After a peculiar week in football, check your fantasy league’s standings – have you clinched a playoff berth? If the answer is yes, you’re certainly looking to make some adjustments after what was a strenuous, injury-riddled week, and you’ve come to the right place for more information on what adjustments to make. If the answer is no, it’s time to compete in the crackerjack bracket that we all know too well as the consolation playoffs. If you’re competing for the league’s grand prize, or just attempting not to be crowned biggest loser, use these tips to decide who you should grab for round one of 2018’s Fantasy Football playoffs.

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (4% ownership ESPN, 5% ownership Yahoo)

It seems that Josh Allen has pulled a page out of the book of Space Jam’s Mon-Stars and stolen all of LeSean Mccoy’s talent. RB/QB Josh Allen has 234 rushing yards over his past two games combined, and almost clutched a third straight W for Buffalo, though a bad Charles Clay drop sealed a loss against Miami in Week 13. The scrambling rookie will take his troops to MetLife Stadium for a Week 14 matchup against fellow first-year Sam Darnold and the New York Jets. Gang Green sits in the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed per game, QB rushing yards allowed per game, and YPA for QB rushes. Allen should put together a nice week with ample opportunity to rack up yards with his legs.

Josh Allen is the first QB in the Super Bowl era to rush for 95+ yards in consecutive games. https://t.co/KLYiNqnJh9 — Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) December 3, 2018

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (52% ownership ESPN, 46% ownership Yahoo)

While Lamar Jackson just barely lies below a 50% average of ownership between leagues, he’s a must-grab if he’s available for your squad. Jackson carries much of the same talents as Josh Allen, and he’s collected over 100 rushing yards or a rushing touchdown in three starts this year. In a Week 14 date with the Kansas City Chiefs, he’ll surely be asked to use more of his arm to keep his team in the game against Patrick Mahomes and company.

The Ravens should be using an any-means-necessary approach in what is a very important game in deciding the fate of their season, so expect Jackson to have a long leash while attempting to keep up with Kansas City.

Runningbacks

Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers (0.5 % ownership ESPN, 5% ownership Yahoo)

Matt “Paper Mache” Breida has yet again been dinged up and sidelined with an injury, and first-year UDFA Jeff Wilson Jr. has slid into his position as RB1 of a weapon-needy 49ers squad. He immediately handled a heavy workload in Breida’s absence against the Bucs, rushing fifteen times for 61 yards, as well as grabbing 8 of 9 targets for 73 yards. He draws a gritty matchup with the Broncos who haven’t allowed an opposing rusher to top 82 yards in the last five games, but his heavy projected workload should grant him a top-24 performance for Week 14.

Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers (3.4% ownership ESPN, 12% ownership Yahoo)

In what was a taxing week in football, another pestilent injury was bestowed upon James Connor, as he was sidelined with an ankle sprain, one that could linger with him through the next few weeks of the fantasy playoffs. Jaylen Samuels is widely viewed as the Steelers’ current RB1, but head coach Mike Tomlin has insisted that Pittsburgh will be using a runningback-by-committee approach until Connor regains his health. Samuels should lead this committee, however, and will be facing the Raiders’ porous run defense. (Samuels also has TE eligibility in Yahoo leagues – he will NOT be included in the TE section of this article, but is the top TE add of the week)

Wide Receivers

Bruce Ellington, Detroit Lions (9% ownership ESPN, Yahoo)

Once Golden Tate was moved to Philadelphia, Bruce Ellington took over his role as target funnel in the slot. He’s averaged just under nine targets per game over his past three appearances, though he hasn’t been able to turn those targets into much, churning out just over 38 yards per game. On the opposite side of that, however, he’s been relatively sure-handed and has just over six receptions per game in his past three. In a tougher matchup against the Cardinals’ stout defense in Week 14, Ellington can be deployed as a WR3 with a high floor and high upside due to his target share.

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (47% ownership ESPN, 46% ownership Yahoo)

Client Chris Godwin caught 5 of 6 targets this past weekend for 101 yards and a TD in #Bucs win over the Panthers pic.twitter.com/G4tiVc3qzu — MBK Sports (@MBKSports) December 4, 2018

Buccaneers sophomore Chris Godwin has been relatively inconsistent as a receiver in Tampa Bay’s high-volume air attack, and the past month hasn’t been an exception. In Weeks 10 and 13, Godwin hung triple-digit receiving games on the Redskins and the Panthers, respectively, but sandwiched a pair of fifty or less receiving yard efforts in between. Apart from a 56 yard plus touchdown performance against Pittsburgh, each of Godwin’s starting-caliber performances has come against bottom half fantasy receiving defenses in the league. Set and forget the young Buc’ against New Orleans’ fantasy-worst receiver defense.

Tight Ends

Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans (11% ownership ESPN, 22% ownership Yahoo)

Though he cooled off a bit in Week 13 with two catches for twenty-nine yards, Jonnu Smith is still an employable TE1 at a position that has been a desolate wasteland for the majority of the season. Facing off against a Jacksonville group that ranks right in the middle of the pack for points allowed to tight ends, Smith is a viable bet to grab a ball in the end zone at some point in the game.

C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (31% ownership ESPN, 26% ownership Yahoo)

Averaging over 7.5 targets per game in the past three weeks, C.J. Uzomah has yet to take advantage of Matt Driskel’s high usage of him as a safety valve in recent games. Uzomah has stumbled to a lackluster 8.07 yards per reception over the past three weeks, but his high target volume should continue against the Chargers in Week 14. Uzomah should have a relatively safe floor, but a ceiling that’s hardly any higher.

Defense / Special Teams

Buffalo Bills (41% ownership ESPN, 31% ownership Yahoo)

Tre’Davious White (@TreWhite16) has allowed just 16 receptions this season, the second-lowest total among CBs with 25+ targets into their coverage. Only 25% (4) of the 16 reception TW has allowed have gone for 10 or more yards… That leads all NFL cornerbacks. He’s #good. — Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) December 1, 2018

The Bills have stepped up their game in recent weeks, almost sniffing out a third straight win against Miami in Week 13, as well as upsetting Jacksonville in Week 12, and stomping the Jets in Week 11. They’ve got another juicy draw with the Jets in Week 14, and though New York will be getting Sam Darnold back from injury, he hasn’t provided much to be excited about in his time healthy this season anyway. Buffalo’s defense should have a nice game against the Jets’ sputtering offense.

Detroit Lions (8% ownership ESPN, 7% ownership Yahoo)

Though they haven’t scored a defensive touchdown since Week 1, Detroit’s defense has been able to produce a handful of fantasy points in their past three games by averaging three sacks over their last three matchups, as well as having an interception, a fumble recovery, or both in each of the past three weeks. They’re worth a dice roll against a struggling Arizona defense that hasn’t scored more than 21 points since Week 5.

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