Fantasy Football Talk: Playoff Edition

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DHS Press Staff

Get Ian’s weekly pics on who to start, sit, and who to pick up on waivers.

Ryan Tannehill is playing like an NFL MVP, The Patriots cheated (again), and the Broncos marched all over a playoff hopeful Texan team. With so much to talk about lets get right into it. All point totals are done in the standard ESPN PPR point format.

Must Start:

Baker Mayfield- Quarterback- Cleveland Browns: I know he has been extremely disappointing this year, but this matchup might just be full proof. The Browns face a Cardinal team who is the most friendly to opposing QBs (surrendering 25 FPPG). Mayfield, who has been really bad this year, will have a super easy matchup and will be able to add lots of extra points with his legs. Besides the bengals the Cardinals have given up the most rushing yards in the NFL.

Josh Jacobs- Running Back- Oakland Raiders: On Wednesday, the Raiders came out and said Jacobs should be ready to play come Sunday. The Raiders play the Jaguars who have been terrible against the rush all year. Jacobs, who has had a stellar rookie campaign, will look to exploit a defense who has allowed the most FPPG to opposing RBs and the third most rushing yards per game as well. Jacobs will easily go north of 20 touches and has potential for a top 3 day.

Philip Lindsay- Running Back- Denver Broncos: Drew Lock has transformed this Bronco team. He is 3-0 so far as the starter and they look like a completely different team. It is allowing Lindsay so much more room to work and this week faces a Chief team who is just slightly better against than the Jaguars (not saying much). They have given up the second most FPPG to opposing RBs and the second most receiving yards to RBs as well. Lindsay is a major part of the passing game so he will be able to add some major points in that department.

Do Not Start

Joe Mixon- Running Back- Cincinnati Bengals: Barring the fact the Patriots have eight minutes of footage of this team, let’s look at other reasons. Mixon has been fantastic since week 8 and has only gone under 17 FP in a game once in that span. With that said, the Patriots are freakishly good against the run. They have allowed the least amount of FPPG to RBs and only one rushing TD all year to a RB. Mixon may see a lot of touches but it will translate to next to nothing like it did earlier this year.

Courtland Sutton- Wide Receiver- Denver Broncos: As bad as the Chiefs are against the rush, they are quite the opposite against the pass. Sutton has been fantastic this year but I really see him struggling this week. They have allowed the second lowest FPPG to opposing wideouts and the second lowest total receptions all year to WRs. Sutton is a guy who typically finds himself with 15-20 yard receptions and against a strong safety core and solid CBs, I really have a hard time watching Sutton have a productive day.

Kirk Cousins- Quarterback- Minnesota Vikings: Cousins, who has had an excellent second half of the year to bring the Vikings to 9-4, finds himself with a super difficult matchup against the Chargers. The Chargers are actually alarmingly good against fantasy QBs only allowing 14.6 FPPG. The Chargers run defense is so bad they are the only team that has not faced over 400 passing attempts against them this season. Judging by how good the Viking running game is as well, Cousins will have extremely limited opportunities to be successful.

Waiver Wire Pickups

Cole Beasley- Wide Receiver- Buffalo Bills: Arguably one of the most overlooked players all year. Beasley has over nine fantasy points in every game in all but two games all year and has great FLEX appeal. He is a solid option if you are facing injuries or a bad matchup with his 32% ownership.

Ryan Tannehill- Quarterback- Tennessee Titans: See ya Marcus Mariotta. Tannehill is playing like an NFL MVP candidate and has been fantastic in fantasy. Since he has become the starter he has 19 points or more in every game beside one (14 points in week 13). He only has 50% ownership and is a solid top 10 start nearly every week barring a super rough matchup.

Patrick Laird- Running Back- Miami Dolphins: Remember the name for next year. This kid has been great for the Dolphins and has workhorse potential. He has had double digit point performances in 3 of the last 4 weeks and is the feature back in Miami. They are getting him super involved in the passing game as well which really boosts his stock. He only has 21% ownership.