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Shut down the arcade, take away the quarters. The pinball wizard has gone on tilt. The Superdome no longer cures the Saints, no questions asked.
It was a hell of a run while it lasted.
The oddsmakers expected a blowout from the Saints and Panthers on Sunday, and that's what happened –*only it was Carolina, the 10-point underdog, doing the butt kicking. The Panthers dominated from start to finish en route to a 41-10 romp. Both teams are alive in the NFC South, despite their rotten records – Carolina's at 4-8-1, the Saints 5-8.
A New Orleans home game used to be a fantasy panacea, but no longer. Sean Payton's club has now lost four straight games in the Big Easy.
Every New Orleans fantasy angle went bust in this one. Drew Brees chucked 49 passes but did little with it: 235 yards, one pick, one piddly touchdown. Jimmy Graham was targeted 11 times, to little consequence (three catches, 25 yards). Kenny Stills was invisible (3-23-0 on four targets). Marques Colston had five catches for 72 yards, along with one nasty drop. Mark Ingram ran for 43 yards, fumbled once, din't find the end zone.
On and on it goes. The only touchdown came in fourth quarter garbage time, and from a non-fantasy factor (backup tight end Benjamin Watson).
Meanwhile, the Panthers flashed back to their 2013 playoff form. Cam Newton had his best game in two months: three passing touchdowns and a fourth one rushing. What happened to the injured and tentative Newton of the last few weeks? We never saw that guy in Week 14. He hasn't shown this foot since the Cincinnati tie in Week 6.
Jonathan Stewart was terrific from the opening snap, rambling for 155 yards and a score. Greg Olsen was playing on a bad knee but it didn't stop him from securing 10-of-11 targets, including a 16-yard touchdown. Kelvin Benjamin only had two grabs but one of them was a snappy nine-yard score, beating solid coverage. Fozzy Whittaker added a 26-yard score in garbage time. Even the muppets are running wild on Bourbon Street.
Maybe the schedule will bail out the Saints for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. They play at Chicago next Monday, a get-well draw for most teams, and the Falcons are in wait for Week 16. No one would refuse those opponents.
Carolina's defensive matchups are tougher, though they're at home the next two weeks. Tampa Bay's defense has been better of late. Cleveland has some playmakers, too.
Are you kicking some Saints to the curb? Are you welcoming some Panthers back into your fantasy life? Let's discuss this in the comments.
•*It took the Rams defense a while to show up this year, but man, this nasty group was worth the wait. St. Louis sounded alarm back in Week 11, when it battered the Broncos for 60 minutes, and the defense has been a wrecking crew the last two games, shutting out Oakland and Washington on consecutive Sundays. It's the first time anyone's pulled that double since the 2009 Cowboys.
Washington QB Colt McCoy took six sacks and was picked twice in Sunday's 24-0 loss, and the Redskins rushing game sputtered to 27 yards. McCoy sat out the final few minutes with a neck strain, which meant we had to endure a Robert Griffin III appearance. Nothing to see here, move along.
The Rams are home for the rest of the fantasy playoffs, hosting the Cardinals and Giants. Good work if you can get it. Bring a few extra bagels, Uncle Harry, just in case.
•*I thought the Bucs might give Matthew Stafford a stern test, but that's not how it went down in The D: Stafford posted an easy 311-yard, three-score afternoon, and Joique Bell padded things nicely (83 by ground, 50 by air, two scores). The Stafford-to-Bell touchdown pass was a ridiculous case of good fortune, and I'm petrified it will cost me my most important fantasy game. But you don't care about my problems. Maybe it was your version of the Immaculate Reception.
Josh McCown led the usual circus act on the other side, spotty pocket awareness and a bunch of wrong-footed throws, mixed with occasional downfield success. Maybe nothing can stop Mike Evans from spiking these days (4-45, two scores). And look who decided to show up –*old friend Vincent Jackson. He posted a 10-catch, 159-yard afternoon on 17 looks. (The Tampa Bay running game? Kicked outta the club. Let's keep it moving.)
•*A Teddy Bridgewater-Geno Smith matchup didn't look like much on paper, but they both filled the air admirably in an overtime thriller at Minnesota. The Jets actually let Smith throw a few passes (18-for-29, 254 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), which allowed Percy Harvin (6-124-1) and Eric Decker (6-89-0) back onto the fantasy scene.
The good vibes with Harvin didn't last through the day*–*he suffered an ankle injury and might be headed to IR. Perhaps*Jeremy Kerley is worth a deep reach when the Jets play Tennessee next week.
Steady Teddy hit on a couple of rainbows, Charles Johnson early and Jarius Wright late (game over, thanks for coming, Jets). Matt Asiata was used as Minnesota's bell cow (22 touches), but didn't do much with the opportunity (64 yards). In case you missed it, Jerick McKinnon is done for the year.
•*The Giants played one strong half and one atrocious half last week at Jacksonville. This week, they finished the job, a 36-7 demolition at Tennessee.*Andre Williams*did just fine as the featured back (24-131-1), tacking on three catches for good measure, while*Odell Beckham*strengthened his Rookie of the Year case (11-130-1 on 15 targets). So long as Beckham is on the field, no pass is uncatchable*–*even the wobblers*Eli Manning*tends to throw.
Zach Mettenberger*didn't do much before injuring his shoulder; he's probably done for the year. Jake Locker gave us a pick and three sacks on 14 drop backs, so nothing's changed with him. Fill-in receivers*Derek Hagan*(6-62-0) and Nate Washington (3-56-0) had passable days, if you needed to go deep.*Bishop Sankey*did next to nothing for the 129th week in a row.
•*All the poor saps who had to go up against Le'Veon Bell this week, raise your weary hands. (I'm raising my hand.) That guy is ridiculous. Bell scored three touchdowns in a decisive 42-21 victory at Cincinnati, one by air and two by land, and collected 235 total yards, one of the best fantasy games of the year.
Pittsburgh's other big kids answered the bell: Big Ben threw for 350 and three scores, Antonio Brown had his usual 9-117, and Martavis Bryant added 4-109-1 (most of it on a 94-yard scoring connection). Heath Miller is a supporting guy on this offense, but he tacked on a one-yard TD grab and a conversion catch. And as usual, a bunch of admirers bellowed out "Heath" from the stands. Pittsburgh's fans travel so well.
Andy Dalton couldn't be blamed on his end: he threw for 302 yards and two scores, and added a 20-yard scoring scamper. A.J. Green mocked Pittsburgh's secondary from beginning to end, an 11-catch, 224-yard clinic (with an 81-yard touchdown). But when your defense can't stop the other guys, 21 points isn't going to do it. Nothing comes easy for Cincinnati down the stretch –*it finishes at Cleveland, home against Denver, and at Pittsburgh. The AFC North remains up for grabs.
•*The Colts didn't play particularly well at Cleveland, but they made key plays in the second half and particularly down the stretch en route to a 25-24 victory. If you're a Colts fan, you feel like they stole one here. If you're a Browns guy, you're adding to the list of stomach-punch losses.
Andrew Luck (24-53-294-2-2) directed four scoring drives in the second half, including the game-flipping touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton in the final minute. He also had a scoring run in the first half. Even on one of his worst real-life days, Luck was a fantasy monster. Hilton received a whopping 19 targets on the afternoon and did well with them, a 10-150-2 line. What a super player that guy is. It's a good thing Hilton came through, because the Colts got nothing out of Reggie Wayne (1-5-0 on eight targets; multiple drops). He's also dealing with a laundry list of injuries.*
Cleveland's offensive story was basically a rerun: Brian Hoyer played poorly (14-for-31, two picks, 31.7 rating), and in particular couldn't get going with Josh Gordon (2-15 on seven targets). I don't know how much proof Mike Pettine needs to see, but Hoyer's done everything possible to earn a benching over the past month. It doesn't even matter how good Johnny Manziel is –*haven't we at least determined that Hoyer isn't the answer? The 7-6 Browns need to turn things around quickly, starting with next week's critical game with Cincinnati.
I think we'll see Manziel in the saddle next week, but I would have said that seven days ago, too. Maybe Pettine is the most stubborn guy in the room.
•*Going on the road doesn't seem to bother the Ravens much, and they posted a convincing 28-13 victory at Miami.*Joe Flacco*threw for 269 yards and a couple of scores (plus one scoring plunge), and*Justin Forsett*posted a snappy 13-71-1 line on the ground.*Steve Smith Sr.*and*Kamar Aiken*caught the TD passes, while*Torrey Smith*(knee) saw limited playing time (and zero targets).
Miami had a reasonable matchup on paper but didn't do much with it.*Ryan Tannehill*managed just one touchdown and didn't do much running.*Brian Hartline*had the TD score (gee, thanks) and no Miami target topped 60 yards.*Lamar Miller*was handy on his 17 touches (89 yards), a reasonable day even without a touchdown.
Every time you think Tannehill is taking the leap, he seems to take a step or two backwards. He'll be tested against the Patriots and Vikings the next two weeks.
•*Maybe Oakland's 52-0 shellacking last week at St. Louis said more about the Rams than it did the Raiders. Oakland's been a solid club of late otherwise, pulling off a Week 12 upset over Kansas City and a Week 14 stunner over San Francisco, 24-13. Derek Carr threw three short touchdown passes, including one to tight end Mychal Rivera (7-109-1, catching every target). And bless Tony Sparano's heart, the Raiders finally gave the rock to Latavius Murray. Okay, we expected more than 86 total yards on 25 touches, but it's a start. Pride and Poise, Back in Black.
I don't know how you fix this 49ers offense. Colin Kaepernick (18-33-174-1-2, five sacks) looks like he needs a factory reset. Frank Gore ran well (5.3 YPC) but the game situation only afforded him 12 carries. Michael Crabtree snagged 9-of-14 targets, but for a modest 56 yards. The defense recorded one sack and zero takeaways against a team that was 1-11 entering the day. The remaining schedule is troublesome: at Seattle, then home against San Diego and Arizona.*
•*Kansas City's 17-14 loss at Arizona wasn't a big problem for fantasy owners, since Jamaal Charles (111 total yards, two touchdowns) and Travis Kelce (7-110-0 on nine targets) were used liberally. Even with Kelce's controversial fumble, that's all fine with us. But Arizona threw us for a loop when Kerwynn Williams (19-100-0) took over the backfield chores. He's a name to consider for the wire, not that we expect a lot of running room Thursday against nasty St. Louis.
•*For the second year in a row, the Broncos threw up a Week 14 fantasy stinker, though they still got past the Bills, 24-17. Okay, things were fine if you relied on C.J. Anderson (three short touchdown runs offset a 21-58 day; he also dinged his ankle). But Peyton Manning (14-20-173) picked a tricky time for a bagel – he went without a touchdown pass for the first time since 2010, and he was intercepted twice. Wes Welker snagged 82 yards on six targets, something I wouldn't bet on repeating. Look for Demaryius Thomas (2-11-0, five targets) to unleash hell and fury on San Diego next week.
As for Julius Thomas (ankle), the waiting game continues. The Broncos dressed Thomas for the game but didn't use him. Be careful with what you expect from players off multiple-week injuries; it's easy to get burned on this type of situation. Thomas hasn't made a fantasy impact since Week 10, and his last catch came in Week 11.*
Although my Anderson man crush hasn't subsided at all, please note that Juwan Thompson collected 77 yards on his five touches. He needs to be owned in all leagues, a mandatory handcuff.*
Kyle Orton looked shaky for most of the day and yet still collected 355 passing yards and two scores (one passing, one rushing). We just care about the numbers, right? Sammy Watkins (7-127-0 on 12 targets) was in fine form all day.
•*No new tale to tell with the Texans, who had little trouble in a 27-13 victory at Jacksonville. Arian Foster (24-127-1) was one of three Texans to punch in a rushing touchdown, while Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for just 135 yards (and zero scores). The Denard Robinson Show seems to be slowing down; he was held to 30 yards on 10 carries. Marcedes Lewis and Marqise Lee both topped 60 yards receiving, if that matters to you. Houston gets Indy next week, while the Jags head to Baltimore.
•*I figured Russell Wilson would run his magic act at Philadelphia and the Chip Kelly Eagles would keep up somewhat. Shows what I know. Wilson did his part (263 yards passing, 48 yards rushing, three total touchdowns), bringing Doug Baldwin along for the ride (5-97-1), but the Eagles were held to nine first downs and 139 yards of offense, the worst game of the Kelly Era. Score one for defense.
Mark Sanchez at least collected two touchdown passes on his scant 10-20-96 day, including a one-yard flip to Jeremy Maclin (3-21-1 on six targets). Zach Ertz made a rare appearance, a 35-yard touchdown. Jordan Matthews had two catches on a five-target afternoon. Part of the blame rests with Philly's defense: the Seahawks ran 85 plays, the Eagles just 45. I expect Philly to score well against Dallas and Washington the next two weeks; if you're still in the tournament, the Eagles should make it up to you.*
It was a hell of a run while it lasted.
The oddsmakers expected a blowout from the Saints and Panthers on Sunday, and that's what happened –*only it was Carolina, the 10-point underdog, doing the butt kicking. The Panthers dominated from start to finish en route to a 41-10 romp. Both teams are alive in the NFC South, despite their rotten records – Carolina's at 4-8-1, the Saints 5-8.
A New Orleans home game used to be a fantasy panacea, but no longer. Sean Payton's club has now lost four straight games in the Big Easy.
Every New Orleans fantasy angle went bust in this one. Drew Brees chucked 49 passes but did little with it: 235 yards, one pick, one piddly touchdown. Jimmy Graham was targeted 11 times, to little consequence (three catches, 25 yards). Kenny Stills was invisible (3-23-0 on four targets). Marques Colston had five catches for 72 yards, along with one nasty drop. Mark Ingram ran for 43 yards, fumbled once, din't find the end zone.
On and on it goes. The only touchdown came in fourth quarter garbage time, and from a non-fantasy factor (backup tight end Benjamin Watson).
Meanwhile, the Panthers flashed back to their 2013 playoff form. Cam Newton had his best game in two months: three passing touchdowns and a fourth one rushing. What happened to the injured and tentative Newton of the last few weeks? We never saw that guy in Week 14. He hasn't shown this foot since the Cincinnati tie in Week 6.
Jonathan Stewart was terrific from the opening snap, rambling for 155 yards and a score. Greg Olsen was playing on a bad knee but it didn't stop him from securing 10-of-11 targets, including a 16-yard touchdown. Kelvin Benjamin only had two grabs but one of them was a snappy nine-yard score, beating solid coverage. Fozzy Whittaker added a 26-yard score in garbage time. Even the muppets are running wild on Bourbon Street.
Maybe the schedule will bail out the Saints for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. They play at Chicago next Monday, a get-well draw for most teams, and the Falcons are in wait for Week 16. No one would refuse those opponents.
Carolina's defensive matchups are tougher, though they're at home the next two weeks. Tampa Bay's defense has been better of late. Cleveland has some playmakers, too.
Are you kicking some Saints to the curb? Are you welcoming some Panthers back into your fantasy life? Let's discuss this in the comments.
•*It took the Rams defense a while to show up this year, but man, this nasty group was worth the wait. St. Louis sounded alarm back in Week 11, when it battered the Broncos for 60 minutes, and the defense has been a wrecking crew the last two games, shutting out Oakland and Washington on consecutive Sundays. It's the first time anyone's pulled that double since the 2009 Cowboys.
Washington QB Colt McCoy took six sacks and was picked twice in Sunday's 24-0 loss, and the Redskins rushing game sputtered to 27 yards. McCoy sat out the final few minutes with a neck strain, which meant we had to endure a Robert Griffin III appearance. Nothing to see here, move along.
The Rams are home for the rest of the fantasy playoffs, hosting the Cardinals and Giants. Good work if you can get it. Bring a few extra bagels, Uncle Harry, just in case.
Josh McCown led the usual circus act on the other side, spotty pocket awareness and a bunch of wrong-footed throws, mixed with occasional downfield success. Maybe nothing can stop Mike Evans from spiking these days (4-45, two scores). And look who decided to show up –*old friend Vincent Jackson. He posted a 10-catch, 159-yard afternoon on 17 looks. (The Tampa Bay running game? Kicked outta the club. Let's keep it moving.)
•*A Teddy Bridgewater-Geno Smith matchup didn't look like much on paper, but they both filled the air admirably in an overtime thriller at Minnesota. The Jets actually let Smith throw a few passes (18-for-29, 254 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), which allowed Percy Harvin (6-124-1) and Eric Decker (6-89-0) back onto the fantasy scene.
The good vibes with Harvin didn't last through the day*–*he suffered an ankle injury and might be headed to IR. Perhaps*Jeremy Kerley is worth a deep reach when the Jets play Tennessee next week.
Steady Teddy hit on a couple of rainbows, Charles Johnson early and Jarius Wright late (game over, thanks for coming, Jets). Matt Asiata was used as Minnesota's bell cow (22 touches), but didn't do much with the opportunity (64 yards). In case you missed it, Jerick McKinnon is done for the year.
•*The Giants played one strong half and one atrocious half last week at Jacksonville. This week, they finished the job, a 36-7 demolition at Tennessee.*Andre Williams*did just fine as the featured back (24-131-1), tacking on three catches for good measure, while*Odell Beckham*strengthened his Rookie of the Year case (11-130-1 on 15 targets). So long as Beckham is on the field, no pass is uncatchable*–*even the wobblers*Eli Manning*tends to throw.
Zach Mettenberger*didn't do much before injuring his shoulder; he's probably done for the year. Jake Locker gave us a pick and three sacks on 14 drop backs, so nothing's changed with him. Fill-in receivers*Derek Hagan*(6-62-0) and Nate Washington (3-56-0) had passable days, if you needed to go deep.*Bishop Sankey*did next to nothing for the 129th week in a row.
Pittsburgh's other big kids answered the bell: Big Ben threw for 350 and three scores, Antonio Brown had his usual 9-117, and Martavis Bryant added 4-109-1 (most of it on a 94-yard scoring connection). Heath Miller is a supporting guy on this offense, but he tacked on a one-yard TD grab and a conversion catch. And as usual, a bunch of admirers bellowed out "Heath" from the stands. Pittsburgh's fans travel so well.
Andy Dalton couldn't be blamed on his end: he threw for 302 yards and two scores, and added a 20-yard scoring scamper. A.J. Green mocked Pittsburgh's secondary from beginning to end, an 11-catch, 224-yard clinic (with an 81-yard touchdown). But when your defense can't stop the other guys, 21 points isn't going to do it. Nothing comes easy for Cincinnati down the stretch –*it finishes at Cleveland, home against Denver, and at Pittsburgh. The AFC North remains up for grabs.
•*The Colts didn't play particularly well at Cleveland, but they made key plays in the second half and particularly down the stretch en route to a 25-24 victory. If you're a Colts fan, you feel like they stole one here. If you're a Browns guy, you're adding to the list of stomach-punch losses.
Andrew Luck (24-53-294-2-2) directed four scoring drives in the second half, including the game-flipping touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton in the final minute. He also had a scoring run in the first half. Even on one of his worst real-life days, Luck was a fantasy monster. Hilton received a whopping 19 targets on the afternoon and did well with them, a 10-150-2 line. What a super player that guy is. It's a good thing Hilton came through, because the Colts got nothing out of Reggie Wayne (1-5-0 on eight targets; multiple drops). He's also dealing with a laundry list of injuries.*
Cleveland's offensive story was basically a rerun: Brian Hoyer played poorly (14-for-31, two picks, 31.7 rating), and in particular couldn't get going with Josh Gordon (2-15 on seven targets). I don't know how much proof Mike Pettine needs to see, but Hoyer's done everything possible to earn a benching over the past month. It doesn't even matter how good Johnny Manziel is –*haven't we at least determined that Hoyer isn't the answer? The 7-6 Browns need to turn things around quickly, starting with next week's critical game with Cincinnati.
I think we'll see Manziel in the saddle next week, but I would have said that seven days ago, too. Maybe Pettine is the most stubborn guy in the room.
•*Going on the road doesn't seem to bother the Ravens much, and they posted a convincing 28-13 victory at Miami.*Joe Flacco*threw for 269 yards and a couple of scores (plus one scoring plunge), and*Justin Forsett*posted a snappy 13-71-1 line on the ground.*Steve Smith Sr.*and*Kamar Aiken*caught the TD passes, while*Torrey Smith*(knee) saw limited playing time (and zero targets).
Miami had a reasonable matchup on paper but didn't do much with it.*Ryan Tannehill*managed just one touchdown and didn't do much running.*Brian Hartline*had the TD score (gee, thanks) and no Miami target topped 60 yards.*Lamar Miller*was handy on his 17 touches (89 yards), a reasonable day even without a touchdown.
Every time you think Tannehill is taking the leap, he seems to take a step or two backwards. He'll be tested against the Patriots and Vikings the next two weeks.
I don't know how you fix this 49ers offense. Colin Kaepernick (18-33-174-1-2, five sacks) looks like he needs a factory reset. Frank Gore ran well (5.3 YPC) but the game situation only afforded him 12 carries. Michael Crabtree snagged 9-of-14 targets, but for a modest 56 yards. The defense recorded one sack and zero takeaways against a team that was 1-11 entering the day. The remaining schedule is troublesome: at Seattle, then home against San Diego and Arizona.*
•*Kansas City's 17-14 loss at Arizona wasn't a big problem for fantasy owners, since Jamaal Charles (111 total yards, two touchdowns) and Travis Kelce (7-110-0 on nine targets) were used liberally. Even with Kelce's controversial fumble, that's all fine with us. But Arizona threw us for a loop when Kerwynn Williams (19-100-0) took over the backfield chores. He's a name to consider for the wire, not that we expect a lot of running room Thursday against nasty St. Louis.
•*For the second year in a row, the Broncos threw up a Week 14 fantasy stinker, though they still got past the Bills, 24-17. Okay, things were fine if you relied on C.J. Anderson (three short touchdown runs offset a 21-58 day; he also dinged his ankle). But Peyton Manning (14-20-173) picked a tricky time for a bagel – he went without a touchdown pass for the first time since 2010, and he was intercepted twice. Wes Welker snagged 82 yards on six targets, something I wouldn't bet on repeating. Look for Demaryius Thomas (2-11-0, five targets) to unleash hell and fury on San Diego next week.
As for Julius Thomas (ankle), the waiting game continues. The Broncos dressed Thomas for the game but didn't use him. Be careful with what you expect from players off multiple-week injuries; it's easy to get burned on this type of situation. Thomas hasn't made a fantasy impact since Week 10, and his last catch came in Week 11.*
Although my Anderson man crush hasn't subsided at all, please note that Juwan Thompson collected 77 yards on his five touches. He needs to be owned in all leagues, a mandatory handcuff.*
Kyle Orton looked shaky for most of the day and yet still collected 355 passing yards and two scores (one passing, one rushing). We just care about the numbers, right? Sammy Watkins (7-127-0 on 12 targets) was in fine form all day.
•*No new tale to tell with the Texans, who had little trouble in a 27-13 victory at Jacksonville. Arian Foster (24-127-1) was one of three Texans to punch in a rushing touchdown, while Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for just 135 yards (and zero scores). The Denard Robinson Show seems to be slowing down; he was held to 30 yards on 10 carries. Marcedes Lewis and Marqise Lee both topped 60 yards receiving, if that matters to you. Houston gets Indy next week, while the Jags head to Baltimore.
•*I figured Russell Wilson would run his magic act at Philadelphia and the Chip Kelly Eagles would keep up somewhat. Shows what I know. Wilson did his part (263 yards passing, 48 yards rushing, three total touchdowns), bringing Doug Baldwin along for the ride (5-97-1), but the Eagles were held to nine first downs and 139 yards of offense, the worst game of the Kelly Era. Score one for defense.
Mark Sanchez at least collected two touchdown passes on his scant 10-20-96 day, including a one-yard flip to Jeremy Maclin (3-21-1 on six targets). Zach Ertz made a rare appearance, a 35-yard touchdown. Jordan Matthews had two catches on a five-target afternoon. Part of the blame rests with Philly's defense: the Seahawks ran 85 plays, the Eagles just 45. I expect Philly to score well against Dallas and Washington the next two weeks; if you're still in the tournament, the Eagles should make it up to you.*