Cash Game Option
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs ($8,600) vs. Chargers
Mahomes has faced a rough schedule lately: at New England, vs. Denver and at Chicago. Yet he's reached 283 yards against the Pats and 340 against the Broncos. With a healthy pass catching corps and playoff positioning on the line, the Chiefs will continue to step on the gas.
The Chargers provide a formidable foe, but Mahomes supplies a high floor option in a week where few such guys exist. We’ll find several value options at the other spots.
Tournament Target
Daniel Jones, Giants ($7,500) vs. Eagles
Jones returned from injury last week to drop 352-5 on Washington. He’s now gone for 300+ yards 4 times; 4+ TDs 3 times. This offense is plenty deep, even with Evan Engram out. And the Giants figure to need to throw as underdogs against Philly’s pass funnel defense.
Also consider: Jameis Winston
Cash Game Options
Alvin Kamara, Saints ($7,900) at Carolina
Kamara finally broke out last week with 110 total yards and 2 scores at Tennessee. Now comes the best matchup league-wide against Carolina, one that produced 4.9 YPC and 9 catches back in Week 12.
Damien Williams, Chiefs ($6,400) vs. Chargers
The Chiefs have both Spencer Ware and Darrel Williams on IR, leaving them with LeSean McCoy and Darwin Thompson behind Damien Williams. Thompson has just 33 attempts scattered across 11 games, while McCoy was a healthy Week 16 scratch.
Williams, meanwhile, handled 19 team RB opportunities last week for the 2nd time over the past 3 weeks. He’ll carry that type of volume upside again vs. a Chargers squad that enters as 9-point underdogs.
Tournament Target
Marlon Mack, Colts ($7,300) vs. Jacksonville
The Jags have allowed a league-high 160.8 fantasy points to RBs over the past 5 weeks. Mack gets a crack at ‘em without backfield-mate Jordan Wilkins, who’s coming off a 9-carry outing vs. Carolina. Mack could reach 20+ touches in this one.
Also consider: Ezekiel Elliott, Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon, Sony Michel, Kerryon Johnson
Cash Game Options
Michael Thomas, Saints ($9,200) at Carolina
Thomas’ price still isn’t in a crazy range. That’s despite him reaching 21 FD points in 7 of his past 8 contests. He hit that number just a few weeks ago against Carolina.
Perhaps the Panthers get torched on the ground — Alvin Kamara is certainly a good play — but a road matchup might at least help keep this one a bit closer. And if the Saints do win in a blowout, it’s likely Thomas plays a big role. He leads the league with 22 red zone targets and a massive 33.2% target share.
Keenan Allen, Chargers ($6,700) at Kansas City
Allen hasn’t posted many spike weeks this year, as his usual low TD rate has remained. But he’s still seeing volume; 10+ targets in 2 straight and double digits in 4 of his past 6.
The Chargers figure to play from behind in this one. (They’re installed as 9-point road underdogs.) Plus, we’ve already seen Allen thrive in this matchup with 8-71-1 in Week 11. Pro Football Focus also charts Allen vs. slot CB Kendall Fuller as one of the top-10 matchups in favor of the WR.
Tournament Target
Michael Gallup, Cowboys ($6,500) vs. Washington
Battling injury, Amari Cooper played a less-than-usual 74% of the snaps in a Week 16 loss to Philly. Gallup stepped up in that one with 5 catches for 98 yards.
Next up is an even better matchup against perhaps the league’s most injury-ravaged pass defense. The downside here is that Dallas could easily win with the ground game — but that’s what keeps Gallup as primarily a tournament play. We at least know that Dallas will go all out, as they can clinch the NFC North with a win and a Philly loss.
Also consider: Davante Adams, Courtland Sutton, Tyler Boyd, Jarvis Landry, Justin Watson, Greg Ward
Tyler Higbee, Rams ($6,900) vs. Arizona
The Rams could rest some starters for a meaningless season finale, but I don’t anticipate Higbee being one of them.
He’ll look to post 100 yards for the 5th straight week against the team he dropped 7-107-1 on in Week 13.
Also consider: Dallas Goedert
Cash Game Option
Steelers ($3,500) at Ravens
Tournament Target
Cowboys ($4,600) vs. Washington