by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)
If you are still standing you are likely preparing for your championship game. The toughest decision is going to be if you stick with the guy that got you here (even if they face some risk) or do you go to the hot hand with the favorable matchup? All bets are off at this point and you generally simply do what you need to do. How does that leave our rankings? Let’s take a look:
- Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers – vs. Tampa Bay
- Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks – at Dallas
- Philip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers – at New York Jets
- Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
- Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Houston
- Tom Brady – New England Patriots – vs. Buffalo
- Blake Bortles – Jacksonville Jaguars – at San Francisco
- Case Keenum – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
- Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Miami
- Nick Foles – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Oakland
- Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams – at Tennessee
- Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Carolina
- Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
- Kirk Cousins – Washington Redskins – vs. Denver
- Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Indianapolis
- Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions – at Cincinnati
- Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
- Mitchell Trubisky – Chicago Bears – vs. Cleveland
- Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Seattle
- Jay Cutler – Miami Dolphins – at Kansas City
- Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo Bills – at New England
- Jimmy Garoppolo – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Jacksonville
- Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Detroit
- Marcus Mariota – Tennessee Titans – vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Eli Manning – New York Giants – at Arizona
Thoughts:
- It has been a stellar run for Blake Bortles, who has thrown for 903 yards, 7 TD and 0 INT over his past three games. With another seemingly favorable matchup, this time against a San Francisco defense that has struggled overall this season, there’s a good chance that he continues producing. Granted the 49ers have been significantly better of late, though over the past three weeks the matchups have helped to skew things (Chicago, Houston and Tennessee). Bortles should surprisingly be viewed as a QB1 for your Championship Week.
- The Seattle offense had an abysmal Week 15, with Russell Wilson throwing for just 142 yards, 1 TD and 0 INT. It would be easy to completely lose faith in him, if you even survived the poor performance, but Wilson steps into a favorable matchup against the Cowboys (26 TD vs. 9 INT on the season) in Week 16. Considering how good he’s been all season long, now isn’t the time to look in another direction.
- Are we really prepared to sit Tom Brady with our fantasy title hanging in the balance? That’s going to be a hard sell, but over the past three weeks he has 2 TD vs. 4 INT (including a matchup with the Bills where he had 258 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT). Over the past four weeks he’s averaged a mere 254 yards per game, and with the Bills being among the better passing defenses in the league (third fewest points per week against opposing QB) the outlook actually isn’t very good. Would we start him? Most likely, but this is a rare instance that he’s going to fall outside the Top 5. You could actually argue both Blake Bortles and Case Keenum deserve to be ranked ahead of him this week, that’s just a tough sell.
- Everyone wanted to jump on the Aaron Rodgers bandwagon, but he unsurprisingly struggled in his first game back as he threw 3 INT. Of course he showed signs of the old Rodgers, including 290 yards and 3 TD, though a difficult matchup is going to help to limit the upside (Minnesota has allowed just 12 passing TD on the season). Could you justify using him as a backend QB1? Absolutely, as long as he’s playing (which isn’t actually a guarantee), but he’s hardly a given unfortunately.
- While it was against the lowly New York Giants, Nick Foles seamless stepped into the Philadelphia offense and flourished (237 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT). Look for the Eagles to keep the pedal down, especially as they want to make sure that Foles has a good rapport with the skill players around him, and against the Raiders that should mean another strong performance.
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Standard league-Richardson Bortles @ SF or Foles vs. Oakland. Both good match ups. JAX traveling across the country scares me a little. Bortles plays at home, but they have clinched a playoff spot. Your thoughts on my concerns? Who would you play. I’m in the “Super Bowl” . Last game of the year.
Thank you for all of your help this year, you rock
Don’t know why Richardsons name is b4 Bortles. Lol
I guess I should not type this b4 I had my coffee.Bortles plays IN SF . Foles plays at home. Philly and Jax both are in the playoffs, but concern is JAX traveling
Vs Philly at home . Your advice Bortles @SF or Foles vs Oakland? Thank you
I understand the concern about Bortles traveling, and it does give me a little pause, but he’s been playing too well and has a favorable matchup still. I’d roll with him
Bortles or Keenum.. Leaning Keenum..Green Bay has been getting lit up….
I’d go Bortles, but it’s a 50/50 coin flip
Lots of questions. BORTLES…Will Fourtnette be back and they run a lot. KEENUM…Weather,Weather,Weather.
great call on Bortles last week Professor – big thanks!
Yes..Great call Prof…
Would you start Bortles over Wilson this week? I did survive week 15, despite starting Wilson, but here we go again.
Thanks
I could see the argument, but I’d still go Wilson. Bortles is traveling across the country…
I have Cousins, Garrapolo, and Flacco for the championship— am I nuts to start Flacco against the putrid Colts D? I don’t trust the other two against good D’s— what say you prof?
Not crazy at all. Cousins is slightly ahead for me, but it’s a coin flip
Professor I survived the fournette injury & I’m playing for the title. I’m prepared to bench brady for foles. 1 game. 3 games less than 20pts for brady. I can’t afford that this week.
RB1 Fournette
RB2 Kamara
Flex L Murray
WR1 Tyreek Hill
WR2 keelan cole or crowder?
K Gould or Prater?
Def Jax
QB brady or foles?
WR2 – Crowder
K – Prates
QB – I get it, but I’m still going Brady (not as outrageous to sit him as you’d think though)
Hello Professor;
Full point PPR;
I also survived the Fournette’s injury, Russel Wilson’s meltdown, but I’m in the hole with Antonio Brown being out…I’m playing in the championship game this week and need advice with my Flex. Best play out of this group:
Marquise Woodwin, Kendall Wright, Randall Cobb, and Mike Davis…
Thank you in advance. Your advices have been extremely helpful this, and previous seasons. Keep up the good work…
First, thanks for the continued support!
I’d say Davis has the highest ceiling, Goodwin the highest floor.
If you want the safe play, go Goodwin. If you need to swing for the fences, go Davis
I need a QB with the highest ceiling……Bortles, Goff, or Foles?
I know it’s shocking, but Bortles
Thank you for all the support and great advice. It is tough to put the championship on the line with Bortles but he has been unreal of late. Just needed another opinion to solidify my approach. Thanks!
Standard. One league, Bortles or Foles? Other Rivers or Foles? Has Williams value got up with Rogers now on IR? I’ve made the championship game in all 4 leagues that I’m in thanks for the advice. Can’t wait to use your site come Baseball season.
First off thanks for the support!
Bortles (he’s been too good of late)
Rivers
I think Williams value would’ve been there regardless,
Professor, should i start Bortles over Rivers if Fournette is out? Also, who do you like between K. Cole and Agholor in PPR league this week? Thank you!
Nope, I’m going Rivers regardless. I’d go Agholor for the WR, Cole is far too boom or bust for me
Hi Prof.
Need some advice on wrs. I’ve got Robert Woods, Michael Crabtree, Adam Thielen and Juju. Need to pick two and possibly a flex for standard. Im a little weary of using Thielen because now that Rodgers is out, game script might limit the amount of throwing the vikings will have to do with Brett under center.
I couldn’t consider sitting Thielen with the way he’s played. The upside is far too high, even if they are only throwing half the game.
As for the #2, I’d lean Crabtree (but Woods’ upside is the highest, just the lowest floor)
I survived losing Wentz, now I head into the playoffs with the option of Bortles or Alex Smith. Both seem to have good matchups, but I feel the pressure to lean towards Bortles. What do ya think? Thanks for the advice all season!
They are really close, but I agree on Bortles. He’s been too good of late
Hi professor,
Rivers or Bortles this week? I survived Rivers play in KC last week fortunately to make it to the final round. Thanks for all your help this season. Rivers and Bortles both on the road. Fournette is playing.
I’m rolling Rivers of the two, but wouldn’t be upset with either one!
Thanks for all you help this season! Would not be in the finals without your help!
PPR
RB-Davis, Hyde or J Williams. Leaning towards Davis
Flex play- Agholor or Westbrook could also pick up Cole . Like Agholor
TE- Doyle or Watson (Flacco q.v. this weekend, go for double points)
Thanks again for all your help! Best site out there!
Thanks for the support!
RB – Matchups are tough, but I’d lea Williams with the team going back to Hundley
FLEX – Agholer for me
TE – Doyle
2 QB league, have Ben Roethlisberger, Case Keenum, and Matthew Stafford. My thought is Big Ben and Keenum, unless the weather is bad at Lambeau, then swap in Stafford for Keenum. Thoughts?
Need 2 flexes, have Martavis Bryant, Jerick McKinnon, Keelan Cole, and Rishard Matthews. My thought is Bryant and McKinnon. Thoughts?
Agreed on the QB
Also agree on the FLEX, though after Bryant I don’t really love any of the others
I’m having a tough time settling on a QB for the championship round. Would you go Dak, Foles, or Carr? Why?
My thought are Foles had a good team with a soft matchup.
Dak could have less action with Ezekiel back, but the Seahawks have been descimated with injuries.
What are your thoughts?
I’m 100% going Foles. They are going to want to make sure he’s prepared for the playoffs. PRescott hasn’t really been great all year and do you want to trust Carr?
hey professor, who should i start bortles or foles
I’d role Bortles, he’s been playing too well and has a favorable matchup
PPR league- Alex Smith or Nick Foles?
Westbrook or Mickens?
Thanks for the help.
Smith (but it’s really a coinflip).
I’d def. go Westbrook