UPDATE: 10:35 p.m. Friday
The meat of the Week 16 schedule kicks off a day early on Christmas Eve. The large information tonight has to do with the additional depletion of the quarterback ranks for this fantasy playoff weekend.
Each Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill have been dominated out this week. Meaning the Ravens will probably be going with Tyler Huntley once more of their must-win sport in opposition to Atlanta, and rookie Malik Willis will get the decision for the Titans in opposition to Houston.
We’re guessing neither ought to be your selection, even contemplating the dangerous defenses they are going to be dealing with. As an alternative, how about choosing up the Eagles’ Gardner Minshew, the Giants’ Daniel Jones or the 49ers’ Brock Purdy?
There’s one massive addition to the working ranks. Seattle rookie Kenneth Walker III will begin of their massive sport in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
We’ll be again within the morning with the early inactives.
ORIGINAL POST: 8:50 a.m. Wednesday
Indianapolis working again Jonathan Taylor was the No. 1 choose in most fantasy drafts this summer time, and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has performed like a No. 1 choose ever since.
However when the fantasy playoffs proceed this weekend, they’ll be of no assist to you.
Taylor injured his ankle early in final week’s epic loss to Minnesota, and he has been positioned on injured reserve. Hurts injured his shoulder throughout the Eagles’ thirteenth victory in Chicago, and he’s anticipated to overlook their NFC East showdown with Dallas.
What to do? Listed below are some Hail Mary choices for this week which might be sure to do higher than the Patriots’ game-ending Pitchy Pitchy Woo Woo that handed a Week 15 victory to the Raiders in Las Vegas.
Gardner Minshew (Eagles QB) – Minshew is extra well-known for his facial hair than his play, however he managed a pair of TD passes in each video games he began within the 2021 season. He was fairly a sensation in his Duval County days, and he might put up stunning numbers if he will get the decision in opposition to Dallas.
Deon Jackson (Colts RB) – He tallied 55 yards and a TD catch after changing Taylor final week. Then he misplaced a key fumble and was changed by Zack Moss. Considered one of them will probably be Indy’s high again this week, and we’re betting on Jackson, although neither can carry Taylor’s jock, as they are saying …
Royce Freeman (Texans RB) – With rookie Dameon Pierce completed for the season, Freeman bought 51 yards in debut final week, and he could possibly be in line for extra, together with goal-line responsibility, this week in opposition to Tennessee.
Ok.J. Osborn (Vikings WR) – He’s coming off his career-best sport (10 catches, 157 yards, 1 TD), and his 16 targets from Kirk Cousins dwarfed the Saturday workload of Adam Thielen (4 targets).
Marquise Goodwin (Seahawks WR) – With Tyler Lockett out and D.Ok. Metcalf dealing with double protection, Goodwin might change into Seattle’s No. 2 receiving menace. He has 4 TD catches on the season and topped out with 95 yards two weeks in the past in opposition to Carolina.
Juwan Johnson (Saints TE) – Arguably top-of-the-line tight ends the previous two months, Johnson has seven TDs previously seven video games, and he caught 4 passes for 67 yards and two scores final week in opposition to Atlanta.
Daniel Jones (Giants QB) – He’s not a lot of a passing fancy, however the New York QB has 5 speeding touchdowns this season, and he might simply add a sixth Saturday because the Vikings concentrate on stopping Saquon Barkley.
Sitting stars
Nobody has been working properly in opposition to the 49ers, and neither will Washington’s Antonio Gibson or Brian Robinson. … The Rams’ Cam Akers will probably be again within the doghouse after one other mediocre sport vs. Denver. … New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson received’t discover a ton of room to run in opposition to Cincinnati. … The Cardinals’ injury-ravaged offense will produce little in opposition to Tampa Bay, and that features WR DeAndre Hopkins. … Indy WR Michael Pittman will proceed to disappoint in opposition to the Chargers. … And we’re guessing Dallas’ Dak Prescott can have hassle with the Philly protection.
Matchup sport
Derrick Henry working into Texans throughout The Loop’s championship sport matchup? Signal me up! … The Chiefs’ Jerick McKinnon has been nice currently and can proceed his sizzling run vs. Seattle. … Will probably be too windy to throw in Chicago, so Buffalo RB Devin Singletary will get a lot of work … The Chargers’ Keenan Allen is lastly in high type, and he will get the Colts this week. … Miami’s Jaylen Waddle will take benefit because the Packers focus an excessive amount of on stopping Tyreek Hill. … Las Vegas tight finish Darren Waller will get wholesome vs. the Steelers. … We predict Baltimore tight finish Mark Andrews will rebound in opposition to the Falcons’ protection. … And the league’s hottest quarterback, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, will work out the robust Jets secondary.
Damage watch
In addition to Hurts, the largest names on the damage wire are Chargers working again Austin Ekeler, who has an ailing shoulder, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who would possibly return from a knee damage to try to save Baltimore’s season. The lengthy checklist of questionables contains working backs (Seattle’s Kenneth Walker, Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris, Baltimore’s J.Ok. Dobbins, Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne), receivers (Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins, Pittsburgh’s Diontae Johnson, New Orleans’ Chris Olave, Denver’s Courtland Sutton and Tennessee’s Treylon Burks) and a number of other notable quarterbacks (Denver’s Russell Wilson, Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett).
The deepest sleeper
New England’s Jakobi Meyers discovered a novel solution to change into a family identify, by pulling off arguably the worst play in NFL historical past. His boneheaded lateral to the Raiders’ Chandler Jones pulled defeat out of the jaws of victory. Looks like a stretch to assume he’ll be a useful fantasy asset this week, proper? Effectively this is perhaps our deepest sleeper of all. He’ll be dealing with a troublesome Cincinnati protection, and he’s definitely within the doghouse of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who bought trucked because of his errant go. However Meyers has first rate numbers this 12 months (52 catches for 640 yards and three touchdowns), and he’ll by no means have larger incentive for a turnaround.
The Thursday choose
Jaguars at Jets (-1½): Choose: Jaguars by 4
Breaking information
We’ll be updating our column, based mostly on the newest accidents and innuendo, proper up till Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You may hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You may observe Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He could be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
