What We Saw: Week 17

Ja'Marr Chase single-handedly decided many fantasy matchups this week

Ben Brown
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Eagles @ Football Team
Buccaneers @ Jets
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Falcons @ Bills
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Falcons @ Bills

Final Score: Bills 29, Falcons 15

Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

 

Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills survived three interceptions from star quarterback Josh Allen (and an early muffed punt that resulted in a safety) to overcome a gritty Atlanta Falcons team 29-15 at Orchard Park – the win ensured that the Bills clinched a playoff spot, and they currently hold the 4th seed in the AFC.

It was a bitterly cold contest on a frozen tundra in Buffalo and both quarterbacks struggled mightily through the air, combining for just 24 completions, 317 yards without a passing touchdown. Matt Ryan was sacked five times as the Bills defense made a huge impact in the first half with rookie Gregory Rousseau forcing the ball loose after sacking Ryan, setting the Bills up for a touchdown on consecutive drives to lead by 12.

 

However, Allen disastrously threw interceptions on three straight drives to hand the Falcons the lead at the break. The Bills scored touchdowns on two straight time-sapping drives in the second half to put themselves in pole position for the win before seeing out the contest with a 10-play, 29-yard drive to bring up victory formation.

All the damage was done on the ground with Allen and Devin Singletary carrying the ball 38 times for 191 yards and four touchdowns. In comparison, the Falcons only had three drives in the second half and ran 19 plays as Arthur Smith failed to penetrate the formidable Bills defense. Questions still remain about this Bills offense and whether they have the ceiling to go all the way. Allen has to stop turning the ball over and execute plays using all his weapons, not just Stefon Diggs.

 

Atlanta Falcons

 

Quarterback

 

Matt Ryan: 13/30, 197 yards, 5 sacks | 2 carries, 7 yards, Fumble (Lost)

 

Another ineffectual performance from Matt Ryan in this Arthur Smith offense was tough to watch as Ryan failed to throw for a passing score for the fifth game this season. Ryan had a rushing score to give the Falcons the lead late in the fourth quarter called back after he was ruled down at the 1-yard line, which was ludicrous as the refs decided he was “giving himself up” despite clearly trying to run in for the score. To make matters worse, after the play Ryan got into a verbal slanging match with Bills safety Jordan Poyer, resulting in a taunting penalty and costing his team the chance to win. Ryan threw incomplete on third and fourth down and the Falcons never got the ball back.

 

Ryan coughed up the fumble on a sack in the first half too, effectively costing his team the chance of a playoff berth. It was a disappointing way to end the Falcons’ hopes of an unlikely post-season appearance. Ryan has failed to hit 20 fantasy points in every game since Week 9 and has only eclipsed that number twice this season. Ouch.

 

Running Backs

 

Mike Davis: 8 carries, 42 yards, TD | 2 targets, 1 reception, 15 yards

Cordarelle Patterson: 9 carries, 28 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 24 yards

Qadree Ollison: 3 carries, 19 yards

 

Why did Mike Davis out-carry Cordarelle Patterson on fantasy championship week? Why! On a day when their opponents ran the ball 44 times, the Falcons only managed half that number and the misuse of Patterson was criminal. With their season on the line, Patterson needed to be featured more against a Bills offense that has been susceptible to the run this season. The dynamic receiver-turned-running back also saw just two targets out of the backfield. A baffling day all around for this offense.

Mike Davis was the beneficiary of the sole goal line carry in the first half but failed to do much more beyond a 15-yard run on a dump off from Ryan later in the game. Davis continued his underwhelming first season in Atlanta.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Kyle Pitts: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 69 yards

Russell Gage: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 50 yards

Parker Hesse: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards

Olamide Zaccheaus: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards

Christian Blake: 1 target

Frank Darby: 1 target

 

Kyle Pitts probably hasn’t had the standout fantasy year managers had hoped for. However, he had a monumental game today becoming one of only two tight ends in NFL history to register 1,000 yards in their rookie season. He also broke Julio Jones’ franchise record for the most receiving yards by a rookie in Falcons history. A nice job. He has only one receiving touchdown this season, however, something that will surely change in 2022. He did leave the game early with a hamstring injury.

 

There is very little to say about the rest of this receiving corps. It would not be remiss to say that many of these names won’t be returning to the Falcons next season. Russell Gage made a nice play in the first half to set up the Mike Davis score, and Olamide Zaccheaus has shown enough to warrant a roster spot. However, this unit needs a serious upgrade in the offseason.

 

Buffalo Bills

 

Quarterback

 

Josh Allen: 11/26, 120 yards, 3 INT | 15 carries, 81 yards, 2 TD

 

Well, this is why Josh Allen was drafted so high in fantasy drafts at the start of the season. If he doesn’t deliver through the air, he is sure to do it on the ground. Such was the case today as the quarterback ran the ball in twice from the red zone to rescue his fantasy day.

 

Fantasy managers were licking their lips at the prospect of a huge fantasy day from Allen after he added another rushing score at the end of the first quarter.

 

However, Allen hit the self-destruct button soon after by throwing three interceptions in his next four passing attempts. The first was a forced throw into traffic on third down deep in Atlanta territory. It was a silly, unnecessary mistake that completely changed the momentum of the game – A.J. Terrell coming away with the ball after breaking off coverage.

 

Allen then dreadfully overthrew the ball in the direction of Cole Beasley for his second interception in as many drives – A.J. Terrell once again picking off Allen with an elite defensive play.

 

And the former Clemson cornerback watched in glee as Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, who earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week prize for last week’s performance, picked off Allen on the first drive after the half. What was the quarterback thinking on this throw?

 

A mixed bag but that production on the ground is why Allen was starting in many fantasy championships.

 

Running Backs

 

Devin Singletary: 23 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD | 1 target

Zack Moss: 5 carries, 39 yards

 

After Allen’s indiscretions either side of the half, Brian Daboll leaned on Devin Singletary to drive the offense forward. The forgotten back rushed 23 times for a career-high 110 yards and two scores as he inspired the Bills to a win that looked uncertain at the half. Singletary recorded his first multiple touchdown game of the year at a special time for fantasy managers.

 

Singletary showed nice patience and dogged determination to extend the Bills’ lead to two scores midway through the fourth quarter.

 

It was nice to see the back getting the credit he deserves. Singletary has never been the focal point of this offense and has been pigeonholed as part of a committee backfield. Allen is still the main man around the goal line, however Singletary has done everything this coaching staff has asked of him. Today was his just rewards.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Stefon Diggs: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 52 yards

Gabriel Davis: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 40 yards

Cole Beasley: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards, 2 PT

Isaiah McKenzie: 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards

Dawson Knox: 2 targets

Dion Dawkins: 1 target

 

With Allen struggling so much through the air, this usually productive unit was held to a measly 120 yards receiving and no scores on fantasy championship week. A tough day at the office. It looked so promising early, with Stefon Diggs seemingly outsmarting A.J. Terrell on every target early in the game.

 

However, as we have seen the former first-round cornerback Terrell had his cake and ate it on numerous occasions in this game. He marshalled Diggs well after a few early mistakes. Diggs also dropped a stone-cold touchdown in a similar fashion to Emmanuel Sanders a few weeks back. That killed his fantasy day. Worryingly, Diggs has now failed to muster more than 90 receiving yards in seven straight games.

Gabriel Davis made a fantastic grab on the Bills’ second touchdown drive after the Ryan strip sack fumble. The young receiver continued his upside as a FLEX option in fantasy but he is very much still touchdown dependant.

 

Dawson Knox was probably the biggest bust for fantasy managers today. The tight end failed to register a catch for the first time this season when targeted. The Falcons came into the game middle of the pack against tight ends but their secondary was decimated. A miserable end all around to the fantasy season for this receiving corps.

 

— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Eagles @ Football Team
Buccaneers @ Jets
Dolphins @ Titans
Jaguars @ Patriots
Raiders @ Colts
Chiefs @ Bengals
Giants @ Bears
Falcons @ Bills
Texans @ 49ers
Broncos @ Chargers
Panthers @ Saints
Rams @ Ravens
Lions @ Seahawks
Cardinals @ Cowboys
Vikings @ Packers

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