There’s only one more week of fantasy for many of us (if you’re playing in leagues with a Week 17 championship, please remedy that next season), and while it’s been emotionally and sometimes physically draining, depending on your buy-in, it’s been worth every minute. Here are some of my thoughts on yesterday’s game with implications for next week.

 

-Is there a better “set it and forget it” option at WR than Antonio Brown? Right now he’s the first WR on my draft board for 2015.

 

-I said it in the Garbage Grab, but I reiterate that Markus Wheaton is a fine PPR play. He’s becoming the player we all expected him to be, and he’ll be a sneaky flyer next year.

 

-I’m not afraid of starting any starting Falcons WR for the remainder of the fantasy season.

 

–Marqise Lee had a disappointing week 15, but he’s still the guy who Blake Bortles looks to in the end zone. Unfortunately, it appears that Chad Henne will be under center in the Thursday night game this week. If there’s someone that will benefit, it’s Cecil Shorts. He won’t be owned anywhere in daily, and I like him in DraftKings where it’s PPR.

 

-With only 2 catches for 16 yards, Torrey Smith is strictly decoy material until deemed otherwise.

 

–Steve Smith Sr. still has inextinguishable will power, but his body doesn’t seem like it’s up to the task. He’s a shaky WR3 for the fantasy finals.

 

-The Packers’ loss doesn’t say as much about their offense as it does about Buffalo’s defense. Both are strong plays to finish the season.

 

-If Eddie Lacy isn’t healthy, then I want whatever is ailing him. He’s become the the Pack’s most reliable fantasy play.

 

–James Starks is a handcuff. Don’t fool around with him in the finals.

 

-The Bills were content to play small ball with the Packers due to conservative game planning that paid off. Expect all skill players to improve against the Raiders next week.

 

–Mike Evans had 2 receptions, and 1 of them was a TD. He’s a must-start for the rest of your playoffs and dynasty gold.

 

-Don’t get carried away with Doug Martin’s 96-yard effort against the Panthers. Most of it was on one tote. Charles Sims is the more intriguing play, as he’s involved in the air as well as on the ground, but neither can be counted on for championship purposes.

 

-As I suspected, Derek Anderson was no setback for the Carolina passing game. Rest easy knowing that you can roll with Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen next week should Cam Newton miss more time.

 

-Don’t get too down on Johnny Manziel and his debut against the Bengals. He actually completed a higher percentage of his passes than Andy Dalton. He could be a gamer yet, if he gets the timing of the NFL down.

 

-That being said, he renders all Browns skill players virtually undependable for the rest of the fantasy season.

 

-I think Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard benefit mutually from Hill being the lead back in Cincinnati. Hill gets to build some momentum, and Bernard gets to gouge defenses for big gains.

 

–Dan Herron is not that good. Don’t start him this week unless you absolutely have to.

 

-We’re going to have to wait until next season for Donte Moncrief to break out, but break out he will.

 

-Maybe Andy Reid read this piece last week (wherein I opened up about how much I hate watching the Chiefs on offense) and responded on the field. I still trust them about as far as I can throw them, aside from Jamaal Charles of course. The game was out-of-hand early, so they they rested Charles and leaned on the rest of the team. That probably won’t happen again.

 

-Even in an ugly loss, Ryan Tannehill was serviceable fantasy-wise. I’ll sit and wait for him in drafts next year, while I stock up on other positions.

 

–Charles Clay is back to low-end TE1 status. I feel safer starting him than a lot of guys next week.

 

-It was Patriot games as usual in the New England backfield. LeGarrette Blount’s day was saved only by a short TD carry. I wouldn’t count on any of those guys in my final.

 

-Rumors of Rashad Jennings demise were greatly underestimated. Injured or not, the season is out of hand, and the Giants want to see what they have in rookie Andre Williams.

 

-As a Cowboys fan, it makes me sick to realize that they’ll have to face Odell Beckham twice a year for the near and distant future. He’s a combination of Dez Bryant and Antonio Brown, with fresher legs.

 

-Jay Gruden needs to realize that Robert Griffin III gives his team the best chance to win and start catering his offense to fit RG3’s strengths if he doesn’t want Snyder to can him.

 

-With Peyton Manning’s injury, and a dominant running game, don’t look for consistency out of any Broncos WR other than Demaryius Thomas next week.

 

-If Ryan Mathews can’t go next week, I like Branden Oliver to get the bulk of work over Donald Brown against San Fran next week. His elusive style better suits stout run defenses.

 

-I knew the Titans vs. Jets game would be a comedy of errors, but watching Eric Decker bat at that ball like a farsighted seal was the best/worst thing I’ve seen this season. The fact that he’s still their best receiver just seems to fit.

 

-If I’m looking for a flex next week in a deep league, I’m looking no further than Nate Washington.

 

–Bishop Sankey is going to have the Titans looking for another RB in the draft. No Sank you.

 

-The 49ers got rid of the wrong TE, Delanie Walker is the truth.

 

-The Vikings are in good hands with Teddy Bridgewater. They would have beaten the Lions if not for Blair Walsh’s bad leg. He’s the best QB of this year’s rookie class, Pro Day be damned.

 

–Charles Johnson keeps delivering, and I can’t understand how he’s still unowned in most leagues, especially PPRs.

 

-If Matt Asiata can do that against the Lions, then he’s worth a start against the Dolphins.

 

-I don’t recognize half the names in San Fran’s box score. With both Carlos Hyde and Frank Gore questionable for next week, I’m hands off the 49ers offense.

 

-The Cowboys might want to hope they don’t get home-field advantage in the playoffs. They haven’t lost a game on the road this season.

 

-Even with Demarco Murray’s hand injury, aren’t you glad you didn’t trade him? Unless you traded him for Le’Veon Bell.

 

-Jerry better pay Dez Bryant.

 

-The shine is starting to come off of Mark Sanchez. Not a single Eagles WR would have been worth starting if not for the one long Maclin play. Thanks goodness he gets Washington next week.