The Hot Sheet looks at which top prospects are excelling and which ones are struggling on a week-to-week basis. The consensus top-flight players may not always appear on this list because we are trying to help you find the next group of breakout players before your league mates do.
Editor’s Note: Rotoworld’s partner FanDuel is hosting a $2.5 million Fantasy Football league for Week 17’s games. It’s only $25 to join and first prize is $300,000. Starts December 28th at 1pm ET. Here’s the link.
Hot List:
1.) Russell Wilson, QB SEA
I’ve talked a lot about the overall disappointing play from the second tier quarterbacks this season, specifically players like Matthew Stafford and Colin Kaepernick. One player that hasn’t let down his fantasy owners is Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, who currently ranks as the QB5 over the season. Over the second half of the season, Wilson has been even better, scoring as the QB2, behind only Drew Brees. Wilson’s fantasy numbers have been greatly aided by his rushing statistics. In fact, using only his rushing statistics, he would rank as the RB41 in PPR leagues, outscoring players like Reggie Bush, Bishop Sankey and Jerick McKinnon.
2.) Mike Wallace, WR MIA
Dolphins’ wide receiver Mike Wallace has taken a lot of criticism in his two years with Miami for not playing up to the massive contract he was awarded. While it may not be enough to please the die-hard Dolphins fan, Wallace has made his fantasy owners happy as of late. In the past month, Wallace is scoring well enough to make him a WR1, averaging 16 fantasy points per game. Wallace’s best two games of the season have come in the past two weeks as he’s totaled over 160 receiving yards and three scores. Considering he’ll be 29 by the beginning of the 2015 season, Wallace’s value could take a hit even with his recent play, making him a nice off-season trade targets for contending dynasty teams.
3.) Ryan Tannehill, QB MIA
Wallace is not the only player heating up in South Beach. With his receiving numbers on the rise, you could guess that his quarterback Ryan Tannehill has played well also, and you would be correct. Over that same span of four games, Tannehill is the QB11 in fantasy leagues, outscoring some of the biggest names in the game. It’s been a bit of a rocky beginning to Tannehill’s career as there have been multiple reports that he would be benched or simply that he wasn’t cut out to be an NFL quarterback. That talk has quieted with his play this year and considering the poor play of some other quarterbacks, Tannehill could now be considered among the top ten fantasy quarterbacks in dynasty leagues.
4.) Zach Ertz, TE PHI
One of my most disappointing players of the 2014 season has been tight end Zach Ertz of the Eagles. After a solid first season last year, and playing in the Chip Kelly high-powered offense, I had high hopes, as did many other dynasty owners. Ertz hasn’t lived up to those expectations though, even after starting with a 16 point game in Week One. From Week Two through Week Fifteen, Ertz was barely a top 20 fantasy tight end. The good news is Ertz is ending the season just like he started it, on a hot streak. The best game of Ertz’ career came last week against the division rival Redskins. Ertz caught 15 passes for 115 yards, both career highs. Before that game, it took Ertz eight games to collect 15 receptions. Going forward, it’s fair to have the same high hopes for Ertz in 2015 that many did entering this season.
5.) Devonta Freeman, RB ATL
You may have missed it with the combination of holiday madness as end of season sadness, but Falcons’ veteran running back Steven Jackson is dealing with quad injury that cost him much of the team’s Week 16 game and could keep him out this week entirely. The Falcons will likely use a committee approach to replace their starter, but it’s rookie Devonta Freeman who has earned most of the touches. Freeman had the best game of his rookie season last week with over 80 total yards and his first career rushing touchdown. Turning 32 years old this off-season, Jackson may have played his final snap for the Falcons, and this could be Freeman’s job to lose.
Also considered: Odell Beckham, Jr., C.J. Anderson, Lamar Miller, Jeremy Hill, Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton, Matt Asiata, Jonathan Stewart, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Doug Baldwin, Dontrelle Inman, Marquess Wilson, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Jarvis Landry, Harry Douglas, Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski
Cold List:
1.) Josh Gordon, WR CLE
We all know the story of Josh Gordon’s dominant 2013 season with the Cleveland Browns, which was followed by his suspension, costing him almost all of the 2014 season. Once we learned that Gordon would be allowed to return to the field though, many dynasty and redraft owners alike planned their late-season strategy around his return, and they expected continued dominance. Gordon’s first game back in Week 12 added to those high hopes as he caught eight passes for 120 yards, scoring 20 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Since then though, Gordon has only hurt his fantasy owners, averaging less than nine fantasy points over the past four weeks.
2.) Shane Vereen, RB NE
This was supposed to be a big season for the New England running back dup of Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. After all, both will enter free agency following the season. Instead, Ridley suffered a season ending injury and Vereen still hasn’t been heavily used despite the additional touches being available. Of course, counting on head coach Bill Belichick for steady and consistent running back usage is something fantasy owners should’ve learned not to do at this point.
3.) Trent Richardson, RB IND
Much like Vereen in New England, the thought was that Trent Richardson could get one more shot at a full-time job once veteran Ahmad Bradshaw went down with an injury. Instead, his usage has dropped and journeyman Dan Herron has taken the lead role. Through the first eleven weeks of the season, Richardson was the RB30 playing alongside Bradshaw. Since Bradshaw has been out of action, Richardson is only RB56, averaging less than five fantasy points per game. If Richardson can’t outplay Herron, it may be time to give up in him ever being a fantasy asset.
4.) Julius Thomas, TE DEN
After starting the season at a record pace, Julius Thomas was slowed by an ankle injury, and he hasn’t been the same since. Thomas has not scored double-digit fantasy points in six weeks. This is terrible timing for the Broncos’ starting tight end as he enters free agency at the conclusion of the season and the team will also have to find a way to keep wide receiver Demaryius Thomas also. The tight end Thomas gives the Broncos a very nice option and advantage over many teams, but make no mistake, Demaryius will and should be their priority. If either Thomas leaves, especially the tight end, his value could take a hit in dynasty leagues.
5.) Mohamed Sanu, WR CIN
This is potentially the biggest drop off I’ve seen from one part of a season to another. With Marvin Jones out for the season and star AJ Green dealing with injuries of his own, Bengals Mohamed Sanu has picked up the slack for most of the season. After twelve weeks, Sanu was the WR16, making a fine weekly fantasy starter. Since that time though, Sanu has fallen all the way to WR102. With Jones expected to come back at full strength in 2015, this is the worst timing for a cold streak.
Also considered: Michael Floyd, Ben Tate, Jay Cutler, Cordarrelle Patterson, Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Johnny Manziel, Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, Bishop Sankey, Doug Martin, Keenan Allen, Donte Moncrief, Mike Evans, Jordan Reed
