“Frankel’s Fantasy Files” is a column by Kyle Frankel about fantasy football.
Here we are again. The final column of the semester, and of this fantasy season. After this, you’ll be on your own, hopefully tackling the final obstacles en route to being crowned as your league champion.
I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed the brief hiatus, but it’s time to get back to business.
It’s that time of the year when the waiver wire has just about been picked dry, well over-saturated after the numerous weeks it had every player with even the smallest semblance of value plucked away.
That is why our attention is elsewhere today. Obviously, there are still injuries and surprise roster decisions that make for some hidden gems still being out there in certain leagues, but if you are still looking to the waiver wire to solve your issues, then I’m afraid you’re too late.
The playoffs are starting up in just a few weeks, so let’s set our sights on the fantasy postseason. Fantasy playoffs aren’t just about who has the better roster on paper, they’re about who wins that week.
With that being said, here’s some very realistic names you could acquire in trades right now whose playoff schedules should treat them extremely well.
And if you’re not going to make the playoffs, maybe these guys can help you win the toilet bowl.
Jumping for Jaylen.
Am I aware that last week was the first time Pittsburgh outgained their opponent all season? Yes. Does that make me fearful their offense could sputter and hurt these guys down the stretch? Absolutely not! Did you read that first sentence? The Steelers offense has been sputtering all year!
Despite the scoring woes, fantasy scoring has not been a problem for running back Jaylen Warren. The second-year ball carrier finally broke out after showing constant flashes. He’s an explosive runner and feels like he just brings a spark to a largely lifeless offense every time he steps on the field.
While Najee Harris appears to still be edging him out on the depth chart as the No. 1 RB, Warren has been nearing an even split on touches with his counterpart over the last month. In the last four weeks, he’s averaging 12 carries a game to Harris’ 14.75. He’s capitalizing on his opportunities too, scoring 16 PPR points per game over that span, including a pair of touchdowns.
Warren has gotten involved in the passing game as well, seeing three targets in three of his last four games, usually on quick screens outside the hashes.
Now, is he going to be an RB1? That’s unlikely. However, he does face the Colts, Bengals and Ravens in Weeks 15, 16 and 17. Those three teams all rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to running backs, with Seattle and Indianapolis sitting at six and seven-worst respectively.
I know I said I wouldn’t mention the waiver wire, but he is somehow available in 20.6% of ESPN leagues prior to claims processing this week, so there’s still a slight chance you could get him for nothing. If not, though, he’s not a blockbuster name, so you should be able to work a trade out that doesn’t ship off any essential players.
Puka’s a priority.
After being the darling of fantasy football for the first few weeks of the season, the hype for Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has largely died down since Cooper Kupp returned to action in Week 5.
In the first five weeks this year, Nacua eclipsed the double-digit mark in PPR points in all of them, surpassed 20 in four of five and even topped 30 in two of the contests. He was on an otherworldly tear to begin his NFL career, getting force-fed by Matthew Stafford with an astonishing 63 targets in the first five weeks!
Since Week 5, he’s only been over single-digit PPR points in two of six outings. His targets have died down with a more crowded receiver room, but he’s still getting a hefty workload, averaging eight targets per game in that span.
Despite hitting a bit of a slump, he’s poised to explode in the fantasy playoffs. The Rams face Washington, New Orleans and the New York Giants in Week 15, 16 and 17. Now, New Orleans has been fairly stout against the air attack, but the Commanders and Giants allow the second and fifth-most fantasy points to wideouts this season.
We know Nacua will get the opportunities, the question is whether or not he will make the most of them. The defenses he’ll be facing make me think he’s going to end the season akin to how he started it.
You’re not going to find Nacua on waivers, and he’ll be more expensive than Warren, but you should still be able to trade for him at a reasonable price.
Well then, I guess that’s it. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who followed along this season. I hope some of my tips and leads were able to either help you bolster an already elite roster, salvage a once seemingly lost season or maybe even lead you to the fantasy promised land. Now go finish the job!
“Frankel’s Fantasy Files” runs every Wednesday.