Hopefully you won’t start your playoffs until next week. With six teams on a bye, the NFL obviously hates Fantasy Football. In my main league, the OFFL, we use Week 14 as a “round robin,” where every team plays against each other. The highest scoring top half of the league gets the victory, while the bottom half takes a loss. It’s the only fair way to compensate for the mini “byemageddon” of Fantasy powerhouses Jayden Daniels, Jonathan Taylor, Bo Nix, Nico Collins, Joe Mixon, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. If you need a Defense for the bye week, the Cardinals have 19 sacks in their last four games and play at home against the third-most sacked QB in the NFL: Geno Smith. Best of luck to those jockeying for playoff positions. And if you’re eliminated, start studying for next year!
GIDDY UP!
QB Joe Burrow (vs. Cowboys) — The Cowboy credo: Don’t squat with your spurs on, always drink upstream from the herd, never slap somebody in the mouth while they are chewing tobacco and never play against a peeved Joe Burrow.
QB Will Levis (vs. Jaguars) — Need a bye week replacement for Jayden Daniels? Look no further than our man Levis, who has four consecutive games over 20 points. For the daring, Levis has the easiest schedule for any QB in the Fantasy playoffs (Jax, Cincy, Indy, Jax).
RB James Cook (at Rams) — Fantasy experts frequently underestimate Cook. His 18 Fantasy points per game is the eighth best in the NFL. That trend continues against the Rams, who have surrendered 389 yards to RBs the last two weeks.
RB Isaac Guerendo (vs. Bears) — The 49ers’ fourth round pick out of Louisville is next man up with the loss of Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. Da Bears give up 18 Fantasy points a game to RBs. Giddy Up!
WR George Pickens (vs. Browns) — Pickens had a poor outing in abysmal Cleveland weather two weeks ago. If he can keep his head (two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties last week), Pickens can help the Steelers stay a game ahead of the Ravens with a solid effort against the Brownies.
Malik Nabers (vs. Saints) — The Saints’ secondary is a mess. If the Giants are smart, a very big “if,” they will continue peppering Nabers (56 targets his last five games) for his best numbers of the season.
TE Grant Calcaterra (vs. Panthers) — The last time Dallas Goedert missed time (knee-check status), Calcaterra averaged four receptions and 50 yards in three of his four games. He’ll benefit playing the Panthers defense, ranked dead-last against TEs. If Goedert plays, all bets are off.
WHOA DOWN!
QB Justin Herbert (vs. Chiefs) — I understand if you have to start Herbert, just know that his last two games against the Chiefs have been dismal: 13 and 17 Fantasy points.
QB Brock Purdy (vs. Bears) — Purdy’s bum right shoulder was on full display in the snowy hinterlands of Buffalo last week. Inaccurate and ineffective, only the most ardent Purdy fan or “eliminated from playoff contention” Fantasy team would dare start him.
RB Najee Harris (vs. Browns) — I hope you enjoyed Najee’s 22 Fantasy points last week because he’ll struggle to get that much combined in his next four games: Browns, Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs.
RB Chuba Hubbard (at Eagles) — The bloom is off the rose for Chuba. Splitting carries with rookie Jonathon Brooks and facing a stiff Philly run D, leave Hubbard in the cupboard.
WR Garrett Wilson (at Dolphins) — Yes, you’re starting him. But his lack of production lately is scary in Fantasy playoff crunch time, and the Dolphins have kept him in check last two games (73 yards, 1 TD).
WR Michael Wilson (vs. Seahawks) — The third wheel in the Cards’ passing arsenal hasn’t topped 14 Fantasy points all year.
TE Juwan Johnson (at Giants) — The reflex would be to pick up Johnson to replace Taysom Hill (knee-IR). But for all their faults, the Giants play TEs extremely well. No TE has had more than six Fantasy points against them all year.
Thursday Night Special: The Packers can beat the Lions (-3.5) four out of ten times. With mounting injuries for Detroit’s defense, let’s accord the Pack a puncher’s chance at the upset in a barnburner. Packers 31, Lions 30
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Bill Reinhard is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and a columnist for FantasyGuru.com. Catch Bill every Wednesday night at 6:45 on “This Week in Pro Football” on YouTube TV.
