Divisional Round Fantasy

always the best weekend of football. It is the best weekend of football, you know, because sure we had more games last week, but think of the quality of games. They were terrible by and large, pretty much mostly descript, especially since I thought San Francisco would win. If you heard this podcast last week, heard me talking, I had that game matchup, and I was open about him, like like I think the underdog is gonna win this one, and I don't think that's the case this week for

San Francisco. But we'll do Yeah, we'll talk about that game in a minute. Let's just we'll just let's do the Saturday games in order, all right, beginning with the first game, which I believe, by the way I'm ball start time on that game. I believe the start time is an hour later than normal. I think it's two o'clock Eastern, one o'clock Central, which is weird. I thought it was a little later. I could be wrong. You know, Sunday, Sunday's got the oddball start time. Yeah, I guess Saturday's

all our odd ball start times. But alright, so let's lose. There's no Monday night game this Yeah, no kidding, that was weird. Okay, let's talk Cincinnati Tennessee. I think a lot of people are focused on the Tennessee running back situation, which we'll get to. Well, let's start with Joe Mixon in the running game for the Bengals. Yeah. I'm not like in Mixon's prospects too much in this one. I'm just gonna give him a C grade for this game.

Mired in a bit of a slump, Joe Mixing is just two touchdowns over his last six games, averaging just three three yards per carry during that span. He's been a bit banged up. No excuse though, but no injury designation for Joe here. But he's really just a volume based play in this matchup. Tennessee has surrendered the fourth

fewest rushing touchdowns to running backs all year, just nine. Uh. The Titans have also allowed the second fewest rushing yards to the position, just six more yards in the Bucks the vaunted Bucks rushed defense, So not a great matchup for Joe. Opposing running backs have averaged nearly five catches per game against the Titans, and Mixing has been very active in the passing game recently totally nineteen targets over the last three So whatever format you're using or playing in,

Joe Mixon certainly viable. But uh, this is more about the passing game really. I'm so I'm sticking with c I'm sinking if he's gonna get five receptions for you know, thirty yards, I'm already at eight points. And yeah, if he gets that, he'll be closer to bat range. He's gotta be upside, for sure. He's got a upside in most case is but I'm being a little conservative with the CE. Not gonna be conservative with Jamar Chase though. Uh. He gets an a easy, a monster game against the

Raiders last week despite not scoring a touchdown. Good chance he scores this week weekend, though, Titans are one of five teams to surrender at least twenty touchdowns to wide receivers. They've also yielded the most targets to the position, which has resulted in the second most catches and yards allowed. So love Jamaar Chase. He gets the A and Tee Higgins gonna give him a B in a homecoming game. I forget the name of the city, but he hails

somewhere from Tennessee, so he returns home. I think Haggins. I think Higgins has a better game than than Jamar Chase. Yeah, he was very quiet last week against the Raiders, but he drew more coverage from their top corner Casey Hayward than Jamar Chased it, which was kind of odd. So I'm with you, like, if you're playing in big GPP tournaments, people are gonna gravitate towards Jamar Cha. It's more likely

he's more expensive. But I like the contrarian angle with Higgins coming off the quiet game to give him a B. But I do think he could outproduce Chason this one. Like you said, uh, Tyler Boyd another starting grade for him. He gets a C. Scored last weekend, now has touchdowns in four straight games. He's also caught at least five

balls in each Uh. The Titans are more vulnerable to the long ball long pass, but that's not really Boyd's m O. But UH still like him with the c Unlike last week, I don't like c j Uzoma got him on the bench because the Titans have allowed the second fewest tight end touchdowns on the season, just three opposing tight ends average a meager four catches thirty six

yards against Tennessee this season. I look elsewhere at tight end UH this week, and I'd admit omit uzi ouzy sorry for many Cincinnati stacks you might be contemplating on Saturday. And lastly, Joe Burrow, though he gets an a, Tennessee was top ten and the most fantasy points surrendered to quarterbacks. UH, no surprise considering the Titans have yielded the third most pass attempts on the season. I also didn't mention that starting cornerback General's Jenkins for Tennessee is very iffy to

play with the ankle injury. It sounds like he'll probably go, but I still you wonder about the mobility on the ankle injury. Canny Kenny cut as hard to keep up can is he gonna give up a lot of cushion. Those are all good question marks about Jenkins. Yeah, he'll

be far from one percent. And now speaking of one or how close to one percent one might be, let's go to the Tennessee side and Derrick Henry, who uh says his foot feels just like he did before, despite a steel plate that's now in there, temporarily in there, but it's in there right now. Uh as if it's recording. He has not been officially activated, but trending that way.

His practice participate participation in practice has trended up throughout the week, expected to handle a near full workload against the Bengals who are banged up on their D line. Do we know that though, I mean, you know, it's all speculation. But I mean, if he's playing, he's playing. I mean, really, I don't. I mean, I don't know that that's the case on a foot injury, first game back.

I mean, he'll play, But is he gonna be the Derrick Henry of old getting twenty five carries almost certainly not. Reports out of practice are that he looks spride mobile like the old Derrick Henry, the old young Derrick Henry. Look, you know, after what cam Akers did all bets are off right. I mean, you know, maybe he's the work horse back and totally different injury, but still, I'm sure they'll numb that foot up nice and good too. Probably. Um.

You know. The other thing is dor Foreman hasn't been bad. You know, they don't need Henry to have twenty six carries to win the game. No, they don't. And uh, the Bengals are banged up on their D line. Knows tackle Josh too too tupo tupo t u p o you yea, I should I should have looked up the pronunciation before the podcast, and uh, defensive tackle Larry ogun job are both nursing injuries. Ogun Joby didn't play last

week and we not play this week. And Josh Jacobs had eighty three rushing yards and just thirteen carries last week. He looked great. The game script kind of flipped on Jacobs. He could had a much bigger day and Henry could too if he handles sixty seventy percent of the carries, which I kind of expect him to do. So for that reason, I got Dante Foreman on the bench if Henry's activated. He just can't trust the workload for him. Even though if it's a split split workload, I just can't.

I can't go the way of downtep form and I got him on the bench, but I will grow. I've I would have a C grade on form and based on him getting somewhere between low end thirty percent of the work high end eighty percent of the work. I mean, there's a there's still a very real scenario where Derrick Henry gets where. They're very careful with Derrick Henry, especially if they're head early and they don't run him hard in this game. I feel like they wouldn't be that

careful with Henry if they did. They got to anticipate they're gonna win this game the Titans, so they wouldn't want to have a major setback for Henry and especially for the rest of his career. Okay, but that's why I'm saying you go easy on Henry. Well, if Foreman was more of a pass catcher, I I'd be with you on the sea. What Drea it is of you there? I think I am throwing a c dart though on

Dontrell Hilliard. Really just like if you're playing in larger uh DFS GPP tournaments, uh dirt cheap, no one's gonna use them. The Bengals have allowed the fifth most catches the running backs. Last week, Raiders backs total five catches against the Bengals. So if you're looking for a contrarian angle, UH, Dontrell Hilliard is your guy. UH, quickly over to the passing game and A J. Brown will start with him.

A pretty neutral matchup for the wide receivers. They've averaged just thirteen catches, one fifty six yards and zero point nine touchdowns against the Bengals this year. That said, since he has surrendered a touchdown to the position in five straight games, including last week to A Jones. Uh. The Raiders wide receivers did total seven team catches for a hundred and eighty six yards eighty six yards, which is higher than that four mentioned per game average. So an

easy b for A J. Brown. And I'll give a seat to Julio Jones arguably the healthiest he's been since Week one. Just one touchdown this season, but he is near full health. He did see nine targets in Week eight, team caught five of them for fifty eight yards and a touchdown. UH. A neutral matchup again, but I think Julio sees at least seven targets in this one, so I like him with the sea and I said bench

c j Uzoma. If you're looking for a tight end in this game, it's Anthony Firkser throwing another C dart seven. Jeff Swain had taken the job from him essentially, but over the last two regular season games, Brooks are out targeted Swain seven targets caught, all seven of them scored in both games. In weeks seventeen and eighteen, the Bengals were top five in the most catches, yards and touchdowns surrendered to tight ends last week, since he yielded twelve

targets sit Darren Waller he caught seven. Foster Moreau also saw three targets, so tight ends heavily involved against the Bengal So I'm gonna give a Rooks are the c dart And lastly, Ryan Tannehill would be for him. He's basically played four games this year with A. J. Brown, Julio Jones, and Derrick Henry all healthy in the lineup, so I'm optimistic he can produce here the Bengals that

allow the six most passing yards of this season. Tannehill was also second in rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks, was seven, behind only Jalen Hurt. So Tannehill could have a big game in this one. He could sort of went the bed, but I think he. I think it's gonna be a great game to watch. I think it's gonna be It's gonna be fun. Might be the best game of the weekend. The You know, obviously Tennessee would love to do their formula, which is grinding out games on the ground, and they

can do that with two different backs. And the Bengals want to go to their strength and that's passing the ball, and you know, those two things can be at odds with each other. It can be, it can create big points. Who knows, this could be that game could be a ton of fun, a couple of different I'm always a little wary of the UH one seed. You know that they're cold and the Bengals are coming in hot. You know they're on a roll. So see what happens. Just

go takes on green Bay. These teams met in Week three. It was a narrow two point win for green Bay. In my opinion, San Francisco has played gallantly down the stretch. They've won five of the last six to get themselves back into the playoffs, and the only loss they had was by three points to the a f c's at number one seed Tennessee. That includes back to back road playoff wins. A week A teen was effectively a playoff win to get into the playoffs against the Rams, and

they had the road win last week. Now on a short week, Brian, they're back on the road to travel again. They've been on the road six of the last eight games, and I just worried the Niners don't have any juice left, you know. They they they they staggered to the victory line last week and collapse, collapse. I'm just I'm nervous about this game. The kickoff temperature is currently forecast to be ten degrees. They couldn't give them the afternoon game.

And I've seen videos of practice and they're in shorts and like you gotta crank up the a C to like you gotta go finally the biggest like a meat locker you can find practice in there, because yeah, they they're in for a cold one. My understanding of what I've just seen go by my my Twitter account is Jimmy Garoppolo has never started a game below freezing ever history of life. Yeah, he had some cold games in

New England, but he was jacket exactly. So I'm you're gonna hear some more suppressed grades for Niners than last week when I thought they were going to upset the Cowboys. Let's start with Let's start with Eliza Mitchell. Over the past six games, he's averaging twenty six carries a game six and his volume is not reliant on game script. You talked about this last week. Even in losses, he gets plenty of carries. When they're losing, he gets plenty

of cares um. And what I love about him is even if the Packers roll, Mitchell's going to get his carries. And if Garoppolo's injuries are a problem, he's got thumb and shoulder injuries. The running game is going to be that much more emphasized against Green Bay Backs with at least seventeen carries, and again, he's averaging twenty six backs with the least seventeen carries are averaging two yards and almost five yards per carry. It's amazing he's averaging that

many carries with Debo right there. Debo last week took a career high ten snaps and Mitchell and twenty seven carries unbelievable. So let's go to debo. Mitchell, by the way, a great debo, A grade H A candidate for the best sleeper in last year's draft, with an average draft position of the seventh round. Quiet in the first game

just five catches, fifty two scoreless yards. Superstar cornerback Jr. Alexander's expected to return from this game, but he hasn't played since September, and we're gonna see a diminished snap count for Alexander in this one. Um Samuel getting those ten carries last week, maybe that carries over here and he gets he continues to get double digit carries, but that's a bit of an outlier. He's probably more likely

to have five carries. But still add in his receiving and the rushing and how effective and dangerous Deebo Samuel is and you have an obvious eight grade. Let's go to some of the other receivers. Brandon I gets a B grade. He scored in the Week three matchup. He runs from all over the field but slightly leans to the left side, where he'll see Russul Douglas, who's been

fantastic and a great signing for this team. Since arriving in Week six, Douglas has allowed three touchdowns and had five interceptions, and the passer rating in his coverage is forty nine. That's it. You will also see some of j Alexander and Eric Stokes and jan and Sullivan and so there are some better opportunities around, but most often he lines up against where Russul Douglas is. So I just got the B grade on him. Kittle was great

in the Week three matchup. Seven catches ninety two yards, the second most of any tight end to face the Packers all year. And get this, Packers played four elite tight ends this year. Kitty just mentioned Andrew's, Kelsey and Hockinson. They all scored or top ninety two yards. I don't think total yards over the last time. It's there's a lot of frustration that they aren't doing more. They're not doing more to manufacture ways to get the ball in

Kittle's hands. Some people are speculating that he's more hurt than we know, and so that's part of why. Um other people are just saying, look, Deebo, Samuel so special and he's soaking up receptions and runs and all these other things. So you know, with Mitchell getting else, carry Sama getting all that attention there just as an enough Baalds go around for Kittle, I've gotta be grade on him. And let's go to Jimmy Garoppolo the last oh second

to last night. In fact, I'm not going to Garoppolo yet. Juwan Jennings great DFS sleeper. And also, by the way, I'll mentioned for those of you that like to prop bed his over unders, I think thirty seven yards were taking the over slattery sievers have fared well against the Packers. Chandon Sullivan, i'man ras St Brown, Cooper Cup, Deante Johnson, both Minnesota receivers who sometimes run for the slot, demere Bird. They've all had good games out of the slot against

Green Bay. Jennings has been on the field for at least half of the team's play since Week thirteen, so I like him. I like him to be able to get a little something done. Let's go to Jimmy Garoppolo. Now you think I'd haven't rated a little by the way Jennings is to see, uh, you think I might

have a little higher? Say are you gonna be? And Catalana B and samuelan and A. But when we give these grades they have, it's not like they're all that like they have that potential, but unlikely they all hit that mark right, And Samuel gives part of Samuel's A great is what he could do on the ground, it is even through the air. So for Garoppolo, I'm showing a little caution in this great because he got the

thumb injury, he's got the shoulder injury. He's gonna start here, but if he's as errant as he was in the fourth quarter last Sunday, he won't finish the game. And so I'm baking that into his seat. Gray here working in Garoppolo's favor is an inconsistent Packers secondary, throwing out that Arctic Vikings game against Sean Mannion and a meaningless

Week A team game. The Packers have allowed multiple touchdowns in five straight games, multiple passing touchdowns in five straight games, and over that stretch, quarterback savaging two sixty one yards two and a half touchdowns, and some of those games included Baker Mayfield hobbled bad shoulder, Tyler Huntley backup justin Field's rookie, and they were still getting things done. So if Garoppolo, I think Garoppolo has got b upside to him, but I'm giving him the sea with the injuries. Let's

go over to the packer's side. Ryan, all right, I want to start with the running game. I'm giving Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon both C grades in this because of the likely split workload. Um Jones has enjoyed twenty days without contact and he should be near one percent health, and I give him the edge of the two. Yeah, he's practiced fully all week long. And Fred Warner probably he plays. If Fred Warner's out, you could elevate both of these guys to be grades because he's that essential

as a run stopping tackler. He's fantastic, but got knocked out of last week's game. Says he's gonna play in a bad angle. But here's why you should show caution. Forty Niners finished sixth against the run, giving up seventy five yards per game. No runner his top fifty eight yards since way back in Week nine, and the and Zeke last week petered out at thirty one yards against

these Niners. Through the second half of the season, San Francisco is giving up just three point four yards per carry, which would have made them number one on the season at three point four yards per carry. And again that's since the second half of the seasons unders a long sample size. Neither ball, neither guy caught the ball well

in the earlier matchup. But for Jones especially, I'll note that there were some big receiving games against San Francisco over the course of this year, and Jones could help you out more that way. And again, I like Jones better than Dylon, but I'm keeping them both at a C grade because of all the factors I just mentioned. Let's go to the passing game. Davante Adams gets an A. I know you're shocked by that. Um He runs from all parts of the field. He's a billion times better

than any cornerback. He's going to see. The Niners make up for from excellent play from their safeties, particularly Jimmy Ward, but it doesn't matter. It's about Adams, so he's an eight. I'm only giving a B grade to Aaron Rodgers because San Francisco has been a sneaky good past defense all year, and that includes humbling Dak Prescott last week. The average passing game against San Francisco is just two hundred eighteen

yards and one point two touchdowns. That's it. And even if I pull back the scope on there on the Niners opponents to high level passers who have faced the Niners Russell Wilson twice, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers in the first game, We're still only looking at two hundred forty yards and one and a half touchdowns per game, which is very close to the two to the yards and two touchdowns that Aaron

Rodgers put up in the Week three matchup between these teams. It's quite a turnaround. Earlier in the season we were targeting the San Francisco secondary starting Richard. That's uh, that's changed. It has changed quite a bit. Um, So Rogers gets a B grade here. I kind of like Ellen Lazard is a sneaky play Um. He's getting almost the same playing time as Davante Adams. Mvs is out and with Randall Cobb returning, Lazard to lineup on the outside, which

is good news from a matchup standpoint for him. He gets a sea. Randall Cobb is going to be on the field a lot, but he hasn't played since Week twelve, but when he got knocked out the game he got knocked out of he was sitting in like ninety five yards when he got knocked out of that game. I think he will have a fairly impactful game here. Um. Although on the season he had been a low volume guy, but I think he is startable with a C grade as well. And that wraps up San Francisco taking on

Green Bay. No, Josiah Deguara, No, yeah, you play for play fer. There you go. Um, let's take a break. When we come back, the Sunday matchups will break down the remaining two games, including the Rams taking on the Bucks in a game I believe will be an upset who We'll tell you about that when we come back. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly. Breaking down now the Sunday matchups. So we begin in the A f C and our first the A f C game is Buffalo at Kansas City.

This is a high flying affair with tons of Fantasy applications all over the field. Yeah and over under of fifty four points. Some recalling this like the Super Bowl. Basically like the winner of this game has a good shot to uh go all the way whether it shouldn't be a factor here. Forty degrees UH is the um expected temperature four mile power wins, so nothing to be worried about there. These teams did play in Week five in Kansas City Buffalo one thirty eight to twenty uh.

Certainly worth noting that Chris Jones, UH, star defensive lineman for the Chiefs, did not play in that game. That's a that's a big factor. The man's a menace. So he will be playing on Sunday, so that that should change things. But we'll still refer to that Week five game for sure in this matchup, starting with the Buffalo side and the run game. Devin Singletary UH just seven touches for twenty seven scoreless yards in Week five, But times have changed. We wanted this to be Zack Moss.

You and I we were both big on the Zack's optimistic he'd have a year two bounce back, which some players do, some running backs would do. But what we've learned is if you don't have it by year two as a running back, you almost never get it. Yeah, I'm giving Singletary the a eight total touchdowns over his last five games. He played virtually every meaningful snap last week. I don't think Moss got in until the fourth quarter.

UM plus matchup for Singletary here. Kansas City has allowed more than four point six yards per carried to running backs, these second most receiving yards. So in a grade for Devin Sigletary, you'd think you'd give then the A grade to Stefan Diggs. But I'm not just a B for him five targets in Week five, just caught two for sixty nine scoreless yards. Uh. The Chiefs have allowed the fifth most wide receiver touchdowns this year, but the majority

of those came earlier in the season. The secondary has solidified itself as the season war on. I will mention Deonte Johnson and James Washington both scored against Kansas City last week, but that was pretty much under garbage time, UH, garbage time scenario. So just a B for Stefon Diggs. And now for the rest of the wide receivers. It gets a little dicey. So Buffalo had thirty one dropbacks last week. Josh Allen, Uh, Gabe Davis saw twenty ran

twenty routes. I'm sorry, Manny Sanders ran seventeen. Isaim Mackenzie ran twelve and Beasley ran nine. So I'm gonna break Gabe Davis and Manny Sanders into one category. Then Doc McKenzie Beasley, I'll give Davis and Sanders both to see here, people are liking Gabe Davis a little more than Manny Sanders. But Sanders had a good game last week. He scored twice in that that Week five matchup, So a C

for both of those guys. Then when it comes to mackenzie and Beasley, Mackenzie is kind of usurped Beasley as the slot receiver. I got them both on the bench, so I mean you can there's salary here, Yeah, not enough volume. They're salaries savers in dfs. But uh, if I had to pick one out of go McKenzie cause he's getting more usage. But they're they're both on the bench salary saver, I would go John Jennings. Yeah, I'm with you there. Or Dontrell Hilliard could be like a

wide receiver three for the Titans. But anyway, we're talking to Buffalo Bills, and if we're talking the Bills, we certainly have to talk about Dawson Knox. Three catches, one seventeen yards and a touchdown in the Week five meeting. You also had six catches forty two yards and a touchdown to into the Chiefs in the last two year's a f C. Yeah, he had a great playoffs last year. UH Titans have the average to five catches fifty two yards against Kansas City. So Knox has a fairly safe

PPR floor with a very high ceiling. And give a B here borderline A but but just a B because I think it's more about Devin Singletary this week, and of course Josh Allen who had three d and fifteen yards, three passing touchdowns, fifty nine rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the Week five matchup. I did mention that Chris Jones was not playing in that game. That will change things a little bit on the Kansas City defensive side,

but still an easy A for Josh Allen Kanzi. Kansas City surrendered the second most Fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, along with the sixth most quarterback rushing yards and the most quarterback rushing touchdowns, so stars are aligned pretty well for Josh Allen this one. He gets the A okay over the Kansas City side, and of course we're gonna start with Jerich McKinnon. Yeah, obviously I did not see that comm not no one really did. I'm gonna give

him a b here. Clyde Clyde Edwards layer UH is set to make his return with the shoulder from the shoulder injury, but I'd still bet on Jet to lead this backfield on Sunday night. He looks great. Last week, UH fresh legs were It was a real story of last week's playoffs. You know, the guy like Cam Akers coming in fresh. The fresh legs made a big difference. Wow, there's a huge factor. This is a tough match up

though the Bills have. The Bills are allowing just one sixteen combo yards rushing in receiving per game to opposing running backs. That's not great. We do expect c H to steal some touches. It's it's crazy to say H steal some touches, but that's what we're at. And then there's Darryll william See, this is why I wouldn't give anybody a b is I. I think this could just

be a really muddy rotation. Williams. I feel like he suffered a setback last week with that toe injury because he was set to start, people were banking on him to play, and then he had like saw seven snaps something like that. So I got Williams on the bench for sure, and and Clyde Edwards layer. We gotta see what we had there. I might be little being little generous with McKinnon and the B, but it's uh, I give him the B because it's a really tough matchup

for the past catchers for Kansas City. And even though I just said that, I am gonna give Travis Kelsey and a still six catches, fifty seven yards and a touchdown in the Week five meeting. The Bills have allowed the second fewest catches and touchdowns and tight ends this year though. But Travis Kelsey not your typical tight end hunter. Henry should have scored a touchdown Buffalo last week. That was a brutal drop, but again that was garbage time but on paper, not not a great matchup for Kelsey.

But uh, I struggled to not give him an A here because he's Travis Kelsey, but uh not struggling to give Tyreek kill in a just a B for him. Seven catches, sixty three yards, no touchdown in Week five and despite losing trade as White All Pro cornerback as White midway through the season. The Bills have allowed the fewest catches, yards, and touchdowns wide receivers and buy a wide margin six wide receiver touchdowns all year. The next

worst team or best team allowed ten touchdowns. That was the Eagles the h The Bills have allowed three hundred fewer yards then the next best team, worst team, whichever you want to put it. Just in a awful magic if you're doing well, if if you're doing something really good, your best right right, and you're number one, you should your ranking for anything good should be one. Anything bad should be thirty two. But I'm talking in terms of the player the wide receiver though, so it's tough to

delineate that. But I understand we all we all know what we're talking about here. So just to be for Hill and per usual, the rest of the Cheaps wide receivers, it's kind of a it's kind of a mess. Uh, We're really gonna talk Byron Pringle and Nicole Hardman, though canna give him both a C. I only expect one to give you that C level production. Though both have total fift team targets over the last two weeks. Pringle scored twice last week, so he's likely the more popular

df US play. If you want to pivot, you go hardman. I will mention that DeMarcus Robinson did run the second most pass routes among Chiefs wide receivers last week, behind Tyreek Hill, but that was pretty much in another garbage time situation with the Chiefs just rolling the Steelers. So I got Robinson on the bench. And of course we have to talk Patrick Mahomes last but not least two seventy two yards two touchdowns in Week five. He added sixty one rushing yards in that game. But uh, I've

already alluded to this. It's a brutal matchup on paper. For the past game, the Bills allowed just twelve passing touchdowns. In the regular season, only three quarterbacks managed to throw two touchdowns. One of those quarterbacks was Mahomes none through for three and most games the Bills surrendered zero passing touchdowns. Just an amazing defense, and without tradevious White is something to be said. Mac Jones did have two passing touchdowns

against Buffalo last week, but that was garbage time. But uh, you can't give Mahomes ending worson to b right. Yeahs beas right, but not not in a I mean he could hit that. I'd rather start Josh Allen than Patton. They're probably priced similarly in DFS. Yeah, alan Is is the highest price, and he'd probably be more roster than Mahomes despite being a probably salary. But probably he's got the rushing upside right. So his over under Vegas prop line is forty nine and a half on Josh Allen

rushing yards. I'd go over its electric is that offense is the Bills don't want to shootout in this game. They want the Chiefs off the field. They want to control of the clock. You can do that, quarterback. You certainly can with Josh Allen Rams taking on the Bucks. That is the earlier game on Sunday. Uh. These seems played in Week three, Bucks one by ten points. I do not believe the Bucks are gonna win this game.

Let's start on the ramp side, and so just keep that in mind that I've got a little bit of bias here on how I think this game is going to go. So I'm gonna start with running backs. Cam Akers stunned us with thirty two snaps last week. Leading the team. The burst, the energy, the fresh legs. All looked great. Now this is a much tougher matchup against an elite run defense. Only one runner his top seventy eight yards against Tampa, they allowed three point nine yards

per carry on the year. They completely shut down Miles Sanders last week, holding him to sixteen rushing yards. Where cam Akers can be impactful those through the air. Tampa allows the third most running back receptions the fourth most running back receiving yards. In the two games he's played this year, cam Akers, he's had a three catch game and a forty yard receiving game. On that one, it was the Odell Beckham uh throw catching so that one

tackle broken tackle at him, taken to the house. So I like, I like cam Akers, but no way does he have a upside. I'm giving him a B on the assumption he ends up chipping in some help through the air. Um. I. I also think it's totally bench time for for Sony Michelle. Um. He hasn't been great. Honestly, he had a dismal game in the Week three matchup. He turned to twenty carries into a meager sixties seven yards. Uh. So I I just you know he got moved past

Acres last week. I don't I don't think I want to start Sony Michelle in this game with you. Darryl Henderson got designated to return from i R on Friday, but he is not expected to play in this game, although he may be active for the game, but probably does not see the field unless somebody gets hurt or something unusual happens. Like that, So much for Jake Funk. Yeah, the Jake Funk. Those two snaps are enjoyable for the punt. Remember those, by the way, I think they were both

in this matchup in in week three. So let's go to Let's go to the passing game now, Cooper cups and obviously, and especially with slot cornerback Sean Murphy Bunting dealing with a hamstring, we don't even alwa his status for Sunday. But even if he does go, he's been bad. He's allowed sick sixty two yards per game in his coverage. That is second worst among all defenders who have played

at least half a season. So a disastrous run for Sean Murphy Bunting to the point they almost hope he does go now if he doesn't go, like last week Antoine Winfield, their safety played out of position to guard the slot, and he allowed all four catches in his coverage or all four passes in his coverage to be completed. Can I interject for a quick, relax amazing wide receiver talent in his divisional round? Seven of the top ten scoring wide receivers Fantasy Cooper Cup, Deebo, Samuel Jamar, Chase

Davante Adams, Mike Evans, Tyreek Kills, Stefan dis Yeah. Uh. Slot wide receivers with have had good games against Tampa. Just I just if I limit the scope here since December. Recently Braxen Barrios, Cold Beasley, Russell Gage all had good games, and Cooper Cup put up ninety six yards and two

touchdowns in the earlier meeting. Let's go to Odell back him very impact the last week with the fifty four yards in the score, But you're banking on touchdowns because he's been a reliably low volume receiver and he's failed to hit fifty four yards in six of the past seven games. Fortunately, he has scored in six of the past eight games, so he's a touchdown dependent receiver. He lines up on the left left most often, and that will put him on Jamal Dean. Jamal Dean the bucks

best cornerback. Dean is big and physical like oh b J. Dean's allowing just twenty one yards per game and his coverage and hasn't given up a score since Week one, and so I I have a B grade on Beckham, but really you're counting on a touchdown here. I think he can get it uh in a game that I believe the Rams will win and play well in. Let's go to the Let's go to some of the other receivers. I have a bench grade on Van Jefferson because of the frustratingly low volume. Two or fewer catches and five

of the last six. That's not gonna cut it. Tyler Higbee gets to see Bucks maybe without Lavante David, who frequently picks up tight ends in coverage. Hig Be scored in the Week three matchup, but his volume is always low. Tampa has been a good tight end defense on the whole for the season. CE grade and Tyler Higby in this game. And that brings us to Matthew Stafford. I've given out A b's and c's. I'm giving out A to Stafford and hopefully, Brian, we could just bury that

moronic line of reason. That's well, he's a law and so you can't win a playoff game. Well he just did, so shut up. Six of the past seven games have been very strong fantasy games for him. And really it goes back farther if you it goes really when I say six the past seven games, So I'm going back seven games. Basically, we're we're going back to when Robert Woods went down and they were trying to integrate Odell

Beckham back into the offense. Really on the whole outside of that that those couple of weeks when the Woods to Beckham transition was happening, Stafford has been a really good fantasy product. Do you know where Matthew Stafford was born and raised? Hampa, Florida. I had no idea. Wow, So it's a homecoming of sorts for for or Matthew Stafford. That's outstanding. Um. He threw for three forty three yards

and four touchdowns in the earlier matchup. I take it back, real, hook, I'm much if he was raised that everything was born in Tampa Bay. I'm reading anyway, thank you. Tampa Bay's past defense looks great. On paper. If you're gonna take one thing away from this matchup, it's this. Listen to the quarterbacks Tampa has faced in the last five games. Taysom Hill, who they lost to Sam Donald and Cam Newton is a combo platter. Then they saw Zack Wilson,

then they saw Sam Donald again. Then last week Jalen hurts. They haven't seen a legitimate passer since Thanksgiving. This is gonna be a shock to the system when they see Matthew Stafford in the Rams, Sam Donald, Cam Newton. That's that's a poop poop platder right there. That really is all r Let's go to the Tampa side, which won't

take quite as long. I don't think start with the running game here letter for Net practicing shaping up as a game time decision, but I don't like hamstring injuries on runners, and the prospect of a setback is a concern here. Even if he does play and start. Rams are also very good run defense, fourth best in yards per carriage just three point nine for Nets. Strongest hope for a good game is through the air, for sure.

He averaged five catches for thirty two yards as a receiver this year and the Rams are just the middle of the pack defense against receiving backs. For Net got three catches for twenty six yards in the first matchup, but get this, in that earlier matchup week week three, Geo Bernard nine catches fifty one yards and a touchdown. M and Bernard will be available in this game. I still think four Nett would get that usage before Bernard would. But you could throw a dart on Bernard. I don't know.

I have still have a bench grade on him, but that's part of the C grade I've got him for Net is because I do expect him to catch and I hope I'm not mowing your lawng here. But major issues on the tan the Bay offensive. Yeah, in fact, let me mention that, let's get to that right. So they may be missing left tackle Tristan Worths in center Ryan Jensen. That's those are big losses for sure. Josh Wells who came in for worth and it didn't look

very good. No, he's questionable. So whoever's backing him up, I don't know what he's gonna be. Like a garbage can, and that guy's got to stop Aaron Donald and Tristan Worf's if it's him playing hurt or his backup has got to try to stop von Miller, right, So that's part of what worries me about this game. Brashott Perriman has all been but ruled out of this game as we're talking about injuries, and Ronald Jones will not go

on this one. And by the way, Keyshawn Vaughan stinks, so let's not even go there, all right, So let's go to the passing game for Tom Brady. I'm gonna start with Brady. The Rams secondary is a Jekyl and Hide operation that hammered Russell Wilson, Tyler hunt Huntley and last week uh Jalen Hurts, but has also given up three hundred yard games to Kyler Murray, kirk Cousin, Jimmy Garoppolo. Brady much closer to that group and talent, but there's

a lot working against Brady. So the offensive line injuries are a huge factor. The limited success of the running game could be what holds him down. Mike Evans not fully healthy. He's also going to get a lot of Jalen Ramsey. We'll talk about that in a minute. And really, if you're thinking about starting Tom Brady, you're paying for Tom Brady and DFS. Ask yourself this. If Mike Evans plays to his over under of seventy yards and Gronk plays to his over under sixty six yards, Okay, there's

a hundred and thirty six yards. Where is any other yards coming from? Tyler Johnson? Brady hates he does, he hates him, Scotty Miller, cam Brad. I mean, those guys aren't gonna beat teams. So I'm nervous about Brady here, and I've only got the B grade on Brady in this game. I'm gonna be pissed if Scotty Miller scores twice because there was a plus like twelve thousand bet Voice last week, and I was like, I can spend ten dollars in a worse way than that, but I

didn't hit. Of course, watch it happened though. Now Mike Evans so Brown and Godwin's out. So when these teams played each other back in week three, Jalen Ramsey went between Evans Brown and Godwin Brown and got on out of the team. So we're gonna see a lot of Jalen Ramsey on Mike Evans. Brown is not even on the planet. Anymore that could be. Since Week seven, the average game against Ramsey is thirty three scoreless yards per game.

That's it. He's back. Fortunately, Evans does move around the field a lot, and if he goes into the slot he can shake Ramsey to some degree. In the Week three matchup, they targeted Evans ten times, but only two of those were against Ramsey. He got one catch for ten yards against Ramsey in the earlier meeting. So I've just got the B grade and Evans. They have to throw to him. There's gonna be a ton of volume, but I don't know how successful it's going to be

with Ramsey on him the whole game. Let's go to Rob Gronkowski, the other receiver UK are about in this offense. Three games without Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin has yielded an average of six catches for ninety four yards. He has scored once in those three games. Last week, only two tight ends had six receptions against the Rams this year. It was Mark Andrews and t. J. Hockenson, and they went for eighty nine yards and forty eight yards. Neither of them scored. I think just Grons got to get

the ball because you don't have a choice. I'm with you. How did we talk longer this week on four games and we did last week on six? A lot of good players. Man, do we like hearing the sound of our own voices? Geez? At least we got plenty of notes for next week. We've got it all all the just do the games next week. We're gonna go fifty minutes on two games next week, I hope not. I think, who do you think who's going to be playing in these games? Winning? Yeah? Well who'll be playing? Who are

the two? Who are the what's the matchup? Okay? Talking about next week? I think, uh, since he Pusley upset and I guess, but Buffalo since he yea, since he's under and is Buffalo pretty much a pick him? Now? I think it's three. I like both road teams for the a f C. I like the Rams like you do, uh, I mean, you gotta go with the Packers. But I

won't say this as a former Giants fan. I did go down in season when the Packers were a one seed on there by no one gave the Giants a shot in hell beat Green Bay in that game, and they did, so I didn't think it happened, but unlikely. Just you know, what if if the if the Niners just hadn't had haven't endured and overcome so much, I would like them more in this game. I just worried the tank's empty. Debo's gotta throw on run one catch too, don't forget to return. Maybe you put him a corner

pick six. It could be. Are they just unleashed Tray Lance? Who knows? Well, you know, wouldn't that be funny if they did have some design? Trey Lance plays in this just as a wild card. It's a good defense Tove tried against. You could all right, thank you for all your helping this one problem. Well, who do you got in the a f C? Real quick? I know you like the Rams and I got Buffalo. I feel more strongly about Buffalo winning, and I believe it'll be Tennessee.

So I go Buffalo Tennessee, and I will go Rams and Packers. I think that that Titans Bengals game is gonna be a good one. Should be. Yeah, I actually really all of them are gonna be. What's the biggest The biggest spread on any of them, I think is San Francisco Green Bay at five and a half Yeah, I think that biggest spread three and a half. These should be good close games. We deserve it. Thanks for everybody, We'll talk to you next week. Fantasy Football Weekly is

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