As soon as Todd Gurley burst onto the NFL stage in 2015, he was a fantasy dynamo — with blockbuster outings in his first four games as a full-time backfield workhorse.
Then, it was as if then-Rams coach Jeff Fisher saw this whirlwind of success and remembered: He doesn’t like success. And Gurley went into a nosedive that lasted the rest of that season and all of the next.
Then, the Rams realized they were not as averse to success as Fisher, fired the King of 7-9 and hired Sean McVay. Suddenly, Gurley was a superstar again. Go figure. His back-to-back 40-plus outings in the fantasy playoffs sealed the deal as the 2017 fantasy MVP.
QB hero: Russell Wilson, Seahawks — Didn’t close strong the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs, but his dynamic run from Weeks 6-14 carried fantasy teams.
QB zero: Matt Ryan, Falcons — Considering his lofty draft position that routinely had him off the board within the first four rounds as one of the top four QBs drafted, he landed with a thud — ranking 15th at the position.
RB hero: Le’Veon Bell, Steelers — After a slow start, there was no one steadier.
RB zero: Jay Ajayi, Dolphins/Eagles — Wasn’t very productive early with the Dolphins, then didn’t get the volume needed once traded to the Eagles. A top-12 pick who finished RB31 — behind, among others, Chris Thompson, who hasn’t played since Week 11.
WR hero: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans — Edges Antonio Brown only because Brown was injured for most of the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs.
WE zero: Amari Cooper, Raiders — He tallied 32 percent of his season-long fantasy total in one game. Averaged 8.5 PPR points in the other 11 in which he played.
TE hero: Zach Ertz, Eagles — Easily the best draft value among the Big Three who make up the top tight end tier (Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski).
TE zero: Greg Olsen, Panthers — His season was derailed by missing eight games with a foot injury. But he wasn’t productive before the injury, then was in and out of the lineup upon his return. Added by some for a playoff push, he couldn’t be trusted with a starting spot, then exploded in Week 15. Plugged into lineup for Week 16 title round, delivered another dud.
Biggest surprise: Alex Smith, Chiefs (QB) — Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Robby Anderson and Josh McCown get consideration. But none had the combination of long-term pedestrian track record and extended playing time of Smith.
Biggest loser: Jeff Fisher, coach (unemployed) — Under Fisher last season, Gurley, Goff, Keenum and the Rams all were terrible. Without him, Gurley is a monster, Goff no longer is considered a bust, Keenum made it impossible for the Vikings to give Teddy Bridgewater his job back, and the Rams look like Super Bowl contenders. And oh yeah, Nick Foles looks more like his 2013 Pro Bowl self, filling in for Carson Wentz, than he did under Fisher in St. Louis in 2015.
Jeff Fisher, you have the Minus Touch.
Big Weeks
Matthew Stafford QB, Lions, vs. Packers (FanDuel $7,800/DraftKings $6,300)
If you’re unfortunate enough to have a fantasy playoff game in Week 17, or you’re just looking for a DFS candidate, Stafford and the Lions have no ground game, and the Packers have given up the most fantasy points to QBs since Week 12.
Jamaal Williams, Packers, at Lions (FD $6,700/DK $5,200)
Don’t let back-to-back duds scare you off. Lions have given up at least one TD to a running back in nine of 10 games.
Wayne Gallman RB, Giants, vs. Redskins (FD $5,100/DK $4,200)
Getting a healthy amount of touches. Washington generous to RBs.
Jamison Crowder WR, Redskins, at Giants (FD $7,000/DK $5,800)
Has scored in consecutive weeks, and Giants have given up eight TDs to receivers in the past five games.
Small Weaks
Patrick Mahomes II QB, Chiefs, at Broncos (FD $6,000/DK $4,700)
Lot of folks will jump on the rookie bandwagon this week. Nothing more than a cheap DFS tournament dart — without primary weapons and versus a decent pass defense.
Leonard Fournette RB, Jaguars, at Titans (FD $7,900/DK $7,100)
With a playoff game upcoming next week and seeding locked in, don’t expect a full game out of the rookie.
Jordan Howard RB, Bears, at Vikings (FD $6,800/DK $5,800)
Tough to sit a regular fantasy starter who likely will get a full load in Week 17, but against a stiff Vikings defense that has a first-round bye to play for and is the stingiest in the league versus opposing fantasy RBs, we will try to find an alternative.
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR, Steelers, vs. Browns (FD $7,300/DK $7,300)
With Landry Jones at QB? No thanks.
The Decision
Post fantasy Madman Drew Loftis and Roto Rage Jarad Wilk debate whom you should start this week:
Kenyan Drake vs. Carlos Hyde
Drew: Drake — The Bills have given up more fantasy points to running backs than any other team over the past four weeks. Drake was getting steady 20-plus touches until a hiccup last week vs. the Chiefs, when they fell behind. Expecting full workload from Drake, not as certain about Hyde — worried about how many touches rookie Matt Brieda might vulture in a meaningless game.
Jarad: Hyde — There’s no need to worry about Hyde’s touches as he has averaged 15 rushing attempts and four receptions per game since Week 6, but there is a need to worry about your commissioner having your league play in Week 17. It’s time for an uprising! Hyde is also facing a defense that has allowed the eight most rushing yards (1,788), the third highest yards per carry (4.6), the sixth most rushing touchdowns (13) and the third-most plays of 40-yards or more (four). Oh, and Hyde rushed for 84 yards (on 25 touches) and two touchdowns against the Rams in Week 3. If you’re being forced to play this week, trust Hyde.
Last week: Jarad 27.7 (Larry Fitzgerald – 9-119 receiving, 1 TD), Drew 19.5 (JuJu Smith-Schuster – 6-75 receiving, 1 TD)
Season: Drew leads series, 9-7