It's Championship Week!

Wow. It feels so long ago but also like just yesterday that I was writing about the Week 1 preview and Thursday night recap. And here we are, championship week.

Hopefully, this newsletter has done you some good and won you some weeks. If not, I’m very sorry but I at least hope you had some fun along the way!

I’ve got some things planned for this offseason, and I’m looking forward to things slowing down a little with the season coming to a close. We still have the playoffs for sure, but the main fantasy season is almost over.

If you can’t help but get more football, make sure to join the Discord! We’ll be talking all through the playoffs and the offseason. Invite your friends, the more the merrier!

Also, my Browns secured their playoff spot! Heck yeah!

I’m back on top with wins on Monday and Thursday night, with a commanding win with a lineup featuring Jerome Ford at Captain, Hall, Flacco, Njoku, Conklin, and Tillman in the flex. What’s crazy is that lineup scored 126 points in a showdown slate and didn’t even cash. Granted I was 0.25 points outside of the money line but that’s just how crazy condensed all the scoring was. If you missed on a single player, you didn’t win in DFS.

I stand with a 15-8 lead on the season. With primetime games winding down, maybe we’ll keep this going into the playoffs as a playoff showdown? 🤔 

Thursday Night Fantasy Recap

David Njoku had about the best start you could ask for out of a tight end. He looked like he was on his way to an Amari Cooper-type performance but then did next to nothing after the first quarter. It was more than enough to make you happy you started him, however. Jerome Ford put on a show, scoring on each of his receptions and amassing 121 scrimmage yards, exactly what you want to get from your running back in championship week. It’s been a good year for him, and he’s secured his backup role for next year behind Nick Chubb in 2024. Elijah Moore and Joe Flacco went on a revenge game tour for the first quarter and a half. But then Moore got injured…

The Browns desperately need Amari Cooper and Moore back, be it in Week 18 or in the playoffs. Without them, the offense came to a grinding halt after a massive first-half performance. Cedric Tillman had two end zone targets and four overall but caught only one of them for eight yards. He’s on the verge of being another promising prospect failing to deliver, much like teammate David Bell. They need another reliable WR2 behind Moore or even one that could be an improvement over Moore and make him the WR3.

Garrett Wilson had a respectable 5 for 50 against some of the best corners in the NFL. Breece Hall was the dude against the Browns, going for 126 scrimmage yards and a touchdown while catching nine passes. Tyler Conklin didn’t have the game I was hoping for, since Cleveland has given it up to tight ends recently, but went 5 for 46, which isn’t bad. Aaaanndd that was about it for the Jets’ side of things. More than likely they are going to go after a receiver, possibly Davante Adams, in the offseason, so expect them to have a new look with Aaron Rodgers at the helm in 2024.

Things to look out for in Week 17

• 🐏 Kyren Williams missed four games this season. He is still the RB5 overall and the RB2 in points per game in half-PPR formats. The Giants have limited backs in the receiving game, but they have given it up on the ground. New York has allowed the third most rushing yards and fifth most rushing touchdowns in the NFL.

• 🏹 Rashee Rice had 12 targets thrown his way against the Raiders on Christmas day, but managed only six receptions for 57 yards. Some of the incompletions were not his fault, but no doubt he played a part in others. It’s encouraging Mahomes kept going back to him regardless, and I would expect a bounce-back from him on Sunday against Cincinnati. The Bengals are reeling and the Chiefs need to find some sort of rhythm going into the playoffs if they want to make another run. Rice should be a big part of that rhythm-building.

• 🐬 The Ravens are middle-of-the-pack in rushing yards allowed but are 31st in rushing touchdowns allowed to running backs. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane are both startable and can explode for a big game, but temper expectations.

• 🦁 It took long enough, but Jahmyr Gibbs is the RB1 we thought he could be. I’ll fully admit that he didn’t score great for me as a prospect and I doubted his size profile coming into the NFL, but I had him ranked as my RB2 of the 2023 class because of draft capital and the fact that I gave into peer pressure. I’m glad that I had him as my RB2! He’s the overall RB2 since Week 10 behind only Christian McCaffrey and he faces Dallas this week. The Cowboys should put the Lions into passing situations, but you can run on them. He should feast.

• ⛪️ Chris Olave had a rocky start to the season but he’s the WR9 in PPG since Week 9. He faces the NFC Rival Tampa Bay who have given up the most yards and fourth most points to wide receivers in 2023.

• 🏴‍☠️ Mike Evans is in play this week with Marshon Lattimore likely out for the Saints.

• 🧀 I like both Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs in their game against the Vikings on Sunday. Green Bay still has a shot at the playoffs, and Christian Watson looks like he will miss yet again.

• 🐆 It’s going to be tough to trust the Jacksonville pass catchers, especially if Trevor Lawrence can’t go. Green Bay played well against the Panthers’ defense, but on the season Carolina has limited wide receivers and tight ends.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a WR3 in 5 of 11 games since the Seahawks bye, with two more games finishing just outside of WR3 territory. The Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives and his name may be called in the short area more often if the Steelers, who blitz at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, pressure Geno Smith. 🟢 

• It’s a bit of a thin play, but in deeper formats, Darius Slayton is an interesting start. He only had three targets against Philly, but he turned it into 90 yards and a touchdown. Granted one of those was a 69-yard score, but long plays still count in fantasy. He’s been the Giants' top wideout the past two weeks, and he’s worth a shot in a game where New York will likely need to throw against LA.

• 🇺🇸 If you need a safer play, Demario Douglas is your man. He came back from a two-game absence without missing a beat, garnering eight targets and catching five of them for 74 yards in the Patriots win over Denver. The Pats are eliminated from playoff contention, but they can play spoiler for the Bills on Sunday and Douglas will likely stay heavily involved.

• 🐈‍⬛ I would like to see him get some more receiving work, but Chuba Hubbard is startable in championship week. Jacksonville is nothing special against running backs and Hubbard has taken over the Panthers backfield.

• ⚡️ For those in need of a tight end, Tucker Kraft, Gerald Everett, and Chig Okonkwo are all good options for this week either based on projected volume, matchup, or both. 🔥 

As an announcement, I’ll be sending out a survey with a quick questionnaire asking about how I can improve this newsletter for you in the future. I’m hoping we can all grow together and create a great community here and in the Discord as well.

Thanks for everything this year! It’s been really fun and I’m excited to go into the new year and keep this going. Now go win some championships! Also, since I won’t see you till after January 1, happy new year! 🎆 🎆 🧨