Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout going into Week 15

Hey football fans, this is the last edition of the “Fallout” for 2017 as we’re starting to shift focus toward offseason and our world-famous rookie content, so take it in deep. I’ll be on the site to answer your questions from here on out, so don’t be shy…

 

Colts vs Bills: 7 – 13

 

• As far as the Colts go, there’s not much to take away here, as they’ll probably not play in the snowy conditions they faced on Sunday again this season. It’s unlikely that Frank Gore gets 36 carries in a single game again.

 

• The Bills on the other hand get another home game this week, and though I’m not sure what the forecast is yet, I suppose there is a possibility they get another snow day, in which case LeSean McCoy will feast.

 

• Tyrod Taylor sat on Sunday “mostly” due to his health. He should be back under center in a juicy matchup with the Dolphins this week.

 

• Zay Jones is splitting time with Deonte Thompson, meaning that neither is usable in fantasy.

 

49ers vs Texans: 26 – 16

 

• Jimmy Garoppolo has the 49ers on a roll of sorts with their second straight win. It wasn’t always pretty, but Jimmy G kept the ball moving and is making a fantasy monster of Marquise Goodwin. No one else in the receiving corps is reliable enough to start though.

 

• T.J. Yates did a pretty good job in relief of Tom Savage throwing 175 yards and 2 TDs, but he faces a stalwart Jaguars defense this week that just gave Russell Wilson fits. He’s not a streamer.

 

• Will Fuller saw his first action in weeks and had little to show for it with 3 receptions for 26 yards. He won’t be an option against Jacksonville.

 

Bears vs Bengals: 33 – 7

 

• The Bears had arguably their best offensive game on the season against the Bengals in a week that few were probably depending on them – go figure. Kendall Wright came out of nowhere to lead the team in targets(11) and receptions(10) after getting no more than 2 in any game since Week 10, when he had only 5. I’m not chasing his numbers in the playoffs.

 

• Dontrelle Inman disappeared in this one after leading the Bears in receiving since he arrived in Chicago 5 weeks ago. No sense in using him going forward.

 

• Tarik Cohen had his best game in weeks with 80 yards on the ground, it’s just impossible to predict his usage from week to week. He’s a boom or bust play this week against Detroit.

 

• Gio Bernard led the Bengals in rushing and receiving and could likely do the same this week against Minnesota if Joe Mixon can’t clear concussion protocol. The Bengals may use him a lot either way, as the Vikings are tough to pass on.

 

Cowboys vs Giants: 30 – 10

 

• Rod Smith had a major day against the Giants, but most of his damage came in the 4th quarter, and Alfred Morris out-touched him 22 to 11 on the day. He has scored in 3 straight games though, so this is some logic to using him against the Raiders this week.

 

• Eli Manning was back under center after getting benched in week 13, but he wasn’t much of an improvement on Geno Smith. His favorite target was Roger Lewis, which absolutely no one saw coming. Can’t trust Lewis or Manning this week against the Eagles.

 

• Wayne Gallman outgained Orleans Darkwa 99 yards to 25 yards, after Darkwa has been the “lead” back for the last several weeks,  which only muddies both of their outlooks moving forward. Neither of them can be used against the Eagles either. No one can, except for maybe Evan Engram.

 

Lions vs Buccaneers: 24 – 21

 

• Theo Riddick is starting to get considerable run with Ameer Abdullah sitting in Jim Caldwell’s doghouse, which I imagine is pretty accommodating actually. He’s very flex worthy in Week 15 against the Bears.

 

• Eric Ebron had career highs in catches and yards with 10 for 94 on Sunday. His next highest reception total was 5 in Week 2, so this makes little sense. I’m not excited about his chances in this week.

 

• Doug Martin was benched for Peyton Barber after fumbling the ball in the 2nd quarter and never came back. Barber ran better, almost doubling Martin’s YPC and has the better outlook going forward. He’ll be a flex start versus Atlanta this week.

 

• Mike Evans seems to have regressed since Jameis Winston‘s return, but it may be due to a lower back injury. In any case, he’s hard to trust this week against a stingy Atlanta secondary.

 

• O.J. Howard is stringing together solid games now, with 50+ yards in 3 of his last 4. With Winston struggling, it makes sense to lean on his tight ends, though Brate had one of his worst games of the season and seems highly TD dependent.

 

Packers vs Browns: 27 – 21

 

• Brett Hundley is truly an enigma. After throwing for 84 yards and an INT in Week 13, he threw for 265 yards and 3 TDs on Sunday in an overtime win. The Packers haven’t said if Aaron Rodgers is going to play this week, but Hundley gives Davante Adams a chance to thrive if he has to start.

 

• Jamaal Williams is catching the ball well enough to render Aaron Jones useless in fantasy. Jones can be dropped.

 

• Isaiah Crowell has had 3 90+ yard games over his last 5 starts. He faces the Ravens this week, who he only gained 37 yards on in their first meeting, making him a shaky play. He scores too rarely to risk being shut down in the run game.

 

• DeShone Kizer found a way to get Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman involved on Sunday, with 6 targets to both of them, but only Gordon can be trusted against the Ravens this week. Coleman is a desperation play right now.

 

Raiders vs Chiefs: 15 – 26

 

• The Raiders weren’t nearly as potent offensively as they were in their first meeting with the Chiefs this season, but you still managed to get good days out of Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree. Amari Cooper had a setback and can’t be relied on to return this week, so Jared Cook should be another strong start against Dallas.

 

• Kareem  Hunt finally had the game we’ve been waiting for on Sunday. I’m just hoping you were patient enough to have started him. He gets the Chargers this week, who he torched for 183 yards in their previous meeting this season.

 

• Alex Smith disappointed owners after a monster of a game in Week 13. I would look for better options this week, as he’s probably going to take a back seat to the run game against the Chargers who are much harder to pass on.

 

Vikings vs Panthers: 24 – 31

 

• Case Keenum played just well enough to stay under center in Week 15, despite a loss – his 40 yards on the ground helped a lot. He’ll have a fair matchup against a Bengals team that has several injured defensive backs right now.

 

• Neither Viking back could get much going against Carolina on Sunday, but Jerick McKinnon was the more productive back. McKinnon’s usage in the passing game makes him a little more reliable in PPR leagues than the TD dependent Latavius Murray.

 

• I called for starting Jonathan Stewart in the Garbage Grab last week, but I had no idea it was going to be this big of a boom. 103 yards and 3 TDs goes a long way, and I hope someone was able to benefit from it. With 100 yards or a TD in his last 4 games, Stewart makes for a reasonable start against the Packers this week.

 

• Greg Olsen played 92% of snaps on Sunday, so his lack of production can’t be blamed on a dearth of playing time. The Panthers have learned to function without him over the time he missed. I’m only playing him this week if I have no other good options.

 

Jets vs Broncos: 0 – 23

 

• It was a nice run for Josh McCown and the Jets passing game, but that’s all over now as McCown’s season has effectively ended with him breaking his left hand on Sunday. Bryce Petty is next up, and he’s a garbage fire waiting to happen. I can’t advocate starting any Jets WR during the playoffs, though Bilal Powell, and to a lesser extent Matt Forte, may be worth flexing this week. The run game will be leaned on heavily from here on out.

 

• The Broncos looked like an actual NFL football team on Sunday, and surprisingly much of their success hinged on Trevor Siemian‘s capable performance. He targeted Demaryius Thomas, to the detriment of his other receivers, and it worked. He gets the Colts this week, so Thomas makes for another solid start.

 

• C.J. Anderson has regained the lead back role in Denver, logging 24 touches against the Jets, his highest total since Week 2. He’ll be worth flexing this week against the Colts, who just got roasted by LeSean McCoy.

 

Redskins vs Chargers: 13 – 30

 

• Samaje Perine should be doing more with what he’s being given. He was noticed limping several times on Sunday, so perhaps his ineffectiveness is an artifact of an injury. He’s a middling RB3 against the Cardinals this week.

 

• Jamison Crowder had his worst game in 6 weeks at the worst possible time for his owners. To his credit, no Washington pass catcher did much outside of Vernon Davis, who was helped immensely by a TD. He’ll have a much better matchup as the guy not covered by Patrick Peterson his week.

 

• Tyrell Williams had his best game of the season on Sunday racking up 132 yards and a TD. 75 yards of it came on one play, so you have to keep that in mind, but it’s also his 2nd TD in 3 weeks. He’s actually worth a look against KC this week.

 

Titans vs Cardinals: 7 – 12

 

• DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry are canceling each other out far too often. They are both flex options against the 49ers this week, however.

 

• Kerwynn Williams is doing a decent job in Adrian Peterson‘s stead. Should he start again, he’s fine to put in lineups against the Redskins in Week 15.

 

Eagles v Rams: 43 – 35

 

• As a Cowboys fan, even I feel sorry for the Eagles right now – but not too sorry. Carson Wentz is out for the season with an ACL injury, and what’s worse is that it happened late enough in the season to conflict with him starting the next healthy. Nick Foles is under center now and is a downgrade to say the least. At least you can start Jay Ajayi confidently now.

 

• Zach Ertz is in line to start Week 15 and will be a must start as a safety blanket for Foles.

 

• Robert Woods is on schedule to return in Week 15 which hurts Cooper Kupp‘s rising stock a bit. Fortunately for Kupp, the Rams play Seattle this week, so his slot duties will be utilized often.

 

Seahawks vs Jaguars: 24 – 30

 

• Russell Wilson is having to do too much, and it’s hurting him in the turnover margin. He’ll have an easier go of things against the Rams this week though, and he remains a must start.

 

• Mike Davis is the sole Seattle running back you can come close to trusting in the playoffs.

 

• All three starting WRs in Jacksonville have been startable as of late, even Keelan Cole, who is a considerable deep threat. They’ll all be in play against a fading Houston defense this week.

 

Ravens vs Steelers: 38 – 39

 

• With such poor WR play in Baltimore from everyone but Mike Wallace, all 3 backs are being utilized. Buck Allen has retained value in deeper leagues despite losing snaps to Danny Woodhead, who stays viable in the passing game.

 

• Chris Moore made a blip on the radar this week with 48 yards and a TD, but he hasn’t had more than 3 receptions in a game this season. Keep him out of your lineups.

 

• JuJu Smith-Schuster will return from his suspension this week against the Patriots, who just got beaten by the Dolphins in Miami. The Steelers will have to generate a lot of offense to compete, so JuJu is fine to get back into lineups.

 

Patriots vs Dolphins: 27 – 17

 

• Chris Hogan disappointed many an owner last night, with just about as close to a goose egg as you can get. He didn’t have a setback though and will be a shaky WR3 play against the Steelers.

 

• Rob Gronkowski will return in Week 15, so don’t expect another big night for Danny Amendola.

 

• Kenyan Drake is blowing up the spot as a utility player for the Dolphins, lining up wide often. He’ll be a RB1 must start against the Bills this week.

 

• Devante Parker made some plays on Monday night, but he’s not getting the ball enough to use in Week 15 outside of the deepest leagues.