Fantasy has been a rollercoaster ride all year, but the actual NFL has been just as intriguing. We probably won’t know who’s going to the playoffs until the last week of the season, and that makes for great football. This is some consolation for those fantasy players who are out of their respective postseasons. For those of you who are still grinding it out, looking for that edge that will put you over the top for next week, here are my thoughts from yesterday’s games going forward.

 

–LeVeon Bell is at the top of my draft board for next season. He’s the best all-around back in the league.

 

-You could have started only Steelers on your roster this week and probably have won your league.

 

-If you’re deciding between Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard on a week to week basis, your default should be Hill, even in PPR leagues.

 

–Brian Hoyer needs to be benched. I don’t care if Johnny Manziel went to a basketball game instead of sitting at home reading his playbook. I guarantee you that Hoyer knows it inside and out, and J.J. Watt has more TDs than he does over the past two weeks.

 

–Josh Gordon was getting open. Hoyer couldn’t deliver him the ball. He’ll be a much better option when Manziel takes over, which should be next week.

 

–Terrance West continues to be a part of the Cleveland offense, even with his fumbling of the ball. He’ll continue to be flex worthy in good matchups. Isaiah Crowell is extremely touchdown-dependent, but he keeps getting it done.

 

–Joique Bell was used extensively in passing downs as well as rushing the ball. Reggie Bush is an RB3 at best moving forward in 2014.

 

–Mike Evans is a must-start even in difficult matchups. Josh McCown targets him almost exclusively in the end zone.

 

-Don’t bother starting any Bucs RBs.

 

–Marqise Lee is sticking as the go-to for Bortles as I’ve been telling you would happen.

 

-The Jaguars have moved away from the running game. I don’t know how you can expect much from Denard Robinson if you only let him have 10 carries.

 

–Kamar Aiken really showed up for the Ravens yesterday. Just a week ago, he had a 50-yard game as the third WR. The second-year player is worth flex consideration as long as Torrey Smith is hobbled.

 

-With the poor QB play in New York, the Jets are leaning heavily on their backs. Both Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson are worth flex starts in Week 15 against the Titans.

 

-As poor as that QB is, Eric Decker is a decent play next week as well, with Percy Harvin unlikely to play. Don’t get your hopes up too high though, Decker was the top option for about ten games before Harvin joined the team and didn’t put up a monster during that time.

 

-Though it didn’t amount to much, Matt Asiata had 19 carries on Sunday, and it looks like he should lead the backfield in Minnesota for the time being.

 

–Charles Johnson is the real deal. He’s a strong WR3 for the playoffs.

 

-I said it going into the season, and I’ll say it again. Teddy Bridgewater is the best QB of the rookie class. I think he’s only going to get better.

 

-Apparently the Panthers decided to save all of their offense for one game. Maybe the light finally switched on for the coaching staff, who had been calling some of the worst plays in the league until yesterday. There’s still hope for the Panthers to win their division, so hopefully they’ll keep it up. They have nice matchups the rest of the way.

 

-I like Jonathan Stewart to continue to lead the Carolina backfield even if DeAngelo Williams returns next week.

 

-Completing passes to 10 different receivers during the game, Drew Brees is the only Saints player you can trust during these playoffs and he’s even becoming borderline at best. Sean Payton has clearly lost his mind.

 

-Don’t get too excited about Andre Williams’ performance against the Titans. It was against the the league’s worst run-defending team.

 

–Jake Locker had more rushing yards (28) than any Titans RB. There’s no reason to hold onto Sankey unless you’re in a dynasty league.

 

-So much for Alfred Morris continuing to thrive with McCoy under center. He only had 7 more yards on the ground than Shaun Hill … and Hill had negative yardage. Fortunately for his owners, it appears that RG3 is going to be back under center next week.

 

-I’m not sure who would get my vote for coach of the year, but my vote for worst coach goes to Jay Gruden. He should have kept RG3 as his starter if for no other reason than to blame him for the ‘Skins losses. Now he’s exposed himself, and everyone knows the emperor has no clothes.

 

-Wow, the Cardinals won. Even with Drew Stanton’s anemic arm, they couldn’t underperform the lackluster offense of the Chiefs. Andy Reid should just run a wildcat offense the whole game, with Charles under center.

 

-The Chiefs haven’t had a WR catch a TD in a year. Andy Claus has put a big lump of coal in fantasy owners’ stockings yet again.

 

-The Cardinals claim there is going to be a timeshare at RB, but the 19 carries on the stat sheet indicate that it’s going to be the Kerwyn Williams show for the near future. The closest back had 13 fewer carries.

–Peyton Manning realizes he doesn’t have to throw to win, and now that he has virtually every record that a QB can have, he’s content with winning on the ground.

 

–Sammy Watkins showed yesterday that he can take over a game, but he’s going to have to break tackles to do it. Orton doesn’t really do the long-ball thing.

 

-The off-field dysfunction of the 49ers is finally showing on the field. In such times they should rely more on their strong run game. There’s no way Gore should only have 12 carries against the Raiders.

 

-The Raiders have found a way to make Carr a success, and that’s by drawing up passing plays to the TE and RBs. Latavius Murray takes a ton of pressure away from him as well.

 

-The Eagles aren’t bad, the Seahawks are just getting better.

 

-We had questions about the backfield in New England, but it appears that LeGarrette Blount is the RB to own there. Belichick trusts him, and that goes a long way.

 

-The Patriots are masters of taking away your most dangerous weapons. Case in point, they limited Ryan Mathews and Keenan Allen to 47 combined yards. Mathews provided 44 of them.