From left to right: Tua Tagovailoa, Obi Wan Kenobi, Matt Ryan
With fantasy football playoffs beginning, players were meticulously crafting their rosters like a Disney social media manager crafting Star Wars and Marvel announcement tweets.
Unlike those social media managers, fantasy team owners will only have themselves to blame for a bad performance and not overly judgmental fans.
Here are some of the biggest hits and misses that could have determined your fantasy fate this past week.
Booms
Derrick Henry RB Tennessee Titans
1,500+ rush yard seasons since 2015: ▪️ Derrick Henry - 2 ▪️ All Other Players - 1 https://t.co/T4zDCj1lYB— PFF (@PFF) 1608228124.0
The return of King Henry made Lord of the Rings: Return of the King look like The Return of Jafar (No, Disney: an Aladdin without Robin Williams as the Genie will never be forgiven). After dropping a disappointing 5.9 points in PPR leagues last week, Henry rolled through Jacksonville like a runaway semi-truck for 215 yards and two touchdowns
The current NFL rushing leader continues his delicious playoff schedule with a matchup against Detroit next week, the worst rushing defense in the league.
Drew Lock QB Denver Broncos
We are not getting Dak Prescott. We are not getting Mathew Stafford. We are not drafting a QB. Drew Lock is the… https://t.co/gjOMCFTwQb— Snapp (@Snapp) 1607909092.0
Will the real Drew Lock please stand up? One week, he'll drop nine points, but then torch a team for four touchdowns and 280 passing yards the next as he did against Carolina.
The former Missouri Tiger is only rostered in 11 percent of all Yahoo leagues, but that could change with this performance and two bottom-seven pass defenses left in the season to play.
Jonathan Taylor RB Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor RB1 szn. 😎 https://t.co/ryjaPajRZw— Rotoworld Football (@Rotoworld Football) 1607904762.0
After losing touches to Nyheim Hynes and Jordan Wilkins in the middle of the season, Jonathan Taylor is finally becoming the stud rookie running back managers hoped he would be at the beginning of the season. He ran through the Raiders like heavyweights at a buffet in Las Vegas, rumbling for 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns, scoring 30.5 PPR points — second only to the aforementioned Derrick Henry.
Taylor managers who held on to the former Wisconsin Badger will be blessed with another premium matchup when the Colts face the Houston Texans, who just gave up 155 total yards and a touchdown to running back David Montgomery this past week.
Tua Tagovailoa QB Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins let Tua Tagovailoa AIR IT OUT this past Sunday: First 5 starts Sunday 26.8… https://t.co/bJCPpeB9kA— CBS Sports HQ (@CBS Sports HQ) 1608167822.0
Being benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick was just what Tagovailoa needed to take a step from NFL starter to fantasy quarterback stud. He put up a modest 16.14 points in standard leagues in his return last week but made the Kansas City defense look like the Tennessee Volunteers defense, putting up 28 points in standard leagues.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller has a much tougher matchup against rookie torturer Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, but the future looks bright for the dynamic Hawaiian.
Busts
Aaron Jones RB Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones don’t deserve this. How does Jamaal Williams have double his touches? @packers what is you doing? https://t.co/2QGWvUVff2— Ryan (@Ryan) 1607898000.0
With a soft playoff schedule, managers of former UTEP running back were hoping he would propel them to the semifinals. Jones' 9.5-point PPR performance against the worst rushing defense in the league left much to be desired.
With Carolina next on the schedule, Jones has a shot to redeem himself against a defense that has given up some big games to running backs in the past.
Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan is not happy after his third interception of the game. https://t.co/CEM802TgWz— FOX Sports: NFL (@FOX Sports: NFL) 1607904683.0
The bye week rust apparently has not shaken off for Matt Ryan, who has thrown six interceptions since the break, including three against the Chargers this past week. His 9.26 points in standard leagues were the fourth-worst out of all starting quarterbacks Week 14.
Next on the schedule are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed seven passing touchdowns in the last three games.
Jamison Crowder WR New York Jets
Nelson Agholor (WR35) has more fantasy pts this year (124.5) than.... DeVante Parker Jarvis Landry Christian Kirk… https://t.co/fYR2LZowKI— DynastySociety Phil (@DynastySociety Phil) 1607982860.0
Despite facing a defense giving up the most points to wide receivers in fantasy, Jamison Crowder tanked much like the Jets' record this season, only mustering up two catches for seven yards. If New York is trying to lose, Crowder definitely took a leadership role this past week.
With the Rams hosting the Jets this week, the supposed No. 1 receiver will be seeing plenty of Jalen Ramsey, but not a lot of catches.
James Conner RB Pittsburgh Steelers
i have never actually seen James Conner sustain an injury on the field but this man is constantly hurt https://t.co/GH6SZH6CDv— Zen G 🌍 (@Zen G 🌍) 1607912030.0
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have gone to a pass-heavy attack, but there were high expectations for Connor to perform in his return from injury. Instead, he put up a pathetic 1.8 yards per carry, which was sadly the same as his fantasy points output for the day.
The Steelers revealed he is dealing with a quad injury, so even if he is able to go against the Cincinnati Bengals, stay far away from him in all formats.
