I made the Fantasy playoffs in all my leagues. As my friend Big Joe said, “Well, you should, you write this stuff!” That I do, Joe. But I had to pray extra hard to the Fantasy Football gods to get there. In my favorite league, the OFFL, I am the second highest scorer, just 50 points below team SuperNova. But while SuperNova was 12-1 and secured a first round bye going into Week 14, I was fighting for my Fantasy life at 6-7. Missed TDs by Josh Allen, Zach Moss and Jake Ferguson and a missed 29-yard FG by Blake Grupe had me clinging to a 23-point lead going into Monday Night Football. My brother’s team, the Studbears, had Tua Tagovailoa primed against a suspect Titans D. As all Miami fans know, the Titans put the clamps on Tua and gave the Fins (and the Studbears) a staggering loss. I squeaked into the playoffs as the sixth and last seed because the Fantasy gods “delivered me from Tua.” Amen.
GIDDY UP!
Jared Goff, QB — Goff laid an egg the last two weeks, with just 374 yards and two TDs. But in his last two games on the indoor carpet at home, he had 568 and four TDs. Look for Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta to each snag a TD as the Lions right the ship.
Jordan Love, QB — The Giants held Love to his lowest Fantasy output on the season Monday night (14 points). A teed-off Love will take his anger out on the Buccaneers who just surrendered 32 Fantasy points (347 yards and two TDs) to the lowly Desmond Ridder.
Bijan Robinson, RB — The key to beating the Panthers is the ground game. Bijan averaged 5.6 yards per carry on opening day against them, adding a TD reception to boot. With three scores and 78 touches in his last four games, the Falcons are starting to use Bijan in the manner he deserves.
Joe Mixon, RB — Is it me or does Mixon seem to be running twice as hard since QB Joe Burrow got injured? He’s scored in consecutive outings and has three games in a row with more than 44 yards receiving, making him a PPR powerhouse for the Fantasy playoffs.
Zay Flowers, WR — December showers bring Zay Flowers. Playing in a monsoon in Baltimore couldn’t stop Zay from soaking in his second TD in as many weeks. The Jaguars are reeling, and the Ravens are looking to sew up the top seed in the AFC.
Cooper Kupp, WR — Just when we were losing faith in one of the NFL’s finest receivers, he goes off for 115 yards and a TD. Kupp has a cupcake matchup against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed multiple TD passes in 10 of 13 games.
Jake Ferguson, TE — Buffalo DBs keep receivers in front of them, not allowing the deep ball. This bodes well for Ferguson, who peppered the Eagles underneath for 72 yards last week.
WHOA DOWN!
Joe Flacco, QB — Grandpa Joe averaged 293 yards over his last five outings, with 10 TDs. But I just can’t trust him in my Fantasy playoffs. Da Bears held the Lions and Vikings to a combined 23 points the last two games, tallying six sacks and six INTs.
Desmond Ridder, QB — Ridder shredded the Bucs’ 28th ranked pass D for 32 Fantasy points. It’s a different story this week against Carolina on the road, the best pass D in the NFL. Last game against the Panthers, Ridder totaled 11 points. That’s more like it.
Austin Ekeler, RB — The bloom is off the rose for Ekeler and his prospects are even thornier without QB Justin Herbert in the lineup. In two games against the Raiders last year, Ekeler rushed for 35 yards both times with no TDs.
A.J. Dillon, RB — You might be tempted to start him at home against the Buccaneers, but with one TD to his name and a 2.3 yards per rush average over his last four games, Dillon should be nowhere near your Fantasy lineup.
Gabe Davis, WR — Apologists will tell you Gabe is a boom or bust WR. I say he’s a bum or bust WR. With three catch-less games in his last five, this bummer bust has proven his Fantasy floor is the basement.
Calvin Ridley, WR — Ridley totals fewer than 10 Fantasy points 50% of the time. He struggled against a Browns secondary (four catches on 13 targets, 9.3 Fantasy points) last week. The Ravens will prove just as formidable.
Cole Kmet, TE — Only two TEs (Mark Andrews, Evan Engram) have had more than seven Fantasy points in 14 games against Cleveland. Those are imposing odds.
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