Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 16
Merry. Christmas. To. All. pic.twitter.com/OzezftAN7F
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) December 25, 2017
We attempt to put Todd Gurley into words as well as others in our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series which conveys all that is championship week for fantasy owners. We are following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Follow our contributors for this week’s Hot Fire Questions: Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg).
1. Is Todd Gurley the Fantasy MVP AND the league MVP?
A resounding yes! If you drafted Gurley in the mid-to-late second round, you ended up with the #1 overall fantasy asset and someone who compelled your team to a title with an unreal fantasy playoff run. I was fortunate enough to have Gurley in 3-of-5 leagues and rode him the entire season. In real life football terms, he has the resume to actually pull off an upset in a usual QB-laden award. His coutning stats are attractive to voters (1,305 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 64 rec for 788 yards and 6 rec TD). That combination hasn’t been seen since Marshall Faulk. –Kyle Borgognoni
Yes, Todd Gurley is definitely the fantasy MVP, but I don’t believe he will win the NFL MVP. Unfortunately, the NFL loves to crown quarterbacks as the MVP, so I see Tom Brady winning his third MVP award. –Matthew Betz
2. Who let down their owners the most on championship weekend?
Alshon Jeffrey and Michael Crabtree
Good Lord. That might be the worst outcome I’ve ever seen on a Monday night where many owners simply needed a point or two in PPR leagues. If you got the goose egg in a championship game, I’m sorry. NO-ONE SAW THAT COMING.
Crabby. Alshon. Please. pic.twitter.com/DsrrW7hfth
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) December 26, 2017
Michael Crabtree- 0 receptions, 0 yards
Alshon Jeffery– 0 receptions, 0 yards
Adam Thielen– 2 catches, 24 yards
Check out other poopers in our Week 16 Duds of the Week article.
3. Whose end of the year performances helped their dynasty value the most for 2018?
There have been some truthers out there that have pounded the drum for the UDFA all year. Cole was dynamite averaging 131 yards and 0.75 TDs per game over the last month. The hype will be merited although we need to remember this Jaguars receiving corps was decimated by injuries which paved the way for Cole to perform. Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marquise Lee are returning as well as Dede Westbrook. Jacksonville is at a crossroads with Blake Bortles so the situation will need to be monitored in case another QB is signed. -Kyle Borgognoni
Robert Reiners/Getty Images Sport
He finished the season as a WR2 (WR24) in half pt PPR, and he plays in an up and coming high scoring Sean McVay offense. He will also have an opportunity to continue to develop his rapport with his QB, Jared Goff, which could turn into a long and productive combination for years to come. He finished tied for the most red zone targets in the league, a stat he led for basically the entire season. Kupp can be counted on as a reliable WR2 moving forward and is probably going to be a late round PPR steal in next year’s drafts. –Matthew Betz
4. Give us one under-the-radar stat line and what it means for fantasy owners moving forward.
The might have been the most inefficicent targets you’ll ever see, but Josh Doctson saw 13 targets on Sunday and caught only 2 of them! Now granted some of those were throw-aways and 50/50 balls that were forced by Kirk Cousins. His 48-yard TD was a joke as the Broncos defenders left him completely uncovered. Doctson should have another TD where Cousins underthrew him. In other words, this performance ended with just 2 catches for 61 yards and a TD but could’ve been much more. He’s the clear WR1 in this offense so expect more of the same next week against the Giants, who have given up the 8th most fantasy points to WRs on the year. –Kyle Borgognoni
The last time Ameer Abdullah eclipsed 15 carries in a game was Week 9. Since then, he has averaged just 23.4 yards/game. He is not the long term answer Detroit hoped he would be. Look for the Lions to draft a running back to take over the backfield in 2018. –Matthew Betz