Expect big things from Jake, Josh
FANTASY BILLBOARD
While shopping for a mattress with my wife, there was an indecisive gentleman hopping from bed to bed in the showroom. Andre the manager was laughing and recommended he do whatever he usually does in bed to help decide. As he rooted on one mattress for a while, the couch surfer said he was setting his Fantasy Football lineup because that’s what he usually does in bed. That was my cue to start a conversation. His name was J.C., and his Fantasy team is called O.T.B., which is funny as hell. Anyone from Monmouth or Ocean County knows that O.T.B. refers to the idiom “Over The Bridge”, the Manasquan River crossing between the two rival NJ counties. J.C. left without picking a mattress. I guess he wants to sleep on it. I hope he’s more decisive picking his Fantasy lineups. Good luck O.T.B.!
GIDDY UP!
Jake Browning, QB — Browning might be your ticket to the fantasy playoffs. His effort on Monday night (32 for 37, 354 yards and two total TDs) was 3rd best for QBs in Week 13, and the overrated Colts pass defense hasn’t faced a decent QB since Lamar Jackson in Week 3.
Josh Allen, QB — Allen has thrown for at least 315 yards and three TDs in his last three games against the Chiefs. Well rested after the bye and no doubt encouraged by Jordan Love’s success Sunday night, (267 yards, three
TDs), Josh will come out with guns blazing.
Zack Moss, RB — Moss had a ridiculous eight red zone opportunities against a stout Titans team last week but converted none. With volume like that, he could easily be the
No. 1 fantasy back this week against the Bengals’ 18th ranked run D.
Kyren Williams, RB — There’s a Kyren Williams bandwagon, and I’m hopping on it. He’s averaging 29 Fantasy points over the last three weeks. I know the Ravens are tough, but RBs average 4.26 yards per carry against them this season.
D.J. Moore, WR — QB Justin Fields returned to the lineup in Week 11 and fed Moore seven passes for 96 yards and a TD vs the Lions. Guess who the Bears play this weekend on the snowy North Shore of Chicago?
Michael Pittman, WR — Pittman is second in targets (127) this season behind only my personal league MVP Tyreek Hill. With 21 receptions and 212 yards in his last two games, the Colt’s playoff hopes are literally in Pittman’s capable hands.
Taysom Hill, TE — Concussed QB Derek Carr might not play (check status). The Saints will start Jameis Winston, a turnover machine, especially in the red zone. As a result, Fantasy-hybrid Hill will get more than his usual snaps at QB. Combined with his rushing (59 yards last week) and receiving, Hill is a smash play in Week 14.
WHOA DOWN!
Jordan Love, QB — Love has been on a tear with consecutive fantasy scores of 25, 28, 33, and 30 points. But besides Dak Prescott’s 46-point outburst, no QB had more than 20 points against the G-Men since Week 3. That list includes Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa.
C.J. Stroud, QB — The Jets are very good at pass defense, as rookie QB sensation Stroud will learn. Gang Green held Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Tagovailoa to a combined five TD passes. They also shutout that other rookie QB sensation, Tommy DeVito.
Devin Singletary/Dameon Pierce, RBs — Legendary NFL HC John Madden said, “If you have two QBs, you actually have none.” The same philosophy applies to the RB situation in Houston. Splitting carries against the Broncos, the less-than-dynamic duo stumbled to a combined 77 yards rushing.
D’Andre Swift, RB — Fly, Eagles, fly! In a battle for the NFC East, Philadelphia will abandon the running game to keep up with the high-scoring Cowboys. Swift had just 43 yards on 18 carries (2.39 average) last time out against Dallas. He also left the field early last week after a vicious hit, which might slow him down Sunday night.
D.K. Metcalf, WR — As unpalatable as it may seem, history tells us to be wary of Metcalf against the 49ers. Disastrous outings of 35, 55, and 32 yards with no TDs over his last three regular-season games against San Fran is proof positive.
Adam Theilen, WR — Through Week 11, Theilen was in the top echelon of Fantasy WRs. Since then, the new coaching staff is favoring rookie WR Jonathan Mingo. Over the last two games, Mingo had 10 catches for 129 yards. Theilen was ignored, with just four catches and 27 yards.
Dallas Goedert, TE — Maybe the recuperating Goedert can get you three catches for 50 yards. That’s a big “maybe”, and too rich for my blood in the race for a fantasy playoff spot.
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