Frigid Fantasy Semifinals

Arctic edition's Cold Weather Grips America. We will talk you through all of the matchups for this weekend, all the Saturday games, all the Sunday games, and we'll help you with three tough questions and nine players upon whom you can take a chance. My co host today are Scott Fish and Brian Johnson. Welcome back, Scott. Been a while. Yeah, it's been a little while, and I'm glad to be back. Glad I have made it here today. Now. I don't do this to you guys very often, but we're shaking

things up. Tough question number one, Boy, we're getting to the weather right off the bat. Baby, Okay, there are six games scheduled to be played at thirteen degrees or less on balance. What is the appropriate level of panic for those affected players? Is it none? Is it some? Or is it a bowel loosening level of existential dread Scott level of panic for them as just people being in the Okay, they got to go freeze O hundreds of thousands and in some cases literally a million dollars

or more to play just that game freeze. Okay, it's a lot closer than none since two thousand and I get this, David data from an article from CBS earlier this week. Since two thousand, total scoring in freezing temp games drops only one point eight total points for the whole game for both teams. Pass Yards drop about thirty four per game. Rush yards increased by about seventeen per game him So on a team level, that's less than a point difference per team seventeen passing yards you gain

about eight or nine rushing yards, not much difference. The bigger concern is high sustained winds. I could go into the data on that, because that's much more effective. But the cold on its own, not so much. The cold with the wind, however, that some of the really really high wind games that could cause them. But the cold, I'm gonna go with none, just on the cold. Brian, I don't know how I can add much to that, but I'll put it this way. In terms of this

weekend's games with weather concerns. I've got an A grade concern in Cleveland where they're taking on the Saint is the one thirty miles per hour of sustained winds with gusts up to fifty miles per hour recently. That's potential sixtys. There are going to be some hammered people in the stands there. That's the only way you can with stand

that kind of weather conditions. And then and then in Chicago, it's supposed to be like, you know, twenty five mile powers of stained wins, but it's really it's all about the winds, not the cold. So broadly none but for those two games, definitely some For me. You guys have cracked the code on this first of all night's data gathering. Scott, My data was basically identical. It's a it's the average median game score of all games over the last three years.

His forty five points, regardless of where it's played. When it's played, forty five points. These cold weather games under thirteen degrees, the average drops all the way down from forty to forty three. Not even a field goals difference. There's one point eight, that's right. I'd rounded it the whole numbers for the for the simplicity of our listeners, UM wad that. Well, that's not what I'm saying, so really almost no panic here. But I also did a

car about on the two wind games which we mentioned. Now, Bills at Bears has a twenty two the current forecast two wins, and that a wind chill of minus twenty, so we're getting into some serious territory there. The Browns game, because it's warmer, only has a minus twelve wind chill only only minus twelve. Those those would be some level of concern for those games, but the other ones I

have no concern about. And the reason we're doing this first is because in those matchups, I don't want to spend all of our time in the matchups talking about

the weather. Certainly can mention the weather for the Bears, Browns, Chief, Steelers, Titans, and Ravens homes game home games, but we are not freaking out about the weather accepting Bills, Bears, Saints Brown's because of the wind, I will drop that data that one data point I had there since two thousand in games with both fifteen plus miles powers sustained and freezing attempts. The score dropped nearly four points and over fifty yards passing down. Do you know what makes your score draws?

A little bit about not scoring won? That will do it right there. Garrett Wilson, oh man, bam knight even yeah right, well no, Garrett Wilson killed assassinated. But by the way, how Wilson, how did we not see Evan Ingram coming with both the revenge game and going for an incentive last night? That good point. It was like it's a revenge game against the stadium because it's the same stadium the Giants planned. But I hear you. I like that angle. The Las Vegas Raiders traveled to the

Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a fascinating matchups in a few in a few different ways. This years have been a very good past defense. The Raiders need Davante Adams talk to me about how you see this game shaping up? Sure revenge game against the fans maybe locals? Yeah? All right? Uh for the on the on the Raiders side, here I have Derek Carr on the back. I just think it's too tough of a spot for him. Only a few studd star quarterbacks have had multiple scores this year

against the Steelers, most leave the game. Most quarterbacks they faced leave the game with one touchdown in low yards uh if. I will say Cars had multiple scores in six last seven, but those were much much better matchups than this. I have him on the bench as well as uh Mac Hollins. I have on the bench because Darren Waller's back. Ren froze back. Waller really ate into him last week. Um he did score on that that toe out of bounds? Did he really score? Touched him

last week? But outside of that didn't. I know, outside of that, he really didn't do much last week. And Waller only played for nine percent of the snaps. He should get that back up to his normal seventy level this week. Steelers had held down Mark Andrews last week, but Huntley was in Mark Andrews was hurt. I I think Waller is more likely to do kind of like what Gilani did, Woods did a couple weeks ago, and other uh you know, four five to ninety yard tight

ends have done. I have a B grade on Waller. I didn't mention Davante Adams, but I think he's just an automatic A because even in Cars one dot he had seventy plus yards, you know, like he's just always in your lineup. And then there's Josh Jacobs in the running game. A grade here, hundred plus total yards in sixth straight, scoring five times, and twenty four plus touches in all of those uh six, also averaging nearly four catches per game in that span, which which is wonderful

to see. Twenty touchbacks against this team against the Steelers average about a hundred thirteen yards in the score. Jacobs gets everything, so a grade they're on that kind of volume. Over to the other side, I don't have a lot of starting grades here Kenny Pick and I have on the bench. I don't know how much I have to go into that. All right, let's do that. Um, he doesn't even have a multiple scored game this year. I think he's got like one or two games over two

hundred yards, just one. We'll see you next yearn Deonte Johnson miss practice on Wednesday and Thursday. I think he was limited on front. But Naji Harris would did a favorite for all as fantasy football fans, and he said, don't worry Deante's playing like that. So we so thank you Naji Harris for that. Um. And because of that, I'm giving Deonte Johnson a C grade just on the volume. Um Uh. When Picktt first got the job, he focused on Pickens, But over the last four it is really

shifted both in targets and production to Johnson's side. Uh comulate culminating last week in a in a ten plus ten plus catch game there. Uh, Johnson's shared the production. Yeah, so it's it's a middle of the pack pasty really versus wide receivers. But several other low aid out wide receivers that had have had production against the Raiders and

Rock Your Sin might miss this game as well. So I got Deante Johnson with the Sea He's he's the only wide receiver though the college first touchdown of the year. I'm not gonna call it, no, no, give the opportunity, all right. Uh no, No, that's that's pretty bold. To call for a Pickett to row a touchdown is probably even even more even more bold. Pat Fiarmouth freeer Mouth. I have a C grade on averaging five for sixty on over seven targets per game in Pickett's last six starts.

Is it f it is freer Mouth? Yeah? We just we do the and then we you know, we find out four you know what the annoying one Thos is chicken kN ku who they're even the Titans site says a quanu as the like the pronunciation guide and they have a video of him saying a kuan kuka. That's certainly not our fault at that point. No, no, anyway, h I gave a C grade to Firemouth. I think I said what I only three tight ends of top six yards against them against the Steelers against the Raiders. Uh,

and none have scored since Kelsey scored four times. But the volume that he's gotten with Pickett, it's worthy of a C. He's gained seven targets a game. Uh. Nazi Harris, I have a B grade on seven of the last eight lead backs against the Raiders have scored. Seven of the last eight have scored eleven scores. That's a that's a ridiculous amount. The hat to Nagi Harris reversing a really a terrible we're telling people trade him away. But which was the right advice because he's stunk a Patel

about Thanksgiving? But since then he's been much better. Yeah, similar twenty touch type of backs like to Harris have averaged a hundred thirty five yards and more than a score per game, as I kind of just said with seven of the last date. So I have a B grade on Harris there, um and that's it. Actually, I'm gonna leave Jalen Warren on the bench. Yes, certainly, Cincinnati taking on the New England Patriots. Brian, It's been a tough run for Joe Mixon and it doesn't get any

better here. It's not as bad as you would think. Um, Yes, som j. P. Ryan continues to steal touches, but he's only averaging seven touches per game since Mixon's return. Mixing has been averaging sixteen since he's come back from injury, and over the patriots last three game games, opposing backs have averaged at six comboy in total touchdowns. I've gotta be on mix and I'm gonna bench Peter Ryan in the playoffs. You might want to throw a dart at him in daily, but I don't really like that as

much either. I do like nay love Jamaar Chase per usual, he gets an a. Jonathan Jones is one of the better corners in football and could shadow Chase, but I do not care. Justin Jefferson and Stefon Diggs both had big games against New England in recent weeks, and those are like the three guys on their own tier in wide receiver land. So in A for Chase and A for t Higgins. So if odds are Jonathan Jones spends

most of his time on Chase. Cornerbacks Jack Jones and Jalen Mills are both banged up questionable to play, so I love Higgins this week. The Patriots have surrendered too wide receiver touchdowns and three of their last four games to the Vikings, the Bills and the Raiders, both both very comparable offensive so uh and A for Higgins and the sea for Tyler Boyd, who finally caught another touchdown last week against the Bucks. You can argue this is

a better matchup against the Patriots. I like him a lot more in dfs than seasonal, but if you're desperate, he is startable in seasonal formats. It was c for Boyd over to the tight end. Is Mitchell Wilcox startable again? Who I gave a starting grade deal last week? Well done? That was that was impressive? Um, I'm gonna say Hayden Hurst ruled out again by the way, I'm gonna say uh no in seasonal but again another great daily dart for Mitchell Wilcox. But I'm gonna even a bench grade here.

Joe Burrow an easy A. I'm not gonna get into this too much. At a off I'm giving all the receivers of starting grade. Basically, Burrow gets an A. Not a lot of starting grades for the Patriots. Remandre Stevenson, I'll give him a B if Damien Harris sits. If Harris plays, I'll bump him down to a sea. You gotta feel bad for those who benched Ramandre Stevenson last week.

You can't to blame him. He had knocked me out of most of my gears, all of my guillotine leagues in which I had him the week before that, but in some of my other leagues I had I had, I had played him, then he got hurt. Then I didn't play him the next week. I was worried about the matchup and him being hurt, and then he went off. Last course, he went off on just sixties six of the snaps. I think those numbers go up a little

bit even if Harris comes back. So again a B for Stevenson if Harris is out to see if Harris does return, Jacoby Myers, all the other wide receivers Mac Jones that are on the bench. When it comes to the wide receivers, Bengals surrender nine touchdowns to the position, fourth fewest, and Mike Hilton should return. As for mac Jones, he should probably be benched in real life. Why would they not go to bit you know, their their seasons over. Why would the Patriots not get a longer look at

Bailey's appy and see what you got? And I just feel so bad for Jacoby Myers who was put in such an awkward situation when asked like, why did he put himself in an awkward situation? Kind of kind of what do you mean? Well, he throw a lateral to the other team? Why did when? When Bill Belichick was asked why did mac Jones not throw a hail, Mary says he can't throw it that far? One who cares, Well, you're still throw it as far as you can. You're not gonna try, and I don't know that. I feel bad.

Stevens had made a heck of a play on that though, but until he threw it back, yeah, port Jacoby free agent next year to put him on a good offense please. And lastly, I will give Hunter Henry a c in the tight end waste land if you are desperate. Opposing tight ends are averaging five plus catches and fifty plus yards against the Bengals, So if you need a tight end, you can go. Everyone needs speaking to tight ends. When we come back, Mark Andrews, what are you gonna do

with him? If you somehow made it to your semifinals with Mark Andrews, do you start him again and hope for a better outcome or do you find somebody else. We'll tell you when we come back to Fantasy Football Weekly. Welcome back. It's take a chance on me. Nine players not normally new starting lineup will give you some ideas

for fresh players you can start. And actually, you know, even though it's the playoffs, injuries, benching, all kinds of situations in which you may need somebody unusual to take a rep for you would be geto the quarterback position, Scott you got. Let's get gross charged. Let's get real gross here, gross like like we're talking fourteen teamers, maybe deeper twelve teamers where people are roster hoarding. I'm gonna go with Sam Donald. I think it's a good spot

for him, all right. The Lions allow the third most past yards, eighth most past touchdowns, first most fantasy points three plus and multiple scores and back to back here, they're constantly in shootouts. Almost every game is a shootout. It feels like this is a game they could actually get a head in, potentially causing Sam Donald to throw more. Also, seven of the last eight against them three hundred plus totaly yards. Seven of the last eight. That's ridiculous. Donald's

very good. Difficult to start, I know, but he has at least one score and he should the last three in far tougher matchups. You can't get grosser than Sam Donald. But but I'm giving it to you. It's a possible option if you're really stretched. Okay, Bryant, let's go to your quarterback. I might be able to get a little grosser than Sam Donald for not two obvious reasons. But we'll get into in a second. Russell Wilson Wilson, who finally looked great before getting knocked out late in the

Week fourteen game. He missed last week with the concussion that knocked him out in Week fourteen, but he's full go for his matchup against the Rams, who are beyond deflated at this point. And it's really just all about

the motivation factor here. No quarterback is going to be more motivated than Russell will Wilson, who's just one passing touchdown shy of his toilet total of twelve those who don't know, twelve toilets in the Wilson household, he only has eleven passing touchdowns, but I predict he throws at least two touchdowns to put those pesky toilets in the rearview mirror. Russell Wilson is he gonna put the toilets behind him. He's gonna do flush man straight to hell.

I don't know. My quarterback is Tom Brady, which sounds pretty great compared to the guys you just throw out, But Tom Brady's got fewer Fantasy points this year than Daniel Jones or Jared Goff, so he is take Tom worthy. Brady may get Elite tackle Tristan worfsback for this game.

That would be very handy. The Cardinals are already one of the easiest matchups against the past, but now cornerback Byron Murphy has been ruled out and the next three cornerbacks are all questionable, So this could be a passing bonanza for Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gauge, and even Kate Otten. With a strongly positive matchup Tom Brady. Let's go to the running back position, Scott, I have Devin Singletary. I know people are afraid of James Cook,

and he's getting more and more work. He's in the Devin Singletary, who has only started in like forty percent of leagues. Last week, James Cook, he has he has less than seven touches in three to last four despite his you know, his snapping snap snap count increasing like crazy. This is the eighth easiest matchup for backs. Game script should be in their favor, and the Bills are running it more late than they were earlier in the season

where they just kept passing. Uh. It's the seventh highest yards per carry at four point seven three high yards per reception to so when Devin Singletary does get his touches, he's gonna rip them off in chunks. Um fourth fourth most rushing scores is just a really good spot. Plus they did the uh. The Bears did hold down the Philly running backs last week, but they gave up seventeen rushes for sixty one yards and three rushing touchdowns to her.

It's like that was a running the two games before, Jets had two hundred seventeen yards in the score um and the Packers gave up a hundred had a hundred score. Is just a great spot for Devin Singletary keeping Brian, your take a chance of me running back. I got the Chargers Joshua Kelly at the Colts in the Monday

Night Hammer game. On the season, the Colts are allowing a hundred and forty four combo yards and more than a touchdown per game to opposing running backs, but over their last three games, I'm like laughing already looking at this, India is allowing one and ninety two combo yards and two point seven total touchdowns to the position. I know Austin Ekeler is the starter, but Ekeler only saw fourteen

touches last week while Kelly got eleven. Both scored a touchdown, and I think both will be more than Ekeler certainly will be serviceable, but I think Kelly can be too. You could start either one of the Colts running backs against the Chargers, but I'm gonna back Dion Jackson in this one. Jonathan Taylor's you know is out. Um. Zack Moss got more work than Jackson in the last game, but Moss like bad running at three point three yards per carry. Jackson was more effective, Plus he catches, and

I'm just I'm going with my eyes here. Jackson's the better back and it's a great matchup. In Deon Jackson's four games with double digit touches, which I think he's easily going to get to the ten touch mark. Deon Jackson's averaging seventies six total yards and he's got a pair of scores in those four games. Chargers allow the second most touchdowns, second most rushing yards, and a league worse five and a half yards per carry. A great opportunity for Dion Jackson. Your Zack Moss fan club card

is it has I Burnever. I know I'm officially the president now, but I was for I was not exactly right. I'm not giving up to go to the running back position, Scott. I'll go to the wide receiver position, and I will talk about Gabriel Davis. Who it's Gabel Davis week. I'm calling it right now. It's Gabe Davis week, alright. I know he hasn't topped He's top like forty yards once in the last four weeks, and that's pretty pretty common

for him when he doesn't score touchdowns. But he's at at least five targets in all but one game since the bye. Seven wide receiver touchdowns allowed in the last six games by the Bears. Also, the Bills are top third in explosive plays. The Bears are also bottom five um. And also the Bears allowed the second highest yards per reception at fourteen point five. And Davis is the deep ball guy. I think this is I think Davis gets

his this week. Chicago will be missing their best corner well, they're only good cornerback Jalen Johnson's gonna be out for this game and his season has done. Kindle Vildor, who was bad? We missed kindall you just talked to me into it. The touchdown guarantee there, it is all right, touchdown.

This is an all game for Gabe Davis. You're a receiver, Brian. Now, it's not guaranteed he plays on Sunday, but it sounds like he'll make his return, and that's Courtland Sutton, who I'm gonna pair with toilet boy Russell Wilson at the Ams, who are allowing a hundred and sixty yards per game to wide receivers. That's the tenth most. And yeah, every time we give you a new button charge, oh, I gotta use it a bunch. It's gotta be the extended version too. I love it. Uh sulting. You should see

plenty of coverage from Jalen Ramsey, but who cares. Ramsey has surrendered the second most touchdowns among cornerbacks with seven. I think he's fallen off that Josh Norman cliff that we saw a few year And by the way, this weekend the anniversary of the Josh Norman Taylor Lujan scuffle. I don't know if you recall this after the end of the Titans Washington team game. Anyway, it reminded it was like, this's gonna happen to Jalen Ramsey. Cortland Sulton is gonna have a good game if he plays. I've

got Marquis Goodwin going up against the Chiefs. Tyler Lockett is out. Goodwin finds himself in the number two receiver role for Seattle good one is of course not lock it, but he's got a good chance to produce in a plus matchup. Over the last the last three competent passing attacks to face Kansas City, and I think Seattle Counts

is competent. With Geno Smith, They've produced two receivers with at least sixty yards go to course is all about the speed he's got the track literal track star speed, and the cornerbacks for the Chiefs are universally pretty slow, including cornerback Joshua Williams, who ruins a four five. Over the last five weeks, Williams has allowed a near pass perfect pass a writing of a hundred fifty two in his coverage, and he's the guy that's lad to see the most of Marquise a goodwin one of my favorite

sneaky plays of the week. Falcons take on the Baltimore Ravens. I don't have a lot to talk about on the Falcon side. The only starting grade I've got is for Tyler al Geer coming up a one hundred thirty yard game, but I don't love his chances against a fantastic Ravens run defense. Over the last four games, he has topped fifty two yards in each game, but Baltimore has emerged his arguably the NFL's best run defense, giving up just sixty one rushing yards in total per game since the

Rowe Kwan Smith acquisition. Lger has to split sixty one yards with Cordarrell Patterson and Chet Huntley. So he is just a dart throw player. Oh man, that one too. By the way, Tyler Algier has already been knocked out of the league. I have no inside info here. That's good to know. Corderal Patterson is on the bench, usually finds his way to fifty yards, but he doesn't catch or have predictable scoring, and the matchups brutal. He's out.

The entire passing game is dad Desmond ritterd just came off a nineties seven yard passing game and this is a solid Ravens past defense. You're not gonna start any of those guys. All right, Let's go to the Baltimore side. What to do with Mark Andrews up possible bouts back

coming here. Falcons are bottom six and targets, receptions and yards allowed to tight ends, giving up over sixty five yards and back to back games to the position along with four touchdowns over the last three games to tight ends. The Falcons have avoided most of the really good tight end this year, but the ones they've faced Kittle and Joeku Frymer Friar Muth also passed seventy receiving yards. I

just I want to believe in Mark Andrews. I want to believe that Tyler Huntley is gonna be okay here, So I'm gonna give him a B grade and just let's hope that everybody that's made it this far on the meager output of Mark Andrews gets rewarded here in a very favorable matchup. The only other starting grade for the entire Ravens team is JK. Dobbins, over his last two games, averaging one three rushing yards on eight yards

per carry. He'll have a good opportunity to keep it going against the tanking Falcons, allowing the eleventh most rushing yards. They've allowed resurgent performances to struggling running backs in three straight games, including Brian Robbins and Nazi Harris and Alvin Kamara, who averaged ninety three rushing yards per game. JK Dobbins a B grade in this one. I can't give any of the rest of the passing game a starting grade, and you wouldn't even think about starting him anyway. And

Gus Edwards is also on the bench. He only played, He's only playing already two snaps per game, No thirties two snaps total in the two games since J. K. Dobbins returned. That's just not enough volume. Sixteen touches a game is not enough volume to start anybody in the fantasy playoffs. Let's see here do I want to get Yeah, let's work in one more matchup, Detroit Lions to Carolina Panthers. Scott Trent's offense has slowed considerably over the last couple

of weeks. What do you think about a game that's gonna be surprisingly cold. I wouldn't call it necessarily a cold weather game, but they're talking about wind chills under freezing in Carolina. Yeah, it's it's weird for that area that it happens. It happens. I do have a B grade on golf, though the Panthers have been pretty decent against QB. The highest yardist day allowed over the last month and a half was two sixty five, but most of those cartobacks are guys like Trevisky and Russell Wilson

and Mariota twice and stuff. So it's it's not exactly a murderers row of quarterbacks. Golf is coming off his worst game over the last month, and even even even in that it wasn't that bad. He had three hundred plus and or multiple scores in three straight before the two fifty two and one last week against a very stout jut Jets secondary. So um, I'm giving B grade to Jared Goff. I think Alman Rosen otto a. But do I need to go into it? Do I need to go into Alma? Why you should start? I'm on

Rob st Brown almost every week. I mean, given what he's done in the last few weeks, almost nothing, he still gets a ton of volume. It's it's a it's a lot of volume. I suppose you need more scores. He doesn't get a lot of yards with that volume. But Panthers are eight worst, eighth worst against wide receivers Deante Johnson, who kind of compares okay with Alman Ross and Brown with with all the the high volume in

the low yardage low a dot. I think that's fair seven for like seventy last week against the Jets for Deante last week, alman Ros on a better offense, gets more volume than that on average better player. Panthers ninth worst against the slot where alman Ross sometimes goes a lot of the time goes. I still have an A grade on Amanro. I do have DJ Chark on the bench. I have all of them on the bench, actually, but

the rest of the passing game. But d J. Chark will probably get J. C. Horne, So don't even don't even consider it. J C. Horne, by the way, he's a defensive rookie of the year. Do you think, well, he's second year player because he lost last year with the injury. Oh that's oh yeah he is. He has He has made good on the first round pick the Panthers, right last, right, J Browns. J Horne's good? Yeah? Uh. Jamal Lewis or Jamal jamal Lewis back in the league.

Jamal Williams and DeAndre Swift. I actually have C grades on both of them. Justin Jackson isn't going away. He's sucking out five, six, seven touches, which is really annoying. But Williams is always the best bet to score and gets the majority of the volume. The split has been pretty fifty fifty the last three weeks between them. Swift gets the receiving work with an average of four per game over the last five Panthers middle of the pack, but thirteen plus touch guys, which both Swift and Jamal

Williams have been um recently. The thirteen plus two touch guys eighty six yards, ninety two yards two or eleven yards, ninety one yards, eighty five yards. They're all getting tons and tons of volume against this defense. So I think it's just enough for a possible touchdown a Jamal pass game workout of Swift to get them both in your starting lineup. Lower flexes makes sense, makes sense. Um, let's take it. The opportunity, take a break. I think it's that time when we come back. Yeah, I need to

do the other side. Actually, that's what you too much, too much of a positive the music, kill the music, Sam Donald, take a chance. I mean quarterback start offense. D J Morris c grade Uh scored last week, bringing his season total to five for the first time in his career. He's never gotten more than four. This is one game after a goose egg, but he does have fifteen targets in the last three Donald games, which is

more than twice of any other Panther. It's a matchup against the bottom three d versus wide receivers, allowing the most yards and third most receptions to wide receivers. I lean towards those types of stats instead of the goose egg. I do have the rest of the players for the Panthers on the bench, Hubbard and Foreman. They're splitting. It's losing work to chub. Now the alliance has turned awesome. I know, I was. I was just going there. It's

been great recently. Only two running back scores in less seven games, and only one running back over sixty yards, and it's about three and a half yards per carrying. No backs over twenty receiving yards. So you're mentioning all other receivers and running backs there. Hey, how about let's do it now. Let's do it now. Fantastic. When we come back, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans. Obviously they're starting Derrick Henry. Is there anybody else to start in the entire game

between the Texans and the Titans? Find out when we come back for another segment of Fantasy Football Weekly. Welcome back, Fantasy Football Weekly Semi Finals Arctic Edition here to help you get a playoff win. It's a block of matchups in this segment, beginning with the New Orleans Saints taking on the Cleveland Browns and Brian this is a cold weather game. Alvin Kamara has been a Grade A disaster so far this year, arguably the worst first round draft

pick you could have made. If you would have just snapped his femur in Week one, it would have been a lot better for his fantasy owners. Honestly, I know it's been a brutal year, but hopefully he makes up for it. If you happen to be alive and are able to start Alvin Kamara in a meaningful game, that's the track, isn't it. It is, but I'm gonna give

him an a here. Over their last six games, the Browns have allowed nine different running backs to rush for at least sixty four yards or a touchdown, and really, Alvin Kamara is the only viable back on the Saints.

I'm sorry, David Johnson. It is awesome to see David Johnson in football again though, by the way, but Cleveland should be without Jadeveon Clowney that's big for Kamara and Cleveland also allowing more than five catches per game to opposing running backs, So again a grade for Alvin Kamara. All the wide receivers around the bench from New Orleans, Crystal Lave has been ruled out. Jarvis Landry, no revenge game for him. He's ruled out, like you're gonna start

him anyway. I like Rashichi he but again, this is the game with the thirty mile prowers, the Stained wins and fifty mile prower gusts and Andy Dalton is the quarterback who's on the bench, by the way, but who you're not going to bench are both the tight ends for the Saints, Juan Johnson and Taysom Hill. I'm gonna give both his sea starting with Johnson. If you take out the Saints blowout win against the Raiders, that was

the one good Alvin Kamara game all season. When why would I take out a blowout win because they weren't throwing the ball. When it pertains to Juan Johnson, they needed the points to game. You're you're ruining this chart. Just quade for a second. And then there was the blowout loss of the forty Niners where Jowan Johnson only played of the snaps. I think he was injured in that game because he missed the following game. But if you count his last five regular or normal games, he

has scored seven touchdowns in those games. And if you've extrapolate his stats from those five games across the whole season, Joan Johnson would have eighty one catches for seven ninety yards, which is pretty good end, but twenty four touchdowns. So I don't know. Joana Johnson, if you can somehow add him, you know as a dynasty stash, He's a very intriguing player going into next year. He's tight end seven right

now in standard formats. At the end of the year, he's gonna be very weird with Ingram and Joy Johnson, all these nobodies, but but littered in the top ten tight ends. But the Brown is not a great matchup for Johnson. They have allowed just two tight end touchdowns all the year. But with all the issues at wide receiver and you kind of think it's gonna be intermediate passing this one. I'm gonna give Johnson the Sea, and the same for Taysom Hill. It's almost impossible to predict

the Taysom Hill game. But this kind of feels like this pretable, feels like it tastem kill game. Whe He'll certainly get some carries and who knows some some cheap pass yards. But uh, speaking of cheap pass yards, Andy Dalton, that's all he gets. He's on the bench. Um over to the brown side. Nick Chubb like him here, he gets a b has been dealing with a foot issue, but he's off the injury report entirely. We know they're gonna run. Both teams gonna run the ball a lot

in these windy conditions. Uh, The scenes have allowed the eighth most rushing yards running backs on the season, and over the last two games, they've surrendered two touchdowns to the position. That's why I'll give Kareem Hunt a CE only in PPR though Hunts touches have dipped over the last two weeks, but I think he sees more in this game because of the wind. The Saints are also allowing five catches per game two running backs. Yeah, you know Kareem Hunt isn't catching like they don't throw to

him enough. He's for one of the probably ten or twelve best pass catching backs in the NFL. He needs more than like the two and a half catches a game. Yeah he does. It's been down here for him as well, but I don't know. It's just the running backs are gonna be leaned on more in this game. Running back slash asom Hill. So I will give see uh Kareem Hunt to see in PPR. I'm benching Amari Cooper and

Donovan People's Jones. Though Cooper has been dealing with a hip injury and hasn't scored in four straight games, the Saints have allowed just one wide receiver over their last three and could finally be getting back Marshawn Lattimore of their top cornerback this week. So I've got both Cooper and People's Jones on the bench again in these brutal winds,

and David and Joeku on the bench as well. The Saints are the top ranked defense against tight ends, allowing just three and a half catches thirty two yards per game to the position and only two total touchdowns all year to tight ends. And lastly, Brown's quarterback also on the bench. He's not trusting him in many situations. But this game, Giants are taking on the Minnesota Vikings, and what could be a high scoring game, maybe more so on the Viking side, but we'll start with the Giants.

Kwan Barkley is the bulk of the Giants offense, and I don't love this matchup. He's been at three point nine yards per carry or worse in five of the last seven games, and the Vikings allowed just three point seven yards per carry on the whole season. Only one back is at ninety rushing yards all year. Minnesota ranks number two and run defense by Pro Football Focus. That's

all bad news for Barkley. Your glimmer of hope is that he's a very good pass catcher, and the Vikings are bottom six in receptions and receiving yards two runners, so Barkley will chip in enough through the air to keep him at a B grade. Here, we'll hope for a touchdown. If there's one touchdown to be had for the Giants, it's most likely going to say Kwon Barkley.

The rest of the passing game may great, but I think we can put a C grade on Daniel Jones, largely because of what he's gonna do on the ground. But we'll start with through the air. The Vikings have the league's worst past defense by yardage, but I don't know that Daniel Jones is necessarily gonna take advantage of that. He's averaging just on passing yards per game, that's fifth lowest among all starting quarterbacks. He's averaging zero point eight

passing touchdowns per game. That's it. And I don't really like any of his starting receivers very much. So yeah, just to see great on Daniel Jones, but the Vikings have faced three mobile quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields and Josh Allen. They all topped forty seven rushing yards. And if I'm the Giants, I'm running Daniel Jones in this game. That could be the X factor in a game, and that otherwise does not match up well. Darius Slayton, I

originally had a bench grade on. I think I've moved him up to a sea over the last five weeks. Minnesota's allowing the fourth most receptions and second most yards per game to opposing Whiteouts. At least one receivers logs sixty yards against the Vikings in all but three games this year, So I think Slayton finds himself if to a decent game here, and if Daniel Jones is gonna throw one touchdown. I would guess it's gonna be Darius Slayton. Richie James is runs in the slot against the increasingly

solid Chandon Sullivan. He hasn't a lot of touchdowns since Week two, and he's held opposing receivers to thirty three or fewer yards in five straights. So we're not starting Richie James. Let's go to the Viking side. Uh. Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson are obvious a's and I'm only gonna add this. The Giants are automn six and rushing

yards and rushing touchdowns allowed to running backs. That's gonna be a very plus matchup for Dalvin Cook in a way maybe we haven't seen most the rest of this year. I've also got starting grades on the receivers here. Adam Feeling has got a B grade, which I haven't given a lot of B greats. I like him here. Since Dori Jackson's injury in Week ten, the Giants have allowed at least sixty yards to multiple receivers in every one

of those games since Week ten. And if we're gonna have a second receiver gets the sixty yards, theland is the most likely one to get it. Opposing number two receivers have scored touchdowns on the Giants in three consecutive weeks, and theoland has scored in three out of the last four weeks. So I like feeling here be grade k j Osborne coming off a career game, and he'll face off against one of the league's worst slot cornerbacks, darn A Holmes. Holmes owns a PFF ranking as quarterback corner

back one hundred twenty five. You probably didn't think there were undred twenty five cornerbacks in the league. That sounds like last place. Over it's like fourth from last. Over the past six games, Holmes has allowed seventy of the passes and his coverage should be completed. We'll go with

a C grade on kJ Osborne. CE grade on t J. Hockenson just one touchdown since joining the Vikings, but he is averaging a solid six catches for forty eight yards and that's eleven points from your tight end, which around this time of year is pretty darn great. The Giants are an average tight end defense, but there is opportunity against New York's linebacker due of Jalen Smith and Mike

and McFadden who allowed catch rade over eight. If Hockinson scored more, I'd give him a B. But we're just gonna put the sea because he has only the one touchdown since coming to Minnesota, and with all those positive grades for the receivers, obviously, I like Kirk Cousins here.

Um Cousins comes into this game as the Lead's hottest passer with two game totals of eight hundred eighty five passing yards and six touchdowns, and those games came against far tougher secondaries than the one New York brings to US Bank Stadium. A B grade for Kirk Cousins. Our no match up with this segment is the Houston Texans taking on the Tennessee Titans. Derrick Henry is an obvious aye. My question to you is is there anybody else to

start between these two teams? Well, you're not even gonna mention about going that. Derrick Henry is going for his fifth straight two hundred plus yard multi touchdown game against Houston. Just not just impressive. I have nobody else starting for the Tennessee Titans in this one. Uh going against a Houston defense that has been pretty good against the past, but mostly because teams just run all over them all day. Malik Willis did not look good in his first two

starts fifty five yards and eighty five yards. Burkes should play. He's you know, out of the protocol and whatnot. He's supposed to play. But with that low volume, you can't trust Chicka Quanko either, um, especially with him splitting snaps with Austin Hooper and and whatnot. Let's go over to the Texans side. Though. I have an A grade on Henry obviously, Uh, Davis Mills, I have a C grade on eight quarterbacks. Yeah, eight quarterback to take a chance

on me quarterback? I thought about it, but I reluctant. Sam Darnald, I wanted to get grosser. He actually David Sills. Davis Mills almost was might take a chance on any quarterback. Uh, he was the runner the one A. Eight quarterbacks. Eight quarterbacks have three hundred plus yards against the Titans this year. Eight quarterbacks had multiple scores. Over the last three The Titans have allowed eight QB scores in an average of

over three hundred and fifty yards per game. Their past defense is released starting to let it up as six point underdogs that no one can run on. No one can run on the Titans. They're going to the Houston Texans are going to have to pass, and without Damian Pierce once again, they're gonna have to pass a lot more so. Davis Mills. I have a C grade on I guarantee Davis Mills has more touchdowns and toilets in

his house. So I don't know why using the toilet sound over him, but uh, And Mills is coming off a three score game himself, by the way, three scores last week, one rushing. Uh. He was supposed to go to Jeff drist School, by the way. That was sickening the Yahoo hack. Brandon Cooks, Brandon Cooks will be back for this one. He's pexing and full now. I gotta C grade on him, and a C grade on Chris Moore,

who has been a highlight the last few weeks. The last time more and Cooks played and Nico Collins didn't. Who is now and I are Chris mor Goose, But he's been getting much a much higher percentage of snaps and targets and whatnot since. I've C grades on both of them against the Titans. D that is bottom three against wide receivers. Allowing the second most receptions, third most yards, fourth most touch It's just a good spot for them. Uh. Five wide receivers in the last three games have sixty

five plus yards and or score. I think it could be both of them this week. Uh the running games on the bench. Nobody can run against the Titans and they're splitting work. I Aikin's Jordan. I have a C grade on him. He scored into the last three. His yardage isn't there, but the Titans are allowing the third most receptions and second most yards, twelve most scores to tight ends and they've allowed twenty catches to tight ends in just the last two weeks. Ease, I think it's

no case spot for him. So see great on Jordan Nakins. And that's it for matchup. That sounds like a it's really a dart throw that I'll let you play the dart throw on one of my matchups for That's that's worth it, right? Yeah? Uh the email box has has this question has come into our email box? I started I started Garrett Wilson on Thursday. What should I do to give myself a chance in my guillotine leads league? Signed Paul Seen Paul, you know what to do, Paul

ce uh. He's gotta gotta go for the against the green and guilloteam leagues. You pair a quarterback with a wide receiver, maybe even a quarterback with two wide receivers to try a stack. He's gotta go for the higher upside guys and not the safe place. No safety, man. It's brutal. It's a brutal situation. When we come back our number two three tough Questions, which is down to two top questions, we already had one of our tough questions.

You'll get two top questions and meet back. You can play along see if you can go to and oh against our panel of experts. When Fantasy Football Weekly continue, Welcome back our number two Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Charchy and Scott Fish and Brian Johnson with you. This is a game we call two tough questions. Tough Question number two. Already did Tough Question number one earlier in the show about the weather. We encourage you to listen back to that if you've missed any part of it, you can

do that with the podcast. By the way, Fantasy Football Weekly available everywhere you get your podcasts. Tough Question Number two, How much does the return of Khalil Herbert affect David Montgomer Marie, A lot, a little, or none at all? For this one, we begin with Brian Johnson. It's it's

I'm gonna go with a little. It's it's a little at minimum, because when they've both been playing, it's been like a fifty fifty split, and Herbert is the better back, or is on paper is the better back eye test looks like the better back than David Montgomery. The only reason that's definitely show. The only reason I'm not going a lot is because Montgomery is a free agent after this year, and I think the Bears really like Herbert, so I think there's kind of gonna grind Montgomery into

the ground a little more than Herbert. So certainly some costs are concerned. But I'm just gonna go with a little and not a lot, just for that gut fuel. Okay, Scott, how much does the return of Bears running back to Lil Herbert affect David Montgomery? I do like that the thought process there from Brian. I actually had it a lot because I think he just it sounds like he's fully healthy, sounds like he is ready to go practices

this week. He's ready to split work again. As Brian mentioned, he was splitting work before and he did look like the better back. The reason I say a lot is because they get the Buffalo Bills this week and I have bench grades on them both due to that split. And if it's enough to put him on your fantasy benches for this week and possibly be on your bench again next week, it's a lot, and then he's no longer a fantasy starting back. So that that was my

that was where I went with it. Okay, So your official answer is a lot because I don't think he's startable anymore. Objectively, Khalil Herbert is the better back. He averages six yards per carry. Khalil Herbert ranks number one in rushing efficiency by Next Gen Stats. He chips in eighty yards per game. Those are all better metrics than Montgomery when they had a shared backfield. So how bad

is it for Monty? It's bad in shared games, David Montgomery's yardage, touchdowns, and fantasy points dropped roughly in half. Monty had four touchdowns in his four games without Herbert. He had two touchdowns the entire rest of the year with Herbert playing. Now Herbert comes in with fresh legs in December, that's valuable. Herbert could bring some juice to the running game that Monty can't. Now, I think Bryant's Bryant's thinking there. I think there is a little bit

of validity to that there. You know, they could just decide Herberts are running back to the future. We're just gonna grind up Monty the rest of them and the final meetingless games. But overall, this really materially changes the output for David Montgomery. And the correct answer is a lot. Tough question number three. But by the way, David Montgomery didn't even top eighty yards in any of the game eighty total yards in any of the games Herbert was out.

He did nothing to keep that job. Tough question number three, it's the playoffs, So broadly, do you go with the guys that got you here? Are you playing the matchups? Let's go to Scott Fish. Yes to both. I mean this is neither question. This is really a question of how deep is your team and how many players do you start. I mean, the deeper you are, the more you're gonna analyze the matchups, like if you're but if you're here running through fugues right now, with all the

injuries and whatnot, you're probably started your best total lineup. Uh. For me, it's it's really a combo. It's I guess you say broadly, Um, so broadly, I guess I'm analyzing the matchups, but it's mostly it's mostly the guys that brought you there that because they're the ones performing right now. Brian, it's the playoffs. Do you go with the guys that

got you here or do you play the matchups? When when I think broadly when it comes to this question, it's not including Christian McCaffrey, justin Jefferson, there's like eight to ten guys like first rounders you're playing regardless of matchup, whether or whatever next years first rounders. Yes, But but broadly, you know, earlier in the show, I said, you're benching Amari Cooper. He probably helps you to the playoffs because

of matchup end conditions. So broadly, you gotta take a good look at the matchups and of course injury injuries weather in some cases. So broadly I will say, yeah, you gotta analyze the matchups and what's going on in the current week. I wrote this because I saw dozens of tweets over the last week that say something to the effect of, don't get cute with your playoff lineups. Don't don't don't don't smart yourself how you live with yourself all off season. If you don't start the guys

who got you here, that is crap. The NFL is never static. It is a perpetually changing machine, with teams and players constantly reinventing themselves, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Players are always changing, defenses are always changing. The guys who helped you get here might have been a locket Labor Day or Halloween or Thanksgiving or Arbor Day or Columbus Day. That doesn't mean they are now. The track

record doesn't mean anything for this weekend. The track record isn't gonna break a tackle, The track record isn't gonna land a stiff, The track record isn't going to die for a pylon. You have to be always looking at all of the emergent trends that are happening to make every single week unique, and that means playing the matchups. A great example of a player in recent weeks who has powered teams of the playoffs, most likely including last

week we scored three touchdowns. Was a Jones who had an awful matchup on Thursday night, bad weather, and that look at the lot. We talked earlier about the Lions emerging run defense. They become arguably the best run defense in the NFL the last five or six weeks, and nobody, if you don't account for that, you deserve the loss. You're going to get back to the matchups. Brian Washington taking on San Francisco. I loved this as a smash

spot for Brian Robinson last week another great example. I got him on the bench, all right, So now this week, what are you doing with him in a brutal matchup? Nothing? Apparently the most brut of matchups were running backs against the Niners. I got Robinson on the bench. San Francisco was allowing fifty seven rushing yards per game to running backs,

just ninety one combo yards per game. They've surrendered five total touchdowns of the position, and on the season, the forty Niners have allowed two rushes of twenty plus yards. Two that's crazy, obviously, so it's at Christmas, yeah, and the Niners have given up two runs of more than so Robinson on the bench. Clearly, Antonio Gibson on the bench. I will give Terry McLaurin, Danny McClaren, and Johan Dotson

to see. Like most teams who have been up against San Francisco all year, Washington will be forced to throw here. And over the last five weeks, the forty Niners have allowed the third most receptions and the fourth most yards per game to wide receivers. Ten opposing wide receivers have seen eight or more targets over that same span. So mclauren, Dotson, I will give them a C grade. Logan Thomas definitely

not getting a C grade. He's on the bench. He's had just two games where he's been worthy of a start all season. You know, he was kind of like a no, definitely not, and you're not starting Taylor Heineke. He's on the bench. Over to the forty nine side, Christian McCaffrey, of course, is not on the bench. He gets an A. It is a tough matchup for McCaffrey on paper, as Washington is allowing the third fewst Combo yards per game to running backs just one D and five.

That said, CMC is not like most backs, and over the Commander's last two games, both against the Giants. By the way, we talked to Pills on the show last week it was Giants by Giants, say Kawan Barkley scored in both of those games, and last week he topped the hundred Comboy yards and McCaffrey can certainly do the

same on the room. I'm sorry. At home against Washington, Deebo Samuel, He's not gonna play, so he's obviously on the bench, as is Brandon Auk just two catches and each of Brock Purdy's two starts, and since week three, Justin Jefferson is the only wide receiver to top one hundred yards against the Commanders, So you can't trust aukre I will trust George Kittle in the tight end waste end. I'll give him a b. It's kind of a soft

bee here. The Commanders have been tough against tight ends all seasons, surrendering surrendering the second fewest receptions and the fewest yards of the position, but Washington has also allowed I'm sorry, Washington. Washington is also only allowed three tight end touchdowns, but two of them went to the very comparable Dallas Goddard in separate games. Each time they faced the Eagles. So I think Kittle could replicate Goddard's success.

He gets a B. But and brock Bertie somewhat questionable. I think he'll play, but you're not gonna start brock Purty. It's a very tough matchup. The Commanders have three games of tape on him, and we have we see where first start rookies or young quarterbacks will get about three games in and now defenses of God have figured out what you cannon can't do, and they take away what you do naturally. San Franz gonna play great defense and just feed McCaffrey, Jordan Mason borderline. Take a chance on

me player, but U he doesn't have. It's a tough right. I think that sys the match. I think I think he's more than decent. Honestly, Uh, Seattle takes on on Kansas City. This is a weather game. Seven degrees only ten degree a ten mile per hour winds, but that's still ends up equilling an estimated kickoff of minus five degrees as wind chill. So it's a It is a chili game. But we're not panicking and I'm not changing

grades really on anybody here. I already mentioned earlier. Marquis Goodwin might take a chance on the wide receiver, but also like DK Metcalf without lock, and he's gonna get a lot of looks in this game. Over the last five weeks, the Chiefs have allowed one and a half touchdowns per game to opposing wide Out's fifth most cornerback Joshua Williams has been dreadful over that span. Uh he's allowing the fourth most yards of any corner He's given

up three scores. Rookie quarterback Trent mcduffe's improved a lot, but on the whole, there's a very plus matchup for Metcalf and the wind is not going to really be much of a factor. So I still like me Metcalf with a B grade in this game. Gino Smith comes in with a B grade. Here's say complete list of quarterbacks who have failed to throw multiple touchdowns against the Chiefs, Malik Willis and Bryce Perkins. That's it. That is your

list of quarterbacks who have not thrown multiple touchdowns. You're gonna get two out of Gino Smith here. I believe if you take away two brutal matchups against the Niners, Gino Smith has been one of the league's most bankable fantasy quarterbacks. In his non Niners games, Smith averaging a very healthy two hundred seventy yards and two touchdowns per game. And he's gonna give you about that here. Back to Metcalf really quick. We gotta spite game alert. Chiefs selected

Mikole Hardman ahead of TK met Metcalf decision. Listen to this. There are three other receivers Hiken for Metcalf, after Mikole Hardman, J J. Arthago, Whiteside, Paris Campbell, and Andy Isabella. Wow. Man, those guys have combined career for I don't know, maybe yards. I remember when when that that draft class. I remember you and I talking about d K bing R one or two in that draft class. I remember sitting in your little office talking about that, and then he got

passed by all those guys. Apparently in the it was close. Drill, Oh it is gone, Drill. Oh my god, you can't draft d came out, But that was starting the heart of h Pick fifty six, fifty seven, Whiteside, fifty nine was Campbell, sixty two, Isabella sixty four was Metcalf. He was like bang bang bang bang bang. And now that wasn't the same draft where the Chiefs made the epic blunder of taking Clyde Edwards a layer. Jonathan Taylor was not the same draft that was the next year they

made that blunder. All right, let's finish out the Seattle side of this with Kenneth Walker, by the way, banged up, so be sure to check double check his status. They elevated a couple of practice squad players late in a week, which adds to some of my concern on Kenneth Walker here, who has failed to top three point nine yards per

carrying four of the last five games. He's failed to top forty seven rushing yard in four straight And to be clear, I still think Kenneth Walking is a very good player, but he's playing hurt in The offensive line is awful against the run, particularly or for the run. Kansas City is a good run defense, much better than against the past. Though the sixth best in rushing yards allowed at only eighty per game, Chiefs give up plenty of aerial production, permitting the most receptions in the second

most receiving yards. But the problem is Walker doesn't catch much, so you really can't rely on him to help you there I've only got the C grade on Kenneth Walker, and again be sure to check his injury status throughout this game. Let's go to the Kansas City side. Obviously, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelsey obvious as and there my number one ranked players at their respective positions. Let's talk about some of the other players we're looking to start.

Jerrick McKinnon. Amazing call by Matt Harrison three shows Ago urging people to pick up and start Jerrick McKinnon and highlighting the series of easy matchups that he has so far feasted on. Over his last three games, He's averaging

fourteen touches, almost half through the air. By the way of those routine hundred five yards and one point three touchdowns per game, Jerick McKinnon, you should have no problem keeping it going against the Seahawks allowing both the fourth most rushing yards and the fourth most receiving yards to opposing backs. BE grade on Jerick McKinnon. B grade on Isaiah pa Jecko. Six straight games of double digit carries, averaging a stellar five point one yards per carry over

that span. Excellent matchup against the Seahawks team allowing the fourth most rushing yards the third most touchdowns to opposing running backs and even worse lately over the last five games, allowing one hundred seventy two rushing yards per game and almost two touchdowns per game to running backs. Both would be league worst over the course of the full season. Pacheco B grade. The only other starting grade and the only other player you care about, is Juju Smith Schuster.

He has commanded double digit targets and back to back games, and he's averaged a respectable eighty one yards with one score in that span. Seattle's pass defense has been good all year and absolutely dominating against a series of backup quarterbacks of late. Over the past three games, no receivers top forty eight yards, and only Shy Smith has scored against Seattle. Obviously, Patrick Mahomes is way better than those guys.

Other than elite receivers the likes of Chris Godwin, Davante Adams, Mike Williams, no white out, it's really getting much of anything done against Seattle, and Juju smiths User simply isn't at their level. So I've just got the C grade on Juju Smith Schuster. When we come back, another big block of matchups for you Buffalo taking on the Bills and a cold weather, windy game. Lots of injuries on the Bills side. We'll talk you through the offensively and

defensively on the Bear side. I said, Bills on the Bear side. We'll talk to you through that game and what to expect when we come back. Fantasy Football Weekly. It's Fantasy Football Weekly, a frigid Arctic semi Finals edition. The coldest of the many cold games will be in Chicago, with wind chill temperatures expected to be negative twenty two at kickoff in Chicago as Buffalo takes on the Chicago Bears. Scott, Chicago's got all kinds of injuries offense and defense. What

do you think of the Bills game plan here? You already told us you like Devin singletarry as you take a chance on me Runner. I have automatic as on Josh Allen and stuff on Diggs. You're not benching them, but it's of a note. In the last two freezing temp games, Josh Allen has played nine touchdowns zero interceptions, which is a lot. It feels like a lot for a two game span. I believe one of those went to overtime, so that helps um so I just have a grays on A grades on them, especially with how

dinged up the Bear second areas. As you mentioned earlier when we were in that take a chance on me segment. I do have a C grade on Dawson Knox had a great game last week. Uh, and he's actually had a really good Fantasy day four of the last five games or Not bears the third best against the tight ends this year. However, Knocks has four plus catches and four of his last five and fifteen targets in just the last two games alone. He's getting a lot of

volume there, so ce grade on him there. Um, I've mentioned all the bills already. Somehow it's amazing. Over to the other side, I think Justin Fields is automatic a at this point anyway, just with his rush, just with his rushing, even in this matchup now, he's posing too offensive line, including their best, so he has to run around the corner instead of up the middle. Maybe I don't I mean breakdowns on the line. I don't think

really help anybody, you know. Obviously this capability is serves him better than many, but right and they'll be behind, he'll have to he'll have to throw. I understand the the hesitancy there. I still have an A grade on him cool comet. I have a C grade on three to five catches, basically a lock every week for him. He's he had a stretch in the middle of this season where he was scoring touchdowns at will, and then

he was gone for a while. But for the last seven games, he's been in the forty yard three to five catch guy top seventy twice in just last five weeks. Uh, he's starting to produce. Their bills are fourth best against tight ends, but they are allowing about five for forty per game, which is what Connect gets, and Connect gets all of it. So uh, they have not allowed a touchdown to a tight end though since Thanksgiving night of last year. That's that's a stretch. That's a stretch you

might not get the touchdown. You're not going to from that. As Matt mentioned last show, with those two linemen out as well, Montgomery and Herbert, I see too much of a split here. I mean they're there there if it was one back, if it was just Montgomery, if Herbert doesn't play, I mean he's averaging nine yards a game, taking eighteen touches, and sister did a lot with his

eighteen touches. Slivan Aukman even got involved last week. Bam Knight had seventy seven the week before, Stevenson seventy eight the week before. All those on sixteen to eighteen touches, he might get ten to twelve, both of them splitting. So I have I have bench grades on both Montgomery and Herbert. There, I just can't start. I can't trust it until I know what Herbert's Herbert officially activated on Friday. Yeah, he's out. I give Montgomery a see though, Yes she

doesn't play. Denver Broncos take on the Los Angeles Rams. Bryan, you already mentioned Russell Wilson and Courtland Sutton, but there are a couple other Broncos that people are interested in playing. What about Jerry Judy. Yeah, we'll round out the passing attack first, which I do fuel will actually be an attack this week against the Rams, who are just again they are toasts. They are they well done, beyond cooked.

I gotta be on Jerry Judy. Over his last five games, he's averaging seventy five yards and has scored four times. The Rams are allowing six yards per game to wide receiver. That's the tenth most, so I let the good times role for Jerry Judy, and I think there's gonna be some good times for the Tavius Murray as well had some concerns with a foot injury, but he says he's

good to go. I expect him to play. Can give him a B. Had a monster game last week with a hundred and forty two combo yards and a touchdown. The Rams what will remain without Aaron Donald. They're also on a short week after playing in Green Bay on Monday night. L A allowing nine combo yards per games to opposing running backs. Yes, Marlon Mack will steal some touches. He did. He voltered a touchdown for Murray last week. He could ended up with two scores. But I like

Murray a lot. He gets a B and uh yeah, no, that's not it for I failed to mention Greg Dulcitch, who I have on the bench. Actually, uh, he's top three catches just once over the last four games with no touchdowns. The Broncos have gone back to more of a of a tune at tight end and the Rams allowed just three and a half catches forty one yards per game too tight ends. So I got Dulcitch on the bench and over the Ram side. Really not a lot to talk about here. Cam Akers the only player

I'll give his starting grade two. If you're desperate. The softest of seas for cam Akers, you likely get around fifteen touches from him, which could be serviceable against the Broncos, who are allowing thirty six Comboy yards per game to running backs. But they have surrendered his eight total touchdowns at the position all seasons, So not a very high floor for Acres. But if you're if you're needi at

running back, he does get the C grade. But all the all the Rams wide receivers, the ones that are left bench Tyler, he could be not a good matchup for him. He's on the bench, Baker Mayfield on the bench, the Rams. No team wants the season to end more than the Rams. Probably true. That is probably true. Eagles take on the Cowboys in a marquee matchup that would have meant a lot more if Dak Prescott hadn't thrown the game away last week. Let's start with Miles Sanders.

In his last four games, Sanders has five rushing scores and two games with a one hundred forty three rushing guards or more. He Sanders has lost five rushing touchdowns to Jay Allen Hurts in that span, but now Jalen Hurts us out, so those rushing touchdowns can easily go to Sanders. In their Week six matchup between these teams, Sanders put up seventy one yards and a touchdown, and I think that's the minimum that he's going to get

here against Dallas. He can improve on that here. In the last nine games, the Cowboys have allowed a running back to run for at least seventy two yards or a touchdown in every game. So Miles Sanders a grade in this one where I can start any of the other depth running backs. Let's go to the passing game. A J. Brown obvious a play. I like that part for a lot for him. And where this thing gets a lot trickier is with the return of Dallas Goddard.

Let's talk him through this. Minshew led Goddard to the best performance of his career in their one game together, throwing for six catches, one hundred six yards and two touchdowns, So the history suggests the Minshew will look to Goddard. The Cowboys defense hopes to play spoiler, though they allow the sixth fewest yards and only one touchdown to tight ends this season, and that said linebacker Layton Vanders was having great season. He's gonna miss this game and that's

gonna force rookie Damon Clark onto the field. My only real fear for Dallas Goddard is perhaps a reduced snap count in his first game back. But that's it. So it would be at a grade. If you told me he's gonna play the whole game. I'm giving him a B grade just to be cautious. Then what about Davonta Smith. He likely gets daggered here by Dallas Goddard's return. Smith was held to forty four or fewer yards in five of the six games before Goddard got hurt. That's the killer.

The good news here, though, the Cowboys just benched their fifth string cornerback, Kelvin Joseph, and it looks like they're gonna go to their sixth string cornerback, something called Nashon Wright, who has never started a game and he's played seventies seven coverage snaps in his life. So the matchup is still good enough for Davante Smith to earn a C

grade and then there's Gardner Minshew himself. I've got an A B and a C grade on his receiving options, so I've got to be grade right in the middle for Gardner Minshew. Do you still have a little bit of love for Gardener? Gardner? Mishe because of all the Chris Conley games you were able to correct, wasn't it. I was on fire that year with my Chris Conley predictions. Oh that was that was some excellent Thank yous. Ye

we're going back. Minshew started one meaningful game last year and a less meaningful week e Teaen game, but he performed well in both. He completely had two touchdowns in both games, completed eight percent of his passes in the meaningful game. Now, undoubtedly the Cowboys are gonna attack and rush Gardner Minshew. By the way, this is the number one pass rush defense against the number two pass rush defense in the league. Um, they're going to pressure him

a ton. But the Dallas secondary is garbage outside of Trayvon Dakes and as I mentioned, they're gonna be starting a six string cornerback in this game. I don't think their safeties are any good. This matchup is filled with opportunities for Gardner Minshew to exploit B grade Gardner Minshew. The Jalen Hurts injury, in my opinion, one of the biggest injuries in fantasy football history considering how blindsided we are because he finished the game against the Bear and

he was like, who knew? It's affected me a lot. Remember he was my number two ranked quarterback coming into this year at the time. That was controversial. Tony Pollard and Zeke could be grades in this game. In the eight games when Pollard has handled at least twelve carries, you everre just ninety three yards and six scores, and he's gonna get the twelve carries here, um, because the Eagles are very hard to throw upon. But the worry here for both Pollard and Zeke. Elephant Tyne rookie defensive

tackle Jordan Davis has been awesome. Since Davis returned from injury three weeks ago, no back has top fifty three yards against them. Zeke has the advantage of goal line carries and as safe floor, and he's managed at least forty two yards in every game this year. So I've got B grades on both guys, but I contemplated C grades because of the Jordan Davis factor in this one. Let's talk about the passing game next. Dak Prescott has thrown some ugly interceptions, but mostly we don't get penalized

too much for that. For fantasy use, Prescott has been a reliable starter, with touchdowns in every game and multiple touchdowns in six of the past seven. But this is Prescott's toughest matchup of the year. Dallas Is Outside receivers have brutal matchups against the league's best due of cornerbacks that Darius Slay and James Bradberry, and I've only got a C grade on Dak Prescott in this game. Ceedee

Lamb gets a B grade. Philadelphia owns this guy. In five career games is high water mark is five catches for sixty eight yards, and in those five games, Ceedee Lamb has scored once. I think they're gonna he runs from the slot most often. He'll face cornerback Avante Maddox, who has now returned from injury, and he's very good. In eight games. Maddox is allowing is forty yards per game and is not allowed to touch down this year. Just the Beasts b great on Ceedee Lamb and this one.

Um Michael Gallup and Noah Brown on the bench, and it's in the playoffs. They are spots starters anyway, and even in good matchups they're spots starters. We're not chasing Noah Brown's touchdown from last week. Dalton salt Sheltz gets a C grade here. He's been an all or nothing fantasy producer all year, exemplified by the last two weeks, a blow up game and then last week just two

catches for fifteen yards. The Eagles tight end defense has been awesome since Week nine, allowing a paltry per game average of four catches thirty three yards and zero point one touchdowns per game. UM. I'll note that when these teams met last time, Dalton Schultz backup ended up with a touchdown in that game. Ferguson, Jake Ferguson, uh and Dalton Schultz didn't play that game, So maybe you could use that as a glimmer of hope here. But I don't.

I don't love this matchup. When we come back our final block of games, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals, already told you I really like Tom Brady in this game, Scott will tell you about which receivers you can play when we come back to Fantasy Football Weekly. Final segment. Fantasy Football Weekly, Paul Charchi and Scott Fish and Brian Johnson with you if you'd like

to follow us on Twitter. I am at Paul Charchi, and Scott is at Scott Fish and Brian is at b t x J. Nobody knows what the T and the X is. It's very very secretive, totally extreme. No, I've I've sort of told the story. T is my middle initial and X was my my confirmation name. If you're I didn't say not know this, I've not heard this st and you were supposed to pick your confirmation

name like based on this book of Saints. And I was a wise ass shocker right in seventh grade and I went with with Xavier because I was a Knicks fan and Xavier McDaniel players, and I went up in front of I went in front of the class and was like, and that's why. And I probably got whacked with a get the guns, hit you with the ruler at that point. But again, it wasn't private school, so they could I didn't go to Catholic school. It was

just like a Sunday thing you had to do. But it was just kind of like my my screen name gamer tag whatever you want, and there you go. There's there's a history of on Twitter and and it is for sale for anyone who does want to buy. I'm waiting for that stock v t x J a stock ticker or something. I will, I will, I will consider all offers. Sounds like a crypto company. It does sound like a crypto company, but they don't have any money. They can't afford. My Twitter and on how much is

doge coin worth these days? It's like seven cents, It's not seventy anymore. No, my not. Can you sell short on crypto? Does it work that way? It doesn't matter. Tampa Bay takes on Arizona. Scott we already we liked. I love Tom Brady. I think Tom Brady sitting on a big game here. I mentioned Arizona maybe out four starting cornerbacks in this game. So which of the receiver's deal.

I like Chris Godwin, who have an A grade on with A plus catches and three to last four uh six plus in all but one game since returning from injury in Week four. That's a that's a lot of volume team target leader. Renzowed target leader, which is crazy. Despite missing two games, Cardinals are allowing US seventy three percent completion rate against them and Brady if he continues to throw at fifty plus times, that's like thirty five

targets to spread around. Godwin's seen eight plus in ninth straight. A grade on him. Uh, you already mentioned Arizona defense. I don't need to go much into except they've allowed eight wide receiver touchdowns in the last five games prior to the bye, and two of those games, the ones where they shut down the quarterback and receiving options were Mac Jones and Brett Rippion. So the other teams there,

they're they're letting it up. Uh. Mike Evans, I have a B grade on I know he hasn't scored since like six years ago. It feels like at this point, I know it's been like eight nine ten games, nine games, ten games, something like that. If you're going to build an all bus team, not counting injury, wide receiver him and him, Kamara, Kyle Pitts is the Russell Wilson's got hurt, so he's not allowed to be he was he was, he wasn't meeting the charge, but he's a wide receivably

on that. Yeah. Mike Evans has been under sixty yards for five straight weeks until last week. He's he has average ten targets per game in that stretch, and he hasn't been scoring. I think regression comes this week and he finds positive regression and he gets he gets that B grade. He finally gets in the ends of shot guarantee. Another ends I'm not not gonna go that bold. It sounds like Julio Jones is going to play, and that makes Russell Gauge and Julio Jones not startable anymore. UM

their borderline unusable when they both play. Uh, he has eight Uh. This is Russell Gauge had eight for eighty three and two scores last week on five red zone targets, but plays sixties of the snaps in every game without Jones. But when Jones is in, he takes the back seat to Jones. Uh in all those categories, and Jones does nothing with the volume he gets, So they're both on the bench. Kate Doughton and uh. Cameron Braid is very annoying to me. The Cards given up ten tight end

touchdowns this year. A tight end has seventy plus yards end or scored in eleven of their fourteen games. It's just a great spot. But they're splitting so much. Otten is the better pass catcher, but Braid has double the targets that Otten does in the last two weeks. Uh, Odden snap count is higher. He's everything about it is. I'm sorry Braid's Braid is doubly not in snackount snap count. Braid is just in there and is not getting enough work.

I have them both on the bench, but Otton is an interesting dart throw in a great matchup, is a better pass catcher. It's just really tough. I haven't both on the bench. Rashod White, I have a B grade on the Cards have allowed four running back touchdowns in just the last two weeks and allow the seventh most running backs on the year. Every fifteen touch back. Every single running back with fifteen touches against the Arizona Cardinals. Excuse me, how to take a breath? Topped eighty yards

and almost all of them scored. So it's good spot for Rashade White, who's getting that pretty much every week recently. Uh, He's he's hit that. We that mark four weeks in a row, far more efficient and effective than Leonard four Nett. They're both past great pass catchers. Rashad White was in college. That's that's what we thought the role would be. Four Nets taking it back in the last couple of weeks, which is really annoying, but it's just enough to give

Fournette the C grade. As a guy who gets double digit touches and four to six catches every week. Um, he's been leading in snaps two of the last three that lock for ten plus touches in the past volume, I'm given him a see as well. On the other side, I have McSorley on the bench. I don't think I need to do to expand on pet trace. McSorley is not gonna power. He's played three quarters and throwing three interceptions. UM. Anyway,

I do have DeAndre Hopkins with a C grade. He's still managed to put up stats in both those games somehow. Last week he am asked three catches for twenty eight yards with mcs orlean, but he did have seven targets and one in the end zone and he got a target on the two point conversion. Like maybe there's something there. He's getting the volume for McSorley. He's barely barely startable. Um, but I still have a C grade like a really if he C grade dart throw grade grad yess on

DeAndre Hopkins one of the receivers. No, but James Connor. I do have a B grade on Connor as nineteen plus touches in four of his last five, scored in all five games, averaging three catches in in that stretch. He's he's at QB issues, but he stayed consistent. His pass game work and likelihood to score should keep him head at a B as they lean on the ground and to try to keep Brady off the field and try to keep Mixed story Lee from throwing the ball.

Um of note, four backs have had sixteen or more touches on the bat on the bucks, which Connor should easily get. All top two hundred yards and all of them scored. So all four of them, I mean, it's just four, but be great on James Connor. Charges take on the colts Brian and Austin. You already mentioned h Josh Kelly, as you take a chance on me running back Austin Ekeler thinks pretty obvious. More interesting this Charger's passing game against what has been a very good Indianapolis

past defense this year. Yeah, it's been pretty good at Ekeler easy a. You know, he really gets the Fonzie. You might as well fire it up. But um, I won't get into that over the passing game. Will give Keenan Allen and Mike Williams a B. Though the Colts have surrendered six wide receiver touchdowns over the last two game games and they could be without cornerbacks kennymore the second and safety Brandon face On, so a B for

Allen and Williams. Josh Palmer I have on the bench, though as uh I have as do I have General Everett on the bench. That was not very properly worded. Everett only ran twenty eight routes last week in the return of Donald param Our Boy. Donald parrm we ave him on this show, which was at least routes Everett has run since Week five, which was the last time Donald Parham was healthy, So that's no coincidence in my mind.

The Colts have also not allowed an opposing tight end to top five catches or fifty eight yards all season, so Everett on the bench in week sixteen, but you're not gonna bench Justin Herbert the air Bear. Yeah, he hasn't throw a touchdown, I believe, in the last three weeks, but he does have three hunch of plus passing yards in three straight games. I'm still gonna give him the A here. I mentioned, uh, Colts could be without two

key members of their secondary. They've also surrendered seven touchdown passes over their last two games, so I will give air Bear the A over to the Colts side. Not a ton to talk about here. We'll start at the running backs. Dion Jackson was your take a chance on me runner Church, and I'll also give Zack Moss a CEE. Uh. They should pretty much split the work here in a

very good matchup. Jackson the preferred pass catching back most likely, but I still see for Moss against the Chargers, who have allowed these second most rushing touchdowns and the second most rushing yards to opposing running backs. And the only other Colt I will give a starting grade two is Michael Pittman. Canna give him a CEE Over the Chargers

last four games. DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, and Tyree kill all had big games against l A. The one team that who was number one wide receiver failed to have a big game was Tennessee last year. But we're talking Robert Woods or Racey McMath. Trey lan Berks was even playing, So Pittman gets the CEA. It might have been a be if Matt Ryan was the quarterback, but he's been benched in favor of Nick Foles. So that's why just the see for pit been Folds on the bench of course,

along with Alec Peters, Paris Campbell. All five tight ends on the Colts, I know so many of them all next year, it's just gonna be one Gillannie Woods the only tight end they're given gonna roster. By the way, I feel bad for by the way, Ryan, right, Kyle Grandson might not play. Remember the last time Kyle Grandson didn't play Gianni Woods touchdowns? Yeah, yeah, I hope that's the case. Here. There's a dart and Matt Ray did get a raw deal. He did not lose that Viking game.

That was not on Matt Ryan at all, nor did he lose the Super Bowl against the Patriots. But that's always gonna be remembered. Four now is him? I think brutal, terrible? Uh Packers take on the Miami Dolphins in Miami. If this game had been in Green Bay, it had been played at a kickoff temperature of like negative three. So we dodged that bullet, I guess. So let's talk. Let's start with the running game. A J. Dillon and Aaron Jones. A J. Dillon expected to play, by the way, did

not finish last week's game, but should be available here. Um, they're getting more work of late and I like both in this game, although it is a tough matchup. Week six was the last time a running back reached seventy rushing yards against Miami. That is a streak of eight games. But the Dolphins have given up nine scores to running backs in that time, and that includes four receiving touchdowns in the last three weeks alone. That tilts the scales

here a little bit to Dylan. It's not receiving touch on those four total to three four touchdowns the last three weeks. It tells the scale to Dylan, who's got a three to one marginal carries over Jones. But I still got B grades on both guys. But it is an uphill matchup for both and we need some receptions. I hate to interrupt this matchup, but I think we got some time. I'm just gonna go back to the

Titans wide receivers that we talked about. Guess who led them in catches last week, Chris Conley, feel like one more. I don't know, you missed the r on the opportunity. Let's go to Aaron Rodgers. Um I mentioned that Dylan and Jones are getting more of the work of late, and they're ratcheting down the work on Aaron Rodgers significantly.

His downfield passing, which is the kind of passing fantasy players need, is becoming increasingly rare and increasingly inaccurate for Aaron Rodgers, and the volume has dropped significantly, likely because Matt Lafleur is intentionally mitigating Rogers impact. Over the last month, Rodgers attempts have dropped from thirty five per game down to just twenty seven. It is hard to find bankable fantasy success on twenty seven short passes, and that's what

Rodgers is giving you. Miami's past defense well prior to getting rocked by elite passers Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, the previous seven quarterbacks average of very modest two hundred seventeen yards and one and a half touchdowns, which is almost exactly what Rogers has averaged over the last month. So that's what I think you're gonna get here. And

that's just a C grade for Aaron Rodgers. The only starting past catcher I've got for the Packers is Christian Watson, a touchdown dependent receiver on a team that's drowing less and less off and against the defense that doesn't give up many wide receiver scores over the last five weeks. Five weeks the Dolphins have a one score to a wide receiver and only two receivers have topped six weeks. That's it. So I've only got the C grade on

Christian Christian Watson. All the other past catchers are dead zero consistency from anybody, and particularly Alan Lazard, apparently battling leprosy because his arms may have well fallen off. They don't even throw to him anymore. It's very sad, it is It's very weird. It's going to the Miami side. Is that what happens the lepers? I think it starts with I think it starts with the arms. Let's go

to the run. Let's start with the running game where he most looks like he's salted away the starting job with a fantastic performance last week in a much tougher spot at Buffalo. Um, and Jeff Wilson not fully healthy. Let we're not even sure he's gonna play in this game. He'll face a Packers team allowing the third most yards per carry five five per game, five per carry plus.

You know I gotta believe that most and Mike McDaniel would love to duplicate what they did last time they played the Packers, a playoff game featuring two d twenty yards from Raheem mostly and four scores in that playoff game. UM, if Jeff Wilson does not go, we're gonna we're gonna move for he Moastard up to an A grade. Right now, he's sitting at a B grade under the assumption Jeff Wilson will be there. But Wilson shouldn't be a big factor in this game. UM, he hasn't top thirteen carries

or thirty nine yards since before Thanksgiving. So just the we're gonna have a bench grade on Wilson whether he plays or not. Let's go to the passing game to a Tungo Viola is a B grade. A somewhat had a somewhat better game last week in Buffalo, but I don't play anybody who's nervous about him in a matchup against an equally erratic and sometimes very good Green Bay secondary. The Packers shut down Baker Mayfield and Justin Field's passing,

which we expect. Prior to that, they had allowed multiple passing touchdowns in six great games. I think two we could get to two here be grade on too A. Tyreek Hills continues to get an A grade, and that probably doesn't require a lot of expansion here. He will match up a lot against j R. Alexander, who grades eleventh best among all cornerbacks by Profo Ball Focus, So it's not an easy matchup. But Tyreek's elite and you're still going to start him, and I'm still giving him

an A grade. Jalen Wattle B grade. Outside cornerback Rasul Douglas has struggled lately. He's a lot of four touchdowns in his coverage, three of which have come in the last four games. Plus he's giving up a massive eighty two percent catch rate in that stretch. So Jalen Waddle finally reach Paydirt last week. I think he gets another solid game here, and I've got a B grade on

Jalen Wattle. Uh. That about wraps it up. This is a big semi finals game, and next week we'll be talking to those playing for the championship and hopefully other people who keep kept listening, who kept listening, not just not just champions, You can always keep listening. Just keep us by the way, we're around, oh yere, We're fifty two weeks to see football weekly, not just in season.

So even after we're done with our our longer in game episodes that continue through weeks seventeen, we will will be back with more and more fantasy information every week. I'm Fantasy Football Weekly. Best of luck in the playoffs. Everybody, talk to you next week. Bye bye. Fantasy Football Weekly is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.