3.Ben Roethlisberger
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15.Alex Smith
16.Jameis Winston
17.Eli Manning
18.Jay Cutler
19.Teddy Bridgewater
20.Ryan Tannehill
I was off with my QB picks versus ESPN last week, but one was due to injury. I was high on Marcus Mariota (ESPN #20, ME #14), who had been a top-5 fantasy QB in the previous 4 weeks. The Patriots knocked him out of the game early, so he was unable to show what he could do in that one. Oh well.
I was down on Philip Rivers (ESPN #13, ME NOT RANKED) who had been horrible lately. But to be fair, he had poor performances against tough defenses (Chiefs and Broncos). But against the soft Miami squad, he didn't need any WRs as all 3 of his TD passes went to Little Danny Woodhead. Rivers finished as a top-12 fantasy QB.
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 I'm high on: Tyrod Taylor (ESPN #15, ME #10)
Last week it took garbage time for Tyrod to be a top-10 fantasy QB, but garbage time counts! The former Hokie and Raven has been a top-5 fantasy QB in the last 4 weeks, and he's connecting with Sammy Watkins on the regular. This week the Bills could be without Shady McCoy, so the pass could be a bigger part of the game plan. I like for Tyrod to have 3 total TDs on Sunday, with one of them likely being with his legs.
I'm down on: Matt Ryan (ESPN #17, ME NOT RANKED)
I'm also down on Eli this week as he travels to Minnesota without Odell, but I could see him still putting up decent numbers even without his star receiver. But Matt Ryan? I didn't even consider ranking him this week. In his last 4 games, Matty Ice (COLD) has thrown for just 3 touchdowns...that's TOTAL. And two weeks ago when he faced this same Panthers defense, he had zero TDs and 1 INT. No way would I even be starting him in a 2 QB league this week.
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RBs |
1.Adrian Peterson
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2.David Johnson
3.DeAngelo Williams
4.Doug Martin
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5.Charcandrick West
6.Devonta Freeman
7.Latavius Murray
8.Matt Forte
9.Darren McFadden
10.Denard Robinson
11.Lamar Miller
12.Tim Hightower
13.Todd Gurley
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14.Karlos Williams
15.Danny Woodhead
16.Frank Gore
17.Chris Ivory
18.Cameron Artis-Payne
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19.Christine Michael
20.James White
21.Eddie Lacy
22.Ryan Mathews
23.Jeremy Hill
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24.Rashad Jennings
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25.Javorius Allen
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26.Bilal Powell
27.Ameer Abdullah
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28.Alfred Blue
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29.Antonio Andrews
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30.Giovani Bernard
31.Matt Jones
32.Ronnie Hillman
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33.Shaun Draughn
34.Jeremy Langford
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35.Mike Gillislee
36.CJ Anderson
37.Darren Sproles
38.Spencer Ware
39.Alfred Morris
40.Charles Sims
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I went with a gut call last week on Ameer Abdullah (ESPN #34, ME #24), and he finished as a top-15 RB on Monday Night Football. As for Tim Hightower (ESPN #13, ME #20), he barely finished in the top-25. So I nailed both of my running back picks in Week 15. Let's see if I can keep it rolling for the last week of the fantasy season...
I'm high on: Antonio Andrews (ESPN #41, ME #29)
 If you're looking for someone deep in the rankings who is nearly guaranteed double-digit touches, look no further than the Titan running back. He only has one game in his last 9 in which he didn't have at least 10 carries, and he has averaged nearly 10 fantasy points per game in his last 3 contests. The Texans are middle of the road in stopping the run, and with potentially a 3rd or 4th string QB starting for Houston, I expect this game to be close. I like for Andrews to have a solid game, something like 75 total yards. And if he finds the endzone, he could find himself well inside the top-20.
I'm down on: Giovani Bernard (ESPN #24, ME #30)
He has less than 7 fantasy points in each of his last 4 games, and this week he faces a tough Bronco defense on the road. I think the ESPN experts are a bit high on him considering his production as of late.
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WRs
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1.Antonio Brown
2.Allen Robinson
3.DeAndre Hopkins
4.Mike Evans
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5.Doug Baldwin
6.Martavis Bryant
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7.Brandon Marshall
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8.Sammy Watkins
9.Julio Jones
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10.Demaryius Thomas
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11.Alshon Jeffery
12.Eric Decker
13.Jeremy Maclin
14.Calvin Johnson
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15.Larry Fitzgerald
16.Brandin Cooks
17.DeSean Jackson
18.Golden Tate
19.AJ Green
20.Michael Floyd
21.Amari Cooper
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22.Jarvis Landry
23.John Brown
24.Allen Hurns
25.Kamar Aiken
26.Ted Ginn, Jr.
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27.TY Hilton
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28.Emmanuel Sanders
29.Michael Crabtree
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30.Rueben Randle
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31.Tyler Lockett
34.Dez Bryant
35.Stefon Diggs
36.Jordan Matthews
37.Markus Wheaton
38.Dorial Green-Beckham
39.DeVante Parker
40.Tavon Austin
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I was spot on with my WR picks last week. I liked Sammy Watkins against my Redskins in Week 15 (ESPN #14, ME #7), and he finished as a top-5 WR in the LOSS against Washington. I was down on Michael Crabtree for the second week in a row and probably like the 10th time on the season (ESPN #16, ME #31). Once again, I pointed out that he hadn't had more than 55 receiving yards in a game since Week 9. Well, he actually finished with 70 yards but that was it, and he was outside of the top-40 WRs in Week 15.
I'm high on: DeVante Parker (ESPN #53, ME #39)
Remember a few weeks ago when I told you it would be the last time to buy low on DeVante Parker? Well I wish I had listened to my own advice because I think he could be a decent keeper option for next year in my money league. As for his last 4 games, he has at least 80 yards or a touchdown in 3 of them. This week he faces Indy, who gives up the 4th most fantasy points to WRs this season. I think he'll have a solid game, and if Vontae Davis matches up with Jarvis Landry all day, I think Parker could have a HUGE game. ESPN has him ranked way too low at 53.
 I'm down on: Randall Cobb (ESPN #22, ME #33)
Without Jordy Nelson drawing coverage this year, Cobb's production has been very sub par. He started the year off strong, but he only has double digit fantasy points in one of his last ELEVEN games. And he has failed to break the double digit barrier in each of his last 6 contests. This week he faces an Arizona defense that gives up the 9th-fewest fantasy points to WRs, and Cobb just ins't a WR2 this season.
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TEs
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1.Rob Gronkowski
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2.Greg Olsen
3.Jordan Reed
4.Julius Thomas
5.Delanie Walker
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6.Antonio Gates
7.Gary Barnidge
8.Ben Watson
9.Travis Kelce
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10.Zach Miller
11.Will Tye
12.Zach Ertz
| My top-10 TEs were basically the same as ESPN's last week, and the same can be said for this week. So let's move on to the defenses... |
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DEF
1.Seahawks
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2.Chiefs
3.Broncos
4.Panthers
5.Texans
6.Bengals
7.Lions
8.Steelers
9.Bills
10.Patriots
11.Cardinals
12.Raiders
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Last week my top-10 defenses were also virtually the same as ESPN's, so no comparisons at that position either. This week I actually have a couple, so let's get right to them.
I'm high on: Oakland Raiders (ESPN #15, ME #12)
 I'm not too high on many defenses versus the ESPN experts this week, but I thought I'd at least mention the Raiders here. They've been a top-10 fantasy defense in the last 5 weeks, and they face a Charger team this week who gives up the 5th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. I think Philip Rivers will be on his back a lot in Oakland this weekend, and the Raiders should finish as a decent fantasy option in Week 16.
I'm down on: Pittsburgh Steelers (ESPN #3, ME #8)
I realize that Baltimore is basically putting their entire 3rd string offense out there at this point with all of their injuries. With a wife who is a Ravens fan...believe me, I KNOW. But this is still Ravens/Steelers, and I can't see starting this defensive unit over one like Carolina or Denver if you've been riding them all year. If you're in the championship in your league and have the guts to start the Steelers over one of those defenses, go for it. But not only do I think that's the wrong move, but I actually don't believe that Baltimore will be a turnover machine in this rivalry game and I think those other defenses will be better in Week 16.
I'll probably do a wrap up article and maybe even a way-too-early 2016 rankings in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for both of those.
Good luck to everyone in Week 16!
(Except you, Leslie...)
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
(That includes you, Leslie...I'm not that cold-blooded.)
Cheers,
Bart
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