NFL Fantasy Stock Report: Playoffs Edition
We’ve made it to the fantasy playoffs so congratulations to those of you competing and shame to you if you missed the playoffs. Only one week at a time matters now so I thought I would highlight some players in decent spots who you might find in some of your tricky start/sit situations or maybe still on the waiver wire. Injuries have been piling up and you may be forced to make an uncomfortable lineup decision. You aren’t expecting these guys to explode but it is important they don’t absolutely kill your team. Good luck everyone!
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson: Wilson may be the QB14 on the season which makes perfect sense considering he never single handedly wins or loses you your matchup. He has one true dud all season (week six against KC) but otherwise has scored at least 13.86 in every game. He’s also been adding some yards on the ground averaging 24 yards per game which helps his floor. The Broncos face the Lions this week who give up the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Russ isn’t going to kill you and also gets a favorable matchup so I think he makes a fine stream at quarterback this week.
Geno Smith/Drew Lock: Geno Smith coming off an injury or Drew Lock. Neither option really gets me going but the Eagles give up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I will admit Drew Lock played better than I expected against the 49ers which is a plus but this one really comes down to matchup. I think the Eagles get things going again and win pretty easily which should leave us with some nice garbage time.
Zach Wilson: I’ll definitely stress this is a break glass in case of emergency play but I don’t hate Wilson this week against the Dolphins. In the last four games he played 100% of the snaps he has hit at least 240 yards. He gets the benefit of dumping it off to Breece Hall who continuously gets huge chunks of YAC and he also gets to throw to Garrett Wilson. Both guys are talented enough to elevate their quarterback. I’m not advocating for Zach Wilson here but I am saying if you’re in a huge pinch you can do worse this week.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot: Without Rhamondre Stevenson, Zeke is a pretty obvious flex play for volume alone and that shouldn’t slow down this week against the Chiefs. Due to the lack of outside weapons for the Patriots the running backs have seen a lot of work in the passing game. Over the last two games Elliot has eleven catches without Stevenson and in a game where I expect them to trail the entirety of the game look for the targets to keep coming. Zeke gets the goal line work and in general has the most touchdown upside of anyone on the Patriots offense, not that that’s saying a ton, so that’s an added bonus.
D’Andre Swift: D’Andre Swift has frustrated fantasy managers over the last month and a half and I can’t blame them. He only has one double digit fantasy point game since week nine but has truly faced a gauntlet of defenses. He’s played, in order, the Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, and Cowboys. The Eagles battled their way through that stretch but the schedule opens up so look for Swift to back on track. He gets the Seahawks this week followed by the Giants and Cardinals to finish the fantasy playoffs. The Eagles will be favored in all three games and Swift does his most damage when the Eagles are in control.
Antonio Gibson: Gibson has four straight games with three catches or more. His value takes an obvious bump is Brian Robinson Jr. is forced to miss the game but I also think Gibson is a fine play this week regardless. The Rams offense has been clicking now that Matthew Stafford is healthy again and I think this game gets out of hand in Los Angeles. The Commanders give up the most points in the league with 30.4 which leaves them playing comeback quite often and this is where Gibson can do his damage, especially if you play in full PPR leagues.
Wide Receivers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Take what I said about the Seahawks quarterbacks and it applies here. It turns out the Eagles also give up the most fantasy points to receivers. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are too prominent of fantasy guys to note here but Smith-Njigba fits the mold perfectly as the low guy on the totem pole. Since their week five bye JSN has averaged just over six targets and almost 50 yards a game giving you a solid floor to work with. Dealing with injuries sucks and I’ll roll the dice on a guy with his talent here.
Wan’Dale Robinson: Wan’Dale is a real deep dive but it looks like he is starting to build some chemistry with Tommy DeVito. Robinson was the Giants biggest spark Monday night and I would be shocked if they didn’t look to utilize him more the next few weeks. He scored 14.5 fantasy points catching six balls for 79 yards and adding two carries for 36 yards. He is good in space and with the ball in his hands so he gets friendly opportunities for fantasy scoring. If you are forced to start Wan’Dale, you are really hurting but he has twelve targets combined over the last two games and he also carries some upside with his playmaking ability.
Parker Washington: Obviously some bias here including a Jaguar but Washington has looked the part. He looked great last week against the Bengals catching all six of his targets for 61 yards a touchdown. This week against the Browns he caught two of three targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. With how little Zay Jones did with his multiple opportunities I wouldn’t be surprised to see Parker get more of an opportunity this week. It may not amount to a ton playing against the Ravens but he has been extremely reliable for Trevor Lawrence since Christian Kirk went down and has also seen two red zone targets. Washington is an emergency play but he’s one I don’t hate.
Tight Ends
Isaiah Likely: Stop me if you’ve heard about the Jaguars and defending tight ends. Well here we are again and they are giving up the fourth most points to tight ends. Without Mark Andrews he caught four passes for 40 yards against the Chargers and followed it up with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown this week against the Rams. You obviously aren’t expecting Mark Andrews numbers out of Likely but he should definitely be starting in your lineups this week. With 13 targets over the last two games I think he’s even viable flex play given you have a lock at tight end already.
Tyler Conklin: Conklin falls into the same category of play that Zach Wilson did. This is a last ditch effort that you’re picking up because you’re desperate. He has seen at least six targets in four out of his last six games and the two he didn’t were without Zach Wilson. Wilson likes to look for Conklin as the pair have produced 17 catches in their last three games together. His yardage production won’t be high and he hasn’t caught a touchdown all year. If you’re that desperate at tight end I feel solid about Conklin at least contributing something for you this week.
D/ST
Chicago Bears: The Bears get Joe Flacco and the Browns this week. While I’m fully aware Flacco just lit up the Jaguars for over 300 yards, I just don’t think he looked very good doing it. Since trading for Montez Sweat, the Bears defense has looked much improved. They have recorded at least two sacks in four straight games and also forced three or more turnovers in three straight. The addition of Sweat has added pressure and the pressure has created turnovers. Flacco has completed 55.1% of his passes in his two starts and has zero mobility. With four straight games of eight or more fantasy points the Bears make a great stream this week.
