X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

NFL Recap - Week 15 Surprises, And Looking Ahead

Happy holidays to all of our readers!  And that greeting is not only extended from us here, but also from all the players in the NFL, who caught the holiday spirit just in time this year.

And what better way to celebrate than to look at some of the best gifts the NFL gave to us this week?

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

 

What Just Happened?

The Jacksonville Jaguars gave the Houston Texans a much more effective (and cheaper) quarterback.  The Texans thanked them by giving them a new coach.

It's a Christmas double-whammy!  The Jaguars raced out to an early lead on the Texans, picking off $72 million man Brock Osweiler twice in two attempts.  (As an aside, I know inflation means that currency doesn't go as far as it did back in the day, but you'd think that seventy-two million dollars could buy at least, like, three cybernetic quarterbacks even if they aren't played by Lee Majors.)  The Texans responded by putting former fourth-round draft pick Tom Savage into the game, and Savage led the Texans back from a 20-8 deficit.  By the way, Savage is only guaranteed $300,584 over the terms of his contract, while Osweiler is guaranteed $37 million.  By my calculations, that means that the Texans spent enough money to buy 100 quarterbacks and yet got like -1/2 of one.  Poor Houston.

However wretched their QB situation was, the Texans got right back into the giving spirit by handing the Jaguars their 12th loss of the season, prompting Jacksonville to fire head coach Gus Bradley on the tarmac.  This move is widely known as "being Kiffin'd."  (Good luck to the Florida Atlantic Owls, by the way!)

 

The curse of Ryan Fitzpatrick kept on giving itself.

During the course of the Dolphins' 34-13 victory over the Jets, Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake hit Bryce Petty right in the soul.  Ordinarily, this would just be considered a hard hit, an inevitability in such a rough game.  Of course, we know better - the annihilation of Petty's immortal spirit was preordained.  As any quarterback in the NFL should know, once taking the starting job from Fitzpatrick, the dark forces of beard voodoo are summoned and that his days are numbered.  Fitzpatrick responded to his recent re-promotion at the hands of black magic by going 5/10 for 35 yards and an INT, thus telling a cautionary tale on the nature of follicular sorcery.  It's a fickle mistress.

 

Andy Reid literally gave away a victory, for no reason!

This is more just an aside about the pointlessness of icing a kicker, especially in the middle of a "polar vortex" event (I mean, come on, everyone is being iced if it's 0 degrees before wind chill).  Titans K Ryan Succop lined up for a game winning field goal with TEN down 17-16, and missed the first attempt.  Not to worry, however!  Kansas City head coach Andy Reid, using his keen understanding of strategy and statistics, called timeout before the kick, giving Succop a second chance...which he promptly nailed.  By the way, not only is icing the kicker one of the least watchable strategic football moves there is, kickers don't actually miss more often after being iced.  Andy Reid used a timeout for no good reason, and it cost the Chiefs a one-game lead in the AFC West after the Raiders beat the Chargers in San Diego.  There's a lesson in there, somewhere.  Something about the dangers of letting a live walrus run your team.

 

Ezekiel Elliot gave the best gift of all - Ezekiel Elliott.

During the course of the Cowboys' course-correcting 26-20 victory over the Buccaneers, Ezekiel Elliott did something most of us have gotten very accustomed to: he scored a touchdown.  Fortunately for us, there was an oversized Salvation Army kettle behind the endzone in AT&T Stadium and Elliott decided to celebrate by jumping in, which is fitting considering there is no greater prize than receiving various crop-top and touchdown related blessings.

Of course Zeke was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct because the NFL is committed to sucking the fun out of everything.  I mean, at least when Larry Nance Jr dunked Brook Lopez out of existence and ran back laughing the laugh of a conqueror, the NBA was like "that is his legal right - he just dunked on Brook so hard that Robin Lopez started fading from existence."  In the NFL if anyone smiled at someone like Nance did there, they'd be sent to a secret room in the basement of the league offices for social reprogramming.  (Totally unrelated - is it obvious that I've watched that dunk 20 times a day for the past 4 days?)

There is some good that came out of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, though.  Elliott pledged to match any fine levied against him by the NFL with a charitable donation to the Salvation Army.  Also, Jerry Jones said some crazy old oil man thing about Zeke, which is a marked improvement over the many, many instances of him calling Dak Prescott "daddy."

 

That's it for this week.  Have a happy holiday season, everyone.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run