Playoff-bound or not, it’s all in good fun
Things can be a little depressing around this time in the fantasy football schedule. Most teams have either locked in a playoff spot or have fallen by the wayside many, many weeks ago. For example, I’m 10-1 in two of my five leagues. I’m going to the playoffs, it’s just a matter of what seed I’ll have. Other leagues are a bit more interesting. One such league has three 6-5 teams (including mine) battling it out for two wild-card playoff spots that will come down to these final two weeks. This adds extra intensity toand even leads those that have no shot to pick a team to root for. It’s all in good fun.
Which leads me to my bigger point: Remember that this is all just a game. Yes, it’s a game that gives the winner bragging rights for an entire year and maybe gets their name engraved on a trophy that you and your friends pass around. Yes, it’s a game that serves as a proxy war to essentially compare sports knowledge with your buddies, but it’s still just a game. Keep that in mind as the playoffs approach. Maybe you’re in a league with your family and you’ll have a chance to reconnect with them over Thanksgiving and watch some football after eating too much good food. That’s my plan. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to crush your opponent into the ground and trash talk is expected (encouraged, even), but it’s not worth ruining a friendship over. Football has a strange ability to bring people together, so be sure that fantasy football doesn’t do the opposite.
All that said, maybe these waiver adds will help you crush that person who just won’t stop talking trash.
Jameis Winston (QB, TB)- “Famous Jameis” finally became “Famous Fantasy Jameis” after he and the Bucs totally routed the Eagles. The Bucs got Vincent Jackson back last week, and it showed. I don’t expect these sorts of numbers on a regular basis, but his remaining schedule looks enticing except for a run-in with the Rams and Panthers.
Javorius “Buck” Allen/Terrance West (RB, BAL)- By now you should know the drill. Sad to watch Justin Forsett’s season end with a broken arm in what has been a lost season from Week 1 for the Ravens. Granted, their entire offense is a Dumpster fire, having lost their star RB and QB in Joe Flacco. Having Jimmy Clausen or Matt Schaub at the helm will cap the value of Allen or West, but a RB with a steady workload is such a rare commodity that you should jump at the chance to get one whenever they’re available.
Thomas Rawls (RB, SEA)- Marshawn Lynch will have to sit out a few weeks, and this allows the talented Rawls to continue off of his momentum from this 250-yard, 2-TD effort against the 49ers. Granted, the 49ers have decided to not play defense this year, but points are points. Rawls should get 20-plus carries per game for as long as Lynch is out.
Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL)- As of this writing, Devonta Freeman seems to be handling his concussion protocol rather well, meaning that he could return in time for Sunday’s game against the Vikes. If not, Coleman would get the start and be a good flex play in a team that has learned to run this season.
Spencer Ware (RB, KC)- Where do the Chiefs get these guys? Charchandrick West has been putting on a show ever since Jamaal Charles went down, and Ware did the same after West got banged up. Should West be forced to sit out this week, Ware seems more than capable of carrying the baton.
Devin Funchess (WR, CAR)- It’s about time. After seeing minimal targets and even fewer caught balls, Funchess is starting to remind Panthers fans of the emergence of the big-bodied Kelvin Benjamin. I’m already imagining the tantalizing image of Funchess and KB lined up on either side of the field next year. While the Panthers don’t have one true WR that you can count on for fantasy purposes, Funchess seems to be trending in that direction.
Brandon LaFell (WR, NE)- Given the rash of injuries that have struck the Patriots’ WRs, LaFell will likely be injured this week. However, he seems to be the presumptive top target for Tom Brady should Danny Amendola be unable to play. His value (as well as that of all of the Pats’ offense) will be capped this week against the stout Broncos defense, but is there going forward.
Cecil Shorts/Nate Washington (WR, HOU)- I don’t mean to kick the Saints while they’re down, but realistically, they were awful on defense and just fired their defensive coordinator and I don’t see things improving for the rest of the year. Pro-tip: If you have space on your roster, go ahead and start stashing players that will play the Saints for the rest of the season.
Terrance Williams (WR, DAL)- Dez Bryant has a hot date with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Josh Norman on Thanksgiving. While Bryant is a top-5 WR that will probably still get his due, Tony Romo will be forced to look toward Williams more often than not.
Vernon Davis (TE, SF)- New Broncos QB Brock Osweiler seemed to rely on Davis more than Peyton Manning cared to. If you need a new TE, you could do a lot, lot worse than the former 49ers stud.
Chiefs D/ST- The Chiefs have seemingly distanced themselves from their atrocious play earlier in the season and are playing some lights out defense now. Their remaining schedule is favorable as well with matchups against the Chargers, Raiders, Browns and Ravens.
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Playoff-bound or not, it’s all in good fun."