Week 15 Fantasy Football Stock Watch: Trust in Reggie Bush?
Can you trust Bush down the stretch in the fantasy playoffs?
I hope all of you found success in the fantasy playoffs and hope you have advanced closer to a championship. Little piece of advice moving forward: while some situations warrant change and roster adjustments based on matchups or trends as you’ll see below, stick with your guns. You don’t want to be the guy who starts Andy Dalton over Drew Brees and loses with Drew Brees’ 30 points on the bench. Don’t read into trends too much only because it’s playoff time and you need safe points.
With that said, it’s onto our week 15 installment of our fantasy football risers and fallers:
Risers
Seahawks Defense/Special Teams
The Seahawks had 4 interceptions and 4 defensive touchdowns Sunday, putting up unprecedented fantasy points for a defense. The Seahawks defense is still not owned or started in all leagues, so check the waiver wire or contemplate starting them this week. Nearly 40 points, like they scored Sunday, is quite a swing.
Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Denver Broncos
Moreno is killing it and probably saving many of your seasons. Moreno received a career-high 32 carries on Sunday, showing that the Broncos are not scared to keep running the ball even with Willis McGahee on IR. Moreno ran for 119 yards and had 48 yards receiving with a touchdown. If you are lacking stud running backs or a solid flex, Moreno is a fantastic start for the next couple weeks.
Reggie Bush, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
I know it’s been a rough season for Reggie Bush fantasy-wise, but he could provide SOME value in the last couple weeks if you need some points in a squeeze. Bush is once again the primary ball-carrier with 29 carries in the last two games, about double the amount of carries Daniel Thomas has seen over that span. Also, Bush surpassed the century mark for the first time since Week 2 this past Sunday. He hasn’t been valuable at all this season, but he could be a life saver late-season, especially with a matchup against the Jaguars next week.
Pierre Garcon, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins
Garcon had 87 receiving yards and a score on Sunday against the Ravens. Garcon looked explosive, showing no setbacks from the foot injury that sidelined him for most of the season (and which caused me to drop him…of course). Although Quarterback Robert Griffin III may miss some time with an LCL injury, Garcon is a solid start. He looks explosive and has a nose for the endzone, just missing out on a second score on Sunday.
Fallers
Bryce Brown, Running Back, Philadelphia eagles
Bryce Brown may have ruined playoff runs for many of you. Even though he was going up against the league’ best rush defense in the Buccaneers, Brown was a must-start after totaling 347 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games in the place of the injured LeSean McCoy. On Sunday against the Bucs, Brown had only six rushing yards and six receiving yards with no scores. If you were able to survive in the playoffs despite Brown’s performance, be careful with Brown as a starter this Thursday with the Bengals up next.
Torrey Smith, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
Torrey Smith is absolutely killing me. Smith is as feast-or-famine as they come. He either gets you 3 points or 18….you never know which one it will be. The troubling thing with Smith is that he’s had under 35 receiving yards three of the last four weeks. With Flacco out of sync with Smith and the firing of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, be careful with Torrey Smith moving forward.
Rashard Mendenhall, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers
Mendenhall, for the second week in a row, was a healthy scratch. Head Coach Mike Tomlin seems comfortable with Jonathan Dwyer as the running back. For those of you who picked up Mendenhall waiting for late-season health and production, it has backfired.
Dwayne Bowe, Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
Bowe has already been ruled out for next Sunday versus the Raiders which already brings his Week 16 status into question. It looks like we may have seen Bowe’s last days in a Chiefs’ uniform. It’s terrible timing for those who had him on the roster all this time.
The Seattle DST did NOT score 4 touchdowns Sunday.
I know, I know I know…But doesn’t Cecil Shorts have a higher ceiling?