Best Fantasy Advice: Championship Week

This is what it’s all about. It’s CHAMPIONSHIP week in the fantasy football world. There isn’t any room for error anymore. Take a look at this week’s best fantasy advice below. Good luck, and as always, happy fantasying. 

Quarterbacks

Must Starts: 

• Tom Brady (at DET) The Golden Boy has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five straight games. He’s also really good at performing comeback victories over Matt Ryan. With Detroit getting torched by Ryan Tannehill (37.02 PPR points) a week ago, Brady is a safe start for your team this week. 

• Deshaun Watson (vs CIN) This is why you drafted Watson. He is the primetime quarterback you wanted for your championship run. He hasn’t put up insane numbers lately, but his matchup against the Bengals comes in at a great time. Cincinnati is more vulnerable against the run, and you should expect a lot of rushing opportunities for the mobile QB. 

Other Notables: Baker Mayfield (at NYJ), Tua Tagovailoa (at LV), Jalen Hurts (at DAL), Justin Herbert (vs DEN)

Must Avoids:

• Jared Goff (at SEA) It came as a surprise to most when Goff and the Los Angeles Rams handed the New York Jets their first win of this season last week. Although his matchup against the Seahawks looks good on paper, he cannot be trusted in the fantasy championship. He scored just 10.48 PPR points in his first matchup against the Seahawks. Be safe, and avoid Goff this week. 

• Philip Rivers (at PIT) It’s not that Rivers has played bad as of late, it’s that there are so many other quarterbacks that have better matchups this week. Pittsburgh has been one of the best defenses this year, and they have given up the second fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Sit Rivers, and find someone who has the potential to put up at least 20 points this week. 

Other Notables: Ben Roethlisberger (vs IND), Teddy Bridgewater (at WAS), Derek Carr (vs MIA)

Running Backs

Must Starts: 

• David Montgomery (at JAX) The second-year-pro shouldn’t even have to be mentioned in this article. He has taken over the fantasy world in the past four weeks. He’s the RB1 during that span, and he’s averaging 26.53 PPR points since week 11. On top of that, he has a favorable matchup against a Jacksonville defense that’s given up the third most fantasy points to running backs this season. Montgomery may be the fantasy football MVP of the second half of the year. 

• D’Andre Swift (vs TB) The rookie back has been very impressive in his debut season this year. He’s scored double-digit fantasy points in all but two games he’s played in. He’s also scored more than 15 PPR points in each of his last two contests. Even though this week’s matchup isn’t the most enticing, there aren’t a lot of running backs that deserve to play over him. 

Other Notables: David Johnson (vs CIN), J.K. Dobbins (vs NYG), Giovani Bernard (at HOU), Miles Sanders (at DAL)

Must Avoids: 

• Wayne Gallman Jr. (at BAL) In a tough matchup last week against the Cleveland Browns, Gallman Jr. turned nine carries into 29 yards. Don’t expect much more against a stout Baltimore defensive front. This week is all about being safe and sure. Gallman Jr. isn’t a safe start this week. Go ahead and avoid him. 

• Mike Davis (at WAS) Davis didn’t take advantage of a great matchup last week against the Packers. Green Bay had been one of the worst defenses in the league against fantasy running backs. Now Davis will take on a stellar Washington Football Team defensive front. They have given up the third fewest points to Davis’ position this year, and they should shut down the Panthers run game if CMC is out of the lineup. 

Other Notables: Todd Gurley (at KC),  Damien Harris (vs BUF), Myles Gaskin (at LV)

Wide Receivers

Must Starts: 

• Allen Robinson II (at JAX) If you’re looking for consistency, Robinson II has you covered. He has fallen short of double digit PPR fantasy points just once this season (week 2). He’s been targeted at least five times in seven straight games, and he has topped 70 receiving yards in four straight. It also helps that Jacksonville has had a tough time defending the pass this season. Oh yeah, this is also a revenge game for Robinson II considering he started his career in Jacksonville. We might witness a 20-plus performance for the stand-out receiver this week. 

• Marvin Jones Jr. (vs TB) Jones Jr. has scored more than 20 PPR points in two of his last three games. He’s also been targeted 12 times in three of his last four. Tampa Bay’s weakness is their secondary this season, and they are coming off a game where Calvin Ridley poured in 32.3 PPR points against them. Jones Jr. is a “must start” this week as he should have his way with Kenny Golladay missing yet another game for the Lions. 

Other Notables: Cooper Kupp (at SEA), Amari Cooper (vs PHI), Rashard Higgins (at NYJ)

Must Avoids: 

• Marquise Brown (vs NYG) Brown has looked great as of late, but for most of the season, he has been a huge disappointment. The Giants have one of the best cornerbacks in the league, James Bradberry. He is in the conversation for defensive back of the year, and he will more than likely line up across Brown. With that in mind, avoid the speedy receiver this week as you look to win your fantasy football championship. 

• Juju Smith-Schuster (vs IND) Smith-Schuster recently told reporters that he will no longer dance and use TikTok on the 50-yard line before games. Does this mean he will perform more at a consistent rate? More than likely no. He’s scored less than 10 PPR points three times in his last five games. Avoid Smith-Schuster if you can this week. 

Other Notables: T.Y. Hilton (at PIT), Robby Anderson (at WAS), Tyler Lockett (vs LAR)

Tight Ends

Must Starts: 

• Logan Thomas (vs CAR) The former college quarterback has been the TE3 in the last four weeks. He has scored double-digit PPR points in each of his last four games. In that span, he’s also scored 20-plus PPR points twice. Carolina has given up the eighth most fantasy points to tight ends this season. You have to ride the hot hand. Unless you have Darren Waller or Travis Kelce, Thomas is a “must start” for your team. 

• Robert Tonyan (vs TEN) Speaking of the hot hand. Tonyan has been just as electrifying as Thomas has. He’s scored double-digit PPR points in five straight games, and he has scored a receiving touchdown in each of those games as well. Among all tight ends in the league, Tonyan is tied with Kelce for the most receiving touchdowns (10) on the season. It’s safe to say that Tonyan is a “must start” this week. 

Other Notables: Mike Gesicki (at LV), Mark Andrews (vs NYG), Cole Kmet (at JAX)

Must Avoids: 

• Jonnu Smith (at GB) Since week five, Smith has fallen short of double-digit fantasy points seven times. He is coming off a decent game last week (10.2 PPR points), but he has an unfavorable matchup this weekend. Green Bay has given up the fourth fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. Stay safe; It’s the Championship. Avoid Smith unless you have no other option. 

• Eric Ebron (vs IND) Ebron is battling a back injury, and he has only topped 50 receiving yards just twice this season. He’s been struggling mightily lately. In the past two weeks, he has produced just seven PPR points. It doesn’t help the fact that Indianapolis has allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year. Ebron is easily a “must avoid” in your championship game. 

Other Notables: Rob Gronkowski (at DET), Hayden Hurst (at KC), Tyler Higbee (at SEA)

Defenses

Must Starts: 

• Miami Dolphins (at LV) Surprisingly, Miami has scored the most defensive fantasy points during the 2020 season thus far. They have scored at least five points in every game since week 3. They’re also tied for second in the league with 16 interceptions forced. Expect Las Vegas to be a great matchup for the stingy Dolphins defense. 

• Cleveland Browns (at NYJ) ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS start the defense playing the Jets. Yes, they are coming off a fluke win over the Rams. That doesn’t mean Cleveland won’t take advantage and score you plenty of defensive fantasy points. On the season, New York has easily given up the most fantasy points to team defenses. 

Other Notables: Baltimore Ravens (vs NYG), New Orleans Saints (vs MIN)

Must Avoids: 

• New England Patriots (vs BUF) New England’s defense has scored double-digit fantasy points just three times this season. They are taking on an explosive Buffalo Bills’ offense led by Josh Allen. Avoid The Patriots defense at all costs this week. 

• Green Bay Packers (vs TEN) A lot of people don’t own the Packers defense, but they made this list anyways. This matchup looks like a nightmare for Green Bay. They are one of the worst rush defenses going against one of the best running backs in the league (Derrick Henry). AVOID THEM. AVOID THEM. AVOID THEM. This may get ugly. 

Other Notables: Seattle Seahawks (vs LAR), Washington Football Team (vs CAR)