Fantasy Football 2017: Packers Predictions, Likes/Dislikes, and Week 15 Rankings

Packers Predictions

  • Aaron Rodgers returns in style – He’s back! Rodgers threw for 300+ yards or at least three touchdowns in each of his five healthy games this season, and I expect him to do both this week. The Panthers have allowed an average of 276.4 passing yards over their last five games as well as multiple touchdown passes in eight of their last eleven.
  • Jordy Nelson is a WR1 in fantasy – Jordy has scored at least once in 16 of his last 20 games with Rodgers at quarterback. Carolina has surrendered nearly 2,000 yards and 13 scores to receivers in 2017. All signs point to a big game from Jordy.
  • Davante Adams reaches double-digit touchdown receptions for the second consecutive season – Adams has scored at least once (8 total) in each of Green Bay’s six road games this season. This isn’t a particularly intimidating secondary, so he should be able to reach the end zone once again.

Likes/Dislikes

Week 14 Recap

Hits – likes: Jameis Winston (QB12), Melvin Gordon (RB14/18), Giovani Bernard (RB19/14), Frank Gore (RB15/19), Marshawn Lynch (RB20/22), Kenyan Drake (RB11/RB8), Davante Adams (WR2), Josh Gordon (WR18/WR24), Marquise Goodwin (WR25/19), Jason Witten (TE10/16).

Hits – dislikes: Kirk Cousins (QB25), Matt Ryan (QB26), Andy Dalton (QB27), Broncos RBs (RB33), Tyreek Hill (WR35/WR38), Josh Doctson (WR56), Rishard Matthews (WR83/71), DeVante Parker (WR51/52), Jermaine Kearse (WR104), Greg Olsen (0 rec), Dwayne Allen (TE39/31).

Misses – likes: Alex Smith (QB22), Blaine Gabbert (QB28), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB18), Matthew Stafford (QB16), Josh McCown (injured), Marvin Jones (WR40/45), Michael Crabtree (WR33/25), Sterling Shepard (WR99/93), Stephen Anderson (TE27/23), Cameron Brate (TE36/43), ASJ (TE52), RSJ (TE25/31).

Misses – dislikes: Russell Wilson (QB5), Kareem Hunt (RB10/9), Jonathan Stewart (RB2/6), Devin Funchess (WR20/26), Doug Baldwin (WR15/18).

DNP: Adrian Peterson

  • Week 14 score: 21/38 (55%). Season hit rate: 222/387 (57%).

Likes

Blake Bortles – The Texans have allowed five of the last seven quarterbacks they have faced to score more than 18 points. Bortles has had three consecutive top-12 finishes.

Nick Foles – Foles is no Wentz, but he has shown the ability to put up big numbers in the past. He’ll be leading a high-powered offense against a Giants defense that has given up more than 20 points to quarterbacks in six of their last ten contests.

Devonta Freeman – Freeman has looked very effective since returning from a concussion two weeks ago. He has a great chance at finding the end zone against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed six rushing touchdowns to the position over the last three weeks.

Kenyan Drake – In the two games since Damien Williams went down with a shoulder injury, Drake has exploded for 334 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He’s a top-8 option this week against a Buffalo squad that has surrendered the most points to running backs in 2017.

Julio Jones – Julio has averaged nearly 125 yards and a touchdown in his 11 career games against Tampa Bay. Though he has only been a top-15 receiver twice this year, I expect him to post his second top-3 finish of the year on MNF.

Jordy Nelson – The Rodgers-to-Jordy connection is one of the best connections in NFL history. I fully expect Nelson to return to low-end WR1 status with Rodgers at the helm.

Jack Doyle – Denver’s biggest weakness on defense is matching up with tight ends. I fully expect Indianapolis to exploit that weakness with Doyle.

Ricky Seals-Jones – RSJ is a high-ceiling, low-floor option against a Redskins team that is behind only the Giants in points allowed to the tight end position.

  • Other likes: Dak Prescott @ OAK, Drew Brees vs. NYJ, Jay Ajayi @ NYG, Mike Davis vs. LAR, Chris Hogan @ PIT, Robby Anderson @ NO.

Dislikes

Alex Smith – Smith has now scored less than 14 points in four of his last six games, thus making him a boom-or-bust option on a weekly basis. Chances are that he’ll bust this week against a Chargers defense that hasn’t allowed more than 17.5 to any quarterback since week 1.

Andy Dalton – Dalton has had five top-14 finishes over his last seven games, though he’ll be hard-pressed to achieve that this week against a Minnesota defense that has allowed more than 16 points to the position just twice all year.

Lamar Miller – The Jaguars have surrendered just one rushing touchdown to the running back position since week 4. Miller is merely a flex play this week.

DeMarco Murray – Tennessee’s offense is a mess right now and the 49ers have been effective against the run as of late; allowing just 57 rushing yards and no touchdowns to the position since week 10.

T.Y. Hilton – Hilton is one of 2017’s riskiest fantasy plays, as he has totaled 30 yards or less in seven games this year. I expect another dud from him against a still-respectable Denver secondary.

Jermaine Kearse – No one will feel the drop-off from McCown to Petty more than Kearse. Robby Anderson is the only Jet worth starting at this point.

Greg Olsen – Olsen has caught just one pass since returning from IR, and things won’t get easier for him going up against a Packers defense that has surrendered the second fewest points to the position.

Julius Thomas – Thomas is a touchdown-dependent fantasy option and the Bills have only allowed a tight end to score in two games this season.

  • Other dislikes: Marcus Mariota @ SF, Jimmy Garoppolo vs TEN, Frank Gore vs. DEN, Isaiah Crowell vs. BAL, Josh Doctson vs. ARI, Corey Coleman vs. BAL.

Week 15 Rankings

Please note: The rankings will be updated at 730pm (ET) on Thursday, and 12pm (ET) on Sunday

 

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