For most of us championship week was last week. But for some Week 17 is still being played so with that in mind I did one last Money Makers & Heart Breakers for 2019. We will take into account some players may not actually even play – See Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram
Quarterbacks
? Money Makers
Carson Wentz – Wentz has just been playing out of his mind over the last month, including during a Week 14 matchup against the Giants where he put up 325 yards and 3 touchdowns. Wentz faces the Giants again who are not good against the pass being the third friendliest defense for quarterbacks in fantasy. You can expect Wentz to throw the ball 40 something times this game and get you the fantasy points you need in this penultimate week.
Ryan Tannehill – In Week 15, Tannehill hit the Texans with 272 passing and 2 total scores. Tannehill has been listed as a Money Maker every single week I have written this column and here he is again. Tannehill gets to warm up for the playoffs by torching this bottom 5 fantasy pass defense.
Jared Goff – (If he plays) Goff could give up reps to Bortles in Week 17 with the Rams out of the playoff picture, but there are no signs that Goff is sitting. With that in mind, Los Angeles faces the Cardinals who are the worts team against quarterbacks this season. Goff has struggled under pressure but Arizona will present no pressure on the Rams QB as the Cardinals lack anyone on their defensive front that is capable of consistently getting to the QB. Earlier this month, these teams faced off and Goff threw for 424 yards with 2 passing TDs. You can look for similar numbers from the Rams QB this week.
Other quarterbacks I like in Week 17 are Daniel Jones, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers
? Heart Breakers
Matt Ryan – Matty Ice comes in as a Heart Breaker once again, even though he is facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ryan struggled against the Bucs back in Week 12 and without Calvin Ridley, the Falcons offense just lacks the juice for Ryan to boast QB1 upside. And although Tampa has been known to be fairly weak against the pass, things have turned around in south Florida including a recent dismantling of Deshaun Watson. Matty will be icy cold this week and produce less than you would expect.
Kirk Cousins – The Bears defense is good against the pass and Cousins hasn’t looked great recently against the likes of the Packers and the Chargers. In fact, over the past 2 weeks, Cousins has only totaled 327 yards 2 TDs with a pair of interceptions. He’s definitely been on the downtrend and a date with Chicago isn’t the cure, especially with Cook still out. There is no one to take the pressure off the passing game. Cousins needs a strong running game to achieve a solid floor and he just doesn’t have it right now. The last time Cousins played the Bears was in Week 4 and he managed 233 yards and no touchdowns. I don’t expect the Vikings passing game to go nuts in against the Bears in this tough divisional matchup.
Running Backs
? Money Makers
Austin Ekeler – The Chiefs defense is actually pretty friendly to running backs (just like their offense). In their last matchup, Ekeler got them for 108 yards rushing with 5 receptions for 24 yards. Ove the last 3 weeks, Kansas City has bottled up the RB position against the Patriots, Broncos, and Bears. You can look for Ekeler to pile up some yards with short passes and break out some nice runs against the Chiefs this week.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt – The Bengals have given up good rushing games the last three weeks to the Dolphins (Gaskins 55 yards but scored a TD), Patriots (White, Burkhead and Michel all scored in double digits in fantasy when New England faced Cincinnati), and the Browns (both Hunt and Chubb also had double-digit fantasy points). With this in mind, you can expect the Browns to come in with the game plan of utilizing both of their backs against the Bengals.
Marlon Mack – Mack rumbled for 95 yards and a touchdown last week against Carolina, who struggles against the run. This week Mack gets another porous defense against the run in the Jaguars. I expect Mack to produce a similar outing to what he produced in Week 16 as the Jags continue to give up big plays to opposing running backs every week.
Other running backs I really like this week are Mixon, Jones, Kamara and Damien Williams
? Heart Breakers
Devonta Freeman – Tampa Bay is stout against the run and the Falcons struggle to run against tough run defenses. Tampa has not allowed an opponent rush for over 100 yards since Week 9, and that was Chris Carson, who was getting high touch volume with the Seahawks and very capable of producing with it. Unfortunately for Freeman, Atlanta doesn’t run the ball as much as Seattle and Freeman is not as talented runner as Carson.
Wide Receivers
? Money Makers
Breshard Perriman – 25.5 % or the target share last week for 12 targets, 7 receptions and 102 yards. The past four weeks he has had 87 yards, 70 yards and a TD, 113 yards and 3 TDs and 102 yards. Perriman will continue to roll as the number 1 wide receiver in an offense boasting a trigger happy Jameis Winston.
Allen Robinson – Robinson has averaged 11.2 targets over the past 5 games and he had a solid 7 for 77 outing against the Vikings in Week 4. Add to this that the Vikings are a bottom 10 defense against the wide receiver position and we can deduce a pretty damn good day for Robinson in Week 17. Take the volume and go with it.
Sterling Shepard – It was stated earlier in this column that the Eagles are good against the run, well they are not so good against the pass. Shepard’s last two weeks he has seen 9 receptions for 111 yards against Miami and 6 receptions for 76 yards and a TD against the Redskins. Jones does spread the ball around so it could be Tate or even Slayton that gets most of the production here but I like Shepard now that he is healthy.
Other wide receivers I like for Week 17 are Thomas, Jones, Adams all to be highly productive.
? Heart Breakers
Davante Parker – The best defense against the pass is the Patriots. Only 2 receivers have 100-yard games against the Patriots and both were slot receivers. Parker has been tearing it up with Fitzmagic forcing him the ball. This is also the week to move away from Parker in DFS. I would expect a disappointing 4 receptions for 50 yards this week.
Tight Ends
? Money Makers
Dallas Goedert – The Eagles still need pass catchers and Goedert had a career game last week with 9 receptions for 91 yards and touchdown. Ertz is a game-time decision. If Ertz is out Goedert will have another monster day, if Ertz plays Goedert should still have a very productive day as one of the trusted receivers for Wentz.
Jared Cook – Carolina is actually good against the tight end position but Cook has had over 50 yards and/or a touchdown every week since the week 9 bye. He has proven to be a big play threat and the second option in the Saints passing attack. I would look for Cook to have another solid day against the Panthers like he did in week 12 where he had 6 catches for 99 yards and a TD.
Other tight ends I like this week– Hooper, Ertz(if he plays), and obviously Kittle and Kelce.
? Heart Breakers
Mike Gesicki – Gesicki had a big game last week with 82 yards and 2 touchdowns, but please don’t chase the box score. The Patriots have only allowed 2 tight ends to have more than 5 catches on the season and have not given up a 100 yard game to the position all season (only one game with over 66 yards). Fade the Dolphins tight end even though he’s been trending upwards recently.
