Are you really looking to this article for advice going into the finals?? Your team has to be set by this point, no? If you’re like me, and you’ve grinded to the finals starting players like Damien Harris and Shady McCoy (my team’s a mess, I’m telling you), I guess I can give you one more week of guys you’ve never heard of who might help you get a ring.
Thank you to everyone who has been reading these over the year. If you’ve been reading each week and there’s a player I mentioned who won your league (like when I mentioned Curtis Samuel or Salvon Ahmed), let me know! If you followed my lead on guys like Dontrelle Inman, maybe keep that to yourself; I can’t take criticism.
Without further adieu:
Running Back
Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons (available in 88% of Yahoo! leagues)
For the number of times I wrote about Brian Hill, I have to have better luck on Smith, right? Smith has carried the ball 37 times in the last four weeks, and his Head Coach fully said that this week he is their lead back. Not my words, his. Now, it’s up to you whether or not you trust Raheem Morris, but at least if you roll with Smith, it’s not on my shoulders. If he does well, however, I’ll happily take credit. Smith likely doesn’t have a huge ceiling, but a lead back should carry a moderate floor.
Buddy Howell, Houston Texans (available in 100% of Yahoo! leagues)
The Texans should be in 2021-mode at this point, as their season is lost. Their 2021 may very well not include starter David Johnson, which would be one final gut-punch from the Bill O’Brien era. Duke Johnson is ineffective and hurt. That leaves Buddy Howell. In the last two weeks, he’s carried the rock 16 times, amounting to 64 yards. Those aren’t great numbers, don’t get me wrong, but in what could be an audition for a job next year, Howell could have some sneaky upside.
Wide Receiver
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (available in 89% of Yahoo! leagues)
I wrote about him before, and I’ll keep doing it until someone listens. This guy is very good at football. His teammate Allen Robinson, who is even better, draws opponents’ top cover-men. Mooney has had an incredibly safe floor, and he’s now found the endzone in back to back weeks. The Bears have to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and in a game against a horrible Jags team who have officially entered the Trevor Lawrence race, smash Mooney on all the overs and ride him to a title.
Tyron Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers (available in 93% of Yahoo! leagues)
Much to my disappointment, Keenan Allen, the coolest guy in the NFL, is not a lock to play much (if at all) for the fantasy championships. Insert Tyron Johnson. Two weeks ago, he turned six grabs into 55 yards and a score. Last week he turned three grabs into 61 and another major. He’s clearly a talented weapon, with a young quarterback who loves slinging it, so with my boy Keenan Allen on the sideline Johnson is worth a shot. Just promise me this: if you roll with Johnson, you’ll at least admit that Keenan Allen is a boss and that you’d rather have him and that next year you’ll remember how he’s always underrated but literally can’t be covered by anyone in the league. Thank you.
Tight End
Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (available in 73% of Yahoo! leagues)
Alright, folks. For the last tight end recommendation of the year, we’re going along the lines of my Mohamed Massaquoi recommendation from a few weeks ago. In 2011, Graham’s 1,300 yards and 11 scores gave me a ring. He was UNCOVERABLE. Add a young, healthy Drew Brees to that, and you had the best fantasy duo the North has ever seen. It was awesome. Old times were awesome. High school was so sick. I digress. Don’t add Graham to your roster to play. Add him for veteran leadership and a championship pedigree. You won’t regret it.
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