This is normally the week that the most “Must-win” games are played. The week before your dramatic playoff run. Will you be on the outside looking in? Or will your team be the front-runner in a race to the finish? One thing is for sure here. The lineup decisions you make are as crucial as they have ever been. Who are you on the fringe with? Is there a guy on your watchlist that you’re just dying to get an opinion on? Well, have no fear; we have 20 more players divided up for you with the information you need to win your league! Here we go, folks; ring the bell!
High Dollar Stocks Trending Up
LB Dre Greenlaw: It doesn’t matter who he plays alongside or who deserves more notoriety. Greenlaw is an IDP stud and proved it again this past week. He posted eight tackles, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Since his bye week, he has had double digits in three of the four games played. He’s been a bright spot for all managers on their playoff push, and that should continue into the money weeks. Warner is producing alongside him, so we have another example of an NFL team that is producing two quality fantasy linebackers. Greenlaw is the preference of this market.
DE Nick Bosa: The 49ers are loaded with quality IDP talent and at the top of that list is defensive end Bosa. Bosa has had a monster year so far and is well on his way to career highs in sacks and tackles. He currently has 14.5 sacks with five games left to play, with us on record watch. It isn’t inconceivable for him to post 22-24 sacks by the time this is over with a few big games, and with the recent injury to Jimmy Garoppollo, this team needs all the excitement it can get from the defensive unit.
DT Jonathan Allen: Allen is having arguably his best season, and last week was another sign of this. If you have him, you start him, there is no other option, and he is living up to the draft spot for his position. He has 53 total tackles and 7.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman and currently sits at DT1. He is proving to be a league winner in formats that require a defensive tackle to start and is pacing for career highs in tackles and sacks. Don’t overthink the position; if you have Allen, you play him and likely win the matchup.
S Harrison Smith: This market has been admittedly a bit harsh on the Smith criticism, so it is only fair we praise the greatness when we see it. Well, we definitely have seen it here lately. Smith had back-to-back double-digit games for the first time since Weeks 8 and 9. This past week was a huge performance where he compiled eight tackles, three defended passes, and an interception. He’s 33 years old and is likely in the twilight of his fantasy productive career, but he is absolutely a must-start when he is on, and lately, he has been! If this is the Smith we get to finish the year, he could win manager’s multiple playoff games, but that’s a big if.
LB Alex Singleton: At this point in the season, if you have a Broncos linebacker, they need to be a starter for your team. Singleton was the latest to put up a massive week. 17 tackles this week. If you didn’t catch that let me reiterate. SEVENTEEN. TOTAL. TACKLES. That almost adds to the production of a whole other player on your team. The crazy part? He has had 12 or more tackles in three out of 12 games played. This wasn’t even his season high; he had 21 total in Week 6 against the Chargers. He’s a must-play with that potential and is the true epitome of a league winner with that in the chamber.
High Dollar Stocks Trending Down
LB Devin Bush: When the Steelers added Myles Jack, we all knew that Bush would take a hit. Many teams can carry two linebackers that are productive, but it appears the Steelers aren’t that way. Since his rookie year, Bush hasn’t had a 100+ tackle season and this year will be no exception. He has 65 with five games to go, so while it isn’t inconceivable for him to reach this mark, it is still a fall from grace for a former dynasty darling. He’s worth a roster spot, but not even close to a starting role, barring lineup desperation.
LB T.J. Watt: Another disappointing season for a Steelers linebacker. Watt’s was due mostly in part to a bad injury early on in the season. It was exciting when the news broke of a return, but in the four games he has been playing, he just isn’t producing like managers are accustomed to. He’s averaging less than five tackles per game, and he just isn’t getting sacks like we are used to. It’s not easy to say this, but we can no longer confidently start Watt in these high-pressure games. He’s still a dynasty manager’s dream, but he isn’t this season’s star anymore.
DE Demarcus Lawrence: Okay, so if you’re a regular reader, you know that we have had quite the rollercoaster in breaking down Lawrence’s play this season. Well, the consistent analysis was to get rid of him before you feel stuck. Well, here we are, the high-dollar and high-pressure weeks, but he’s producing like someone you can get off waivers. In standard-scoring leagues has only contributed 16 points in his last three weeks on six tackles and a sack. If you’re a buyer of this position, then these stats have to be one-week stats, not three weeks. Hopefully, this is a bad stretch and doesn’t cost managers any championship performances.
DE Jadeveon Clowney: Sometimes in fantasy football, the name of the player is bigger than the point production. A great example of this is Clowney. Clowney has been boom or bust in fantasy as well as the NFL but has had some seasons where he was a worthy starter. This year, he has been anything but that. He has 20 total tackles and two sacks. If you’re looking for a gambling style of pass-rushing specialist as opposed to your traditional three-down guys, there are much better options than the big name in Cleveland currently.
DT Jeffery Simmons: Simmons was no doubt one of the first players off the board at his position but has not lived up to the name this year. He was poised for a blowup year but has only contributed to four games of double-digits. This is a position that doesn’t move the needle much in terms of points, but if you were drafting one or acquiring one at the beginning of the year, Simmons was likely a target, and unfortunately, it just hasn’t been one that has changed your team. He’s currently DT12 but was preseason top 3 at his position.
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Middle of the Pack Trending Up
DE Kwity Paye: Although the healthy games have been few and far between, when he’s been available, he has been a stud for the defensive line of the Colts. In just six games played, he has five sacks and 33 tackles. This averages out to almost 80 tackles and 17 sacks over the course of a full, healthy season. If he’s available, he is one of those guys you have to consider starting, although there appears to be a real injury risk. The defensive line for the Colts as a whole is very good in fantasy, so there will be available opportunities for him to contribute. It’s a health risk, but one you should be willing to take.
LB Chad Muma: I believe it is time we start to talk about the long-term viability of rookie linebacker Chad Muma. It appears he has dipped into the playing time (and production) of fellow rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd. Since we have seen an uptick in his snaps, he is averaging nine tackles and just under one sack per game. Now, these averages can paint an exaggerated picture, but the reality remains that he is the rookie to have down the stretch, not Lloyd, who in the same span of games is averaging four tackles and no other meaningful statistics. Foye is an obvious start for this team, but Muma is breaking into quality starter territory and is a rookie. Dynasty dreams are coming true for the second of the two backers taken in this past year’s IDP rookie drafts.
DT Dexter Lawrence: Lawrence, or as he is affectionately nicknamed “Sexy Dexy,” has had a quality season at the defensive tackle position. He has been consistently average this season with some outlier jumps, but in three of his last four games, he’s been at double-digits. He has had 26 tackles and two sacks in his last four games and has some favorable matchups during the fantasy playoffs. It may not be “sexy” to look at defensive tackles when attempting to find an edge on your opponent, but there’s an opportunity there to get a good player who is peaking now. He’s currently DT7 but has a shot at contending with the top three at his position.
LB Eric Kendricks: Another regular of this market has been Kendricks, but it has not always been in the most positive light. It was easy to see that Jordan Hicks was the player to have in Minnesota, but it was surprising that it came at the expense of Kendricks. Frankly, since his bye week in Week 7, Kendricks has been an outstanding linebacker in fantasy. Since then, he has just one game below double-digit points and in most cases, has been the better of the two to have. Now that is a drastic difference from previous markets, but with new information comes new results, and Kendricks is now a name to remember going into the home stretch.
LB Jamin Davis: Since stud linebacker Cole Holcomb is done for the year with injury, Davis has immediately become of the strongest candidates for IDP fantasy playoff MVP. Last week was a brief look at what could be. He has had back-to-back 10 tackle games and gets a bye week, so he will have fresh legs going into the Fantasy playoffs. He absolutely has the potential to change the momentum for your team if, by happenstance, you were able to acquire him midseason. 24 years young and the more dynamic player of the two, Davis is a dynasty manager’s dream and finally has his chance to shine.
Penny Stocks with a Chance
DE Chandler Jones: This has been far from a good year for the eventual hall-of-fame pass rusher. It actually feels weird referring to him as a penny stock, but the stats have justified this ranking. Be that as it may, Jones absolutely showed us there is still something in the tank this past week with a stellar performance against the Chargers. He had six tackles and three sacks and has some favorable matchups down the stretch. He has Rams, Patriots, and Steelers in his upcoming three games, and if you need a spot starter, this could be a beneficial place to start your search.
S Justin Simmons: There will never be a market without more than one safety mentioned! Simmons used to be a pretty regular starter for most IDP managers in his prime, but this year he has been an injury-plagued roster clogger. This past week’s game was an indication that he still can be a valuable asset to your team when healthy and in a favorable matchup. He has the Chiefs twice and the Cardinals in the next few weeks, which could make for some big weeks down the stretch. They can be a dime a dozen, but a good safety can steal a week.
LB Josh Uche: Patriots linebackers are easy candidates to make your head spin when trying to find value. In most cases, managers should shy away from them, especially in crunch time. Uche may be worth a second look, though. He has had a sack in four of his last five games and, in three of those games, has had multiple! If you look at his season splits, he is very much all over the place, but here lately, he has earned at least a spot on your roster with some high-risk high-reward starts. Do you have the stomach to start him, or will you be on the other side of a manager’s decision to do so?
CB Nate Hobbs: Corners don’t often move the needle or give your team much of a boost this time of year, but Hobbs has finally gotten healthy. And when this dude plays, he is an absolute beast! Last week he had nine total tackles. If you can get him off waivers, he is an immediate pick-up-and-play guy. Not often are corners celebrated for their fantasy impact, but if you are making a late-season run, you need to acquire points. That is exactly what he does for you.
LB Micah McFadden: May I interest you in a rookie linebacker who may not be rostered in most redraft leagues and even could have slipped off dynasty rosters? Last week was his career high in points and tackles. Now, he hasn’t carved out much of a role through the season, but he has now shown us signs of life, and when you’re looking for potential playoff runs, that has to be a contributing factor to the search. Worst case scenario, he isn’t a starter and is a bench guy. In the best case scenario, this was the first of many good performances, and you have some depth going into your championship run!
Another week down, and we are ready for the home stretch. Are you a contender looking for an added advantage or a pretender looking to spoil someone’s run? Either way, we have the guys for you! Follow me on Twitter @Steakspeare and follow FootballGuys for all your fantasy football takes and answers to those tough lineup questions!