Writing about player trends as we head into the final week of fantasy football feels like a frivolous endeavor. No longer do we care about trends or stashes. We need points, and we need them now. With one week left in the season for most, this week's "Three Up, Three Down" edition will focus exclusively on players to start and sit in your fantasy football championship.
Good luck this week!
Three Up
QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff's impressive fantasy season is hard to ignore, as he's currently the QB7 in overall scoring. But his play over the last two weeks has pushed him up a bit higher in the court of public opinion. There have always been two narratives that follow Goff, and he has hopefully put both to rest. "He can't keep up with the league's best quarterbacks." Well, in Week 15, he went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen, narrowly losing a tight game in which Goff passed for 494 yards and five touchdowns. "He struggles on the road and in the cold." In Week 16, he amassed 336 passing yards and three touchdowns in Chicago. As the Lions look to close out the 2024 season atop the NFC, it's great that Goff was able to calm some concerns about his career shortcomings. With a road game against the 49ers up in Week 17, many managers assumed they'd have to look elsewhere for their quarterback slot. But Goff's recent play has inspired enough hope that you can plug him in as a QB1 in your fantasy finals.
WR Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
In the three games Keenan Allen has played since former head coach Matt Eberflus was fired, he's racked up 18 receptions, 253 yards, and two scores on 31 targets. He's pulling a 34.4% target share over that stretch. His targets, receptions, and yardage have all trended up in each of the past three games. Much ado made this offseason about how the pecking order would shake out between Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze. While it was murky early in the season, Allen appears to have perched atop it under the new staff. And it makes sense. Chris Beatty, the Bears' current interim offensive coordinator, was the Chargers' wide receivers coach last year. The connection he made with Allen is apparent. Just a few weeks ago, Allen was teetering on the start/sit bubble. In your Week 17 finals matchups, though, fire Allen up confidently.
TE Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Over the last two weeks, Chig Okonkwo has quietly pulled 21 targets. Okonkwo has had a tough go so far throughout his NFL career. The hyper-athletic tight end showed some promising signs as a rookie but failed to build off that. Year 2 provided very little to get excited about. But now, in Year 3, it's hard to ignore some trends. We saw the game-breaking speed displayed during a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown in Week 12. And now, the recent usage with Mason Rudolph is alluring. Many managers made it to the fantasy finals streaming tight ends this season. For anyone who found themselves in that position, Chig Okonkwo makes for an intriguing option in Week 17.
Three Down
WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Just a couple of weeks ago, Kupp found himself in this feature's "Three Down" section. He responded with a donut in Week 15. And in Week 16, he has just three catches for 24 scoreless yards. Puka Nacua is the unquestioned WR1 for the Rams. And his usage leaves little for Kupp. Kupp's production when Matthew Stafford joined the team was elite. And we continued to see flashes beyond that incredible 2021 season. But as age and injuries take their toll, the Rams are clearly content to prioritize Nacua in the passing game. For anyone who made the fantasy finals despite Kupp's awful performance, benching him in Week 17 must be considered.
RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
He's trending down at no fault of his own, but it's hard to trust Tony Pollard in Week 17. Going into Week 15, Pollard was the RB17 in half-PPR. There had been some highs and lows throughout the season, but Pollard's usage made him a must-start player. Unfortunately, the usage appears to have caught up to him, as a nagging ankle injury keeps him on a short leash. Tyjae Spears has flourished as Pollard rests up. And with a big cap hit in 2025, the Titans may opt to continue resting Pollard during the remainder of this lost season. The injury pushes Pollard from a high-end RB2 to an untrustworthy flex play in Week 17, and managers who can afford to bench him should.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
His preseason draft cost scared off a lot of fantasy football managers, and those who passed on Marvin Harrison Jr. are likely feeling great about it. The stars were aligned for a historic rookie season. A team with a pass-happy quarterback was desperate for a WR1 and spent elite draft capital to select who many deemed a generational talent. And while there have been a handful of highlights, the lowlights dramatically outweigh them. Harrison has struggled to separate. The elite speed in college hasn't shown up in the pros. He's losing 50/50 balls. He's not attacking at the catch point. Something mysterious is happening with Harrison, and the Cardinals hope to rectify these issues in 2025. However, as the WR30 on the year and nearly a month removed from his last touchdown, Harrison is a prime bench candidate in Week 17.
To hear more of my thoughts about Chig Okonkwo and others, check out today's episode of The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show!