Should you have confidence in the players on your roster as we approach the fantasy playoffs? Ray gives his thoughts on a series of players that you will need an accurate understanding of as the playoffs get rolling.

QUARTERBACK 

Jay Cutler, Bears
People love to hate Cutler. I get it. He's up, and down. He's continually making bad decisions, he often looks disinterested, and he's Jay Cutler. Let's not let facts get in the way of the narrative here. Fact. Cutler is averaging 257 passing yards a game. Tony Romo has thrown for 252 yards a week. Fact. Cutler has thrown for 22 scores. That's the same total as Drew Brees, Tony Romo and Philip Rivers. Fact. Cutler has a 66.8 percent completion percentage. That's better than Aaron Rodgers (66.7). I suggest everyone re-reads what I just wrote. It should go a long way to waylaying your concerns if Cutler is your starting QB. You can win a fantasy football league with Jay Cutler
NOTE: He went out and threw for 280 yards and two scores on Thanksgiving Day with two interceptions... just another day at the office.
Verdict: BUY

Cam Newton, Panthers
Newton isn't running. After averaging better than 40 yards a game through three seasons, year four has brought an average of 29 yards a game. That's a lost point ever week from his fantasy point total. The last three seasons he's averaged 9.3 rushing scores or 0.58 scores a game. This season he has two rushing scores or just 0.20 a game. If we give six points for a rushing scores Newton is losing another two points a week just on this measure. We've just removed three points from his weekly score, and we're not even talking about his passing. Newton has actually thrown for 239 yards a week, three yards better than his career number. It's the lack of scores that are hurting. His first three years he averaged 1.33 passing scores a week. This year that number is 1.2. Again, not that far off "normal." It's all about his lack of leg power this year. If it doesn't come back, and it might not, he may struggle to regain the QB1 status we've come to expect.
Verdict: BUY

RUNNING BACK

Rashad Jennings, Giants
A very good ballplayer who is often overlooked. He's failed to reach 60 yards in his last four outings - he's been between 52 and 59 yards each week - but Jennings has caught 12 passes on 17 targets the last two weeks. That's good work for a WR1 on a club, but from a running back? That's huge production. Jennings hasn't scored in four games as Andre Williams has scored three times, but Williams is doing nothing on the ground at all (92 yards in the four games). Jennings could be a RB1 in the right matchup - like with the Jaguars in Week 13 - but he's no worse than a RB2 in PPR leagues. 
Verdict: BUY

Tre Mason, Rams
Mason has led the Rams in rushing yards each of the nine games he has played. However, that's really not saying much. Through those seven games he's averaging 4.1 yards a clip and 63.6 yards a game. Sixteen games at that pace would lead to about 1,020 yards. Is that exciting? Hardly. It's especially boring when you note that Mason has run for 70 yards just once in five games. Worse yet is the fact that he has one rushing score all season. Not as good as people seem to think he is. 
Verdict: SELL

Latavius Murray
I've said it over and over, but one more time in case you missed it. Murray has dynamic talent, but the Raiders offense does not. As a unit the Raiders offense ranks 26th in passing, 32nd in rushing, and 32nd overall. Last in football folks. The Raiders are last in football with that 73.5 yards per game mark. Two teams, the Seahawks and Cowboys, have doubled that total this year. Doubled. Murray might have a lot of talent but the Raiders can't support that. Don't be all in because of two nice runs against the Chiefs. 
Verdict: SELL

WIDE RECEIVER 

Mike Evans, Buccaneers
He has six scores in his last four games, and eight in his last seven games. Be honest. How many players at the wideout spot score a touchdown every game they play? Over his last four games he's averaged 126 yards a contest. How many players do that? Answers - (1) No wideout in football averaged 120 yards a game in 2013. No one is averaging that much in 2014 either. (2) No wideout scored 16 times in 2013. No one did in 2012. Do you think a rookie is going to do two things that no other wideout in football has done the past two years? 
Verdict: SELL

Jarvis Landry, Dolphins
He's become the most consistent receiver on the Dolphins. I know, right? In each of the last four games he's caught at least five passes each time out (twice he's caught seven). Landry has also caught four scores the past four games. Here's the issue. He's not going to score weekly (I just wrote about that with Evans). Secondly, though he has 11 and 10 targets in two of his last three games, the other two successful games in his hot stretch were five and six targets. He's not likely to consistently see double-digit targets each week, and that limits the upside when the scores slow. In addition, do you know how many times that Landry has recorded 60-yards in his last six outings? Try zero. 
Verdict: SELL

Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
Maclin hasn't been as effective since Mark Sanchez took over under center as Jordan Matthews has ascended. Maclin has only scored once in three games and twice in those three outings he's failed to reach 60-yards. It's basic regression after Maclin recorded 345 yards in back-to-back games before his slow down. Should still also note that the "slow" efforts have still resulted in six receptions, 63 yards and 0.33 scores per game. Still solid, but he's no longer elite. 
Verdict: BUY

TIGHT END

Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Great talent. Maybe all-pro level talent honestly. No work. Seems like the Chiefs just don't get it. In his last six games he's scored just one time. In his last seven outings he's averaged 4.3 targets - not receptions but targets - a week. In those seven games he's also averaged 40.4 yards an outing. Just dreadful. 
Verdict: SELL

Jason Witten, Cowboys
Anyone notice that Witten is back? Well, at least "back" to the point that he's a borderline top half TE1 option every week. Witten has scored in his last two games and three times in his last four games (before the Turkey Day outing). Witten has also averaged five receptions the last four games. Not seeing a huge volume of targets but he's converting them into catches/yards exceedingly well. 
Verdict: BUY
 

Make sure you tune in to the Drive at 7 PM EDT, Monday through Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius210, XM87), to hear Ray Flowers pontificate about the world of sports.