Analysis
12/29/21
5 min read
Buy Into The Rex Burkhead Hype
We are now entering Week 17 of the NFL season and many of you are about to play in your fantasy football championship. Whether you are going for first place or the Toilet Bowl title, it is essential that you take the necessary steps to make sure your team is set up to win this week's game and end the season on a high note. With all the injuries and Covid cases in the NFL, there are several ways to make your fantasy lineup the best it can be.
Last Week Recap:
Last week there were two players whose hype I recommended buying into. The first player was Ronald Jones who I was really high on because Leonard Fournette had been ruled out. Jones had a solid game, finishing with 65 yards and a touchdown along with 2 receptions. He was definitely the go-to back last week, getting over twice as many carries as Ke’Shawn Vaughn who was also able to put up a solid fantasy performance due to a long touchdown run early in the game. Jones is definitely worth starting going into Week 17 against the Jets.
The other player who I hyped up was Jamison Crowder. I said the Jets were going to be able to move the ball against the Jaguars and Crowder would be a big part of their offense. While I was right about the Jets being able to move the ball, unfortunately, Crowder was ruled out shortly before the game with a calf injury. He has a much harder matchup next week against Tampa Bay, so I wouldn’t recommend starting him unless you have no other option.
The player who I advised everyone not to start was Chase Edmonds. I said that James Conner steals all of his red-zone touches and this makes him unreliable. However, before the game, Conner was ruled out and Edmonds turned out to have an extraordinary game. While this was great to see from Edmonds after a very frustrating season, I would be very wary of starting him for Week 17 if Conner is active. However, if Conner is out, Edmonds is a must-start.
Buy Into The Hype
Rex Burkhead
One of the biggest surprises of the past few weeks has been how good the Texans have looked. A week after beating the Jaguars, the Texans took on the Chargers and played an excellent game. A big part of why they were so successful is because Rex Burkhead could not be stopped by the Chargers defense. He finished the game with 149 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 2 receptions. The Texans take on the 49ers next week who have a better run defense than the Chargers, however, Burkhead should still be heavily involved in the offensive game plan. Rex should see plenty of carries and also a few receptions which is very valuable in PPR leagues. If the Texans are able to keep rolling against the Niners, expect Burkhead to be a big reason why.
Gerald Everett
A consistent tight end has been hard to come by this season. Even Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and George Kittle have struggled with inconsistencies and injuries. Outside of the Top 5, it has been nearly impossible to find a tight end who is able to put up respectable numbers on a weekly basis. However, recently Gerald Everett has been able to do just that. Despite the Seahawks’ struggles, Everett has had 2 touchdowns and two 60+ yard games in the last 3 weeks. The Seahawks go up against Detroit next week which will give Everett a great opportunity to continue his hot streak. Everett is on the waiver wire in most leagues, and he is definitely worth considering if you are thin at the tight end position.
Don’t Buy Into The Hype
Isaiah McKenzie
Isaiah McKenzie had an excellent game on Sunday against the Patriots with 11 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. However, this performance was an anomaly and you should not expect the Bills to use McKenzie the same way against the Falcons as they did against the Patriots. Besides last week, McKenzie had seen very little volume and earned most of his fantasy points through return yards. If you need a flex or WR2 for this week, there are definitely better options out there. The Bills are expected to destroy the Falcons, but McKenzie will not be a big reason why. He is too much of a risk to start in such an important game. I recommend looking elsewhere to fill any holes on your fantasy roster.
It’s hard to believe we have made it to the championship week of the fantasy football season. As chaotic as this season has been, it has gone by in a blur. Next year’s fantasy draft will be crazy because no one knows what to expect out of the 2022 season after what we experienced this year. Congratulations to those who are in the finals. Remember to do everything you can to give your team the best chance to win. Good luck!
