So, the season goes so fast.  It feels like just yesterday that I was writing about draft strategies.  Here we are with the last game with teams on the brink of the playoffs and winning cash.

Week 12 Review

  • Browns Are Good? – So, I guess Coach Hue Jackson was keeping this offense down because since the firing, the Browns are rolling.  QB Baker Mayfield had his best game as a pro with 4 TD passes and very efficient going 22 of 25.  RB Nick Chubb is delivering for owners across America turning 31 touches into 128 yards and 2 TDs.  Even TE David Njoku came through with 5 catches for 63 and a Touch.  Browns have won 2 straight and scored 28 and 35 points with Texans on the docket.
  • Workhorse RBs
    • Zeke Elliott for Cowboys has been ballin’.  He had another game with 31 touches for 143 yards and a TD.  That’s another game with 30 touches and he is delivering.
    • Leonard Fournette was having a day before getting ejected for fighting for Jags – 21 touches for 108 yards and 2 TDs (thru 3 Quarters)
    • Saquon Barkley for the Giants dominated in the 1st half, but they went away from him after 20 touches for 142 yards and 2 scores….
    • Christian McCaffery for Panthers got the rock and had a career game – 28 touches 237 yards and 2 TDs
  • Luck Is Doing It – Luck has now thrown for multiple TD passes in every game this year.  He has 32 TD passes in 11 games.  On Sunday, 343 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs (in like a minute span).  He is back and using everyone on the field.
  • Good JuJu – WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and not AB is the leading WR for the Steelers (Catches and Yards).  After his 13 catch, 189 yards and a TD on Sunday at Denver, he is over 1000 yards.
  • Bench Backs Rock, Too
    • Gus Edwards of Ravens gets over 100 yards for a 2nd straight game (with Lamar Jackson at QB) –  23 carries for 118 yards – solid workload and production
    • Josh Adams of Eagles is now the lead guy with 22 carries for 84 and a TD.
  • Watson is Healthy – MNF showcased Houston’s QB, Deshaun Watson, who looks good now.  He was weaving and making plays all night against the Titans’ defense.  Watson threw for 210 yards and 2 TDs plus 70 yards on the ground and a TD.  Watch out for him down the stretch with his soft schedule.
  • Injuries:  RB, Alex Collins was inactive with foot injury, along with QB Joe Flacco with hip injury, Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers is out a few weeks with knee sprain, Carolina – WR Devin Funchess was inactive with back, Bears – QB Mitch Trubisky is questionable with shoulder injury, Bengals – WR AJ Green didn’t play and is questionable with foot, Cowboys – RB Zeke is on injury report with hip injury but no status, OT Tyron Smith is questionable with neck, Broncos TE Jeff Heurmann is questionable with back injury, Lions – WR Marvin Jones is now on IR with a knee injury, RB Kerryon Johnson is likely out with knee injury, Packers – OT David Bakhtiari is on report with knee injury with no status, Colts’ C Ryan Kelly missed the game with MCL injury and will likely miss Texans game, RB Marlon Mack is in concussion protocol, and TE Jack Doyle is on IR with a “torso” injury, Dolphins – RB Kenyan Drake is questionable with shoulder injury, Saints – WR Tre’Quan Smith is questionable with foot injury, Giants – TE Even Engram is questionable with hamstring, Vikings – CB Xavier Rhodes is questionable with hamstring, 49ers – LB Reuben Foster is going to be released from the team for disciplinary reasons, Bucs – WR Desean Jackson on report with thumb injury with no status.

Regular Season Finale – Last Chance

We’ve been playing of 12 weeks.  Hopefully, you are cemented in your spot in the playoffs, but most of us need to win to get in.  Or there is seeding on the line.  Whether you are in or out, there are a few rules to remember to be a good league mate.

  • Always Set Your Lineup – No matter if you are last or first, you have to set your best lineup.  Why?  Well, the issue with not caring anymore at the end of the season is that in most leagues there is a balanced schedule.  So, if you mail it in Week 13, then the teams you played when you were trying are at a disadvantage.  That is why I like 2 rules I have in some leagues.
    • Weekly Total Bonuses –  If you have the high point total for any week of the year, then you get cash.  That will incent everyone in the league to put their best lineup in, since they can win money in the final week, even if they don’t make the playoffs.
    • Punishment For Last Place – Tanking should not be encouraged, but you can discourage it.  In one league, there is a cash penalty for last place.  That is incentive to keep playing hard.  In my other league, you get a new name given to you by the league – in our case it changes weekly.  Public shaming always works.
  • No Trades if You Are Eliminated – If you can’t make the playoffs, then don’t make trades.  The exception would be in Dynasty or Keeper leagues.  If it is a re-draft league, then don’t be that guy who is trading his best players to a contender for nothing (yes, I’m talking to you league mates).  We had this situation in our league last week.  In general, I’m for all trades, but this trade was so one-sided – WR Antonio Brown for RB Peyton Barber and WR Marvin Jones (who was injured).  Look, collusion sucks, but even if it isn’t some sort of collusion, make the trade even.  That’s what the Trade Chart on CBS is for.
  •  Every Point Matters – It is important to score as many points as you can.  Most leagues have points as the tie breaker for seeding.  That is the best way.  Plus, in both my leagues, if you are the high point scorer in the regular season, then you get a cash bonus.  To tell you how crazy Fantasy can be, I’m the top scorer in both leagues – 9-3 in one league in 1st place and 6-6 in the other which if I lose in Week 13, then I’m out of the playoffs.  Thankfully, I will get my money back in the 2nd league with points total.

Who Can You Trust? Every week, you should be figuring out who you can trust.  We talked early in the season about your process.  Stick to it, because the Playoffs do not change your approach.  You still need to use the Waiver Wire, Check Match Ups and Start Your Studs.  Week 13 should give you another data point to know who you can trust when the money is on the line.

Week 13 4 x 4

Waiver Wire Pick Ups (60% of Less)

  • Justin Jackson, RB, Chargers (0% Owned) – That’s right, who?  Jackson got 7 carries on Sunday and will likely slide into the Melvin Gordon role over Ekeler (who is undersized).  Check reports, but a must add.
  • Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts (43% Owned) – If Mack misses the game at Jacksonville, then I really like Hines.  He is a good pass catcher and very quick.  He could break a play against the angered Jags.
  • David Moore, WR, Seahawks (45% Owned) – He is a bit up and down, but he is getting the targets of late – 8 last week and 5 this week.  He is young and can get deep.
  • Matt LaCosse, TE, Denver (0% Owned) – With the Heurmann injury, LaCosse stepped in for a TD late.  I like him at Cincy this week.

Last Week:  Jameis Winston threw for 312 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs plus 24 yards on the ground. Josh Adams was very good, as noted above – 22 carries for 84 yards and a TD.  Gus Edwards was good again with over 110 yards for 2 straight.  DJ Moore was solid with 8 for 91 yards (2nd in targets).

Trade Targets (No New Names)

Last Week:  Joe Mixon – 21 touches for 155 yards (will get the rock).  Sony Michel 23 touches for 145 and a TD (that’s right).  Brandin Cooks on bye, but he will get a lot of targets.  David Njoku, as noted above got it done – 5 for 63 and a TD.

Sneaky Starts (Not Typical Guys)

  • Case Keenum, QB, Broncos (FD $6900) – The Bengals defense is really bad.  They are giving up big numbers every single week.  You can probably start all your Broncos, but Keenum should feast.
  • Malcolm Brown, RB, Rams (FD $4800) – Super sneaky start here, but Gurley was a bit banged up from last MNF, and I expect the Rams to dominate the Lions.  Gurley could be pulled to rest late and let Brown ice the game.  Definitely more of a DFS play.
  • DJ Moore, WR, Panthers (FD $6400) – I’d go back to the well here.  The Bucs are really poor against the pass, and the Panthers are in a must win situation.  Moore should get deep at least once in this one.
  • Trey Burton, TE, Bears (FD $5800) – Probably already a starter for you, but he is coming off a terrible game on Thanksgiving.  He should bounce back, as the Giants are 16th against TEs, however I like him especially if Daniel starts again.

Last Week: Lamar Jackson was good – 178 yards passing and 71 yards rushing, 2 total TDs, 2 INTs.  Marlon Mack – 17 touches for 96 yards, just ok.  Tevin Coleman was not good – 11 touches for 23 yards and a TD (Saints D).  Doug Baldwin is not their top guy anymore – 5 catches for 39 yards – he’s not a starter ever now.

Defensive Match Ups

  • Seahawks (FD $4600) – At home against the 49ers looks like a bloodbath.  The Seahawks have been playing well and should control both sides of the ball.
  • Eagles (FD $4100) – The Redskins played decently at Dallas, but the Eagles are desperate on MNF.  That offensive line for Washington is really banged up and I expect Colt McCoy to struggle.
  • Titans (FD $4400) – The Titans have been lit up in back to back road tilts against the Colts and Texans, but the Jets are another animal.  The Jets may be able to run the ball, but I see multiple turnovers.
  • Packers (FD $4400) – The Cardinals traveling to Lambeau Field and Rodgers needs to back up his big words.  I think the Pack Defense will step up against the worst offense in the NFL.

Last Week:  Texans 17 points, 6 sacks and 1 FF. Colts were not great allowing 24 points, 1 sack and 1 FF.  Cowboys did their thing – 23 points allowed, but 3 sacks and 3 INTs.  Chargers – 10 points allowed, 2 sacks and 1 INT.

Good luck and get this win to get in.

Wegs

 

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.