RADIO
You've read about all the sleepers, waiver wire pickups and starter suggestions based on matchups. Now let me burst some bubbles and tell you who I think is going to bust big time in Week 15.
This isn't to troll or spread hate - that's what those political sites are for. Think of this as a public service for fanboys and truth deniers who insist that everything is going to be alright, when it's clearly not. If you don't believe me, just ask the general public on Twitter. They know everything.
Warning: while the picks made in this article are completely serious, you may find sarcastic humor laced throughout. If you don't have any sense of humor whatsoever, turn back now before you get all worked up. Comments, praise, complaints or ramblings can be directed to @pfunk00 on Twitter.
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Week 14 Recap
If there's one lesson I've learned from doing this article all season, it's not to pick against quarterbacks. Their value often relies on game flow, which is almost impossible to predict. While Dak Prescott fell flat as expected, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan each tossed three TDs and were among the top fantasy scorers. Who would have thought the Seahawks would get run out of the building or that Jeff Fisher would be throwing in the towel on his career without even knowing it? Despite running for just 66 yards and averaging 2.87 and 2.75 yards per carry, both Doug Martin and Jon Stewart took goal-line plunges to salvage their fantasy days. Every WR on last week's list was a massive bust, however, so from now on I will be selecting only wide receivers. OK, mostly wide receivers. Here's the official recap breakdown:
Sad receivers (and Dak):
Dak Prescott (165 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT)
DeVante Parker (2 REC, 14 YDS)
Quincy Enunwa (3 REC, 29 YDS)
Rishard Matthews (1 REC, 26 YDS)
Tyler Lockett (4 REC, 41 YDS)
Everybody else:
Aaron Rodgers (246 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT)
Matt Ryan (237 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT)
Doug Martin (66 RUSH YDS, 19 REC YDS, 1 TD)
Jonathan Stewart (66 RUSH YDS, 1 TD)
Kyle Rudolph (4 REC, 60 YDS, 1 TD)
If you're still fighting in the playoffs this week, chances are you've avoided most of these busts all year. Keep your wits about you, play it smart, roll with what got you here and stick with your studs. Except these guys:
Top 10 Busts for Week 15
Andrew Luck (QB, IND) - If you are a Luck owner, it may be time to bench your QB1 for the playoffs. Luck has been a steady performer this season, throwing a touchdown in every game and only falling below 200 yards once. While he possesses a high floor, his ceiling will be very limited this game. Minnesota hasn't allowed more than 262 passing yards to a team the entire season. Here's how some of the top QBs fared against the Vikings in 2016 so far: Aaron Rodgers (213 YDS, 1 TD), Eli Manning (261 YDS, 0 TD), Kirk Cousins (262 YDS, 2 TD), Matthew Stafford (219 YDS, 2 TD). If 260 yards and two TD is the best-case scenario, you may be better off rolling with another option. Luck himself ought to be worried.
Ryan Mathews (RB, PHI) - His return last week proved to be impeccable timing as Wendell Smallwood left the game with a knee sprain and has been placed on IR. Mathews ran for 60 yards on 15 carries, good for four yards a pop. Unfortunately, he has only exceeded 60 yards in a game twice this season. Facing the Ravens' stingy run defense makes him a TD-dependent flex play. If Darren Sproles misses the game, he could be upgraded to an RB2, but it's hard to put much faith in the Eagles these days.
Spencer Ware (RB, KC) - How the mighty have fallen. Ware was looking like the waiver wire add of the year mid-season, but has faltered since the second half began. He hasn't accumulated 100 total yards and has only scored in one game since Week 7. The Titans come in with the fifth-best defense against RB for fantasy points allowed. Ware will be a shaky RB2 at best this week. Don't let him sink your ship if you can help it.
Jeremy Hill (RB, CIN) - Hill came up big last week with 142 total yards and a touchdown, but that was against the hapless Browns. The Steelers are holding opponents to 62 rushing yards per game in the last four contests. If Cleveland did not exist for the sole purpose of allowing huge games to their opponents, Hill would be averaging 46.2 rush yards per game on the season with a 3.16 Y/A. He will need a goal-line plunge to help fantasy owners this week, but chances are he won't be paying homage to "the GOAT" in Week 15.
Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN) - The fact that Boyd had one of the best games of his rookie year against Pittsburgh in Week 2 may tempt some into starting him this week. He faces off against William Gay, who has shut down opposing slot receivers as of late. No slot receiver has scored or broken 55 yards in the last month and a half against the Steelers since their bye. Not that Boyd has been lighting the fantasy world on fire anyway, but if you were rolling with him since the Green injury, fade him this week. In fact, fade the whole Bengals team if possible.
Golden Tate (WR, DET) - Tate has been playing well lately, but his quarterback is the bigger concern. Stafford will be wearing a glove on his injured hand, which won't keep him out, but could affect his accuracy as it has for Derek Carr. On the other side, the Giants are proving to not only be Cowboy killers, but a legit contender in the NFC thanks to their defense. Janoris Jenkins is playing like a Pro Bowler, while they are limiting teams to 223 passing yards per game over the last five. Plus, Detroit could be at a disadvantage due to the fact that the Giants are running full surveillance on their opponents.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU) - He couldn't take advantage of a good matchup last week, catching two passes for 33 yards, and it will actually get tougher against the Jags. The young team is tightening up on defense, allowing an average of 178 passing yards per game in the last six contests. Houston's offensive struggles have already been well-documented to this point. Hopkins is not a must-start based on his draft status three months ago. Statistically speaking, he has been a low-ceiling WR3 all year and it will stay that way this week. You don't need a reminder of who his quarterback is.
Allen Robinson (WR, JAX) - Another surefire WR1 in fantasy drafts that turned bust, A-Rob simply isn't getting the job done and is best avoided. He has a total of nine receptions for 91 yards in the last four games combined. Let that sink in for a minute... He did have his best game of the season against the Texans in Week 10, catching nine balls for 107 yards and a TD, but corner A.J. Bouye missed that game. Bouye is back to blanket the struggling receiver, which makes Robinson downright benchable, as he has been much of the season. Let's face it, owning A-Rob has been painful this season. Now that Jeff Fisher has gotten fired, one has to wonder what it would take for Gus Bradley to get the boot.
Michael Thomas (WR, NO) - It has become almost a weekly ritual to predict the receiver being shadowed by Patrick Peterson as a bust. More often than not, this proves to be correct. Thomas has been excellent in his rookie year, but was a DNP for the first time last week. He should be back against the Cardinals, but the matchup should be too tough to overcome. The problem isn't that he has hit the rookie wall. It's the entire Saints offense that has hit a wall.
Martellus Bennett (TE, NE) - Bennett scored and caught 70 yards last week against the Ravens, instilling hope in those who thought he would reach TE1 numbers in New England. He hasn't exactly been Gronk-like in recent weeks or even Gronk Lite. Bennett had only totaled six receptions for 40 yards the last three weeks since Gronk's season-ending injury. It's a fact that the Broncos still have arguably the best pass defense in the league. Bennett's prospects don't seem good this week, but don't feel too bad for the Patriots.
