Welcome to Championship Week, everyone. We made it. Let’s earn the ring.
If you need a final boost from a string of discounts, we’re here to help. Each week, we prioritize the best possible pickups available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues. It’s time to empty the FAB wallet, guys, because those resources won’t arrive until 2025. Spend to get whatever you need.
running back
Kendra Miller, New Orleans Saints (46%)
Miller heads into Monday night’s matchup with Green Bay as New Orleans’ clear featured runner, with Alvin Kamara sidelined by a back injury. Being very clear features anything That doesn’t guarantee fantasy production for the Saints these days, as that team is relying on backups at every offensive skill position. It’s going to be messy in the closing weeks for this squad.
Much of Miller’s appeal lies in the role he portrays, but since he was released from the remote and hostile island where former head coach Dennis Allen sent him to live in exile, he actually looks solid. Miller rushed for 78 yards on 19 carries in Weeks 14-15, with An impressive pile-driving touchdown Included is a possible flex in the upcoming home matchup with the Raiders.
Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders (48% and 23%)
Mattison ran as backfield committee chairman for the Raiders on Sunday, with Abdullah not far behind. Mattison bulled his way into the end zone with 56 total yards on 16 touches (With help) early in the game. Abdullah delivered 85 scrimmage yards on 12 touches in the fourth quarter Neither player is far behind in style points, but both are capable receiving threats and serviceable runners.
Las Vegas heads into a matchup with New Orleans, a game that should be both messy and spectacularly chaotic. With the sincere McCormick and Zameer White now on IR, Mattison and Abdullah will continue to be the primary backs for an offense that is flawed but not unfun.
Various other RBs include:
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Gus Edwards The definition of a TD or bust player is wide-ranging, but he has been making frequent visits to the end zone in recent weeks. He made a pair of house calls Thursday night, gaining a season-high 71 yards on 15 touches. JK Dobbins is eligible to return in Week 17 at New England, however, so let’s not assume Edwards will continue to see double digits.
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Michael Carter James Connor was forced into an important role on Sunday after his unfortunate injury-related exit. Arizona’s backfield is essentially depleted of good ideas, with Conner (knee), Trey Benson (ankle) and Emary Demercado (back-IR) all out with injuries. We still can’t say exactly which backs might be available against the Rams on Saturday, but Carter will be among them. One of the remaining teams in your league’s consolation bracket finals could probably use him, but he’s obviously not an ideal starter for title-contending squads.
Wide receivers and tight ends
Jaylen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (45%)
McMillan took us on a wild ride Sunday night, catching five passes for 57 yards and a score, yet leaving some fantasy points on the field.
Imagine starting Baker Mayfield in the semifinals and losing because this potential deep score became a stumbling block:
Not ideal.
Despite this unfortunate layup, McMillan still managed to haul in his fifth TD reception of the season and fourth in his last three games. He’s the clear No. 2 target in Tampa Bay’s passing game right now, likely heading for another 7-10 chances in a must-win matchup with Carolina. Sterling Shepard is out Sunday with a hamstring issue and Cade Otten is out with a knee injury, so McMillan will likely be the featured receiver in Week 17.
Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs (32%)
Oh, hey, welcome to the fantasy season of 2024, Hollywood. Better late than never.
Kansas City needed a reliable separation and screaming vertical threat, and they managed to add one of the game’s best in the receiving room in late December. Brown caught five passes for 45 yards on eight targets against Houston on Saturday, quickly converting in critical third-and-fourth-down situations. Let’s remember he’s coming back from a shoulder injury, not a knee or leg problem, so there’s no concern about a loss of explosiveness.
Brown is a 27-year-old wideout who already has a 90-catch, 1,000-yard season on his NFL resume, and is now linked to a Patrick Mahomes-led passing attack. He deserves WR3/flex consideration in the upcoming matchup in Pittsburgh.
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Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (6%)
Young fantasy managers, please ask your parents about Jared Cook, a gentleman who played tight end for the Titans. Early in his career, Cook made a habit of closing each season with sneaky utility games, which would surely lead to preseason sleeper hype the following year. We’ve been stuck in a surge-sleeper-bust-surge cycle for several seasons with Cook.
Today, the Tennessee offense has another tight end who is closing the season with a binge. Okonkwo has scored double-digit targets in back-to-back weeks and finished with eight catches for 81 yards and a 2-point conversion in Sunday’s wild loss. It’s hard to overlook any player seeing that kind of volume, especially at tight end. If you’ve been struggling at the position all year, now is the time to give Okonkwo a test drive in an intriguing matchup in Jacksonville.
Additional WRs and TEs to consider:
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Romeo Dobbs A reasonable flight any given week and his team heading into a potential shootout with Minnesota on Sunday. Any available Packers receiver deserves consideration.
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Nick Westbrook-Ekhine Made a triumphant return to the end zone Sunday after a two-week absence, so he’s now up to nine TD receptions on the season on just 25 catches. He’s facing the Jaguars in Week 17, so there’s a good chance he’s about to make his 10th home call of 2024.
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Rashad Bateman He’s another member of the all-he-does-this-catch-touchdowns club, having recently scored eighth this year on 39 receptions. It doesn’t feel too out of place with Bateman, of course, because he’s a big receiver with an aggressive and explosive passing game. It faces Texas this week on Christmas Eve.
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Hunter Henry Saw nine targets in Sunday’s narrow loss, hauling in four for 39 yards and a score. He has attempted 39 passes over his last five games, a workload by the standards of his position. Henry is heading into Saturday’s matchup with his former employer, the Chargers.
Quarterbacks
Drake May, New England Patriots (13%)
Let’s take a moment to appreciate exactly that. dirty Throw by Maye:
His best plays this season have been outrageous. Dynasty administrators, you’re certainly allowed to dream a little about May’s potential in a second season, assuming an upgraded receiving room.
May finished Sunday in Buffalo with 261 passing yards and 30 on the ground, providing two scores. His dual-threat ability keeps him on the fantasy radar regardless of the opponent. He’s heading into a Championship Week matchup at home against the Chargers, a team that has allowed a ridiculous 67 points and 861 total yards in its last two games. May is fully approved for deep league use.
Additional QB Options:
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Russell Wilson Coming off a nasty road loss for Baltimore, which included a brutal pick-six. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games, however, so he remains a playable deep league option. Pittsburgh’s offense obviously needs George Pickens (hamstring) back in the worst way.
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Bryce Young Very clearly is playing the best football of his NFL career and has topped 25 fantasy points in two of his last four games, including Sunday’s win over Arizona. We don’t normally think of him as a dual-threat QB, but he has rushed for three scores in his last four games. Young is definitely a playable super flex/deep leg option in Tampa Bay in Week 17.
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Michael Pennix Jr There’s no one we need to force into the lineup this week against Washington, but the fact that he passed the eye test on Sunday, going 27-of-20 for 202 yards against the Giants, is noteworthy. Completed 18 attempts. His interception was entirely the fault of intended receiver Kyle Pitts, so please don’t hold that against Penix. He’s throwing with velocity that we haven’t seen from Kirk Cousins in recent games. We can certainly feel better about Atlanta’s receiving corps with Penix at the controls.
Defense
Miami Dolphins (47%)
The Dolphins’ defense has been relatively sharp this season, ranking in the top 10 against both the run and the pass. That group held the Niners to just 17 points, sacked Brock Purdy three times and forced a pick. Next week, Miami travels to Cleveland to face a Browns offense led by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a man coming off a 5-sack, 2-INT performance against Cincinnati. DTR now has one touchdown pass and nine interceptions over 13 career regular season starts, completing just 52.8 percent of his throws. If the Dolphins D remains available in your league, he may actually be the top pick of the week.
Cooker
Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (8%)
Look, not everyone can have Brandon Oubre in the squad. Reichard is probably the next best thing at his position, and he’s available in over 90% of the Yahoo fantasy universe. He’s a near-perfect kicking machine with a weapons-grade leg, averaging 30.4 points per game over the last five weeks on offense. Reichardt will kick indoors this week, free from weather concerns, in the game with the highest total on the board.
If you’re playing in a sophisticated league that still uses kickers — the only legitimate way to play fantasy football — Reichard should absolutely be included.
