Hey guys, playoffs are only one-three weeks away(depending on what your league does), and it’s crunch time. Those of you who are 5-6 or even 6-5 are running out of time. Here are the players to target moving forward so that you can get that playoff push going!
1.) Bobby Rainey – RB – Tampa Bay
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another fantasy post of this nature to not include this guy on it. Here’s all Rainey has done since Doug Martin’s backup Mike James went down: 208-yds rushing and four touchdowns (three rushing; one receiving). He’s a bonafide starting running back who is looking at getting 20-25 carries per game. Rainey also has two more things working in his favor:
- His team is playing for their jobs. Each guy is going to put his best effort the rest of the way.
- His offensive line is FINALLY getting healthy.
2.) Rashad Jennings – RB – Oakland
On a team that is looking at a rookie quarterback taking the reigns, Jennings is going to get his chances. The starter Darren McFadden has been injured (as usual) and Jennings has taken advantage averaging just over 113-yds per game rushing over the past three games and adding a combined 92-yds receiving over that span with four total touchdowns in three games. He’s definitely worth a pickup and a play this week and moving forward.
3.) Donald Brown – RB – Indianapolis
It’s really an odd point in the season for there to be so much talent out there at running back, but there is. The Cleveland Browns went from being the fools that traded away a young future stud in Trent Richardson away to the swindlers of the league who gained another first round pick for a limited, injury prone, running back. After losing Ahmad Bradshaw earlier in the season, Richardson owners salivated. Meanwhile, there was that one guy that everybody probably laughed at for picking up Donald Brown in case Richardson went down. Look who’s laughing now. Brown is the guy this year. He’s gotten some of the goal-line carries and is a very solid third-down back. He’s worth a play in both standard & PPR leagues.
4.) John Carlson – TE – Minnesota
Another guy who has benefited from an injury. Since starter Kyle Rudolph went down, Christian Ponder (who always has had an eye for the TE position) has turned to Carlson as his guy. Over the past two weeks Carlson has tallied 167-yards and a touchdown. As bare as the tight end position is at this point, solid production like this can’t go unnoticed. He’s playing a Packers’ defense this Sunday that has struggled mightily in the past to stop Viking tight ends. Especially if you have the likes of Jordan Reed (concussion) or even Scott Chandler (bye) unavailable this weekend.
5.) Cleveland Browns Defense
Owned in less than 10% of NFL.com leagues, which is beyond ridiculous (they’re a top-5 overall defense!), they go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. Ben Roethlisberger has had a resurgence the past couple of weeks, but his offensive line is still awful. Let’s do the math here: Cleveland’s ninth most sacks in the league + Pittsburgh’s 30th ranked (in terms of sacks allowed) offensive line = At least three sacks and a turnover right? If you’re missing Seattle’s D and didn’t jump on the Ravens defense soon enough, these are your guys. Give them a shot.
Thanks guys. Good luck this weekend, and may the playoff God’s be with you…..unless you’re Del Shanks.
-Carl Leander
