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It’s crunch time. For most leagues, playoffs are just two weeks away. There’s nothing better than post-season play. It’s do-or-die from here on out, unless of course you’re way out of contention in which case you could always play the fun role of the spoiler. But for those of you still in contention, I’m going to do my best to help you reach the playoffs, free of charge.
The big question this week revolves around the Bears receivers after Alshon Jeffery suspended for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy. But before we get to the commentary, let’s get to the rankings.
BYE WEEKS: Atlanta, Denver, NY Jets, San Diego
Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
1 | Antonio Brown | PIT | CLE |
2 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | CHI |
3 | Mike Evans | TB | @KC |
4 | A.J. Green | CIN | BUF |
5 | Jordy Nelson | GB | @WAS |
6 | Amari Cooper | OAK | HOU |
7 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | TEN |
8 | Dez Bryant | DAL | BAL |
9 | Brandin Cooks | NO | @CAR |
10 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | @MIN |
11 | Allen Robinson | JAC | @DET |
12 | Kelvin Benjamin | CAR | NO |
13 | Davante Adams | GB | @WAS |
14 | Doug Baldwin | SEA | PHI |
15 | Julian Edelman | NE | @SF |
16 | Golden Tate | DET | JAC |
17 | Michael Thomas | NO | @CAR |
18 | Michael Crabtree | OAK | HOU |
19 | Stefon Diggs | MIN | ARI |
20 | Jordan Matthews | PHI | @SEA |
21 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | @OAK |
22 | Jamison Crowder | WAS | GB |
23 | Jarvis Landry | MIA | @LA |
24 | Donte Moncrief | IND | TEN |
25 | Terrelle Pryor | CLE | PIT |
26 | Marvin Jones | DET | JAC |
27 | Rishard Matthews | TEN | @IND |
28 | Willie Snead | NO | @CAR |
29 | Cameron Meredith | CHI | @NYG |
30 | Steve Smith | BAL | @DAL |
31 | Sterling Shepard | NYG | CHI |
32 | Kenny Britt | LA | MIA |
33 | Mike Wallace | BAL | @DAL |
34 | Corey Coleman | CLE | PIT |
35 | Randall Cobb | GB | @WAS |
36 | Eli Rogers | PIT | @CLE |
37 | Cole Beasley | DAL | BAL |
38 | Eddie Royal | CHI | @NYG |
39 | Robert Woods | BUF | CIN |
40 | Pierre Garcon | WAS | GB |
41 | Devante Parker | MIA | @LA |
42 | Tyreek Hill | KC | TB |
43 | Allen Hurns | JAC | @DET |
44 | Chris Hogan | NE | @SF |
45 | DeSean Jackson | WAS | GB |
46 | Kendall Wright | TEN | @IND |
47 | J.J. Nelson | ARI | @MIN |
48 | Tavon Austin | LA | MIA |
49 | Adam Humphries | TB | @KC |
50 | Ty Montgomery | GB | @WAS |
Cameron Meredith - Alshon Jeffery is not coming back until Week 15 against Green Bay. So for these next four games, I think Meredith is going to eat up the majority of targets that Jeffery would have gotten. That being said, that does not put him into a WR2 role in fantasy. It's obvious that Jay Cutler does not have a good connection with Meredith and the Bears offense is one of the worst in the league. If it wasn't for that luck Hail Mary touchdown last week, Meredith would be looking at a stat line of two catches for 36 yards over the past three games. But Cutler is going to be forced to throw to him. He's big and has great hands. Cutler a below average QB, but when he finds a receiver in a game, his tendency is to keep throwing to that one guy. I think Meredith will get a lot of looks in this game and is a viable flex option.
Eddie Royal - Now let's look at the flip side of the coin. I have Royal at No. 38 this week. Sure he may take some targets out of the Jeffery suspension jar, but it won't be enough to make him a threat. In this offense he now moves up to the number three target behind Meredith and Zach Miller. I don't really like the sound of a WR3 in my lineup, especially against the Giants defense. He will get an uptick in targets that's why I still have him in the low-30's, but he's a stretch to play this week.
Ty Montgomery - The Montgomery fantasy fad lasted about as long as the Harlem Shake. It's now played out. With James Starks coming back and the new signing of Christine Michael, Monty's days of being a WR/RB dual-threat are over. With Jordy at WR1, Adams emerging as a stellar WR2 and Cobb in the mix, Montgomery finds himself at the bottom of the depth chart and quite literally at the bottom of my rankings. He's this week's Mr. Irrelevant.
Sterling Shepard - The Giants passing offense has erupted over the last two games with Eli Manning throwing seven touchdowns. Shepard has taken advantage of the uptick and has gotten into the endzone in back to back games. Now he gets a matchup with one of the worst passing defenses in the league, Chicago. Since Week 2 Shepard has not seen less than six targets and even if Victor Cruz comes back this week, his production should remain the same. I like the matchup, I like Shepard' s skill-set, and I like how the offense is coming together. He's a nice flex option this week.