Week 15 Fantasy Football Studs
If Running Backs dominate the first round of 2017 fantasy football drafts, Week 15 will be the reason. When players, or a certain position, single-handedly decide a playoff matchup owners tend to dwell on those performances and overreact to them the following season. Week 15 RB performances were of the variety that will get owners riled up. Let’s look at the RBs and a few other players who had big weeks. If you don’t already listen to the podcast every Monday, here’s the link.
Running Backs
Devonta Freeman vs SF
-20 carries, 139 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 2 receptions, 16 receiving yards
A monster day almost went nuclear but Freeman fumbled on the 1-yard line on what would’ve been TD #4.
LeSean McCoy vs CLE
-19 carries, 153 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards
Cleveland went ice fishing in Buffalo but could not catch the slippery fish. Want a reason to complain about Shady? Gillislee vultured another TD.
Ty Montgomery @ CHI
-16 carries, 162 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 1 receiving yard
Boy, Ty Montgomery looks good at RB. I have no idea what to do with Monte going into drafts next year.
Ezekiel Elliott vs TB
–23 carries, 159 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 29 receiving yards
If there’s anything surprising here it’s that Darren McFadden supplanted Alfred Morris as the backup RB in Dallas.
David Johnson vs NO
-12 carries, 53 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 4 receptions, 55 receiving yards
Ho hum, just another 100 scrimmage yard performance from David Johnson, not like it’s his NFL record 14th straight to start a season… Oh, wait… it is!
Ryan Mathews @ BAL
-20 carries, 128 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 5 receiving yards
When Ryan Mathews is healthy and Doug Pederson has no other options he will be productive for fantasy owners.
Bilal Powell vs MIA
-16 carries, 84 rushing yards, 11 receptions, 78 receiving yards
Hopefully Matt Forte’s active status did not scare owners away from Powell, especially in half and full PPR leagues.
Jordan Howard vs GB
-17 carries, 90 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 23 receiving yards
Start your RBs in cold/winter weather games.
Robert Turbin @ MIN
-7 carries, 32 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 22 receiving yards
Frank Gore had 26 carries in this game, but Turbin got the ones that counted.
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees @ AZ
–389 passing yards, 4 TDs
Drew Brees came through on the road and just in time to clutch a playoff win for his owners.
Matt Moore @ NYJ
-236 passing yards, 4 TDs, INT
Matt Moore isn’t fantasy relevant, but his wildly efficient day (only 18 attempts) is good news for the rest of the offense.
Russell Wilson vs LA
-229 passing yards, 3 TDs, INT, 12 rushing yards
Not throwing 5 INTs will do wonders for your stat line.
Carson Palmer vs NO
-318 passing yards, 2 TDs
Palmer found himself in a shootout with Brees in the desert.
Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks @ AZ
-7 receptions, 186 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 8 targets
Brandin Cooks is infuriating to own (I imagine). He now has 3 games with 140+ receiving yards and 9 games with fewer than 75. He forces you to bench him and then blows up.
Tyler Lockett vs LA
-7 receptions, 130 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Lockett has found himself over the last couple weeks.
Jarvis Landry @ NYJ
-3 receptions, 108 receiving yards, TD, 4 targets
I expected a low yardage/high target day from Landry with Matt Moore in at QB. We got the complete opposite.
Alshon Jeffery vs GB
-6 receptions, 89 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
He’s Baaaaack!
John Brown vs NO
-5 receptions, 81 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Speaking of comebacks. Unfortunately, this one will be short-lived as Smoke and the Cardinals travel north to face the Legion of Boom in Week 16.
Odell Beckham Jr. vs DET
-6 receptions, 64 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets, 9 rushing yards
OBJ had a punt return TD called back on a penalty. In other news, I still don’t understand what is or isn’t a catch.
Tight Ends
Dion Sims @ NYJ
-4 receptions, 32 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 4 targets
Welcome to the Barfy TEs club, Dion Sims. It’s right next to the Kickers House.
Charles Clay vs CLE
-7 receptions, 72 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
It was Cleveland after all.
Cameron Brate @ DAL
–5 receptions, 73 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Cameron Brate made some tough catches in this game. He has a bright future with Jameis Winston.
Kickers
Chris Boswell @ CIN
-6/6 FGs
Pittsburgh scored 24 points the hard way.
Defense/Special Teams
Miami Dolphins @ NYJ
–13 PA, 3 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 FR
Miami put together another solid performance one week after playing tough against the Cardinals. They should be in consideration for Week 16 against the Bills.
Honorable Mentions
Matt Ryan vs SF
–286 passing yards, 2 TDs
Derek Carr @ SD
-2 victory formation kneel downs from the shotgun
Derek Henry @ KC
-9 carries, 58 rushing yards, 2 TDs
DeMarco Murray @ KC
–18 carries, 89 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 52 receiving yards
Lamar Miller vs JAX
–22 carries, 63 rushing yards, TD, 2 receptions, 26 receiving yards
Golden Tate @ NYG
-8 receptions, 122 receiving yards, 13 targets
Jordy Nelson @ CHI
-7 receptions, 124 receiving yards, 10 targets
DeAndre Hopkins vs JAX
–8 receptions, 87 receiving yards, 17 targets
Kyle Rudolph vs IND
–8 receptions, 97 receiving yards, 10 targets
Ryan Griffin vs JAX
–8 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 8 targets