Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. Special Christmas Eve edition. Players who'll need to give a little extra to hit statistical thresholds. Will the Jets ever get in right at quarterback? Start Drake or Dak in Week 17? And more.
Question 1
My league competes all the way through week 18 for most points scored for the year. I am curious if there is a list of players that mat have a big bonus incentives to reach a target goals such as sacks, receptions, yards etc. also would like know if that would have any weight in rankings.
Steven Torres (Nipomo, CA)
I saw one in the Weekly today. Luke Wilson pointed out that Stefon Diggs will pick up an extra $1.5 million if he reaches 90 catches and 1,000 yards. He needs 14 catches and 131 yards to reach those levels. I believe that gives him a nice safety net in these final games. I believe there will be an extra effort to get the ball in his hands in the final games, ensuring that he averages 7 catches for 66 yards in these final two games. I don’t know of any other contract incentives, but I will keep an eye open – they usually show up at about this time of year. There are also stat thresholds to consider, and many appear in the weekly. DeVon Achane needs 274 yards to reach 2,000 run-rec yards for the season. I wonder if he’ll be seeing a few extra touches. Nacua, Chase and McBride are battling to lead the league in receptions; that could cause them to be a little busier. Nacua also in a dual with JSN to lead the league in receiving yards. I see a few who need to finish strong to reach 1,000 rushing yards: Kenneth Walker (needs 121 yards), Chase Brown (154), Jaylen Warren (172) and Ashton Jeanty (172). George Pickens needs 12 catches to reach 100; I believe there could be some extra effort to ensure he doesn’t fall just short. Players in the gray area of maybe missing 1,000 receiving yards: Alec Pierce (needs 129), Kyle Pitts (146), Christian McCaffrey (151), Michael Wilson (172) and Drake London (163).
Question 2
I'm a Jets fan and I'm at a loss to explain their quarterbacking plans. Both Fields and Taylor are practicing, in a limited fashion, yet they're rolling out the rookie Brady Cook who doesn't give them much chance of winning. They say they're evaluating him for the future, but I doubt their next QB is even on the roster since they'll have a high first-round draft pick. Hence, should we conclude that Fields is finished as a starting QB? His offensive numbers don't seem all that bad for the early part of this season, but he didn't seem to lead the Jets effectively, or pull out wins, so I guess the coaches have soured on him and/or management plans to release him after this year (and don't want to risk injury).
Drew Paterson (Ferndale, WA)
I’m so sorry (for your Jets fandom); must be tough. I would have thought they would have wanted to get one more look at Justin Fields (who’s now on IR). Fields started nine games, and he was good/serviceable in three or four of them, depending on how you score the Dallas game (with Fields putting together some late drives in a blowout loss to finish with 284 passing yards and 2 TDs). Fields played well enough to win in high-scoring losses early against the Steelers and Dolphinss, and he helped them win at Cincinnati. But signing him to a two-year deal including $30 million in guarantee money was a mistake. He's not a viable NFL quarterback. He’ll be gone, and they’ll be bringing in somebody else in the offseason.
Question 3
Full PPR and I have to decide between Drake Maye and Dak Prescott at QB. I also have TreVeyon Henderson and CeeDee Lamb on my roster. Henderson still unsure to clear protocol, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on what combo maximizes my chances in the championship.
Chris George (Mc Donald, PA)
You’re in good hands at quarterback. Maye and Prescott are both in the top 4 on my board this week. I’ve got Maye a point higher. He does more as a runner, and that may be turned up a little more this week, with Henderson possibly out. (Whether Henderson makes it through the concussion protocol or not, I have no idea). With, the injury to Ryan Flournoy might help him. While Flournoy is just a third receiver, he’s actually caught more touchdowns than Lamb, Pickens and Ferguson over the last nine games. Flournoy has caught 4 in those games, while all of the others have caught 3. With Flournoy not playing tomorrow, I think that enhances the scoring potential of the other three.
Question 4
Not really a question but a humble brag. I'm in 3 leagues and made the championship in all 3! Thank you for the guidance. I lost one of the championships but won one and I'm playing my son in the championship in my top league this weekend. Somehow I managed even taking Ja'Marr Chase with my 1st pick. Taking James Cook with my second helped!
Patrick LaMendola (Penfield, NY)
Good luck to you. Cook was also the pivotal pick in getting one of my teams into a championship game. In that particular league, Cook and the team were squawking over his contract, causing him to fall into the middle of the third round.