go in case he can't play.
- Mike Williams (heel) didn't practice Monday -- Technically, none of the Chargers practiced as Monday was just a walkthrough day, but this is still something to be concerned about right now. Williams is more of a WR3 for Fantasy with Keenan Allen expected to return from the COVID list in time for Thursday's game against the Chiefs, a surprisingly tough matchup for outside WR.
- Kadarius Toney, Josh Gordon, Quez Watkins, and Cedrick Wilson were added to the COVID list -- That puts each player's availability for Week 15 in doubt.
- Emmanuel Sanders (knee) is likely out for Week 15 -- That means Gabriel Davis is likely to see an increased role this week, and he's worth adding in all formats as a big-play option for the Bills.
- Elijah Moore (quad) is expected to return this season -- Robert Saleh told reporters he expects Moore to be back for Week 17, so don't just drop him unless you really need the roster spot.
- Will Fuller (finger) is not expected to practice this week -- Fuller's bad luck has cropped back up this season, and at this point, I'm not sure you can expect him to return and make an impact if you've been stashing him.
| | Rankings | - Davante Adams @BAL
- Justin Jefferson @CHI
- Cooper Kupp vs. SEA
- Stefon Diggs vs. CAR
- Keenan Allen vs. KC
- Chris Godwin vs. NO
- Diontae Johnson vs. TEN
- Tyreek Hill @LAC
- Tyler Lockett @LAR
- Mike Evans vs. NO
- CeeDee Lamb @NYG
- Jaylen Waddle vs. NYJ
- Deebo Samuel vs. ATL
- Ja'Marr Chase @DEN
- Tee Higgins @DEN
- Hunter Renfrow @CLE
- Amari Cooper @NYG
- D.K. Metcalf @LAR
- Brandin Cooks @JAX
- D.J. Moore @BUF
- DeAndre Hopkins @DET
- Michael Pittman vs. NE
- Jarvis Landry vs. LV
- Cole Beasley vs. CAR
- Marquise Brown vs. GB
- Brandon Aiyuk vs. ATL
- DeVonta Smith vs. WAS
- DeVante Parker vs. NYJ
- Odell Beckham vs. SEA
- Van Jefferson vs. SEA
- Russell Gage @SF
- Chase Claypool vs. TEN
- K.J. Osborn @CHI
- Julio Jones @PIT
- Mike Williams vs. KC
- Jerry Jeudy vs. CIN
- Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. ARI
- Rashod Bateman vs. GB
- Michael Gallup @NYG
- Sterling Shepard vs. DAL
- Jakobi Meyers @IND
- Laviska Shenault vs. HOU
- Marvin Jones vs. HOU
- Darnell Mooney vs. MIN
- Kenny Golladay vs. DAL
- Allen Robinson vs. MIN
- Gabriel Davis vs. CAR
- Jamison Crowder @MIA
| | Tight ends | | I'm not sure when the last time Travis Kelce wasn't the default No. 1 tight end outside of his bye weeks, but he's not my top pick this week. Don't overreact, because he's still No. 2, so you're still starting him, but he's been downright mediocre recently, averaging 3.7 catches for 42.7 yards over his past three games. Of course, he had 119 yards on eight catches the week before that stretch, which is why you don't want to sit him. However, with the way Mark Andrews is playing, he deserves to be ahead, and you can make a strong case for George Kittle ahead of him too. | | Injuries, news, and notes | - Tyler Higbee was placed on the COVID list -- This happened just a few hours before kickoff Monday and led to a flurry of roster moves to add Kendall Blanton, who had just two catches for 29 yards. Higbee is a fringe starter as is, so Blanton can be safely ignored.
- T.J. Hockenson (hand) is day to day -- The Lions hope they can have Hockenson back this week, but we'll let him get through the week in practice before saying whether you should plan on having him available. For now, make sure you have an alternative plan.
- Jared Cook (quad) did not practice -- That's per the team's estimated participation report, at least. We'll see what his practice status is Tuesday and Wednesday, but Cook would be a viable low-end starter if healthy.
| | Rankings | - Mark Andrews vs. GB
- Travis Kelce @LAC
- George Kittle vs. ATL
- Rob Gronkowski vs. NO
- Dallas Goedert vs. WAS
- Kyle Pitts @SF
- Austin Hooper vs. LV
- Mike Gesicki vs. NYJ
- Ricky Seals-Jones @PHI
- Dalton Schultz @NYG
- Dawson Knox vs. CAR
- Noah Fant vs. CIN
- Jared Cook vs. KC
- Zach Ertz @DET
- Foster Moreau @CLE
- James O'Shaughnessy vs. HOU
- Hunter Henry @IND
- Cole Kmet vs. MIN
- Gerald Everett @LAR
- Evan Engram vs. DAL
- C.J. Uzomah @DEN
- Geoff Swaim @PIT
| | Top-150 Flex Rankings | | | | |  | |  | | | | | Destination Porto: The Unimaginable Journey provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at journalist Guillem Balague's months-long travels across Europe amid a devastating pandemic as he covers the chase for the greatest annual prize in sports: The UEFA Champions League Trophy. Stream Now
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