This is it folks.  The final stretch.  Right now, you are either solidifying your lineups for playoffs or playing spoiler to annoy your league mates (equally as fun).  And even if you will be out for come playoff time, there is DFS gold out in them there hills.  So, let’s stay focused on the right details here.

*All times below are Eastern Standard Time*

 

Cowboys @ Saints - Thursday 8:20 PM (Recap)

Cowboys - It’s really all about this running back situation right now.  Zeke is obviously not healthy.  Can this new contusion heal while he’s playing or no?  Will they rest him if playoffs are looking like a lock?

Saints - With a knew QB comes a whole new world of action.  Here’s what we learned: Taysom Hill clearly isn’t afraid to run (over 100 yards on the ground).  And Taysom Hill likes Deonte Harris (led the team in targets and yards while scoring a touchdown).  Harris does have a pending DUI suspension that he has appealed. 

 

Giants @ Dolphins - Sunday 1:00 PM

Giants - No Daniel Jones this week so we get a peek at the offense with Mike Glennon.  The Jets, in a similar situation, produced some fantasy value with Joe Flacco.  New QB and new offensive coordinator really stirs the pot and makes this mildly interesting. 

Dolphins - We’ve been talking about this for weeks.  Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki have been great assets buts DeVante Parker and Will Fuller have been lurking.  Now Parker is likely back.  Let’s see how this changes the narrative. 

 

Colts @ Texans - Sunday 1:00 PM

Colts - Zach Pascal is playing a huge snap share and doing nothing with it.  TY Hilton has flashed at times but is playing half the snaps.  Can we please, please, swap them?

Texans - The Texans have entered the world of “live tryouts” that many terrible teams eventually dabble in. You aren’t winning this year so might as well see what you got for the future. Phillip Lindsay was released; veteran Jordan Akins was a healthy scratch for younger players.  The two most interesting are rookie WR Nico Collins and rookie TE Brevin Jordan. 

 

Vikings @ Lions - Sunday 1:00 PM

Vikings - Alright handcuffers - your moment is here.  We’ve seen Alexander Mattison be great with no Dalvin and we’ve seen duds.  This is a good spot for him to be great.

Lions - Interesting that both these situations would be in the same game but the Vikings are oddly even WORSE than the Lions vs. the run.  Bottom 3 team in DVOA.  Jamaal Williams is actually in a great position to succeed this week.  Let’s see what happens. 

 

Eagles @ Jets - Sunday 1:00 PM

Eagles - There is a lingering and terrifying question here - will Miles Sanders ever get the full role back?  We are clinging to this idea that he’s been banged up but they might just want to use multiple backs at this point. 

Jets - There’s one thing the people truly want here - unleash Elijah Moore.  If Zach Wilson can’t get it done, maybe he’s simply not ready and would benefit from a little time watching Joe Flacco.  That’s what fantasy gamers are telling themselves, anyway. 

 

Cardinals @ Bears - Sunday 1:00 PM

Cardinals - It looks like we are finally going to get Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins back.  We know Hopkins is the man so where does that leave everyone else? Will there be enough targets for guys like Zach Ertz and Christian Kirk?

Bears - What the heck is going on with this tight end situation.  One second they lean into Cole Kmet then the next minute Jimmy Graham scores a touchdown. Maybe Graham is just THAT much better in the red zone but I think most of us are ready for him to just go away. 

 

Chargers @ Bengals - Sunday 1:00 PM

Chargers - This is arguably the best game on the slate.  This team is fairly figured out but the big mystery here is what happened to the Mike Williams we saw earlier this season? We got a glimpse of it last week so maybe he can give us a big game.

Bengals - Because they use pretty much the same 11 guys every play (Chase, Higgins, Boyd, Uzomah, Mixon, Burrow, five linemen) you would think that it would be good for fantasy. But the targets are not consolidated enough among the top dogs which really creates an annoying scenario.  CJ Uzomah could randomly score two TDs at any moment, leaving the points thin for everyone else. 


Buccaneers @ Falcons - Sunday 1:00 PM

Buccaneers - Antonio Brown is not a smart man. And now he’s guaranteed out for three weeks.  Tyler Johnson has played AB’s role, but he hasn’t been AB.  But maybe he can be if they know he’s locked into that gig...

Falcons - It’s do or die time for Kyle Pitts here.  This is the best matchup he’s going to have for a while.  In fact, his fantasy playoff schedule is atrocious.  If he can’t do it this week, you likely need to look elsewhere.

 

Football Team @ Raiders - Sunday 4:05 PM

Football Team - The much-anticipated battle is finally here.  Terry McLaurin is the top target - everyone knows that.  Logan Thomas and Curtis Samuel are now both healthy for the first time.  Since he has TE eligibility, we would like Logan to be that second target but we honestly can’t jump to conclusions just yet.  If he is though, he has arguably the best playoff schedule in fantasy football. 

Raiders - All eyes on Foster Moreau. He did have six targets and six catches filling in for Waller earlier this season.  But Waller hasn’t been super efficient with his targets so hard to believe that Moreau will be much better.

 

Jaguars @ Rams - Sunday 4:05 PM

Jaguars - DeVante Parker and Will Fuller are out for the foreseeable future.  Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki have stepped up but Albert Wilson has also recently taken on a bigger role.  Can he help us in deep leagues?

Rams - This offense has been insanely consolidated.  We know exactly what they want to do (Kupp, Beckham, Jefferson, Higbee, Henderson, Stafford, five linemen).  But how effective with Jefferson and Henderson be with their injuries.  And, if Henderson is out, is Michel a must start player?

 

Ravens @ Steelers - Sunday 4:25 PM

Ravens - We talked about how consolidated the Rams are? This team is the opposite.  They use a ton of tight ends and fullbacks which means WRs come out of the game.  In fact, no WR other than Hollywood Brown played more than 50% of the snaps.  Makes it hard to trust guys like Rashod Bateman. 

Steelers - The most intriguing storyline here remains the rookie tight end.  He’s cleared concussion protocol and now he gets a juicy matchup.  Is this the breakout of the year?

 

49ers @ Seahawks - Sunday 4:25 PM

49ers - We get to see what life is like here without Deebo Samuel.  And at first glance it seems like Kittle and Aiyuk would be the obvious beneficiaries. But Deebo has been vulturing carries and touchdowns as well so the sneaky winner here might actually be Elijah Mitchell. 

Seahawks - Is Russell Wilson okay?  He didn’t look like it last game but they keep claiming he is fine.  This week is make or break for fantasy because you just can’t trust this guy if he gives you another dud. 

 

Broncos @ Chiefs - Sunday 8:2 PM

Broncos - Are we getting it? A Javonte Williams game with no Melvin Gordon?  Gordon has had a lingering hip injury and now he’s added a shoulder to that list.  This could be the moment folks.

Chiefs - Fresh off a bye week this team could do some damage this week.  The question we have lingering here is whether Clyde Edwards-Helaire can get his full role back or if Darrell Williams will continue to carve into the pass down work.

 

Patriots @ Bills - Monday 8:15 PM

Patriots - There is no more meaningful game on the slate than this one.  In terms of fantasy football, I’d like to know how Mac Jones reacts in a game where he will truly need to throw the ball to hang in there.  Pats get Bills again in fantasy playoffs so a lot of these matchups are important previews.

Bills - Dawson Knox has gotten 18 targets in two games vs. the Texans and Colts who are terrible vs. the tight end. In the other games he’s gotten 23. This is not a good tight end matchup so we find out here if he can battle adversity.  Like I said, they play again in fantasy playoffs, so this is huge.