From left to right: Alvin Kamara, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Baker Mayfield
For many of you, your championship week turned out like Wonder Woman 1984.
You were so hyped about enjoying it only to be left confused and disappointed as to what you were watching for a few hours this weekend.
While Diana's latest adventure flopped in the forum of popular opinion, some of your fantasy studs might have carried you to the pandemic peak of your league.
Here are biggest booms and busts of Week 16:
Booms
Alvin Kamara RB New Orleans Saints
The bedazzled-grilled back went full Drake, running in the six—six rushing touchdowns, that is. Kamara gave New Orleans one hell of a gift on Christmas day, gaining 172 total yards while finding pay dirt half a dozen times: the first time that has been accomplished since Gale Sayers did it in 1965.
Alvin Kamara was in a giving mood on Christmas 😄 @ESPNNFL https://t.co/6NPpiNyKQh— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1608994380.0
If you have Kamara for a Week 17 final, you're looking at a tasty matchup with the Carolina Panthers, but he could be subbed out to save his legs for the playoffs.
Davante Adams WR Green Bay Packers
What more is there to say about Davante Adams? After an 11-reception, 142-yard and three-touchdown performance, he finds himself at the top of the fantasy wide receiver food chain with 341.80 points in PPR leagues.
👑 11 Rec 👑 142 Rec Yds 👑 3 TDs Davante Adams is among WR royalty. https://t.co/n3o3tW59Op— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1609128969.0
Next on the dance card for the Packers are the rival Bears and with a first-round bye far from guaranteed, Adams could be leaned on one more week to secure it.
Stefon Diggs WR Buffalo Bills
Diggs treated the Stephon Gilmore-less Patriots like Sony punishing CDPR for releasing Cyberpunk 2077 unfinished. The league's most productive wideout in terms of catches and yards finished with 9 receptions, 145 yards and three scores.
This Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs moment before Monday Night Football is too much 😂 @ESPNNFL https://t.co/9BBkWx2dks— ESPN (@ESPN) 1609200849.0
With a No. 2 seed on the line against the Miami Dolphins next week, Diggs will probably be plying his trade at full speed to end the season.
Myles Gaskin RB Miami Dolphins
Talk about a return. After spending two weeks on the COVID reserve list, the Miami Dolphins' unheralded running back continued his quiet, but productive, season, gaining 169 total yards and two receiving touchdowns.
After pulling off a miracle in Las Vegas, the Dolphins face off against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17. With a playoff spot potentially on the line, they'll need every yard and every score he can provide.
Busts
Baker Mayfield QB Cleveland Browns
Against the lowly Jets, Baker Mayfield showed why people still have doubts he can carry the franchise, fumbling the ball twice and being held without a touchdown. To be fair, he was without four of his best receivers, but eight points against the third-worst passing defense heading into Week 16 is a tough sell.
QB @bakermayfield meets with the media live: https://t.co/S6F6ahfGhV— Cleveland Browns (@Cleveland Browns) 1609106495.0
With the Pittsburgh Steelers next on the schedule, Mayfield may have an even more difficult time to end the season.
Brandon Aiyuk WR San Francisco 49ers
Game script is a gamble for wide receivers and Brandon Aiyuk managers came up with snake eyes against Arizona on Saturday. With Jeff Wilson Jr. dominating the Cardinals on the ground and George Kittle drawing targets in his first game back from a foot injury, the rookie wideout was the odd man out, only getting two touches for 31 yards.
After being diagnosed with an injured ankle after the game, Aiyuk's productive first year is over, finishing with 60 receptions, 748 yards and seven total touchdowns.
Le'Veon Bell RB Kansas City Chiefs
It was supposed to be Le'Veon Bell's week with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out with multiple ailments, but the former bell-cow back couldn't turn back the clock as Kansas City's feature back, only gaining 39 total yards on eight touches.
Still, with the Chiefs securing a first-round bye, Bell may be leaned on if the team decides to rest its more critical offensive players.
Josh Jacobs RB Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs managers were a victim of circumstance on Sunday, watching Jacobs purposefully go down before the end zone a few times in the final drive in order to bleed more time off of the clock. Of course, that effort was pointless as the Dolphins went into field goal range in less than 19 seconds to win against the Raiders and people who started the running back were left with 6.9 touchdown-less points and a whole lot of disappointment.
Josh Jacobs managers when Booker is on the field https://t.co/MRjpvTG09W— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF Fantasy Football) 1609039221.0
The Raiders are already out of the playoff picture but can at least end their season on a high note against the Broncos, who have been vulnerable against the run lately.
From left to right: Jalen Hurts, Grogu, Amari Cooper
Do you hear that? It's as if millions of fantasy managers suddenly cried out in anguish and were suddenly silenced.
If you were like me, the season finale of The Mandalorian wasn't the only thing that made you cry this weekend. With people either being eliminated from their fantasy playoffs or making the finals in their respective leagues, there were plenty of tears shed Week 15.
Here are some players who either made us weep in joy or in agony.
Booms
Jalen Hurts QB Philadelphia Eagles
If Carson Wentz said he wants out of Philadelphia if he's not the starter, he might want to start making some calls — Jalen Hurts looks like the real deal. The team's surprise second-round pick flipped the script for the Eagles offense and the fantasy managers who took a chance on him. This week, he exploded for 401 total yards and four touchdowns.
It's okay to be fascinated with Jalen Hurts and support him as the current QB1. It's also okay to support Wentz an… https://t.co/1iJAQaC1EL— Thomas R. Petersen 🦅 (@Thomas R. Petersen 🦅) 1608676507.0
This week, he faces a Dallas Cowboys defense who just held Nick Mullens to 13.46 points in standard QB leagues but has allowed over two touchdowns per game to quarterbacks all season. If you're desperate for a quarterback, Hurts could be an exciting play during Championship Week.
Ryan Tannehill QB Tennessee Titans
While everyone fawns over Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray, Ryan Tannehill has quietly put together a top-7 fantasy season so far. This week's five-touchdown performance put him ahead of traditional fantasy studs like Lamar Jackson and Tom Brady.
He may struggle this week against the Green Bay defense, who have held quarterbacks under 20 points in three consecutive games.
Tony Pollard RB Dallas Cowboys
With Ezekiel Elliott out with an injured calf muscle, Tony Pollard got a chance to show what he could do as a lead back. He did not throw away his shot, gaining 132 total yards, catching six balls and scoring twice against a San Francisco defense that has only allowed one touchdown to running backs in the previous three games.
There goes Tony Pollard! @Tp__5 #DallasCowboys 📺: #SFvsDAL on CBS 📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: … https://t.co/IVJC7WuJEF— NFL (@NFL) 1608498557.0
In the upcoming week, Pollard faces the Eagles, who haven't allowed more than 80 yards rushing to their last two opponents.
David Montgomery RB Chicago Bears
Before the Bears' Week 11 bye week, David Montgomery was a fading fantasy asset that many managers were desperately trying to unload. After the bye, the Iowa State product has been an absolute workhorse who is driving a lot of people to the fantasy championships.
In his last 4 games, David Montgomery has 571 all-purpose yards along with 6 touchdowns. 32 is balling. https://t.co/i6WR0tzzWA— Bears Film Room (@Bears Film Room) 1608498731.0
Montgomery eclipsed 25 fantasy points for the third time in four games, turning 33 touches into 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings. Next up is a lip-licking matchup against the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars run defense, who has allowed at least 100 yards rushing to running backs for five straight games.
Busts
Amari Cooper WR Dallas Cowboys
Despite playing without Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper has been doing relatively well with Andy Dalton throwing him the ball…until this past week. The former Alabama receiver fell back down to earth like Superman carrying power-negating gold kryptonite, catching the ball twice for just 10 yards and losing seven yards on his only carry.
He has a great chance to bounce back against a Philadelphia team that just allowed DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Cardinals receiving corp. to burn them for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
T.J. Hockenson TE Detroit Lions
Expectations were high for T.J. Hockenson to tip the scales in some managers' favors this week, especially with Matthew Stafford able to suit up at the last second. Instead, he only caught two of his targets for 18 yards and fumbled the ball and a lot of fantasy seasons as a result.
HAS ANYBODY SEEN TJ HOCKENSON???? https://t.co/yQUrDX3wtd— Fantasy Vulture (Mike) (@Fantasy Vulture (Mike)) 1608494772.0
If managers somehow were able to survive Hockenson's dreadful week, he has a great opportunity to bounce back against Tampa Bay—the same Tampa Bay team that has allowed one touchdown for two straight weeks to tight ends.
Robby Anderson WR Carolina Panthers
Anderson gave managers hope for an end of season surge with a 12-178-1 line heading into Week 15. However, when Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore came back from their respective injuries, the former Temple Owl slipped back into obscurity like he was Jubilee after the first season of X-Men: The Animated Series, catching two of his five targets for 21 yards.
With Moore and Samuels garnering more attention for Teddy Bridgewater, don't expect Anderson to get right against the Washington Football Team who just held the Seattle Seahawks' talented receivers under to just 90 yards collectively.
Kenyan Drake RB Arizona Cardinals
Not only was Kenyan Drake ineffective against a stout Eagles defense (40 total yards), but he was also out-touched by his backup Chase Edmonds 14-12.
Kenyan Drake owner So of course Edmonds scores https://t.co/oSmo5ynKaa— Austin Carter (@Austin Carter) 1608500844.0
Managers are going to have to muster some courage to start him during Championship Week against the San Francisco 49ers rushing defense, although they just allowed Tony Pollard to run all over them.
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.
For many, Week 13 is the end of a fantasy year that was more painful than watching Game of Thrones crap the bed in its final season.
Sure, it started off okay, but as you entered the final moments of a dismal period fraught with positive COVID tests and poor performances, you just wanted it to be over.
Still, the last week of the regular season was still a chance for many of these managers to drag someone down with them into the abyss of fantasy irrelevance. A little schadenfreude goes a long way, after all.
Here are the players who helped their managers accomplish that goal or doomed them to a wasted season:
Booms
Darren Waller TE Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller could not be stopped 😤 @Raiders #RaiderNation https://t.co/nQmnaWurKn— NFL Network (@NFL Network) 1607289698.0
The Jets have allowed four touchdowns to tight ends in the last four games, so an elite tight end like Waller was expected to eat well this past Sunday. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket went full-on Kirby, catching 13 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns, gashing New York for big gain after big gain.
However, he may not have such a productive week against the Tennessee Titans, who haven't allowed a 100-yard tight end and have given up only one touchdown to the position the entire season.
Derek Carr QB Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr just led his 19th 4th-quarter comeback since the start of 2015. No other QB has more during this time… https://t.co/J5zD7jT8LI— CBS Sports HQ (@CBS Sports HQ) 1607290552.0
After dropping a dud against the feeble Falcons, Derek Carr became the hero New York Jets fans needed to keep the tank rolling, throwing a game-winning touchdown to cap off a four-touchdown, 386-yard performance.
Next on docket are the Titans, who are suddenly looking vulnerable against quarterbacks, giving up six total touchdowns to signal callers in the last three games.
Corey Davis WR Tennessee Titans
Corey Davis vs. Browns 🔹 11 catches 🔹 182 yards 🔹 1 TD 🔹 35.2 PPR fantasy points https://t.co/rxbKlNiMLe— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF Fantasy Football) 1607290562.0
The Titans' day may have ended quickly after the Cleveland Browns went up 38-7 at halftime, but garbage time still counts in fantasy, and Corey Davis took full advantage of the opportunity. Tennessee went pass heavy in the second half, and it was Davis, not A.J. Brown, who was the beneficiary, ending the game with 11 receptions, 182 yards, and a touchdown.
Davis fluctuates between hot and cold, so trusting him to explode again would take a little courage from managers. Still, he may have a repeat performance with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have given up an average of 188.75 yards to wideouts per game this season, next on the schedule.
Baker Mayfield QB Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield's 4 TD lead the Browns to their first winning season since 2007 😤 https://t.co/QpfyILrxST— ESPN (@ESPN) 1607289982.0
Nowadays, everyone wants to talk about Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt like they got something to say, but when the Titans moved their lips, just a bunch of gibberish because they forgot about May—Mayfield that is. The supposed game manager for the Browns torched the Titans for 334 yards, four touchdowns and even a catch just to rub a little salt in the wound.
Still, with the Baltimore Ravens coming to town next week, expect Mayfield to fall back down to earth against a stingier defense that only gave him 10.86 points in standard leagues the first time they faced each other.
Busts
Justin Herbert QB Los Angeles Chargers
The NFL: Justin Herbert is the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Bill Belichick: https://t.co/wMeJlxheih— Rich Eisen (@Rich Eisen) 1607297256.0
Bill Belichick tortures opposing rookie quarterbacks like he's Willie Wonka and they are misbehaved children. In Week 13, Justin Herbert was that child.
After being hamstrung by bad coaching against Buffalo, Herbert got another "welcome to the NFL" moment when the Patriots head coach schemed a defensive masterpiece that held the first-year signal caller to 6.36 points.
Herbert has a chance to rebound against Atlanta, who just gave up 315 yards and two touchdowns to Taysom Hill, who was held without a passing touchdown all season until this past week. Not even Anthony Lynn can ruin Herbert's production next week, can he?
Miles Sanders RB Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders fantasy managers https://t.co/oGbefC1fZx— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF Fantasy Football) 1607300705.0
Carson Wentz's struggles have been well documented this season, but Sanders was supposed to be the fantasy asset managers could depend on. Three games under 10 points in the last three weeks: That expectation has not been met. On a day he was projected to score 16.07 PPR points, Sanders put up a 3.10 lemon against a Packers defense that has allowed an average of 26.8 PPR points to opposing running backs the last two games.
With the Eagles facing the best run defense in the league this upcoming week in the New Orleans Saints, don't presume his performance will turn around for the better.
Derrick Henry RB Tennessee Titans
My fantasy team with Derrick Henry last week vs this week https://t.co/onOCTM1w1w— Hugh Tomasello (@Hugh Tomasello) 1607284079.0
Not a lot of things worked for the Titans against the Browns, and it all started with Henry getting shut down, only gaining 69 total yards and losing a fumble.
Luckily, for Henry managers, this upcoming week is the start of a tasty stretch of games against three of the bottom five rushing defenses in the NFL.
Todd Gurley RB Atlanta Falcons
Todd Gurley single-handedly lost the Falcons this game. Thanks a lot Todd..... https://t.co/mVWxTCSb23— Dr. Omar Johnson (@Dr. Omar Johnson) 1607289197.0
After averaging over 19 touches before the bye, Gurley has only touched the ball an average of nine times in the last two games he has played. Those touches have only resulted in 6.9 total points and a lot of frustration.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter also revealed the running back is dealing with a knee injury, which is nails on a chalkboard for anyone hoping to depend on his production in the playoffs.