()=last week's ranking
1.(6) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) Week 15 opponent: New England Patriots
2.(1) New England Patriots (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
3.(2) Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) Week 15 opponent: New York Giants
4.(3) Minnesota Vikings (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
5.(4) Los Angeles Rams (9-4) Week 15 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
6.(5) New Orleans Saints (9-4) Week 15 opponent: New York Jets
7.(8) Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) Week 15 opponent: Houston Texans
8.(9) Carolina Panthers (9-4) Week 15 opponent: Green Bay Packers
9.(10) Atlanta Falcons (8-5) Week 15 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10.(7) Seattle Seahawks (8-5) Week 15 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
11.(11) Los Angeles Chargers (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
12.(12) Tennessee Titans (8-5) Week 15 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
13.(13) Baltimore Ravens (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Cleveland Browns
14.(14) Detroit Lions (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Chicago Bears
15.(16) Dallas Cowboys (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Oakland Raiders
16.(17) Kansas City Chiefs (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
17.(19) Green Bay Packers (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Carolina Panthers
18.(21) Buffalo Bills (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Miami Dolphins
19.(15) Oakland Raiders (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
20.(22) Arizona Cardinals (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Washington Redskins
21.(24) Miami Dolphins (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Buffalo Bills
22.(20) Washington Redskins (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
23.(18) New York Jets (5-8) Week 15 opponent: New Orleans Saints
24.(23) Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
25.(27) Chicago Bears (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Detroit Lions
26.(25) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
27.(29) San Francisco 49ers (3-10) Week 15 opponent: Tennessee Titans
28.(26) Houston Texans (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
29.(31) Denver Broncos (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
30.(28) Indianapolis Colts (3-10) Week 15 opponent: Denver Broncos
31.(31) New York Giants (2-11) Week 15 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-13) Week 15 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Week 14 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
For the first 2 months of the 2017 season, there was a national debate about whether or not Ben Roethlisberger's days as a top-tier QB were officially over. Since the calendar turned to November, he's been one of the hottest QB's in the NFL and this run of excellence continued during the 1st week of the fantasy playoffs. Roethlisberger made the Ravens 12th-ranked pass defense look like a scout team as he torched them for 506 YDS and 2 TD's in another improbable win for the 11-2 Steelers. Despite the warpath he's been on for the past month, I have a hard time trusting Big Ben to deliver against a highly motivated Patriots squad in Week 15's marquee matchup.
Honorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
For the first 2 months of the 2017 season, there was a national debate about whether or not Ben Roethlisberger's days as a top-tier QB were officially over. Since the calendar turned to November, he's been one of the hottest QB's in the NFL and this run of excellence continued during the 1st week of the fantasy playoffs. Roethlisberger made the Ravens 12th-ranked pass defense look like a scout team as he torched them for 506 YDS and 2 TD's in another improbable win for the 11-2 Steelers. Despite the warpath he's been on for the past month, I have a hard time trusting Big Ben to deliver against a highly motivated Patriots squad in Week 15's marquee matchup.
Honorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
Miami once again proved to be a house of horrors for the typically brilliant Tom Brady. The 5-time Super Bowl Champ was uncharacteristically sloppy and unpoised (24-43, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) in a stunning upset loss to the lowly Dolphins last night. Despite his poor play in 2 straight weeks, I'd be shocked if Brady didn't bounce back in a major way against an injury-depleted Steelers secondary that just got lit up by Joe Flacco.
Miami once again proved to be a house of horrors for the typically brilliant Tom Brady. The 5-time Super Bowl Champ was uncharacteristically sloppy and unpoised (24-43, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) in a stunning upset loss to the lowly Dolphins last night. Despite his poor play in 2 straight weeks, I'd be shocked if Brady didn't bounce back in a major way against an injury-depleted Steelers secondary that just got lit up by Joe Flacco.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Derek Carr (Raiders), Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Running Back
MVP: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
While his YDS per touch weren't overly impressive (5.6), Le'Veon Bell still put together an absurd fantasy statline. Bell picked up 125 yards from scrimmage (48 rushing, 77 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches in the Steelers remarkable 39-38 comeback against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Bell will more than likely be the Steelers primary offensive weapon this week versus the Patriots weak run defense.
While his YDS per touch weren't overly impressive (5.6), Le'Veon Bell still put together an absurd fantasy statline. Bell picked up 125 yards from scrimmage (48 rushing, 77 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches in the Steelers remarkable 39-38 comeback against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Bell will more than likely be the Steelers primary offensive weapon this week versus the Patriots weak run defense.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Jordan Howard (Bears), Todd Gurley (Rams)
LVP: Latavius Murray (Vikings)
Poor Latavius Murray simply didn't stand a chance against the Panthers on Sunday. A combination of Carolina's stout front preventing him from finding any room to run and the Vikings playing from behind for most of the game led to Murray's horrible 11-touch, 20 YD performance. Murray has greatly exceeded expectations since taking over as the Vikings primary back following the season-ending ACL injury to star rookie Dalvin Cook in early October and should be able to return to his typical high-end RB2 role in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that has really struggled to contain the run in recent weeks.
Poor Latavius Murray simply didn't stand a chance against the Panthers on Sunday. A combination of Carolina's stout front preventing him from finding any room to run and the Vikings playing from behind for most of the game led to Murray's horrible 11-touch, 20 YD performance. Murray has greatly exceeded expectations since taking over as the Vikings primary back following the season-ending ACL injury to star rookie Dalvin Cook in early October and should be able to return to his typical high-end RB2 role in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that has really struggled to contain the run in recent weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarette Blount (Eagles), Lamar Miller (Texans), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)
Wide Receiver
MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Seemingly nothing can stop DeAndre Hopkins from dominating right now. The dream team of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates forced the ball to the star wideout for the majority of the game with spectacular results (149 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions) in a 26-16 loss to the suddenly competent 49ers. Hopkins will look to continue his nearly season-long reign of dominance against the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense in Week 15.
Seemingly nothing can stop DeAndre Hopkins from dominating right now. The dream team of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates forced the ball to the star wideout for the majority of the game with spectacular results (149 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions) in a 26-16 loss to the suddenly competent 49ers. Hopkins will look to continue his nearly season-long reign of dominance against the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense in Week 15.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Davante Adams (Packers), Cooper Kupp (Rams)
LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Mike Evans underwhelming 2017 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon against the Lions. The Bucs top wideout struggled to separate from Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay, finishing the game with only 2 receptions for 25 yards. Evans, who hasn't found the endzone since Week 7, has been wildly ineffective in both games since Jameis Winston returned from injury and his fantasy owners can't feel good about rolling him out this week against a stingy Falcons secondary that has shut down just about every top wideout they've faced this season.
Mike Evans underwhelming 2017 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon against the Lions. The Bucs top wideout struggled to separate from Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay, finishing the game with only 2 receptions for 25 yards. Evans, who hasn't found the endzone since Week 7, has been wildly ineffective in both games since Jameis Winston returned from injury and his fantasy owners can't feel good about rolling him out this week against a stingy Falcons secondary that has shut down just about every top wideout they've faced this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Robby Anderson (Jets), Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
Tight End
MVP: Jared Cook (Raiders)
Right on cue, the world's most volatile fantasy tight end managed to bolster his owner's spirits a week after destroying them. Jared Cook was on the receiving end of Derek Carr's lone garbage time TD pass to cap off a nice 5 reception, 75 YD performance against the Chiefs on Sunday. With injuries aplenty making this notoriously depth-deprived position even thinner than usual, feel free to keep rolling the dice on Cook for the rest of the season.
Right on cue, the world's most volatile fantasy tight end managed to bolster his owner's spirits a week after destroying them. Jared Cook was on the receiving end of Derek Carr's lone garbage time TD pass to cap off a nice 5 reception, 75 YD performance against the Chiefs on Sunday. With injuries aplenty making this notoriously depth-deprived position even thinner than usual, feel free to keep rolling the dice on Cook for the rest of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), O.J. Howard (Buccaneers)
LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
After finding the endzone in 4 straight games, Jimmy Graham failed to register a reception against the Jaguars outstanding pass D. Even with this monumental dud on his resume, Graham has still managed to score 9 TD's in his 8 last games, so he'll be a no-brainer starter against the Rams this week.
After finding the endzone in 4 straight games, Jimmy Graham failed to register a reception against the Jaguars outstanding pass D. Even with this monumental dud on his resume, Graham has still managed to score 9 TD's in his 8 last games, so he'll be a no-brainer starter against the Rams this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Stephen Anderson (Texans), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Denver Broncos
Don't look now, but the Broncos defense finally had a game where they played up to their exceptional talent level. An impressive 4 sack, 2 takeaway (an INT and a fumble recovery) performance helped Denver snap their 8-game losing streak with a 23-0 victory over the Jets. The Broncos talented, but underachieving D have a decent shot of finding success once again this Thursday against a Colts offense that has allowed 19 sacks and turned the ball over 5 times in their last 5 games.
MVP: Denver Broncos
Don't look now, but the Broncos defense finally had a game where they played up to their exceptional talent level. An impressive 4 sack, 2 takeaway (an INT and a fumble recovery) performance helped Denver snap their 8-game losing streak with a 23-0 victory over the Jets. The Broncos talented, but underachieving D have a decent shot of finding success once again this Thursday against a Colts offense that has allowed 19 sacks and turned the ball over 5 times in their last 5 games.
Honorable Mentions: Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers
LVP: New England Patriots
The Patriots defensive resurgence took a huge unexpected hit in a 27-20 loss to the Dolphins last night. Matt Patricia's troops managed just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways on a night where Jay Cutler, Kenyan Drake and Jarvis Landry regularly exploited the early-season deficiencies (run D, massive coverage lapses, poor linebacker play) that they'd done a good job of hiding since the Jets game in mid-October. Even though I expect them to win by a decent margin, the Pats D will be a below-average fantasy play this week against a Steelers offense that doesn't allow a lot of sacks and has only turned the ball over in 1 of their last 4 home games.
The Patriots defensive resurgence took a huge unexpected hit in a 27-20 loss to the Dolphins last night. Matt Patricia's troops managed just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways on a night where Jay Cutler, Kenyan Drake and Jarvis Landry regularly exploited the early-season deficiencies (run D, massive coverage lapses, poor linebacker play) that they'd done a good job of hiding since the Jets game in mid-October. Even though I expect them to win by a decent margin, the Pats D will be a below-average fantasy play this week against a Steelers offense that doesn't allow a lot of sacks and has only turned the ball over in 1 of their last 4 home games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
Monday, December 11, 2017
Programming Notice
Dear readers,
Due to my commitment to spend as much time as possible listening to records and watching movies in preparation for my 2017 best-of lists, I'll be writing in a somewhat reduced capacity over the next month or so. You can still expect all of my weekly columns and some other fun stuff as this wild year comes to a close, but I'll be refraining from posting any lengthy reviews until these extensive year-end recaps are complete. Thank you for your continued support of this silly little blog and I hope you enjoy the slew of content I have lined up for the next 4-5 weeks.
Chris Maitland
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Concert Review: Converge-- Allston, MA-- December 8th, 2017
Lineup: Converge/Pile/Give
Venue: Brighton Music Hall, Allston, MA
Date: December 8th, 2017
Give: Of all the things I'd expect to see at Converge show, an Adidas jumpsuit-clad hardcore band hitting the stage was not one of them. Once the shock wore off, Give's powerful bass lines, goofy energy and subtle hip-hop influences managed to entertain me for the duration of their 30-minute set. Kudos to Converge for bringing a unique act that doesn't really align with any aspect of their sound on the road with them.
Pile: On the other end of the surprise spectrum came Pile. These guys played a strange hybrid of post-hardcore, stoner and indie rock that didn't resonate with me in the slightest. Every song, regardless of tempo, slogged along for what felt like a millennium and outside of Mastodon, I've never seen another band that looked less interested in performing. I was alarmingly close to falling asleep while standing up the entire time they were on stage and if I didn't go take a piss around the 20-minute mark of their set, that remarkable feat would've undoubtedly been accomplished. I'd be more likely to voluntarily enter the state of Vermont for the first time in 12 years than agree to sit through another live performance by these innovators in sleepytime songwriting.
Converge: A large of part Converge's legacy has been built upon their live shows. Their incendiary performances helped them break out of Boston's iconic hardcore scene in the mid-90's and went onto a play a crucial role in the metamorphosis that resulted in them becoming one of the most renowned metal bands on the planet in the early 2000's. 23 years into their run as a national touring act, the spastic forefathers of metalcore still eviscerate every stage they step onto in seemingly effortless fashion. The sense of chaos and pain that serves as the backbone of their music takes on a whole new life in a live setting that never fails to be captivating as all hell. Frontman Jake Bannon storms around the stage like a man that's hellbent on delivering destruction to the masses, happily sharing the mic with any fan that wants it while his bandmates (guitarist Kurt Ballou, bassist/backing vocalist Nate Newton, drummer Ben Koller) establish this visceral, apocalyptic atmosphere that simply overwhelms you. Marinating this level of raw intensity and punk energy at a stage of their career where they've earned enough acclaim to go down in the annals of the genre's history, especially when playing a setlist that is driven by the somber, darkly melodic material from their new LP The Dusk in Us, is a stirring testament to the sheer amount of passion, pride and agony that goes into every single one of Coverge's sets. There are a very small number of acts that I would declare to be an absolute must-see every time they're in town and unless they undergo an unforeseen musical midlife crisis in the next few years, Converge will remain on this esteemed list for the foreseeable future.
Scores:
Give 6.5/10
Pile 2.5/10
Converge 9/10
Setlist:
Converge:
Reptilian
Under Duress
Arkhipov Calm
A Single Tear
Dark Horse
The Broken Vow
Aimless Arrow
Black Cloud
The Dusk in Us
Eye of the Quarrel
Broken by Light
Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast
Eve
I Can Tell You About Pain
Eagles Become Vultures
Encore:
Concubine
Venue: Brighton Music Hall, Allston, MA
Date: December 8th, 2017
Give: Of all the things I'd expect to see at Converge show, an Adidas jumpsuit-clad hardcore band hitting the stage was not one of them. Once the shock wore off, Give's powerful bass lines, goofy energy and subtle hip-hop influences managed to entertain me for the duration of their 30-minute set. Kudos to Converge for bringing a unique act that doesn't really align with any aspect of their sound on the road with them.
Pile: On the other end of the surprise spectrum came Pile. These guys played a strange hybrid of post-hardcore, stoner and indie rock that didn't resonate with me in the slightest. Every song, regardless of tempo, slogged along for what felt like a millennium and outside of Mastodon, I've never seen another band that looked less interested in performing. I was alarmingly close to falling asleep while standing up the entire time they were on stage and if I didn't go take a piss around the 20-minute mark of their set, that remarkable feat would've undoubtedly been accomplished. I'd be more likely to voluntarily enter the state of Vermont for the first time in 12 years than agree to sit through another live performance by these innovators in sleepytime songwriting.
Converge: A large of part Converge's legacy has been built upon their live shows. Their incendiary performances helped them break out of Boston's iconic hardcore scene in the mid-90's and went onto a play a crucial role in the metamorphosis that resulted in them becoming one of the most renowned metal bands on the planet in the early 2000's. 23 years into their run as a national touring act, the spastic forefathers of metalcore still eviscerate every stage they step onto in seemingly effortless fashion. The sense of chaos and pain that serves as the backbone of their music takes on a whole new life in a live setting that never fails to be captivating as all hell. Frontman Jake Bannon storms around the stage like a man that's hellbent on delivering destruction to the masses, happily sharing the mic with any fan that wants it while his bandmates (guitarist Kurt Ballou, bassist/backing vocalist Nate Newton, drummer Ben Koller) establish this visceral, apocalyptic atmosphere that simply overwhelms you. Marinating this level of raw intensity and punk energy at a stage of their career where they've earned enough acclaim to go down in the annals of the genre's history, especially when playing a setlist that is driven by the somber, darkly melodic material from their new LP The Dusk in Us, is a stirring testament to the sheer amount of passion, pride and agony that goes into every single one of Coverge's sets. There are a very small number of acts that I would declare to be an absolute must-see every time they're in town and unless they undergo an unforeseen musical midlife crisis in the next few years, Converge will remain on this esteemed list for the foreseeable future.
Scores:
Give 6.5/10
Pile 2.5/10
Converge 9/10
Setlist:
Converge:
Reptilian
Under Duress
Arkhipov Calm
A Single Tear
Dark Horse
The Broken Vow
Aimless Arrow
Black Cloud
The Dusk in Us
Eye of the Quarrel
Broken by Light
Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast
Eve
I Can Tell You About Pain
Eagles Become Vultures
Encore:
Concubine
Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Best and Worst of Tommy Lee Jones
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Just Getting Started" star Tommy Lee Jones.
Films starring Tommy Lee Jones that I've seen:
Under Siege
Natural Born Killers
Batman Forever
Volcano
Men in Black
Small Soldiers
Men in Black II
Man of the House
No Country for Old Men
Captain America: The First Avenger
Men in Black 3
Criminal
Jason Bourne
Mechanic: Resurrection
Best Performance: Natural Born Killers (1994)
For such a stoic personality, Jones is surprisingly adept at playing unhinged, over-the-top characters and his performance in Natural Born Killers is the finest example of this underutilized skill. Jones' non-stop deranged energy is the only real highlight of the wildly disjointed second half of Oliver Stone's uneven satire of sensationalist media.
Worst Performance: Jason Bourne (2016)
Jones has been typecast as a curmudgeon lawman for so long that I think even he's starting to get tired of it. His by-the-numbers "I'M A SUPER SERIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT WHOSE GOING TO CATCH THE BAD GUY BY ANY MEANS NESSECARY" routine was very appropriate for an impressively average spy thriller like Jason Bourne.
Best Film: No Country for Old Men (2007)
Films like No Country for Old Men are why I'll always consider the Coen Brothers among the best directors on the planet, regardless of how many middling-to-bad movies they've released over the course of their lengthy careers. This Texas-set crime drama is an unforgettable powerhouse with some of the finest acting, storytelling, dialogue and suspense I've ever seen on screen. After exploring all sorts of different time periods and genres in the 10 years since No Country was released, I'm hoping that the Coens will return to the grimy, darkly comic criminal underworld they portray so brilliantly before too long.
Worst Film: Criminal (2016)
No movie in the history of cinema could've benefitted more from the presence of Nicolas Cage than Criminal. Watching straight-faced Kevin Costner repeatedly scream about having the memories of a dead CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) implanted in his head and kill random dudes with lamps makes this film seriously painful to watch. Casting Cage in the lead role would've turned this overly serious action thriller into a brilliant piece of ludicrous, high-concept B-movie poetry. Shame on Ariel Vomen, Elaine Grainger and everyone at Lionsgate for not letting Mr. Cage come in and carry this movie on his crazy-ass shoulders.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" star Benicio Del Toro.
Films starring Tommy Lee Jones that I've seen:
Under Siege
Natural Born Killers
Batman Forever
Volcano
Men in Black
Small Soldiers
Men in Black II
Man of the House
No Country for Old Men
Captain America: The First Avenger
Men in Black 3
Criminal
Jason Bourne
Mechanic: Resurrection
Best Performance: Natural Born Killers (1994)
For such a stoic personality, Jones is surprisingly adept at playing unhinged, over-the-top characters and his performance in Natural Born Killers is the finest example of this underutilized skill. Jones' non-stop deranged energy is the only real highlight of the wildly disjointed second half of Oliver Stone's uneven satire of sensationalist media.
Worst Performance: Jason Bourne (2016)
Jones has been typecast as a curmudgeon lawman for so long that I think even he's starting to get tired of it. His by-the-numbers "I'M A SUPER SERIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT WHOSE GOING TO CATCH THE BAD GUY BY ANY MEANS NESSECARY" routine was very appropriate for an impressively average spy thriller like Jason Bourne.
Best Film: No Country for Old Men (2007)
Films like No Country for Old Men are why I'll always consider the Coen Brothers among the best directors on the planet, regardless of how many middling-to-bad movies they've released over the course of their lengthy careers. This Texas-set crime drama is an unforgettable powerhouse with some of the finest acting, storytelling, dialogue and suspense I've ever seen on screen. After exploring all sorts of different time periods and genres in the 10 years since No Country was released, I'm hoping that the Coens will return to the grimy, darkly comic criminal underworld they portray so brilliantly before too long.
Worst Film: Criminal (2016)
No movie in the history of cinema could've benefitted more from the presence of Nicolas Cage than Criminal. Watching straight-faced Kevin Costner repeatedly scream about having the memories of a dead CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) implanted in his head and kill random dudes with lamps makes this film seriously painful to watch. Casting Cage in the lead role would've turned this overly serious action thriller into a brilliant piece of ludicrous, high-concept B-movie poetry. Shame on Ariel Vomen, Elaine Grainger and everyone at Lionsgate for not letting Mr. Cage come in and carry this movie on his crazy-ass shoulders.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" star Benicio Del Toro.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Week 13 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Alex Smith (Chiefs)
Alex Smith woke up in a MAJOR way in Week 13 following back-to-back poor outings. Smith gave a Chiefs offense that had been lethargic as hell for much of the past month a much needed shot to the heart with a dominant, mistake-free performance (436 total YDS and 4 TD's through the air) against the Jets largely inexperienced defense. The Chiefs signalcaller will be a solid QB1 option this week against a Raiders defense that he lit up for 342 YDS and 3 TD's in mid-October.
Honorable Mentions: Josh McCown (Jets), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
MVP: Alex Smith (Chiefs)
Alex Smith woke up in a MAJOR way in Week 13 following back-to-back poor outings. Smith gave a Chiefs offense that had been lethargic as hell for much of the past month a much needed shot to the heart with a dominant, mistake-free performance (436 total YDS and 4 TD's through the air) against the Jets largely inexperienced defense. The Chiefs signalcaller will be a solid QB1 option this week against a Raiders defense that he lit up for 342 YDS and 3 TD's in mid-October.
Honorable Mentions: Josh McCown (Jets), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
No this isn't a typo. TB12 posted a rare fantasy dud (258 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT) against a Bills squad that he's eviscerated on a regular basis over the past 17 years. I'm no psychic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Brady will end up annihilating the lifeless Dolphins defense next Monday night.
No this isn't a typo. TB12 posted a rare fantasy dud (258 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT) against a Bills squad that he's eviscerated on a regular basis over the past 17 years. I'm no psychic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Brady will end up annihilating the lifeless Dolphins defense next Monday night.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Derek Carr (Raiders)
Running Back
MVP: Alvin Kamara (Saints)
Alvin Kamara is a god damn force of nature. The rookie sensation was outstanding against the Panthers stout defense on Sunday afternoon, picking up 126 yards from scrimmage (60 rushing, 66 receiving) and 2 scores in a huge divisional win for the Saints. Kamara will look to stretch his multi-TD streak to 3 games against the Falcons above-average rush defense on Thursday night.
Alvin Kamara is a god damn force of nature. The rookie sensation was outstanding against the Panthers stout defense on Sunday afternoon, picking up 126 yards from scrimmage (60 rushing, 66 receiving) and 2 scores in a huge divisional win for the Saints. Kamara will look to stretch his multi-TD streak to 3 games against the Falcons above-average rush defense on Thursday night.
Honorable Mentions: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Rex Burkhead (Patriots), Alex Collins (Ravens)
LVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
The Bears embarrassing lack of weapons in the passing game once again derailed their talented 2nd-year running back. Jordan Howard only mustered 33 YDS (38 rushing, -5 receiving) on 14 touches in a matchup against a lowly 49ers D that looked very favorable on paper. Facing stacked fronts on a weekly basis, Howard will be a risky RB2 throughout the fantasy playoffs.
The Bears embarrassing lack of weapons in the passing game once again derailed their talented 2nd-year running back. Jordan Howard only mustered 33 YDS (38 rushing, -5 receiving) on 14 touches in a matchup against a lowly 49ers D that looked very favorable on paper. Facing stacked fronts on a weekly basis, Howard will be a risky RB2 throughout the fantasy playoffs.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Duke Johnson Jr. (Browns)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
Alex Smith's ability to jump start this offense against the Jets can largely be attributed to the fact that Tyreek Hill was heavily involved in the gameplan for the 1st time in nearly a month. Hill accumulated a career-high 185 YDS and 2 TD's on 6 receptions in the Chiefs rough 38-31 loss to the feisty Jets. The NFL's fastest man could be in-line for another big day when he takes on the Raiders poor secondary in Week 14.
Alex Smith's ability to jump start this offense against the Jets can largely be attributed to the fact that Tyreek Hill was heavily involved in the gameplan for the 1st time in nearly a month. Hill accumulated a career-high 185 YDS and 2 TD's on 6 receptions in the Chiefs rough 38-31 loss to the feisty Jets. The NFL's fastest man could be in-line for another big day when he takes on the Raiders poor secondary in Week 14.
Honorable Mentions: Nelson Agholor (Eagles), A.J Green (Bengals), Keenan Allen (Chargers)
LVP: Brandin Cooks (Patriots)
With Tom Brady having a very off day by his lofty standards, Brandin Cooks was left famished against the Bills beatable secondary. The Patriots star wideout made very little impact (22 total yards) on his 3 touches in another not overly impressive double-digit win for the defending Super Bowl champs. Like his quarterback, it's highly likely that Cooks will bounce back against the Dolphins questionable passing defense in Week 14.
With Tom Brady having a very off day by his lofty standards, Brandin Cooks was left famished against the Bills beatable secondary. The Patriots star wideout made very little impact (22 total yards) on his 3 touches in another not overly impressive double-digit win for the defending Super Bowl champs. Like his quarterback, it's highly likely that Cooks will bounce back against the Dolphins questionable passing defense in Week 14.
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
Tight End
MVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
While his damage was almost exclusively done in the first 18 minutes of the game, Travis Kelce still managed to be the king of the tight end position this week. Kelce turned his 4 receptions into 94 YDS and 2 TD's in the Chiefs narrow loss in a shootout with the Jets on Sunday afternoon. The star tight end will look to keep rolling this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
While his damage was almost exclusively done in the first 18 minutes of the game, Travis Kelce still managed to be the king of the tight end position this week. Kelce turned his 4 receptions into 94 YDS and 2 TD's in the Chiefs narrow loss in a shootout with the Jets on Sunday afternoon. The star tight end will look to keep rolling this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Honorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
LVP: Jared Cook (Raiders)
In a development that should only come as a surprise to the most naïve and/or blindly optimistic fantasy owners out there, Jared Cook once again managed to underwhelm in a huge spot. Cook failed to take advantage of the absence of starting WR's Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against the Giants dumpster fire of a defense, reeling in just a single catch for 9 YDS in a big win for this up-and-down Raiders squad. He'll remain in his traditional boom-or-bust TE1 slot for this week's matchup against the Chiefs.
In a development that should only come as a surprise to the most naïve and/or blindly optimistic fantasy owners out there, Jared Cook once again managed to underwhelm in a huge spot. Cook failed to take advantage of the absence of starting WR's Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against the Giants dumpster fire of a defense, reeling in just a single catch for 9 YDS in a big win for this up-and-down Raiders squad. He'll remain in his traditional boom-or-bust TE1 slot for this week's matchup against the Chiefs.
Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Jack Doyle (Colts), Vernon Davis (Redskins)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams reigned terror from all angles on the geriatric, injury-riddled Cardinals on Sunday, registering 6 sacks, 2 INT's, 2 blocked kicks and a TD in a 32-16 win. Wade Phillips' crew has been one of the most consistently strong fantasy options this season and even with some shaky matchups in the final 3 games (Eagles, Seahawks, Titans), they should continue to be a top 5-10 defense.
The Rams reigned terror from all angles on the geriatric, injury-riddled Cardinals on Sunday, registering 6 sacks, 2 INT's, 2 blocked kicks and a TD in a 32-16 win. Wade Phillips' crew has been one of the most consistently strong fantasy options this season and even with some shaky matchups in the final 3 games (Eagles, Seahawks, Titans), they should continue to be a top 5-10 defense.
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
While their offense looked rejuvenated in Week 13 , the Chiefs D fell flat on its face yet again. This once-feared group's lack of discipline and playmaking (0 sacks or takeaways) allowed the Jets to come out on top in this 38-31 slugfest. Unless Bob Sutton can suddenly get this group to cut down on the absurd amount of stupid penalties and horrific coverage lapses they commit every week, the Chiefs won't be a formidable play in fantasy.
While their offense looked rejuvenated in Week 13 , the Chiefs D fell flat on its face yet again. This once-feared group's lack of discipline and playmaking (0 sacks or takeaways) allowed the Jets to come out on top in this 38-31 slugfest. Unless Bob Sutton can suddenly get this group to cut down on the absurd amount of stupid penalties and horrific coverage lapses they commit every week, the Chiefs won't be a formidable play in fantasy.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints
2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14
()=last week's ranking
1.(2) New England Patriots (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Miami Dolphins
2.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
3.(3) Minnesota Vikings (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Carolina Panthers
4.(5) Los Angeles Rams (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
5.(6) New Orleans Saints (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
6.(4) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
7.(10) Seattle Seahawks (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
8.(9) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
9.(7) Carolina Panthers (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
10.(8) Atlanta Falcons (7-5) Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints
11.(11) Los Angeles Chargers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Washington Redskins
12.(13) Tennessee Titans (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
13.(14) Baltimore Ravens (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
14.(12) Detroit Lions (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15.(17) Oakland Raiders (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
16.(22) Dallas Cowboys (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New York Giants
17.(15) Kansas City Chiefs (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Oakland Raiders
18.(21) New York Jets (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Denver Broncos
19.(23) Green Bay Packers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Cleveland Browns
20.(16) Washington Redskins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
21.(18) Buffalo Bills (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
22.(20) Arizona Cardinals (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Tennessee Titans
23.(19) Cincinnati Bengals (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Chicago Bears
24.(26) Miami Dolphins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: New England Patriots
25.(24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Detroit Lions
26.(25) Houston Texans (4-8) Week 14 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
27.(27) Chicago Bears (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
28.(28) Indianapolis Colts (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Buffalo Bills
29.(31) San Francisco 49ers (2-10) Week 14 opponent: Houston Texans
30.(29) New York Giants (2-10) Week 14 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
31.(30) Denver Broncos (3-9) Week 14 opponent: New York Jets
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-12) Week 14 opponent: Green Bay Packers
1.(2) New England Patriots (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Miami Dolphins
2.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
3.(3) Minnesota Vikings (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Carolina Panthers
4.(5) Los Angeles Rams (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
5.(6) New Orleans Saints (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
6.(4) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
7.(10) Seattle Seahawks (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
8.(9) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
9.(7) Carolina Panthers (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
10.(8) Atlanta Falcons (7-5) Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints
11.(11) Los Angeles Chargers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Washington Redskins
12.(13) Tennessee Titans (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
13.(14) Baltimore Ravens (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
14.(12) Detroit Lions (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15.(17) Oakland Raiders (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
16.(22) Dallas Cowboys (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New York Giants
17.(15) Kansas City Chiefs (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Oakland Raiders
18.(21) New York Jets (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Denver Broncos
19.(23) Green Bay Packers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Cleveland Browns
20.(16) Washington Redskins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
21.(18) Buffalo Bills (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
22.(20) Arizona Cardinals (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Tennessee Titans
23.(19) Cincinnati Bengals (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Chicago Bears
24.(26) Miami Dolphins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: New England Patriots
25.(24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Detroit Lions
26.(25) Houston Texans (4-8) Week 14 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
27.(27) Chicago Bears (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
28.(28) Indianapolis Colts (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Buffalo Bills
29.(31) San Francisco 49ers (2-10) Week 14 opponent: Houston Texans
30.(29) New York Giants (2-10) Week 14 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
31.(30) Denver Broncos (3-9) Week 14 opponent: New York Jets
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-12) Week 14 opponent: Green Bay Packers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)