The list of teams that have been eliminated from playoff consideration in the NFL has grown markedly with each week. But that doesn’t mean their games are meaningless.
Pay attention to those players who are getting a look late in the season for teams that are playing out the season when the competition remains real. Often times, if somebody shines in December on a team whose season is done, get an in-road to landing a bigger role the following season.
If you’re still chasing a league title, keep your eyes on the prize. If not, put some focus to the NFL teams that have been eliminated and get an insight on their plans for next year. You may bet the edge you need to turn things around next year.
Fantasy football risers
Buffalo Bills RB James Cook – This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to a career game, because Cook has been tough to play prior to the last four games. To that point, he had just one game with more than 15 carries, and that was in Week 2. In his last four games, he has more than 15 attempts in three of them – totaling 68 carries for 353 yards, 16 receptions for 221 yards and four touchdowns. The Bills haven’t dominated on the ground like they did Sunday. With their season on line every week, Cook could be the most important player in the offense down the stretch.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson – Johnson was a waiver pickup in most leagues because he missed the first four games, but he made a solid impact in his first three games back (20 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown). Then, he disappeared. However, the arrival of Mitchell Trubisky has changed everything for Johnson. Trubisky has thrown three touchdowns in his last three games and all of them have gone to Johnson, who has weekly point totals of 13.3, 14.7 and 16.2. The Steelers struggle on offense, but Johnson is getting his points. Here’s to hoping it continues with the switch to Mason Rudolph under center.
Washington Commanders WR Curtis Samuel – Samuel was a gadget player in Carolina who would be used as a rusher and receiver. Ron Rivera brought him to Washington, but the consistency was not there, because he wasn’t mastering his route running and role in a new pass offense. That has changed over the last three weeks. He has been targeted 26 times — catching 18 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns — with weekly totals of 19.0, 10.5 and 21.1. Those are starting lineup numbers.
Minnesota Vikings RB Ty Chandler – Given Minnesota’s history of having an elite running back (Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook), there were high expectations for Alexander Mattison. He has disappointed. He had no 100-yard rushing games and had 52 or fewer rushing yards in seven of his last nine games. With Mattison out, Chandler saw his first chance to show what he could do and rushed 23 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. If Mattison makes it back, he’s Minnesota’s RB2.
New England Patriots TE Hunter Henry – There aren’t many Patriots in fantasy lineups – much less with a season on the line – but Henry has been the go-to guy for current starter Bailey Zappe. Of the four touchdowns Zappe has thrown in the last two games, three have been to Henry. Henry disappeared for two months prior, but in his last two games, he has caught 10 passes for 106 and three TDs, putting up weekly totals of 19.0 and 19.6. Who wouldn’t take that?
Fantasy football fallers
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones – In Week 1, Jones looked like the RB2 he was taken in a lot of leagues given the new-look Packers. He rushed nine times for 41 yards, caught two passes for 86 yards and scored two touchdowns. But, he was hurt and missed the next two games. In the seven he has played since, with two more inactive stints, he has rushed 70 times for 257 yards, caught 21 passes for 99 yards, and scored one TD. If you won last week with him, it wasn’t because of him. It was despite him.
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray – There were Murray apologists who were willing to invest knowing he would give them nothing for eight weeks. In the five games he has been back, he’s thrown for 1,075 yards and four touchdowns, plus ran 29 times for 155 yards and three TDs. Given eight weeks of nothing, to keep him on a roster and consider playing him is befuddling.
Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields – Fields has been one of the more overrated quarterbacks in the league given his draft day status in August. He missed time with injury, but when he came back, those who invested went all in. In his last three games, he has thrown for 616 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 147 yards and one TD. If you played him more than once, you’re season is likely done.
Buffalo Bills TE Dalton Kincaid – When Dawson Knox went down, it looked as if Kincaid could be Buffalo’s version of Travis Kelce. But in the two games since Knox came back, Kincaid has resumed “little brother” status. When he was needed most to keep a fantasy season alive, he provided 7.1 points in Week 14 and none in Week 15. A zero in the playoffs hurts and may have been the difference in a season going on and a season ending.
