QB
Stud of the Week
- Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NY Jets)
Kaepernick gets another shot at redemption. After being benched last week because of poor performance, he gets a do over against the miserable Jets defense. The Jets give up the 12th most fantasy points to QBs this season, but that only tells part of the story. The franchise has given up this year and are playing for draft pick position. It was evident last Monday night. Look for Kaep to have a big game.
Dud of the Week
- Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
No, I wasn’t drinking Jack while writing this. OK that’s a lie, but it didn’t impair my judgment with this selection. In six career, regular season, games against the Ravens, Brady has only thrown 6 touchdowns and has averaged only 247 passing yards. The Ravens give up the 6th fewest fantasy points to QBs so it wouldn’t surprise me to see a low scoring game and Brady have a below average day. Vegas has the over/under on this game at 45.
RB
Stud of the Week
- Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (at Cleveland Browns)
Hill has not really lived up to the expectations of his fantasy owners this season, but if you made it into playoffs and still have him on your roster Week 14 is where he pays off. Jeremy is the stereotypical back by volume play. He needs touches to generate anything that resembles a quality fantasy week. Que the Cleveland Browns. The Brownies give up the 3rd most fantasy points to RBs this season and Hill torched them in Week 7 for 168 yards and a TD. I don’t expect that again but he should break the century mark on the ground and find the end zone at least once.
Dud of the Week
- Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
It should come as no surprise to anyone that listens to the show Ajayi shows up on my duds list. I have been down on him since Week 9 and he has not disappointed me a bit. Too bad his fantasy owners couldn’t say the same. Miami has a banged up offensive line and without outstanding blocking Ajayi is not good. He is not explosive or elusive behind the line of scrimmage and he gets the Arizona Cardinals this week who give up the fewest fantasy points to RBs this season. I don’t expect him to sniff double digit fantasy points.
WR
Stud of the Week
- Kenny Britt, LA Rams (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Britt has been an unlikely savior for a lot of fantasy owners this season and it will continue in Week 1 of fantasy playoffs. Britt gets the Atlanta defense giving up the 9th most fantasy points to WRs. Britt has only had one game this season with less than 6 targets and none since Week 4. Goff seems to trust him and his value increases if Tavon Austin sits out a second week in a row. I expect Britt to finds the end zone for the third week in a row. If you are looking for a perfect flex or WR3 this is your guy.
Dud of the Week
- Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (at LA Rams)
Another elite player on my list that most owners will not have the umm… “ornaments” to sit this week. I can’t say that I blame you, but this is going to end up being a “thank you, I’m sorry” situation for fantasy owners. Thank you for starting him if you are the opponent, but sorry if you are the owner. Julio is battling turf toe and Atlanta is tossing the idea around of possibly sitting him. If he doesn’t sit he will not be 100% and probably used more like a decoy against a team they shouldn’t really need him to beat. Caveat emptor this week.
TE
Stud of the Week
- Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions (vs. Chicago Bears)
Ebron has been the very symbol of fantasy disappointment this season. In April, he was considered a top 5 TE on your draft board. Week 1 looked like the beginning of a great decision drafting him, then it all unraveled. Ebron hasn’t found the end zone since Week 1 and he takes on a Chicago Bears defense that gives up the 8th fewest fantasy points to TEs. Normally this is a recipe for a sit, but Chicago has given up a TD in 3 of the last 4 weeks to a TE only holding Kyle Nelson out last week. Nelson is not quite the caliber of Ebron so I expect Ebron to make it 4 of 5 weeks a TE finds the end zone.
Dud of the Week
- Greg Olsen, Carolina PAnthers (vs. San Diego Chargers)
Greg Olsen has been a huge disappointment this season for fantasy owners and it will continue this week. Olsen has only found the end zone 1 time since week 4 and have not broken 7 fantasy points in the last four weeks. San Diego, althought giving up the 15th most fantasy points to TEs this year, has only given up 4 TDs all season to the TE position. I don’t expect Olsen to have over 100 yards or a TD this week making him a bust for the 5th straight week.
DEF
Stud of the Week
- Atlanta Falcons (at LA Rams)
Rams have given up the 3rd most fantasy points to Team Defenses this season. The Rams are still experimenting with their rookie quarterback and the offensive line has not gotten any better. I fully expect turnovers and sacks galore in this game. Don’t be surprised to see a defensive touchdown for Atlanta too.
Dud of the Week
- Houston Texans (at Indianapolis Colts)
Houston may be playing without DE Jadeveon Clowney for the second straight week and would come at a very bad time. The Colts are fresh off an offensive explosion on Monday night and come bolstering confidence and a fully healthy offense. Vegas has this over/under at 47.
-Paulie Bagga Walnuts