Alright, here we go! Championship Sunday! Does anything else need to be said? If you need anyone to pump you up, then you don’t belong here in the first place. That being said, if this isn’t your league’s championship week, you need to find a new league.
Anyways, it’s time to get down to the important stuff. Just a reminder for all you still in contention for your fantasy playoffs, we’ve got three levels of kickers, FG’s, Touchbackers and Squibs. Anyone not listed is someone you should avoid.
FG’s
1. Greg Zuerlein, LA Rams,(@ Tennesse Titans). Is there anything more that needs to be said at this point? Zuerlein leads all kickers in points scored (158, Standard, ESPN). Tennesse looks formidable if you’re starting Todd Gurley as they are giving up only 87.2 rush yards a game. However, they’re giving up just under 250 pass yards game. Which is exactly what the Rams offense is averaging. Soooo, whether they get it done on the ground or through the air, Zuerlein should get his points.
2. Jake Elliot, Philadelphia Eagles, (vs Oakland Raiders). I’m still not completely sold on Nick Foles, considering the Eagles played the worst defense in the NFL last week in the NYG. That being said, Oakland struggled against a porous Cowboys team at home and we all know West Coast teams never travel well. Elliot should have a solid game here.
3. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ Houston Texans). I’d be shocked if the Steelers didn’t play like a team possed on Sunday. Regardless of what people think about that Jesse James catch, you gotta think the team thinks it was robbed. To add on to that, the Texans defense is bad. Teams are averaging over 105 yards rushing against them ( hello Leveon Bell owners) and just under 250 yards throwing against them. Even with Antiono Brown out, the Steelers offense should have a field day, and Boswell will benefit.
4. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (vs Indianapolis Colts). Well, it seems like Tucker is back on track. He’s only missed one kick in his last ten games and the Ravens offense seems to be back on track. Tucker is a great play here, and could potentially surpass the 3 guys ahead of him.
5. Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers (vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers) The Bucs are a hot mess, losing their last four games. Going up against a Panthers team that seems to be on a mission, this could be a slaughter. Tampa has the 31st worst-ranked defense and Gano has only missed one kick the entire season. Look for him to have a great day Sunday.
6. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints(vs Atlanta Falcons) It seems as though Lutz has settled down from his bout of midseason hiccups. He hasn’t missed a kick in two games and he gets plenty of chances. Sure Atlanta basically held the ball the entire game two weeks ago, but the Saints just seem better at home. Lutz should get his chances this Sunday.
Touchbackers
7. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots, (@Buffalo Bills) Always a good game when the Patriots go up to Buffalo. The Pats almost always have their way with Buffalo and Gostkowski should get plenty of chances on Sunday. My slight hesitation right now (I am writing this on Tuesday afternoon) is that the weather up in Buffalo could be dicey. Saturday it’s supposed to be rainy all day, and Monday is supposed to be a blizzard. So keep an eye on that.
8. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints) So as much as Julio Jones dashed my playoff chances this year, this team does seem to score points. That being said, the Saints saw them only two weeks ago and now they are on the road. Do I think Bryant will get a decent amount of points, but I don’t see a high ceiling here.
9. Matt Prater, Detriot Lions (@Cincinatti Bengals) Detriot is fighting for a playoff spot, and Cincinnati is extremely hot garbage. They (The Bungals) have the 19th ranked defense, while Prater is averaging more than 7 points a game. Look for him to not only get the chances on Sunday but for him to capitalize on said chances.
10.Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs (vs Miami Dolphins) Is it time to consider the Chiefs a serious contender again? You’d like to think so after Saturday’s dismantling of the Chargers, but in the NFL who knows. If they play even half as well against a reeling Miami Dolphins team, Butker is a good play here.
11. Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars (@San Francisco 49ers) I think this the first loss of Jimmy Garrapalo’s career. Otherwise, as far as Lambo goes, the 49er’s give up almost 120 yards a game on the ground. Even with an injured Leonard Fournette, that spells big win (and thus points for Lambo) for the Jags.
Squibs
12. Nick Rose, “LA” Chargers (@New York Jets) Ok, well every once in awhile, you whiff, and that’s what happened to me last week. That being said, I don’t think Rose is going to be that productive this week anyway. Chargers are traveling across the country against a Jets team that occasionally plays way above their skill set. With Josh McCown out, however, this does make Rose a viable option, as you never know what you’re going to get with Bryce Petty.
13. Zane Gonzalez, Cleveland Browns (@Chicago Bears) If the Browns are going to win a game this season it’s going to be this one. They have shown that they can score points against bad defenses, which is the category I’d put the Bears in. If you’re desperate, go for it I guess, but if you are, chances are you aren’t playing for anything, just like these two teams.
14. Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos (@Washington Redskins) So Brock Osweiler Played well on Thursday huh? Well good for him. I don’t see that happening again. Stay away.