Playoff time in fantasy football, when all the money is up for grabs
It’s the time of year everyone who plays fantasy anticipates, and if you’ve made it this far, congratulations. It’s no easy feat these days with how popular the game has become across all demographics.
My best advice for this time of year is to start the players who have brought you this far. Don’t over-think match-ups for running backs, tight ends or wide receivers, but consider your best options at quarterback and defense/special teams.
But, if you’re in a pinch because of an injury or other circumstances, here are a few players to consider adding off the waiver wire this week:
Quarterback
Don’t even think about. I know you want to snag Johnny Manziel and play him for his upside in the running game. But, if Manziel plays, expect the rookie to look like just that, a rookie. The Indianapolis Colts defense has 20 takeaways this season, and they’ll be playing with wide eyes waiting for Manziel to give out early Christmas presents. Even in two-quarterback formats, avoid Manziel.
Instead, go with Ryan Fitzpatrick or Colt McCoy if you need a quarterback this week. McCoy has been great for Washington in two starts this season, McCoy has averaged 345.5 yards passing, and he had three touchdown passes against the Colts last week. He’ll get the start against the St. Louis Rams this week and is a viable fantasy option.
Fitzmagic rediscovered his fleeting magic last week with a career-best and franchise-record six touchdown passes against the Tennessee Titans. That came while he completed 72.7 percent of his passes and threw for 358 yards, all without a turnover. Fitzpatrick has a great matchup this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and is worthy of consideration in deep leagues or two-quarterback formats.
Running Back
Rashad Jennings can’t stay healthy this year, and Andre Williams once again gets the call for the New York Giants if Jennings can’t go. Though Jennings’ ankle is reported to not be a serious injury, the Giants are well out of the playoff hunt and very well could rest the veteran they made a four-year investment to in the offseason. Williams can’t catch the ball, so he has little value in leagues where receptions are rewarded, but he does have value going against the Tennessee Titans’ porous run defense that has allowed an average of 107.5 yards per game to featured running backs the last four weeks.
Andre Ellington sustained a hip pointer injury in the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to Atlanta on Sunday. If you’re going to bank on one of his backups, go with Marion Grice in points-per-reception leagues. Michael Bush is the more viable touchdown threat on the goal line, but Grice proved Sunday he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Grice earned the majority of snaps and touches after Ellington went out. He only had 16 yards on five carries but caught three balls for 24 yards. He’s a risky play, but Grice should be the main guy in Arizona this week.
One previously big-name player to avoid is Doug Martin. Though he has re-emerged as the lead man in Tampa Bay coming off a an ankle injury. He rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown last week against the Bengals, but he will face a stingy Detroit Lions defense this week that ranks first in the league against the run.
Wide Receiver
I’ve been harping on all the rookie wide receivers all year, and I still like Jarvis Landry as the best guy widely available on waiver wires this week, if New Orleans’ Kenny Stills is gone. In three of the last four weeks, Landry has been targeted by Ryan Tannehill at least 10 times, and he has averaged 54.2 yards and 0.7 touchdowns per game during that span. I like him as a WR3 play this week against a bad Ravens pass defense.
Another emerging rookie in this insane class of rookie receivers in Donte Moncrief of the Indianapolis Colts. Moncrief exploded for 134 yards and two touchdowns against Washington on Sunday, and he should see favorable match-ups the rest of the season opposite the likes of T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne. With a game coming up against the Colts and with elite cornerback Joe Haden shadowing Hilton all game, Moncrief should see plenty of passes from Andrew Luck this week.
Tight End
When healthy, Jordan Reed is an absolute freak, and he proved it again Sunday after coming back from a hamstring injury. Plus, Colt McCoy loves the guy. In two games with McCoy under center, Reed has been targeted nine times per game. A week ago, he had nine catches for 123 yards. He has a lot of red zone potential and is a matchup nightmare over the middle. He’s worth a start for those without an elite tight end this week when he faces the St. Louis Rams.
Defense/Special Teams
The St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings’ defenses had massive games Sunday, and the Vikings very well could repeat that performance this week against Geno Smith and the hapless New York Jets. Though its hard to imagine they block two punts again, turnovers could come in bunches this week.
Another defense to consider rotating into your lineup this week is the Green Bay Packers, who were stingy against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field on Sunday. This week, the Packers welcome the Atlanta Falcons to the Frozen Tundra on Monday Night Football. That’s not a good match-up for the dome-team Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan, who has six touchdowns to four interceptions in four career games against the Packers.
John Livingston is a sports writer at The Durango Herald and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He can be reached at jlivingston@durangoherald.com or on Twitter @jlivi2.
