This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.
Another fantasy season is in the books for most owners, and hopefully it was a fun season for everyone. If you're still playing this week in a championship (most fantasy playoffs are typically of the two-week variety) there are some good pickups depending on how injuries shake out. If your season is done, hopefully there was a championship or two for you, or at least an enjoyable break from the norm managing your fantasy team for the last 16-plus weeks.
Just because most season-long leagues are over doesn't mean there still isn't fantasy to be played. Check out the daily fantasy sites (you can find a weekly FanDuel article on RotoWire by yours truly for this week and throughout the playoffs) and look into some type of fantasy playoff format. My preferred format is one-and-done, using each player once for the whole playoffs with expanded weekly starting lineups. This offers the most strategy when it comes to choosing the right time to use a player and and the right time to wait on a player.
I'd like to thank everyone for reading throughout the season and especially those who took the time to comment. Hopefully, this article was helpful in some way, shape or form either by my recommending a certain player or answering a start-or-sit question you might have had. I'd like to think throughout the years of doing this a nice community has formed here with the goal of helping everyone's fantasy team.
If there are any questions
Another fantasy season is in the books for most owners, and hopefully it was a fun season for everyone. If you're still playing this week in a championship (most fantasy playoffs are typically of the two-week variety) there are some good pickups depending on how injuries shake out. If your season is done, hopefully there was a championship or two for you, or at least an enjoyable break from the norm managing your fantasy team for the last 16-plus weeks.
Just because most season-long leagues are over doesn't mean there still isn't fantasy to be played. Check out the daily fantasy sites (you can find a weekly FanDuel article on RotoWire by yours truly for this week and throughout the playoffs) and look into some type of fantasy playoff format. My preferred format is one-and-done, using each player once for the whole playoffs with expanded weekly starting lineups. This offers the most strategy when it comes to choosing the right time to use a player and and the right time to wait on a player.
I'd like to thank everyone for reading throughout the season and especially those who took the time to comment. Hopefully, this article was helpful in some way, shape or form either by my recommending a certain player or answering a start-or-sit question you might have had. I'd like to think throughout the years of doing this a nice community has formed here with the goal of helping everyone's fantasy team.
If there are any questions about specific players or situations this week that I've missed, hit up the comments section and I'll do my best to answer. For this week only there won't be any FAAB values given it's the last week and no reason to hold onto any FAAB money (in other words, spend all of it). Don't hesitate to use your FAAB to block your opponent from picking up one of the players listed below, that's certainly part of the strategy of fantasy football.
This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget.
QUARTERBACK
Primary Targets
Teddy Bridgewater, NO - Now that the Saints have the top seed locked up in the NFC there's no reason for them to play their starters in a meaningless game. That means Drew Brees likely will be in street clothes wearing a headset while Bridgewater leads the offense against the Panthers. Bridgewater likely will be a top-12ish quarterback this week given the offense, coupled with facing a bad Carolina pass defense at home. Teddy just turned 26 last month and is a good player to roster in keeper/dynasty formats as he could find himself starting on another team next season should the Saints choose to trade him to a quarterback-needy team this offseason.
RUNNING BACK
Primary Targets
C.J. Anderson, LAR - Once Todd Gurley was ruled out Sunday there was a debate as to whether Anderson or John Kelly would be the more valuable fantasy back. Despite being signed the previous Monday, Anderson proved to be the more valuable fantasy asset with 20 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown, the highest rushing total of the weekend. The only hesitation with Anderson is that Todd Gurley was close to playing, and this week's game means a lot as a win will give the Rams a first-round bye in the playoffs. If the Rams take the cautious approach with Gurley and keep him out, Anderson will be a low-end No.1 running back this week.
Secondary Targets
Charcandrick West, KC - West, technically the fifth-string running back for the Chiefs, saw more action Sunday night after rookie Darrel Williams left the game with a hamstring injury. West scored a touchdown on a nice catch streaking toward the end zone after Patrick Mahomes bought more time scrambling out of the pocket to extend the play. The backup running back for the Chiefs has been a fruitful position as Darrel Williams and Damien Williams both scored touchdowns in that role the last few weeks. West's value is directly tied to the availability of Darrel Williams and possibly Spencer Ware, who both could be ready this week.
WIDE RECEIVER
Primary Targets
Kendrick Bourne, SF - A MCL injury should sideline Dante Pettis this week, elevating Bourne to a more prominent role in the passing game against the Rams. Teammate Marquise Goodwin is dealing with his own Achilles injury, meaning Bourne could be the top wide receiver for the 49ers. Bourne finished last Sunday's game with four catches for 73 yards, and while they all won't go to Bourne, Pettis has had at least five targets in each of his last six games. With the Rams being 9.5-point favorites, the game flow suggests that San Francisco should have to throw a lot in the second half to keep pace with the Rams.
DEFENSE
Primary Targets
Kansas City Chiefs D/ST - The Chiefs have a meaningful game this week as they try to wrap up a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Arrowhead Stadium has always been one of the tougher places to play in the league, and the Raiders have just one road game this season, a two-point win over the lowly Cardinals. Derek Carr gets sacked nearly four times per game on the road, while the Chiefs average four sacks at home this season in addition to picking off 10 passes in seven games. They're owned in 40 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
