If the person that auto drafted made the playoffs it’s okay to be upset
Well, did you make the playoffs? If you’re reading this, chances are you did. If you’ve read this column before, chances are you foolishly followed my advice and missed the playoffs. What are you going to do about it? Get angry at a piece of paper? Email my editor at ian.longtin@ndsu.edu if you have a problem with me or my advice, he loves that kind of stuff.
In the words of Jim Mora: “Playoffs? Don’t talk about… playoffs? Are you kidding me?” This is where your decision-making could pay off or haunt you for the rest of your fantasy career. You’ll ask yourself why you didn’t start Mitchell Trubisky in the 2019 fantasy playoffs as you attend your granddaughter’s high school graduation. Winning and losing is part of the game, and you’ll have to learn to live with both. Don’t beat yourself up about anything, there’s always next year.
QB – Carson Wentz
The 14th ranked quarterback in fantasy this year, but the first in our hearts. He hasn’t lived up to expectations so far this season, but he came through last week. Against the mighty Dolphins in Week 13, he threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns. The six weeks prior to that, he was unproductive. When Wentz has a healthy receiving corp to work with, he can produce. WR Alshon Jeffery has missed five games this season. He returned last week and had a day. It also helps when the Eagles have plus matchups, such as their upcoming game with the Giants on Monday. New York ranks 29th in the NFL against opposing quarterbacks. With healthy receivers, Wentz is a strong play in your first playoff matchup.
RB – Devonta Freeman
My honest opinion? I don’t like Devonta Cornellius Freeman. I have never drafted him, and I never will. He can’t stay healthy and I think he’s washed up. That being said, he’s healthy now, and he has to be in your lineup on Sunday. He handled 17 carries in Week 13. Very little was accomplished with those carries, but that’s just what New Orleans does to running backs. In Week 14, Atlanta faces Carolina. Carolina has All-Pro MLB Luke Keuchly, so they should have a pretty good run defense, right? Between two backs, the Panthers allowed 228 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries last week. That formidable duo consists of Derrius “No-Knees” Guice and local 34-year-old grandfather Adrian Peterson. Freeman should be able to get it done against Carolina.
WR – DeVante Parker
Did I forget to tell you to pick up DeVante Parker? Sorry about that. If you were fortunate enough to add him, he’s a must-play asset for the remainder of the playoffs. The Dolphins face the Jets, Giants and Bengals in the coming weeks. Parker (and FitzMagic) can be started over that time. Fitzpatrick and the Fins are coming off a huge win against the Eagles. Parker did most of the damage, hauling in seven catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Over the last four games, he’s averaging over 10 targets per game. In consecutive weeks, he lined up against Tre’Davious White and Denzel Ward, two of the best corners in the game, and torched both of them. Parker is finally living up to his first-round potential.
TE – Vance McDonald
Vance McDonald has just two double-digit fantasy performances this season. In both cases, he had to score a touchdown or more. McDonald is a start this week because the Steelers play the Cardinals. There have only been two games this season in which Arizona didn’t allow a touchdown to the tight end. They just allowed 107 yards to Tyler Higbee. McDonald’s situation only looks better if JuJu and James Conner play. Arizona tries to stop the first and second options on a team. They forget the third exists, especially when it’s a tight end. Vance could be the difference between a first-round exit and a second-round berth for your team.