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Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/15

Fantasy Football
December 18, 2015

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, as teams get their rosters set for this weekend:

  • The Jets have placed rookie wide receiver Devin Smith on injured reserve due to the torn ACL he suffered in last week’s win over the Titans, the team announced today in a press release. Smith, the 37th overall pick in this year’s draft, was one of many receivers selected in the top 50 whose rookie season was unspectacular — he caught just nine of 28 targets, for 115 yards and a TD. To replace Smith on their roster, the Jets have promoted linebacker Taiwan Jones from their practice squad.
  • The Falcons have also elevated a linebacker from their practice squad, announcing today in a press release that outside linebacker Tyler Starr has received a promotion. In a corresponding move, the club placed center James Stone on the injured reserve list. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link), Stone – who started nine games last season but just one this year – has a torn ACL.

Community Tailgate: NFL Division Winners

Fantasy Football
December 18, 2015

As the NFL regular season nears its home stretch, there are plenty of topics and storylines to discuss, and Nerdy Football’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those stories. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. We’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Nerdy Football. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Two NFL division winners for the 2015 season have already been decided, and another race is all but over — the Patriots have clinched the AFC East, the Panthers have secured the NFC South, and the Cardinals would have to utterly collapse down the stretch to lose their stranglehold on the NFC West.

While there may not be much drama within those three divisions though, there should be plenty to watch elsewhere in the league. Currently, two divisions feature a tie for first place and another has its top two teams separate by a single game. Even in the AFC North and AFC West, where the leaders have a two-game cushion, the first-place teams have backup quarterbacks starting for them, while the second-place teams are on on hot streaks.

Let’s break down each of the five divisions that remain up for grabs…

NFC East:

Washington (6-7) may be in the best position here — if Jay Gruden‘s club can win at home this weekend against the Bills, two division games await in Weeks 16 and 17, with Washington likely needing wins against the Eagles and Cowboys.

Those Eagles (6-7) also have two division games on tap, with Washington on the schedule in Week 16 and the Giants in Week 17. Philadelphia will also be in tough against a talented Cardinals squad this weekend.

The Giants (6-7), meanwhile, have the most challenging remaining schedule, with games against the Seahawks and Vikings up next, in advance of a Week 17 showdown against the Eagles.

AFC South:

Like the NFC East, the AFC South features four teams below .500, with only the last-place Titans out of the picture. The Colts (6-7) and Texans (6-7) are currently tied for the lead, and whichever team wins their matchup this weekend will take over first place for the time being.

The Jaguars (5-8) shouldn’t be overlooked either, given the way their offense has been firing on all cylinders lately. They have the Falcons, Saints, and Texans left on their schedule, and all three contests are winnable, but Blake Bortles and company won’t have much margin for error. Particularly since the Colts and Texans each still have a game to play against the 3-10 Titans.

NFC North:

The Packers (9-4) have a one-game lead over the Vikings (8-5), but they could be in tough the next two weeks, with games in Oakland and Arizona. If Minnesota hangs around, a Week 17 matchup between these two NFC North teams could decide the division.

AFC North / AFC West:

In each of these divisions, the first-place team should hang on, but their two-game leads don’t quite look safe yet. The Bengals (10-3) will likely be relying on A.J. McCarron for the rest of the regular season, which means contests against the 49ers and Ravens shouldn’t be considered automatic victories — to say nothing of a Week 16 game in Denver.

Those Broncos (10-3) are in a similar boat, with Brock Osweiler struggling to get the offense into the end zone and Peyton Manning still sidelined. Games against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati during the next two weeks won’t be easy for Denver.

If either of those first-place teams falters, it could open the door for the surging Steelers (8-5) or the red-hot Chiefs (8-5) to grab a division title.

What do you think? How do you the see the last three weeks of the regular season playing out in these five divisions? Who are your picks for the division winners? Weigh in below in the comments section with your thoughts!

Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Matchups We Love and Player Stat Projections

Fantasy Football
December 18, 2015

Matchups might be the single most important component going into the meat of Week 15. 

The wild slate of games started Thursday between the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Most probably figured it a fantasy wasteland, but some couldn’t ignore Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Jameis Winston in a great matchup.

Those who didn’t got 18 points.

It’s but a brief example of what the week has to offer. Below, let’s take a look at rankings for each position and point out top matchups.

 

Week 15 Schedule

 

Quarterbacks

It took some time, but Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is now fantasy’s second-highest scorer at the position behind Tom Brady.

Newton’s having an MVP-caliber year even without wideout Kelvin Benjamin. This makes him an obvious play any week, though this week is especially worth pointing out thanks to a game against the New York Giants.

First, understand that Newton has 17 or more points in all but one game since a Week 5 bye. Two, those Giants allow the sixth-most points to quarterbacks. In a shootout, Newton should be able to use his legs and arms to post one of his highest totals of the season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith might be in for a season high, too.

It’s probably easy for owners to scoff at Smith, but he’s quietly posted 13 or more points in every game except one this season. Two of his past three outings have gone for 21 or more points as he leans on big weapons such as Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce.

Next up for Smith is the Baltimore Ravens, a team allowing the second-most points to quarterbacks, having just coughed up five touchdown passes last week to Russell Wilson.

Smith might not hit that mark, but it’s easy to see why owners can lean on him.

 

Running Backs

It’s about time Jeremy Hill’s name moved back into the “usual suspects” placement on the scoring list. 

The Cincinnati Bengals lead back hasn’t been able to live up to his rookie outbursts, but does have five trips to double digits this season. That figure is pretty remarkable given how much the Bengals have leaned on the pass this year.

Until now.

Now the Bengals are without quarterback Andy Dalton, meaning a renewed focus on the running game to help protect inexperienced backup AJ McCarron. This means Hill gets guaranteed touches against the San Francisco 49ers, the team allowing the most points on average against backs, with the last two backfields encountered posting 29 or more points.

Chris Ivory of the New York Jets is also in a great situation. He has seven double-digit outings this year and figures to make it eight against the Dallas Cowboys.

Those Cowboys allow the sixth-most points to the spot and last week managed to give up 43 points to Green Bay running backs, a team otherwise known for its passing.

Ivory’s been a bit hit-or-miss this year despite surefire usage. In great matchups, though, he’s one to trust.

 

Wide Receivers

It’s not hard to figure out who the top scorers at wideout will be most weeks, but it’s a tad more difficult to sift through all the names and figure out who really has the top matchup.

This week it looks like Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Owners might shy away from the veteran because he has four consecutive single-digit outings, but if he’s to break the streak, it will happen this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles simply cannot defend wideouts. Since a Week 8 bye, the unit has managed to give up 13 touchdowns to the position and at least 12 catches in every game. Fitzgerald’s likely to go off, especially with a quarterback such as Carson Palmer under center.

One of the more difficult names to figure out this year has been Seattle Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin.

In a matter of weeks, he’s gone from irrelevant to a must-own commodity. Now, he’s a name owners must trot out this week thanks to a matchup with the Cleveland Browns, which is about as simplistic as it sounds.

The Browns allow the sixth-most points to the position. Pair it with the fact Seattle now touts a pass-first offense that has helped Baldwin score eight touchdowns over his past three games and really, what’s not to love?

 

Tight Ends

Outside of the obvious man at the top, this week is all about Newton’s favorite target, Greg Olsen.

The reliable veteran has six double-digit outings this year and it could have been seven if he hadn’t left with an injury early last week despite posting five points beforehand.

Olsen is back and practicing without issue, which is nothing but a good sign as he goes into a matchup with the Giants, the team also happening to allow the third-most points to tight ends.

If one connection has the ceiling to perhaps outdo Newton-Olsen, it’s the Rodgers-Rodgers show in Green Bay.

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t leaned on Richard Rodgers often this year, but the tight end remains a TE1 with four double-digit performances to his name. He’ll be the focal point of the attack against the Oakland Raiders, the team allowing the second-most points to the position.

Oakland has allowed eight sets of opposing tight ends to reach at least 10 points. Rodgers will do this on his own given a game plan sure to focus on exploiting the weakness.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Surprised?

Look, normal weeks it would be simple to focus on any other unit. But this week? Seattle hosting Cleveland writes itself.

The Browns allow the most points to opposing defenses, meaning the offense is so putrid it gifts points like it’s, well, the holidays.

Seriously, though, Seattle has 10 interceptions this year, five defensive touchdowns, 32 sacks and five trips to double digits. Now the unit hosts a Johnny Manziel-led Browns team that has to hit the road and somehow overcome the Seahawks.

It’s going to be quite ugly, which is nothing but a good thing for those who own Seattle.

 

Kickers

It’s another Cairo Santos week, folks.

Santos is one of the most explosive kickers around, with two of his four double-digit outings this year going for 20 or more points.

If Smith and the Chiefs are a team to target against the Ravens, so too is the high-upside Santos.

In fact, the Ravens allow the fourth-most points to kickers this year, having coughed up six occurrences of 10 or more points to the position. Santos will likely make it a seventh in what figures to be quite the ugly showdown.

 

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of December 18.

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Alshon Jeffery practice Friday, questionable

Fantasy Football
December 18, 2015

InjuryIllness, calf injury

Alshon Jeffery, Zach Miller and Pernell McPhee are questionable to face #Vikings on Sunday. Jeffery returned to practice on Friday. (Jeff Dickerson on Twitter)

Nerdy Football Analysis: Jeffery battled an illness earlier in the week but is expected to play. The Vikings are middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers but have given up a TD to a wide receiver in the last four games.

NFC Notes: JPP, Panthers, Maxwell, Washington

Fantasy Football
December 18, 2015

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has been reasonably effective since returning from his hand injury, but the bulky club on his right hand has prevented him from being as sure a tackler as he once was. As Tom Rock of Newsday details, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is confident that JPP will make the necessary adjustments. Teams around the league will likely be keeping a close eye on the veteran pass rusher down the stretch to see how he adapts, since he’s eligible for free agency this winter.

Here’s more from across the NFC:

  • With the Panthers three wins away from a 16-0 season, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer takes a look back at GM Dave Gettleman‘s time with the franchise, examining both his good and bad moves since taking over the job.
  • Byron Maxwell‘s deal with the Eagles may have looked like a $63MM mistake earlier in the season, but the cornerback has played well in recent weeks, and is beginning to justify the club’s investment in him, says Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News.
  • With multiple players trying new positions this season, Washington has gone mad scientist on its roster, and so far many of the team’s experiments have worked out, writes Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post.