Nothing says it’s time to FEAST for fantasy football managers like punching your ticket to the playoffs and getting your shot to end the season on the top of the mountain! For all the fantasy managers who made the playoffs though, it’s time to tighten those rosters up and get players into your lineup who can make the difference in the biggest games of the season! The Ballers aren’t letting you walk in without help though because they’re ready with a trio of players who they think can be impact players in this week’s Hungry for More presented by Uber Eats!
Each week throughout the season Andy, Mike, and Jason are going deep into their spice cabinets to make sure fantasy managers are putting all the flavor into their lineups for the next week and the playoffs are no different!
| Week 14 | ||
| Passing Attempts | Passing Yards | TDs |
| 20/25 | 325 | 2 |
While things aren’t quite what we expected in San Francisco, Andy is ready to put another helping of Brock Purdy back into his lineups this week. Purdy has been the most consistent piece of the 49ers’ offense down the stretch of the season, finishing as a top-10 QB in five of his last seven games. Surprisingly, where Purdy has been bringing a little extra production to fantasy lineups has been with his legs where he’s averaging 3.9 fantasy points per game running the ball. Purdy’s added rushing production is an increase from 8% of his fantasy production to 22% this season and ranks 10th among QBs in the league in rushing output for fantasy.
Looking through the fantasy playoffs for Purdy, fantasy managers might not be overly encouraged to get him into their lineups with a few tough matchups ahead. What should be enticing for fantasy managers who may need to rely on Purdy this fantasy postseason are the high point totals that are projected over his next three games. In each week of the fantasy playoffs, the 49ers will be playing in games with at least 48 combined points expected. While Purdy may not fall into the “week winner” category, having a QB who will be a part of games with so much potential for scoring is something fantasy managers should want in their lineups.
Upcoming Schedule: vs. L.A. Rams, at Miami, vs. Detroit, at Arizona
| Week 14 | ||
| Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs |
| 9 | 99 | 0 |
It’s been a tough season for all of the pieces in the Miami offense, but especially so for Jaylen Waddle. Over the last few weeks though, Waddle has looked more like himself in this Dolphins offense and it has Jason thinking of getting more helpings of him in his lineups! After finishing as a top-24 WR just once in his first 10 games this season, Waddle has hit that mark twice in the last three weeks. What’s most encouraging for Waddle’s fantasy production is the 34% of first-read targets he saw last week against the Jets, finally seeing more than De’Von Achane and Jonnu Smith and the same amount as Tyreek Hill. Waddle’s target share over the last three weeks has jumped as well, increasing 4% compared to his first 10 games of the season.
As long as the Dolphins are still in the playoff hunt, there should be plenty of chances for big fantasy production through the fantasy playoffs for Waddle. In two of his next three games, Waddle faces defenses that are allowing at least 3.4 fantasy points above expectation to opposing fantasy WRs, including championship week against the Browns who are allowing 5.2 points above expectation! If Waddle continues his increased involvement for Miami he should be able to play a large role in getting fantasy managers deep into the playoffs over the next few weeks.
Upcoming Schedule: at Houston, vs. San Francisco, at Cleveland, at N.Y. Jets
| Week 14 | ||
| Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs |
| 8 | 86 | 0 |
Throughout the offseason, there were plenty of expectations to have a rookie WR finish as a top-12 WR on the year, but very few of those projections had Brian Thomas Jr. being the rookie WR to do it and it has Mike wanting more of him in his lineups! Thomas is currently the WR10 on the season and is one of just six WRs in the league with 850 receiving yards and six TDs. Historically, Thomas’ yards per route run as a rookie is tracking behind only Odell Beckham Jr., A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Chris Olave since 2014. Any concerns that Thomas’ fantasy production would be slowed down with Mac Jones replacing Trevor Lawrence in the Jaguars’ offense have been put to rest, with Thomas finishing as the WR16 and WR24 over his last two games with Jones under center.
Looking forward for Thomas, his schedule doesn’t appear like it’s the greatest, but each of his matchups in the fantasy playoffs come against teams that don’t have very much to play for with the Jets, Raiders, and Titans on tap. On the season, each of those defenses is allowing negative fantasy points above expectation to opposing WRs, but we just saw the Jets allow two top-20 WRs to the Dolphins last week so the season-long numbers are a bit misleading. What’s important for fantasy managers with Thomas to remember heading into the fantasy playoffs is that the Jags will definitely be allowing points that force Jacksonville to throw the ball plenty and that should keep Thomas as a strong option for their lineups.
Upcoming Schedule: vs. N.Y. Jets, at Las Vegas, vs. Tennessee, at Indianapolis
