Hardware Week

am sure you're both alive in several leagues. I'm playing in several leagues as well. Nope, none, none, not one, Nope. It's the fantasy playoffs of hell this year. And it doesn't matter how good of a team you've built, it's all blown up in this. It's kind of true. I mean you you could have assembled the perfect roster and just had Covid chip away at it over these past few weeks to the point that it doesn't matter. I

thought I did. That's what happened. It's it's tough. It's this is it's as difficult a year as there's been in many ways, as unjust a year as there's ever been in fantasy football. History, because there's you know, there's no justice or knowing who's going to get COVID who's not. It's you know, there were just so many things up in the air this week and this year. So we're here to help you for the final time this year

get ready for the weekend's actions. But I want to remind you Fantasy Football Weekly continues even though we will not be in our extended two hour format. We will not be over the air. We will be in our podcast format, and we encourage you to subscribe if you haven't already, so you can continue to get Fantasy Football Weekly all off season as well. But this is the official end of year twenty seven. Yes, this is the

this is the end of twenty seven. I'm not sure if twenty eight begins until next August, so maybe this is it's the of the on air part. It's the end of twenty seven years. I was realizing this is my ninth year, so I've gone through nine times worth of Fantasy Football Weekly so far. Feels like a lot more, I can tell you that much. Man, it drags, it really does. Speaking of things that drag, the Panthers take on the Saints and wait game I will put the

over under on your starters for this game. Both teams are two and a half. Well, since I already uh maybe clued you in on this, I have two starters in this game. It's pretty bad here. The first starter is DJ More of the Carolina Panthers. Last week, with the hybrid of Cam and Sam at quarterback, the Panthers actually attempted forty five passes against Tampa Bay, which led to eleven targets for more actually ten targets for Robby Anderson to more seen at least ten targets in four straight.

The quality of the targets just hasn't been there though. The match up against the Saints is similar to the Bucks last week, easier to pass on than run, so I expect another high volume passing day, but just to see grade for more because these throws haven't been great. Olive Anderson on the bench, but if you need an absolute home run dart throw, I could see throwing him in some lie and ups Chuba Hubbard. He's obviously on the bench. In the last two weeks, he's totaled fourteen

carries for forty nine yards. That's total in two weeks. Gross and the Saints are very stingy against the run. On the other side, Alvin Kamara, he gets just a C grade here with you on this, especially if those tackles don't play Tara Armstrong, Ryan ram Check. They've arm instead, They've been They've missed the better part of a month. Now. They both could come back for this game, and then

I'm a little more interest in Kimara. Without them, I'm nervous even with uh He's been held at bay by two good defenses in Tampa and Miami in the last two weeks, and in rolls in Carolina, and the Panthers have allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest reception receptions and receiving yards to opposing backs, and they have not allowed one receiving touchdown to an opposing running back on the year. That eats into a lot of Camara's awesomeness.

In eight career meetings with the Panthers, Camara has topped sixty seven rushing yards once. Geez, that's it, and in the meeting with the Panthers back in Week three, he was held to twelve total touches and thirty total yards. He does get a sea because the Panthers will be missing what looks like four of their starting front seven in this game, So there's a little hope there. Uh, Taysom Hill and Marquez Callaway would be the only guys you would consider in the passing game, but I have

them both on the bench. The Panthers are allowing under two passing yards per game, and the only really good game allowed by the Panthers this year to quarterbacks where Jalen Hurts in Week five and Kirk Cousins in Week six. Since then, no quarterback has topped two two yards and only two quarterbacks have been able to manage multiple touchdowns. And since that Hurts game, no quarterback has scored on

the ground either, So that hurts Taysom Hill. So they are on your bench, and that is it for that terrible game which might hit twenty total points. I think maybe maybe maybe defensive points. Didn't think of that. I mean, it's probably how most of the points are scored here.

Scott Falcons take on the Bills, and the storyline to the biggest storyline for the Falcons, Haman, the disappearance of cour Darrel Patterson was you know, I think through September, October and much of November was the best story in fantasy football, and now virtually I'm starting. I'm finally I'm finally ready charged. The last few weeks, I've been giving you to ben him, but he keeps scoring. So I have not been wrong on those starts because he scored

each of them one touchdown in twelve yards. Yeah, maybe he maybe he deserved to see last week instead of higher, but uh, I'm finally with you on this one. This week. Patterson over the last five weeks has been held up by his four scores. That's that's the only thing holding him up. He's Uh. His usage has gone way down, both receiving and running the ball. He gets Sea level amounts of touches still, though the scoring keeps him in lineups. This week, I think he's his his ceiling is closer

to his see. I have the volume C grade on him because of how much red zone usage he gets, but his ten plus touches red zone usage, I'm barely given him a SEA this week. I would I would give him a bench grade. But that's all right. That's fine. That's fine. That's if people can mention, if they have the options to bench him, that's that's fine. I'm okay with it. I have Matt Ryan on the bench a couple more games, a couple more qbs facing the Bills

under a hundred and seventy five yards. That's now five games in the last six where the Bills of health quarterback under a hundred seventy five yards. Brady is the only one that got past that market. And Matt Ryan, he hasn't had multiple touchdowns since Week nine. You're just not starting him. You're not starting him any week. Russell Gauge, I have a C grade on He had a nice run when the volume was there, top twelve wide receiver three out the last four weeks, but he crashed last week.

He still had five plus targets, he had like forty nine yards. It's it wasn't that bad of a game. I have a sea level start on him here. It is a tough matchup, but he's really going to be the only guy out there in the ride wide receiving corps and almost every week he's getting forty to sixty plus yards possible scores, and the Bills are allowing forty to sixty yards to their top wide receiver each week. If you're looking at four to five catches, forty to

sixty yards. That's sea level. In my mind, that's like a zero elevation start sea level. Yes, they're sure that works, cal Pits, I have a B grade. Um, there we go. Bills are tough against tight ends, but they here's how they've done against top twelve types Top twelve when they played Gasecki. Both times, Kelsey and Gronk all had forty to sixty five yards and several scores. Among them, Logan Thomas had a six dr day and score against them. All the other tight ends, the non twelve top twelve

guys average about eleven yards per name. That's why they're That's why overall they're great. So the Kelsey, Grondkasecki, I put Pits up with them. I have a B grade on him because he gets six plus touches in all but two games. The tight ends that have had that volume have had the good days against the Bills. Over on the Bill side, A grade for John John this season, he's just had just one game where he didn't have at least three d total yards that's passing plus rushing

for multiple scores. Just one game, and that was the windy New England game, so it doesn't count he's done in every game. Now he gets the third easiest matchup for quarterbacks. I'm loving his top guy digs here against the Falcons team that's fourth easiest against wide receivers. Uh, it feels like he's had kind of a down year for some reason. I feel like Diggs. It feels like it started last year. It's not as good as last year, right, and it started slowly for Diggs as well. He's seen

over seven targets in every game. He's had fifty plus yards and or score in literally every game this year's he has hundred fifty three touchdowns games like last year, but he's been solidly consistent. He's got nine touchdowns. I do have an A grade on him here against this matchup now with Sanders likely out, he's questionable, but he's

likely gonna be out. He hasn't practiced this week. Davis is going to be back, Beasley is going to be back, and they they're really digging Isaiah Mackenzie this week in practice. They used him a fair amount last week. They used him a ton last week, and they really liked what they got out of him. I have them on the bench because I think they're gonna just each other. Yeah, I just monopolize each other's targets. Um, I liked it

better when a couple of them were out. We could make a dart throw out of one of them, but we can't. Here, Dawston Knox be grade. What happened last week is basically what exactly what we called. We didn't think he'd have high volume, but we thought he could score because he's been scoring a lot. He got a one year touching on at the very end of the game and really saved some folks. The Falcons, however, allowed scores and big games to Gronk Gasecki got her. Kittle

had six for ninety two two weeks ago. Good tight ends play against the Falcons. Gotta be greade on Knox here. Devin Singletary. Over the last three weeks, he has forty four rush attempts. Breda has four, Zack Moss has four. That's it. It's all his back backfield now, and somehow it's still he's still not fantasy relevant since Terry just can't find his way to be somebody you want to

put in your lineup. I know, but this week I kind of like him because he's a good pass catcher, He's got five plus catches in three to last four games. Atlanta is It's shocking. Atlantic is bad against pass catching running backs for the twentieth year in a row. It seems like their bottom ten, allowing the seventh most receptions

and yards to pass catching running backs. Given his full workload and the amount of receptions he's probably gonna get in this one, I gotta be grade on Signletary this weekend. I think that's pretty bold considering what he's done. Giants take on the Bears will still be our last matchup of this segment, Thank god. Yeah, no kidding and ending on an awfully exciting one, aren't we yea Giants? What

I meant? Right? Every part of the passing game for the Giants is obviously on the bench, and we don't even have to explain that, but I will mention this. The team's leading receiver last week had twenty eight yards. Yeah, that's it's come to this for the passing game. But what about Sae Kwon Barkley? You may ask, is this your last chance to get value out of that lace first round pick you put into Sae Kwon Barkley? Hell? No, no bench grade for sake, Kwon Barkley with declining rushing

and receiving yards in three consecutive weeks. He's hit the end zone once since Week four. DeVante Bookers stealing carries and receptions, not just doing carries. They was talked this week that they're gonna split the workload between the two. It wouldn't surprise me if se Kwon Barkley is in a similar offense with Daniel Jones next year. What round is he taken in next year? I mean, if it's basically this same team, is he a third round pick? Fourth, fourth, fifth, Yeah,

I think that's probably about where he'll go. Unfortunately, it's just the reality of where it is because we replay the previous season with drafting um Chicago's the middle of the pack run defense, but the Bears are six in receiving yards allowed to running backs and they're giving up just thirty yards through the air, and a lot of what Barkley has been able, what little values had has come through the air. Can't even count on that. So I'm leaving him on the bench. You got here without

him somehow to the championship week. You shouldn't need him here. Let's go to the Bears yeah, no kidding. Uh, David Montgomery gets an A grade. He's surpassed twenty touches in four of the last five games. I love the volume. He's turned those opportunities into an average of nine seven total yards per game and two touchdowns over that five game span. He's also seen his role in the passing game explode, leading the Bears with thirty four targets and

twenty nine receptions over that same five game span. Only three teams have allowed more running back touches than the nearly thirty per game that New York permits here. So all the volume and opportunities for David Montgomery and a grade for him this week. I like justin fields here. We liked. We talked about this last week and then he didn't end up playing. But he's back for this week or expecting to be back for this week. Um, and I'm sure Andy Dalton was named starter? Is he okay?

All right, let's go, Edie Dalton. I was gonna let me let me you might be right about I haven't looked today for new news. It's possible you're right about that. It's uh. I was hoping you'd be able to go. He had had had top ten fantasy quarterback finishes in four straight weeks, and they have named Dalton starter. Okay, well, Andy Dalton doesn't bring a lot to the table here and we're gonna give him no more than a C grade.

Against the Giants. New York secondary isn't terrible, but they've given up multiple touchdowns in into a bunch of middling pastors like Teddy Bridgewater and Taylor Heineke and Matt Ryanan and to a tongueo Via Loa. So I can see a C grade on Andy Dalton, but no higher than that, and you're not going to start him here in the championship week. Darnell Mooney gets a C grade. He's seen at least seven targets in five of his last six games,

including nine from Nick Foles last week. Nine times. That's three times as many as the next highest receiver at the Bears. So really, this passing offense goes through Mooney and Montgomery. Over their last four games, New York allowing the eleventh most yards to receivers hundred sixty per game. They've given a five scores to the position as well, so in the last four games, so there's a there's

a nice opportunity for for Mooney here. He doesn't always make the best of these good opportunities on paper because I I think I've recommended him a lot over the last month or so, he hasn't done much for us here. He'll go up against James Bradbury and Logan Ryan the most. They're both allowing a passer rating of at least in their coverage. When we come back, take a chance on me, and you would think at the end of the year in the championship game, you wouldn't have to go dumpster

diving for players. Yeah you do, No, no, no. With COVID out there and Amicron, yes, suddenly we need all those guys that you can find off of the waiver wire. Will help you identify nine players that you would not normally start in the championship game, but you can this week when we come back to Fantasy Football Weekly, on me nine players not only in your starting lineup, we will tell you who they are be going to get

the quarterback position and Matt Harrison, who you got. Derek Carr has the fifth most passing attempts on the year and the third most yards, and the Raiders are not afraid to air it out. They face the Colts team that scuffled a bit in the last half of the year since Week eight, the Colts allowed Ryan Tannehill to have his only good game in the second half of

the season. Then Jet Josh Johnson through for three seventeen and three against them, and Mac Jones hit his high water mark for the last mark with and two in week fifteen. So fire up, Derek Carr. All right, Scott, you're get chance at the quarterback. I'm going with Tyler Snoop Puntley if we're gonna throw out their nicknames, and might as well throw out Tyler Snoop Puntley. His worst rushing game on the years forty yards, his worst passing

game on the year fifteen yards. In the in games he start started, He's a threat to score with his legs at all times. He's got three scores in the last three games. They're gonna they're likely going to be chasing points in this one. Um. And also that rams pass runch pass rush I think makes Huntley get outside the pocket and run front for his life. A nickname thought, I thought you said Josh Jet Johnson. No, he was a Jet at the time, Okay, I I think we're

just throw it out there. Okay, no, not everybody on the Jets is nickname Jet. I'm going with Tray Laser Lance because apparently everybody has to have a nickname now, and I've just given one to Tray Lance. With Jimmy Garoppolo out, Lance is your starter against Hugh Houston. We've seen Lance for major parts of two games. In the first game, he threw two touchdowns. Second game, he ran for eighty nine yards. So what if he rolls that all together into one game. What if we get rushing

and passing against Houston. It's certainly possible. Houston secondary is competent. It's not great, it's competent. And the Niners receivers are dramatically better than anybody basically the Houston seen all year, and Lance has got the big arm. All he needs to do is a couple of deep connections and a couple of rushes. Get the ball into the hands of Deebo, Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon. I let them do something specially. You can find your way to a good game with Tray

Lance on the ground and through the air. Let's go to the running back position, Matt. I've got a double up here. I've got the gatekeeper, Ronald Jones and the key master Keyshawn Vaughan. Uh, we can do double again, do the double there. Jones is the more obvious one here, he's roster and of the leagues, but Vaughn is widely available and startable in a pinch against the Jets because the Jets are terrible against the run. How terrible are they?

They're more terrible against the run than Charge's attitude when we even try to say the words plus or minus on the quiet. They're more terrible against the run than Scott Fishes with the food pyramid. They're more terrible against the run than Matt was in the Big Bore Guillotine League. They're even worse than Colin mccockney. Running backs are averaging a hundred and sixties six Comboy yards and two scores a game against the Jets. Yeah, I mean, I mean

that was my Rodney dangerfield. It's really right there, nicely done. Uh, you're running back, Scott, you take a chance of be're running back. I'm going with Boston, Scott, and apparently to add Jordan Howard to it, all right, why not? Wait? Wait, wait, Boston what's his nickname? Boston? Boston. He's the only fully healthy back right now for this team with Sanders is out with a broken hand. Howard has a stinger and kind of Gainewell has an ankle injury. So and he

was very useful, very productive in his loans darts. If Jordan Howard does go, they both might be usable. This is This is an Eagles team that lit up Washington for two hundred yards in their last out, and over the last couple of weeks, Washington d has been free falling against the run. They've allowed a couple of touchdowns, a bunch of sixty and a hundred yard rushers. UM good spot for both of them, but I like Boston's

got a little bit more. Howard is top fifty six total yards in every game in which he's seen the field. And so if he is a lot of stripe work too, he does. Who doesn't like stripe work? We all do? Does he have a nickname? Stripe work? I like it? All right, great, we'll go with that. I'm going with h Do you dare to start? Darre on goon? Dare to dream? How dare to dream? Dar to dream? Work? Chopping on the fly oh, Jordan Howard's nickname was the Bulldozer was well, it makes sense. I don't know. I

like the strip striper's way better way. After Robinson left the ton Achilles. Last week, dare goombo wal A played every offensive snap except one. He put up seventy two total yards and a score. Last week they gave him nineteen touches in a reserve role, so this is there. Obviously, will have no hesitancy to use him copiously against the Jets, arguably the worst run defense in the league. Sorry the Patriots. The Jets last week worst one of the worst run defenses,

and the lead. You wouldn't think it. They're giving up the six most total yards one fifty three per game to opposing running backs. They don't give up a ton of touchdowns here, but anybody who's having that much success on the ground's got a chance to score. Now, you may remember dar A to dream oh goonbow A had a similar role at the end of last year. They had to go to him in a pinch and he performed. Well, there,

here's another opportunity just to pile on. He was a great pass catcher in uh in Tampa a few years ago and the paths are missing four linebackers on COVID. There we go, that another opportunity. There you go, another reason to day to dream. Let's go to the wide receiver position, Matt, I've got Davante Carnival Parker. Parker has played in two consecutive games. Well, sorry, Parker has not played in two consecutive games since Week three and Week four.

This is true. I would not have guessed. Yeah, okay, but he's had at least seventy seven yards or a score in three of his last four games played. They've been spaced out a bit though. Uh. This week he gets a tightened secondary that could be missing starting cornerback Jack Rabbit Jenkins. And that's not a nickname with an ankle injury, and it is a nickname that he's turned into his full name. That's true. And I think that's

sort of weird. And did he go to the d m V and like, um, you know, I think you got to go to the judge. You can't go to the d m V and change change it there. Uh. Then, and and back up Busted green Door, who is currently on the COVID list, so he's gonna probably see Christian Fulton Fulton gave up seven catches for a hundred and thirty three yards in his coverage just last week against San Francisco, So fire up, Davante Parker. Your is that

his full name? Carnival Partner? Um? All right, Scott, You'll take a chance to be a wide receiver. I'm gonna go with Noah nickname Fant. The Charger's sea has allowed the second most and the second most receiving yards and the second most scores to tight ends. And oh, they have Jerry Judy on COVID, Tim Patrick on COVID, and Sutton is likely to be on COVID by the time possibly you're listening to this, so they're gonna have very

few other options to go to. I am using Arizona wide receiver Christian Captain Kirk uh huh as he that works, it does. He's been the long listeners are pleased off. He's been the leading every time I'm on this show. Charch does a Star Trek reference. I don't know what's with him. He's been the leading receiver since DeAndre Hopkins was placed on injured reserve, and he is gonna go. Kobayashi Maru the Dallas Cowboys Kirk has at least nine targets and seven catches in each of these games. Without

DeAndre Hopkins, he's averaging seventy one yards. And you might think, oh, but Chart, we can't start anybody against the likes of of of Trayvon Diggs. He's too good. But what do we always remind people on this show? Trayvon Diggs a lot more yardage in his coverage than any cornerback. And Kirk works out of the slot a lot, and there he faces Anthony Brown, who's allowed the third most yardage in his coverage. Christian Captain Kirk is our final take

a Chance of Me player Charch. We're never going to remember this, but I think that we should always give a nickname to every take a Chance on Me player from But we're not going to remember Brick because it is the last show of the year. We're gonna be a listener to remind us. Please do but if somebody put this in your calendar for next for next August, and remind us that that we've talked about doing this but have not committed to doing this. All right, let's

work too through a couple more matchups. Raiders take on the Colts Matt you already told us you like Derek Carr in this one, so I means you must like at least some of his receivers. Some of them Hunter Renfro has been clamped down by a couple of good secondaries in Cleveland and Denver over the last two weeks. The Colts have actually been one of the best secondaries in the league against wide receivers in the last month

and change. In their last four games, wide receivers have averaged as a group only nine three total receiving yards, and they've only allowed one total touchdown to wide receiver in the last four weeks. With that, I can't give Renfro more than a C grade, but I hope the volume goes up here. Darren Waller landed on the COVID list on Wednesday, which means he has a very outside chance to play Sunday. If he does go, he gets

an A grade. If he doesn't go, Foster Kobe I she Morow becomes start worthy against with a C grade here because the Colts have allowed the most receptions and yards to the tight end position this season. The only on the Raider to start as uh Josh Jacobs. He's back to Bell Cowing only gets a C grade. Here twenty eight touches last week, the one back has top Only one back has topped sixty rushing yards against the

Colts in their last seven games. They have given up a fair amount of receiving work though in the last month to opposing backs, and Jacob has been a very good receiver in the latter half of the year. Jonathan Taylor, he gets the fantasy art vark. That's pretty easy. He's the best running back in football. It's one of the worst run defenses in football. We don't need to even expand on that. Carson Wentz has an outside chance of playing Sunday after landing on the COVID list if he

does clear the protocols. But either way, I'm leaving the Colts quarterback on the bench. If it's not Wentz, it's Sam Ellinger. But the Raiders are great against the past and porous against the run. Wentz is only top two or twenty yard once in his last six games, and Michael Pittman is the only other guy we need to mention.

He gets a C grade. I considered downgrading him if Ellinger does start, but in that scenario, I think it's a pass funnel to only Pittman uh and only three wide receivers have hit the one yard mark on the Raiders all year. They've allowed the third fewest touchdowns to the position. If you have another option, play your other option. But he's still seaworthy, um Scott, I'm guessing we can get Jaguars Pats done in like two and a half a minute. So let's try to squeak it into this

segment if you would. Yeah. So, the only startable grade I had for the entire Jags team was Daria Goombo Walle had a C grade on Dream Yes Starry to dream the whole past game. The Pats are top four against QBS wide receivers and tight ends. They are twelfth easiest for running backs though, so I was starting grade on on goomble l A. On the other side, I

have Mac Jones on the bench. We've talked at length for the last few weeks about how the Jags d has has held down opposing you know, quarterbacks and one receivers and whatnot. In the last seven weeks, only Stafford top two passing yards against the Jags. Uh. So I have Jones on the bench. I don't think they're gonna run a lot. Also, I think our passed a lot. I think the game script will beat them ahead so they won't have to pass. So I have Jones on the bench. I have a C grade on Jacoby Myers.

With Nelson egil are out and Kendrick Born on COVID, who else is gonna throw? By the way, Josh McDaniels saying, this week we've we've dramatically underutilized John Smith, which I'm like, duh, but it's another another week. It was another week, another five to six catch game for Myers, another eight plus targets from our ears and no scores because he you know, just doesn't do that. But you're getting a four to six catch guy with forty eight yards. That's a C

grade there for Myers. I have Henry on the bench last week. Is why Henry is so tough to start. If he does not score, which he's done a lot of times, like seven eight times this year, when he does not score, he completely tanks your team. I don't want to start him in a championship week, especially against the defense that has allowed one tight end touchdown since Week five, and that was kittle Uh in the running game. Harrison Stevenson. I have c grades on both. Stevenson's off COVID.

He's gonna play. He might be a little run down, he was fatigued at practice whatnot. We are seeing some of that where you know, some guys snap right back and others others are fatigued and and you know, yeah, the quotes from what was It Brandon Cooks about how tired he was on the field and Tyreek Hill, Um, yes, um. I have a secret on both. Though Harris's questionable. He's gonna go, though we saw him play last week with that injury. It's going to be a great grant, great

game script with them ahead, they'll run both runners. The Jags are ten top ten against running backs, but I see them both getting tent plus touches. So I have secrets, all right, that makes sense to me. I think you can probably use both guys when we come back. Chiefs

take on the Bengals. They, you know, to start the obvious guys I'm fascinated by dar Old Williams will tell you what to do about him and whether or not Joe Burrow will maintain the hot hand from last week five yards and four touchdowns against a much tougher defense. Ob another double double, thousand yards and eight touchdowns coming your way. We'll tell you what to expect from some of the trickier plays out of this matchup when we

come back to Fantasy Football Weekly. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly. Paul Charchy in with you. My co host today are Matt Harrison and Scott Fish. If you want to follow us on Twitter, I am at Paul Charchy and Matt Harrison is at Explosive Output. Scott Fish is at Scott Fish twenty four. Apparently there were twenty three others who had already been at Scott Fish and man uh and and Ken gurk Fish. That's really are you talking about? Ken?

Scott Fish's uh Chiefs take on the Bengals. You know what to do With Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey, and Tyreek Hill. They all returned to obvious a status probably anyway. Bengals have given up big passing games to Jimmy Garoppolo and Josh Johnson in the past three weeks, and Homes just put up a very good game without Kelsey and mostly

without Hill and now back. Although Hill says he's still not totally over COVID yet, so a little bit of caution there, but you're gonna start those guys, and I've got a grades in all of them. Let's talk about the trickier play, which I think is Darryl Williams. Clyde Edwards a layers out and in games he's missed, Darryl Williams averaging nineteen touches total yards and half a score

per game. Pretty solid numbers. Bengals allowing the fifth fewest rushing yards, but the fourth most receptions and the fifth most receiving yards to opposing backs. And Williams a capable receiver, and he's the probable goal line back for any running opportunities that may present themselves. So I've got a B grade on Darryl Williams. Derek Gore is tricky because last week he got a bunch of usage and a blowout win.

I don't see a blowout wind coming and I don't trust him to get anywhere near the same kind of usage. So he will he be on the field. Yes, maybe at a goal line situation because he has a bigger back, But I don't think you want to start Derek Gore in a championship week, and we're not gonna I love Byron Pringle. We're not going to chase his two touchdowns from last week. I mean Byron Stacks Pringles. Oh yes, absolutely, Stacks are better than Pringles. Stat is a great fact.

And the people, the people that are Pringles supporters have never had Stacks. No, or they don't like crispinus who doesn't like Crispy too? And I don't understand. See the Stack is thicker and a little salty here. I like it about it. Oh yeah, let's go to the Cincinnati side hungry. Now, let's start with Joe Mix and just get his bit out of the way here. He isn't a grade. His eight two snapshare last week tells you

that he's finally back to full health. And I think he came back to a big role in the passing game as well, which I liked. He's got a positive match up here against a Kansas City team that has struggled against backs lately. Over their last four games, Kansas City allowing one hundred seventy total yards per game to the position, which would be second most if we applied that over a full season. So I like Joe makes it a lot in this game. A grade. Now, let's

go to Joe Burrow. Obviously the monster game last week against an injury ravaged Ravens secondary, but he's gonna go one d eighty degrees here against a much, much tougher defense. As a reminder, prior to last week's explosion from Joe Burrow, he had thrown zero or one touchdown in five of

the previous six games. Here comes Kansas City. They've allowed the second fewest fantasy points per pass attempt over the last six weeks, and since Week six, no posing quarterback has managed the top two hundred seventy yards, and no quarterback his top two touchdown since all the way back in Week five. I'm the two touchdowns is your upside on Joe Burrow in this game, and one touchdown might

be more likely and he's gotta be grade. Let's go to Tee Higgins, my preferred receiver out of the group here. He ranks second only to Cooper Cup in receiving yards since Week twelve, and he's tied for second with four touchdowns in that span. He's gonna facere various word in Mike Hughes on the outside. They've allowed just one score

between them in the last three games. Most of the wide receiver damage that's being done to Kansas City is coming in garbage time of thirty point blowouts, and that's not likely to happen here. So I do have some trepidation. But Tee Higgens so hot over the last month. I've got him maintaining the A grade, so we're gonna keep him at A. Joe Higgins, Yeah, No, I was thinking we need a Handsel. Uh you know, Handsel so hot right now? Button, I don't know what you're talking about.

Hand I didn't see zoo man. I can't help you on that, all right. Uh. Paul rudds seems pretty cool though, and he loves fantasy football, So no, it wasn't Paul Rodd that was It was Ben Stiller. Yeah, maybe he likes Maybe he plays in Paul Redd's league. That's possible. I mean you you assume they're friends because they Jamaar Chase, Uh, Jamaar Car Chase. There you go, We'll go with it. Uh is clearly the number two options in this offense,

and his box scers have been wildly inconsistent. Many of the same defensive worries I've got for Higgins apply to Chase because Chase is also on the outside. You didn't see the same guys here. Um, there's a good secondary. It's giving up very little. So I've got to be great on Chase just because of the upside that he brings. But I really toyed for a long time with making his see and I'm worried about Chase in this game.

Tyler boy is a C grade. He's now a clips eighty five yards and or scored in three of the past four games, which I like. He'll see Legarius Snead out of the slot, and he's been good. He's given up just one score in his last eight games. Your glimmer of hope is that Snead has allowed a sev catch rate in that stretch of the last eight games, but not touchdown. So maybe Tyler Boyd will help you out that way. Let's move on to our next matchup,

which is the Bucks taking on the Jets. Matt And for this one, Ronald Jones coming off a big workload last week and a juicy matchup this week. You're talking about the gatekeeper. Yeah, he and the key Master might take a chance on me, right, that's right, you went one two on that. Jones gets a be Von gets a c UH. Tom Brady, he gets a B grade. It's so easy to run on the Jets that they faced to the seventh fewest passing attempts this year, but

they've also allowed the seventh most passing yards this year. Brady, by the way, has twenty one career multiple passing touchdown games against the Jets in his career twenty one UH. Antonio Brown gets an A stepped right back into relevancy last week with fifteen targets, ten catches a hundred and one yards against Carolina. Marvin Jones and DeVante Parker have both had good Fantasy days against the Jets in the last two weeks. Both were target hogs for their respective teams,

which I think Brown would be again this week. So I'm feeling that Brown's gonna Brown's gonna really take it to him because Mike Evans, I don't think he's gonna go um almost. He did clear COVID protocols, still dealing with a hamstring injury, was only a limited participant in practice on Thursday, and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported that he looked fatigued catching passes from practice.

God quarterback Ryan Griffin if Evans is active, but you have other options, I'd play them over Evans, but I'll give him a C grade, but it's the lowest CE I can give. Though about that. Rob Gronkowski, I want to leave him on the bench, but I'm gonna give him a C grade. The Bucks have removed Gronk from the game plan once the game is out of reach in the last couple of weeks, taking hits and mileage off his body, kind of saving him for the playoff run.

And last week's blowout win in Carolina, Gronk was only targeted twice, but he was still on the field for the snap, so they're just kind of have him run out into the pasture and not get hurt. I see him suiting up, I see him playing. The Jets are bottom twelve and receptions, yards and touchdowns allowed to the tight end, so I will give him a SE grade. Zack Wilson on the other side, several members of the Bucks secondary looked like they're gonna miss this game, Sean Murphy, Bunting,

Richard Sherman, Jamal Dean, and Antoine Winfield. But he's starting Zack Wilson in their championship game. He's had a stretch of four decent games in the last five weeks, including four rushing touchdowns in there, But no, keep him on the bench and you're benching Jamison Crowder and Braxton Barrios in a championship to also Michael Carter. He's on the bench, his snapcounts and touch totals are back up. But tam

defense is just too tough against the run. They allow an average of fifty two rushing yards and one third of a rushing score per game. That's just not enough for Michael Carter here. All right, let's get in the door our final matchup of this segment, Broncos taking on the Chargers. Scott. It's a backup quarterback throwing to his number four or five and six wide receivers in this game, so I assume the Broncos are gonna be looking really

just to run the ball. It's also a backup quarterback that only had a hundred and fifty three scoreless yards last week. Yeah, the whole passing games on the bench. I have SEA grades on both Williams and Gordon. I actually had a B grade on Williams before all these wide receiver COVID issues. Now I just don't think they'll be able to move the ball very well. So the opportunities at the stripe. Why do I keep using stripe for goal? You're very stripe heavy, tod. We're using a

lot of nicknames and a lot of the stripe talk. Um, it's hard to use stripe as a nickname. Wants. By the way, I don't want you to get through this to go well, Jamal stripe, Williams everybody's strip. Last week they both both both of these runners kind of killed you, but Williams at least saved you with a little bit of a touchdown there. Uh. That was one of the only games where they didn't both give you flexworthy numbers.

I think they get back to it this week because this is this is the only part of their offense that's going to be able to function very well. Um. I I do have C grades on both because they went back last week to splitting everything right down the middle. Snaps, touches, basically everything. Uh. The Chargers have allowed the second most touchdowns of running backs on their way to be in the fifth easiest matchup against the position. But again, I don't think they'll move the ball very well. So C

grades on them. On the other side, I only have a B grade on Justin Herbert three hundred plus yards and or multiple scores in all but two games. Uh. He hit both those marks last time against Denver. But Denver on defense lately have held four straight quarterbacks to varying levels of under two yards and they only had three touchdowns between those four quarterbacks. Is a better defense. And I also think they'll get ahead and not need

to pass quite as much. So with Keenan Allen also a B grade on that because they don't think they'll need to pass that much and Broncos sit top ten against wide receivers on the season. Is gonna miss it. Alan had seven for eighty five last time. I can see him running into an A grade, but I think he's safer placed as a B grade guy. They've allowed seventy plus to five different guys who run from the slot. I think that's about where Allan probably ends up. Uh.

Let's see here, Let's go with Williams. C grade on Williams, but I don't blame me for want him to bench him in your championship game because he had a really bad middle of the season. But over the less five weeks. He had three good fantasy days. His bad ones are like four for thirty nine three forty nine in PPR. That's like eight points. But that's not Yeah, but that was two of them. The other three were really good days. So I have a C grade on him, but it

is risky. I wouldn't blame me for bention him. Austin Ekeler, I have an A grade back on He seems healthy. He's done interviews where he looks completely healthy. He's gonna get the interview, well, I hope. So he's the one that told everyone to start Justin Jackson last week. I am I kind of no, No, he has he has a Yahoo Fantasy Football show. Yeah no, but I think it's funny to say that, right. He looks healthy in the interview. Yeah, I meant he's uh yeah. The ankles

still he got. He got an extra week to heal up that ankle while he was out with COVID as well, So that's gonna help. Um, you're not gonna bench you, guys number two of his position either. Bradley Chubb also out for Denver in the middle of that core there so decent spot that counts for something. Let's let's stay with those guys in our final moments that we've got in. We've got maybe two more minutes, and in this segment, uh, Javonte Williams draft position with and without Melvin Gordon on

the team next year. I like the phrase it that way because I think there's a decent chance they pull him, they keep him, they keep him. I think there's a gens they keep them too. Which first, how much they try to spend on a quarterback in the field, which is a big issue, right, you know, if they have to spend on a quarterback, they just spend a ton of money on all three of the receivers. So give

me the draft position for Javonte Williams. If Melvin Gordon's gone, I think he's the middle of the first round, late first round kind of guy you stop five. I think he's number two, all right. If if Melvin Gordon is back, then where does Javonte Williams go? Probably slips into the second for me. I think I think someone on the back corner is gonna take him in the second around that corner just because they because they don't believe Melvin Gordon exists. It's the same thing as Kyle Pits this

last year. There's someone in near league that's going to be super hyped on Javonte Williams and hope for you know, Gordon to crash. But you know that's awfully early. I mean, do you take you're in the second round. You should be taking a sure thing player, right, should be a sure thing. Do your own. You're gambling that Melvin Gordon

gets hurt early in the season and stays hurt. If you're taking Javonte Williams in the second round, if they don't address the quarterback position, I don't think I want anything to do with that Broncos offense. Either. They need they need to upgrade their else Javonte Williams is going to be stuck. Don't let don't let our Minnesota listeners here. You're talking about Tenny Bridgewater that way. I wasn't talking about talking about all of them. Okay, all right, Uh,

that's it's this. It's a trick you want to follow, and it's gonna be one that's gonna be very interesting to see. My hope is that Melvin Gordon costs too much for the Broncos and then he finds himself on some other team. That's got a little more money. He won't be super expensive, but it'll probably be like, you know, four or five million dollars, and that might be more than the Broncos have an appetite. Four could be Maybe

Melvin Gordon doesn't want to share backfield either. There were reports of that when when Philip Lindsay was there that he didn't love sharing the backfield with the fan favorite that was from that stage, that which would makes sense the favorite again. Tons of of new news coming out all of the time towards up to Sunday. Be sure to keep up on all the player rankings. Go to Guillotine leagues dot com. I've got all my player ratings available for free. We're keeping up with all of the

absurd amount of news and information that's out there. With all of the latest COVID and injury information. Will help you set your line up one last time during Championship Week. Our number two of Fantasy Football Weekly. Coming up next our number two Fantasy Football Weekly. I'm Paul Tcharchion. My co hosts are Matt Harrison and Scott Fish. Thank you for joining us. A reminder, this is our last full two hour version of Fantasy Football Weekly but Fantasy Football

Weekly continues on every week of the season. You want to be sure to get the podcast Fantasy Football Weekly, Please and rate and review the show while you're at it. We always appreciate that we we care about what you think. It doesn't sound like we care, but actually we really do care. This is a segment we like to call three tough Questions. Tough Question Number one, what is the one offseason rule change that every league should consider? Matt,

I'm not kidding about this. I had two really weird dreams last night. The first one, I was at a butcher shop someone handed my son a suitcase full of one thousand dollars. But in the second one, I was dreaming about this tough question, and I'm not kidding. My answer in this was, the top five teams make the playoffs in your league, then the remaining six seed those teams all the teams in your league who are not

in the playoffs. They get together and they play a game of Texas Hold Him Poker, and you get as many chips as the amount of points you scored for the season. Now, that sounds fun, but don't think many leagues could handle that. So I will say, if you don't do any of the one following thing. Make one of these changes, add a super flex two single quarterback leagues, do an auction instead of a draft, unlimited I R spots,

or use free agent blind bidding next year. Okay, Um, that was four or five answers, and well I stayed away from those because I feel like the free agent bidding, the don't do your championship the last week or just way too But I think that we in our leagues have all gone to that way and it's way too obvious for us. But I think the bulk of our listeners probably aren't playing with all of those. By the way,

the auction thing, uh still with you. I was talking on I was talking on the Fantasy Prose podcast last week that people want fab blind bidding, they want they love auctions over snakes. Yet so many people do their rookie drafts as snake drafts. That auctions grow a pair, grow up like it, become a big boy. Do your rookie draft is a rookie auction. I love it. Give everybody, give everybody a chance to swing and missing Trevor loris

just like the worst team gets the most money. Still they got over twice Tony, but at least they can take shots at multiple guys if they want to, if they What is the answer to the que anyone? Here? Here's where, Here's where I went. It's I went simple. Just add more flexes and reduce your required positions just a tad, not too much because you you don't want to inhibit trading, but just a little bit to make more flexibility for roster construction in dealing with injuries and illnesses.

More flexes, pull back the roster requirements a little bit. Um. You guys hit on several of my favorite mandatory rules, but I'm going to touch on one. You guys did not say no trade vetos. You've got trade veto in your league. Get rid of that albatross right now. That is incredibly unfair and other teams have no business voting whether or not sending team owners should make a deal. Get rid of that. People always say inclusion. I'm like,

that's a different issue. Deal with colusion. The commissioner deals with the inclusion. Lusian right. If you have collusion, that's not even a trade veto situation. There's nothing to do with trade. Don't even bring that up. Tough question Number two give me the order of the first, that the first four tight ends should be drafted in next year. Give me the order of the first, will well you want, I did give you will I want. I want to

know what you should do. I was gonna say those are two very what you should do, Okay, So will do I put Kelsey Andrew's Kittle Pits because I think that's how it's gonna go down. What they should do, however, is Andrew's Kelsey Kittle pits. Al Right, so you're flipping him, you're if you're going Andrew's Kelsey Kittle. I like, I like Andrews a little more going for it. I think you could you could talk me into switching Pits and Kittle too, just like I think we saw Pits to

talk into anything, right, Yeah, this year? So pits one four this year. No, I'm saying, I think we've seen just about his floor. Um Hockinson and Waller that just they burned to make people to make concerns, and Knox and Firemouth. I love him, but that's getting a little too cute. Man. Give me the order that the first four tight ends should be drafted in next year. Uh, well, I got Kelsey first. And because I can hear charge saying next summer, do you know who has ever regretted

taking Travis Kelsey? No? Yeah, ever Kelsey and Andrews? UM number two for will I had Andrews, But should I think it's kittle because on a per game basis, I think he's the scariest tight end in the league. And if you catch him on the year that he stays healthy and puts it all together, then you've got Demo Samuel, got Divo Samuel if he stays healthy. Number three who should be taken? Third is Mark Andrews because fantasy ball is filled with sheep and we just follow the last

year's stats. Currently make Mark Andrews is the number one tight end, but it's all on those touchdowns and they can be a little flukey. And then number four because we all are going to say that there's positive regression coming on that one touchdown he scored this year and the fact that he's the top eight tight end and basically every scoring format with just that one score. Um, I've still got Travis Kelsey number one. And I understand the thinking about getting out a year too early than

a year too late. You know, I was thinking about this when I wrote your quote, your quote that you always say who is regretted ever taking Travis Kelsey, no one that always happens the year that we should get out that guy. I swear to God it. The reason I'm sticking out one more year is because Patrick Mahomes. Yeah, and none of the rest of these guys have got quarterbacks that are anywhere even in this ballpark. And let's

be flat out honest, we have eyeballs. Were watched him play like Kelsey, that hunter and for nine our game, the game when he looked like he looks fine, you look fine. Mark Andrews is second eat no matter who the quarterback is. And I think there's a way better chance than other people do that it's not Lamar Jackson. Then George Kittle when healthy, used the league's best tight end, and then Kyle Pitts third and targets six and receptions

third in yards. Touchdowns will come in time. So yeah, honestly, your question confused me because I don't see an avenue for anyone but those four should have gone five deep. Yeah, then I think I probably would have put Waller in next. I probably would have put Hackinson, But I have no problem with Waller, I would have gone Waller tough. Question number three. Next year's draft, it's the fourth round and you need a wide receiver, and here's DK Metcalf available.

Are you drafting him? Matt? We begin with you. Well, it's Russell Wilson's worst season to date, and Metcalf still ranks fourteenth and standard leagues and twenty one PPR leagues amongst wide receivers. And if you're drafting properly or probably drafting some safe guys in the first two to three rounds, and then you start swinging for some upside in round four and beyond, and Metcalf really has that wide receiver

one overall upside. If if he has someone throwing him the ball, maybe Wilson's gone next year and there's a new quarterback in town. Maybe Wilson's hand injury was actually the thing that tanked the season, and he's back to full health yet next year. So yes, I will take him in the fourth Scott, are you taking It's the fourth round, you need a wide receiver. DK metcalfs there, you're taking him. I think this is interesting because the way I see it, I think Metcalf's here has been

so disappointing. I wouldn't be fault. I wouldn't be surprised if he slips further than the fourth round next year. Last last year, in the fourth round, we saw guys like Higgins and or not Higgins, but like, uh ceedee Lamb and stuff. We're going in the flour the Robert what like. Really productive players were going in and some people, based on people have told me on Twitter, not in my league, but yeah, yeah, I got him in the third most leagues, but he was going in the fourth.

In a lot of leagues, super productive guys are going in the fourth round. I think DK slips further. I don't know that I love him because I think this year it's gonna be guys like Higgins and Waddle and stuff like that they go on the fourth and I probably rather have them. I'd rather have DK in like the fifth or even Godwin with his injury, is gonna slip to the fourth or fifth round? Could be saying

probably not um. The answer. The correct answer is hell no. I want consistent production above all else, and this is the opposite of what he's given us to his entire current Yes, Chris Godwin is consistent production. That's what I want, and I don't want a guy who's gonna disappear for long stretches of seasons. This year, he has scored one time in the previous seven games. He hasn't topped sixty

yards since weeks seven. Last year, Dk Metcalf had almost the exact same scoring drought, with one touchdown in six games. We have no idea whose quarterback is gonna be. That's not gonna be Russell Wilson. I don't think then it probably anybody better than Russell Wilson. This is there. I think they're much more likely to melt down this roster than they are to try to find a quarterback improvement

on Russell Wilson. So that's going backwards as well. And at some point, it just doesn't matter how good your wide receiver Lurked looks with his shirt off. That's just not relevant. No, is the correct answer. I traded DK Mack for Javonte Williams this year in the league. Jeez, it's gonna be weird when Aaron Rodgers is a Seahawk Eagles Sagan the Washington football team. Let's this will not

take very long. Let's start with Let's start and as a reminder the duel take a chance on me of Boston Scott and Jordan Howard from Scott Fish earlier in this show Striper Stryper and Boston Market. That's right. They both have C grades for me in this game. If Howard doesn't go elevate, Boston's got to a B grade in this game. I think I'm running back if both of them. If Howard doesn't go, oh, you have Scott up to twenty f Okay, that makes sense. Let's go

to the passing game Jalen Hurts. In the three games prior to last week, Washington had allowed to be very modest per game average of two hundred fifty two passing yards and half a passing touchdown. That's it. So they've been playing well prior to last week when they obviously got totally blown up, but they were also decimated by COVID. That includes a two yard, one touchdown passing game for Jalen Hurts in Week fifteen, just two weeks ago. He

ran for two touchdowns in that game. But now he's got the bulky ankle, and last week he only had two rushes. So I don't know what if if Janale Hurts is not gonna run for much of anything, and I just have to rely on his arm. That is a super sketchy proposition now is his ankle should be better one week later, so I think I'll have some of the mobility back. So I'm putting him into the B range here, which is a little nebulous B him giving him a B. The rages there is, there's a

giant range. It's B from Jalen Burns. Dallas Goddard is my preferred target of his. He destroyed Washington two weeks ago, um and although again they had a lot of COVID at the time, but even so, Washington has yielded big games to quality tight ends all year, including Dalton Sheltz last week when bananas on him. Then DeVante Smith is the only other receiver I think you want to consider here. Over the last five games, again, COVID is marred some

of that. The football teams allowed the second most yards to wide receivers one nine per game, and they've given up five touchdowns to the position over those five games. During that same span, they have allowed four receivers at top of eighty two yards or more. If it's gonna be any wide receiver to top eighty two yards. Smith is the only candidate for the Eagles. He comes in with a C grade um on the Washington side. Antonio

Gibson's out. We're not starting any part of this pass of the passing game, including h Taylor, Heineke and Kyle Allen as well, and regardless of who goes here, and it might be a split quarterback scenario according to Ron Rivera, Okay, that's never good. Can take Ron Rivera out of Carolina, but you can't take Carolina Rivera. It's a great point there. Guys are on the bench, and so is Terry McLaurin. In his last for Terry, in his last eight games,

eight games, it's half a season. He's top sixty yards. Once. I disagree with you on this. I think you dropped Terry McLaren sabotage the only one receivers posted more than sixty five yards against the Eagles in the last six games. And in honor of the holidays, Terry McLaren is gonna give the sleigh ride this week. Yeah, it's the sleigh ride. A brutal one on one matchup with Darius Slay. Pro Football Focus is third ranked quarterback I love it. Let's

sabotage drop Terry McLaurin. Then the last guy to talk about is Jared Patterson. You're starting running back for Washington um He is expected to start with Antonio Gibson sidelined with COVID missing Eric Flowers from the offensive line, that's almost additioned by subtraction. Patterson has looked decent in spot duty throughout the year. He did score a touchdown against

these same Eagles two weeks ago. Washington's offensive line is returning from COVID, which is good, and they are actually one of the best, one of the best run blocking offensive lines in football when healthy. Unfortunately, the EGL Eagles run defense is equally terrific, allowing the third fewest rushing yards over the last three weeks, just fifty five rushing yards per game and three point one yards per carry.

That's it. J D. Mckissicks is sidelined on injured reserves, so you might be tempted to think that Jared Patterson will catch some passes, but he never catches any passes and they will use when Dell Smallwood in that role instead. So just the C grade on Jared Patterson, which should be decent volume, but in a tough matchup. Um, I think we're gonna hold off on the next matchup. I was tempted to try to squeak it in, but let's just we want to talk dolphins. Oh and a little

bit later. We gotta let that marinate. You really do, because you're trying to figure out which dolphin running back is gonna get is gonna get the work in any given week does take a lot of temple rubbing. And I want to give you this, this entire break to rub temples. It's going to be not mine, your own, by the way, super people. Yeah, we look, you have two temples on your head. You can use plural temples,

and your three of us could not rubbing temples. Then we'll be back for more of this insanity in moments. It's definitely our last show. Welcome back Fantasy Football Weekly, Paul Charchi in Matt Harrison and Scott Fish with you. There is copious amounts of temple rubbing happening in this studio right now as Matt Harrison tries to help you figure out which dolphin is going to be the one that you want to start this week, if any against the Titans. What do you think, uh to Uh he

can start him? I guess, I mean I'm giving him a C grade. Uh. He's not the biggest producer via the air, but going through the air is the way to beat the Titans. Jimmy g was able to notch three, two and one last week. Mac Jones had three ten and two a couple of weeks ago. Even Trevor Simeon was able to muster and two. The list goes on. Mediocre quarterbacks have been able to cobble some good stats. So a C for two uh startable and super flex

or two quarterback leaks. Jalen Waddle is an A and DeVante Parker I mean Davante Carnival Parker was might take a chance on me, and he's seaworthy. Wattle has had eight or more catches in four of his last five games, and Wattle has topped ninety yards in three straight games. While All spends about two thirds of his time in the slot, where he'll square off against Elijah Molden. Molden has a passer rating of one oh eight in his

coverage this year. Advantage Waddle Mike GASSICKI I have him squarely on the bench hasn't scored since week seven, hasn't topped fifty five yards since week seven, and the Titans are somewhat good ish against the tight end position, allowing an average of four catches and thirty five yards to the position. And then Duke Johnson is now splitting carries evenly with Miles Gascons. Both are on the bench. You just you see, you're copping out of this whole running

back situation. I'm saying, just benjam all Well, Tennessee is also a really good run defense. So if it was one of them, you could maybe trust them with a CE. But since it's both of them, they're both on the bench. All right. How about the Titans side? A J. Brown gets an A. If you were ballsy enough to start him last Thursday, you're probably still alive in your fantasy championships. Sixteen targets, eleven catches and a score. Julio and Nick

Westbrook Keen are on the COVID list currently. I think Nick came off. Now, okay, that's good. I mean it's still pass funnel to A. J. Brown here. Dolphins are bottom ten and receptions and yards allowed to the wide receiver position. De Aonta foreman, Jeremy McNichols, and Dontrell Hilliard are basically in a three way hot hand time share, and they're all on the bench because the Dolphins are

great against the run. No running back has topped seventy three yards on the ground against Miami since Week four, and they haven't allowed a running back touchdown through land, sea or air since Week six. Al Right, it's been a lot, and the Dolphins would be very good at sea defense, by the way, because but you would think, you would think, so, how do we not? I got every other animal on. Come. I don't have a dolphin sound in here because I don't need one. I've got

you excellent Matt Dolphins. Uh. And Ryan Tannehill can't be trusted and can't be started. He's topped two yards once in his last seven games. Just nothing, by the way, I was starting to talk dolphin there for a little bit. Uh. In those seven games, he's thrown five touchdown passes total. Yeah, you're only in it for the rushing touchdown that you might get, which is so weird. Yes, No, you don't want to start him, all right, So you're done right?

All right, let's go to Texas taking the forty nine Scott Rex Burke head breakout game last week. A lot of work. Finally, Yeah, and so we you know, we've actually got a text in running back to talk about he reaped this week against the forty you're talking about text Rex, I will say text I like it. Brandon Cooks was out for that one, so that that may have helped a little bit. Uh. Yes, he did explode last week, but he's really owned the backfield for three

straight weeks right now. However, the four Niners d over the last seven weeks have allowed only one back over sixty yards and that was due to a sixty seven yard fake punt right. Otherwise none of them have done it. And there's some good running backs in that span. James Robinson, um mix in, Dalvin Cook, Corderyll No. Uh, but he's gonna get a C grade here on sheer volume. But don't expect high level flex numbers. He's flex worthy because yes, Davis Mills, I got a C grade on He's looked

pretty good. He's no, he's looked very good. If the half reheld today, Davis Mills would be in the same cluster. In the first half of the first round as these other guys were probably right now. Asked the Jets would they rather Zack Wilson or Davis Mills asked the Jaguars would they rather have They have to think about right, at least think about it right. I mean, it's it's not obvious answers to that. And and he's he's fighting

for a job for next year. He wants he wants to take take hold of this job for next year. So over the last five games, he's had three hundred plus yards and or multiple scores in four of them, which is pretty damn Goods have allowed multiple scores in three the last five, but they're not allowing a ton of passing yards. I think you can expect about forty day and a couple of scores. The game script should also be good here for Miles, they'll probably be behind.

I have c grade on Miles. Thought about making my take a chance on me player. I don't like him this week. Brandon Cooks was out last week with COVID, but before that he had seven plus catches in a hundred plus yards and back to back the top targeted receiver against the forty nine has scored seven touchdowns in the last five games, um, and I expect Brandon Cooks to be a ten plus target guy. Yet again, all of those guys against the foreigners had five plus catches

and sixty plus yards. I have a B grade on Cooks. You could talk me into an A. On the other side, Trey Lance, was you gonna take a chance on me? Player? I also really like him this week. I would have I would have had a B plus grade on him if there were uh Deebo Samuels. I think he's an obvious A grade. He either gets it done through the air or the rushing. He has sixteen targets in the

last two weeks that has come back. We were worried about that for a little while charge his targets had disappeared. They're back. So A grade on Debot, A grade on Kiddle, which is just too obvious, like he'll be the best tight end to face Houston, and even without that Gaseki knox Er, it's all had top five, like top five tight end weeks against the Houston Texans. Kittle in line for that there too. Brandon Auk I have a C grade on but I really kind of want to bench him.

The second receiver has been about fifty yards each week against the Texans since Week eight, So I expect maybe that's where you is gonna land. But I'm not super comfortable of it. You know what, I'm actually I'm gonna throw him on the bench. I I just yeah, he's averaging about four for fifty. He's probably gonna land in that. I can see either way. In the running game, this one's super easy for me. This week. Eli Mitchell is questionable.

They think he's gonna go. If he goes, I have a B grade on him because it's an awesome matchup a bottom defense. But here are some of the concerns. Talk that he's been limited in practice. Talks this week are about I'm splitting with Wilson and Trey Lance keeps stealing goal line touchdowns earlier in the season. I can see him doing it this week too. I'm a little worried for Mitchell not scoring on that front. However, let me jump in for a second. It seems like every

time Elijah Mitchell's active, he's the workhorse back exactly. And you know, there isn't a there has not been a split carry backfield really in this offense all year. That's where I'm going with this. On the flip side, he was injured and played a few weeks ago and got twenty seven carries when he came into the game injured, So you're upside is a high A grade. But I'm going to give him a BE just on the concerns. But I think there's a good chance you get more

than that. If he does go. He's inside my top ten this wee. I've I have Wilson with a C grade. If he goes, I think he's gonna get just enough work. I'm a little hesitant. It's a really shaky sea if Mitchell doesn't go. I have a B grade on Wilson because the matchup is just too good. Rams take on the Ravens, and this is the same Ravens team that just gave up five hundred twenty five passing yards and four touchdowns or is five touchdowns at one point, but

he got one of the touchdowns got called back. So that makes Matthew Stafford and Cooper Cup obvious a's. But I'm only gonna mention this about Cup to make it even better. The Ravens just got destroyed by slot receiver Tyler Boyd, and here comes Cooper Cup. Who I think should be the league m v P this year. I mean, I think with Brian not here, you can give the last Fantasy Fonzie of the year to Let's do it. Absolutely love him. Hell of a season by Cooper Cup.

Where was this? And credit to you, Matt for this preseason. You love Cooper Cup and we all we all liked him, Matt. I think it was most vocal about it the last year. I loved him. Last year was talking to them all up, but it was Jared Goff and then he got dinged up for Monch of the Year, so it didn't come together last year like I did this year. Anyway. Staying with the passing game, Van Jefferson Noo Beckam were both bees.

Neither has put up really consistent yardage, but they're helping with touchdowns, and I think they can get both yardage and touchdowns in this game because the Ravens secondaries in

such bad shape. They are allowing the fourth most yards the third most touchdowns to whiteouts and there without Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and very possibly Anthony ever aver It also out for this game, so we like him to putting Tyler Higbee on the bench he's getting very little use in The Ravens have largely reversed in early season struggles against tight ends. Only two have scored since Week seven. And then that brings us to Sony Michelle. Now at

full health. The Ravens are very tough run defense. Only Dalvin Cook is top seventy one yards against Baltimore, and prior to COVID falling on the Ravens, they had gone six straight games without allowing a running back to score. Fortunately, Sony Michelle's volume makes him a startable player anyway. Over the past four weeks, he's average twenty three carries and one hundred six yards and half a touchdown per game.

Twenty three carries will be more carries and any back has had against the Ravens all year, So I don't think he's gonna get that much. But just through sheer volume, he is startable and I've got a C grade on Sony Michelle. Let's go over to Baltimore and we will begin with the desolate running back position. DeVonta Freeman's on the bench in Your Your Championship week, diminishing snap counts in four straight games, just six rushes last week, although

it was a blowout rams. Allowing the six fewest rushing yards and the second lowest yards per carry to opposing backs. Do not start DeVonta Freeman. And this one, let's go to the passing game. Doesn't look like Lamar Jackson is going to be able to go, and even if he does, his mobility would be seriously affected by the foot injuries, So then you're relying just on his arm. And remember, Lamar Jackson has thrown exactly one touchdown in nine of

twelve games this year. So that brings us to Tyler Huntley, who look good honestly to the point that I think that resigning Lamar Jackson this next offseason is not a given for this team. I think I think Huntley has at least raised the question of whether or not you're putting you're better off organizationally of giving Huntley low end starting money versus giving Lamar Jackson top three quarterback, which

is probably what he would demand. Back Huntley in this game, um l A has allowed just one passing touchdown in their last four games, which is not good. And it's not like the quarterbacks they faced during that stretcher Chopp Liver. We're talking about Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins. That said, the only true rushing quarterback the Rams have seen all

year was Murray, and he ran. He ran average fifty rushing yards across the two games in which they played, and that could mode well for Huntly a year two. It's pretty easy to envision a ground air combo that gets Huntley into like top ten quarterback territory. So I've got a B grade on him. Mark Andrews, We're gonna keep the A grade on because Huntley, Uh, what is that you like to use this word funnel? Today he's

funneling to Mark Andrews. So we'll we'll, we'll keep the funnel alive with an A grade there, Mark Keiths Brown slumps all the way down to a C grade. He's now average fifty six scoreless yards in his last seven games, a brutal fall from grace for a guy who was scorching hot in the first half of the season. He'll face a Ram secondary that surrendered eight scores two receivers all season, that is second fewest in the league, and of course, Jalen Ramsey likely going to be on Marquees

Brown for much of this game. Illness. Yeah, Brown has not, Yeah, so it could be another X factor here. So I've just got the C grade on Brown, but it's probably closer to a bench grade. But we'll give him a SEA because we work in full letters around here. Our final matchup of the segment Cardinals taking on the Cowboys. Matt Yeah, let's start with Kyler Murray, who peaked in October,

but I'm still giving him a B grade here. The Cowboys have allowed the ninth most passing yards per game at two eight, and mobile quarterback quarterbacks have had some interesting days against Dallas. Taysom Hill add a hundred and one rushing yards, Sam Donald scored twice in the ground. Jalen Hurts was able to run for only thirty five, but his threat of running allowed him to pass for

three and two. James Conner hasn't practiced yet this week with a heal injury, although Cliff Singsbury says he's a game time decision. I'd be shocked if he plays. Chase Edmund should get another go as the workhorse, but the horses back is hurting and Edmonds has been limited this week with a back injury, So I'll throw a C grade on Edmonds, that is, if James Conner doesn't go. As Dallas is a better than average defense against the run.

The bright spot they're allowing around five receptions per game to opposing backs and a four point four yards per carry, so he should be able to cobble together like a hundred combo yards if he's the lead back. And we saw Chase Edmunds get goal line work with James Conner out last week, and that's always the thing that has capped his upside no touchdowns. And if Connor is not going to go and Edmunds can get goal line work,

that gives him a much much higher threshold. Yeah, Christian Kirk was charges take a chance on me wide receiver and is the only Cardinals wide receiver I have a starting grade on. He gets a B for me. It's worth noting that DeAndre Hopkins is still out in ron Dale. Moore has been limited with an ankle injury this week. Zach Ertz has been the beneficiary of all the wide receiver injuries, getting eleven and thirteen targets in the last two weeks, averaging seven catches for sixty four yards in

those two games. I'm only gonna throw a C grade on him, though, as j Ron Curse has been tasked with following the tight end for the most part and Curses Pro Football focuses third highest graded player in tight end coverage. Yeah, so only a SEA on zach Ertz. No didn't need him at all. Dak Prescott, he gets an A grade. Uh. Noted quarterbacks Andy Dalton, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz each managed multiple passing scores

against the Cardinals in the last four games. That's all four of them in the last four games in the last four weeks. For the wide receivers of the Cowboys win, all three were healthy and on the field. Seedee Lamb averaging nine targets, six catches and sixty seven yards. Mary Cooper six targets, four forty six Gallop seven targets, four forty five. That's not really great. Lamb's averages are teetering on the good side, but Cooper and Gallop are eating

each other's lunch. I'll give Lamb the A and sees to both Cooper and Gallop in this one. The Cards have allowed eight wide receiver touchdowns in the last four weeks, so there should be some scores to go around here, Dalton Schultz gets a B grade. Eight catches and back to back weeks touchdowns and back to back weeks. The Cards look good on paper against the tight end, but

Isaiah Simmons has struggled recently against tight end coverage. Uh The Niners, Bears, and Panthers each targeted him eight times in coverage, and he's allowed passer ratings of over ninety and four of his last seven games. And then finally, the running backs Zeke and Tony Pollo, this one's tough.

Zeke is seeing about six of the snaps. Hasn't seen a twenty carry game since Week five, and that's unfortunate because the Cards have seen four straight runners get twenty or more carries, and three of those four top two hundred total yards. Even Craig Reynolds went for one seventeen against Arizona. The Cards have allowed the fewest touchdowns to the running back position this year, at only six total between rushing and receiving. So with that's split, I'm gonna

give Zeke a B grade here. I'm going to keep Pollard on the bench because Pollard would need a score to stay relevant and he's not getting enough work. And with the cards not allowing touchdowns to opposing backs, that seems like a tall order. Zeke's got the better chance of punching one in. He's still averaging seventeen touches per game, so I think he gets more yards and the chance to get a touch down here. So he just gets the B grade. Yeah, that's uh, that's the backfield that

It has been very frustrating. I don't know if I'll drafted Dallas back next year. Probably not. It's gonna be too tricky. Keep in mind Zeke's average draft position this year, five fifth spot of the first round. We were all worn and everybody about, you know, our our final peak act of the year. We've you know, we warned, we warned our listeners against that when we came back. Final segment of the year, and that includes the ice ball

brewin with the Vikings and the Packers. Lots of intrigue and this one, especially on the Packers side, what to do with a bunch of players that are going to have to try to put up some points in miserable conditions. We'll talk about how safe Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, the receivers, the running backs, particularly on the Packers side are when we come back for the final segment of Fantasy Football Weekly, final segment of the year for Fantasy Football Weekly, it's

a championship edition. We do encourage you to subscribe. You get all the off season shows as well. We do continue, just not in the two hour long format. We do continue into the off season as well. Fantasy Football Weekly final three sets of matchups again with Scott Fish and the Lions taking on the Seahawks. Yeah. So most of the passing game here is on the bench, with Tim Boyle being the starter over Jared Goff. Uh, but I

do have a B grade. I'm on on, I'm on ros st Brown, my boy, I love that guy nickname. Here's here's the downside. Alman ra with with DeAndre Swift in the game averages three and a half catches in thirty two yards. And he did not score in any of those games. But that was with Hawkinson and that was a bunch of the other receivers. Reynolds and Raymond are on COVID, they're out. Alman Roth is gonna be the only receiver and and they just talked lowingly about him.

He's got ten plus ten plus targets in three straight um and he's had a natural progression. I think he gets another ten plus target game here. I got a B grade on him. DeAndre Swift practiced all week in full Dan Campbell said he's completely ready to go and take on the full workload. I have Jamal Williams on the bench because of this now, and I think he goes right back to his pre injury seventeen plus touches that he had an eight straight games before the injury.

And remember before that injury he had like a hundred thirty yards and two straight or whatever. I think he goes straight back to that. Against the Seahawks defense that ranked second easiest against running backs, Swift is a great pass catchers. Seahawks are allowing the most receptions and receiving yards two running backs. What a week to get him back for your championship. I have an A grade on him. On the other side, Russell Wilson, I have C grade.

It's the back half of the season, so you know he's not gonna ry as well. Never does. Lions are top ten against quarterbacks on the year, but over the last eight weeks they've been better nine passing touchdowns starting grade here. Here's why they're averaging. They're averaging allowing about two hundred sixty yards per game. I think Wilson's better than the quarterbacks they faced in that stretch. That could

be argued, I guess because he doesn't. I think he's giving that two fifty yards one to two touchdown range. I think that's pretty close to see whethy Um Tyler Lockett B grade. He's combined for eleven catches in the last two weeks. Uh, he played a lot, but he's coming off the COVID list. He was really fatigued. He should be up for a better game here Um nine yards and or a score for four straight weeks for the lead receiver against the Lions. I think that's about

where Lockett gets. I have a C grade on Metcalfe. I don't love it, but he's been a forty to sixty yard guy. That's how the second receiver usually does against the Lions. I put him in the four to five catches forty to sixty yard range. Hopefully he can get a touchdown. Rashop Penny I toyed with an A grade here, but I didn't. I gave him a B grade every game where rashot Penny has had at least fourteen touches. He's topped a hundred yards in his career

and scored. Yeah, it's only four games, but he scored six times in those. I think he gets fourteen touches here. And this Lions defense is one of the worst than the lead their boom against a running I think Penny feats on bad run defenses and he's been stuffed against the good ones. Yes, I think it's that simple lines are bad. All right, that's it for that matchup. Uh, Nick Chubb is an obviously grade against one of the worst defenses in the league, right, Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Um.

Chubb best part of the Brown's offense against Green Bay last week twenty touches total yards in a score. The Browns still control their playoff destiny despite sitting in last place in the f C North right now, so they're gonna lean on Chubb to try to get them a Division crown. Five running backs have seen twenty or more touches against the Steelers this year. The average line for those backs one fifty total yards and his score the

passing game. It's tricky for the Browns. Baker Mayfield, he's on the bench walking it watching him on Christmas Day, one thing is certain. He's not healthy and not a good player right now. You can't play DPJ either, as he's reliant on the big plays and Baker's arm strength just isn't there right now. Jarvis land Tree gets the only starting grade. It's a lower case see averaging eight targets per game over the last month. It's more of

a volume play here. He has had at least five receptions in three straight matchups with the Steelers, and I do love his matchup against slot corner Arthur Malla, who is Pro Football focuses on six ranked quarterback Naja Harris gets a B. He's as reliable as they come for touch totals, seeing twenty or more touches in twelve of his last fourteen games. In the first meeting with the Browns, he managed a hundred and twenty total yards in a

score on twenty nine total touches. And it's worth noting that three members of the Browns front seven Miles Garrett, Malik Jackson and Jeremiah Ooosu Coamoa, they're all dealing with some nagging injuries and if active, they might not be as effective The only other starting grade is Deonte Johnson. He's been very reliable for targets uh with double digits in that category in ten of fourteen games this year and at least five receptions in every game but one.

He'll get Greedy Williams for the most part. Greedy has been roasted twice in the last three weeks with passer ratings over a hundred against Baltimore and Green Bay. He tallied yards on six catches in the first matchup. That's Jarvis Landry, so I'll give him a B grade as well. Pat Friarmouth still struggling to come back from the second concussion in three weeks. I'm nervous. I don't know if

he'll go in this one. Claypool, Roethlisberger, everyone else in the passing game there on the bench, you know, without friar Mouth, it really takes the touchdowns out of the passing game for Ben Roethlisberger, who had been really improved in that area because of friar Mouths in the second half of the season, and then as soon as friar Mouth got hurt, they've dried up again. Absolutely. Yeah, So that's that's been unfortunate, alright, so that was the Monday nighter.

Backing up to the the Sunday nighter is this arctic game at lambeau Field against the Vikings and the Packers. The game time tempts are around four degrees and then it's just gonna get colder as the game goes on. Because it's a night game, wind chills are expected to be around negative fifteen for this one. This means the

running game probably gets emphasized for both teams. And get this thanks to stat head Um, the average passing game in single single digit temperatures over the last eight years is sixteen completions, one hundred sixty yards and zero point three touchdowns. It would be the high water mark for Seaun Mannion in this Yes, it would a is a matter of fact, Sean Mannion just started for the Vikings.

He has never thrown a touchdown pass. He has two career starts, granted they were both week seventeens, with other backups around on every other year every Yeah. So um, I don't like any part of the passing game except

justin Jefferson. I had numbered A seventeen by I had downgraded Jefferson from an A to a B just on the weather and knowing passing games due Now I'm downgrading in from a B to a C on Sean Mannion because I I, you know, I just don't think Sean Manion is very good and it's not breaking news and that and I believe that the the the Packers will scheme to stop Jefferson now they have, they do throw to him a ton or they have at least they were with kirk thirteen targets per game over the last month.

Green Bays allowed six receivers to post at least seventy five yards over the last month of games. But I don't know, I mean, I'm nervous. It's justin Jefferson, He's great. I think you still start him because he kind of has to. But ah, this is a tough spot. Dalvin Cook. I've got a B grade on him. The Packers are gonna sell out to stop Dalvin Cook at all costs

and make Sewan Mannion beat them. The Packers normally see the third fewest rushing attempts here, but it's Mike Zimmer and Cook's got a great history against the Packers, but that was with kirk Um and so Cook averaging twenty six touches per game in his full games. If he's at twenty six, you still have to play him because enough good things can happen just to be great on Dalvin Cook and what should be a one sided game. All right, let's go to the other side. We think.

I think this thing is a thornier and a little bit trickier to deal with. So here's how I see this game going. Packers are going to get ahead because they're the better team. The Vikings are gonna have a punchless offense with Sean Mannion, and then the Packers will just run on a cold field and not even have to worry. We talked about how how all passing games get. This is a point when you get to single digit degrees, like four degrees, the passing game just doesn't come together

almost always. So I've got Aaron Rodgers with a B grade in this one. He's thrown three or four touchdowns and three straight games against Minnesota in Minnesota Secondary. He's ill equipped to deal with Davante Adams, who remains an A grade even in spite of everything else. Um, I think you have to decide for yourself and just how much you think the passing is going to be affected by the weather in this one. I'm keeping a B

grade on Aaron Rodgers. Most of you will continue to start because you're not gonna have a better option, But just know this, there's a point where it gets so cold that the passing games almost always get affected. Um. The other receivers I had starting grades on markis Felt, the Scantling and Alan Lazard before the weather crystallized here. Um, And I'm worried about the running game taking over, but they've got great matchups and if you if you need

desperation dart throws, consider Scantling, especially. The Vikings have really struggled against him in particular in the past, and he's their deep yardage, big play guy. So if you are a twenty point underdog Marcus Velda, Scantling could make some sense even in the arctic conditions. By the way, the line in the game went from six and a half to thirteen and a half. Yeah, amazing, right, and just yeah, but you know that's what Kirk does. Oh yeah, seven

and a half point. Apparently he is or seven and a half points. Okay, so don't stop about running backs. So Aaron Jones has still got a bulky need Um, but we've seen his his rushing increase week over week. I worry that they're going to on a frozen field, bad need They're gonna turn to quad Zilla, just like they did in that cold snow game last year in late December when he got almost all the work. I've got a B grade on a J. Dillon and a

C grade on Aaron Jones. I think you should call six touchdowns for a J. Dillon, just like against the Vikings UH at this time last year. Um, So there you go. Last thing, I want to mention my fantastic co host Brian, Matt and Scott. Thank you for your year of service. Is a very very tough show to work on for you guys are amazing co host, your insight, your dedication, very much appreciated. Max, thank you today. Appreciate your help and all of our listeners. As a reminder

of the podcast comes back next week. Bye bye. Fantasy Football Weekly is a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcast from my Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.