As we wind toward the final games of the 2010 regular season, I’d like to take a quick moment to thank you for joining me on this ride.
It’s been a long, strange trip since the early days of fantasy draft season and the first iteration of our draft boards. Each week presented a new set of fantasy heroes, zeroes and head-scratchers. This might have been one of the most entertaining seasons that I’ve had the pleasure of covering. I can’t wait for 2011.
We’ll roll into Week 17 with one last journey to the waiver wire. There are still head-to-head and points titles to be won. If you fear that your starter will commence “operation shutdown,” perhaps you need to make a sneaky play.
Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis
Bradford ended a three-week scoring drought with a touchdown pass to Laurent Robinson in Sunday’s win over the 49ers (he had scored a rushing touchdown in Week 14). He’s averaged 223.8 passing yards per game this season. Bradford passed for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the first meeting with Seattle. His receiving corps is healthier than it has been this season, and Steven Jackson remains a battering ram.
Talk about a “winner take all” moment for the fantasy title.
Shaun Hill, QB, Detroit
Hill returned to the lineup after missing several weeks with a broken finger and led the Lions to another road win in Week 16. He passed for 222 yards with two touchdowns against the Dolphins. Hill has averaged 281 passing yards in the eight games he’s completed in 2010, a run that includes five multi-touchdown games.
Tim Tebow, QB, Denver
Denver brass gave the home fans a holiday gift by “releasing the Tebow.” The rookie quarterback passed for 308 yards with a touchdown, adding 27 rushing yards and a touchdown in the comeback win over Houston. I know. You want to dismiss this game because of the opponent, but Tebow has made plays in both of his starts (four total touchdowns).
The Chargers represent a difficult task statistically, but one has to wonder whether last week’s debacle against Cincinnati puts them in the tank. San Diego was officially eliminated from the playoffs after getting torched regularly by Carson Palmer and his youthful receivers.
Marion Barber, RB, Dallas
Barber returned to the lineup this past week against the Cardinals and torpedoed the fantasy title dreams of those who banked on late-season hero Tashard Choice to post another big game. Barber rushed for 58 yards on eight carries, including a 25-yard sprint and a 24-yard touchdown. He’s back in play for goal-line opportunities, few though they may be, in the finale against Philadelphia.
Rashad Jennings, RB, Jacksonville
Jennings was to be “The Hero of the Day” as the starting tailback for Jacksonville in place of the injured Maurice Jones-Drew. He received a sizable workload, but the speedy tailback found running room sparse against the Redskins. He carried the ball 15 times for 32 yards, adding four receptions for 29 yards. He’s on the radar for the finale against Houston, particularly as a receiver, should Jones-Drew be sidelined again. Jennings has averaged 70 total yards in the Jaguars’ past five games.
John Kuhn, RB, Green Bay
Kuhn has become a folk hero in Green Bay, and was the recipient of two game balls in Week 16 following the throttling of the Giants. Kuhn has scored a total of five touchdowns in the past four weeks while averaging 6.3 touches per game. I put him on the list here only as a speculative flex play in touchdown-only leagues for the Week 17 game against Chicago.
Correll Buckhalter, RB, Denver
Correll Buckhalter was the star of Sunday’s win over Houston with Knowshon Moreno banged up because of a lingering rib injury. He amassed 92 yards on 14 touches (three receptions for 50 yards) and scored both as a runner and receiver. Moreno’s injury puts Buckhalter on the radar for a possible low-end RB2 or flex play against San Diego if Moreno is unavailable for the Broncos.
Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Sproles assumes the No. 2 role behind Ryan Mathews following Mike Tolbert’s injury. He emerged as the top receiving target for Philip Rivers in the loss to Cincinnati that sealed the Chargers’ fate. Sproles was targeted 10 times in the loss, registering eight receptions for 55 yards. In the past three weeks, Sproles has amassed 18 receptions for 136 yards.
Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans
Meachem represents an intriguing, and potentially dangerous (in both ways), option for fantasy owners this week against the Buccaneers. He’s registered two 100-yard games in his past four games (10 receptions for 101 yards in Week 16 against Atlanta), but was also limited to 17 receiving yards TOTAL in the other two contests (shut out in Week 14).
Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston
Jones didn’t find the end zone, but he emerged as Matt Schaub’s top target in Andre Johnson’s absence. He caught five passes for a total of 115 yards in the loss to Denver. In the past three weeks, Jones has caught a total of 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. Johnson’s ankle may preclude him from playing in the final, thereby keeping Jones at the forefront of the receiving corps.
Danario Alexander, WR, St. Louis
Alexander was the receiving star of the day for the Rams in Week 16, recording six catches for 99 yards in the win over San Francisco. He does represent some risk, as Alexander has missed much of this season because of injuries. He’s finished three of his five full games with at least 70 receiving yards.
Jerome Simpson, WR, Cincinnati
Simpson emerged as Palmer’s top option this past week as the youth movement was featured in the win over San Diego. Palmer looked more comfortable than we’ve seen him all season, and he was more willing to work downfield. Palmer will go for broke this week against the Baltimore secondary in the finale, and that bodes well for Simpson. Simpson caught six passes for 124 yards with two touchdowns in Week 15 against a strong San Diego pass defense, including a 59-yarder. He’d caught two passes for 30 yards in the previous game against the Browns.
Andre Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati Caldwell also needs to be considered for a roster spot this week. He’s caught four passes in back-to-back weeks with 89 and 87 yards. I suspect that he’s the better, more consistent play, particularly if Chad Ochocinco suits up in what could be his final game with the team.
Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans
The Saints run out two tight ends from “The U,” with veteran Jeremy Shockey and rookie Jimmy Graham working the middle for this high-flying offense. Graham has come into his own in recent weeks, having caught a total of 21 passes in the Saints’ past six games. He’s averaged 40.5 receiving yards per game during this period and has scored three touchdowns in the past two weeks. The Saints have made the playoffs, but there’s still unfinished business this week against the Buccaneers at home. I anticipate that Graham remains a frequent target and red zone beast in the finale.
Owen Daniels, TE, Houston
Daniels continued his late-season surge with a strong game against the Denver secondary. He caught eight passes for 73 yards, including a touchdown. In the past three weeks, Daniels has amassed 17 receptions for 209 yards and could be a difference-maker against the Jaguars. Houston still has the opportunity to play spoiler in this lost season.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England
Gronkowski dominated in the red zone once again in Week 16 against the Bills. He caught four passes for 54 yards with two touchdowns to bring his season total to nine (36 receptions overall). Gronkowski does carry some risk, as he’s alternated great and weak efforts for the past several weeks. If Aaron Hernandez is unavailable again, Gronkowski’s value and place in the offense rises.
