Time to think about those playoffs

By Martin Richardson

We are now getting close to the playoffs for Fantasy players everywhere, and chances are your season is falling into three categories:

  1. Season looks over and you’re looking ahead to next season to go again
  2. You’re in the hunt for the playoffs and need that final push
  3. You’re sitting pretty knowing you’re in that playoff berth and could do with consolidating your lofty position

Whatever it may be, you will still need to be on the lookout for how the Fantasy season could play out. We have already seen that injuries can be a cruel mistress for any team, and you may need that bench player to come in and be a streamer. You may also see be in the end of one of injuries already and be looking at who can come in, such as a few of the names I’ve picked out this week for you all.

MICHAEL WILSON

Wilson was someone who flashed last year as the Cardinals tried to make the Harrison Jr and Murray connection work, but never really got going as WR2 on that team given that they also had Tre McBride.

Now, the opportunity has come for him to be the WR1 on a team without both Harrison Jr and Murray and boy did he take that opportunity.  With a massive 18 targets for 185 yards and over 20 Fantasy points against the 49ers, Wilson announced his arrival the main man in style. Even without a touchdown, the sheer volume of targets makes him a really viable FLEX option and even a WR2 if this continues.

It is clear that Wilson is going to be a factor for the Cardinals in the next few weeks and I can’t see that changing given who is coming up on the schedule. He comes up this week against the Jags and they are so hit and miss, but as both he and McBride are clearly the main threats, don’t be shocked to see him get quite a lot of the ball again. After that the Cardinal travel to the Bucs who have had a few weeks and could be on the back of another defeat if they don’t improve against the Rams. I’ve mentioned before about my concerns with the Bucs secondary and someone like Wilson could expose that in a big way if given the chance. Just look at how Josh Allen pinged the ball downfield at will last week.

JAYDEN HIGGINS

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Sticking with WR, I was really high on Higgins becoming the WR2 for the Texans this season. He had a solid preseason and there was a chance he could have secured that slot early on. However, what has been clear this season is that the Texans have not been what they once were. Whether that is because of a new OC in Nick Caley finding his feet, I don’t know, but the offence has needed an injection of life sometimes this season.

For Higgins, that seemed to happen when Davis Mills came in for the concussed CJ Stroud and played the last two games. Bar a game where he got a touchdown versus the 49ers, Higgins had been limited to less than 4 targets per game. In his last two games, he had 7 targets and was starting to get yards and as he did against the Jags, a touchdown as well.

What will be interesting is whether or not this continues as Stroud comes back into the team, which is the risk here. But there is an opportunity for him to carry this on and be the WR2 that his preseason potential showed.

What I will say here is this: if your season is potentially over, and you have maybe traded away some of your assets for the promise of a better Fantasy season next year, then maybe Higgins is someone you could stream to see if he has that second year potential.

TERRANCE FERGUSON

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I was also intrigued by this TE for the Rams as well coming into the season because I genuinely thought Tyler Higbee couldn’t stay healthy enough to see a season through.

And here we are.

Ferguson comes into the mix for the Rams who have been using 13 personnel sets at an incredible rate this season. Over 40% of their snaps have been using three tight ends and Ferguson could well benefit from this as he moves through his rookie season.

Since week 7, where he scored his first touchdown, his involved has increased, and from his targets he gets yards, more than likely due to the unprecedented use of that 13 personnel playbook that Sean McVay has used so well. Don’t be surprised to see that this week Ferguson get some more opportunities against a Bucs team on a tough losing streak.

RJ HARVEY

To anyone who persevered with RJ Harvey: congratulations, your time is now.

With RB JK Dobbins out for the season, RJ Harvey has a chance to showcase what he is all about after his bye week this week. There were preseason comparison the Alvin Kamara and Harvey has shown flashes of being the dual threat for Bo Nix and the Broncos in the air, with 51 yards and touchdown against the Texans, as well as receiving touchdowns in three other games as well. Add this to the 2 touchdowns on the ground against the Cowboys too, he has shown that he can certainly get into the endzone when given the chance.

After this week’s bye, Harvey has a nice run in of games to get his feet wet as RB1, facing the Commanders, the Raiders and then the Packers, so there is a real chance that Harvey will state a very good case to be the Broncos RB1 next season and no doubt be the next sleeper candidate in Fantasy talk next season.

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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