Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
Share
Share
Share
Email
Everyone still keeping up with fantasy news this week should give themselves a pat on the back. Many people will sit at home on Sunday without having to worry what Kenneth Farrow’s workload will be or how much they can trust Drew Brees this week. You’ve made it this far in a season riddled with draft busts and injuries to plenty of studs.
Speaking of studs, let’s quickly address the elephant in the room:
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota – Everyone with AP on their roster is thinking the same thing: “what the hell do I do with Adrian Peterson?” People in leagues without an IR probably picked up Peterson at some point in the last few days, or weeks, thinking he would be a hail mary to play in their championship game. But Peterson is set to suit up on Sunday for the first time since Week 2. Here’s the truth about AP: nobody but Mike Zimmer and Adrian Peterson know what his workload will be Sunday. I’m going to give you a pros and cons list for playing Peterson, and you can make the decision on whether to start or sit him.
- Pros:
- He’s Adrian freakin’ Peterson, last season’s leading rusher and one of the best backs to ever play the game.
- The Vikings are on life support in the playoff race. They desperately need a spark and may count on Peterson to raise their offense from the ashes.
- The last time we counted Peterson out after an injury, he finished the season eight yards shy of the single season rushing record.
- He can singlehandedly win you a playoff game this week. He’s done it before, and he can do it again.
- Cons:
- We have literally no idea if he will even touch the ball on Sunday.
- Peterson is averaging 1.6 yards per carry this season. As a team, the Vikings are averaging 3 yards per carry. They’re the only team in the league that hasn’t reached 1,000 yards rushing on the year.
- Starting any player returning from an injury is risky, especially someone who just came off the IR days ago.
- He can singlehandedly lose you a playoff game this week.
Starts
Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Chicago – It’s a major risk to start Alshon Jeffrey in his first game being back from a four game suspension. He hasn’t been with the team for four weeks, he’s never caught a pass from Matt Barkley, and he really didn’t look all that great this year even before his suspension. But Alshon Jeffrey is in a contract year. He needs these last three games to get the payday he desires. I have faith that Jeffrey is going to check his ego at the door Sunday and really bring it these last three games. Matt Barkley has managed to play pretty decent during his three starts with the Bears and he should be able to get Jeffrey the ball. Starting Jeffrey is a leap of faith that many owners may need to take this week.
Kenneth Farrow, RB, San Diego – I’m all in on Farrow this week. He’s going to get the ball a ton and he should feast on the Raiders defense. Farrow put up 55 yards on 16 carries on a touch Carolina run defense last week. His backup is Ronnie Hillman, who’s been on three different rosters this year and his making his Chargers debut this week. I doubt he’ll be taking many of Farrow’s carries. With a full week of first team reps, Farrow should be ready for a big day in Week 15.
Jordan Reed, TE, Washington – Yes, Reed only getting 10 snaps in Week 14 is a major red flag. There’s a chance he’ll barely be on the field again in Week 15. But who’s really a better replacement option for Reed this week? Since he’s suiting up, you can’t play Vernon Davis. Anyone on the waiver wire has a similar floor to Reed, yet none of them have a ceiling even remotely close. Unless you own Travis Kelce or Tyler Eifert I don’t think you can even consider benching Reed. His upside is too much to pass up in this crucial of a week.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo – I know Watkins seems like a no brainer to most people, but I just want to reiterate that he should be a must-start this week. Watkins found the end zone last week in his second game back last week and has a date with the 0-13 Cleveland Browns. Watkins needs to be in every lineup this week. His upside is to huge to pass up.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco – I’m changing my opinion on Kaepernick this week. While his laughable performance against Chicago two weeks ago should make any owner hesitant to start Kaep in the playoffs this week, I really like the matchup here. He’s indoors against a not so great Atlanta defense. The Falcons will likely pummel the 49ers early on, leaving plenty of garbage time potential for Kaepernick to rack up fantasy points. Owners looking for a streaming option should definitely consider Kaepernick.
Sits
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota – Asiata has managed to find the end zone enough this season to make him worthy of flex consideration. Even if we don’t know what Peterson will really do on Sunday, his presence alone negates any fantasy consideration for Asiata. He should be far away from your starting lineup this week.
Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina – Over the last two weeks, Benjamin has just three receptions for 29 yards. He’s just been brutal this year. Some of that is on the coaching, some of that is on Cam Newton, and some of that is on Benjamin. He shouldn’t be an option for anyone in the fantasy playoffs.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh – Benching Roethlisberger in the playoffs is a ridiculously bold move, but the concerns about Big Ben on the road are legitimate. He’s completed 10% less of his passes on the road. At home this year he has 17 touchdowns and three interceptions, compared to eight touchdowns and eight interceptions on the road. Despite this, it’s totally fine starting Big Ben this week if the streaming options aren’t there. He has upside to blow up on any given Sunday. But Roethlisberger owners should look long and hard at their options this week. He’s not the same player on the road.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas – No, I’m not going to rant about how Prescott’s bad performance against the Giants last week means he’s not a good player and he should be benched for Romo. I think it was simply an uncharacteristic game that rookie quarterbacks are allowed to have once or twice. Regardless, Prescott hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns or thrown for over 200 since before Thanksgiving. He’s got a tough matchup against a surging Tampa Bay team this week. These are the reasons I’m against starting Dak Prescott this week. I don’t think he’s going to play bad and I don’t think he should be benched. I just don’t see him lighting up the stat sheet this week.
Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland – I was miserably wrong about Pryor last week. I didn’t think RG3 returning would affect Pryor in the slightest, but there’s real concern here. Pryor hasn’t done anything notable playing with RG3 this season outside of a 44 yard reception in Week 1. His three targets last week is frightening. I won’t be shocked if Pryor finds some chemistry with RG3 before the season ends, but I can’t trust him right now after last week. Anyone with other options should keep Pryor on the bench in Week 15.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer and podcast host for Rams Talk. He graduated from Marquette University in 2016. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
Everyone still keeping up with fantasy news this week should give themselves a pat on the back. Many people will sit at home on Sunday without having to worry what Kenneth Farrow’s workload will be or how much they can trust Drew Brees this week. You’ve made it this far in a season riddled with draft busts and injuries to plenty of studs.
Speaking of studs, let’s quickly address the elephant in the room:
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota – Everyone with AP on their roster is thinking the same thing: “what the hell do I do with Adrian Peterson?” People in leagues without an IR probably picked up Peterson at some point in the last few days, or weeks, thinking he would be a hail mary to play in their championship game. But Peterson is set to suit up on Sunday for the first time since Week 2. Here’s the truth about AP: nobody but Mike Zimmer and Adrian Peterson know what his workload will be Sunday. I’m going to give you a pros and cons list for playing Peterson, and you can make the decision on whether to start or sit him.
Starts
Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Chicago – It’s a major risk to start Alshon Jeffrey in his first game being back from a four game suspension. He hasn’t been with the team for four weeks, he’s never caught a pass from Matt Barkley, and he really didn’t look all that great this year even before his suspension. But Alshon Jeffrey is in a contract year. He needs these last three games to get the payday he desires. I have faith that Jeffrey is going to check his ego at the door Sunday and really bring it these last three games. Matt Barkley has managed to play pretty decent during his three starts with the Bears and he should be able to get Jeffrey the ball. Starting Jeffrey is a leap of faith that many owners may need to take this week.
Kenneth Farrow, RB, San Diego – I’m all in on Farrow this week. He’s going to get the ball a ton and he should feast on the Raiders defense. Farrow put up 55 yards on 16 carries on a touch Carolina run defense last week. His backup is Ronnie Hillman, who’s been on three different rosters this year and his making his Chargers debut this week. I doubt he’ll be taking many of Farrow’s carries. With a full week of first team reps, Farrow should be ready for a big day in Week 15.
Jordan Reed, TE, Washington – Yes, Reed only getting 10 snaps in Week 14 is a major red flag. There’s a chance he’ll barely be on the field again in Week 15. But who’s really a better replacement option for Reed this week? Since he’s suiting up, you can’t play Vernon Davis. Anyone on the waiver wire has a similar floor to Reed, yet none of them have a ceiling even remotely close. Unless you own Travis Kelce or Tyler Eifert I don’t think you can even consider benching Reed. His upside is too much to pass up in this crucial of a week.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo – I know Watkins seems like a no brainer to most people, but I just want to reiterate that he should be a must-start this week. Watkins found the end zone last week in his second game back last week and has a date with the 0-13 Cleveland Browns. Watkins needs to be in every lineup this week. His upside is to huge to pass up.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco – I’m changing my opinion on Kaepernick this week. While his laughable performance against Chicago two weeks ago should make any owner hesitant to start Kaep in the playoffs this week, I really like the matchup here. He’s indoors against a not so great Atlanta defense. The Falcons will likely pummel the 49ers early on, leaving plenty of garbage time potential for Kaepernick to rack up fantasy points. Owners looking for a streaming option should definitely consider Kaepernick.
Sits
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota – Asiata has managed to find the end zone enough this season to make him worthy of flex consideration. Even if we don’t know what Peterson will really do on Sunday, his presence alone negates any fantasy consideration for Asiata. He should be far away from your starting lineup this week.
Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina – Over the last two weeks, Benjamin has just three receptions for 29 yards. He’s just been brutal this year. Some of that is on the coaching, some of that is on Cam Newton, and some of that is on Benjamin. He shouldn’t be an option for anyone in the fantasy playoffs.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh – Benching Roethlisberger in the playoffs is a ridiculously bold move, but the concerns about Big Ben on the road are legitimate. He’s completed 10% less of his passes on the road. At home this year he has 17 touchdowns and three interceptions, compared to eight touchdowns and eight interceptions on the road. Despite this, it’s totally fine starting Big Ben this week if the streaming options aren’t there. He has upside to blow up on any given Sunday. But Roethlisberger owners should look long and hard at their options this week. He’s not the same player on the road.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas – No, I’m not going to rant about how Prescott’s bad performance against the Giants last week means he’s not a good player and he should be benched for Romo. I think it was simply an uncharacteristic game that rookie quarterbacks are allowed to have once or twice. Regardless, Prescott hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns or thrown for over 200 since before Thanksgiving. He’s got a tough matchup against a surging Tampa Bay team this week. These are the reasons I’m against starting Dak Prescott this week. I don’t think he’s going to play bad and I don’t think he should be benched. I just don’t see him lighting up the stat sheet this week.
Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland – I was miserably wrong about Pryor last week. I didn’t think RG3 returning would affect Pryor in the slightest, but there’s real concern here. Pryor hasn’t done anything notable playing with RG3 this season outside of a 44 yard reception in Week 1. His three targets last week is frightening. I won’t be shocked if Pryor finds some chemistry with RG3 before the season ends, but I can’t trust him right now after last week. Anyone with other options should keep Pryor on the bench in Week 15.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer and podcast host for Rams Talk. He graduated from Marquette University in 2016. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
Recommended for you