#_author:Jeff Brubach

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Daily Dose: Pats On Top Again

Jeff Brubach recaps fantasy happenings from New England's comeback victory in Super Bowl LI and other news from around the NFL in Monday's Daily Dose. Read more

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Dose: AFC Grabs Pro Bowl Win

Jeff Brubach recaps news and notes from around the NFL in Monday's Daily Dose. Read more

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Dose: Super Bowl LI Awaits

Jeff Brubach recaps top storylines from the AFC and NFC championship games in Monday's Daily Dose. Read more

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Dose: Championship Games Set

The NFL’s final four is set and Super Bowl LI promises to be a high-flying matchup no matter which two teams advance to Houston. After six-straight home teams wrapping-up victories, the NFL playoffs finally saw two road teams snatch close wins from the jaws of defeat as Green Bay and Pittsburgh punched tickets to meet Atlanta and New England for a shot to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Rawls Rendered Useless

The Seattle Seahawks began the Divisional Round in nearly perfect fashion, crafting a 14-play drive that ended in a Jimmy Graham touchdown to put the visitors up 7-0 over the Atlanta Falcons. Seattle was then outscored 19-3 for the remainder of the first half, which put the clamps on Thomas Rawls and the Seattle rushing attack that dominated Detroit in the Wild Card round. Rawls finished with just 11 carries, which he turned into 34 yards, and was the team’s second-leading rusher behind quarterback Russell Wilson. While Seattle was left to throw in an attempt to keep pace with Atlanta, the Falcons got all their weapons involved in the 36-20 win. Matt Ryan finished the day with 338 yards and three scores against a reeling Seattle secondary that sorely missed injured FS Earl Thomas.

Lewis Leaps to the Front

While a mere 17-13 halftime lead for New England was concerning, the Patriots distanced themselves from the Houston Texans on Saturday night and rolled to a 34-16 victory. Brock Osweiler was predictably bad in this game, throwing the ball 40 times while failing to reach 200 passing yards. While the three Osweiler passes that ended up in the hands of New England defenders helped ice the game, the Patriots’ rushing attack underwent a noticeable shift in this contest. The Patriots saw 69 snaps in the game, and Dion Lewis led the way with 33, followed by 27 for LeGarrette Blount, and just 12 for James White. Lewis’ total was a season-high, while White’s 12 snaps were a season low as the Patriots were not forced into many passing downs as they held the Texans at bay. This game had the appearance of a prime spot for Blount, but it was Lewis leading the New England backfield in all phases, which included 13 carries and seven targets out of the backfield. Lewis should keep rolling as Bill Belichick’s top back next week against Pittsburgh.

Cook Produces Again

With Jordy Nelson (ribs) out, the Packers needed the rest of their offensive weaponry to play at a high level to top Dallas, and tight end Jared Cook did just that. Cook led Green Bay in targets with 11, and caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown as the Packers squeezed by the Cowboys 34-31. The cherry on top of Cook’s effort was a nifty toe-tap that set up Green Bay’s game-winning field goal, but Aaron Rodgers leaned on his tight end frequently throughout the game. From Week 15 on, Cook has averaged 8.2 targets per game and has seen 20 Aaron Rodgers passes thrown in his direction during the postseason. A potential return of Jordy Nelson will chew up looks in the Green Bay passing attack, but Cook has seen eight or more targets in five of his last six outings as he has emerged in the Packers’ offense.

Boswell Boots Steelers to Win

The Pittsburgh roster contains the names of numerous dynamic playmakers, none of which are named Chris Boswell. However, with the Steelers in a tight battle with Kansas City on Sunday night, it was Boswell who strapped on his backpack and carried Pittsburgh to victory. Boswell booted an astounding six field goals on the night, accounting for every Pittsburgh point in a 18-16 win for the Steelers that will grant them a chance to battle New England in the AFC Championship Game. Pittsburgh did rack up 389 total yards on the night, led by studly running back Le’Veon Bell’s 170 rushing yards, but Boswell was called upon each time a Steelers drive stalled. In an unusual game that saw Kansas City find the end zone twice while Pittsburgh failed to do so, a kicker who finished the regular season 23rd in both field goals attempted and made came through with a half-dozen successful kicks to lead his team to a playoff win.

In Other News...

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Dallas backup quarterback Tony Romo would prefer to play in Denver next season if he is traded. Although Rapoport noted that the Broncos are “not inclined” to trade for Romo, the match certainly makes sense and would be a welcomed boost for the rest of the Denver skill players. With Dak Prescott turning in a phenomenal rookie campaign that included a 302-yard, three touchdown effort in Sunday’s playoff loss to Green Bay, a potential trade of Tony Romo will be a hot topic as the frigid, slow offseason months begin on February 6th.

Antonio Brown will be a happy camper this offseason, as Ian Rapoport reported that the Steelers could make Brown the NFL’s highest paid wide receiver before the 2017 season begins. Cincinnati star A.J. Green is having no trouble buying groceries and paying his heating bill while raking in $15 million annually, a number that Brown will reportedly top. Pittsburgh is also looking at contract negotiation/franchise tag situation with running back Le’Veon Bell over the offseason, so the Steelers will have all calculators on deck after their season ends in hopes of mashing two gigantic contracts under the NFL salary cap.

Injury Quick Slants

Jordy Nelson (ribs) was inactive for Green Bay’s win over Dallas, but there is reportedly “legitimate hope” that he will see the field in the NFC Championship game when the Packers travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons. … Julio Jones sustained a foot injury in Atlanta’s win over Seattle on Saturday, but there does not appear to be major concern in the Falcons’ camp over the issue. Jones should be on the field in an expected shootout with Green Bay in the NFC Championship game. … Ladarius Green (concussion) missed Pittsburgh’s win over Kansas City and has not seen the field since Week 15. Green’s NFCCG status should be updated throughout the week. … Malcolm Mitchell (knee) did not suit up for New England’s contest with Houston, as Week 17 and the Wild Card bye were not enough to heal his troublesome knee. Mitchell should have a shot to play against Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game, but stay tuned to Rotoworld this week for more information. … C.J. Prosise (shoulder) was thought to have a chance at playing in the Divisional Round, but was ultimately inactive for Seattle’s loss to Atlanta. The versatile running back will be a solid fantasy draft target in 2017 drafts and figures to play a healthy role in Seattle’s offense moving forward.

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Daily Dose: Wild Card Weekend

The NFL playoff field dwindled from 12 teams to eight as Wild Card weekend saw all four home teams pick up victories with the Raiders, Lions, Dolphins, and Giants sent packing. While the closest margin of victory among the Wild Card games was 13 points, there were notable performances throughout the weekend that kept the fantasy faithful tuned-in with playoff contests and DFS winnings at stake.

Two of the more interesting fantasy eruptions from the weekend came from players who hadn’t turned in a single useable performance in nearly a month. Seattle running back Thomas Rawls had a brutal stretch in Weeks 15-17, turning 37 carries into 56 yards (1.5 ypc) while backup Alex Collins began to barge his way into the Seahawks’ backfield. Early on Saturday, Seattle coach Pete Carroll told ESPN that he wanted to get Rawls the ball “20 times this week,” and Carroll spent Saturday evening chomping on his gum and watching his master plan take shape. Rawls began ripping off chunks of yardage against the Detroit defensive front from the jump, and by the time the dust cleared, Rawls had racked up 161 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 27 carries. Rawls will now look toward the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle’s Divisional Round opponent. Atlanta allowed opposing rushers to chip off 4.5 yards per carry in 2016, good for 26th in the league, although they had success against Seattle in Week 6, holding the Seahawks to 72 yards on the ground at 2.7 yards per attempt. The potential return of C.J. Prosise (shoulder) may lessen Rawls’ workload, but the Seattle ground game will likely need a repeat performance to knock off Atlanta.

Randall Cobb also emerged from hibernation over the weekend, exploding for 116 yards and three touchdowns on five receptions after not catching a single pass since Week 14. Cobb dealt with ankle issues that held him out of Weeks 16 and 17, but was able to return to the field and play a key role for the Packers after Jordy Nelson (ribs) was knocked out of the game in a 38-13 win over the New York Giants . Cobb’s only other 100-yard performance of the 2016 season also came against the Giants, who were served a swift gut punch at the end of the first half on Sunday when Cobb managed to snag a 42-yard Hail Mary from Aaron Rodgers as time expired. Cobb should continue to be heavily involved in Green Bay’s offense next week when the Packers travel to Dallas, and Rodgers will certainly lean on his old pal if Jordy Nelson is forced to miss time.

Franchise Tag for Bell

Aside from shredding the Miami Dolphins for two touchdowns and a Pittsburgh postseason record 167 rushing yards, Le’Veon Bell was in the news for other reasons on Sunday. Bell stacked up a mountain of production in 2016 but won’t get a chance to hit the open market over the offseason, as the Steelers will reportedly use the franchise-tag on the free agent running back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Bell and the Steelers will have plenty of time to work on a long-term deal, a resolution that would benefit both sides as Bell turns just 25 next month and just completed a season with 1,884 total yards in only 12 games (157.0 yards per contest). Fantasy footballers will now have all offseason to doodle on their notebooks while hopelessly daydreaming about a Pittsburgh offense with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Ladarius Green, and Martavis Bryant all on the field at once.

Injury Updates

The Green Bay Packers received a tough blow in the second quarter on Sunday when Giants CB Leon Hall exploded toward Jordy Nelson on the sideline and crushed the receiver directly in the ribs. Nelson didn’t return to the game and his Divisional Round status is now up in the air after coach Mike McCarthy told reporters, “I obviously have concern for Jordy. I don’t have the information yet.” In Jordy’s absence, Davante Adams (12 targets), Jared Cook (9), and Randall Cobb (7) were Aaron Rodgers’ top targets and all three will be heavily involved at Dallas next Sunday if Nelson’s ribs cause him to miss game action. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also called out Geronimo Allison’s name after Sunday’s game as a player who will see more action if Nelson is on the shelf. “But you know Geronimo is going to have to step up and play extended time if Jordy is going to be out," Rodgers said.  Allison saw just two targets on Sunday, but was a force with Randall Cobb out of the lineup in Weeks 16 and 17, catching eight passes for 157 yards and a touchdown in two games.

Ben Roethlisberger reportedly injured his ankle near the end of Pittsburgh’s 30-12 stomping of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but told reporters “I’ll be out there next week” when the team travels to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. Large Ben did throw a pair of passes to the wrong team on Sunday but was otherwise solid, throwing for 197 yards on just 18 pass attempts and hitting Antonio Brown for two scores. There should be no major cause for concern here, but stay tuned to Rotoworld this week as more news surfaces regarding Roethlisberger’s status.

Ladarius Green (concussion) was able to practice last Thursday but was absent on Friday and is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Green was unable to play on Sunday, but may have an outside chance at suiting up in the Divisional Round if he makes progress this week. Jesse James caught one of two targets for six yards in Green’s absence with Pittsburgh not pressed into many passing situations against Miami.

Michael Crabtree (concussion) was forced from Oakland’s game at Houston in the fourth quarter on Saturday and did not return after suffering a concussion. Crabtree had a rough afternoon with the rest of the Oakland offense, hauling in just two of seven targets for 33 yards as the Raiders fell to the Houston Texans 27-14. Crabtree and the Raiders sorely missed Derek Carr in the Wild Card round and should jump right back on track next season when their quarterback is back in action.

C.J. Prosise (shoulder) sat out Seattle’s win over Detroit on Saturday, but is a name to watch this week as the Seahawks prepare to travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons. Prosise did not practice before the Wild Card round but should be nearing a return after injuring his shoulder in Week 11.

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Dose: Wilson Ready To Run?

The Seattle offense has been unpredictable this season, as a suspect offensive line sunk the Seahawks from the third-best rushing offense in 2015 to the 25th-ranked unit while the entire offense managed 4.3 points per game less than a season ago. Another potential reason for the dip in production for the Seattle offense is the health of quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson suffered a sprained MCL in Week 3 and although he has been able to play through the injury, he has worn a knee brace since the incident and hasn’t had nearly the rushing success he had in his first four seasons.

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Wilson’s previous lows in the ground game came in his rookie season, when he ran for 489 yards and 30.6 yards per game. In 2016, the hobbled Wilson ran for just 259 yards and 16.2 yards per outing. "I don't know if he's 100 percent," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "He's probably not running 4.4 like he did when he was coming out of the combine.” Despite struggles with escaping pressure and using his legs to beat opposing defenses, perhaps a boost could be coming as Wilson is reportedly contemplating shedding his knee brace for the postseason. "I don't have to keep wearing it," Wilson said. "I'm contemplating what we're going to do here." Perhaps ditching the brace will allow Wilson to fully utilize his wheels, which could potentially open up the offense for the Seahawks, who will host the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. If Seattle advances, they will certainly need all of Wilson’s abilities on full display to knock off the high-scoring Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round.

In Other News…

The Cleveland offseason is off to an interesting start, as Corey Coleman may or may not have been involved in a fight in the lobby of his condo on New Year’s Eve. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Coleman was not actually involved in the scuffle, and that Cleveland Police have a 30-45 second video proving that the Browns receiver was not a part of the action. Stay tuned, but it appears that Coleman may be off the hook in this situation. The Cleveland rookie caught 33 passes for 413 yards in 10 games in his debut season and should be a breakout candidate for the 2017 season if Cleveland can land a competent quarterback. Chuckle.

Jeremy Hill may end up as Cincinnati’s “backup” running back in 2017, according to Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Dehner expects the Bengals to add a running back through the NFL Draft and Giovani Bernard (knee) should return to a prominent role, which may leave Hill in the dust. The 2016 season was certainly not memorable for Hill, as he averaged 3.8 yards per carry and wasn’t able to excel in Bernard’s absence. If we cherry pick through Hill’s 2016 resume and remove his two outings against lowly Cleveland, Hill averaged just 3.0 yards per carry and did not top 100 yards against all other competition. A role as a goal line bruiser may be Hill’s ticket to staying fantasy relevant in the future.

Randall Cobb (ankle) has practiced on consecutive days and it appears that a Wild Card weekend return may be in the cards for the Green Bay receiver who hasn’t caught a pass since Week 14. Everyone’s favorite Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison looked sharp while filling-in for Cobb at the end of the regular season, snagging eight passes for 157 yards and a score in two games. If Cobb is not able to return, Allison will spring into action but ample practice time this week suggests Cobb should be ready to hit the field.

Quick Slants

Ezekiel Elliott expects a “bigger workload” in the postseason, which would be interesting considering Elliott touched the ball 23.6 times per game during the regular season. No matter how the touches shake out, Elliott will continue to carry the Cowboys’ offense. … Ladarius Green (concussion) practiced fully on Thursday and looks ready to return for Pittsburgh’s clash with Miami this weekend. Keep an eye on his practice status on Friday, but he should be ready to go against the Dolphins. … Paul Perkins has been slowly taking hold of the Giants’ backfield, but OC Mike Sullivan still believes that Perkins and Rashad Jennings “compliment each other well.” A committee will likely still be in the works this weekend. … Raiders wide receivers Michael Crabtree (finger) and Amari Cooper (shoulder) were both limited at practice on Thursday but will be ready to roll on Saturday against Houston. Expectations for both wideouts should be kept low with Connor Cook under center. … Ryan Tannehill (knee) still “needed more time” according to coach Adam Gase, and the Miami quarterback has already been ruled out for Wild Card weekend. The Dolphins are large underdogs at Pittsburgh but still likely won’t get Tannehill back in the playoffs even if they spring an upset. … Malcolm Mitchell (knee) was back at practice on Thursday, which is an encouraging sign. Mitchell skipped Week 17 and also has a bye this week to rest, so the chances of him suiting up in the Divisional Round look solid. … Tyrod Taylor (groin) underwent surgery on Thursday and is looking at a six-week recovery, which will be no problem with the Bills opting out of the postseason for the 79th consecutive season. … Blake Bortles will reportedly be spending significant time working on his throwing mechanics over the offseason, which should be music to the ears of Jacksonville fans. Bortles can only go up after a rough season. … Jay Cutler is “significantly ahead of schedule” in dealing with shoulder surgery for a torn labrum. Cutty’s Chicago future is up in the air but he should land somewhere in 2017. … Falcons tight end Austin Hooper (knee) is practicing again after missing Atlanta’s final two regular season games and should be good to go in the Divisional Round.

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Complete Playoff Ranks

Now that the regular season has officially come to a close, fantasy footballers who are still itching for action can look to NFL postseason playoff contests to provide an extra month of sweet fantasy competition.

NFL postseason fantasy contests come in all shapes and sizes from actual snake drafts or auctions, to salary cap challenges and contests with weekly lineup submissions. No matter how you and your pals decide to attack the NFL postseason, the fantasy goodness will continue through Super Bowl LI. The primary objective in any postseason pool is to select players that will score the most points in the most games. Sounds easy, right? While selecting the highest-scoring fantasy stars sounds relatively simple following 17 weeks of fantasy football action, determining which teams will advance through the postseason bracket and clash in Houston in early February is quite a challenge. I wouldn’t be staring at a mountain of student loan debt if I could correctly pick the winner of each NFL game, so we will lean toward the wise old oddsmakers to help sift through both the AFC and NFC playoff fields. Below, you will find a brief recap of the playoff field followed by positional rankings and recaps to help you craft the best possible postseason lineup. Good luck!

Top Bets

New England and Dallas

The Patriots and Cowboys have the best shot at reaching the Super Bowl according to oddsmakers, which means each team would play three games if that were to come to fruition. Both teams rolled through the regular season and are showing little signs of weakness, so you will see New England and Dallas players very highly touted throughout the rankings below.

Four-Game Potential

Green Bay and Pittsburgh

The best scenario for fantasy postseason contests is snagging players from teams that could play four games, the maximum amount of action in the NFL playoffs. Two teams fit that bill this season as both the Steelers and Packers will play on Wild Card weekend and both teams have solid odds of reaching the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh is a huge favorite over Miami this weekend and would take on Kansas City in the divisional round, leaving just New England (most likely) in their path on the way to the Super Bowl and a fourth game.

The Packers were on fire to end the regular season, winning six-straight games while averaging 30.8 points per outing along the way. Green Bay opens up their postseason push at home against the Giants as 4.5 point favorites, and then would travel to Dallas in the divisional round as long as Seattle tops Detroit. No matter where Green Bay ends up playing after the Wild Card Round, they will be a dangerous team and a threat to advance to Houston while collecting four games for fantasy folks.

Next Best

Atlanta and Kansas City

The Chiefs and Falcons were both awarded first-round byes and will wait until the smoke clears this weekend before finding out their Divisional Round opponents. Based on Wild Card point spreads, the Falcons are most likely to see Seattle, while the Chiefs will likely host Pittsburgh. Both teams are capable of winning those games, but tricky matchups plus difficult looming opponents in conference title games drop these two teams to a lower tier.

Wild Card Favorites

Seattle and Houston

Seattle is more than a touchdown favorite this weekend against Detroit, and will be looking at two games this postseason at a minimum. The Seahawks have been quite unpredictable this season, so a deep postseason run is certainly possible, as is an early exit. Houston is the favorite in the riveting “Connor Cook vs. Brock Osweiler” matchup the world has been clamoring for, and the winner of that game will likely head to New England to get beat by 30. Both Houston and Oakland fantasy options are dicey bets, but could see two games.

The Rest

Miami, NY Giants, Oakland, Detroit

These four teams are underdogs on Wild Card weekend, so the fantasy options from these squads have been discounted in the rankings below. When taking a stab on players from long-shot teams, be sure to look for upside that could swing a playoff contest if the team advances. Odell Beckham may only play one game this postseason, but has the ability to rack up a huge point total in just a single outing and could be a huge key to victory if the Giants advance.

Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady (NE)

2. Dak Prescott (DAL)

3. Aaron Rodgers (GB)

4. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

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5. Matt Ryan (ATL)

6. Russell Wilson (SEA)

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7. Eli Manning (NYG)

8. Alex Smith (KC)

9. Matthew Stafford (DET)

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10. Brock Osweiler (HOU)

11. Matt Moore (MIA)

12. Connor Cook (OAK)

13. Tom Savage (HOU)

14. Matt McGloin (OAK)

Notes: The AFC has little to offer in terms of quarterbacks, but Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger are very strong options. … With so much attention on the Green Bay hot streak and the success of Dallas, Matt Ryan may be a decent bargain in postseason pools, depending on the format. Ryan, who could see Seattle in the Divisional Round, threw multiple touchdown passes in 12 of 16 games this season and roasted the Seattle secondary in Week 6. … No matter who escapes the Houston/Oakland contest, it will be tough to bet on a quarterback in that matchup with Tom Savage and Matt McGloin potentially ready to step-in if their team advances. … Russell Wilson could see matchups with the Detroit and Atlanta defenses, which will be worth betting on if you believe in Seattle’s postseason potential. Wilson has never lost a home playoff game. … Manning and Stafford are underdogs this weekend while Smith could be in a tough spot against Pittsburgh in the Divisional Round. None of the three are very exciting options.

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Running Backs

1. Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)

2. Le'Veon Bell (PIT)

3. LeGarrette Blount (NE)

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4. Devonta Freeman (ATL)

5. Tevin Coleman (ATL)

6. Dion Lewis (NE)

7. Ty Montgomery (GB)

8. Thomas Rawls (SEA)

9. Lamar Miller (HOU)

10. James White (NE)

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11. Spencer Ware (KC)

14. Latavius Murray (OAK)

13. Jay Ajayi (MIA)

14. Zach Zenner (DET)

15. Paul Perkins (NYG)

16. Rashad Jennings (NYG)

17. Alex Collins (SEA)

18. Aaron Ripkowski (GB)

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19. DeAndre Washington (OAK)

20. Darren McFadden (DAL)

21. DeAngelo Williams (PIT)

22. Jalen Richard (OAK)

23. Christine Michael (GB)

24. C.J. Prosise (SEA)

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25. Alfred Morris (DAL)

26. Alfred Blue (HOU)

27. Lance Dunbar (DAL)

28. Charcandrick West (KC)

29. Damien Williams (MIA)

30. Marcel Reece (SEA)

31. Jonathan Grimes (HOU)

32. Dwayne Washington (DET)

33. Kenyan Drake (MIA)

34. James Starks (GB)

Notes: The running back position is light on top options, with Elliott, Bell, and Blount showing the most scoring and games played potential. The remainder of the list attempts to balance scoring upside with likely postseason longevity. … New England has sprinkled-in multiple backs in recent weeks with Blount leading the way, followed by Lewis as a change of pace option and White as a receiving threat. All three backs are worth a look in what should be a successful New England postseason run. … The third tier above is where we begin to look at players likely to play just one game, but who could pile up points if their team advances. Murray, Ajayi, and Perkins are solid targets with Spencer Ware available as a decent value. … C.J. Prosise could return in the Divisional Round if Seattle advances. In the right format, he could be worth a gamble. … Lamar Miller hasn’t played since Week 15 and could be an affordable option. Miller ran for 104 yards and a score against Oakland in Week 11 and could see two games if Brock Osweiler doesn’t completely melt down. …  With James Starks (concussion) still out, Ty Montgomery and Aaron Ripkowski have handled most of the rushing work for Green Bay, with Christine Michael mixed in. I would opt for Montgomery first of these options, but his shine as faded in recent weeks. Ripkowski is more of a touchdown-dependent gamble while Michael will continue to see minimal action.

Wide Receivers

1. Antonio Brown (PIT)

2. Julian Edelman (NE)

3. Dez Bryant (DAL)

4. Jordy Nelson (GB)

5. Julio Jones (ATL)

6. Davante Adams (GB)

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7. Doug Baldwin (SEA)

8. Malcolm Mitchell (NE)

9. Odell Beckham (NYG)

10. Cole Beasley (DAL)

11. Eli Rogers (PIT)

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12. Taylor Gabriel (ATL)

13. DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)

14. Michael Floyd (NE)

15. Terrance Williams (DAL)

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16. Michael Crabtree (OAK)

17. Amari Cooper (OAK)

18. Chris Hogan (NE)

19. Mohamed Sanu (ATL)

20. Tyreek Hill (KC)

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21. Golden Tate (DET)

22. Jarvis Landry (MIA)

23. Jeremy Maclin (KC)

24. Jermaine Kearse (SEA)

25. Randall Cobb (GB)

26. Marvin Jones (DET)

27. Sterling Shepard (NYG)

28. Anquan Boldin (DET)

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29. Cobi Hamilton (PIT)

30. Geronimo Allison (GB)

31. Paul Richardson (SEA)

32. Justin Hardy (ATL)

33. Will Fuller (HOU)

34. Sammie Coates (PIT)

35. Brice Butler (DAL)

36. DeVante Parker (MIA)

37. Darrius Heyward-Bey (PIT)

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38. Kenny Stills (MIA)

39. Chris Conley (KC)

40. Aldrick Robinson (ATL)

41. Albert Wilson (KC)

42. Seth Roberts (OAK)

42. Victor Cruz (NYG)

43. Tanner McEvoy (SEA)

44. Danny Amendola (NE)

45. Wendall Williams (HOU)

46. T.J. Jones (DET)

47. Andre Roberts (DET)

48. Andre Holmes (OAK)

49. Keith Mumphery (HOU)

Notes: The wide receiver position looks far better than running back this postseason, with a large top tier leading things off. Wide receiver is where we see the most debate in the “points vs. games played” conundrum, with top options like Odell Beckham, Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, Jarvis Landry, and Golden Tate playing as underdogs in Wild Card games. Beckham and the Oakland duo seem most likely to swing an upset and advance, so I would lean toward those options. … Keep an eye on Randall Cobb’s status. Geronimo Allison could be a sneaky play if Cobb is out again. Allison hauled in eight passes for 157 yards in Weeks 16 and 17. … After Edelman, the New England receivers get tricky but I would still prefer Malcolm Mitchell as long as he is active, with Chris Hogan and Michael Floyd looking like deeper options who will likely have three games to make an impact. … Paul Richardson and Jermaine Kearse both saw seven targets in Week 17 with Tyler Lockett out and could be nice deeper selections. … Eli Rogers could be higher or lower on this list depending on Ladarius Green’s Wild Card Round status. … The Detroit receiving options look a bit better with Earl Thomas not in the Seattle secondary, but the Lions are big underdogs on the road and may have trouble seeing a second game.

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Tight Ends

1. Martellus Bennett (NE)

2. Jason Witten (DAL)

3. Jimmy Graham (SEA)

4. Jared Cook (GB)

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5. Travis Kelce (KC)

6. Ladarius Green (PIT)

7. C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU)

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8. Eric Ebron (DET)

9. Levine Toilolo (ATL)

10. Luke Willson (SEA)

11. Richard Rodgers (GB)

12. Will Tye (NYG)

13. Jesse James (PIT)

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14. Ryan Griffin (HOU)

15. Clive Walford (OAK)

16. Dion Sims (MIA)

17. Austin Hooper (ATL)

18. Mychal Rivera OAK)

Notes: The tight end position looks fairly straightforward, with Jared Cook likely the best value of the top-tier players. Cook has averaged 4.3 receptions for 59.3 yards over the last three weeks as Green Bay’s offense has taken off. … Be careful with Ladarius Green (concussion), who missed Weeks 16 and 17 but could play this weekend. … C.J. Fiedorowicz is a solid middle-tier option and could see two games with respectable production no matter who is under center for Houston. … Luke Willson has scored twice in the last three weeks and is a decent dart throw as a deep option.

Kickers

1. Stephen Gostkowski (NE)

2. Dan Bailey (DAL)

3. Mason Crosby (GB)

4. Matt Bryant (ATL)

5. Chris Boswell (PIT)

6. Cairo Santos (KC)

7. Steven Hauschka (SEA)

8. Robbie Gould (NYG)

9. Nick Novak (HOU)

10. Sebastian Janikowski (OAK)

11. Matt Prater (DET)

12. Andrew Franks (MIA)

Defense/Special Teams

1. New England

2. Dallas

3. Green Bay

4. Pittsburgh

5. Kansas City

6. Seattle

7. Atlanta

8. Houston

9. Oakland

10. New York Giants

11. Detroit

12. Miami

Notes: Both the kicker and D/ST ranks stick fairly close to the expected odds of each team to advance to Houston. More games means more chances to stack points, so New England and Dallas are the top plays here with Pittsburgh and Green Bay worthy gambles to escape Wild Card weekend and make a run.

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Dose: Sanchez to Back Up Dak

The Dallas Cowboys have the NFC’s top seed safely sewn up and tucked neatly into bed.  With no further improvement of postseason seeding possible, resting quarterback Dak Prescott certainly makes sense. However, when Prescott swaps his helmet for a baseball hat on Sunday, it will be Mark Sanchez leading the Dallas huddle, not Tony Romo.

ESPN’s Adam Caplan reported that the Cowboys plan on giving Sanchez the “majority of snaps” at quarterback in Week 17. The only time Sanchez has seen the field in 2016 was in Week 9, when he played five snaps and completed exactly one eight-yard pass. This news is certainly notable in terms of the drama-filled world of the Cowboys, but the fantasy impact of Dallas’ decision to roll with Sanchez is likely minimal. All Dallas starters were expected to see limited action anyhow, so the downgrade to Sanchez simply makes all Dallas fantasy options further avoidable on Sunday. The only real beneficiary of this development may be the Philadelphia Eagles D/ST, a unit that is owned in 67 percent of Yahoo leagues and should have opportunities to force turnovers after Prescott calls it a day.

Like Prescott, rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott will see limited action on Sunday, allowing Darren McFadden to see “most of the reps,” according to Ian Rapoport. McFadden could be an interesting option this week for DFS folks or owners desperate for a plug-in running back in Week 17. Elliott should be nicely rested and ready to continue shredding the NFL by the time Dallas hosts their first playoff game.

In Other News…

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been burning NFL secondaries since way back in 2004, and although retirement is creeping closer for the stud receiver, don’t expect to get advanced warning of his decision. Fitzgerald stated on Thursday that he’ll never announce his retirement ahead of time, saying “that’s not how I’m wired.” This means Fitzgerald will spare NFL fans a retirement tour and will bow out when the time is right for him. Fitzgerald apparently isn’t looking to pick up any sweet gifts like a kayak, guitar, paddle board, or custom cowboy boots like Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees (yes, those ridiculous gifts were really given to Jeter by MLB teams).

Every season, Week 17 has a way of pushing little-known running backs into starting roles as teams rest for the playoffs or begin making vacation plans for the offseason. This week is no different, as both Jeremy Hill (knee) and Bilal Powell (illness) are in serious danger of sitting out on Sunday. If Hill is indeed inactive, Rex Burkhead will have a large role for Cincinnati in Week 17 and will be a worthwhile fantasy option. Burkhead has been involved in the Bengals offense recently, handling at least nine touches in each game since Week 12 and is averaging a healthy 4.8 yards per carry. If Powell sits, the Jets are in serious trouble at running back with Matt Forte (knee) also banged up. “The Brandons” are up next on the Jets’ depth chart, with Brandon Burks and Brandon Wilds (real names) in line to handle running back work if both Powell and Forte are ruled out. Stay tuned to Rotoworld as further updates on these situations will surface in coming days.

Quick Slants

Julio Jones (toe) will be healthier this week, according to OC Kyle Shanahan. Jones snared four passes for 60 yards in his Week 16 return and should see more snaps this week. … Jay Ajayi (shoulder) was limited on Thursday and appears on track to suit up on Sunday, but should be monitored over the weekend. … Melvin Gordon (hip, knee) has been practicing all week and could make a return this week after being injured in Week 14. Gordon likely will see a reduced snap count if he plays. … Lamar Miller (ankle) has yet to practice this week and will likely miss Week 17, shoving Alfred Blue into the starting role once again. … Jordan Reed (shoulder) was practicing again on Thursday and “looks good” according to coach Jay Gruden. Reed hasn’t produced since Thanksgiving and will be a sizeable risk in Week 17. … Wide receivers Stefon Diggs (hip), Jordan Matthews (ankle), Donte Moncrief (shoulder), Malcolm Mitchell (knee) all missed practice on Thursday and are in serious danger of missing Week 17. … Ladarius Green (concussion) was limited on Thursday and almost certainly will be rested this week as the Steelers eye the playoffs. … Brandon Marshall (hip) did not practice on Thursday and is a dicey bet to see the field on Sunday. … Theo Riddick (wrist) missed another practice on Thursday, indicating that Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington will lead the Detroit backfield once again. … Jonathan Stewart (foot) has missed practice all week and should now be monitored as Sunday approaches. … Raiders wide receivers Michael Crabtree (finger) and Amari Cooper (shoulder) were both limited on Thursday but are expected to play on Sunday in a tough matchup with a new quarterback. … Randall Cobb (ankle) has yet to be ruled out for Week 17 but still hasn’t practiced this week. Cobb looks like too risky of a bet this week even if he suits up. … Anquan Boldin (finger) is reportedly dealing with a finger issue this week. Keep the Lions wide receiver on the watch list as Sunday approaches.

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Getting Defensive: Week 17

One week remains in the 2016 regular season, and NFL postseason bids are still up for grabs with one game left for each team. The race for the postseason has a significant impact on the fantasy world, as some teams will be scrapping for every last yard in hopes of reaching the NFL’s postseason tournament, other teams already have one foot on the beach, and a few teams will be holding players out to lessen the likelihood of injury before their pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

This leaves fantasy footballers with a murky scene to decipher as Week 17 approaches, and much of that puzzle will be determined after Tuesday when this column drops. As more news surfaces regarding the likelihood of NFL teams resting their starters on Sunday, the Week 17 D/ST picture may begin to clear. If you have any questions regarding Week 17 D/ST or kicker selections as the week progresses, feel free to hit me up on Twitter at @Jeff_Brubach.

Before we dive into the last installment of Getting Defensive for the 2016 season, I would like to extend a very sincere thank you to all who have been along for the ride this season. Hopefully you’ll be spending the cold offseason months polishing a fantasy league championship trophy. On to Week 17!

Prime Time Options

The New England Patriots (at Miami) haven’t given up a touchdown since Week 14 after posting consecutive games with just a single field goal allowed. The Patriots D/ST has recorded a top-10 fantasy finish in four of the last five weeks and will be in another solid spot in Week 17 against Miami and backup QB Matt Moore. Moore has thrown an interception in each of his starts since Ryan Tannehill was injured in Week 14 and won’t pose much of a threat against New England, who has allowed an NFL-best 15.7 points per game in 2016.

The last month has been a roller coaster for the Seattle Seahawks (at San Francisco) D/ST, but this group should be back on top of the heap in Week 17 in a matchup with San Francisco. The 49ers will be missing RB Carlos Hyde (knee), leaving Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris to handle rushing duties against the Seattle defense. As nearly double-digit favorites on the road, you can’t go wrong with the Seahawks D/ST this week in a game that Seattle needs to win in order to have a shot at a first-round bye in the NFC.

Los Angeles rookie QB Jared Goff has struggled in his six-game run as a starting quarterback and will likely be swallowed whole by the Arizona Cardinals (at Los Angeles) in Week 17. In six games, Goff has completed just 53.5 percent of his pass attempts while throwing seven interceptions to five touchdowns. Arizona pulled off a road win at Seattle in Week 16 that featured a half dozen sacks, and the Cardinals should have no problem finishing off their season with a convincing win at Los Angeles.

The Kansas City Chiefs (at San Diego) have turned-in two more top-10 fantasy performances than any other defense in 2016 and will look to add to their total against the Chargers this week. The Chiefs have forced six turnovers in the last two weeks and San Diego is the NFL’s second-most generous team in terms of handing the ball to the opposition. Since their Week 5 bye, the Chiefs D/ST has scored double-digit fantasy points in nine of 11 games. Never leave a heater.

Magnificent Matchups

The Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Cleveland) have clinched the AFC North and can’t creep up into a top-two seed in the AFC, so it remains to be seen how much playing time the Steelers starters will see this week. It won’t matter much either way, since the Browns will be in town. Cleveland has allowed 62 sacks in 2016, 19 more than any other NFL team. Cleveland finally got a win in Week 16, but San Diego was able to rack up a ridiculous nine sacks against the Browns’ offensive line and Pittsburgh collected eight sacks when these two teams met in Week 11.

Run defense has killed the Denver Broncos (vs Oakland) recently, as they have coughed up 177 rushing yards per game since Week 12. The Broncos D/ST has also failed to record a turnover in three of the last five weeks, leaving owners in the cold during the fantasy playoffs. This week, the Broncos will host Oakland and QB Matt McGloin, who will take over at quarterback for the injured Derek Carr. McGloin has thrown 11 career touchdown passes and 11 career interceptions, and won’t strike fear into the Denver defense. The main issue here is that Oakland is fifth among NFL offenses at 124.3 rushing yards per game and will likely look to attack the weak run defense of the Broncos. Still, a matchup with McGloin is worth a look.

Week 17 doesn’t mean anything for the Houston Texans (at Tennessee), as they have wrapped up the AFC South and the AFC’s #4 seed. This would be a prime spot for the Texans D/ST if it weren’t for the motivation concerns, because Matt Cassel will draw the start for Tennessee on Sunday. Cassel completed 13 of 24 attempts in Week 16 after Marcus Mariota’s unfortunate injury, which included one touchdown and one interception. Cassel was last seen chucking interceptions in Dallas last season and is a solid target for the Houston defense in Week 17.

Turnovers have been hard to come by for the Minnesota Vikings (vs Chicago), who have failed to register a takeaway in three consecutive weeks. A date with Chicago QB Matt Barkley should cure that sickness, as Barkley has thrown eight passes to the wrong team in the last two weeks. The Vikings will be playing at home in a solid spot as moderate favorites, making the Vikings D/ST worth a start despite the recent slump.

The Buffalo Bills (at NY Jets) have been buried by opposing running games recently, but are staring at a prime matchup in Week 17 against the hapless Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely be under center on Sunday for the Jets, who have averaged 12 points per game in their last six outings, after Bryce Petty was injured in Week 16. The Jets have turned the ball over 14 times in the last five weeks and provide a tasty matchup for any opposing defense.

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Third Tier, But Still Solid

The surging Green Bay Packers (at Detroit) will be playing for the NFC North crown on Sunday, and will be looking for a sixth-straight top-10 fantasy performance from their defense. The Pack has forced 12 turnovers in the last three weeks and now checks-in fifth in sacks among NFL defenses. The Lions were trampled by Dallas in Week 16 and the hot Green Bay offense should be able to force Matthew Stafford into mistakes as he attempts to keep pace this week.

Houston can’t help their postseason seeding this week, but they will still likely trot out QB Tom Savage against the Tennessee Titans (vs Houston). Savage has yet to turn the ball over in two starts, but has also failed to find the end zone in those games. The Titans have forced at least one turnover in six consecutive games and should be able to perform well against the Houston offense that will be led by Savage and will likely be without RB Lamar Miller (ankle).

The Jacksonville Jaguars snapped out of a season-long slump last week, but don’t forget that the Indianapolis Colts (vs Jacksonville) will still be facing QB Blake Bortles in Week 17. Jacksonville is tied for third in the NFL with 27 turnovers this season and provides a cushy matchup for any fantasy defense. The Colts D/ST is owned in just five percent of Yahoo leagues and is a worthwhile streaming target this week.

Deeper Options

The Washington Redskins (vs NY Giants) are in a great spot in Week 17, as they need a win while the Giants are stuck in the NFC’s #5 seed no matter the outcome of this NFC East matchup. The Redskins D/ST forced five turnovers in Week 16 and will be riding high as they host the Giants, who may or may not let their starters see significant minutes in this game. The Redskins D/ST is owned in just 13 percent of Yahoo leagues and is worth a look this week for streaming specialists.

The Baltimore Ravens (at Cincinnati) have surrendered 29.0 points per game over the last three weeks, but have still managed to force multiple turnovers in four of their last five games. Cincinnati comes limping into Week 17 with injuries to many of their key offensive players and have won just twice since Week 7. The Ravens D/ST will look to replicate the success that Houston had against the Bengals in Week 16 when Andy Dalton and company found the end zone only once all game.

Much will be made this week about Dallas’ plans for limiting the playing time of QB Dak Prescott and others in a meaningless Week 17 game, but the Philadelphia Eagles (vs Dallas) are in line to benefit from this unique circumstance. Dallas has wrapped up the NFC’s top seed and should let their backups see the field for plenty of this NFC East contest, making the Eagles D/ST an interesting Week 17 option.

Take Your Kick

There aren’t quite as many expected high-scoring games on the Week 17 slate with multiple teams expected to rest starters, but there are still strong kicking options to be found this week.

1. Matt Bryant, ATL (vs NO)

2. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (at MIA)

3. Dustin Hopkins, WAS (vs NYG)

4. Adam Vinatieri, IND (vs JAX)

5. Mason Crosby, GB (at DET)

6. Chris Boswell, PIT (vs CLE)

7. Steven Hauschka, SEA (at SF)

8. Wil Lutz, NO (at ATL)

9. Justin Tucker, BAL (at CIN)

10. Matt Prater, DET (vs GB)

11. Roberto Aguayo, TB (vs CAR)

12. Dan Carpenter, BUF (at NYJ)

13. Cairo Santos, KC (at SD)

14. Caleb Sturgis, PHI (vs DAL)

15. Chandler Catanzaro, ARZ (at LAR)

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Dose: Eagles Top Giants on TNF

The Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone twice in the first quarter on Thursday night and were able to narrowly hold off the New York Giants to end a five-game losing streak and secure a 24-19 win.

The Giants topped the Eagles in most statistical categories in this NFC East matchup, which unfortunately included turnovers as a trio of Eli Manning interceptions prevented New York from adding points on the scoreboard. The first of Manning’s interceptions was returned for a touchdown by Malcolm Jenkins and Eli’s final pick of the night was hauled in by Terrence Brooks and ended the game. Manning finished the night with a beefy total of 63 pass attempts, 17 more than any other game this season, and completed 38 passes for 356 yards with a lone touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard. Of Manning’s 63 passes, 20 were sent in Odell Beckham’s direction as the star wide receiver caught 11 passes for 150 yards. The 20 targets were one shy of Beckham’s career high, and fantasy owners were stuffed with points from their top-end wide out despite Beckham not finding the end zone.

Giants RB Paul Perkins handled the majority of the Giants’ backfield work on Thursday, running 15 times for 68 yards while adding one catch for nine yards. Backfield mate Rashad Jennings saw 13 touches on the night but managed just 51 total yards. The Giants backfield has shifted into Perkins’ favor as December moves along although none of the backs in this bunch have been overwhelming from a fantasy standpoint.

Philadelphia didn’t do much to help fantasy squads in championship week with the Eagles mustering up just 286 yards of total offense. QB Carson Wentz threw 39 fewer passes than Eli Manning, finishing with 152 yards and a touchdown that was miraculously not dropped by Nelson Agholor. Jordan Matthews led the Eagles in targets with six, but snagged just two passes for 12 yards in an uninspiring effort as he deals with ankle troubles. After seeing an average of 9.7 targets per game over his last six outings, tight end Zach Ertz was targeted just twice against the Giants, catching both passes for 33 yards as fantasy owners were left disappointed. Ryan Mathews rumbled for 46 yards on 18 carries before leaving the game late with a stinger. Mathews will keep control of the Philadelphia backfield as the season heads to Week 17.

Giants at Eagles Quick Slants

Victor Cruz saw 13 targets, the third-highest total of his career, and caught eight passes for 84 yards in his finest performance of the season. … Darren Sproles received nine touches which he turned into 63 total yards as he worked alongside Ryan Mathews in the Philadelphia backfield. … Rookie Sterling Shepard caught seven of 11 targets for 61 yards and a score. Eli Manning has 26 touchdown passes on the season, with eight of them ending up in the hands of Shepard. … Nelson Agholor’s touchdown was his first since Week 1 and third of his career.

In Other News…

Two premier wide receivers have been absent from fantasy lineups in the playoffs but could be returning to a field near you this weekend. Cincinnati’s A.J. Green (hamstring) was limited on Thursday but appears ready to return to game action this weekend, although his expected workload remains a mystery. Julio Jones (toe) is also expected to play on Saturday for the first time since Week 13, creating further complications for fantasy owners who are apprehensive about the two stars seeing limited reps. Jones was rumored to be close to playing in previous weeks, so he appears to be a safer bet to see a nearly full workload this weekend, with Green looking like more of a risk in terms of expected snap count on Saturday. Inserting either of these stud receivers into your lineup will depend on other options available, but both are likely worth starting in most circumstances with fantasy titles on the line.

Melvin Gordon (hip, knee) missed practice again on Thursday and is not expected to play in Week 16 after injuries forced him to exit early in Week 14. Fantasy owners searching for running back help can now look to Kenneth Farrow to be their fantasy hero in Week 16, as the Chargers will match up with the horrendous Cleveland run defense this week. Farrow led the Chargers’ backfield with 17 touches in Week 15, and will likely remain in charge of the split with Ronnie Hillman this week against the Cleveland defense that is 31st in run defense and has allowed 493 rushing yards on 6.3 yards per carry since their Week 13 bye.

Jordan Reed (shoulder) missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday this week, and Washington coach Jay Gruden reportedly doesn’t sound “optimistic” about the chances of Reed playing in Week 16. After missing Week 13, Reed hammered owners in the fantasy playoffs by delivering just one catch for 10 yards in Week 14 and one catch for six yards in Week 15 as he played with visible pain due to the shoulder injury he suffered on Thanksgiving. Even if Reed is declared “active” on Saturday, he will not be worth the risk of starting as the likelihood of another disappointing performance is extremely high.

Quick Slants

Raiders wide receivers Michael Crabtree (finger) and Amari Cooper (shoulder) were limited at practice on Thursday but should be good to go in Week 16 against Indianapolis. … Lamar Miller (ankle) missed practice on Thursday and is now a dicey bet for Week 16. The Texans will likely look to Alfred Blue or Akeem Hunt in a messy committee if Miller is scratched. … Greg Olsen (elbow) did not practice on Thursday but is reportedly expected to play against Atlanta this week. … Matt Forte (knee, shoulder) was sidelined again on Thursday and will likely give way to Bilal Powell again in Week 16. … Tyler Eifert (back) was absent at Thursday’s practice and needs to be monitored as game day approaches. … Donte Moncrief (hamstring) is “ready to go” for Week 16, per coach Chuck Pagano. Moncrief will be a risky Week 16 fantasy option. … Steelers TE Ladarius Green (concussion) did not practice on Thursday and is looking like a long shot to suit up in Week 16, leaving Jesse James to handle the Pittsburgh tight end duties once again. … Theo Riddick (wrist) remained out on Thursday and appears likely to miss a third-straight game, leaving Dwayne Washington and Zach Zenner in charge of the Lions’ backfield once again. … Houston tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (concussion) is fully practicing and should be in the mix this week as a borderline TE1 against Cincinnati. … Rams QB Jared Goff (concussion) has been cleared to start in Week 16 against San Francisco after being knocked from Week 15’s game at Seattle.

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Getting Defensive: Week 16

Fantasy championship week has arrived and it’s time to bring home a ring, trophy, imaginary internet ribbon, bragging rights, or simply the assurance that you’re the top fantasy footballer in all the land. As always, we are looking to stuff as many points into starting lineups as possible so your fantasy team brings home a real victory. Below, you will find the usual D/ST tiers stuffed with options from weekly cornerstones to waiver wire wonders that could pump out serious points for teams in a bind. Kicker rankings and Week 17 D/ST options can also be found below, so strap on your hard hat and get ready to go to work. It’s title time.

Top-Tier Types

The New England Patriots (vs NY Jets) are huge favorites this week, playing at home against the spiraling New York Jets as more than two-touchdown favorites. In four starts, Jets QB Bryce Petty has turned the ball over seven times and taken 11 sacks, which will leave the Patriots salivating as they prepare for Todd Bowles’ squad. The Patriots D/ST has been good for at least eight fantasy points per game since Week 11 and will keep rolling against the Jets.

A Week 15 matchup with Los Angeles went mostly as planned for the Seattle Seahawks (vs Arizona), as they held the Rams to a lone field goal while recording four sacks. The Seahawks D/ST has failed to force a turnover in consecutive weeks, but a matchup with Carson Palmer should reverse that trend in a hurry. Palmer is responsible for 17 turnovers this season and the Cardinals have allowed 39 sacks in 2016, the fifth-most among all NFL teams. Seattle held Arizona to six points and racked up four sacks when the two NFC West foes met earlier this season, so the Seahawks D/ST should be a safe Week 16 play.

The Green Bay Packers (vs Minnesota) have turned in four consecutive top-10 fantasy performances and their recent hot streak includes a whopping 10 forced turnovers in the last two weeks. The Pack will host division rival Minnesota in Week 16, who have lost seven of nine games are quietly fading into the offseason. Vikings QB Sam Bradford has thrown just four interceptions on the season but has taken 33 sacks and has shown minimal firepower, throwing multiple touchdown passes in only three games this season. The Packers D/ST is an outstanding Week 16 option at home.

The Kansas City Chiefs (vs Denver) failed to score double-digit fantasy points in Week 15, just the second time that has occurred since Week 4. The Chiefs did register yet another top-10 fantasy finish however, their ninth such performance in the last 10 weeks. Denver QB Trevor Siemian has been reasonably responsible with the football this season, but the Broncos are 21st in scoring and their 27th-ranked rushing attack isn’t scaring anyone. The Chiefs D/ST dropped 15 fantasy points in Week 12 against Denver and is a solid bet to repeat.

One of the hottest defensive groups in the league, the New York Giants (at Philadelphia) have allowed just one touchdown in the last two weeks combined. The Giants have also forced multiple turnovers in four-straight games and have stacked up 13 sacks in that same span while averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game. Philadelphia will host the Giants in Week 16, and rookie QB Carson Wentz chucked a pair of interceptions the last time these teams met. Wentz has thrown a pick in five consecutive games and is a prime target for the streaking Giants D/ST that is still owned in only 33 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Streamer Specials

Owned in just 30 percent of Yahoo leagues, the San Diego Chargers (at Cleveland) make a great Week 16 target for streamers with a road trip to Cleveland on the schedule. The Browns have allowed 53 sacks this season, a staggering 12 more sacks than any other team, and have been a sitting duck for fantasy defenses all season. The Chargers have forced at least one turnover in every game this season and currently sit second in the NFL in takeaways. This one is a two-foot putt for birdie. Take a deep breath and send it in.

Another little-owned option, the Tennessee Titans (at Jacksonville), are rostered in only 11 percent of Yahoo leagues and will have the pleasure of facing Blake Bortles this week. Bortles has thrown a healthy 16 interceptions this season and has completed just 50.5 percent of his pass attempts in December, as he continues to provide fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Titans have forced nine turnovers in their last five games and will likely add to that total against Bortles and the Jaguars.

After forcing just 10 turnovers in their first 11 games, the Dallas Cowboys (vs Detroit) have recorded eight takeaways in the last three weeks and turned in back-to-back top-10 fantasy finishes. The Detroit Lions will visit Dallas in Week 16 as heavy underdogs with QB Matthew Stafford carrying a 1:3 touchdown to interception ratio over the last two weeks as he deals with an injured finger. Teams playing as favorites at home are generally safe spots for fantasy D/ST options and the Cowboys fit that bill this week.

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Reasonable Options

The Buffalo Bills (vs Miami) produced a respectable fantasy point total in a cushy matchup against Cleveland in Week 15 and will look to replicate that success against Miami this week. The Dolphins will trot out backup QB Matt Moore once again in Week 16, who was solid in a start against the Jets last week as he completed 12 of 18 pass attempts with four touchdowns and an interception. Despite the strong showing from Moore, the Bills D/ST will be playing at home as favorites against a backup quarterback, which makes them worth consideration this week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Baltimore) have allowed just 14.0 points per game in the last five weeks, while forcing eight turnovers and recording 19 sacks along the way. Ravens QB Joe Flacco has the Baltimore offense looking better in recent weeks, but he has still thrown an interception in four-straight games and makes for a reasonable matchup at home for the Steelers D/ST.

Digging Deeper

A horrendous matchup between the Los Angeles Rams (vs San Francisco) and San Francisco 49ers awaits in Week 16, as two of the worst teams in football face off. You could make a reasonable argument for both fantasy defenses in this matchup, but the Rams D/ST is the preferred option in this potential slopfest. The 49ers have managed just 12 points per game over the last three weeks and haven't won since their opening week game against Los Angeles. The Rams D/ST has been terrible in recent weeks, but they did face Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Russell Wilson in consecutive games. Colin Kaepernick is nowhere near that tier of quarterbacks, so roll out the Rams D/ST this week with confidence.

The Denver Broncos (at Kansas City) have failed to force a turnover in three of the last four weeks, putting a dent in the fantasy production from this top-tier unit. The Broncos have been abused in the ground game, coughing up an absurd 156.7 rushing yards per game over the last three weeks. A road matchup with Kansas City isn’t too daunting from a fantasy perspective, but the Chiefs running game has been heating up in recent weeks, which could cause issues for Denver. The Broncos D/ST is worth a start but isn’t quite top-level material on the road this week.

The Oakland Raiders (vs Indianapolis) have been rounding into form defensively, averaging 2.3 sacks and 2.2 takeaways per game over the last six weeks. Indianapolis will visit Oakland in Week 16 and while the Colts have cleaned up their pass protection issues from earlier in the season, the Raiders’ defensive front has been solid in recent weeks and should turn in a stout performance at home, where the Raiders D/ST has averaged 8.8 fantasy points per game in their last four tries.

The Cincinnati Bengals (at Houston) are road underdogs against the one and only QB Tom Savage in Week 16, in case you were wondering how the Bengals’ season has gone. Savage took over for Brock Osweiler in Week 15 and will reportedly draw another start this week. While Savage looked solid in relief last week, a matchup against a newly promoted backup quarterback is always a place to look for fantasy D/ST production. The Bengals D/ST has been far from stellar in 2016, but is owned in just 40 percent of Yahoo leagues and is worth a look for fantasy owners in a pinch.

The Houston Texans (vs Cincinnati) make up the other half of the Tom Savage vs Andy Dalton battle, and the Texans D/ST is a decent Week 16 option at home where they have averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game. The Bengals have allowed the eighth-most sacks of any NFL team and the Texans average 2.4 sacks per game at home on the season.

Looking Ahead

Week 17 Streaming Candidates (owned in under 50% of Yahoo leagues):

Pittsburgh Steelers (42% owned, Week 17 vs Cleveland)

New York Giants (33% owned, Week 17 at Washington)

Tennessee Titans (11% owned, Week 17 vs Houston)

Indianapolis Colts (5% owned, Week 17 vs Jacksonville)

Take Your Kick

Three Week 16 games have projected totals over 50 points, providing solid kicker options to install into fantasy lineups this week.

1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (vs NYJ)

2. Matt Bryant, ATL (at CAR)

3. Dan Bailey, DAL (vs DET)

4. Josh Lambo, SD (at CLE)

5. Mason Crosby, GB (vs MIN)

6. Justin Tucker, BAL (at PIT)

7. Wil Lutz, NO (vs TB)

8. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK (vs IND)

9. Steven Hauschka, SEA (vs ARZ)

10. Dustin Hopkins, WAS (at CHI)

11. Adam Vinatieri, IND (at OAK)

12. Robbie Gould, NYG (at PHI)

13. Cairo Santos, KC (vs DEN)

14. Ryan Succop, TEN (at JAX)

15. Roberto Aguayo, TB (at NO)

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Dose: Seahawks Roll Over Rams

The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up the NFC West on Thursday night, as they topped the Los Angeles Rams 24-3 in the first game of the post-Jeff Fisher era.

Los Angeles was held to a single field goal on the night, in a game that was controlled by Seattle thanks to a few key throws from quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson rebounded from a horrific Week 14 performance by throwing a trio of touchdowns to go with 229 yards and one interception. Wilson’s best throw of the evening was a 57-yard bomb to speedster Tyler Lockett that pushed the Seattle lead to 24-3 and squashed any hope of a Rams comeback. Lockett was the lone fantasy bright spot in this contest for owners who were brave enough to place the second-year receiver in their starting lineup, as he caught a team-high seven passes on eight targets for 130 yards and his first receiving touchdown of the 2016 season. Lockett’s wheels were compromised early in the season due to knee issues, but Russell Wilson is warming up to his dynamic weapon with Lockett averaging 5.3 receptions for 78 yards per game over the last three weeks.

Thomas Rawls received his largest workload of the season on Thursday night, but managed to spin 21 carries into just 34 yards in a disappointing effort. Seattle opted to avoid Rawls on a notable goal line sequence that ended in a one-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, but Pete Carroll leaned on his lead back heavily throughout the game despite having little room to run. Rawls is looking at another tough spot in Week 16 against Arizona.

Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff continued his underwhelming debut season, completing 13 of 25 pass attempts for 135 yards before being knocked from the game with a concussion. Goff has earned a completion percentage of just 54.7 percent through five starts and has been unable to push the ball down the field with any regularity. Kenny Britt was the busiest Rams receiving target in this divisional game, catching four of eight targets for 50 yards. Britt is quietly nearing 1,000 receiving yards in a brutally sluggish offense this season, and deserves credit for producing in less than desirable offensive conditions. The “Todd Gurley Fantasy Bust Tour” stopped at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night, as Gurley managed only 38 yards on 14 attempts. Gurley is now averaging 55.6 rushing yards per game on the season, just slightly under 30 yards per game less than his average during a promising 2015 rookie campaign. San Francisco’s porous run defense is on tap for the Rams in Week 16, but fantasy owners are guaranteed nothing in terms of production from the struggling Los Angeles back.

Rams at Seahawks Slants

Seattle punter Jon Ryan nearly led the Seahawks in rushing, rumbling for 26 yards on a curious late-game fake punt. Ryan suffered a concussion on the play. … Rams rookie WR Mike Thomas dropped a deep first quarter pass from Goff that would’ve easily been the biggest play of his young career. Thomas finished with one catch for six yards on four targets. … Doug Baldwin scored a goal line touchdown and finished with 35 yards on five catches in a productive, if not flashy performance. … Tavon Austin handled five touches on the night but produced only 27 total yards in an offense lacking any sign of a play maker. … Jimmy Graham was held to one catch on the night, a physical 31-yard catch and run. Graham will still hang in the high-rent TE1 district despite sporadic production.

In Other News…

Fantasy playoff matchups will be largely impacted by the potential absence of two top running backs this week, as Melvin Gordon (hip, knee) and Matt Forte (knee) are both dealing with injury issues. Forte was limited at practice on Thursday despite playing with a torn meniscus, and could actually play against Miami on Saturday. Bilal Powell broke out with 179 total yards after Forte went down in Week 14 and would be a valuable fantasy asset this week if Forte sits.

Gordon has not practiced this week and is reportedly shooting for a Week 16 return, shoving RB Kenneth Farrow into the spotlight. Farrow handled 22 touches for 78 yards after Gordon departed in Week 14, which included a healthy six receptions. Ronnie Hillman may be worked into the San Diego backfield rotation as well, but Farrow should be owned in all leagues at this point as a Week 15 starting option or to block playoff opposition from acquiring the services of the suddenly starting running back.

Julio Jones (toe) has yet to practice this week and his chances of playing in Week 15 are shrinking with each passing day. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan spread targets around evenly in Week 14 with Jones and Mohamed Sanu (groin) sidelined, but fantasy owners should look toward the speedy Taylor Gabriel if Julio sits again. Gabriel has averaged 66.2 receiving yards per game while scoring six touchdowns in his last six outings, and should be productive again against the lowly 49ers on Sunday.

Michael Floyd’s train wreck of a contract season took another interesting turn on Thursday, as the fifth-year wide receiver was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots after being cut by Arizona on Wednesday. Floyd’s recent DUI and poor on-field play resulted in the Cardinals moving on from the talented wide out, but Bill Belichick will now take a look at the impending free agent for the remainder of the season. While the prospect of Floyd in New England’s offense is exciting, his fantasy potential will likely be limited to postseason fantasy leagues only, as owners would be taking a significant gamble starting Floyd from the jump in a brand new offense in Weeks 15 or 16. Floyd’s free agency landing spot with be noteworthy, but he has fallen flat in his contract season and needs to produce to fulfill his once lofty potential.

Quick Slants

T.Y. Hilton (back) missed practice on Thursday after getting in a full session on Wednesday and should be ready for a tricky Week 15 matchup with Minnesota. … Saints WR Michael Thomas (foot) practiced on again on Thursday, although he has been “limited” so far this week. Thomas should have a shot to return this week but will need to be monitored as Sunday approaches. … Mark Ingram (toe) got in a limited practice on Thursday and should be able to play at Arizona on Sunday. Ingram was outproduced by Tim Hightower in Week 14 and is a dicey fantasy option at the moment. … Jets WR Brandon Marshall (back, foot, knee) will reportedly be on a “pitch count” on Saturday when the Jets host the Miami Dolphins. Fantasy owners would be wise to find a safer option than Marshall this week. … Christine Michael (illness) and James Starks (concussion) both missed practice on Thursday. Fire up Ty Montgomery this week, as he could be ready for a sizeable workload at Chicago. … Jordan Reed (shoulder) practiced on Thursday and should see the field again in Week 15 as a fantasy option for the bravest of souls. … Theo Riddick (wrist) is still not practicing, leaving Dwayne Washington and Zach Zenner the likely leaders of the Detroit backfield this week. … A.J. Green (hamstring) practiced for a second consecutive day and has a real chance to play in Week 15, but his status will be updated closer to Sunday. … Adrian Peterson (knee) practiced on Thursday but remains a dicey bet in fantasy leagues with time running short on the 2016 season.

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Getting Defensive: Week 15

Week 14 is in the books, and while the horrendous quarterback play that plagued the NFL last week may have disappointed fantasy owners vying for playoff victories, it made for an incredibly productive week in the world of fantasy defenses. Another tense week of playoff matchups is upcoming in Week 15, and the fantasy D/ST ranks are littered with quality options in advantageous matchups. As always, you’ll find the top Week 15 fantasy defenses broken into tiers below, followed by streaming candidates for the remainder of the season, and kicker rankings. Good luck in Week 15, championship Sunday awaits.

Top-Tier Options

After pumping out nine consecutive games with six or more fantasy points, the normally reliable Seattle Seahawks (vs Los Angeles) put up a clunker in Week 14 at Green Bay. Seattle finished last among all D/ST with -3.0 fantasy points and continued a disturbing trend of failing to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The Seahawks have just one sack in the last three weeks, but a heavenly matchup awaits on Thursday with the Jeff Fisher-less Los Angeles Rams. In his last three starts, Rams QB Jared Goff has turned the ball over seven times and taken 10 sacks. Seattle should crush Los Angeles at home while racking up a healthy heap of fantasy points.

Robert Griffin III returned with a disappointing performance for Cleveland in Week 14, and now travels to face the Buffalo Bills (vs Cleveland) on the road. Griffin completed just 12 of 28 pass attempts and took three sacks while throwing one interception. The Bills were roasted by Pittsburgh last week, but any fantasy D/ST matching up with Cleveland is a top-tier option with the Browns allowing an NFL-high 3.7 sacks per game.

Blake Bortles managed to avoid throwing an interception in Week 14, but did take four sacks as the Jaguars lost to Minnesota at home. This week, Jacksonville heads to Texas to face the Houston Texans (vs Jacksonville), who forced a trio of turnovers in Week 14 at Indianapolis. Bortles is responsible for 19 turnovers this season and remains a worthwhile target for fantasy defenses.

The Kansas City Chiefs (vs Tennessee) are scoring defensive and special teams touchdowns at a ridiculous clip right now, and have produced double-digit fantasy points in nine of their last 11 games. A D/ST this hot is tough to bench, so keep the good vibes rolling with the Chiefs playing at home as favorites this week.

Tier Two, But Good For You

The Atlanta Falcons (vs San Francisco) delivered the goods in Week 14, leading the fantasy D/ST world in scoring in a gravy matchup against Los Angeles. The fun will continue for Atlanta in Week 15, as they return home to face San Francisco. The 49ers aren’t quite on the Rams’ level in terms of streaming targets, but the Falcons are huge favorites at home and could easily produce a beefy point total once again.

Before a Monday night trip to Foxborough, the Baltimore Ravens (vs Philadelphia) were rolling defensively and although they gave up 30 points to New England, they did force three turnovers. The Ravens return home in Week 15 to take on Philadelphia and will attempt to take advantage of rookie QB Carson Wentz. The promising rookie has hit some speed bumps in recent weeks, turning the ball over eight times in his last four games and taking 11 sacks in that same span. Look for the Ravens D/ST to rebound in a big way at home.

The Minnesota Vikings (vs Indianapolis) have racked up sacks by the bucket full recently, taking down opposing quarterbacks 13 times in the last four weeks. The Vikings will turn their attention toward Andrew Luck in Week 15, when they host the Indianapolis Colts. Despite Luck taking just two sacks in the last two weeks, the Colts are still tied for second in sacks allowed this season and the Vikings D/ST should be ready to eat at home on Sunday.

It’s been a bumpy ride for the Green Bay Packers (at Chicago) this season, but their defense has finally come around, turning in three consecutive top-10 fantasy performances, highlighted by forcing six Seattle turnovers in Week 14. This week, the Pack heads to Chicago to take on the NFC North rival Bears. Chicago QB Matt Barkley has been interception-free for two weeks and has taken just three sacks since taking over for Jay Cutler, but the Packers D/ST is rolling and is worth a start this week.

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty took a whopping six sacks in Week 14 against San Francisco and has now thrown an interception in three-straight games. The Miami Dolphins (at NY Jets) will take their turn facing Petty on Saturday night, and have forced 2.5 turnovers per game since their Week 8 bye. The only concern for Miami is backup QB Matt Moore struggling and leaving the Dolphins D/ST in bad spots throughout the game, but this group is worth a look in the matchup with Petty and the sinking Jets.

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Getting Deeper

The New York Giants (vs Detroit) D/ST averaged 4.3 fantasy points per game in the season’s first six weeks, but have produced 12.0 points per game since. The Giants stuffed Dallas handily in Week 14, and have stacked up 12 sacks and eight turnovers in the last three weeks. Lions QB Matthew Stafford has been careful with the football this season, but the Giants D/ST hasn’t scored less than six fantasy points since Week 7 and can be trusted at home.

The New York Jets (vs Miami) are not good. This we know. However, defenses facing backup quarterbacks who are shoved into starting roles are always on our radar. With Ryan Tannehill (knee) out, Matt Moore will draw the start and the Miami backup hasn’t thrown more than 19 pass attempts in a season since 2011. Moore has 33 career touchdown passes and 28 career interceptions and is a very interesting target for fantasy footballers looking to stream the Jets D/ST that is owned in just 25 percent of Yahoo leagues.

The last month has been awfully kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cincinnati) D/ST, as this unit has scored at least eight fantasy points in four-straight games. The Steelers’ pass rush has been fierce, recording 18 sacks in that four-game span. Week 15 will see Pittsburgh travel to Cincinnati to face Andy Dalton and the Bengals, who have allowed the fifth-most sacks in the NFL. Pittsburgh has allowed just 61.8 rushing yards per game since Week 10 and will have plenty of chances to get to Dalton after shutting down the Bengals’ ground game.

Week 15 presents a challenge for the Denver Broncos (vs New England), as they will host Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Broncos D/ST has been a top-tier cornerstone for ages, but is staring down a rough matchup this week. The game is in Denver and the Broncos certainly have the defensive firepower to produce fantasy points in any matchup, but fantasy owners should give pause before starting a defense against Tom Brady, who is coming off a 400-yard passing performance.

Stream Team

After a four-week turnover drought, the Dallas Cowboys (vs Tampa Bay) have four takeaways over the last two weeks and will look to keep rolling at home against Tampa Bay. The matchup isn’t overly friendly for the Cowboys D/ST, but they will be playing at home as healthy favorites.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Dallas) D/ST is on a tear, putting up double-digit fantasy points in four of the last five weeks and forcing 14 turnovers since Week 9. The only thing keeping the Bucs D/ST out of the top tier this week is their road matchup at Dallas, but this group is still worth a look for needy fantasy owners in a pinch.

The Detroit Lions (at NY Giants) have been solid defensively in 2016 and have not allowed more than 20 points in a game since Week 6. The Lions have been light on sacks recently however, recording just two since their Week 10 bye. A road trip to New York to face the Giants awaits in Week 15, where the Lions are a mid-tier option for desperate fantasy owners.

Looking Ahead

Week 16 Streaming Candidates (owned in under 50% of Yahoo leagues):

San Diego Chargers (33% owned, Week 16 at Cleveland)

Tennessee Titans (11% owned, Week 16 at Jacksonville)

Washington Redskins (14% owned, Week 16 at Chicago)

San Francisco 49ers (2% owned, Week 16 at Los Angeles)

Week 17 Streaming Candidates (owned in under 50% of Yahoo leagues):

Tennessee Titans (11% owned, Week 17 vs Houston)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13% owned, Week 17 vs Carolina)

Indianapolis Colts (5% owned, Week 17 vs Jacksonville)

Pittsburgh Steelers (42% owned, Week 17 vs Cleveland)

Take Your Kick

    1. Matt Bryant, ATL (vs SF)

2. Dustin Hopkins, WAS (vs CAR)

3. Justin Tucker, BAL (vs PHI)

4. Mason Crosby, GB (at CHI)

5. Wil Lutz, NO (at ARZ)

6. Cairo Santos, KC (vs TEN)

7. Steven Hauschka, SE (vs LAR)

8. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (at DEN)

9. Dan Carpenter, BUF (vs CLE)

10. Josh Lambo, SD (vs OAK)

11. Dan Bailey, DAL (vs TB)

12. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK (at SD)

13. Chandler Catanzaro, ARZ (vs NO)

14. Robbie Gould, NYG (vs DET)

15. Matt Prater, DET (at NYG)

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Dose: KC On Top In AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to put points on the scoreboard in just one quarter on Thursday night, but 21 second quarter points proved to be enough as the Oakland offense failed to get rolling in a crucial 21-13 Chiefs win.

Kansas City was led by speedster Tyreek Hill, who hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith and flashed impressive wheels on a 78-yard punt return for a score. Along with dynamic special teams contributions, Hill has become a mainstay in the Chiefs’ passing game, as he has seen at least five targets in seven consecutive games and has not finished with less than 52 receiving yards since Week 9. Travis Kelce was also a big contributor for Kansas City, as the top-tier tight end stacked up 101 yards on five catches for his fourth 100-yard receiving effort in a row. Kelce has been a big-play machine, racking up 16.1 yards per reception during his four game surge.

The Oakland offense was in miserable shape on Thursday, led by a horrendous effort from quarterback Derek Carr. The Raiders quarterback completed just 17 of 41 pass attempts for 117 yards, registering an average of 2.9 yards per pass attempt that would make Brock Osweiler blush. Carr was also hurt by drops in this contest, most notably from receiver Seth Roberts, who was a picture of inefficiency as he snagged just two of nine targets for 12 yards. Amari Cooper saw a team-high 10 targets, but caught only five passes for 29 yards. Since a Week 8 outburst, Cooper has averaged 44.6 receiving yards per game in five contests as his ascension to the top tier of NFL wide receivers has stalled. The lone bright spot for Oakland was running back Latavius Murray, who turned 22 carries into 103 yards and a score. Murray has seen large workloads recently, averaging 18.6 rushing attempts per game since Week 8, and will be a reliable option for the remainder of the fantasy playoffs.

Raiders at Chiefs Quick Slants

Jeremy Maclin finally returned from a groin injury, but was a non-factor, catching one of three targets for 16 yards. Maclin should not be trusted in playoff matchups going forward. … Michael Crabtree’s sporadic season continued on Thursday, as he caught four passes for 21 yards after totaling 184 receiving yards in the previous two weeks. … Chiefs RB Spencer Ware continues to struggle, totaling just 56 rushing yards on 20 carries. The 20-carry workload was Ware’s largest since Week 6 but he still proved to be ineffective. … Alex Smith went 17/26 for 264 yards with one interception and one touchdown in an average performance that was sluggish after halftime.

In Other News…

The Atlanta Falcons are struggling with wide receiver injury issues, as both Julio Jones (turf toe) and Mohamed Sanu (groin) have failed to see the practice field this week. Jones was at least able to do side work on Thursday, making him a far better bet to play in Week 14 than Sanu. Even if Jones plays, he will be a dicey fantasy bet as his effectiveness with a bad toe will be tough to predict before the Falcons and Los Angeles Rams kick off. Taylor Gabriel, who has averaged 63 receiving yards per game in his last five outings while scoring five touchdowns, could be in line for a massive upgrade in usage with Matt Ryan’s arsenal of receiving weapons dinged up this week.

Shoulder issues have plagued Washington tight end Jordan Reed (shoulder) since Thanksgiving, and the Redskins may be in danger of missing their productive tight end for a second consecutive week. Reed participated in individual drills on both Wednesday and Thursday and despite mixed reports on his recovery, Reed told reporters that he “feels he’s gotten all of his range of motion back” and expects to play on Sunday. Fantasy owners will be eagerly waiting until Sunday morning for an official update on Reed’s playing status, so tentative backup plans should be made prior to game day. Vernon Davis saw six targets in Reed’s absence last week and is a reasonable fill-in if available.

Michael Thomas (foot) has now missed practice on consecutive days and is becoming a player to watch as Sunday approaches. Thomas has turned in a dynamite rookie season on his way to becoming Drew Brees’ top target, and his potential absence would be a blow to the New Orleans offense as the team prepares to face NFC South foe Tampa Bay. Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead would receive a nice bump if Thomas sits, but his status should be monitored in coming days.

Quick Slants

After missing practice on Wednesday, Sammy Watkins (foot) returned on Thursday and saw an “increase in reps.” … Mark Ingram (toe) was limited on Wednesday, but was not able to practice Thursday. Ingram should now be placed on the weekend watch list and Tim Hightower owners should eagerly monitor Ingram’s status as well. … Jordan Matthews (ankle) was a full participant at practice on Thursday and is expected to play on Sunday. … A.J. Green (hamstring) didn’t practice on Thursday and his return will likely take place next week or potentially further down the line. … Ryan Mathews (knee) is “ready to go” according to coach Doug Peterson as the Eagles prepare to host the Redskins. Mathews will take over for Wendell Smallwood alongside Darren Sproles in the Philadelphia backfield. … Chris Ivory (hamstring) was limited on Thursday and will be a game-time decision on Sunday. T.J. Yeldon (ankle) has been practicing and will see a workload bump in a rough matchup if Ivory sits. … Trevor Siemian (foot) practiced again on Thursday and could return to the field in Week 14 in a nice matchup at Tennessee. … Robert Griffin III’s Week 14 start is an “audition” for next season, according to coach Hue Jackson. Griffin will likely be pummeled by the Cincinnati defense on Sunday.

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Getting Defensive: Week 14

Fantasy playoff season has finally arrived. Move the wrapping paper to the side and add a splash of something spicy to that mug of eggnog, as it is time to battle for fantasy hardware. Just three weeks of play remain and each week is of critical importance, so be sure to scope out the “Looking Ahead” section below to ensure your team is stacked with the best D/ST resources available to guide a competitive run toward a championship.

As always, the top Week 14 D/ST options are broken into tiers below, followed by a fantasy playoffs battle plan and kicker rankings for the week ahead. Thank you for reading Getting Defensive this season and get ready to pile up playoff victories, as the long wait for fantasy crunch time is over. Good luck in Week 14, and if you have playoff D/ST questions, please feel free to hit me up on the Twitter contraption at @Jeff_Brubach.

Matchup Machines

Some of the shine is gone from the Minnesota Vikings (at Jacksonville) after their hot start this season, but a trip to Jacksonville is enough to make any fantasy D/ST sparkle. Jacksonville is tied for first in the NFL in turnovers, led by QB Blake Bortles and his 15 interceptions. Denver turned in a top fantasy performance last week at Jacksonville and things are headed in the wrong direction for the Jaguars as they continue the long, slow march toward coach Gus Bradley’s firing.

The Cincinnati Bengals (at Cleveland) have managed at least five fantasy points in each game since their Week 9 bye and are the lucky winners of this week's Cleveland matchup. Vontaze Burfict...come on down! After a Week 13 bye, the Browns will return to dishing out fantasy points to opposing defenses like hotcakes and the Bengals are fresh off a three-interception performance against Philadelphia. The Bengals D/ST is still owned in just 33 percent of Yahoo leagues, so get moving.

Defense and the Detroit Lions (vs Chicago) have never been synonymous but the 2016 Lions have different ideas. Detroit allowed 25.5 points per game in their first six contests compared to just 16.3 points per game since Week 6. While this unit has struggled with only one sack since a Week 10 bye, the Lions have forced seven turnovers in that span and will have ample chances to add to that total in Week 14 against Chicago. Bears QB Matt Barkley has completed an uninspiring 54.2 percent of his passes since taking over for Jay Cutler (shoulder) and has four interceptions to three touchdowns on the season. This is a prime time matchup for a D/ST owned in a whopping nine percent of Yahoo leagues. Go snag them, pronto.

Solid Tier Two Options

The Seattle Seahawks (at Green Bay) stomped out Carolina in Week 13 and continued their steady defensive play. The Seahawks D/ST has scored fewer than six fantasy points once in 12 games this season, and is as reliable as fantasy defenses come. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 10 and Seattle will be without FS Earl Thomas (leg), but unless the Vikings, Bengals, or Lions D/ST is available, I would roll out Pete Carroll’s bunch this week.

The Denver Broncos (at Tennessee) cashed in on a fine matchup in Week 13, pumping out the top fantasy D/ST score of the week during a trip to Jacksonville. While doctor Bortles won’t be around to administer a healthy dose of turnovers this week, the Broncos D/ST is a tough bunch to bench in a road matchup at Tennessee. The Titans own the NFL’s third-best rushing attack and the Broncos have been hammered on the ground, coughing up 133 rushing yards per game since Week 6. The rushing ability of the Titans combined with QB Marcus Mariota’s responsible ways may limit the upside of the Broncos D/ST, but this is still a startable option.

We now have three games to reflect upon regarding the early career of rookie QB Jared Goff and the results indicate that fantasy owners should be eyeing the Atlanta Falcons (at Los Angeles) on the waiver wire, who are owned in 16 percent of Yahoo leagues. Goff has completed only 53.7 percent of his pass attempts this season, with four touchdowns and four turnovers while being sacked eight times in three games. The Falcons D/ST isn’t the prettiest option on the board, but they have averaged two sacks per game while forcing five turnovers over the last four weeks and are worth a shot on Sunday.

The Chiefs train kept on rolling in Week 13, as the Kansas City Chiefs (vs Oakland) racked up 11 fantasy points in a tough road matchup at Atlanta, thanks to heroic play from SS Eric Berry. The Chiefs D/ST has now incredibly scored double-digit fantasy points in eight of 12 games this season, and seven of the last eight weeks. The Chiefs D/ST will have to overcome another tough spot in Week 14, but at least Andy Reid’s squad has the luxury of playing the Oakland Raiders at home. Oakland has allowed just 12 sacks this season, the fewest of any NFL team by a wide margin, and only three teams have turned the ball over less than Derek Carr and the Raiders. Let’s see if the Chiefs D/ST can continue to roll, with three consecutive home games on deck for the fantasy playoffs.

Week 14 presents an interesting spot for the New England Patriots (vs Baltimore), who will be playing at home as a large favorite, but will host a Baltimore team that just erupted for 38 points and 496 yards of total offense against Miami in Week 13. While last week was impressive, Joe Flacco and company are still just 21st among NFL teams in scoring at 21.3 points per game and have topped 400 yards of offense just twice this season. Flacco has thrown an interception in five of his last six games and should have more in reserve as his team plays from behind against the Patriots.

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Getting A Bit Riskier

Before being trampled at Baltimore last week, the Miami Dolphins (vs Arizona) D/ST had scored at least six fantasy points in four consecutive games. The Dolphins will look to rebound this week at home against Arizona and QB Carson Palmer, who has been sacked 3.7 times per game in his last six outings to go with eight turnovers in that same span.

The New York Jets (at San Francisco) are not good. The Jets D/ST has seven total fantasy points in their last four games combined, and have only four games with multiple sacks this season. But what happens when a terrible defense meets an offense that managed to throw for SIX passing yards in Week 13? I will take my chances on the Jets D/ST that is owned in 29 percent of Yahoo leagues, and find out the answer this Sunday. No matter who starts at quarterback for the 49ers, the Jets D/ST will have reasonable upside this week for streamers shooting for the moon.

The Tennessee Titans (vs Denver) have been a mediocre defensive team this season, but may have the chance to face Denver QB Paxton Lynch in Week 14 as Trevor Siemian (foot) continues to recover. Lynch completed only 50 percent of his passes in Week 13 and was far from dynamic as the Broncos averaged a miniscule 4.3 yards per pass attempts at Jacksonville. If Siemian draws the start, the Titans D/ST should be downgraded, but this appears to be a solid option if Lynch remains under center.

The Washington Redskins (at Philadelphia) have been destroyed on a recent two-game road trip, allowing 62 total points while forcing zero turnovers. The Washington road trip continues in Week 14, when the Redskins head to Philadelphia. Eagles QB Carson Wentz has taken two or more sacks in five of his last six games and has thrown six interceptions in the last three weeks. Using the Redskins on the road is worrisome, but they are currently road favorites at Philadelphia, so that may quell some of the fear of starting this group on Sunday.

Stream It Like You Mean It

The San Francisco 49ers (vs NY Jets) are horrendous defensively, but much like the Jets D/ST in this same game, the matchup for this unit may prove to be too good to pass up. The Jets will trot out QB Bryce Petty on Sunday, who just turned in a 11/25 passing, two interception performance against Indianapolis on Monday night. The Jets will now travel to San Francisco on a short week and roll out Petty once again. The 49ers haven’t intercepted a pass since Week 10 but should have plenty of chances in Week 14.

Houston QB Brock Osweiler has completed only 59.8 percent of his passes in 2016. That mark is lower than benched QB Case Keenum’s average and barely edges out Blake Bortles. The Indianapolis Colts (vs Houston) will have the pleasure of facing Osweiler in Week 14, who is also fourth among NFL quarterbacks in interceptions. The Colts D/ST ended an interception slump with a three-pack of picks on Monday night and should have more chances against Osweiler on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (at Buffalo) turned in a third-straight top-10 fantasy performance in Week 13, scoring nine points in a home date with the NY Giants. The Steelers D/ST will be on the road this week and although they have been rolling, the Bills are not the most fantasy friendly opponent in the league. Pittsburgh has allowed just 71.4 rushing yards per game over the last five weeks and will need to continue to stuff the run against the Bills.

The struggling Carolina Panthers (vs San Diego) will host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, who are surprisingly tied with the NY Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars for the most turnovers in the NFL. Despite allowing a healthy helping of points in recent weeks, the Panthers D/ST has racked up 3.8 sacks per game since Week 7 and should be able to add a takeaway or two to a beefy sack total this week.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (vs Minnesota) are second in pass defense and 24th in run defense in 2016, which could make a date with the Minnesota Vikings an inviting spot to give the Jaguars D/ST a shot. If Jacksonville can keep a lid on Minnesota QB Sam Bradford, the Vikings’ NFL-worst run game likely won’t be able to move the ball on Sunday. Minnesota has turned the ball over in four-straight games and has scored more than 20 points once since Week 5.

Looking Ahead

Week 15 Streaming Candidates (owned in under 50% of Yahoo leagues):

Houston Texans (43% owned, Week 15 vs Jacksonville)

Atlanta Falcons (16% owned, Week 15 vs San Francisco)

Oakland Raiders (46% owned, Week 15 at San Diego)

Washington Redskins (12% owned, Week 15 vs Carolina)

Fantasy Playoff Pairings (all teams owned in under 50% of Yahoo leagues):

While rostering multiple fantasy defenses is an ill-advised tactic during the majority of the regular season, the fantasy playoffs are a different story. Try snagging two defenses to ensure a cushy matchup in each remaining week. The following D/ST pairings can be scraped together from your local waiver wire and present solid matchups in Weeks 14-16.

Cincinnati and Green Bay

(Wk 14 CIN at CLE / Wk 15 GB at CHI / Wk 16 CIN at HOU)

Atlanta and San Diego

(Wk 14 ATL at LAR / Wk 15 ATL vs SF / Wk 16 SD at CLE)

Detroit and Washington

(Wk 14 DET vs CHI / Wk 15 WAS vs CAR / Wk 16 WAS at CHI)

NY Jets and Washington

(Wk 14 NYJ at SF / Wk 15 WAS vs CAR / Wk 16 WAS at CHI)

Take Your Kick

Below you will find the top-15 kickers for Week 14 of the fantasy football season. Please proceed at your own risk.

1. Matt Prater, DET (vs CHI)

2. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (vs BAL)

3. Adam Vinatieri, IND (vs HOU)

4. Justin Tucker, BAL (at NE)

5. Matt Bryant, ATL (at LAR)

6. Graham Gano, CAR (vs SD)

7. Cairo Santos, KC (vs OAK)

8. Dustin Hopkins, WAS (at PHI)

9. Steven Hauschka, SEA (at GB)

10. Wil Lutz, NO (at TB)

11. Dan Bailey, DAL (at NYG)

12. Andrew Franks, MIA (vs ARZ)

13. Roberto Aguayo, TB (vs NO)

14. Josh Lambo, SD (at CAR)

15. Ryan Succop, TEN (vs DEN)

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Dose: Cowboys Hold Off Vikings

The Dallas Cowboys moved another step closer to claiming the NFC’s top seed as Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford’s late two-point conversion pass attempt sailed well out of the end zone, preserving a 17-15 win for the now 11-1 Cowboys.

The Minnesota Vikings dropped to 6-6 with the loss, as Bradford threw the ball 45 times and completed 32 passes for only 247 yards in another conservative effort. Tight end Kyle Rudolph was stuffed with targets, hauling in half of his 12 chances for 45 yards on the night. Adam Thielen kept his quietly useful fantasy season rolling, with seven catches on nine targets for 86 yards in the losing effort. The Vikings did welcome the return of WR Stefon Diggs (knee) after the speedy receiver missed Week 12, and Diggs caught all eight of his targets on Thursday night for 59 yards. Big plays were hard to come by in the Minnesota passing game, with Bradford averaging a paltry 5.5 yards per pass attempt.

Dallas continued to roll on Thursday night, but needed 10 fourth quarter points to take control of the game after trailing 9-7 with 14 minutes remaining. Dak Prescott was 12/18 for 139 yards and one touchdown in a quiet evening, as the Cowboys relied upon their studly rookie running back to lead the way. Ezekiel Elliott turned 20 carries into 86 yards and a score, while adding four grabs for 19 yards in the receiving game. Elliott was the focal point of the Dallas offense as normal, touching the ball 24 times while Prescott threw just 18 passes. The only notable contributor in the Dallas passing attack was Dez Bryant, who snared four of six targets for 84 yards and even tossed up the “X” for fantasy owners with a fourth quarter touchdown. Volume will be hard to come by in the Dallas offense, but Dez is making the most of his chances with 88 yards per game and four touchdowns over the last four weeks.

Cowboys at Vikings Quick Slants

Jason Witten turned in a goose egg on Thursday in a target-less effort. Witten will be susceptible to low volume nights like this in Dallas. … Jerick McKinnon scored a late receiving touchdown and scraped together 55 total yards on 14 touches. He remains locked in a split with Matt Asiata and is untrustworthy in fantasy leagues as a part of Minnesota’s NFL-worst running game. … Dak Prescott showed off his wheels, picking up critical gains throughout the game with his legs on the way to 37 rushing yards. … Rookie WR Laquon Treadwell was held catchless on two targets as his slow opening campaign continues. … Cole Beasley managed two catches on four targets and was one of just four players targeted by Prescott on the night.

In Other News…

Rob Gronkowski’s injury-filled 2016 campaign officially came to an end on Thursday, as news emerged that the star tight end will undergo back surgery on Friday. The Patriots and Gronkowski’s family released a statement on the Patriots’ website announcing that Gronk will likely miss the remainder of the 2016 season, but a final determination will be made after Friday’s surgery. Gronk was extremely productive while on the field this season, and dominated defenses like normal during a four-week span in October when he was at his healthiest. In Weeks 5-8, Gronkowski averaged 118.3 receiving yards per game while scoring three touchdowns and averaging an absurd 22.5 yards per reception. The Patriots will certainly miss Gronkowski’s playmaking skills, but Martellus Bennett should serve as a respectable replacement. Fantasy owners in redraft leagues can sadly click the “drop” button and begin the solemn, impossible hunt for a Gronk replacement.

The fantasy tight end position continued to take body blows on Thursday, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jordan Reed (shoulder) is “unlikely to play” in Week 13. Reed played through a Grade 3 separation of his shoulder on Thanksgiving, but will require additional healing time before making a return to action. Vernon Davis is worth a look for desperate fantasy folks, and produced eight catches for 129 yards and a score in Weeks 6 and 7 when Reed was absent with concussion issues. Let’s hope Reed’s bum shoulder heals before the fantasy playoffs begin in full force in Week 14.

Adrian Peterson’s (knee) potential 2016 return is “not certain” according to ProFootballTalk. While reports of Peterson running and working “ahead of schedule” have surfaced recently, the Minnesota ground game will likely continue to flounder for the rest of the season as Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata handle the Vikings’ backfield work. Minnesota currently owns the NFL’s worst rushing attack, averaging 72.4 yards per game and 2.96 yards per carry through Thursday night’s loss to Dallas.

Quick Slants

Mark Ingram (toe) has yet to practice this week and is becoming a risky bet to play in Week 13. Fire up Tim Hightower everywhere if Ingram is forced to sit. … Tyrell Williams (shoulder) did not practice on Thursday and his Week 13 status is now in serious doubt. Dontrelle Inman would get a boost in Williams’ absence. … T.Y. Hilton (back) practiced on Wednesday but was held out on Thursday, putting his Week 13 status in limbo. More news should surface on Friday about Hilton’s chances of playing on Monday. … Ryan Mathews (knee) missed practice on Thursday and the Eagles will likely rely on Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles again on Sunday against Cincinnati. … Chris Ivory (hamstring) has not practiced this week and is reportedly “unlikely” to play in Week 13. T.J. Yeldon would see an increase in work this week if Ivory sits, but this is an unappealing spot for fantasy owners. … Andrew Luck (concussion, shoulder) was limited on Thursday but is expected to play on Monday night against the Jets. Scott Tolzien would make another start if Luck is unable to return. … Trevor Siemian (foot) has not practiced this week and is still in a walking boot. Paxton Lynch will draw the start if Siemian is held out, but stay tuned over the weekend for more details. … Jeremy Maclin (groin) was limited on Thursday at practice and his chances of returning to the field for the first time since Week 9 remain murky. Check back over the weekend. … Theo Riddick (ankle) is going through his weekly “limited” routine and should be good for Sunday. … Sammy Watkins (foot) practiced on Thursday but is still looking at a questionable snap count as Sunday approaches. Watkins remains a risky fantasy option. … Jay Cutler (shoulder) has season-ending shoulder surgery planned for Saturday. The Bears offense remains Jordan Howard and little else that will excite fantasy owners.