Fantasy Football: Championship Week – Winning!!

This is it, the reason we all join these leagues. If you made it this far, Congrats! You have the chance for bragging rights and hopefully a little cash for Xmas shopping. No reason to hold back now. It’s go big or go home.

Week 15 Review

• It’s Lamar’s World – Yeah, if you had Lamar, you ignored his injury status and just rode him to the title game – 212 yards thru the air, 86 on the ground and 5 TDs with 0 TOs. That’s the Fantasy MVP!!
• In Jameis We Trust – QB Jameis Winston has been an enigma, but on Sunday, he lit it up for 458 yards, 4 TDs and only 1 INT. He may not have his top 2 WRs for the title game, but he got you there.
• Hate the Drake – Of course, everyone started RB Kenyan Drake of AZ, right? If you did, more power to you. He went off with 23 touches for 146 yards and yep, 4 TDs!! What does he think he’s Christian McCaffery!?!
• Finally A Zeke Day – RB Ezekiel Elliot finally got his against the Rams to the tone of 27 touches for 160 yards and 2 TDs (his back up Tony Pollard also racked up 143 and a TD, too). Zeke likely got you in the title game.
• Colonel Sanders in Philly – After a young upstart showed out last week, the real RB rookie in Philly, Miles Sanders had himself a game – 25 touches for 172 yards and 2 TDs!!
• Julio Delivered – With Ridley out, Ryan threw to WR Julio Jones 20 times!! They connected for 13 catches, 134 yards and 2 TDs. Finally!
• Vikings DST Rolled – Well, Rivers gave you aplenty, as the Chargers turned the ball over 7 times, plus 3 Sacks and a DST TD. The Vikes alone could have won you your week.

Championship Week Advice

It’s simple. Don’t hold back. Play your studs, but don’t be afraid to swing for the fences. If you have injuries, like WR Chris Godwin, pick up a guy who could score big.

My little Championship story, I won my first title in a league I could never get past the semis in for years. In the title game, I had my TE (Fred Davis) suspended, my K (Can’t Remember injured), and during the actual game, my QB Tony Romo was knocked out on the first series. How did I win? I picked up a young guy named, Jared Cook who had a 70 yard TD on the first series, and finished with like 125 yards receiving. I picked up K Graham Gano who scored 18 points kicking 6 FGs. Plus, I played a guy named Kahlil Bell at RB, the back up to Matt Forte for the Bears who went out and scored 2 TDs. Those guys along with my usual dudes – Ray Rice (before the punch video), WRs Miles Austin and Roddy White, delivered enough points to win rather easily with that zero from Romo.

So, anything can happen. Just start your studs and play for upside. It’s a one week season.

Week 16 – 4 x 4 (Last Waivers, Good Match Ups, Caution Players and DSTs to Play)

Waiver Guys

• Mike Boone, RB, Vikings – With Dalvin Cook hurt and status unknown, Boone stepped in nicely on Sunday. He recorded 13 carries for 56 yards and 2 TDs. Plus, he had a little wiggle. Grab him.
• Breshad Perriman, WR, Bucs – Hard to ignore the numbers Jameis Winston is putting up, and his top 2 targets are down with hamstring injuries. Perriman was a disappointment most of his career, but he has heated up catching 5 passes for 113 yards and 3 TDs last week. Why not ride him again against HOU?
• Mike Williams, WR, Chargers – Might not be on waivers, but Williams is finally finding the end zone. His yardage totals have been solid, but with 10 TDs last year, now he has scored in back to back weeks. He could do it again against OAK.
• Jonnu Smith, TE, Titans – Higbee is still a priority, but if you are in a pinch, Smith has looked good in recent weeks. The Titans tangle with the Saints, and they will need to keep up. I like Smith to get some targets.

Last Week: Drew Lock – sucked, nothing to see here; Deandre Washington – well, Jacobs played; Darius Slayton – came through sorta with 2 catches for 31 yards and a TD; and Tyler Higbee – 12 catches for 111 yards – that’s what we wanted.

Good Match Ups

• Drew Locke, QB, Broncos – The Lions D is atrocious, and I like the rookie to bounce back at home after a rough outing in KC. Locke should light up this poor D.
• Mark Ingram, RB, Ravens – I know, duh, but Ingram will get plenty of chances to run all over the Browns who will give up. Plus, I think the Ravens have a little payback for their earlier loss to the Brownies earlier this year.
• Will Fuller, WR, Texans – Stills got the TDs last week, but the Bucs give up the long ball. Plus, the Texans are going to have to keep up the scoring to match the Bucs’ fire power. This is a boom Fuller game.
• Mike Williams, WR, Chargers – Already mentioned him as a pick up, but get him in the lineup. Rivers is a total bum, but the Raiders are reeling and can’t stop anyone.

Last Week: Derek Carr – was uninspiring with 267 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs; Raheem Mostert – 15 touches for 59 yards and a TD; Chris Carson – 25 touches for 137 yards and 2 TDs – nice; Terry McLaurin – great game – 5 catches for 130 yards and a TD.

Caution Players

• Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns – You probably aren’t starting this guy, but I’d stay away from all Browns in this Ravens’ match up. They will be out for blood, and can lock up the 1 Seed with a win here.
• Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots – He hasn’t produced as the Pats are sliding back to the pack. I would expect Tredavious White to shadow Edelman, and that means like zero production.
• Kenny Golladay, WR, Lions – Hard to sit this man, but the Broncos are very good against the pass. I think the Lions are going to struggle in the high altitude and mail this one in.
• Darren Waller, TE, Raiders – With S Derwin James back, the Chargers D is really good, and extremely strong against the TE. Don’t let the Chargers loss last week fool you, that was due to 7 TOs by the offense. Waller is going to have a long day.

Last Week: Kirk Cousins – 207 yards passing, 1 TD and an INT with 14 yards rushing – not great, but not bad either; Aaron Jones – he got 2 TDs and 51 yards, so bad call by me; Devin Singletary – better than expected with 23 touches, 89 yards and a Fumble; Amari Cooper – 1 catch for 19 yards – DAL didn’t need him.

DSTs

• Broncos – I’ve already made reference to the DEN-DET game twice, so why not again. The Broncos are going to dismantle this Lions team, and that means a rough day for QB Blough.
• Chargers – Like a broken record, I question OAK’s heart after that pathetic loss at home to end the Oakland Coliseum tenure. The Chargers aren’t playing for anything, but they will make it a long day for Carr and the gang.
• Ravens – Another duh, but the Ravens will destroy the Browns on Sunday, and the D will lead the way.
• Redskins – The Skins actually aren’t that bad on D. In fact, they have been in games when they don’t allow fumble DST scores. The Giants get a chance to keep playing decent, but I think Eli will get sacked plenty in WAS.

Last Week: Lions – whoops, they stink and Jameis was good; Seahawks – really let up late giving up 2 TDs for 24 points, 1 sack and 3 TOs; Ravens – 21 points, 1 sack and 2 TOs – expected more; Raiders – looked great through 3 quarters then, 20 points, 2 sacks and 0 TOs – ugh.

Alright that marks the last Fantasy Football post of the year. Good luck to all of you playing for the title. We will get back at this in July again to get ready for next year.

Wegs