So you think you're hot stuff because you made it to the second round of the fantasy playoffs, huh? Well, you haven't accomplished anything yet. However, getting to the next round brings you one step closer to glory, and we here at Footballguys want to help you achieve that. Last week, we discussed a few players, and two out of the three performed as expected. Unfortunately, Najee Harris and Tank Bigsby had disappointing outings in the first week of the playoffs. I just hope they didn't cost you a win. Week 15 had a separation of boys and men; talking to you Seahawks as some teams showed they aren't ready for primetime. Here are some thoughts on whether these players are worthy of a start or if you should look elsewhere this week.
Kendre Miller (No Time For Miller)
The Saints have been heavily impacted by injuries to some of their key offensive players this season, and this trend continued in Week 15 as Alvin Kamara suffered a groin injury. Kendre Miller stepped in to replace Kamara, and I must say he has some impressive moves and can accelerate quickly. However, this week, he faces a Packers team that has been performing well lately, and it seems that many of us are overlooking them. The Packers have been one of the best teams at stopping running backs recently, allowing only 66 rushing yards to running backs over the last three games. If that stat doesn't impress you, consider that the Packers give up the fifth-fewest rushing yards at home, with an average of just 99 yards allowed at Lambeau Field. The Saints will have their work cut out for them, and Miller has never carried the ball more than 12 times in a game. While Taysom Hill is not available, Jamaal Williams is still in the mix and has a reputation for being a touchdown vulture. For alternative options in Week 16, consider pivoting to Jerome Ford, Rhamondre Stevenson, or Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Recommendation: Sit.
Javonte Williams (No “Te” Today)
NFL coaches are hard to trust at times, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton tops the list here. We should have known something was wrong when Coach Payton compared Bo Nix to Ferris Bueller. Bo Nix is more like Jeff Spicoli. Seriously, if you have Javonte Williams on your squad, look elsewhere this week. He hasn't had more than 10 carries in five straight games:
- Week 10, 1 carry
- Week 11, 9 carries
- Week 12, 8 carries
- Week 13, 4 carries
- Week 14 Bye
- Week 15, 6 carries
His teammate Jaleel McLaughlin, who was limited in the team's first practice ahead of their matchup against the Chargers, had ten touches in Week 15. Don't forget about rookie Audric Estime. The Chargers run defense tells a different story; they have been the best team in the NFL at preventing their opponents from scoring touchdowns, having given up only six touchdowns this season. I prefer Jaylen Warren, Tyjae Spears, or Travis Etienne Jr. over Williams.
Recommendation: Sit.
Isiah Pacheco (Pachec-NO)
The Chiefs are gearing up for their attempt at a three-peat and are focusing on staying as healthy as possible for January. However, this strategy has led to a frustrating timeshare among their running backs. For instance, in Week 15, the Chiefs divided the carries evenly between Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, with each player getting 13 carries. This isn't the only concerning trend for the Chiefs' backfield. In their last three games, they have averaged only 25 rushing attempts per game. If Pacheco and Hunt continue to split carries, 12 touches may not be enough to rely on.
Additionally, Carson Wentz could be set to start for the Chiefs this week due to Patrick Mahomes II's ankle injury. Even if Mahomes, who practiced fully to start the week, plays, it doesn't change the fact that the Texans are currently one of the top defensive teams. The Texans take pride in shutting down their opponents' run game, allowing the second-fewest rushing touchdowns this season. One impressive statistic is that opposing teams score a touchdown only 10% of the time when playing against the Texans away from home, which is the best rate in the league. Given these factors, I recommend considering Tony Pollard, Rachaad White, or Jerome Ford for this week.
Recommendation: Sit.
One Step Closer…
No pressure, but you're one step closer to the Championship. We at Footballguys are here to help assist. Use Footballguys Tools to help you get to the Championship, and who knows, you could be hoisting up that trophy.
