2019 Fantasy Football Week 17 Rankings

With both Chris Godwin and Dalvin Cook lost to injury in Week 15, my fantasy team had a lot of question marks heading into my championship game.  And at one point on Saturday, I was driving to Maryland to visit my wife's family listening to Jameis throw pick after pick on the radio.  I was a little concerned Bruce Arians might finally bench Winston and he'd end up with negative points in the most important week for fantasy football.  But Jameis at least clawed his way back into positive fantasy points, so he didn't totally tank my team.  And then on Sunday, guys like Saquon and Michael Thomas led me to victory.

But enough about my fantasy team.  If by some chance you're still playing in Week 17, talk to your commissioner about changing the rules for next year.  And if that fails, maybe dump that league.  You shouldn't be playing this week, but I thought I'd take a stab at rankings anyway.  Just know there's even more potential for teams sitting starters and variance in expectations.  And for me personally, I think this is the first time I've ever done Week 17 rankings, so keep that in mind.  But if you're reading this and still playing in a league, I thought I'd at least post my best guess at rankings for this week, and I'll even pick a few games against the spread at the end.  It's my Christmas gift you to!

As always, feel free to hit me up in on Twitter if you have any specific questions that can't be answered below.

2019 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR ™ - Expert Consensus Rankings

QBs

I think I've mentioned Ryan Tannehill in this spot for the entire second half of the season, so why should I stop now?  This guy absolutely won some people fantasy championships this year, and if you're still playing for something in Week 17, he's still a great option since the Titans are playing for their postseason.

Back to my matchup last week, it was the third time I had to face Lamar Jackson this season, and somehow I beat him (and the rest of his fantasy team in my league) twice in 2019.  If you faced Lamar Jackson in your fantasy playoffs, there's a good chance you can't say the same.  I feel your pain.  The guy is good.  But here in Week 17, he's not even going to play.  So this is why you don't play in Week 17.  I can't imagine riding Lamar to a fantasy championship only to not be able to play him in the final week.

IF YOU'RE STILL PLAYING IN WEEK 17 IN YOUR FANTASY LEAGUE, CHANGE THE LEAGUE RULES OR CHANGE LEAGUES!

RBs

Saquon Barkley kept it rolling in championship week, and Alvin Kamara came back to life as well.  These guys disappointed most of the season though, so most of their owners probably weren't in championship games.  I expect Kamara to keep it rolling this week, and if you're not playing him in DFS, then I think you're doing it wrong.

WRs

Stephon Gilmore held John Brown in check the entire game on Saturday...except for one big play that went for a score.  Mike Clay of ESPN tweeted something that basically said if you benched John Brown, it was the right call.  Other than that one play, he did nothing.  And I totally agree with this thought process when it comes to ranking players and deciding on whether to start or sit a guy.  You have to trust the process over results, as hard as that can be at times.  John Brown was on my bench, and I ended up picking up and starting Dion Lewis in my FLEX spot instead.  While Lewis finished with a couple points less than Brown, I still feel like it was the right play.  And thankfully it didn't have an impact on my matchup since I won by more than a couple of points.  :)

TEs/DEFs

My tight end and defense ranks have been right there with the ECR the last couple of weeks, so I've been skipping over this section and talking about my betting picks.  Well, my betting picks in Week 15 weren't great, and Week 16 wasn't much better.  I had been doing so well with my over/under picks before the last couple of weeks, but that's really been killing me lately.  I also dabbled in the moneyline picks again, and that wasn't great either.  So this week, I'm mostly just focusing on a few games against the spread and hope I can get back into the top-10 for the season!

Cheers,
Bart

2019 Fantasy Football Week 16 Rankings

Here it is, folks: WEEK 16!  If you've made it this far and are still reading my rankings, hopefully you're in your fantasy championship game.  I made it that far in my main/money league, but injuries to both Chris Godwin and Dalvin Cook in Week 15 couldn't have come at a worse time for my squad.  But that just means the rankings are that much more important here in championship week, right?  Will Dalvin play on Monday night?  If not, what about Alexander Mattison?  Can Jameis (my fantasy QB) still produce without basically any receivers?  Breshad Perriman anyone?  Sure, why not?  My opponent picked him up (I had zero FAAB left), so I will be ranking Perriman extra high this week.

Those are some of the questions I have for my own team, and hopefully all of your questions can be answered with my rankings below.  Check back throughout the week and leading up to kickoffs.

Also don't forget there is NO Thursday game this week, but there are THREE Saturday games.  So get those lineups set NOW!  I realize these rankings are a day late, but since there is no Thursday game tonight, I wasn't in a rush.  Well that and the fact that work has been crazy after my family was on vacation last week, and my downstairs furnace decided to stop working yesterday.  Oh and then there's all of the Christmas presents to buy/wrap and all of the normal day to day stuff that just piles up...especially this time of year.

But enough about all of that.  Better late than never, right?

As always, feel free to hit me up in on Twitter if you have any specific questions that can't be answered below.

2019 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR ™ - Expert Consensus Rankings

QBs

I've been talking up Ryan Tannehill for what feels like months now, but the guy just keeps producing.  I can't imagine he's still on anyone's waiver wire at this point, but maybe check just in case.  He's a top-10 QB every week, and I hope he keeps it rolling against the Saints here in Week 16 because I'm hoping for some points from A.J. Brown.  I'm facing Lamar Jackson for the third time this season, and this time it comes in the championship game.  I'm praying for a blizzard in Cleveland this Sunday because I think that's the only thing that might slow Lamar down.  Unfortunately, snow is currently not in the forecast... :(

RBs

I finally ranked Saquon Barkley as a top-10 RB last week, and he actually produced (albeit against the Dolphins).  He gets the Redskins this week though, so I'm hoping he can do it again!  As for guys like Alvin Kamara and Phillip Lindsay?  I don't know, man.  I keep ranking them in my top-20 like they're going to finish there, and they just don't.  Both have decent matchups here in Week 16, but I understand if you want to bench someone like Lindsay if you somehow have him in your championship lineup.

WRs

Fading guys facing Stephon Gilmore continued to prove well for me, as Tyler Boyd was garbage in Week 15.  I pointed out that I ranked Breshad Perriman higher than him, and boy was that right!  This week, I'm fading John Brown, but he actually might be my best FLEX option with the injuries on my fantasy team.  There are so many guys I'd rather play ahead of him though, so I'm hoping to figure out a different option.  I also had Devante Parker 13 spots higher than the ECR in Week 15, and he finished as a top-10 WR.

TEs/DEFs

My tight end and defense ranks were pretty close to the ECR last week, so not much to report there.  I'll say for this week, right now I'm a little high on both Tampa Bay tight ends because I just don't know who else Jameis is going to throw to.  I sure hope he still somehow throws for 300 yards, a couple of TDs, and hopefully not too many turnovers!

I cracked the top-10 for the SEASON in the betting rankings after Week 14, but then Week 15 wasn't kind to me.  But you know what?  I think it must not have been kind to a couple of others because I'm still in the top-10!  I need to stay in the positive this week, so let's get right to who I like here in Week 16.

Cheers,
Bart

2019 Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings

Unless you're a crazy person and play into Week 17, you're likely in the semifinals if you're reading this.  Or maybe you just like fantasy football a lot.  In either case, I feel you because I fit into both of those categories.  I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking (read: writing) this week, so let's get right to the rankings...which, let's be honest, is why you're here.

As always, hit me up in on Twitter if you have any specific questions that can't be answered below.

2019 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR ™ - Expert Consensus Rankings

QBs

This is your weekly reminder that Ryan Tannehill will get you 20+ fantasy points in every game.  Unfortunately for me, I'm playing against him this week in my semifinals.  He was a top-10 QB last week, and I don't see why he won't be a top-10 QB against the Texans this week.  I was down on Kyler Murray and Tom Brady last week, and that proved to be right.  I'm staying down on Brady, but I'm bumping Murray up a few spots this week against the Browns.  I think that game has shootout potential, while I think the Bengals/Patriots game could end up something like 20-10.

RBs

I was down on Saquon Barkley versus the ECR last week, and he continued to look average on Monday night against the Eagles.  He gets the Dolphins here in Week 15, so I'm ranking him as a top-10 RB.  If he doesn't end up there, I don't know what to tell you.  I can tell you this: I'm relying on him heavily for my fantasy team's success this week.  It's now or never, Saquon!  As for Josh Jacobs, I wish I knew what to tell you.  The reports are mixed, so hopefully if you own Jacobs, you were able to snag Washington off the waiver wire.  Right now I'm not rankings Jacobs and rankings Washington as a top-15 RB.  If Jacobs plays, it's tough to say how effective he'll be.

WRs

I faded Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins the last couple of weeks against Stephon Gilmore, and I had Tyreek Hill outside of my top-12 at the position in Week 14.  That proved to be right as well, and I don't see how you can even flex a guy like Tyler Boyd this week.  I mean, I'm ranking Breshad Perriman higher than him for God's sake!  For now, I'm ranking guys like Devante Parker, D.J. Chark, and Adam Thielen.  Check back later this week for updates as practice reports make these injuries a bit more clear.

TEs

I felt confident with Mike Gesicki in my top-12 last week against a Jet defense minus Jamal Adams.  I very generically said Gesicki would "catch a few balls and likely find the end zone".  Yeah, um...neither of those happened.  I guess I cursed him again, so look for him to bounce back this week against the Giants!

DEFs

It's too bad defense isn't included in the FantasyPros accuracy rankings because I've been doing well at that position...kickers too actually.  I had a rough week in the overall accuracy department, but I nearly cracked the top-10 in Week 13.  It's up and down sometimes.  As for my betting picks, I actually cracked the top-10 for the SEASON in those rankings.  I continue to do well with my over/under picks for whatever reason, so I guess focus on those if you're actually doing something with my picks.  :)

Let's see who I have here in Week 15, shall we?

Cheers,
Bart

2019 Fantasy Football Week 14 Rankings

If you're still reading my rankings, then you're probably in the fantasy playoffs.  Welcome!

If you're like me and have a first round bye, even better...and congratulations!


But if you don't have a first round bye, then you're going to want to take a look at these rankings.  I'm going to get right to it, and please feel free to hit me up in on Twitter if you have any specific questions that can't be answered below.

2019 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR ™ - Expert Consensus Rankings

QBs

I've been talking up Ryan Tannehill for a solid month now, and he continues to be a viable starter every single week.  Last week I told you that he might just get you to the promised land in fantasy, and I still believe it!  While he wasn't a QB1 in Week 13, he still had multiple touchdowns (which he's done in every start by the way).  Now he gets the Raiders this week and the Texans and Saints in Weeks 15 & 16.  He's not exciting, but I feel like he'll get you 20 fantasy points in every game, and he's in my top-10 this week.

RBs

I continue to be down on Saquon Barkley versus the ECR, and unfortunately for my fantasy team, I continue to be right about him.  I'm hoping he gets back on track on Monday night, but the Eagle defense is no easy task.  I have him much lower than the ECR and outside of my top-12.  If he proves me wrong this week (while my fantasy team has a bye), I'm going to feel great about him for Weeks 15 & 16 (Miami and Washington).

WRs

I faded Amari Cooper in Week 12 in New England and was right.  I then slightly faded DeAndre Hopkins last week against Stephon Gilmore and was mostly right except for that touchdown "pass" he got on that sweet trick play with Watson.  All of this to say that Tyreek Hill scares me this week.  He's a different receiver than those guys because he's fast as hell and can break a huge play at any time.  The problem is, the Patriots haven't allowed big plays and Gilmore specifically hasn't allowed a touchdown all year in coverage.  It's possible the Chiefs move Tyreek around and get him the ball outside of that shadow coverage, but this is another stud who is outside of my top-12 at the position.

TEs

I've talked up Mike Gesicki before and been wrong, but he's been getting targets so consistently lately, I feel confident with him in my top-12.  He faces a Jet defense that doesn't give up a ton of fantasy points to tight ends, but they'll be without Jamal Adams in this game.  Without the pro bowl safety, the back end of that defense should be wide open for Gesicki to catch a few balls and likely find the end zone.

DEFs

I kept it rolling with my fantasy defense rankings last week and finished as the #3 expert at the position.  It continues to be my strong suit, but I had a down week with my betting picks.  I played around with the moneylines a bit more last week, and that's actually what hurt my overall score.  I'm staying away from those lines and sticking with the ATS & Over/Under picks here in Week 14.  Let's see who I like, shall we?

Cheers,
Bart