For the last time this season...

By Martin Richardson

Well, here we are. The end of the season is very close, and we have some very exciting matchups that will have an impact on how your Fantasy season ends. Top players are up against really bad teams and that could well be crucial if you are looking to secure your Fantasy league title.

So, for the final time this season, let’s take a look at who are the ones to watch this week.

QUARTERBACK:

CJ STROUD

Some of you may be in need of a QB if you had Patrick Mahomes as your starter. But there are plenty of options there on the wire to pick up if you need someone to get to the playoff final. Some of you may well be thinking that this should be Trevor Lawrence (god bless you for being on my roster last week), but with a tricky matchup against the ever impressive Broncos, I’m leaning towards a much more favourable matchup for Fantasy players: CJ Stroud. Stroud is rostered on just over 50% of teams and plays the absolutely terrible Las Vegas Raiders this weekend and it could be a mauling.

Looking back to last week where he played an equally bad Arizona Cardinals team, Stroud took the opportunity to put them to the sword with three touchdown passes (two to Nico Collins and one to Dalton Schultz). His 260 yards on top of that meant that he was a very solid streamer if you need one. I certainly think that if you need someone to make a difference this week, Stroud against the Raiders is a no brainer. He has a multitude of weapons on that offense to turn to: Collins, Higgins, Schultz and even back up RB Jawhar Jordan who ran for over 100 yards on his impromptu debut last week; all of which should make an impact against the Raiders.

RUNNING BACK

DE’VON ACHANE

The Miami Dolphins are going to the story of the off season with the decisions they have looming over them; they need a new GM, a potential new HC and the writing appears to be on the wall for Tua Tagovailoa as the QB1 down in Miami. With his benching, Quinn Ewers takes the spot under centre and this could mean a heavy workload for the ever impressive Achane.

Achane has consistently hit double figures in all bar two games this season on ESPN and that was against the Bills and Browns (who have very capable defenses). This week he faces off against the Bengals defense who rank last when playing against RB in fantasy football. Add this to the mix that he will have a QB who will not want to be a turnover machine, the chances are that Achane will get plenty of opportunity to run the ball and complete those big runs in the screen game. If you have him in your Fantasy lineup, I would expect a big performance.

BIJAN ROBINSON

A second big name to end the RB section of this Playoff spectacular and this time it comes from the terribly average NFC South. However, there is nothing terribly average about Robinson this season.

Last week he destroyed the Buccaneer’s poor defense over 100 total yards and a touchdown, but even if he doesn’t get those touchdowns, he is such a dual threat and will get Fantasy points on the ground and in the air.

This week he faces the, somehow worse than the Bucs defense, Arizona Cardinals, who couldn’t do anything against the Texans last week. They allowed a player who was called up from the practice squad to run for over a hundred in less than three quarters of the game; so imagine what someone like Robinson will do to a defense as bad as that.

WIDE RECEIVER

DK METCALF

Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are doing Mike Tomlin and the Steelers things as we approach the end of the season. Another winning season is on the horizon as they keep that impressive streak alive and that is in small part to the recent form of DK Metcalf.

In three of his last 4 games, he has produced double digit points totals, with two touchdowns (one of which was a rushing touchdown against the Bears). His 148 air yards against the Ravens set the tone for a great win against their division rivals. And even when he had comparatively fewer yards against the Dolphins last week, he still came away with a touchdown to keep that Fantasy production going.

This week he comes up against a Lions team that are very hot and cold. They both win and lose comprehensively one week after the other, with teams like the Packers and Rams putting 30+ points on their defense. Even in their win against the Cowboys, they allowed 30 points there as well.

This is welcome news to someone as physically imposing as DK Metcalf. He has the opportunity to impose his will on a defense that is looking a shell of what it has been in the past. Whilst it will be interesting to see what happens with QB Aaron Rodgers in the summer, right now his relationship with Metcalf is stronger than ever, so Fantasy players need to capitalise on that whilst they can.

tIGHT END

TREY MCBRIDE

I’m going to stop the Cardinal bashing and celebrate one the best tight ends in the league. He has been a touchdown monster this season compared to his barren 2024 season. What a difference having a quarterback who can throw the ball well and with precision can do to a player. Surely the way that McBride and even wide receiver Michael Wilson have played in the back end of the season means that Kyler Murray and maybe even head coach Jonathan Gannon are done in Arizona? But that’s for a summer of wonderful off season chatter.

McBride’s targets are at an all time high, with games between 9-13 targets, and in those higher ones he’d going over 100 yards and a touchdown as well, making a lethal combination when it comes to Fantasy football points. Last week he had his joint most receptions and two touchdowns against the very good Texans defense; so when it comes to this week against the less talented Falcons defense, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he puts up similar numbers again and cements his place as the best tight end in the league for the 2026 season.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone at The Touchdown and anyone who has taken the time to read any of these articles over the season. I hope they’ve brought you a little success throughout the season and that you’ve won some games with who I’ve picked out for you. I’ve enjoyed it, even if I’ve had the worst injury luck this season and I can’t wait to see how this season ends and see what the future holds for some of these players… is it too early for a Fantasy ranking update…

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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