We made it to the finish line. Hopefully you’re still cleaning up bottles of champagne around the house from all of your championships.
In the meantime, we still have plenty of DFS action and wagers to place for Week 18. Let’s go through some stats and notes to help:
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has been predictably running way more since returning from injury. In his last five games, Murray has 34 carries, 241 yards, and 2 TDs and has gone over 40 yards in 4-of-5 outings.
Per SIS, 15 of Murray’s 34 carries have been on designed plays where he’s the primary runner and he has averaged a ridiculous 9.9 YPC on those plays.
Murray’s target distribution in three games with Hopkins out – Ertz (33), Kirk (29), Green (17), Wesley (17), Edmonds (14).
Chase Edmonds’ workload in two games with James Conner out – 86% snap rate, 34 carries, and 15 targets.
Antoine Wesley had a good game last week (4/30/2), but I wouldn’t chase it. His snaps were cut dramatically as he only ran a route on 23 of their 46 pass plays.
Atlanta Falcons
He’s dealing with a hamstring injury, but Kyle Pitts needs 59 yards to break the all-time rookie record for a tight end.
Cordarrelle Patterson’s snap rate over the last three weeks: 62% > 54% > 51%.
C-Patt is averaging 2.22 YPC over his last three games.
Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews over his last four games – 35 receptions, 465 yards, 4 TDs, and 105.5 fantasy points (26.4 per game).
Andrews’ 26.4 FPG ties Darren Waller from last year as the most fantasy points per game by any tight end in their final four games of the fantasy season.
Three tight ends have delivered league-winning stretches in their final 4 games of fantasy season last 2 years:
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) January 5, 2022
* Mark Andrews – 26.4 fantasy points per game
* Darren Waller (2020) – 26.4 FPG
* Travis Kelce (2020) – 25.2 FPG
Previous best stretch: Jordan Reed (2015) – 23.6 FPG
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen has become an integral part of the Bills run game as of late. He has 12 or more carries in three of his last 4 games after previously having just one outing with nine or more carries in his first 12 contests.
Devin Singletary is a full-blown bell-cow now and is averaging 22 touches per game and has an 81% snap rate over his last three games.
Singletary is averaging 19.5 FPG in this span, making him the RB2 by fantasy points per game in the fantasy playoffs
Top-8 RB leaders in fantasy points per game during the playoffs (quarter's, semi's, champ in Weeks 15-17):
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) January 5, 2022
RB1 – Damien Harris
RB2 – Devin Singletary
RB3 – Rashaad Penny
*lol*
RB4 – Austin Ekeler
RB5 – David Montgomery
RB6 – Joe Mixon
RB7 – Sony Michel
RB8 – Jonathan Taylor
Carolina Panthers
- Sam Darnold over his last seven games after a hot start in Weeks 1-4 – 52.8% completion rate, 5.1 YPA, 53.3 passer rating, 2 TDs, 9 INTs, 2 fumbles, and 22 sacks. Is that bad? That seems bad.
Chicago Bears
David Montgomery finished his season out on a high note and was the RB5 in fantasy points per game (19.0) during the playoffs (Weeks 15-17).
Justin Fields will get one final crack to end the season against the Vikings. This is a reminder that Fields was running way more and has averaged 56.3 rushing yards and has six or more carries across his last 6 starts.
Darnell Mooney is averaging 5.6 receptions, 69.9 yards, and 14.3 fantasy points per game when Fields does not start.
With Fields, Mooney averages 3.6 receptions, 48.9 yards, and 11.4 fantasy points per game.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase’s 55.6 FP are the second-most fantasy points a WR has had in a single game in Weeks 16-17 all-time. Jerry Rice (59.9 in Week 15, 1995) is No. 1.
Joe Burrow’s last two games have been ridiculous, but his hot streak started after their blowout loss to the Chargers where Burrow threw 2 INTs and took six sacks.
Over his last four games, Burrow has completed 75.9% of his throws for 10.5 YPA, has a 134.9 passer rating, and is averaging 369 yards per game.
I can’t wait to see this team in the playoffs and really hope they don’t turtle with Burrow playing like a future multiple-time MVP winner. HC Zac Taylor has basically said “F it” over the last two weeks and the Bengals have been the most pass-heavy team on early-downs (68%), by far.
Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield played so poorly this year that I think there is no way they can bring him back as the starter in 2022. This roster is way too talented to not be a contender…
Among the 37 QBs to have at least 100 attempts from a clean pocket this season, Baker Mayfield ranks seventh-worst in passer rating (86.3). Sam Darnold ranks sixth-worst (83.8).
Just 71.2% of Mayfield’s clean pocket throws were on-target, which was the second-worst rate ahead of only Justin Fields (69.9%).
On throws of 10 or more yards downfield, Mayfield was on-target just 50% of the time – the lowest rate in the league by far. Trevor Lawrence was second-worst (53%).
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott’s fantasy season was a roller-coaster in the back half of the year. From Week 9 on (after his calf injury), Dak’s weekly finishes were – QB11 > QB2 > QB28 > QB3 > QB23 > QB27 > QB17 > QB3 > QB4.
Still, despite their ups and downs, Dallas finished the fantasy regular season first in points per game (29.9) just ahead of Tampa (29.4).
Denver Broncos
- The Broncos have scored 14 or fewer points four times in their last 5 games.
Detroit Lions
- Amon-Ra St. Brown is on a tear for the record books with 43 receptions, 451 yards, and 4 TDs over his last five games.
Most total fantasy points scored by a rookie WR in Weeks 13-17 all-time:
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) January 6, 2022
2014 Odell Beckham (160.9)
1998 Randy Moss (129.2)
2021 Amon-Ra St. Brown (125)
2021 Ja'Marr Chase (111.9)
2011 Julio Jones (105.6)
- D’Andre Swift only got 4 carries last week, but he was heavily involved in the passing game (28 routes on 41 pass plays).
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Rodgers is MVP. Go argue with your wall. His final seven games coming out of their Week 9 bye – 70.2% completions for 8.2 YPA, 116.5 passer rating, 18 TDs, 1 INT, and 297.6 yards per game.
Houston Texans
Brandin Cooks has double-digit targets and 7 or more catches in three-straight games.
He gets the Titans this week, who has given up the third-most FPG to WRs this year (40.1).
Indianapolis Colts
- The Colts ran just 54 plays last week as Carson Wentz was forced to play from behind all game long. Their loss to the Raiders is just another reminder of how fragile the Colts are when Wentz has to lead them and when Jonathan Taylor doesn’t absolutely lose his mind.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Sadness.
Kansas City Chiefs
After a mid-season lull, Patrick Mahomes is unconscious right now. Over his last four games, Mahomes has completed 73.5% of his throws for 8.7 YPA, he has 10 TDs to just 1 INT, and is averaging 296.3 yards per game.
Darrel Williams came through for anyone who started him in their championship with a 14/88/2 rushing line and added 3/19 as a receiver while playing on a bell-cow 80% of the snaps.
Williams ran a route on 28 of the Chiefs 40 pass plays last week.
In his six starts this year, Williams has averaged 19.1 fantasy points per game which would make him the RB4 over Leonard Fournette (18.3 FPG) on the season.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Hunter Renfrow is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game without Darren Waller over the last six weeks, making him the WR10 in this span.
Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler finished as the RB25 or better in 13-of-15 games this season.
Ekeler was the RB12 or better 10 times.
Los Angeles Rams
Since being made the starter in Week 13, Sony Michel ranks second in snap rate among all RBs (91.6%). Najee Harris is first (93.3%).
Van Jefferson caught 4 balls for 63 yards last week, but he got demoted. He ran 18 routes while Ben Skowronek (19) ran one more on their 37 pass plays.
Miami Dolphins
Miami beat New England back in Week 1, then proceeded to not win another game until Week 9.
The Dolphins averaged just 19.3 points per game in the fantasy regular season, ninth-fewest.
Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson’s WR35 finish in Week 17 was his worst score since Week 8. Jefferson finished as the WR24 or better in eight-straight games before his game with Sean Mannion.
Jefferson has the most receiving yards by a WR in their first two years of their career, by far (2,909). Odell Beckham (2014-15) is second now (2,755 yards).
New England Patriots
Damien Harris’ last 10 games: 142 carries, 720 yards (5.07 YPC), and 13 TDs.
Mac Jones is averaging just 26.3 pass attempts per game in the Patriots’ 10 wins and 37.8 per game in their losses.
After playing seven offensive snaps all year, Kristian Wilkerson played a full-time role last week and ran a route on all 32 of the team’s pass plays and got 8 targets with N’Keal Harry (healthy scratch) and Nelson Agholor out.
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara played on 78% of the snaps last week, which is the highest rate since Week 7.
Kamara’s targets in Taysom Hill’s starts: 5 > 6 > 6.
New York Giants
The Giants have scored three TDs in their last 4 games, 2 of which were in garbage time down 20+ points in the final few minutes of their game against the Chargers.
Mike Glennon’s passer rating from a clean pocket is 53.0. That’s by far the worst in the league. Andy Dalton (76.6) is second-worst.
New York Jets
Zach Wilson’s 234 yards against Tampa last week were the most he’s had in a game… since Week 4.
Braxton Berrios has 18 targets over the last two weeks.
Berriios ran a route on 32 of the Jets 36 pass plays last week.
Philadelphia Eagles
- The Eagles need to fix their red-zone offense heading into the playoffs. Over the last eight weeks, they’ve scored a TD on just 50% of their red-zone possessions – which is the sixth-lowest rate.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris’ 29.6 FP in Week 17 were the most of his season.
Harris has finished as a RB1 (top-12) in three of his last 4 games.
San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan loves Elijah Mitchell. His touches in his last four games: 27 > 33 > 25 > 23.
Mitchell is averaging 87.9 yards per game, fifth-most behind Cook, Chubb, Taylor, and Henry.
Trey Lance has 24 carries in his two starts.
Seattle Seahawks
- Rashaad Penny has gone over 135 yards in three of his last 4 games and is averaging 6.97 YPC in this span.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tom Brady has 40 TDs in back-to-back years. At 43 and 44 years old. Lol.
Tennessee Titans
Just as a reminder: Derrick Henry in his first eight games – 219 carries, 937 yards, 10 TDs and 18/154 receiving.
Henry finished the season as the RB1 in FPG (23.4) ahead of Jonathan Taylor (22.8).
Washington
Jaret Patterson ended up getting extended burn and had 12/57/1 on the ground and 5/41 through the air as Washington’s featured back in place of Gibson last week.
Patterson was on the field for 62% of the plays and ran significantly more routes (25) than No. 2 back Wendell Smallwood (11).