🏈 Minshew Mania

Jalen Hurts, Jonathan Taylor go down, while we preview the top waiver adds for Week 15...

Good morning. What a great sports weekend. Pretty cool to watch a world cup final, the fantasy football playoff games, and the Patriots lose, all in one day.

Just two weeks left in the regular season. Post fantasy playoffs, we'll be taking a break for a few months and return for the NFL draft in April with a weekly newsletter.

Today's newsletter covers the Waiver Wire for you to make your championship game.

WAIVERS

RB: TYLER ALLGEIER

Tyler Allgeier scored 22.6 fantasy points in W15 and had his first 100 yard game of the season. What changed? Caleb Huntley suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter (and will miss rest of season), while rookie QB Desmond Ridder struggled. Expect the Falcons to continue to lean on the run.

Allgeier recorded a 76.5% success rate in Week 15, the highest by any RB in a game this season (min. 15 carries). Allgeier now leads all rookies with +136 rushing yards over expected this season, ranking 7th overall among RBs.

  • James Cook has been featured in this section repeatedly. If he's still available, stash him.

  • Marlon Mack now has 15+ FP and one TD in back-to-back contests and is a Lat Murray injury/fumble away from a bigger role.

  • Jordan Mason remains a CMC rest/injury away from must start status. As is Khalil Herbert, Alexander Mattison, and Kareem Hunt.

Deon Jackson gets the headlines, but the Colts leaned on Zach Moss more than Jackson after Jonathan Taylor left with yet another ankle injury in Week 15. Moss paced Jackson in carries (24 to 13), scrimmage yards (81 to 56), snaps (53 to 25), and route run (14 to 9), per FantasyPoints.

Still, Jackson looked the better RB and averaged more YPC than Moss. The Colts upcoming schedule is gold for RBs (weak run D's Chargers and Giants), so it's worth adding both Moss and Jackson.

WR: DOTSON

We've been banging the Jahan Dotson drum since the NFL draft. So it's no surprise he's the add of the week. The first round WR translated a 79% snapshare and 6 targets into 20.5 FP. Dotson is finally starting to show some chemistry with Taylor Heinicke and almost had another 10 fantasy points (video, wide open 40 yards downfield). Dotson’s 6 receiving TDs are tied for the 3rd most by a rookie in Washington franchise history. He is only rostered in 26% of ESPN leagues.

  • Rashid Shaheed continues to be disrespected by the fantasy community, but continues to produce. His playing time has risen in four straight and averages an absurd 22.3 YPR.

  • Chris Moore has played over 80% of snaps in two games this season, scoring at least 8+ fantasy points and seeing an avg of 10 targets in each of them.

  • Zay Jones posted 109 yards and 3 TDs while Trevor Lawrence is balling.

Chigoziem Okonkwo might be the most important add of the season. In a historically weak TE market, Okonkwo has posted double-digit fantasy points in three straight games. His 2.63 YPRR ranks third among all pass-catchers:

  1. Tyreek Hill (3.47)

  2. Justin Jefferson (2.77)

  3. Chigoziem Okonkwo (2.63)

  4. AJ Brown (2.60)

  5. Jaylen Waddle (2.59)

Don’t buy the hype: KJ Osborne and Juwan Johnson (who ran only 13 routes).

The case for Brock Purdy: Purdy is taking full advantage of his huge opportunity, while Kyle Shanahan makes it easy for the 49ers QB to distribute the rock to his many weapons. He's a less handsome Jimmy-G lite, who won't win you or lose you weeks but is a safe pickup for those Hurts owners down bad.

Deshaun Watson was dropped in many, many leagues, but if you're looking for a high-upside QB, grab Watson. Watson still has his mobility (video) and arm (video), and continues to shake off the rust.

YES, Gardner Minshew is expected to start for the Eagles as Jalen Hurts has a sprained throwing shoulder. Don't forget: Minshew tried break his own hand with a hammer while drunk on Jack Daniels so he could get another year eligibilty playing college football. Eagles are gunna be alright. Add - Minshew was QB8 last year in his lone start with 22.8 FP.

Keep an eye on:

A helpful review of major injuries suffered by skill-players this weekend.

Jonathan Taylor (ankle) After famously never missing a practice with injury dating back to high school, Taylor suffered a high-ankle sprain that's likely to bring his season to an end. It's been a frustrating one for Taylor, who dealt with lingering ankle injuries pretty much all season.

Colt McCoy (concussion): Trace McSorley stepped up in McCoy's absence Sunday and would likely start in his place if he has to miss time. McSorley has never started an NFL game since being a sixth-round pick with the Ravens back in 2019. Big downgrade for Cardinals WRs.

Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett said Courtland Sutton (hamstring) is "potentially available" for Week 16 against the Rams.

Jeff Wilson (hip) was close to playing in Week 15 against the Bills and should return for W16.

D/ST

Defense Wins Championships

The best streamers this week and next, because you're winning it all baby:

  • Week 16: Titans vs Texans, Chargers @ Colts

  • Week 17: Chiefs vs Broncos, Chargers @ Baker's Rams

Other Week 16 studs:

Bills (@Bears), 49ers (vs. Commanders), Buccaneers (@ Cardinals), Broncos (@ Rams), and Ravens (vs. Falcons).

Sneaky play: Las Vegas Raiders. Vegas has scored 7 standard D/ST points per week since Week 13, while Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion) has taken 2.6 sacks & averages one interception per game in his rookie campaign. If he remains out, then Vegas will get a shot at the Mitchell Trubisky.

Together with The Athletic

How Baker's Doing It

“He did a great job studying over the last few days,” Coen said Friday. “Was in here every morning at 6 a.m. and was here pretty late at night, too. … (He is) confidently professional.”

Thanks to The Athletic, we learned how Baker Mayfield navigated a new playbook, a pencil pouch and wild ride to his first Rams start. Consider this: Mayfield is not just learning the Rams’ playbook for the first time. He’s also balancing that effort with game planning for opponents each week, starting with the Packers last night.

Some of the philosophical or foundational principles cross over. Mayfield worked with Kevin Stefanski and Bill Callahan in Cleveland, two operators of the McVay/Kyle/Mike Shanahan offensive system that is so prolific throughout the NFL. Full article here.

Some systems share the same core “rules,” but concepts sound or look different in call or execution depending on the coach.

For example, Mayfield threw a pass to receiver Van Jefferson on a “sail” route. Some systems call that same route “banana,” while others call it “rattle.” A standard quarterback play call like this (as illustrated by backup quarterback John Wolford in a recent op-ed for The Athletic):

“Lens to Deuce Rt Claw Z Short Lander Z Strong X Revo Z Lockback (can) 2 Jet Z-Monday Astro Read Alert Money Deacon Flow F Panama On the Omaha” can feature a different word in each space depending on which offensive system it exists in or the game plan for that week.

QUICK SLANTS

  • Whenever I’m feeling down, I pull up this old Solo Pod question. Still my favorite ever (video).

  • Nick Chubb averages +10 more fantasy points per game with Jacoby Brissett (18.8) at QB, compared to with Deshaun Watson at QB this season (8.8).

  • Pat Freiermuth was held without a catch for the first time in his NFL career and didn't see a single target in W15.

  • Injured Chargers CB J.C. Jackson was booked at the Bristol County Jail & House of Correction on Monday on a "family issue."

It's been a heck of a season, thanks for spending it with us. We're pumped for the final two weeks and hope to hear about some championship wins from y'all.

Jake, Eddie, Matt

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