Fantasy playoff notebook: LeSean McCoy dashes through the snow
The opening weekend of the fantasy playoffs came with breakouts and busts, an injury to an MVP candidate and a massive snowstorm. Here are some other news and notes coming out of Week 14:
– In the midst of frustrating seasons for their NFL teams, A.J. Green and Mike Evans struggled for their fantasy teams in Week 14. Green posted five catches for 64 yards and a lost fumble. The Bengals were dominated by the Bears in all facets a week after a deflating loss vs. Pittsburgh. Green faces difficult matchups against the Vikings and Lions in the next two weeks. Evans, meanwhile, had just two catches for 25 yards against Detroit and has totaled four catches for 58 yards over the past two weeks. He and Jameis Winston are struggling to get back on the same page.
– One player who didn’t disappoint is Josh Gordon. He found the end zone for the first time in nearly four years and is averaging 77 yards in the two games since his return. He’ll get plenty of looks against an undermanned Ravens secondary next week.
– Playing in a Buffalo blizzard, LeSean McCoy set season highs in carries (32) and rushing yards (156) and delivered a game-winning touchdown for the Bills. McCoy’s incredible combination of balance, quickness and vision was on display in what was otherwise an offensive nightmare for both the Bills and the Colts. McCoy is firmly entrenched as an RB1 in Week 15 as he faces a Miami defense that’s given up several big days to opposing running backs.
– The Jimmy Garoppolo-Marquise Goodwin connection continues to be a fruitful one for the 49ers. In Garoppolo’s two starts for San Francisco, he’s targeted Goodwin 20 times, resulting in 14 catches for 205 yards. Against Houston on Sunday, Goodwin passed the century mark for the second time this season. Goodwin’s speed forces opponents to give him cushion, and that gives him space on the short- and intermediate-depth routes where Garoppolo excels. Goodwin’s owned in just 55 percent of leagues and has an enticing matchup against Tennessee upcoming.
– Davante Adams has become Green Bay’s top target with Brett Hundley leading the offense. He turned 14 targets into 10 catches for 84 yards and two scores against Cleveland on Sunday, and has had double-digit targets in three of the past five games. But with Aaron Rodgers set to return, Jordy Nelson figures to reclaim a more prominent role in the offense. In eight games with Hundley as his QB, Nelson hasn’t scored and is averaging under 27 yards per outing. In the four games in which both Nelson and Rodgers were healthy, Nelson caught six touchdowns and averaged 57.5 yards receiving.
– Jonathan Stewart wins the “Huge Playoff Performance That Helps No One” award. Started in under 10 percent of leagues this week, Stewart exploded for 103 yards and three touchdowns against a normally stout Vikings defense. That’s good for 28.3 points in standard scoring leagues. His second-highest fantasy output this year was 15.2 points way back in Week 1. Expect this to be just a blip on the radar.
– Two West Coast quarterbacks — Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers — are absolutely on fire while playing completely juxtaposing styles. Wilson overcame a slow start against the outstanding Jacksonville defense, scrambling and improvising his way to 24.84 fantasy points. He’s had at least 24 points in each of his last four games. Rivers, meanwhile, surpassed 20 fantasy points for the third straight week and hasn’t thrown a pick in the last month. He’s playing excellent football, often by just taking what the defense gives him.
– Through 11 weeks, Cooper Kupp had never hit the century mark in the NFL. Now he’s done it twice in the last three weeks. He has been used more often down the field in Robert Woods’ absence. Up next for the Rams are the Seahawks, against whom Kupp struggled earlier in the year. But that was before Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor suffered season-ending injuries. Woods is expected to return for the matchup, so temper expectations for Kupp but he’s still going to be on the radar as an WR3.
– A couple of notes from the Sunday Night Football: First, Alex Collins is an absolute stud and has quickly turned into a must-start. He is the undisputed lead back and plays in a running back-friendly system. Second, Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell is just crushing the ball right now. Dispel any worries you have about the Steelers, who were at one point were in love with the two-point conversion rather than the 33-yard extra point. Boswell’s available in nearly 30 percent of leagues and has been fantasy’s best kicker of late. Now more than ever, every point matters. Don’t miss out on Boswell’s hot streak.
