Lamar Jackson sealed up the MVP award by going 12-for-14 for 255 yards (18.2 YPA!) with a 3:0 TD:INT ratio (and 25 rushing yards) in the first half, and his fourth touchdown pass came during his first attempt of the second. Jackson was the top QB this week during his best fantasy performance of the season, also posting an EPA/play in the 100th percentile and a completion percentage over expectation (+23.6) in the 99th. He finished with five TD passes, as Baltimore scored a season-high 56 points while locking up the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Zay Flowers caught a long touchdown and racked up 103 receiving yards, while Isaiah Likely pulled down two scores. Both saw just three targets apiece.
Gus Edwards and Justice Hill both scored, with the former dominating the carries and the latter the passing-down work. J.K. Dobbins would have definitely finished as a top-five fantasy back if health cooperated.
Rashod Bateman couldn’t secure a long catch early after suffering a bad drop Monday night. Maybe injuries are to blame, but his massively disappointing season looks even worse when considering his QB will win MVP.
Tyler Huntley threw a touchdown during his lone attempt and also posted a perfect Passer Rating, proving Jackson is a system quarterback (says the guy who’s ripping up his 45/1 Brock Purdy MVP ticket through tears).
The depleted Dolphins offense struggled after an easy opening-drive TD, with Tua Tagovailoa posting his second-lowest YPA (6.2) of the season. Tagovailoa faced a Baltimore defense allowing the fewest points per game and the second-fewest yards per game since acquiring Roquan Smith last year, while Tyreek Hill dropped his easiest potential touchdown of the season in the end zone. Tagovailoa left with a shoulder injury, and his status will be key during Week 18’s matchup with Buffalo for the AFC title.
De’Von Achane took advantage of Raheem Mostert’s absence, totaling 137 yards with a score. The rookie was a top-10 fantasy RB this week and is averaging 8.0 YPC on the season. Achane is clearly the biggest wild card during 2024 fantasy drafts.
Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns and posted a CPOE (+17.7) in the 97th percentile but failed to run in a score for just the second time over his last eight games. Hurts attempted only 23 passes during Arizona’s upset win, as Philadelphia possessed the ball just 20 minutes Sunday (thanks to the Cardinals rushing for 221 yards and a 99-yard pick-six by the Eagles).
D’Andre Swift had just five carries for 16 yards at halftime and finished with only one target during a hugely disappointing performance in the fantasy championship. Arizona had allowed the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs over the last five weeks by a significant margin, and the Eagles entered double-digit home favorites.
Julio Jones caught two TDs in the first half but finished with just two targets. He could be looking at an expanded role moving forward with DeVonta Smith now injured and in a walking boot.
After setting an NFL record with six straight games with 125+ receiving yards, A.J. Brown has averaged just 63.5 yards over his last eight.
James Conner made a sick one-handed TD catch and ran in the late game-winning score (replays later showed his knee may have been down just before crossing the end zone). Conner rushed for the second-most yards (128) this week and turned in his best fantasy performance of the season against an Eagles defense that entered allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.
Kyler Murray also had his best fantasy game of the season, throwing three touchdowns Sunday. Philadelphia has now ceded the second-most passing scores (34) in the league, just one fewer than Washington. The Cardinals dropped out of the top three in next year’s draft with the win, as Murray may have prolonged his stay in Arizona (while costing him Marvin Harrison Jr.).
The Eagles have been outscored 30-0 in the third quarter over the last two games, as Jonathan Gannon won during his homecoming.
Kyren Williams ran for three touchdowns while finishing as this week’s top fantasy back. He’s been a top-10 RB in five of six weeks since returning from injury and looks like a first-round fantasy pick in 2024. Given his ADP, Williams has an argument as this year’s fantasy MVP, even while missing four games.
Matthew Stafford threw for 300+ yards but just one score. He also had the second-longest active streak (behind Kenny Pickett) without throwing a pick (170 passes) end when he tossed two interceptions Sunday.
Demarcus Robinson led Los Angeles with 10 targets, while Puka Nacua didn’t score during an 80-yard catch.
Tyrod Taylor was having a relatively quiet game before hitting Darius Slayton for an 80-yard house call in the third quarter. He took a bunch of sacks as expected but led New York with 40 rushing yards, finishing as a top-10 fantasy QB this week while available at the DFS minimum.
Saquon Barkley rushed for fewer than 40 yards for the second time in his last three games, and Taylor missed him wide-open during a late two-point conversation attempt to go ahead.
Wan’Dale Robinson led New York with nine targets and scored a rushing touchdown.
The Giants have 19 takeaways over their last seven games but have taken a whopping 83 sacks this season — 20 more than the next most.
This game had a long punt-return TD and four missed kicks, including three extra points.
Brock Purdy bounced back with a nice game, making a great play in the fourth quarter to seal the win. He also threw a dime to Brandon Aiyuk while becoming San Francisco’s all-time single-season passing leader. Purdy lost another potential TD when Kyle Juszczyk dropped a pass on the opening drive, but he now has the most games with a 120+ Passer Rating over his first two seasons in NFL history.
Christian McCaffrey left late in the third quarter with a calf injury. He saw 19 opportunities before departing but failed to score after being the most favored position player ever to do so in a game. Maybe CMC shouldn’t have played 100% of the snaps during Monday night’s blowout with an upcoming short week? A finally healthy Elijah Mitchell took over and finished with 17 carries and as a top-12 fantasy back this week. With the 49ers locking up the No. 1 seed Sunday, CMC has three weeks to rest if needed, and Mitchell could be a viable DFS option in Week 18.
Aiyuk recorded his seventh 100-yard game of the season (and he’s missed a contest), while Deebo Samuel caught a short touchdown after arriving in a “BCB for MVP” vest.
The 49ers are the first team in NFL history to have a running back, two wide receivers and a tight end all have more than 1,000 all-purpose yards in a single season.
Sam Howell continued to struggle while producing just 10 points. The game’s over/under moved 7.5 points after Jacoby Brissett was named starter but curiously never corrected after he suffered a hamstring injury in practice late in the week.
Brian Robinson returned and looked good (4.9 YPC), but game script allowed just nine carries. The Commanders only possessed the ball for 21 minutes Sunday.
Terry McLaurin would be a fantasy star if he ever played with a league-average quarterback.
