Every week I will give you facts that you need to know about every matchup in the NFL to help you set your lineup for the highest probability of winning.
The bye weeks are over and it is the first week of your Fantasy playoffs. We have a lot to get to, so let's get right into the facts.
Texans at Jaguars, Thu., 8:30 p.m. ET
• The Jags have allowed four of the last five quarterbacks to produce
multiple touchdowns and 26-plus Fantasy points. The one exception was Case Keenum, who failed to throw a touchdown against them back in
Week 12. Keenum has just one touchdown pass in his last three games.
•
No running back has rushed for 75 yards against the Jags in four
straight games and only Willis McGahee,
who scored last week, has reached 10 Fantasy points against them in
those games. Ben Tate was held to one
yard on seven carries against the Jags in Week 12, but had 102 yards and
three scores against the Patriots last week. He is still the main man as
he took 22 of the team's 25 carries.
• Andre Johnson scored five times in Keenum's first two starts. He has
not scored in three straight games since, but faces a Jags defense that
allowed 261 yards and two scores to Josh Gordon
last week.
• No tight end has scored on the Jags in three straight
games, but it should be noted that Garrett Graham
did lead the Texans in receiving with five catches for 32 yards in the
last meeting.
• Four of the last five quarterbacks to face the Texans
have thrown for multiple scores (10 total), with Chad Henne being the only exception. Henne did have his first
multiple touchdown game of the year last week.
• Maurice Jones-Drew has a touchdown or 100-plus total yards in five
straight games and six of his last seven. MJD lit up the Texans in Week
12 as he ran 14 times for 84 yards and a score while adding six catches
for 60 more yards. The Texans have given up at least 150 total yards
with touchdown, along with 22-plus points to the position (average of 26
per game) in each of the last three games.
• Cecil Shorts had eight catches for 71 yards against the Texans in
Week 12 and hauled in six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown against
the Browns last week. Most importantly, he was targeted 11 times in each
of those games and is clearly the No. 1 option for Chad Henne. No receiver has scored on the Texans in either of the
last two games.
Falcons at Packers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Every quarterback to face the Falcons has produced multiple touchdowns
this year and while I can not trust Matt Flynn
under any circumstances, I will be giddy if Aaron Rodgers is able to return against a team giving up 21.7 points
per game to quarterbacks (seventh most). Four straight quarterbacks have
topped 20 points against the Falcons.
• Eddie Lacy was the most recent victim of the Detroit run defense, but
he will have a big game in Week 14 against the Falcons. The Falcons have
allowed 100 yards rushing and 150 total yards to running backs in six
straight games. They have allowed a touchdown and more than 20 Fantasy
points to the position in five of them. In fact, over the last six
games, the Falcons are giving up an average of 162 yards rushing (5.4
yards per carry), 196 total yards, 1.5 touchdowns and 27.7 Fantasy
points per game to running backs.
• With Rodgers, Jordy Nelson averaged 15 Fantasy points per game. Without him, he has
just one game of 10-plus points and is averaging 5.6 points per game.
Atlanta has allowed the opposing No. 1 to score more than 10 Fantasy
points in four of the last seven games.
• Jarrett Boykin was shut out last week in a horrific game against the
Lions, but still has 80-plus yards or a touchdown in five of his last
seven games.
• James Jones has
been the leading receiver for the Pack over the last two weeks with 10
catches for 159 yards. He has not scored a touchdown since Week 5.
•
No receiver has scored on the Falcons in two straight games. Prior to
that, they had given up multiple receiver scores in three of the last
five games.
• Opposing defenses have scored at least 13 Fantasy
points in five of the last six games against the Falcons. They are
averaging 15.5 points per game and the Packers have double-digits in
each of their last two games.
• Matt Ryan
does not have a 20-point game since Week 7 and has six touchdowns versus
nine interceptions in his last six games.
• Green Bay enters Week 14
having allowed at least 15 running back Fantasy points in six straight
games. Both running backs for the Lions -- Reggie Bush (182 total yards and a touchdown) and Joique Bell (128 total yards and a touchdown) -- had more than 100
total yards and a touchdown against this defense in Week 13. Over the
last six games, running backs have accumulated 1,167 total yards (912
rushing) with seven touchdowns and 147 Fantasy points (24.5 per game).
Four of the last five running back groups to face the Pack have rushed
for more than 150 yards, so Steven Jackson,
who had his best game of the year for the second straight week (23
carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns in Week 13), is a great start.
•
The Packers have given up nine receiver scores in their last five games
alone and six have gone to the opposing secondary receivers. Harry Douglas has at least 73 yards receiving in six of his last
seven games, with three games of 120-plus yards in that span and two
touchdowns. Douglas has at least six catches in four straight games and
six of his last seven.
• Roddy White
had his best game of the year in Week 13 as he caught 10 of his 14
targets for 143 yards, all season highs. Amazingly, it was his first
game of more than 50 yards receiving all year, so hopefully he can build
on it.
• Tony Gonzalez scored in
Week 13 (four catches for 42 yards) and now has two scores in his last
eight games. Gonzo has reached 55 yards in just one of those games and
takes on a Green Bay team that has allowed just one tight end touchdown
since Week 7.
Raiders at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Matt McGloin has just one
passing touchdown in his last two games. The Jets have allowed multiple
passing scores in four of their last five games, with 12 total in that
run.
• Rashad Jennings has
10-plus Fantasy points in five straight games, thanks to two touchdowns
on Thanksgiving against Dallas. He has 100-plus total yards in four of
those five games, but was held to just 35 yards on 17 carries against
Dallas last week.
• Only three running back groups have rushed for
more than 65 yards against the Jets all year. The Jets allow the second
fewest yards rushing per game at 66.3 on a league-low 2.9 yards per
carry. The Jets are allowing only 11.3 points per game to backs --
second fewest in the NFL -- and have given up just one rushing touchdown
since Week 7.
• Rod Streater
had his worst game of the McGloin era against Dallas, catching just
three passes (only four targets) for 57 yards. He still was incredibly
efficient but did not see enough looks. Andre Holmes led Oakland with 11 targets, seven catches and 136 yards
in that game with Denarius Moore out.
The Jets have given up nine touchdowns to receivers in their last five
games and every receiving corps to face them in those games has produced
at least 184 yards. Both Mike Wallace
and Brian Hartline scored on the Jets
last week and New York is having major issues in the secondary. In fact,
the Jets have given up 11 touchdowns to opposing No. 2 receivers, most
in the NFL.
• Chris Ivory
played 24 snaps to Bilal Powell's 30 in
Week 13. Ivory ran the ball 12 times for 61 yards to Powell's seven for
34. The Raiders have allowed 10-plus points to the opposing primary ball
carrier in nine of the last 10 games (with a touchdown in eight of
them). DeMarco Murray (63 yards and
three scores) and Lance Dunbar (82
yards) ran all over the Raiders in Week 13 as the duo combined for 36
Fantasy points.
• The Raiders have given up nine receiver scores and
an average of 28.2 points per game to the position over their last six
weeks. If only there was a Jets receiver to trust, since the opposing
No. 1 receiver has scored in each of the last two games against them. Stephen Hill did lead the Jets receivers with 51 snaps played last week.
Bills at Buccaneers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Only two of the last nine quarterbacks to face Buffalo have produced
20-plus Fantasy points and four have been held to 15 or fewer. The Bills
have given up just three passing scores and 37 Fantasy points (9.25 per
game) in their last four games combined to opposing quarterbacks. Mike Glennon does have multiple scores in five of his eight starts,
but has not thrown more than 23 times in five straight games.
• Bobby Rainey has 98 yards rushing on 35 carries the last two games,
but he should fare better against the Bills in Week 13. Backs have more
than 110 yards rushing with a touchdown in each of the last three games
(24 points per game) against the Bills. Steven Jackson just had his best game of the year against the Bills
with 83 yards and two scores.
• Vincent Jackson has only one touchdown in his last six games and has
produced 80-plus yards receiving in only one of those games as well. The
Bills have allowed only one receiver touchdown in their last four games
and only one receiver (Roddy White with 143 yards last week) has topped
10 Fantasy points in those games.
• Timothy Wright has not scored in four straight games and has topped 20
yards receiving in just one of them. Tight ends have scored in two of
the last four games against Buffalo, but are averaging just 32.5 yards
per game in those games. Still, each of the touchdowns have come in the
last two weeks and tight ends are averaging 10.5 points per game in
those two contests.
• Eight straight quarterbacks have thrown for
multiple scores against the Bucs and quarterbacks are averaging 26.2
points per game. E.J. Manuel came
through with multiple scores and 20 points against the Falcons last
week, so he is a viable deep sleeper again here.
• The Bucs have
allowed only two running back rushing touchdowns all year, but they have
given up at least 90 running back yards in three straight games. Both C.J. Spiller (149 yards and a touchdown) and Fred Jackson (78 total yards and two scores) lit up the Falcons last
week. Jackson still led the team in snaps -- 39 to Spiller's 24 -- so
both carry value, but Spiller does have risk.
• Opposing
secondary/slot receivers are killing the Bucs and have scored a
touchdown with 11-plus Fantasy points in five straight games. Steve Johnson, who averages eight targets per game with Manuel, plays
a lot in the slot for the Bills and is a No. 3 receiver gamble. Robert Woods is the No. 2 receiver for those playing in the deepest of
leagues. Both Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn scored on the Bucs last week.
• Scott Chandler led the Bills with 63 yards receiving in Week 13 and
takes on a Tampa team that has allowed at least eight Fantasy points to
tight ends in three straight games (10.6 per game).
Browns at Patriots, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Tom Brady has now thrown for
1,443 yards passing with 10 scores and only two interceptions in his
last four games. Brady had only nine passing scores and 1,824 yards in
his first eight games combined! The Browns have allowed multiple
passing scores in seven straight games (23.3 points per game) and have
given up 19 total during that span.
• No running back has rushed for
a score in four straight against Cleveland, but backs are rushing for an
average of 96 yards per game over the last eight. Only one running back
group has been below 12 Fantasy points in those eight games and are
averaging 18.2 points per game.
• Stevan Ridley was a healthy scratch for the Pats in Week 13. Shane Vereen once again led the Pats backs with 41 snaps played,
while LeGarrette Blount played 20 and Brandon Bolden played only nine. Vereen had 15 touches for 75 total
yards and his first touchdown of the year and is a great start again in
Week 14. Blount was the power runner and punched in a touchdown to go
with 44 yards rushing. If Ridley is out again, he is a flex option in
what should be a one-sided affair.
• Julian Edelman led the Pats in targets (12), catches (nine) and topped
100 yards receiving for the second straight game in Week 13. He is the
one Pats receiver I trust right now and the Browns have given up a
receiver score in six straight games, with a grand total of nine.
• Rob Gronkowski is on fire, with a touchdown in four straight games
and 90-plus yards in three of them. He already has three games of more
than 100 yards receiving in his six starts and will feast on a Browns
team that has allowed eight tight end touchdowns in the last seven
games. Four tight end groups have produced 13-plus points in that span.
•
The Browns have given up 21.3 points per game to opposing defenses in
the last three games and due to injuries, Cleveland may be forced to
start Alex Tanney, who was on the
Dallas practice squad as of Week 12. If it is not Tanney, rumors have Caleb Hanie -- who was just signed off the street -- as the starter
for Cleveland. The Pats were horrendous in Week 13 against the Texans,
but should be the play of the week at home against the Browns.
• The
Patriots have allowed over 100 yards rushing to backs in seven of the
last eight games, including 280 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and a
touchdown to the Broncos in Week 12 and 115 yards and three scores to
the Texans last week (30-plus points in both weeks). Four of the last
five running back groups have produced at least 19 Fantasy points and
they are averaging 22 points per game against the Pats during that span.
Only those who love to gamble could consider a Browns runner, however.
•
Josh Gordon became the first player in
NFL history to have more than 200 yards receiving in back-to-back games
when he followed up his 237-yard performance in Week 12 with 261 yards
and two scores against the Jags in Week 13. Gordon has 125-plus yards
with a touchdown in four of his last five games and has 37 catches for
799 yards and five scores in those five games. He is playing better than
anyone not named Calvin Johnson and
given his quarterback play, you could argue that Gordon is currently the
most dominant receiver in the NFL.
• Jordan Cameron has not scored since Week 7 and has not reached 45
yards receiving in four straight games. Tight ends have scored in two of
the last three against the Pats, but no tight end has reached 60 yards
in since Week 6.
Dolphins at Steelers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Ryan Tannehill finally had his
first 20-point game of the year in Week 13 against the Jets, but two in
a row could be tough, as Tannehill will face a Pittsburgh pass defense
that has been very stingy of late. Since Week 4, only Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford
have thrown for multiple scores or topped 15 Fantasy points against the
Steelers.
• With Daniel Thomas
out, Lamar Miller is the main man for
the 'Fins (played a season-high 65 snaps last week). He was held to less
than 50 total yards in Week 12 against the Panthers, but bounced back
with an impressive 85 total yards (22 carries for 72 rushing and a near
touchdown) against the then top-ranked run defense of the Jets. Four of
the last seven running back groups (including two straight) to face the
Steelers have not scored or produced 10 Fantasy points. The Steelers
have allowed less than 80 yards rushing to backs in four straight games
as well (average of 69.8 yards rushing and 10.2 points per game during
that span).
• It is Mike Wallace
revenge week against the Steelers and he faces Ike Taylor, who has allowed a league-high 854 yards to opposing
receivers this year. The opposing No. 1 outside receiver has more than
90 yards and 15 Fantasy points in four of the last five games (20-plus
points in three of them) against Taylor and the Steelers. Wallace
himself has scored and topped 80 yards (12 catches for 209 yards and two
scores total) in each of his last two games.
• Brian Hartline lit up the Jets, who entered Week 13 having given up
the most touchdowns to the opposing No. 2 receiver. The Steelers have
allowed only one No. 2 receiver to score on them since Week 4, and only
one has reached 55 yards during that span as well.
• The Steelers
have allowed only three tight end touchdowns all year and only Rob Gronkowski has topped 60 yards against them since Week 2.
• Ben Roethlisberger has 20-plus points and multiple scores in four
of his last five games, including three in a row. Cam Newton is the only quarterback to reach 20 points against the
'Fins since Week 4 (and he needed a rushing touchdown to get there) and
no quarterback has thrown for multiple scores against them since Drew Brees in Week 4.
• Le'Veon Bell
was a monster against the tough Ravens, as he ran for 73 yards and a
touchdown (should have had two) while adding seven catches for 63 yards
(19 points). Bell has 88 total yards or a touchdown in seven straight
games and is averaging 11.7 points per game during that span. After
allowing at least 17 Fantasy points to backs in nine straight games
prior to Week 12, the Dolphins have allowed just 10 and 12 the last two
weeks, respectively, and have not given up a touchdown to the position
in three straight games.
• Antonio Brown
was shut down by the Ravens for the second time this year (five catches
for 59 yards), but had at least 100 yards or a touchdown in four
straight games before Week 13.
• Emmanuel Sanders has scored in each of the last two games and has at
least six catches in both. Interestingly, Sanders has not reached 55
yards receiving in either game and has been below that number in four
straight.
• Jerricho Cotchery
has a touchdown catch in four of the last five games with six total
during that run. He does not have 10 yards receiving in either of his
last two games.
• Miami still has allowed only one receiver touchdown
all year, fewest in the NFL.
• Heath Miller is coming on strong with 25 targets, 21 catches and 194
yards receiving in his last three games. He has at least five catches in
each game and has topped 60 yards in two of them. Miller has not scored
since Week 7, but Miami has given up a tight end score in two of the
last three games.
Lions at Eagles, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Matthew Stafford tossed three
more scores against the Pack in Week 13 and has produced multiple scores
in every game but one this year. Stafford has 19 touchdown passes in his
last seven games and the Eagles have allowed 300-plus yards passing and
20-plus points in three of their last four games.
• Reggie Bush had his best game in weeks, with 117 yards rushing, 65
yards receiving and a touchdown against the Packers. Philly has given up
425 yards rushing, 247 yards receiving to backs for a total of 672
yards, three touchdowns and 82 Fantasy points to backs the last four
weeks.
• Joique Bell actually
played more snaps than Bush in Week 13 and rushed for 94 yards and a
touchdown on 19 carries en route to a day of 128 total yards and the
score. Bell has scored in three of his last five games, but has not
scored in consecutive games all year.
• Calvin Johnson is on an epic tear with 48 catches for 968 yards and
eight scores in his last six games alone.
• Nate Burleson had at least six catches in all four of his starts
before failing to catch a single pass (only one target) in Week 13
against the Pack. Receivers have produced at least 22 Fantasy points in
four straight games and eight of the last nine against the Eagles. The
opposing No. 2 receiver has scored in two-straight games and with Kris Durham nicked up, Burleson, who had averaged 8.3 targets per
game prior to Week 13, will likely be involved again this week.
• Nick Foles now has 19 touchdown passes and no interceptions this
season after tossing three more against the Cardinals in Week 13.
Everyone not named Matt Flynn has thrown
all over this Detroit defense of late. Prior to the stench of Flynn in
Week 13, six straight quarterbacks and seven of the last eight to face
the Lions had thrown for multiple scores and produced 20-plus points.
•
The Lions have not allowed 100 total yards, a touchdown or 10 Fantasy
points to tail backs in six straight games and just held Eddie Lacy to 16 yards on 10 carries in Week 13 after limiting Bobby Rainey to 35 yards on 18 carries in Week 12. No running back
group has even averaged 2.5 yards per carry against the Lions since Week
7, and no runner has rushed for 100 yards against them all year, so LeSean McCoy will have a tough test in Week 14.
• Throw out the
Flynn debacle and receivers had produced 1,042 yards, 12 touchdowns and
netted 174 Fantasy points (league-high 34.8 points per game) against the
Lions in the five games prior to Week 13.
• The opposing No. 2
receiver has scored or topped 100 yards in eight of the last nine games
against this Lions defense. James Jones
last week was the exception, but he led the Pack with 79 yards. Riley Cooper has not reached 50 yards in two straight games, but is
worth the gamble here.
Vikings at Ravens, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Outside of Adrian Peterson, I
don't think you want to go with anyone on the Vikes this week against
the Ravens.
• The Ravens defense averages 15.2 points per game at
home and six of the last eight defenses to face the Vikings have topped
10 Fantasy points.
• The Vikings have allowed multiple touchdowns and
22-plus Fantasy points to quarterbacks in six straight games (26.3 per
game). So yes, even Joe Flacco is a
viable Week 14 sleeper at quarterback if you are desperate for options.
Keep in mind however, that Flacco has multiple scores in two of his last
six games.
• The Vikings have allowed 486 total yards and four scores
to running backs in their last three games alone (23.7 points per game). Ray Rice did do well against a soft Bears defense, but Rice has
topped 50 yards twice all year long.
• Torrey Smith has a touchdown in three of his last four games and had
six catches for 93 yards and a score against Pittsburgh in Week 13. The
Vikings have allowed a receiver to score in 11 straight games and have
given up 14 total receiver touchdowns during that span.
•
Interestingly enough, only one of the last six receiver scores have gone
to the opposing No. 1 receiver, while five of them have gone to opposing
No. 2 receivers (Jacoby Jones).
Chiefs at Redskins, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Alex Smith now has 25-plus
points in three straight games and four of his last five. He has
multiple passing scores in all four of those big games and has thrown
for at least 290 yards in each of his last two games. The 'Skins have
allowed 12 passing scores, one rushing score and an average of 22.3
Fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over their last six games.
•
You are most definitely starting Jamaal Charles,
but it should be noted that the 'Skins have held Frank Gore and Andre Brown to 66
yards on 27 carries the last two weeks. In fact, Washington has not
allowed more than 80 yards rushing to backs in five straight games, but
they have allowed multiple running back scores in three of their last
four games.
• Dwayne Bowe had a
touchdown called back on an illegal formation penalty otherwise he would
have had a score in three straight games. He has a touchdown in two of
his last three, but still doesn't have a 70-yard game on the season.
Five of the last six No. 1s have reached 75-plus yards receiving against
the 'Skins.
• Anthony Fasano
(make sure he is good to go) is on fire with a touchdown in three
straight games. Tight ends have 60 yards or a touchdown in 11 of the
Redskins 12 games this year, and have scored in two straight and five of
the last seven games.
• Robert Griffin III looked much better against the Giants in Week 13,
completing 24 of his 32 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown to go with
a season-high 88 rushing yards. He has more than 20 Fantasy points in
three of his last four games. The Chiefs have given up at least 290
yards passing in four of the last five games and have allowed 12
touchdowns with only four interceptions in those games. Jason Campbell, Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning all have topped 24 Fantasy points in this run.
• Alfred Morris had three catches for 27 yards in Week 13, and they were
his first catches since Week 2. Morris, however, only has 25 carries for
78 yards and a touchdown in his last two games combined. He was
averaging over 20 carries per game and had at least 90 yards rushing in
every game from Week 7 to Week 11. Running backs have rushed for over
100 yards and produced at least 23 Fantasy points in each of the last
four games against the Chiefs while averaging 27.3 points per game (556
rush yards, 763 total yards and six touchdowns).
• Receivers have at
least 26 Fantasy points in three straight games against the Chiefs, with
five touchdowns (four from Eric Decker)
in those games. Receivers have at least 230 yards in all of those games,
but I still only trust Pierre Garcon,
who has at least five catches in every game. Garcon does have only one
touchdown since Week 4 and has reached 70 yards in just two nine games,
despite all the catches.
• Jordan Reed
has missed the last two games with a concussion, but is expected back.
Tight ends have at least eight Fantasy points in two of the last three
and three of the last eight games against the Chiefs.
Colts at Bengals, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
• Andrew Luck has two passing
scores in his last four games and did not throw a single touchdown pass
in two of those games (both against Tennessee). The Bengals have only
allowed four passing touchdowns (they have eight interceptions) in the
last five games and no quarterback has topped 14 Fantasy points against
them in those games.
• Donald Brown
played 52 of the team's 69 snaps now that he is the "starter" and ran 14
times for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Titans. This will be much
tougher, however, as no running back has scored against them in eight
straight games and no groups have topped 15 Fantasy points against them
since Week 3.
• T.Y Hilton has
not scored or reached 50 yards receiving in a game in three straight
starts. The opposing top target has four touchdowns in the last six
games against the Bengals and has topped 100 yards receiving in each of
the last two games.
• Coby Fleener
led the Colts with three catches for 50 yards last week and has produced
60 yards or a touchdown in five of his last six games. A tight end has
scored on Cincy in two of the last three games (eight points per game).
•
Andy Dalton failed to throw for two
scores against the Chargers in Week 13, but still has multiple passing
scores in five of his last seven games. Quarterbacks have multiple
scores in five of the last six games against the Colts defense and are
averaging 23.5 points per game during that span.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the mail carrier in Week 13, rushing 20 times
for 92 yards and a touchdown. It was his first touchdown since Week 4,
but he does have 36 carries for 154 yards and a score in his last two
starts.
• Giovanni Bernard had
14 touches in Week 13, but netted only 66 total yards. He has at least
86 total yards in three of his last four games with three total scores
during that span. The Colts have given up a rushing touchdown, at least
96 yards rushing and 18-plus points in four straight games to running
backs (20.25 per game).
• A.J. Green
got back into the end zone and added 86 yards on five catches. He has
100 yards receiving in five of his last seven games and has 10-plus
points in six of them. The Colts have allowed multiple receiver scores
in four of the last six games and five of the last eight, with 12 total
scores allowed during that run.
• Only one tight end has reached 55
yards against the Colts since Week 2, and it was Delanie Walker back in Week 11.
Titans at Broncos, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
• Ryan Fitzpatrick has produced
multiple touchdowns in three of his last four games and is a nice option
in Week 14 against the Broncos. Fitz can throw it, but he is a sneaky
rusher who has at least 25 yards rushing in five of his six games this
year, with three rushing scores to boot. Denver has given up multiple
passing scores and 25-plus Fantasy points to quarterbacks in three
straight games, and Alex Smith rushed
for more than 45 yards in two of those three games.
• Chris Johnson has five total touchdowns in his last five games and
has not been below 70 total yards in any of those games. He is averaging
15.6 Fantasy points per game during this run. Denver has given up at
least 100 total yards to backs in seven straight games and backs have
scored in 11 of 12 games against the Broncos this year. Three of the
last four running back groups to face Denver have rushed for more than
100 yards with a touchdown en route to a 20-plus point Fantasy day.
• Kendall Wright, the PPR beast, has at least six catches and 70 yards
receiving in four straight games.
• If Delanie Walker is able to go, he is a good start against the Broncos,
who have given up a touchdown to the position in three straight games.
Tight ends have at least eight Fantasy points in six straight, eight of
the last nine and 10 of 12 games on the year. Over the last six games,
tight ends are averaging 10.7 Fantasy points per game. For the year, the
Broncos give up the second-most yards (79.3) and fourth-most Fantasy
points per game (9.5) to tight ends.
• Talk about an epic matchup
here. Peyton Manning has 41 touchdown
passes this year, most in the NFL. The Titans have allowed a league-low
eight passing touchdowns all year, and only two since Week 4. Peyton has
had more than two touchdowns in plenty of quarters this season.
•
Knowshon Moreno found the end zone for
the 11th time in 2013 when he scored on a reception against the Chiefs.
Moreno now has 15 touchdowns while producing 10 or more Fantasy points
in 14 of his last 17 games. Wow!
• Montee Ball played 25 snaps in Week 13, his highest number since the
team's bye week. He ran 13 times for 117 yards against the Chiefs --
both career-highs -- and has now topped 10 Fantasy points in two of his
last three games. He is worth a look as a flex against the Titans, who
have given up a running back touchdown and 16-plus Fantasy points to the
position in eight straight games. Backs have 20-plus points in seven of
those eight games and have totaled 13 scores.
• Demaryius Thomas has a touchdown or 100 yards receiving in six straight
games.
• Eric Decker ended his
four-game scoreless streak in emphatic fashion in Week 13. He caught
eight passes for 174 yards and four scores on Sunday after totaling 170
yards with no scores in his previous four games combined.
• Wes Welker is in a slump. Welker has just one touchdown in his last
six games and has less than 40 yards receiving in three of his last four.
•
Julius Thomas has a touchdown in two
straight and five of the last six games he has played. Unfortunately, he
has missed the last two games with a knee injury, so hopefully he
returns in Week 14.
Seahawks at 49ers, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
• Russell Wilson is on FIRE! He
has multiple passing scores in six straight games and seven of his last
eight. Wilson has 22 or more Fantasy points in four straight games (34
last week) and six of his last eight. Wilson had 12 Fantasy points in
his first game against the 49ers this year, but that was a long time
ago. Still, it should be noted that no quarterback has thrown for
multiple touchdowns or topped 15 Fantasy points against the 49ers in
five straight games. Only one quarterback since Week 1 has reached 20
points against the 49ers, but Wilson is on a different level right now.
•
Marshawn Lynch disappointed against the
Saints in Week 13, but he has at least 100 total yards in four straight
games against the 49ers. Lynch had 135 total yards and three scores in
Seattle's blowout of the 49ers back in Week 2 this year.
• Doug Baldwin scored again in Week 13 (77 yards as well) and now has
a touchdown or 75 yards in four straight games with three total scores.
Only four receivers have reached 10 Fantasy points against the 49ers
since Week 1, but Baldwin is hot right now.
• Zach Miller had his best game of the year with five catches for 86
yards and a touchdown on Monday night. He has at least 69 yards in each
of the last two games, but no tight end has topped 60 yards against the
49ers this year.
• Colin Kaepernick
enters Week 14 with six passing scores in his last three games and is
averaging 21.7 points per game over his last three. He has exactly 19
Fantasy points in two starts against Seattle, but both of those did come
on the road. No quarterback has 20 Fantasy points against Seattle since
Week 5, and only two have accomplished the feat all year (both were home
games for the quarterback).
• Frank Gore
has not rushed for 50 yards in three straight games and is averaging
just 2.9 yards per carry on less than 14 carries per game despite facing
New Orleans, Washington and St. Louis. No back has scored on the 'Hawks
in five straight games and no back has rushed for 70 yards against them
in three straight. Gore has 44 yards rushing in his last two games
against Seattle, but he did rush for 131 in his last home game against
them.
• Vernon Davis has eight
scores in his last nine games and is absolutely on fire. Amazingly, he
has not scored on the Seahawks in five straight games and has totaled
two, two, zero, five and four catches in those contests.
• Anquan Boldin has a touchdown or 99 yards in three straight games with
three total scores during that run. He was held without a Fantasy point
in the first meeting with the Hawks and Seattle has killed opposing No.
1 receivers this year. Lately, Vincent Jackson
(11 yards), Larry Fitzgerald (17 yards), Roddy White (20 yards) and Marques Colston
(27 yards) have all been locked down. No No. 1 receiver has reached 60
yards or scored on the 'Hawks since Week 5.
• Michael Crabtree played 61 percent of the snaps in his return and had
two catches for 67 yards. Crabtree had four catches for 65 yards in his
only start with Kaepernick against Seattle.
• The Seattle defense had
27 Fantasy points against the 49ers in the first meeting and get this:
defenses have exactly one Fantasy point in each of the last three
against Seattle.
Rams at Cardinals, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
• Zac Stacy has at least 12
Fantasy points in five of his last six games and ran for 72 tough yards
on 19 carries against the 49ers in Week 13. It won't get any easier for
Stacy in Week 14 as he takes on the Cardinals. The Cards have only
allowed three running backs to score all year and only Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch have
topped 90 yards rushing against them. Arizona is allowing a league-low
10.6 Fantasy points per game to running backs.
• Tavon Austin did not score against the 49ers and finished with 35
total yards on five touches. He did see seven targets, which is his
highest total since Week 4.
• Jared Cook
set the Fantasy world on fire in Week 1 with 141 yards and two scores on
seven catches against Arizona.
• The Cardinals allowed three more
tight end scores in Week 13, as both Brent Celek
and Zach Ertz scored for the Eagles.
They have allowed a tight end to score in four straight games (six total
touchdowns) and are giving up 15.8 points per game over those four. For
the year, Arizona still allows the most yards (86.8), touchdowns (1.2)
and Fantasy points per game (14.8) per game to tight ends.
• Carson Palmer has thrown two touchdown passes in five straight games
and six of the last seven. He has thrown for 300-plus yards with at
least two scores in three straight games as well. Palmer takes on a Rams
defense that he torched for 327 yards and two scores in Week 1. The Rams
have given up 627 yards passing and three scores (20.5 points per game)
to quarterbacks over the last two games.
• Rashard Mendenhall has scored in two of his last three games and is
coming off of a season-high 18 carries for 76 yards (also a season-high)
in Week 13 with Andre Ellington out.
Ellington should be back and both could be flexed against the Rams. A
back has scored against the Rams in four straight games (six total
touchdowns), and they are averaging 24 Fantasy points per game. In three
of those last four games, backs also have gotten to 145-plus total yards.
•
Larry Fitzgerald has still scored in
every game with seven or more targets this year and has not scored in
any game with six or fewer. The good news is that the targets have
picked up and he has scored in three straight games and four of his last
five, with five total scores during that span.
• Michael Floyd is also on fire with at least 99 yards receiving in three
straight games (100-plus in two of them) to go with two touchdowns. He
has 100 yards or a touchdown in each of his last four full games and has
70 yards or a touchdown in six straight.
• Floyd and Fitz both have
42 targets over the last six games and the Rams have given up a
league-high 10 touchdowns to opposing No. 1 receivers.
Giants at Chargers, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
• Andre Brown has 15-plus Fantasy
points in three of his four starts and has not been held below eight
points in a game yet this year while averaging 14.25 per game. He has 93
total yards or a touchdown in every single game and takes on a Chargers
run defense that just gave up 90 yards and a touchdown to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. In fact, San Diego has given up over 100 total
yards to backs in six straight and have surrendered eight scores during
that span as well (20.7 points per game).
• Victor Cruz has not scored in eight straight games and has just one
double-digit point game during that run. He has been held below 70 yards
in five of those eight games but has at least six catches and 80-plus
yards in two of his last three. He almost scored last week and maybe he
finally breaks through, as San Diego has allowed nine scores to the
opposing No. 1, third most in the NFL. Cruz has not even been a Top 45
Fantasy receiver since Week 5.
• Hakeem Nicks has not scored in 15 straight games and has been below
six Fantasy points in seven of his last nine.
• Rueben Randle is on a two-game scoring drought and when you consider
that he has bested just 50 yards receiving in just one of his last six
games, he becomes a touchdown or bust receiver.
• Brandon Myers has a touchdown in each of the last two games for the
G-Men and had 61 yards and the score in Week 13. Tight ends have scored
on the Chargers in three of the last four games and are averaging 10
points per game, even with the doughnut thrown up by the Bungles duo
last week.
• Philip Rivers has
just two games with multiple passing touchdowns in his last seven and
takes on a Giants defense that has given up only three passing scores in
their last six games. No quarterback has produced 20 Fantasy points
against the Giants on passing totals alone (RG3 had 88 yards rushing
last week) since Week 6. It is also true that Tony Romo and RG3 produced 19 and 20 Fantasy points against the
Giants in the last two games.
• Ryan Mathews has 10-plus Fantasy points in six of his last eight
full games and has seen more targets (10 to eight) than Danny Woodhead over the last four games. The Giants have allowed only
three running back rushing scores in their last nine games, but each of
the last four primary ball carriers to face them -- Rashad Jennings (88 yards rushing, 107 total), Eddie Lacy (touchdown), DeMarco Murray
(86 rushing and 120 total yards), and Alfred Morris (40-plus total yards and a touchdown) -- have reached
100 total yards or scored a touchdown (average 10.25 points per game).
•
Woodhead had 35 total yards in Week 13 and has been held to fewer than
50 total yards in three of his last four games. He has been below 20
yards receiving in all three of those games after topping 40 yards
receiving in every game from Week 3 to Week 9.
• Keenan Allen has 100-plus yards receiving in back-to-back games and
five of his last eight. He will likely need his yards for production as
no receiver has scored on the Giants in six straight games.
• Antonio Gates is losing out to Ladarius Green.
Gates has just one touchdown since Week 4 and has reached 60 yards
receiving in just one of his last seven games. Over the last three
weeks, Gates has 12 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
• Green
has at least eight Fantasy points in three straight games and has scored
with at least 10 Fantasy points in each of his last two. He played a
season-high 61 snaps and ran 39 routes in Week 13 as his involvement
continues to increase. Green had not played more than 29 snaps or run
more than 16 routes in a game prior to Week 13. Over the last three
weeks, he has nine catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
• No
tight end has reached 55 yards against the Giants since Week 6, but they
have scored in each of the last two weeks with three total scores and 27
Fantasy points during that span from Jason Witten
and Logan Paulsen.
Panthers at Saints, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
• Cam Newton had another 30-point
Fantasy day in Week 13, as he threw for two scores and added 60-plus
yards and a touchdown on the ground. Outside of the 49ers game, Newton
is averaging 26-plus points per game over his last five starts. The
Saints were just destroyed by Russell Wilson
(34 Fantasy points), and Newton presents many similar challenges. Wilson
was the first quarterback to throw for multiple scores and top 20
Fantasy points against the Saints, but Cam has done it before (Week 2 of
2012). Cam has a rushing touchdown in two straight games and four of his
last six, while rushing for more than 50 yards in three straight.
•
The Saints have allowed a running back to score 10-plus Fantasy points
in seven of the last nine games, but two of the exceptions were Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch, who
played the Saints in Week 11 and Week 13, respectively. They all split
touches, but if you had to bet on one, I'd go with Tolbert, who has been
the goal line back and who led the team with 89 total yards last week.
It should be noted that DeAngelo Williams
does have 150 yards rushing or a touchdown in seven of his last eight
games against the Saints. Williams had 279 yards rushing and three
scores against them in two starts last year.
• Steve Smith has not reached 70 yards receiving in a game yet this
year and has not scored in six straight games. In fact, both Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn (who both
scored last week) have been Top 24 receivers more times (four to three)
than Smith on the season.
• Greg Olsen
has 85 yards or a touchdown in three straight games and has found the
end zone in four of his last six starts. Tight ends have scored in two
of the last three against the Saints defense and are averaging 9.3
points per game in those contests.
• Drew Brees is great at home, but he has a very tough task in Week
14. The Panthers have not allowed a single quarterback all year to throw
multiple touchdowns or produce 20 Fantasy points against them.
• Marques Colston has been to 40 or fewer yards and without a touchdown
in five of his last seven games. He has a grand total of nine Fantasy
points in those five games. Carolina has allowed exactly one receiver to
produce 10 Fantasy points or score against them since Week 2.
• In
the last eight games, the Panthers have allowed only one rushing
touchdown and only one group over 95 yards rushing. Five of the last six
running back groups to face Carolina have produced nine or fewer Fantasy
points.
• Pierre Thomas had a
seven-game streak of at least 80-plus total yards snapped in Week 13,
when he managed just 21 in the blowout loss to Seattle.
• Darren Sproles has more than six Fantasy points in two of his last 10
games. He has been held to four or fewer points in six of those games.
He did have 207 yards receiving and a touchdown in two games against the
Panthers last year. Amazingly, he has 218 yards receiving total in his
last seven games combined.
• The Panthers defense has 10-plus Fantasy
points in 10 of 12 games this year and has never been below seven. They
have 20-plus in four of the last seven games. Only three teams have
produced 10 Fantasy points against the Saints all year and all three of
those were road games. No one has done it against the Saints in the
Superdome.
Cowboys at Bears, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET
• Tony Romo has not produced 20
Fantasy points in three straight starts and has reached 20-plus in just
two of his last seven games. He is averaging just 196 yards passing over
his last three and takes on a Chicago team that has not allowed multiple
touchdowns or more than 15 Fantasy points to quarterbacks in three
straight and four of the last five. Only one quarterback has even
reached 220 yards against the Bears in the last five games, due in large
part to how bad their run defense is.
• DeMarco Murray had a monster Week 13 with three rushing scores and
could have a repeat performance against the awful Bears, who just
allowed more than 200 yards rushing to AP last week. Back have rushed
for 150-plus yards in three straight games against Chicago and have
three total scores in those games while averaging 26 Fantasy points per
game. Backs have rushed for at least 120 yard against Chicago in seven
straight games and have scored 10 times. Backs have also produced at
least 20 Fantasy points in eight of the last nine games and have
exceeded 25 points in six of them!
• Dez Bryant has been held below 65 yards in three of his last four
games and has only one touchdown during that span. With Charles Tillman out, he should find success against a Chicago team that
has given up a touchdown to the opposing No. 1 target in three of the
last four games.
• The Bears give up 70.8 yards per game to tight
ends -- third most in the NFL -- and Jason Witten
lit Chicago up for 112 yards and a touchdown last year. Three of the
last four tight end groups to face Chicago have topped 60 yards and six
Fantasy points.
• Josh McCown
is likely to start for one more week and enters Week 14 with 350-plus
yards and two scores in each of his last two games. McCown has now
thrown for multiple passing scores and produced 22-plus points in three
of his four starts this year. Dallas has allowed multiple quarterback
touchdowns in four of the last five games and is allowing 310 yards
passing and 23 points per game to quarterbacks, the most and second-most
in the NFL, respectively.
• Matt Forte
has not scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games, but does have
at least 117 total yards in each of his last three games. Over the last
four games, Dallas has given up 765 yards rushing, eight rushing
touchdowns, 252 yards receiving, two receiving touchdowns (yes that's
1,017 total yards, 10 total touchdowns and a two-point conversion) and
156 Fantasy points to running backs.
• Alshon Jeffery had a monster Week 13 with 12 catches for 249 yards and
two scores. Jeffery has 100 total yards or a touchdown in seven of his
last nine games, including four of five with McCown at quarterback. He
has at least eight targets in five straight games with 61 total in those
games, five more than teammate Brandon Marshall.
•
Marshall has 100 yards with a touchdown in three of his last five games,
but has just eight catches for 87 yards total in his "small" games.
Those two four-point efforts have come in the last three weeks. Marshall
has not had back-to-back games under 17 Fantasy points with McCown at
quarterback this year.
• Martellus Bennett left Week 13 early with an injury and has just one
touchdown in his last five games and two in his last 10. He has one
touchdown in two career starts against the Cowboys. Dallas has given up
two tight end touchdowns in the last four games, but only one tight end
group has reached 60 yards against the Cowboys in the last seven games.
Thanks for reading another installment of the Fantasy Fact Sheet. Good luck in the first round of your playoffs in Week 14.