7:30 AM
The Buffalo Bills will not be asked about the New England Pats this week, as they are on a bye, but they did generate some questions after their win in New York.
The conditions caused Bill Belichick to ground his offense. It was literally. The team ran the ball on 46 of the 49 offensive snaps.
Fantasy managers are frustrated with New England quarterback Mac Jones. Fantasy managers of Harris are happy.
It shows that weather can have a big impact on fantasy games, just as it can on actual games. It's important to pay attention to the conditions at any given venue as fantasy leagues reach the playoffs and the weather turns.
Kyle Soppe wanted to know more about what happened with the Bills, so look for that answer below. He has a lot of questions about the players.
Don't ask about Miami, New England, Indianapolis or Philadelphia. They have byes this week. The other teams were fair game. We go away.
The AFC EAST.
The Buffalo Bills.
The Bills' final four games are all in the Northeast, so anything to take away from Monday night's weather-impacted home game?
Not much. It proved once again that the Bills' running backs are unreliable and shouldn't be considered fantasy options. Josh Allen is at his best when he is running or throwing the football, no matter what the weather is like. The loss to the Pats was a reminder of that. Since Allen was drafted, the Bills have only had three games when an individual running back gained 100 or more yards, and have had the lowest scores by running backs. Continue to stay away.
The New York Jets.
Is it true or false that Elijah Moore should be considered a top 30 receiver the rest of the way?
It is false. Moore has a quadriceps injury and his status for the game against the Saints is unknown. Moore will be affected by the injury even if he plays. He'd be a top 30 receiver if he were healthy. He leads all wide receivers with five touchdown catches and ranks seventh in receiving yards.
AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens.
It's time to consider benching Marquise Brown because of the slow games.
No, if you look at the history. In his last five games, Brown scored five touchdown. Brown's last four games are against defenses that are 15th or worse in passing yards allowed to wide receiver. Brown should bounce back for the stretch run.
Play.
Field Yates and Daniel Dopp examine whether Marquise Brown can turn around his production this week.
The Cincinnati team is called the Cincinnati team.
Should we view the receiver in this offense as the one to watch in the last five weeks?
Yes, as of now. With defenses giving Ja'Marr Chase more attention, Higgins has been left with some very favorable matchups. Expect quarterback Joe Burrow to throw more balls to Higgins, which will lead to big plays and scores. Defenses will probably be more willing to roll the dice with Chase than with Higgins.
The Cleveland Browns are a team.
After a difficult time since returning from injury, the man known as "Jarvis" had a strong Week 12 at Baltimore. Was this a flash in the pan, or should he be considered a flex option?
It's hard to trust any pass-catcher in the Cleveland offense. The passing game has been a problem for the Browns, as they have only scored 17 points in the last month. After the bye week, maybe Cleveland can turn it around. It's hard to believe in anyone, including Landry, as a viable starting receiver until we see it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers.
Should we lock in "RB vs PIT" for the rest of the season or are the recent defensive struggles correctable?
Simply, yes. Running backs are able to get historic numbers because the defense of the Steelers isn't what it used to be. Dalvin Cook had more than 200 yards and Joe Mixon had 165. Even backups are putting up big numbers. Alex Collins had 101 yards on 20 carries. The run defense has been a big problem all season for the Steelers, and there aren't any signs that it will get better in the final four games.
The football team from the South.
The Houston Texans.
Brandin Cooks was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 Should he be benched again until he proves he can overcome the weaknesses of this offense?
Yes. Unless you're desperate for a starting receiver, it's time to bench Cooks. The team that benched Tyrod Taylor on Sunday has struggled all season and Cooks is a part of it. There's not a fantasy player on the Texans' roster that you should feel comfortable starting.
Play.
Brandin Cooks should be on the bench for Week 14 according to Mike Clay and Field Yates.
The Jacksonville Jags.
If you needed a Jacksonville pass-catcher for the rest of the season, his name is...
Laviska Shenault Jr. will get touches out of the backfield. Laquon Treadwell has been the leading receiver for the past two games, so he's someone to consider, but Shenault leads the team in targets and catches over the last six games.
The TennesseeTitans are a football team.
Who leads this backfield in touches for the rest of the season?
Dontrell Hilliard is the leading scorer in the backfield. The most dangerous of the remaining backs is Hilliard. The 8.7 yards per attempt average should make it more likely for the staff to give him the ball. His touchdown run against the New England Patriots was the longest run by a Tennessee player in over a year. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, which will allow him to stay on the field on third downs.
The area of the AFC West.
The Denver Broncos.
What do you think about Javonte Williams' debut as the lead back, and what do you think about the touch distribution when Melvin Gordon III returns?
The Broncos have known since training camp that Williams has the ability to get 178 yards from scrimmage, so the touch distribution won't be affected by that. It will be affected by Gordon's health. Gordon was limited in practice. If Gordon is ready to play on Sunday, the carries will be split between Mike Boone and the other running backs. Gordon may have opened some additional drives earlier in the season, but Williams has done enough to open them.
Play.
Field Yates and Daniel Dopp discuss what to expect from the Broncos' running backs.
The Kansas City Chiefs.
Is there any reason to believe that the pass-first offense will be successful with the exception of an injury?
The need to get him more involved in the passing game has been talked about by the Chiefs. It's interesting that the two most productive Chiefs receivers last week were Darrel Williams and Brayton Edwards-Helaire, but having those plans and actually using him more as a receiver are two different things. It makes sense that the Chiefs would turn to the other side of the field. Adam Teicher wouldn't count on it.
The Las Vegas Raiders.
Can we depend on Josh Jacobs to get at least 20 touches a game the rest of the way?
Even though Kenyan Drake lost for the season with a broken ankle, Jacobs' stature doesn't match up with his running style. He missed three of the Raiders' final four games of his first year and only had one game with 20-plus touches. Jacobs caught a career-high nine passes last week, but Drake lost in the second quarter and pass-catching back Jalen Richard was on the COVID-19 list. All bets are off if Richard doesn't come back and Jacobs is sharing the load with Barber.
The Los Angeles Clippers.
Do you think there are enough deep targets for Mike Williams to consistently produce down the stretch, or are we signing up for wild swings in numbers from him?
Williams and Allen are both on the COVID list this week. It has been a roller coaster all season with Williams. If you have the stomach for it, it's not a problem. Guyton caught four of four passes for 90 yards against Cincinnati.
Play.
Stephania Bell and Field Yates discuss the possibility of Mike Williams and Keenan Allen playing on Sunday.
The NFC EAST.
The Dallas Cowboys.
Is the threat to the ground behind him behind the man?
It seems that way. It doesn't look like he's hesitant to run or run around because of the broken ankle he suffered last year. The opportunities have not been as plentiful in the past. The numbers are down since the calf injury. In the five games since the injury, he has eight carries for 21 yards. He had 22 carries for 70 yards in his first seven starts. The Cowboys want to be careful with how much they use their quarterback, but they have been very conservative this year. This is a quarterback with 24 rushing touchdown in his career. He has one so far this season.
The New York Giants.
The snap count of Saquon Barkley has improved in the last two weeks. Think we will get the healthiest version of him for the playoffs? Will New York keep him despite the lack of promise?
After not being there last week, Barkley popped up on the injury report with an ankle problem. It was difficult to watch against Miami. He did not look like a high-end running back. His numbers suggest he's a lesser option than Booker.
Play.
Stephania Bell and Mike Clay have an outlook on Saquon Barkley and the rest of the season.
Washington football team
Terry McLaurin has had duds in four of the past five. Given how this offense looks to limit the number of possessions, it's a real concern.
There was a feeling that quarterback Taylor Heinicke was relying too much on tight end LOGAN THOMAS in the pass game, and by the time he'd work his way to McLaurin, an open field. Without Thomas, Heinicke will have to go through his progressions faster, and that will mean he will be a bigger part of the passing attack.
The north is called the NFC North.
The Bears are from Chicago.
Cole Kmet's target volume over the past six weeks should be encouraged, but what he hasn't done with those opportunities should be discouraged.
He had a bad drop in the first quarter against the Bucs, but that is his only official drop this season. His catch percentage is mediocre, ranking 14th among qualified tight ends. That could be indicative of quarterback accuracy.
The Detroit Lions.
Amon-Ra St. Brown has a promising future, but can we pencil him in for production down the stretch of the season?
Absolutely. The Lions' receiving corps has been questionable throughout the year, but scoring the game-winning, walk-off touchdown last week could definitely give St. Brown a confidence booster. After making a big play like that, St. Brown has gained the respect of his quarterback and head coach, which could create more. Campbell said that they have a lot of trust in him. Eric Woodyard said that he's one of those guys who has become pretty dependable.
The Green Bay Packers.
What do you think the touch distribution will be in this field?
It may be safe to call it a 50% deal with only a few weeks left for Jones to return from his knee injury. Why use Jones if he has proven his effectiveness?
Play.
Field Yates has expectations for the two players this week.
The Minnesota Vikings are a football team.
If you want to make the case for Jefferson being the first receiver off the board, you should mention him.
Jefferson is a huge star. Full stop. It didn't take two full seasons for the NFL to realize the young receiver's dominance and ability to single-handedly take over regardless of the type of coverage he's facing. Minnesota's win over Pittsburgh was chaotic. One might assume that defenders would limit the amount of times Kirk Cousins looked his way if Adam Thielen had not injured his ankle. No matter who else is on the field, Jefferson is going to get his opportunities. He had a career-high 14 targets and was targeted three times in the endzone. He has reached 100 yards receiving in 12 career games, the second-most by any player in his first two seasons. He was the best at what he did in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
The south of the US.
The Atlanta Falcons.
Can that be sustained as long as Calvin Ridley is inactive?
Yes. Russell Gage seems to have emerged from his early season ankle injury and slump to finally show some of the potential he did in 2020. Is it possible to expect 12 targets and 130 yards every week? No. A stat line of between five and seven catches and between 55 and 75 yards is doable in Atlanta's offense. Gage is worth a roster spot for you in the playoffs if you understand that he's likely third in the offense in terms of usage opportunities.
Play.
Matthew Berry discusses how he views Gage as a fantasy asset, while Field Yates examines Russell Gage's workload recently.
The Carolina panthers.
The role of Chuba Hubbard in the pass game has varied over time. How many touches should we expect from him the rest of the way?
With Christian McCaffrey out for the season, look for Hubbard to be the first- and second-down back, as he was the first time he was out. Hubbard averaged 17.8 rushes per game over the five-game span that McCaffrey missed. Look for more commitment to the running game with running backs coach Jeff Nixon replacing Joe Brady as the play caller. It seems reasonable to move forward from 15-20 touches a game.
The New Orleans Saints.
There were 11 rush attempts and 41 passes. What do you think the ratio will look like in the future?
The inflated passing number was because the Saints were playing from behind. It showed that they won't be a run-only team. The 11 carries for 101 yards are a good sign that they're prepared to exploit Hill's rushing ability even more than they did during his four-game stint as a starter last year.
Each of Tom Brady's Super Bowl appearances has been given a first-hand account. Man in the Arena: Tom Brady will be broadcasted on the Disney Channel.
The Buccaneers are from the state of Florida.
Leonard Fournette has been an elite fantasy producer since the bye thanks to his expanded role in the pass game. There is no reason to think that will change over the last five weeks.
Fournette has had five touchdown in the last two weeks because Tom Brady trusts him. Ronald Jones II will be mixed in a bit after he battled an illness last week. The Bills have given up 12 touchdown this season and surrendered 222 rushing yards to the Pats last week, so Fournette has a great chance to get some carries against them.
The west of the united states.
The ArizonaCardinals
What should our expectations be for DeANDRE HOPKINS the rest of the way? Does he need to score to be viable or will he discover his elite form from the past?
He doesn't need to score to be viable. Between the goal lines with plays, he can be as valuable as anyone else. He can make game-changing catches with ease, and he has become almost a master at drawing DPIs, which he feels should be counted as its own stat. I would expect the Cards to start looking at him more in the end zone as they march towards the playoffs.
Play.
Mike Clay breaks down the key opponents for the wide receiver.
The Los Angeles Rams.
Do you think that the offense will produce three fantasy viable receivers more often than not?
Yes. The Rams have had to change their offense because of Robert Woods' loss. Matthew Stafford has looked toward Van Jefferson and Beckham Jr. more often in order to ensure that Cooper Kupp gets his catches. This trend will continue.
The 49ers are from San Francisco.
Even though Deebo Samuel was out, Brandon Aiyuk didn't see his role expanded. Should we consider him more than a dart throw?
The Niners' situation was always going to be that Aiyuk, Samuel and George Kittle would carry the load in their own ways, but this season has proved that Samuel is the team's top offensive threat. Kittle had a monster game last week, so it's fair to say Aiyuk is still the team's third option in the passing game. Aiyuk can produce. He had three catches for 55 yards and had 176 receiving yards when Kittle and Samuel were in the lineup.
The Seattle Seahawks.
Is it encouraged by the efficiency of Russell Wilson, or discouraged by the lack of plays that are not fake?
More of the former than the latter. Wilson missed a big play in the passing game when he threw a deep shot to DK Metcalf. His statline would have included a touchdown had Gerald Everett not fumbled the ball at the goal line, and he was much more accurate than he had been in the first three games of his return. Seattle went 5 of 15 on third down, with one conversion, and was flagged for a roughing penalty.
