Our analysts reveal what they’re most convinced about heading into the fantasy football playoffs to help you feel better about your upcoming lineup decisions. For more tips on getting started with sitting, Check out the Week 15 rankings for each position individually.
The Ravens’ receivers are ready to fly
Costume Flowers and Odell Beckham. These have clearly proven to be the two most valuable players in the Ravens offense after Lamar Jackson and will be great starters each week.
As for Beckham, the Ravens have found the perfect plan for the veteran receiver. He’s fifth on the team in routes run since Week 10, but leads Baltimore with 287 yards and is averaging 4.1 yards per route run. Less is more for Beckham at this stage of his career; He is still a sophisticated separator and tracker down the field. You just don’t want to burn his legs or expose him to injuries due to overuse. Flowers leads the team in runs with 144 points over this same span, a massive 48-point gap to Isaiah likely in second place. He has targeted totals of 10, eight and 10 in three full games without Mark Andrews but more importantly saw his aDOT jump to 12.5 in the first week back from the bye. He’s finally got the average look we need to fully trust his role.
These guys get it great A Week 15 matchup with an undisciplined and beatable Jaguars secondary to start a fantasy postseason. Next, the Ravens will need them to have two big games with mixed matchups at the 49ers and Dolphins. — Matt Harmon
Lamar’s strong finish will crown the champions
Mike Tyson famously said: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” When the Ravens took a bullet in the face last week against the Rams, the new plan was a Lamar Jackson offense that turned in 316 passing yards and three touchdowns with 70 rushing yards.
Now look at the Ravens’ next three games: at Jacksonville, at San Francisco, at Miami. These are all attacks that could rebound on Baltimore, as the Jaguars and 49ers have great run defenses that will rest the game on Jackson’s arm. As Matt mentioned above, the receivers are raising their level of play, with Odell Beckham Jr. 4-97-1 last week Zay Flowers has scored 18 goals in the last two games, scoring in each. That Miami game will bring back memories of the Dolphins’ stunning 42-38 victory in 2022, in which Jackson rushed for 318 yards, 119 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. Can you imagine that ceiling match, with Tua Tagovailoa and Jackson exchanging blows, on championship week? Get ready for three weeks of prosperity for Jackson. — George Martin
Everything is falling into place for the Rams’ stars
Talk about getting healthy and hot at the right time, this is the Los Angeles Rams. The team’s three best scoring days have come in their last three games, and now here’s a schedule to wrap things up: Washington (29th in defensive DVOA), New Orleans (21st) and New York Giants (31st).
In a year where too many teams employ quarterbacks and play-callers we can’t trust, the Rams got Matthew Stafford back to form and Sean McVay dialed up the play by dozens. Usage is not difficult at all with the Rams, as they feature one of the tightest distribution trees in the league. Kyren Williams is a rare 2023 bell cow, and Puka Nakoa and Cooper Cobb are target pigs. Many championship runs will likely go the way of Southern California. Sorry about the traffic. — Scott Pianowski
DK is in a position to dominate December
DK Metcalf has made four home calls over the past two weeks (although he was sacked once) while producing 186 yards, so he’s already enjoying a memorable December. Regardless of whether it’s Drew Lock or Geno Smith leading Seattle’s offense, Metcalf should roast Philadelphia’s secondary on Monday night. The Eagles have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year by a healthy margin and the most receiving touchdowns to the position (23). James Bradberry has given up eight TDs and a 104.6 passer rating for his assignments. Each team’s WR1 (and often WR2 and WR3) has cooked up Philly’s defense all season.
When we get to Weeks 16 and 17, Metcalf will face a weak Titans D team, followed by a Pittsburgh secondary that has been punished by perimeter receivers all season. There’s a good chance Metcalf becomes the deciding wide receiver in fantasy money weeks. — Andy Behrens
Bijan finally has a talent matching role
Bijan Robinson has delivered decisively He took over the goal line role for Atlanta Since the team’s farewell, including three chances out of the five last week. The rookie’s usage has been frustrating at times this year, but he’s first among running backs in routes and fourth in targets, and now more is coming down the stretch. Falcons Extremely heavy And get three defenses during the fantasy playoffs that rank in the bottom 10 Modify the schedule Fantasy points allow for running backs.
Atlanta is favored this week against a Carolina team whose opponents have the fifth-most rushing attempts per game. In Week 16, the Falcons are at home against a Colts defense allowing the third-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs followed by the Bears D surrendering the fourth. Chicago is playing much better defense lately, but the Bears have allowed the most yards to running backs this season. With a very favorable schedule and a new role inside the Big Ten, Robinson will carry fantasy teams to championships. — Dalton Dale Don
The Steelers’ backfield will hold fantasy teams
Both full-backs continue to see 12-15 touches per game and have remained effective in their own ways. Jaylen Warren ranks fourth in yards per touch and third in broken tackles this season. He’s only playing 46% of the snaps and ranks third in broken tackles, and he’s just wild. Najee Harris earns the majority of the work in the backfield and ranks third on breakaway runs of 15+ yards.
Now, this crime isn’t that big, so how can both men remember December? Let’s start with their matches. Pittsburgh will face the Colts, Bengals and Seahawks in the fantasy playoffs. This is the top-five schedule for the rest of the season for fantasy running backs. The matchup against the Colts should provide plenty of use of the passing game for both running backs.
but this is not all. The Steelers are pushing to make the playoffs at 7-6 and are unlikely to rely on Mitch Trubisky, behind their 31st-ranked pass-blocking unit, to get there. They will likely benefit from their more explosive backfield on advantageous matchups. — asked Vetri
Rashi Rice is peaking at the right time
For most of the season, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been producing at an elite level, and that production is finally starting to give him a big role that will earn him a memorable month. Among wide receivers with 65-plus targets this season, Rice leads the league with 7.9 yards after the catch per reception, averages 2.35 yards per route (12th) and posts a 125.4 passer rating when targeted (4th). His 0.35 fantasy points per snap ranks fourth in that group… and finally… he’s earning more snaps as he develops into a true full-time pass-catching role from the NFL’s best quarterback.
Rice has nine or more targets, seven or more receptions and 64 or more yards in each of the Chiefs’ last three games, reeling in touchdowns in two of them, and wraps up December with games against the Patriots, Raiders and Bengals — all middling secondaryes. Rice is a top-10 fantasy receiver the rest of the season. — Kate Majdziuk
As the year comes to a close, the competition is heating up in various sports and events. The month of December is always full of excitement and anticipation as athletes and teams battle it out to be the best in their respective fields. The question on everyone’s mind is, who will have a December to remember and be the one to take home the silverware? Whether it’s in the world of soccer, basketball, hockey, or any other sport, the stakes are high and the competition is fierce. With so much on the line, the stage is set for some unforgettable performances and nail-biting finishes. So, let’s sit back, buckle up, and get ready to witness history in the making as we await to see who will emerge victorious and claim the ultimate prize in their sport.