With the regular season nearing a close, either the momentum of given teams is rising or falling drastically once those teams are eliminated. As fantasy football championship week is afoot, for those playing for a well-deserved title, every team in every situation needs to be monitored, even if illogical lineup preference is given to players with more to legitimately play for.
Fantasy football risers
Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Ford – Two games ago, Nick Chubb broke his foot, and Ford was again pushed into action. Over the last two games, Ford has rushed for 176 yards on just 18 carries, adding seven receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns for weekly point totals of 18.4 and 21.1. Ford has earned his spot as a flex play at a minimum.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan – Chris Godwin has been down for two months. While it has taken time, McMillan has emerged as a legitimate No. 2 receiver in the Bucs’ receiver room. In the last three games, McMillan has caught 14 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns. McMillan is a viable answer if the question is iffy for the guy you currently have in your lineup.
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff – Goff is on a lot of rosters but isn’t starting in most of them because he’s a one-trick pony, providing virtually nothing as a runner. But who needs rushing yards when Goff is operating like this. Goff has two or more TD passes in 11 of his last 13 games. In his last three outings, Goff has thrown for 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns. If he was on your bench, your title hopes likely went away.
Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey – McConkey hasn’t scored a lot of touchdowns, but his production is consistent. Over his last five games, his point totals have been 18.3, 14.3, 20.7, 16.8, and 14.7 – with the assistance of just one touchdown. A middle-of-the-roster guy making it more difficult not to put him in your lineup every week.
Tennessee Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo – Sometimes a QB can make all the difference for a receiver. In the first 13 games, Okonkwo was targeted 42 times – a little more than three times a game. In the last two games with Mason Rudolph, Okonkwo has been targeted 19 times, catching 15 passes for 121 yards. For a fantasy manager without a go-to tight end, he’s worth a look in the last week.
Fantasy football fallers
Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco – When Pacheco returned from injury, he was a first-round fantasy draft pick coming back. Those who made due without him found out the depth of their rosters. In his four games back, Pacheco has weekly point totals of 5.9, 8.1, 5.7, and 3.5. Those are force-fed tight end numbers. He killed a lot of title hopes if you stuck with him.
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp – In his last four games, Kupp has had one productive outing. His weekly point totals have been 4.7, 20.2, 0.0, and 5.4. If you bench him, that 20-point game may resurface. But it isn’t likely. If you have a better option with a title on the line, take it.
Buffalo Bills WR Amari Cooper – Anyone who has rostered Cooper before knows this story. In his first game with the Bills, he caught four passes for 66 yards and a TD. In Week 14, he caught six passes for 95 yards. In the other seven games, his numbers have been 1.3, DNP, DNP, 7.5, 4.2, 0.0, and 2.0. Those are injured fullback numbers.
San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings – When Brandon Aiyuk went down, Jennings was expected to be the big dog in the yard. In his last five games, Jennings has provided numbers of 9.0, 8.6, 28.0, 5.1, and 9.1. That one week against Chicago was solid. As for the others? Look elsewhere if you’re not vested in making Jennings a must-start.
Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson – The “savvy players” who stashed him aren’t seeing the returns. In the eight games he’s played since coming back from injury, Hockenson has delivered weekly totals of 5.7, 15.2, 3.3, 18.4, 5.8, 8.5, 10.2, and 4.7. If those same savvy players are still alive for a championship game, it’s not advised to go with Hockenson.
