Tag: Fantasy Football Game Reviews

Taking a quick rundown of the Week 18 Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

KC 28, DEN 24
The Chiefs had more trouble winning this than expected, but they woke up at the end of the second quarter and  played the Broncos evenly, until late in the fourth quarter when the Chiefs’ defense returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown to make the difference. Patrick Mahomes threw for 270 yards and two scores but relied on Mecole Hardman (8-103). Tyreek Hill (1-2) made a cameo, and Travis Kelce (4-34, TD) was the first scorer in the game. Derrick Gore (7-30), Darrel Williams (7-17), and Jerick  McKinnon (5-24) all shared the backfield but McKinnon added three catches for 26 yards and one score as the most productive running backs. The Chiefs end 12-5 on the season and are the No. 2 seed.

The Broncos stayed in the game most thanks to their backfield. Melvin Gordon (12-110, TD) and Javonte Williams (12-46) handled the rushing with Williams adding two catches for 18 yards. Drew Lock only threw for 162 yards and no scores but had no turnovers. Tim Patrick (6-95) was the only receiver with more than 30 yards and Lock both missed several throws and had other passes dropped. The Broncos’ defense helped keep the game close. Denver ends with a 7-10 record.

DAL 51, PHI 26
The Eagles missed numerous players due to a COVID outbreak, including all the starting running backs and much of the defense. The big win is no surprise even though it was 17-17 in the second quarter before it all unraveled for the Eagles. Dak Prescott tossed five touchdowns along with  295 passing yards. Cedrick Wilson (5-119, 2 TD) enjoyed a career-best performance while Amari Cooper (5-79) and CeeDee Lamb (2-45) all combined for the best receivers. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries to log his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season.  The Cowboys finished the game inserting all their running back depth for a couple of rushing scores. The Cowboys end with a 12-5 record and become the No. 3 seed.

The Eagles were stripped of players on both sides of the ball and yet put up an admirable fight for the first half. Gardner Minshew threw for 186 yards and two scores between Quez Watkins (5-84, TD) and Tyree Jackson (3-22, TD). DeVonta Smith ended with three catches for 41 yards and ended his rookie year with 96 yards. The backfield saw surprising success while down to only Kenneth Gainwell (12-78, TD) and Jason Huntley (13-51).  The Eagles gave it a solid effort with second and third-string players in many spots. Philadelphia finished at 9-8.

PIT 16, BAL 13 OT
There weren’t a lot of fantasy points here and the 29 total points says all you need to know. This plays out well for Steeler fans wanting to see Big Ben one more time. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 244 yards and one score to Chase Claypool (5-37, TD), who was also the leading rusher with 33 yards on three runs. Diontae Johnson (7-51) and Pat Freiermuth (6-53) stayed close to the line of scrimmage so that the passes could reach them. Najee Harris only gained 28 yards on 11 carries and went for 27 yards on his four receptions. The win lifts the Steelers to 9-7-1 and they squeak into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.

The Ravens had minimal offensive punch in this home game. Latavius Murray ran for 150 yards on 16 carries with a score that was roughly equal to his last eight games combined. Devonta Freeman gained just 21 yards on five carries and left with a rib injury. But Tyler Huntley was held to only 141 passing yards and two interceptions. Mark Andrews (8-85) ends on a high note but none of  the other receivers gained more than 28 yards. The Ravens sent the game into overtime with a field goal at 1:13 left to play but they let the Steelers march down the field and win with a 36-yard field goal. The Ravens end at 8-9 and miss the playoffs.

CIN 16, CLE 21
The Bengals already won the AFC North and let Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon sit. Trayveon Williams (9-38) and Chris Evans (7-35) handled the backfield. Brandon Allen threw for just 136 yards and one score to Evans (4-24, TD). Ja’Marr Chase (2-26) played just long enough to get 1,000 yards while Tee Higgins was inactive. This is exactly why fantasy leagues need to end one week before the season does. The Bengals end 10-7 and put their hands in the air like they just didn’t care. They are still the No. 4 seed.

The Browns only ran Nick Chubb nine times for 58 yards and his rib injury from last week was either worse than let on or he aggravated it. He only had one rush after the first quarter and it gained 35 yards at the end of the third quarter. D’Ernest Johnson ended with 25 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Case Keenum only passed for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Jarvis Landry (6-75, TD) was the only receiver that gained more than 38 yards. The Browns had the benefit of the Bengals sitting the best players and finish the year at 8-9.

GB 30, DET 37
The Packers had nothing to win but played most of the starters through the half. Aaron Jones was inactive and AJ Dillon ran for 63 yards on 14 carries. Aaron Rodgers passed for 138 yards and two scores, then handed off to Jordan Love who threw for 134 yards and one score with two interceptions. Alan Lazard ended with a great game of 75 yards and two scores on five catches while Davante Adams (6-55) hit the bench in the second half.  The Packers end up 13-4 while the entire team gets time off next week as the No. 1 seed.

They had the benefit of the Packers leaving the stadium at halftime, but a win is a win, and with only two of them this year, anything is welcome. Jared Goff ended with 238 pass yards and two scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown puts his final mark on a tremendous rookie campaign with eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Kalif Raymond (4-101, TD) also had a big game that opened with a 75-yard touchdown catch on a trick play thrown by wideout Tom Kennedy. Regardless that they were playing Packers-B, the win felt good and let them wrap up at 3-13-1.

TEN 28, HOU 25
The Titans lock down the No. 1 seed with this win, but do they deserve it? They just beat a 4-13 team by three points. D’Onta Foreman ran for 69 yards on 21 carries and the fans are ready for Derrick Henry to return. Ryan Tannehill passed for 287 yards and four scores but the Titans led 21-0 and let the Texans roar back. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (4-78, TD), A.J. Brown (4-68, TD), Julio Jones (5-58, TD) and Anthony Firkser (4-56, TD) all had about the same production. The Titans get to kick back this week and take comfort in knowing that they lost their best player at midseason and yet still feasted on the cakewalk schedule  managed to produce a 12-5 record as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

The Texans never had much rushing success after churning through the league’s  has-beens. David Johnson (5-28) was the top rusher while Rex Burkhead (12-24) rewarded the Texans for that contract extension. Davis Mills continues to be the best quarterback no one ever talks about and he passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns with no run support, no Brandin Cooks for most of the game, and marginal receivers. Danny Amendola (7-113, 2 TD) almost doubled his season total (136 yards) and scored twice. Nico Collins (3-67) ends his rookie year on a high note. The Texans end 4-13 with no offensive line or backfield, but Davis Mills and Brandin Cooks as two worth bringing back.

IND 11, JAX 26
Look, there are just some things we are not supposed to understand. We just have to be at peace with ourselves in the chaos. The Colts had everything to win in this game. The Jaguars don’t even have a coach. Jonathan Taylor ran for 145 yards and two scores in Week 6 versus the Jaguars. Now that it really mattered, he only gained 77 yards on 15 rushes and caught three passes for 18 yards. Carson Wentz only threw for 185 yards and one score and was outplayed by Trevor Lawrence. Michael Pittman (6-64, TD) finishes as the only receiver Wentz ever noticed. The disappointing end to the season leaves the Colts at home with a 9-8 record.

This was like shooting an eagle on the 18th hole after hitting the century mark back on the 14th hole. Trevor Lawrence only totaled two scores over the previous nine games and yet passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns with a 111.8 QB rating. Ryquell Armstead (9-52) and Dare Ogunbowale (11-30) led the backfield which alone indicates the sort of season the Jags had.  Marvin Jones (7-88, TD), Laviska Shenault (5-62) and Laquon Treadwell (3-24, TD) all contributed to the surprising win.  The Jaguars are still just 3-14 but saved their best game for Week 18.

CHI 17, MIN 31
The Bears end their disappointing season with a whimper and expect a new head coach to complain about next year. Andy Dalton took the start and threw for 325 yards and one score, but also two interceptions. Darnell Mooney (12-126) continues to be the little engine that could while Allen Robinson (2-22) continues to be the highly paid… decoy?  David Montgomery ends with 72 yards on 20 carries but the Bears gave up the ball twice and Dalton was sacked seven times.  The Matt Nagy era ends with a 6-11 season.

The Vikings trailed 14-0 in the second quarter but the Bears ran off and the Vikes controlled the rest of the game. Kirk Cousins threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, with Justin Jefferson (5-105, TD), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (3-103, TD), and K.J. Osborn (1-21, TD) all scored. Dalvin Cook ran for 79 yards on 14 rushes but the passing offense was enough to take this win. The Vikes end with an 8-9 record and a speculated coaching change to come.

WAS 22, NYG 7
The Giants appear to have just given up. They’ve been non-competitive for the last three weeks versus each NFC East rival. Jake Fromm only threw for 103 yards and one score with two interceptions and a lost fumble. Darrius Slayton (2-29, TD) was the only receiver with more than 22 yards. The Running-Back-Formerly-Known-As Saquon Barkley only gained 30 yards on 11 rushes. The Giants end at 4-13 and is arguably the weakest team in the NFL.

The Washington To-Be-Named-Later won the game mostly with Antonio Gibson rushing for 146 yards and one score on 21 carries.  Taylor Heinicke only threw for 120 yards and Terry McLaurin (4-93) was the only receiver with more than 14 yards.  This matchup was like two brothers forced to play together by their parents, but at least Washington was the older brother. The Washington Admirals? Cougars? Space Invaders? The No-Names end with a 7-10 record.

SEA 38, ARI 30
Hard to say which teams are good anymore. The Cardinals once looked so dominant but Kyler Murray never really returned from his earlier injury  and DeAndre Hopkins never returned at all. Murray threw for 240 yards and one score while Zach Ertz (7-84) and Christian Kirk (2-43) were the best receivers. James Conner ran for 52 yards and a score on 15 carries, plus caught six passes for 41 yards and a second touchdown. The Cardinals opened the game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown but struggled to move the ball against the visiting Seahawks. They end 11-6 on the year and take the No. 5 seed.

The Seahawks end on a high note, winning at the Cardinals with a solid offensive performance, unlike most of their previous games. Russell Wilson threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushed a score as well. Tyler Lockett (5-98, 2 TD) and DK Metcalf (5-58) were the top receivers. Rashaad Penny continues his shocking final stretch of the last four years season, running for 190 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The Seahawks finish too little, too late at 7-10.

NO 30, ATL 20
The Saints finally got a monster rushing game from Alvin Kamara (30-146)   but lost Taysom Hill midway through and Trevor Siemian had to finish. Fortunately, it was only the Falcons and they combined for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Tre’Quan Smith (5-76, TD) was the only receiver with more than 26 yards. This was the  Kamara show and they only threw 24 passes. The Saints miss the playoffs at 9-8.

The Falcons fade continues with only 41 rushing yards between Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson. Qadree Ollison ran in a 19-yard touchdown on his only touch in the game. Matt Ryan threw for just 216 yards and one score to Russell Gage (9-126, TD) while no other receivers scored or gained more than 47 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson started out as a secret weapon but ended with only one catch for one yard and 11 yards on four rushes. The Falcons settle for a 7-10 season.

NYJ 10, BUF 27
This was the game that neither wanted to play. The Jets turned in one of their worst efforts with Michael Carter (9-19) as the top rusher. Zack Wilson threw for just 87 yards and one score. The touchdown was on a 40-yard pass to Keelan Cole and accounted for almost half of the passing yardage in the game. The Jets  could not get the offense into gear and the season ends with a 4-13 record while the rookie Wilson gave little reason to expect a leap in Year 2.

The Bills led 13-10 in the fourth  quarter and finally went to the bother of winning the game. Josh Allen threw for 239 yards and two scores. He also ran for 63 yards on just five rushes. Stefon Diggs (9-81, TD) and Dawson Knox (3-49) were the only receivers with more than 39 yards. Devin Singletary ran for 88 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and added two catches for 24 yards and a second score. Zack Moss (5-8) is a nonfactor while Singletary is playing the best of his career. The Bills end with an 11-6 record and remain the No. 3 seed.

SF 27, LA 24 OT
The Rams once again struggled against a good team they should have beaten.  They led 17-0 in the second quarter but the 49ers for hot and the Rams only managed one touchdown in the second half versus 24 points for the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 316 yards and one score but with two interceptions. Brandon Aiyuk led the receivers with six catches for 107 yards while Deebo Samuel caught four passes for 95 yards, ran eight times for 45 yards and a score, and even threw a 24-yard touchdown. Assumedly, he is also the backup kicker. Jauan Jennings had a career game with six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Mitchell ran for 85 yards on 21 carries but had no catches. The 49ers end with a 10-7 record and earned the No. 6 seed.

Matt Stafford threw for 238 yards and three scores with two interceptions. Cooper Kupp ended with seven catches for 118 yards and a score while Tyler Higbee reeled in six passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns. No other receivers gained more than 31 yards. Cam Akers was active but only ran for three yards on five carries and caught three passes for ten yards. Sony Michael gained 43 yards on 21 rushes.  The Rams at home could not hold off the 49ers who owned the second half. The 12-5 Rams won the NFC West but drop to the No. 4 seed.

NE 24, MIA 33
The Dolphins have an odd advantage when they match up with the Patriots who scored twice in the final six minutes to draw within 24-27 with 2:53 let to play but Jakobi Meyers lost a fumble in the endzone on the final play in the game. Mac Jones threw for 261 yards and one score, with the top receivers of Hunter Henry (5-86) and Meyers (4-70). Damien Harris (11-37, TD) and Rhamondre Stevenson (4-34) shared the backfield with Brandon Bolden running for a team-high 46 yards and a score on seven rushes and adding two catches for 20 yards and a second score. The loss drops the Pats to 10-7 and gives them the No. 6 seed.

The Dolphins scored on an interception and a fumble recovery to make the difference. Tua Tagovailoa only passed for 109 yards and one score with 38 yards as a rusher. Jaylen Waddle (5-27, TD) was the only notable receiver while Duke Johnson ran for 117 yards and score on 25 rushes to help control the ball. He was the only Dolphin with more than minimal receiving yardage and they won the game on defense. That gave them a winning record at 9-8.

CAR 17, TB 41
No surprises other than the Panthers scored two touchdowns. Sam Darnold passed for 219 yards and both scores with D.J. Moore (7-87) and Ameer Abdullah (9-56) were the top receivers but even Robby Anderson scored on his seven catches for 50 yards.  Chuba Hubbard ran for 48 yards on nine carries and caught a two-yard touchdown to open the scoring.  Darnold never had a completion longer than 20 yards and every receiver averaged under ten yards. The loss drops them to 5-12.

The Buccaneers took the lead in the second half and never looked back. They scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to slant the scoreboard. Tom Brady passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns with Rob Gronkowski (7-137) and Mike Evans (6-89, 2 TD) taking care of the biggest chunk of the offense. Ke’Shawn Vaughn (10-29, TD) and Le’Veon Bell (3-14) shared the backfield though Bell scored on a one-yard catch. Scotty Miller also ran in a 33-yard touchdown for the final score in the game. The win makes the 13-4 Buccaneers the No. 2 seed.

The Game-o-the-Week

LAC 32, LV 35 OT

The Raiders led 29-14 midway in the fourth quarter but Justin Herbert mounted a comeback with two touchdowns to tie the game and send it into overtime. It was one of those games where any play could have swung it to either team. In overtime, the Raiders stalled at the LAC 22-yard line and kicked a field goal. The Chargers got their possession and drove to the LV 23-yard line and kicked their field goal to extend overtime. But the Raiders went from their own 25-yard line to the Chargers’ 29 yard line and kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal as time expired.

The wild part was that if they had tied, both would go to the playoffs as the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds. But if either team lost, they would be replaced by the Steelers. And the Raiders had the ball and could have knelt on it, risked nothing like a turnover or blocked kick and had their ticket punched regardless. But they didn’t. They went for the field goal anyway and sent the Chargers home.

Justin Herbert passed for 383 yards and three touchdowns with Mike Williams (9-119, TD) and Jared Cook (4-80) as the top receivers while Keenan Allen was held to six catches for 52 yards. Austin Ekeler ran for 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and also scored on his five catches for 35 yards.  It was a classic last-second loss that the Chargers so often experience. They end above .500 with a 9-8 record but miss the playoffs.

Derek Carr threw for 186 yards and two scores to Hunter Renfrow (4-13, 2 TD) while Bryan Edwards (4-63) and Frank Moreau (2-50) led the receivers. Darren Waller’s return only accounted for two receptions for 22 yards. Josh Jacobs was the best player when he rushed for 132 yards and a score on 26 carries. The Raiders had no turnovers and squeaked out a win that made them 10-7 as the No. 5 seed.

Quick fantasy recaps of the Sunday games from Week 17.

LAR 20, BAL 19
Low scoring and defensive, this matchup  carried plenty of weight for both franchises. In the end, the Rams scored the winning touchdown with under a minute to play. Matt Stafford passed for 309 yards and two scores with two interceptions. Cooper Kupp (6-95, TD) delivered his standard performance and Odell Beckham (5-39, TD) caught the final touchdown. Tyler Higbee turned in six catches for 69 yards as well. Sony Michael ran for 74 yards and a score on 19 carries and added three catches for 25 yards. The 12-4 Rams finish up hosting the 49ers.

The Ravens relied on Tyler Huntley at quarterback and he threw for 197 yards and one interception, and he rushed for 54 yards on six runs. Mark Andrews (6-89) and Rashod Bateman (7-58) led the receivers, while Devonta Freeman ran for 76 yards on 14 carries. This was a slow game with both offenses struggling to move the ball consistently.  The loss drops the Ravens to 8-8 and they end the year  hosting the Steelers.

ATL  15, BUF 29
The Falcons played well through halftime but only the Bills scored in the second half.  Matt Ryan passed for 197 yards and no scores. Kyle Pitts (2-69) and Russell Gage (3-50) were the top receivers.  Mike Davis scored once on his eight runs for 42 yards while Cordarrelle Patterson ran for just 28 yards on nine carries and caught just two passes for 24 yards. The Falcons’ defense intercepted Josh Allen three times to slow them but the Falcons offense couldn’t do much with the advantage. The 7-9 Falcons are now assured of a losing season and finish by hosting the Saints.

The Bills struggled in the first half and Allen kept throwing interceptions. He only completed 11-of-26 for 120 yards and a QB rating of 17.0. He redeemed his fantasy day by rushing for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Stefon Diggs (5-52) and Gabriel Davis (3-40) were as good as it got for receivers. Devin Singletary (23-110, 2 TD) turned in a rare big game. The Bills had a scare but recovered in the second half. They rise to 10-6 and host the Jets for Week 18.

NYG 3, CHI 29
The Giants were never in this, and the coaches admitted such when they had Mike Glennon throw only 11 passes in a game that they trailed throughout. Glennon passed for 24 yards, two interceptions and a QB rating of 5.3. The only notable was that Saquon Barkley had his best game of the season with 102 yards on 21 carries since the Bears didn’t care if the Giants wanted to run. It was an embarrassing  performance at the end of an embarrassing season. The 4-12 Giants finish up by hosting Washington.

The Bears enjoyed a solid win though no one had more than a moderate game. David Montgomery ran for 64 yards on 22 carries but scored twice and caught two passes for 17 yards. Andy Dalton threw for 173 yards and one touchdown to Darnell Mooney (7-69, TD) but no other receiver gained more than 35 yards. The Bears mostly just sat back and watched Mike Glennon throw two interceptions, fumble four times and lose two, and the Giants just give up and let Saquon Barkley run. The 6-10 Bears head to Minnesota for Week 18.

LV 23, IND 20
Here’s an upset. The Colts are struggling to make the playoffs and the Raiders show up as the underdog. All the Colts had to do was get Jonathan Taylor to gain 100 yards and they won since they were 6-0 whenever he did. At least that was the old rule. Taylor ran for 108 yards and a score on 20 carries in a loss. Carson Wentz was active and only passed for 148 yards and one touchdown to T.Y. Hilton who was standing in the endzone when the ball was thrown into the endzone and was the pass was batted back to him. Michael Pittman led the receivers with just 47 yards on six catches. The 9-7 Colts head to Jacksonville for the season finale.

Derek Carr threw for 255 yards and one score with two interceptions. Zay Jones (8-120) had a career-high and his first 100-yard effort. Hunter Renfrow turned in seven catches for 76 yards and the lone receiving touchdown. Josh Jacobs ran for 63 yards and one score on 16 rushes and added four receptions for 17 yards. The Raiders’ defense won this game on the road and kept them in wild card contention. The win raises the Raiders to 9-7, and they finish  by hosting the Chargers.

JAC 10, NE 50
Here’s a game that went off as expected. The Jaguars not only trailed throughout,  it was 50-3 until the final four minutes. Trevor Lawrence passed for 193 yards and a score with three interceptions. Laquon Treadwell (6-87) and Marvin Jones (2-46) were the top receivers and Dare Ogunbowale caught the only touchdown on his two receptions for 32 yards. He also ran for 36 yards on nine rushes. The Jaguars lose their eighth in a row and finish the season  hosting the Colts.

It all worked for the Patriots. Damien Harris ran for  35 yards and two scores but left with a hamstring injury. Rhamondre Stevenson finished out the game with 19 carries for 107 yards and two scores.  Matt Jones threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns with Kendrick Bourne (5-76) and Jakobi Meyers (8-73, TD) as the top receivers. Undrafted second-year practice squad wideout Kristian Wilkerson not only saw his first ever NFL playing time, he caught four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. N’Keal Harry was inactive and they let Wilkerson take his place. The win ends the two-game losing streak and sends the Pats to Miami for Week 18.

TB 28, NYJ 24
This was a surprisingly good game that the Jets led 24-10 in the third quarter before it all turned around and the Buccaneers scored a touchdown with 15 seconds left to play to take the win. Tom Brady ended with 410 yards and three touchdowns with Rob Gronkowski (7-115) and Cyril Grayson (6-81, TD) as the top receivers. Mike Evans scored on his four catches for 47 yards while Antonio Brown (3-26) went rogue and called it a career while stripping down to his waist and waving at the stands as he left the playing field for the very last time. Ronald Jones (10-26) used his golden opportunity for a big game to sprain his ankle. The shockingly close win sends the 12-4 Buccaneers home to face the Panthers.

The Jets  made almost no mistakes and played far above expectations.  Michael Carter (3-54) started the game well but left with a concussion. Zack Wilson passed for 234 yards and a score to Braxton Berrios (8-65, TD) who ran in a touchdown. Ty Johnson (5-35, TD) also scored after Carter left. There was nothing special by any of the Jets, but they played a solid game and gave the Buccaneers nearly more than they could handle. The 4-12 Jets  finish the season in Buffalo.

MIA 3, TEN 34
The Dolphins could do little against the homefield Titan’s defense. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 205 yards and one interception. Jaylen Waddle was held to only three catches for 47 yards and Mike Gesicki was the leading receiver with just four catches for 51 yards. Duke Johnson (7-49) and Myles Gaskin (5-23) handled the meager workload for the backfield.  The Dolphins’ seven-game win streak was proven to be against a weak stretch in the schedule. They could not compete against the Titans. The 8-8 Fins host the Patriots for Week 18

The Titans’ defense gave the offense a chance to take an easy win rushing the ball and letting the Dolphins make mistakes. D’Onta Foreman ran for 132 yards on 26 carries with one score and there was still enough left over to let Dontrell Hilliard run for 45 yards and a touchdown on eight rushes and catch three passes for 33 yards. Ryan Tannehill only completed 13-of-18 passes for 120  yards and two scores. A.J. Brown led the receivers with just 41 yards on two catches. The 11-5 Titans are tied with the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed and spend Week 18 in Houston.

PHI 20, WAS 16
Washington led 16-7 at the half but the Eagles did all the scoring in the final two quarters. Jalen Hurts had a down game with 214 passing yards and just seven runs for 44 yards with no touchdowns. Dallas Goedert led the receivers with 71 yards on six catches and DeVonta Smith (3-54) was the only other receiver with more than 39 yards. Boston Scott ran for 47 yards on 14 rushes with two touchdowns and 39 yards on four receptions.  The 9-7 Eagles squeaked past and host the Cowboys for Week 18.

Washington lacked any offensive spark  with Antonio Gibson out and Jaret Patterson filled in with 57 yards and a touchdown on his 12 carries with five receptions for 41 yards.  Taylor Heinicke  passed for 247 yards and one interception. Terry McLaurin (7-61) and Cam Sims (4-48) were the leading receivers.  Washington lost their fourth straight game with an offense that just never improved this year. They bring their 6-10 record to New York to face the Giants.

DEN 13, LAC 34
The Broncos struggled with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter. Downshifting to Drew Lock did not improve the offense. He passed for 245 yards and one score  but never trailed by fewer than 14 points from the second quarter. Noah Fant (6-92, TD)  and  Courtland Sutton (3-60) were the top receivers. Javonte Williams (14-30) and Melvin Gordon (10-43) struggled to do much with the defense devoted to stopping them. Gordon Added three catches for 29 yards but Williams only caught a two-yard pass. The Broncos need a better quarterback if they are ever to compete. They fall to 7-9 to make their losing season official and  host the Chiefs this week.

There were no big performances by the Chargers to win the game. Austin Ekeler (17-58, TD) added three catches for 54 yards. Justin Herbert threw for 237 yards and two scores between Mike Williams (3-63, TD) and Keenan Allen (4-44, TD) but no other receiver gained more than 22 yards.  Justin Jackson ran 12 times for 41 yards to help mop up. The win reverses the two-game losing streak and sends the 9-7 Chargers to Las Vegas this Sunday.

HOU 7, SF 23
The Texans opened the scoring, but the game was never in doubt. Davis Mills finally had a down game when he only threw for 163 yards and one score to Brandin Cooks (7-66, TD). No other receiver gained more than 35 yards. Rex Burkhead ran for 47 yards on 16 carries and caught six passes for 32 yards as the only mildly productive player other than Cooks. The loss ends their two-game winning stretch and drops them to 4-12. The Texans end their season  hosting the Titans.

Trey Lance used his start to throw for 249 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran eight times for 31 yards.  Eli Mitchell was active and rewarded fantasy owners that took the chance he’d play by rushing for 119 yards on 21 carries and catching two passes for 11 yards and one touchdown. Brandon Aiyuk (4-94) was the top receiver for Lance, but Deebo Samuel caught three for 63 yards and a touchdown plus ran for 19 yards on seven rushes.  The solid win sends the 9-7 49ers to face the Rams in Los Angeles.

ARI 25, DAL 22
Curious time for the Cardinals to end their three-game losing streak and the Cowboys to stop their four-game winning stretch. Kyler Murray passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 44 yards. Christian Kirk (6-79) and A.J. Green (3-74) led the receivers but Zach Ertz (7-41) totaled the most catches. Chase Edmonds ran for 53 yards on 18 carries with James Conner out, and he caught five passes for 29 yards. The Cards led 22-7 in the fourth quarter but held on to the win while the Cowboys tried a comeback. The win lifts the Cardinals to 11-5 and they host the Seahawks on Sunday.

The Cowboys couldn’t generate any rushing offense. Ezekiel Elliott (9-16) and Tony Pollard (3-9)  were held to minimal production but Pollard added three catches for 49 yards. Elliott only caught one pass for 14 yards. Dak Prescott threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and  was better in the second half. Michael Gallup (3-36, TD) scored on the play when he tore his ACL. Dalton Schultz (6-54) and CeeDee Lamb (3-51) led the receivers even though they never scored. It was a lackluster performance all around and calls the Cowboys’ readiness for the post season into question. Dallas falls to 11-5 and finishes the season in Philly.

CAR 10, NO 18
It isn’t surprising that this matchup would prove to be a fantasy clunker but at least there was one fantasy player that met expectations – Alvin Kamara. He ran for only 32 yards on 13 carries, but he caught five passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. Taysom Hill passed for 222 yards and that one score, plus ran for 45 yards on 12 rushes. Marquez Callaway (6-97) was the only other receiver with more than 26 yards. The win lifts the Saints to 8-8 and they end the season  at Atlanta.

Sam Darnold only managed 132 passing yards with one interception. No receiver gained more than 33 yards or scored. Chuba Hubbard ran for 55 yards on 17 carries and he ran in a 21-yard touchdown. The Panthers’ defense is still good enough to keep the score low, but their offense isn’t nearly good enough to take advantage. The 5-11 Panthers travels to Tampa Bay for their final defeat of the year.

DET 29, SEA 51
Russell Wilson said he wasn’t sure where he will be next year, but this final home game of 2021 sure felt like he was going out on a high note. Facing the Lions makes that easier, but Wilson passed for 236 yards and four touchdowns and the Seahawks led throughout. DK Metcalf ended with six catches for 63 yards and three touchdowns while Tyler Lockett ended with three catches for 24 yards and the other remaining score. Rashaad Penny ran for 170 yards and two scores on 25 rushes which only begs, “where has this been for four years?” The win sends the 6-10 Seahawks to Arizona for Week 18.

The Lions under Tim Boyle were not bad.  Granted, most of their production was in the second half after they already trailed 38-7, but Boyle threw for 262 yards and two scores, with only three interceptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown once again proved what a find the Lions made with their 4.07 pick when the rookie caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown and added a second score on a 26-yard run. KhaDarel Hodge ended with five catches for 76 yards as the next best receiver. D’Andre Swift returned but only ran four times for 32 yards and caught just two passes for seven yards. Jamaal Williams (11-22, TD) was still the primary ball carrier. The 2-13-1 Lions wrap up by just hosting the Packers this week.

MIN 10, GB 37
Had Kirk Cousins been healthy enough to play, the outcome would likely have been the same, only with less of a “beatdown” element. Sean Mannion only passed for 189 yards and one score to KJ Osborn (3-50, TD), while Justin Jefferson slid to only 58 yards on six receptions. Worse yet, Dalvin Cook only gained 13 yards on his nine rushes and his three catches combined for zero yards. The Vikings had no chance with Cousins out. They slide to 7-9 for a guaranteed losing record and  host the Bears to end the season.

It may have been bitter cold, but Aaron Rodgers still passed for 288 yards and two scores and Davante Adams (11-136, TD) lost nothing in the frigid weather. Allen Lazard turned in six catches for 72 yards and a score but all other wideouts were held below 15 yards. Aaron Jones gained 76 yards on just eight carries and added five receptions for 30 yards. AJ Dillon settled for 63 yards and two touchdowns on14 rushes and tacked on 20 yards on two catches. The Packers led 30-3 in the third quarter and coasted to the win. They are the No. 1 seed at 13-3 and finish the season in Detroit.

 

The Game-o-the-Week

KC 31, CIN 34
This game was everything you want in a late-season fight between two top teams vying for playoff positioning. The Chiefs led 28-14 in the second quarter but only managed a fourth-quarter field goal the rest of the game to tie with six minutes left. The Bengals kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired to win the game.

Pat Mahomes threw for 259 yards and two scores but Tyreek Hill (6-40) and Travis Kelce (5-25, TD) were only minor contributors in a moderate passing game.  Darrel Williams logged 14 runs for 88 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 19 yards as the only Chief that exceeded expectations. The Chiefs’ offense played well enough to win, but their defense had no answer for the Bengals’ passing offense or Ja’Marr Chase in particular. The loss drops the Chiefs to 11-5 and they head to Denver for Week 18.

Most teams run more at the end of the year but not the Bengals. Joe Mixon was held to only 12 rushes for 46 yards but caught seven passes for 40 yards. Joe Burrow, yet again, was on fire when he passed for 446 yards and four touchdowns that included Ja’Marr Chase converting  11 catches into 266 yards and three scores. Chase scored from 72, 18, and 69 yards. Tee Higgins (3-62) and Tyler Boyd (4-36, TD) most took a backseat and watched Chase almost beat the Chiefs single-handedly. The win sends the 10-6 Bengals to the Browns.

Plenty of big and little games happened in Week 16 of 2021. This would have normally been fantasy championships, but one more to go before crowning the league champion.

CLE 22, GB 24

The Browns mounted a ten-point comeback but fell short in Green Bay. Baker Mayfield was back from the COVID list but his 222 yards and two scores were joined by four interceptions that made the difference in the game. Nick Chubb cruised for 126 yards and a score on 17 rushes and added three catches for 58 yards.  Rashard Higgins (5-58) led the wideouts while Jarvis Landry ended with four receptions for 55 yards. Harrison Bryant and Anthony Schwartz both scored on their only catch in the game. The Browns were decimated by COVID but made a game of it. They drop to 7-8 and play at the Steelers this week.

To no surprise, the only star of this game was Davante Adams (10-114, 2 TD), who handled over half of Aaron Rodgers’ 202 passing yards and three touchdowns. Allen Lazard (2-45, TD) was the next best receiver. Aaron  Jones gained 66 yards on 12 carries and caught five passes for 21 yards while AJ Dillion only gained 41 yards on nine runs with three receptions for 15 yards. The Browns’ defense played a great game given their personnel absences. The Packers rise to an NFL-best 12-5 record and host the Vikings.

IND 22, ARZ 16

The Colts are getting hot at the right time. Carson Wentz threw for 225 yards and two scores with Michael Pittman (8-82) and T.Y. Hilton (4-51, TD) were the top receivers. Jonathan Taylor ran for 108 yards on 27 catches but had no catches. The Colts’ defense does the heavy lifting in most games and that will  make a difference in the playoffs as well. The 9-6 Colts host the Raiders for Week 16.

Kyler Murray still lacks the spark he provided earlier in the year though he plays without DeAndre Hopkins. He only threw for 245 yards and one score against the Colts, and the lead receiver was Chase Edmonds (8-71), who also rushed for 56 yards, and a touchdown on 16 carries with James Conner out. Zach Ertz gave a solid effort with 54 yards on eight catches, but Christian Kirk (7-48) was the best wideout. The loss drops the Cards to 10-5, and this is their third straight loss. They head to Dallas for this weekend.

DET 16, ATL 20

Not a lot of points despite both defenses being below average. Tim Boyle was the last man standing in the quarterback room and threw for 187 yards and one score to Amon-Ra St. Brown (9-91, TD), who will not be as cheap in drafts next year. Josh Reynolds (2-36) was the next best receiver. Jameel Williams (19-77) and Craig Reynolds (11-29) took care of the backfield with marginal results, and St. Brown also ran for  19 yards on two rushes  as the Lions’ only remaining threat. The loss drops the Lions to 2-12-2 and they play in Seattle this week.

Matt Ryan passed for just 215 yards and one score and Kyle Pitts (6-102) finally had another big game while Russell Gage ended with just four catches for 39 yards. Hayden Hurst (2-21, TD) caught the only score. The Falcons struggled to run with Mike Davis (7-28) and Cordarrelle Patterson (7-14, TD) splitting the carries. Patterson only caught one pass for a net one-yard loss. The win lifts the Falcons to 7-8, and they head to Buffalo for the next game.

TB 32, CAR 6
The score  suggests that a few players had a big game but not so. Antonio Brown’s return was the most encouraging with ten catches for 101 yards and his 15 targets were merely 11 more than any other Bucs receiver. Cyril Grayson (3-81) caught a 62-yards pass for a career-best. With Leonard Fournette out, Ronald Jones (20-65, TD) and caught two passes for 16 yards. Ke’Shawn  Vaughn (7-70, TD) also scored on a 55-yard run.  The 11-4 Buccaneers had no problem winning despite missing players and play at the Jets on Sunday, where they should again win despite missing players.

The Panthers were never in this game. Cam Newton and Sam Darnold split the quarterback duties while both skillfully avoided throwing for any touchdowns. Shi Smith (3-86) caught a 63-yard pass while Robby Anderson (5-58) and DJ Moore (5-55) were the next best receivers. Chuba Hubbard (6-9) led the backfield in yards and carries as a sign of how much this offense has declined. The 5-10 Panthers seem to be playing more for a draft pick than any late-season surge and head to New Orleans for Week 16.

BAL 21, CIN 41
The Ravens lacked any rushing game though they trailed from early on, and Devonta Freeman (6-17, TD) was the top rusher and only caught two passes for three yards. Josh Johnson was the newly-signed free agent quarterback forced into duty, and he passed for 304 yards and two scores in a commendable effort. Mark Andrews (8-125, TD) doesn’t care who the quarterback is and Rashod Bateman (4-26) scored the other touchdown. The problem with the Ravens continues to be their defense that has been stripped by injury and COVID. The Ravens fall to 8-7 and host the Rams this week.

The Bengals’ offense never looked better. Joe Mixon (18-65, TD) added six catches for 70 yards and a score and turned in just one of several monster performances.  Joe Burrows threw for a career-high 525 yards and four touchdowns with Tee Higgins (12-194, 2 TD), Ja’Marr Chase (7-125), and Tyler Boyd (3-85, TD) all enjoying stellar production.   Burrows set a team record for passing yardage and lands No. 3 in the all-time NFL record book. The Ravens decimated secondary was overmatched from the start and Burrow never let up, throwing 46 passes in a game that they won handily. The 9-6 Bengals  host the Chiefs for Week 16.

LA 30, MIN 23

The Rams didn’t get much done passing other than the obligatory high-volume performance by Cooper Kupp (10-109). Matt Stafford only threw for 197 yards and one score to Odell Beckham (4-37, TD). Sony Michel (27-131, TD) did most of the damage, while Darrell Henderson (1-17) left after one run. The Rams also returned a punt for a score to help make up the winning margin. It was a surprise that the passing effort wasn’t effective but Michel and the Rams’ defense was enough to keep the win. The 11-4 Rams play in Baltimore this week where the passing should improve.

The Vikings were without Dalvin Cook, but Alexander Mattison ran for 41 yards and a score on 13 carries and caught three passes for 29 yards. Kirk Cousins threw for 315 yards and one score to K.J. Osborn. Justin Jefferson (8-116) was still productive but Adam Thielen (3-40) left the game with an ankle injury.  The Vikings trailed throughout and kicked a field goal with only 32 seconds left to make it look closer than it was. They fall to 7-8 and play at the Packers for Week 16.

BUF 33, NE 21
The Bills found it easier to throw against the Patriots when there wasn’t 70 MPH wind gusts. Josh Allen threw for 314 yards and three scores, and ran for 64 yards on 12 carries. Isaiah McKenzie stepped up to a career-best performance with 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs ended with seven catches for 85 yards and a score.  Devin Singletary was held to only 39 yards on 12 carries but ran in a touchdown and caught five passes for 39 yards. The Bills gained revenge for the loss a few weeks back and rise to 9-6. They are now tied with the Patriots for the AFC East lead and  host the Falcons for Week 16.

The Patriots needed to throw more than three times in this meeting, and Mac Jones only completed 14-of-32 for 145 yards and two interceptions. Jakobi Meyers (6-59) and Kendrick Bourne (2-33) were the top receivers. Damien Harris was active and provided most of the offense with 18 runs for 103 yards and three touchdowns. The rushing effort was still a strength but the rookie Jones isn’t faring as well when he’s asked to be more than a game manager. The 9-6 Pats  host the Jaguars this week.

JAX 21, NYJ 26
Can’t complain when two bad teams meet and combine for 47 points. The Jaguars lost James Robinson at the start of the game and turned to Dare Ogunbowale (17-57, TD). Trevor Lawrence passed for 280 yards and no scores, while Marvin Jones (8-74) and Tavon Austin (6-68) were the best receivers. More than anything, this was the game that Robinson was going to help win a fantasy playoff game and left injured instead of facing the No. 32 defense against running backs.  The loss drops the Jaguars to 2-13 and they  head to New England where nothing will get better.

The Jets only needed Zach Wilson to pass for 102 yards but ran for 91 yards and a score on four rushes thanks to a 52-yard scramble for a score. No receiver gained more than 37 yards. Michael Carter ran for 118 yards on 16 carries and caught two passes for six yards as the only other notable offensive player for the Jets. The Jets also got a 102-yard yard kickoff return from Braxton Berrios. The 4-11 Jets host the Buccaneers for Week 16.

NYG 10, PHI 34
The Giants offense crumbled and the lone touchdown came as the final score in the game at the end of the fourth quarter. Jake Fromm and Mike Glennon combined for only 118 passing yards and one score with two interceptions. Kadarius Toney led the receivers with four catches for 28 yards. “Generational Talent” Saquon Barkley ran for 32 yards on 15 carries and caught one pass for a four-yard loss. The Giants hit the wall, fell down and cannot get up. They drop to 4-11 and head to Chicago for Week 16.

The Eagles did nothing special to get the win other than just hosting the Giants. Jalen Hurts threw for 199 yards and two scores but only ran for seven yards. Miles Sanders (7-45) left injured and Boston Scott (12-41, TD)  took over since Jordan Howard (9-37) also was hurt. DeVonta Smith (5-80, TD) and Quez Watkins (3-43)  led the receivers in this low-key win over a punchless opponent.  The 8-7 Eagles play at Washington this week.

CHI 25, SEA 24
The Bears not only made up a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter, they opted for the two-point play instead of a tying extra point with a minute left to play and  it worked, very unlike what the Ravens tend to experience. Nick Foles threw for 250 yards and a touchdown. David Montgomery ran for 45 yards and a score on 21 carries in the snow, plus was the leading receiver with seven catches for 61 yards. Darrel Mooney was the top wideout with five catches for 57 yards while Jimmy Graham (2-30) caught the winning touchdown. There was an expectation that HC Matt Nagy might be fired on Monday, but maybe he gets another week. The 5-10 Bears host the  Giants this week.

The Seahawks continue to be not quite good enough.  Russell Wilson threw for 181 yards and two scores with Gerald Everett (4-68, TD) and DK Metcalf (2-41, TD) as the top receivers. Rashaad Penny ran for 135 yards and one score on 17 carries for another solid performance here at the end of his rookie contract. The Seahawks led 17-7 midway through the third quarter but then were outscored 18-7 the rest of the way. The game was cold with snow, but that didn’t bother Chicago. The 5-10 Seahawks host the Lions this weekend.

PIT 10, KC 36
The Steelers mostly went through the motions. Ben Roethlisberger passed for only 159  yards and one score  to Diontae Johnson (6-51, TD). Chase Claypool was  next best with only four catches for 41 yards and no other receivers gained more than 31 yards or scored. Najee Harris winds down his rookie season still producing. He ran for 93 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 17 yards but the overall offensive performance was dull and uninspired. The 7-7-1 Steelers  head back to Pittsburgh to face the Browns in what is almost certainly the final home game for Ben Roethlisberger.

No Travis Kelce. Just about no Tyreek Hill. Did not matter. At least this week versus the visiting Steelers. Patrick Mahomes threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns between Byron Pringle (6-75, 2 TD) and Mecole Hardman (3-31, TD). Clyde Edwards-Helaire (9-27, TD) left with a collarbone injury and Darrel Williams (11-55) took over and caught three passes for 30 yards. Tyreek Hill only caught two passes for 19 yards. The win sends the 11-4 Chiefs to Cincinnati to protect their No. 1 seed.

DEN 13, LV 17
This matchup was one of the most disappointing in fantasy terms. The Broncos only saw Drew Lock pass for 153 yards with Jerry Jeudy (3-60) and Courtland Sutton (4-33) as the top receivers. The Raiders sport one of the weakest defenses against running backs and yet they held the Denver backfield to only eight rushing yards between Javonte Williams (7-12, TD) and Melvin Gordon (7-(-4)). The Broncos led 13-7 at the half and never scored again.  Interdivisional matchups often  are different than how teams typically play,  But the Broncos brought a Top-3 backfield that flopped as badly as could be. The 7-8 Broncos fall below .500 and head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.

The Raiders only threw for 201 yards and one score, with Frank Moreau (4-67)as the best receiver, followed by Zay Jones (6-50). The best part of the offense was Josh Jacobs (27-129) though Peyton Barber (5-22, TD) ran in the touchdown. It wasn’t much of an offensive push but it was more than the Broncos were able to produce. Either team could have won this and yet neither team deserved it. The 8-7 Raiders head to Indy for Week 16.

WAS 14, DAL 56
Maybe not all that close. Washington was never in this game.  Taylor Heinicke only passed for 121 yards and one score with two interceptions before getting yanked in the second half of this humbling blowout loss.  Kyle Allen finished the game and even threw a touchdown to make the score look slightly less embarrassing. Dyami Brown (2-53) and John Bates (2-45, TD) were the top receivers which is all you need to know. Antonio Gibson ran for 29 yards on six carries and scored on his two receptions for 29 yards as the only marginal fantasy play. Terry McLaurin was held to 40 yards on three catches.  The 6-9 Washington Team With No Name makes the losing record official and  hosts the Eagles on Sunday.

The Cowboys laid down their biggest win of the year when they dismantled the Washington No-Names. The score could have been higher, but they pulled Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott for much of the second half. Prescott threw for 330 yards and four scores before he got bored and left. Cooper Rush added 70 more yards and a score that will not help the Washington defensive ranking.  Squeaky-wheel Amari Cooper (7-85, TD) led the receivers but Dalton Schultz (8-82, TD) and Malik Turner (3-82, TD) both enjoyed solid efforts. CeeDee Lamb ended with four catches for 66 yards and wasn’t needed. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 37 yards and a score, plus caught a five-yard pass for a second score. The game couldn’t have possibly gone much better and the 11-4 Cowboys hope the wave continues against the Cardinals this week. 

The Game-o-the-Week

LAC 29, HOU 41

What a great game. The Chargers were without Austin Ekeler but Justin Jackson was an adequate replacement when he ran for 64 yards and two scores on 11 rushes, plus led the team with eight catches for 98 yards.  Justin Herbert passed for 336 yards and one touchdown to Josh Palmer (5-43, TD). Keenan Allen was held to only four catches for 35 yards and Mike Williams was out with COVID. The Chargers’ offense played well enough to win but their defense did not show up against an injury-ravaged Texans’ offense. The loss drop them to 8-7 and the Bolts host the Broncos this week.

Maybe they are losing a draft slot or two, but the Texans are ending their season on a higher note. Davis Mills is underrated and passed for 254 yards and two scores with no turnovers.  Chris Conley (3-60, TD) and Nico Collins (3-33, TD) handled the receiving scores. Rex Burkhead (22-149, 2 TD) had a monster showing where none was expected. Royce Freeman ran for 34 yards on 12 carries. The Chargers have been on and off this year, but they chose a surprising week to have their defense to disappear. The 4-11 Texans head to San Francisco for Week 16.

Sunday of Week 15 is in the books, but there are still two Monday games and two Tuesday games.

CAR 14, BUF 31
The Panthers went with Cam Newton for the entire game, and he threw for 156 yards and one score, plus ran for a team-high 71 yards and a second touchdown on 15 rushes. DJ Moore (6-48) was the only receiver with more than 30 yards. Chuba Hubbard (8-40) only caught one pass for one yard, while Ameer Abdullah only gained seven rushing yards but scored on his four catches for 48 yards. The Panthers trailed throughout but Newton only completed 18 of 38 passes. They fall to 5-9 and host the Buccaneers this week.

Josh Allen only ran for 24 yards on three runs but threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel Davis had a career-best day when he caught five passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns while no other receiver gained more than 38 yards, including Stefon Diggs (4-35, TD). Dawson Knox ended with 38 yards on four catches. Devin Singletary took the heavy workload with 22 rushes for 86 yards and one score. The outcome was never in doubt and the 8-6 Bills stopped a two-game losing streak just in time to head to New England for their second meeting of the season.

ARI 12, DET 30
It’s no surprise that the Cardinals were sluggish at first after losing an important game to the Rams. But coughing up 30 points to the Lions and never scoring a touchdown until 56 minutes into the game was a shock. Kyler Murray passed for 257 yards and one score but only rushed for three yards on four runs. Christian Kirk (9-94, TD) and Zach Ertz (6-74) were the top receivers, while Chase Edmonds (6-53) was the top rusher. James Conner (8-39) was less effective as a runner but gained 31 yards on two receptions. It was a classic trap game that drops the Cardinals to 10-4 and out of the top spot in the NFC. They host the Colts for Week 16.

The Lions notched that second win on the year, taking advantage of a listless Cardinal defense. Jared Goff passed for 216 yards and three touchdowns that included Amon-Ra St. Brown (8-90, TD) and Josh Reynolds (6-68, TD) as the only receivers with more than 20 yards. Craig Reynolds again surprised with 26 rushes for 112 yards as he replaced D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams for the second game. It was a treat for the hometown fans and the 2-11-1 Lions currently fall to the No. 2 slot in the NFL draft. The Lions  play at the Raiders this week.

HOU 30, JAC 16

Losing HC Urban Meyers didn’t do much to help the beleaguered Jaguars other than James Robinson (18-75, TD) was allowed to play and he gained 13 yards on three catches. Trevor Lawrence still only passed for 210 yards and no scores but had no turnovers – it’s something. James O’Shaughnessy (4-60) and Laquon Treadwell (6-57) were the top receivers. On the plus side, they came into possession of the No. 1 draft pick in April with the Lions winning their game.  But the No. 1 draft pick of this season doesn’t have the receivers he needs to succeed. The 2-12 Jaguars head to New York to play the Jets on Sunday.

The Texans didn’t do anything special to win other than starting Davis Mill who passed for 209 yards and two scores with one interception.  But Brandin Cooks (7-102, 2 TD) was the only receiver with more than 43 yards or two receptions. The standard three-man rotation in the backfield was ineffective as usual, with Rex Burkhead (16-41) as the top rusher. The positive here is that Cooks is the only fantasy starter on the team and he had his best fantasy performance of the season. The 3-11 Texans  host the Chargers for Week 16.

NYJ 24, MIA 31

The Jets led 10-0 in the second quarter but it went downhill from there.  Their only score in the second half was from an interception return. Zach Wilson only threw for 170 yards and no score but ran in a touchdown on his four rushes for 12 yards. Jamison Crowder (5-40) and Ryan Griffin (2-39) were the top receivers. Michael Carter returned from injured reserve but only gained 18 yards on eight rushes. Tevin Coleman (8-50) was more effective but the running backs combined for just one catch for one yard. The loss drops the Jets to 3-11 and they host the Jaguars on Sunday.

The Dolphins owned the second half  other than giving up the pick-six. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 196 yards and two scores with two interceptions. DeVante Parker (4-68, TD) and Isaiah Ford (3-51) were the top receivers and Mike Gesicki managed five catches for 43 yards.  Myles Gaskin (10-54) was back from the COVID list but the Fins still relied more on Duke Johnson (22-107, 2 TD), who turned in a career-best performance (because he played against the Jets). The win propels the Dolphins to 7-7 and they travel to New Orleans for Week 16.

DAL 21, NYG 6
The Cowboys may not look nearly as good as they were earlier this year, but they are still much better than the Giants have ever been this season.  Dak Prescott passed for 217 yards and one score to Dalton Schultz (8-67, TD) while CeeDee Lamb (6-50) was the only other receiver with more than 32 yards. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 52 yards and one score on 16 carries plus added 20 yards on three catches. Tony Pollard was active and ran for 74 yards on 12 carries. The Cowboys were not very sharp but were good enough to handle the G-Men. They rise to 10-4 and host Washington this week.

The Giants to record a touchdown. Mike Glennon passed for 99 yards and three interceptions before giving way to Jake Fromm who only passed for 82 yards. Saquon Barkley (15-50) didn’t do much as a rusher but added four catches for 24 yards. Kenny Golladay (3-53) was the top receiver thanks to a 36-yard catch but no other receivers gained more than 33 yards or scored. Losing three interceptions and one Barkley fumble killed any chance of being competitive in this matchup. The 4-10 Giants head to Philadelphia for Week 16.

TEN 13, PIT 19

Yet another defensive matchup with minimal points. The Titans only passed for 153 yards and no scores with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (4-32) as the top receiver and Julio Jones left with, ‘sigh‘,  a hamstring injury before catching a pass. The passing offense contains no difference-makers in the passing game and cannot catch up once  they fall behind.  D’Onta Foreman (22-108) was the lone bright spot as a rusher and Dontrell Hilliard (9-49) helped. But the Titans led 13-3 at the half and then never scored again. They fall to 9-5 and host the 49ers this weekend.

The Steelers were no better on offense and their only touchdown was a one-yard plunge by Ben Roethlisberger who passed for just 148 yards. Diontae Johnson (5-38) and Pat Freiermuth (4-37) were the top receivers though the rookie tight end left injured. Najee Harris only gained 18 yards on 12 rushes and caught two passes for eight yards in one of his worst performances of the season. The win lifts the Steelers to 7-6-1

CIN 15, DEN 10
Another low-scoring matchup with minimal fantasy impact. Joe Burrow passed for 157 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Boyd (5-96, TD) while Ja’Marr Chase was held to just one catch for four yards. Boyd was the only receiver with more than 23 yards. Joe Mixon ran for 58 yards on 17 carries but only caught a two-yard pass.  Their biggest plus was that they didn’t lose the ball and connected on the 56-yard touchdown strike to Boyd.  Mixon’s ankle injury is the biggest development coming out of this game. The Bengals rise to 8-6 and host the Ravens this week.

Teddy Bridgewater  left the game with a head/neck injury and went to the hospital. Drew Lock finished the game and threw a 25-yard touchdown to  Tim Patrick but the most effective receivers were the two tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam (3-58) and Noah Fant (5-57). Javonte Williams (15-72) added four catches for nine yards as a receiver while Melvin Gordon (15-53) only caught one pass for eight yards. The loss drops the Broncos to 7-7  and they travel top Las Vegas for Week 16.

ATL 13, SF 31
The only surprise for the Falcons was Russell Gage catching eight passes for 91 yards and a score. Matt Ryan only threw for 236 yards and that one touchdown and Kyle Pitts (4-77) was the next best receiver. Cordarrelle Patterson was limited to only 18 rushing yards on 11 carries and two catches for five yards for his worst performance of the season. The Falcons were tied 10-10 in the second quarter but only managed one more third-quarter field goal through the rest of the game. The Falcons fall to 6-8 and host the Lions this weekend.

The passing stats were lower this week thanks to Jimmy Garoppolo only throwing 23 passes for 18 catches and 235 yards. Jauan Jennings (3-28, TD) caught the only passing score but George Kittle (6-93) and Deebo Samuel (4-60) were the top receivers. Samuel also ran for 29 yards and a touchdown on his six rushes. Jeff Wilson rushed for 110 yards and a score on his 21 carries as the busiest 49er. Even Kyle Juszczyk ran in a touchdown on his only carry. The 49ers cruised to this win and rise to 8-6. They  play at the Titans in Week 16.

NO 9, TB 0

What?

The Over/Under was 47 points. The Buccaneers were favored by 11 points.  It turned into the lowest-scoring game in the NFL this season. The Buccaneers saw Leonard Fournette, Chris Godwin, and Chris Evans leave the game which left no one to cover besides Rob Gronkowski. That was not lost on the Saints since Gronk was thrown a team-high 11 targets but only caught two for 29 yards. Tom Brady passed for 214 yards and one interception and lost a fumble. Ronald Jones ran for 63 yards on eight carries but the offense struggled even before losing every notable offensive star besides Brady. The Saints always match up well with the Buccaneers, but this was the first time they won at the Bucs without Drew Brees.  The loss drops the Buccaneers to 10-4 and ruins a chance to stay up with the Packers in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. The Bucs play in Carolina this week.

The Saints were limited to three field goals. Taysom Hill passed for 154 yards and ran for 33 yards on 11 rushes. Alvin Kamara was held to 18 rush yards on 11 runs and just two catches for 13 yards. The only Saints’ player with any notable stats was Marquez Callaway with 112 yards on six catches. No other receiver gained more than 17 yards. The Saints won thanks to playing great defense against a talent-stripped Bucs team, and they had no turnovers. It was devoid of expected fantasy points but also oddly entertaining.

The Game-o-the-Week

GB 31, BAL 30
Apparently, going for two points after a final-minute touchdown is plenty gutsy and impressive, but it also left the Ravens with their second such loss.  Tyler Huntley was the best fantasy quarterback for Week 16 with 215 passing yards and two scores, plus 73 rushing yards on 13 runs and two more touchdowns. Mark Andrews (10-136, 2 TD) continues to be hot as the sun in recent weeks and Marquise Brown (10-43) was the only other receiver with more than 13 yards. Devonta Freeman was held to only 22 yards on six rushes and only caught one short pass.  Huntley gave the Packers about all they could handle and even brought the team back from 31-17 midway through the fourth quarter to a chance to kick an extra point and enter overtime. If they go for two points at the end of yet another game, it’s no longer gutsy and impressive. The Ravens drop to 8-6 with their third straight loss and head to Cincinnati for another very big game.

The Packers thought they had this won but finally managed to kill the two-point conversion and hung on to win. Aaron Rodgers threw for  268 yards and three scores with Marquez Valdes-Scantling (5-98, TD) and Davante Adams (6-44, TD) as the top receivers. Aaron Jones (13-58) added a touchdown on his two receptions for 12 yards. AJ Dillon (7-22, TD) played a smaller role here but scored once and added a 13-yard catch. The win keeps the Buccaneers atop the NFC with an 11-3 record and  host the Browns this weekend.