BUY
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
We were excited about Sincere McCormick’s opportunities last week, but he was ruled out before halftime with an ankle injury that has landed him on injured reserve. Alexander Mattison may start for Vegas, but Abdullah’s role in the passing game returned last week as he converted all seven of his targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. Abdullah is the running back most likely available on your wire, and he’s the one who can rack up PPR and help drag your team across the finish line in these all-important money weeks at the end of the season.
Michael Penix, Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
Starting a rookie quarterback in your fantasy playoffs feels like a less-than-ideal strategy, but the first-round pick out of Washington has a nice landing spot at home in his opening act as a starter against the hapless Giants. He’ll follow that with a visit to the Commanders in a tolerable matchup. We saw the 2023 Heisman runner-up sling it all around the yard in college, and I’m willing to bet Penix will be ready to prove he was worth the early pick. If you’re starting waiver wire QBs in your playoff matchups, why not take a chance on flying high with the Falcon rookie?
SELL
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns
Many of us who roster Jeudy and have benefited from his resurgent 1000-yard season cried out in agony when Browns coach Kevin Stefanski named Dorian Thompson-Robinson the starter for Week 16 against the Bengals. I’m hesitant to start any Browns players not named Jerome Ford, as he is a coin flip with the likelihood that the Bengals will stack the box and make Thompson-Robinson try to beat them. As football fans, we’ll miss Jameis Winston’s on-field presence for many reasons, but Jeudy will miss him more.
HOLD
Tim Patrick, WR, Detroit Lions
After finding the endzone for a second straight week, Tim Patrick told us it’s time to take him seriously from a fantasy perspective. It’s not just the three touchdowns in two weeks that caught my eye, though. Patrick was not targeted more than four targets in a game all season until Detroit’s last two matchups, where he saw seven and eight, respectively. The only two teams that have conceded fewer touchdown receptions than Chicago are the Jets and Lions, and that’s keeping me from catapulting Patrick into the “Buy” section. You could do much worse if you need last-minute depth.
