A lot of stars and second-tier guys came through in Week 15. Not everyone (Dallas receivers? Chargers?) but a lot of them -- all the ones I was facing, it seemed. But plenty of reminders that there is a lot of luck involved in fantasy playoffs. If you happened to be facing Kenyan Drake, as a for instance, there's not much you can do but wait 'til next year.
Eagles at Washington: More competitive game than expected, just like the first meeting. Good game for Terry McLaurin (Eagles against rookie wideouts, future Factoid perhaps), Adrian Peterson, even Dwayne Haskins. But Carson Wentz, Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz brought the team back, winning touchdown catch by Greg Ward. I'm a believer in Carson Wentz, next week's Dallas-Philadelphia game should be a blast.
Texans at Titans: Another good game. Slow start for both offenses and you were nervous if you invested in Tannehill. But he finished with 3 total touchdowns and could have been 4 but for a goal-line play to Anthony Firkser that was picked/stripped and went the other way. Mike Vrabel angry after the game about a couple of things and jumped on the reporter who asked if the ball should have been caught. I think I'm with Vrabel there. I mean, yeah, maybe, but the defender and the ball arrived at the same time, plus Firkser is the 3rd-string tight end. Check out the Derrick Henry-esque run by Jonnu Smith. Henry (hamstring) didn't score which was disappointing, but seemed to have his usual workload; not a bad call to start him.
Dolphins at Giants: DeVante Parker catches 2 TDs, what a season he's having. Imagine if he had a quarterback like Ryan Tannehill throwing to him. Giants win in a blowout and Eli Manning's possible last home game for the Giants ends on a high note, most skills guys for New York fared pretty well.
Broncos at Kansas City: Game was played in a snowstorm but didn't seem to bother anyone too much. Lots of questions Sunday morning and it's tricky; you don't want to underestimate the weather and get a 10-3 game (and this one did start out low-scoring) or overestimate it and have everyone bench guys who had good games, like Mahomes, Hill and Butker. So basically the recommendation is to use weather as a tiebreaker between close players or downgrade them a little, but don't get too scared to use guys who can pretty much do their thing (like with Tyreek Hill, he might benefit from defenders who can't adjust to slippery surfaces as quickly as he can). Anyway, hope decisions weren't too costly here but I'm sure they were for some. Courtland Sutton had a touchdown in his hands that was ripped away by a great defensive play.
Bears at Packers: It's kind of a frustrating Green Bay team, at least if you're invested in say Aaron Rodgers. He could have bigger games, most likely, but they're content to win with rushing touchdowns and just enough offense. Not that they shouldn't be, but what's great for NFL fans isn't always great for fantasy fans. Anyway Aaron Jones got 2 of the 3 TDs and Green Bay wins. Bears had a chance to tie on the final series, with a Hail Mary falling just incomplete and then a short throw with a bunch of laterals having a great shot to be successful, but their fifth-string tight end didn't make the last pitch to Allen Robinson that would have got it done. Disappointing outing for David Montgomery, Bears seem to only really get him going once every month or so, or against terrible defenses.
Bucs at Lions: Like Patrick Mahomes in the snow, nothing to worry about with Jameis Winston's thumb injury. No Mike Evans, no Scott Miller after an early injury, and then even Chris Godwin hurt a hamstring late. But no problem for Winston, who probably won some fantasy matchups this week. Lions passing game was dead in the water, scored a couple of garbage time touchdowns by a running back you couldn't have added in a lot of leagues even if you wanted to, since he was signed off the practice squad Saturday and not even available. Hoping Godwin has one more big game in him for Week 16, but not counting on it. Big game for Breshad Perriman, kudos to those who believed.
Patriots at Bengals: James White touchdown early, Rex Burkhead late. Sony Michel got the yards, Tom Brady the touchdowns. Joe Mixon had a big game for Cincinnati, the only Bengal anyone should have been used. Pats defense rose up with good numbers, insert your videotaping joke here.
Seahawks at Panthers: Of course, Tyler Lockett had a big game, as reliable as a leap year. Bad enough for a couple of weeks that you don't want to use him, and then... Lots of people are tearing up Carolina's defense these days, though. Russell Wilson and Chris Carson good too. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina wideouts had good numbers, as Kyle Allen struggled with turnovers (3 interceptions in 5 plays) but still got them back in the game. Seattle turned in a real dud last week and yet still can earn a bye in the NFC.
Vikings at Chargers: Underestimated the Vikings defense a little, while also overestimating the idea that the Chargers' big game last week was an indication that they'd play well down the stretch. A comically inept, turnover-marred disaster, that took some fantasy owners down with it. Of course, Dalvin Cook leaving with a shoulder injury may have taken out some teams and the Vikings, ultimately.
Jaguars at Raiders: Raiders had the emotion of this year's last Oakland game, but it wasn't enough. Jacksonville did nothing for a half (I think Gardner Minshew had all of one completion near halftime) but pulled it out late; Josh Jacobs had good yardage but didn't score. Story that there will be changes in Jacksonville, no kidding. The latest Dede Westbrook flop, frustrating in what seemed like a choice situation. Nice game for Darren Waller, at least.
Browns at Cardinals: Thought the Cardinals might win this one and have plenty of offensive success. But a 4-TD game from Kenyan Drake was ridiculous, and came at the expense of a whole bunch of passing game components who underachieved. For both teams: Jarvis Landry really should have done more against a soft pass defense. In the didn't see coming category was David Njoku being a healthy scratch. An ugly zero in a choice matchup, as Ricky Seals-Jones of all people (revenge game? I guess) proved. Lots of frustration in this one. Browns reportedly bringing back Kitchens. Seems like someone should be gone after an inarguably disappointing season.
Falcons at 49ers: Last week I would have won with Deebo Samuel in my lineup. This week I started him everywhere and he did nothing against a lousy Falcons defense. San Francisco came out flat with everything to play for but still had a win in the bag until the final seconds. Kind of looked like Hooper should have got credit for a touchdown, but the NFL gave its usual unconvincing explanation about how long he was supposed to have the ball in his control or whatever. But then Julio Jones scored on a play where all the defender had to was hit him above the waist to keep him out. If you had to start Matt Ryan, that play got you a serviceable final total. Game of inches.
Rams at Cowboys: How the Rams team that dominated Seattle last week came out with this stinker defies belief. Cooper Kupp in particular was in the midst of another mystifying shutout until putting up some garbage numbers. Jared Goff injured his hand on a helmet early on, that was a factor, but it's the Rams defense that really took the cake in this one. Including letting former Ram Tavon Austin get open for a long touchdown -- great for him (no one started him), bad for Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, killing lineups the world over.
Bills at Steelers: There was pretty much no doubt this was going to be a low-scoring game where one team got the benefit of forcing a bunch of turnovers and winning. Ultimately it was the undrafted third-string quarterback making those turnovers and mistakes, and the second-year top-10 pick making enough good throws. Both defenses good, but Buffalo's was better and we saw why the Steelers have been trying to protect Devlin Hodges by not having him do too much. Bills in the playoffs, and with road wins over Dallas and Pittsburgh in recent weeks, they might not be an easy out. By the way, thanks Rapoport for the James Conner to share carries "report."
Monday, Monday: So, a 30-point game out of Zach Pascal will get me a win in a league where I was facing Lamar-Zeke-Jones. Unlikely. The major points in this game should come from the New Orleans side of things, although the Colts defense has some ability and maybe they can control the clock with the ground game. But I think if you need something out of Brees, Thomas, Kamara or Cook, you're feeling pretty good. Maybe the Colts keep things interesting for a half or so, but this one should be New Orleans 27, Colts 20, and that might be optimistic.