Lineup Prep: Super Bowl

Wed Feb 8 11:44am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Pacheco is playing at high level


It is hard to believe, but the last game of the season is this week. It has been a great season, so let’s hope it ends on a high note. The matchup certainly is a good one. I’m excited about the game and ready for the weekend of Super Bowl activities.

Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . . .

Is there a better day of the year than Super Bowl Sunday? I’m not so sure. The food. The friends. The football. What more could you ask for? I am firing up my smoker early Sunday morning like a kid on Christmas. I’ll be up early, getting ready for the big game. And you can’t forget about the commercials, which are always entertaining. This day has it all. Bring it on!

As for the game, this is a tough one to pick. I really think you can make a strong case for either team. For me, I am going to pick the Chiefs. I like the experience factor of being in the game before for the Chiefs. Plus, I think the Chiefs were tested more during the playoffs this year, which should help the Chiefs in this game. So I like Patrick Mahomes and company to come out on top Sunday. It will be a close game with the Chiefs pulling out a 31-28 victory.

I do think Tom Brady is done. I don’t think he comes back from this retirement announcement. It finally seems official. And he goes out as he best quarterback of all time. Love him or hate him, the guy had an amazing career. The numbers and Super Bowl wins don’t lie. There might not be another one like him ever. Thanks for the amazing ride Mr. Brady. 

It is interesting to see the news break that the Chargers are likely to release both Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett this offseason. Allen has been a mainstay in the Chargers passing game for several seasons, but has shown signs of decline in recent years and injuries are a concern. The Chargers will need to find a replacement, though. My guess is they do this through the draft, so keep an eye on that this offseason. Either way, there are going to be some new faces in Los Angeles to help the Chargers passing game. 

The Vikings made a strong hire to help revamp the defense, hiring Brian Flores to take over as defensive coordinator. He has a strong track record and plenty of success. This could help the Vikings take their team to a new level. The offense is already top notch. If the defense can get it going, watch out for the Vikings next year. This team could be really dangerous. 

The Lamar Jackson saga in Baltimore is going to be really interesting to watch. The early reports are the two sides could be 100 million dollars apart in contract talks. This is quite a difference. And it really seems like Jackson isn’t going to cave. I’m still not sure that Jackson ends up back in Baltimore despite the Ravens saying they aren't going to let him go. This is definitely a situation to watch. 

News and Notes: Receiver A.J. Green announced his retirement on Monday. Green had a great career, especially during his playing days with the Bengals. . . . .The Colts acquired the Bills' fifth-round pick to satisfy the conditional draft pick requirement in the Nyheim Hines trade from earlier this season.

HOT PLAYS

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has been very consistent down the stretch as the starter for the Chiefs. He has double-digit fantasy points five straight games and nine of 10 games. And it was really encouraging to see him get so much work in the passing game his last game, catching a season-high five passes for 59 yards. Pacheco could get a lot of work in the passing game once again this week with the Chiefs having injuries at receiver. Plus, he could do some damage on the ground against the Eagles. Philadelphia has allowed 115-plus rushing yards six of their last seven games. 

DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles. Smith has emerged as an elite fantasy receiver this year. He has been very good down the stretch. He was quiet his last game, but has at least 13 fantasy points seven of his last eight games. He has double-digit targets three of five games. Smith is getting his work and producing. Expect more of the same this week against a Chiefs secondary that can be leaky. The Chiefs have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to receivers during the regular season. 

COLD PLAYS 

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Goedert has been fine since returning from injury in Week 16, but not off the charts by any means. He has fewer than 50 yards three of four games. He also has fewer than double-digit fantasy points three of five games. Goedert is a little erratic right now and it could be more of the same this week against the Chiefs. Goedert is an iffy play in this matchup. 

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs. McKinnon had a great finish to his regular season, but done very little in the playoffs. He has fewer than four fantasy points each of his playoff games. He has 15 carries for just 26 yards and just two receptions. His lack of work in the passing game is the big concern. McKinnon is a hard player to trust for fantasy teams after his last two playoff games. 

SLEEPERS

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs. The Chiefs have all sorts of injuries at receiver, so Moore could play a bigger role in the Super Bowl. He had a season-high seven targets his last game, so the potential is certainly there for big things in this offense if he gets the looks. Moore could be a worth a look for fantasy teams in an expanded role. 

Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Eagles. Gainwell did not have double-digit carries the entire regular season, but has reached that mark in each of the Eagles playoff games. He has 26 carries his last two games, getting a lot more work in the Eagles offense. Gainwell has at least nine fantasy points his last two games. The Eagles obviously like the way he is playing, so don’t be surprised if he gets double-digit touches once again. And if he gets those touches, he can help fantasy teams. 

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Eagles/Chiefs.

Low Scoring Games: None.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Tom Brady Jun 4 12:40am ET
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Free-agent quarterback Tom Brady told Sports Illustrated that he won't un-retire. "I'm certain I'm not playing again, so I've tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that," said Brady. "I've already told people that lots of times." He later commented that being involved as an owner is a "dream come true." Many have speculated that the 45-year-old could be back under center in 2023-24 as a member of the Raiders, especially if he successfully purchases a piece of the franchise. Talk about Brady's potential comeback picked up more steam after it was reported Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) hadn't passed a physical. That said, it sounds like the multi-time Super Bowl winner is done playing, although most won't believe it until he isn't on the field this season.

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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, defensive tackle Ed Oliver agreed to a four-year, $68 million ($45 million guaranteed) extension with the Bills. The 2019 No. 9 overall pick totaled 151 tackles (96 solo), 14.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles in his first four seasons as a professional (62 games). He would have been playing on the fifth year of his rookie deal. However, Oliver will stay in Buffalo, where he's expected to remain a vital component of a potent Bills defense.

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Desmond Ridder Jun 3 12:13pm ET
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A.J. Brown Jun 3 12:13pm ET
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Joe Burrow Jun 3 12:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Bengals rookie receiver Andrei Iosivas is developing quickly thanks to Tee Higgins Dynasty Analysis: Iosivas has a pocked of support from the dynasty community though the 2023 sixth-round rookie from Princeton is clearly flying well below the radar. Unranked on DLF's receiver rankings and gracing only the very bottom (WR25) of our rookie rankings, Iosivas is destined to be available in all but the deepest of deep-roster formats. The Bengals are certain to have turnover at the receiver position due to contract needs for superstars Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, potentially leading to the loss of veteran receivers Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins beyond 2023. Higgins was an oft-mentioned trade candidate this offseason. Clearly a developmental prospect, Andrei Iosivas is a name to watch as the 2023 season plays out.

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Justin Fields Jun 3 11:50am ET
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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields topped NFL.com's Nick Shook's list of most explosive runners from last year. Only Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has been more explosive on the ground in the last three seasons. The Bears lacked weapons offensively in 2022 and struggled because of it on offense, but Fields kept them afloat most of the time with his legs. His ability to create positive gains with his legs has already put him in the QB1 conversation heading into his second full season as the team's starter. The 24-year-old led the league with 1,143 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground at his position on 160 attempts in 15 games. Fields also took 55 sacks and fumbled 16 times, though, so it wasn't all good. But if he can progress as a passer and decision-maker, Fields' fantasy ceiling is through the roof.

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Kenneth Walker III Jun 3 11:40am ET
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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III provided the team with a reliable, powerful option in the backfield in 2022 in his rookie season, and he finished third in NFL.com's Nick Shook's explosive score thanks to a big-play resume. He led all rushers in top speed reached with the ball in his hands at 22.09 mph, tied for third in gains of 10-plus yards over expected (15) and hit 20 mph on four carries on the year (tied for fourth). Walker averaged 4.6 yards per carry and topped 1,000 yards rushing while scoring nine rushing TDs in his first NFL season. The addition of rookie Zach Charbonnet to Seattle's backfield this year could take some work away from Walker, mainly in the passing game, but the 22-year-old should still be their lead back after his performance last year. Consider Walker a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in fantasy.

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Travis Etienne Jun 3 11:30am ET
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Jonathan Taylor Jun 3 11:20am ET
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Lamar Jackson Jun 3 11:20am ET
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Dalvin Cook Jun 3 11:10am ET
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Cooper Kupp Jun 2 11:50pm ET
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According to Rams head coach Sean McVay, the team will continue to be smart with wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle). "I think we'll just take that a day at a time," McVay said. "Whenever he does come back, we'll be smart with how we kind of onboard him and get him back up to speed." McVay's stance is certainly understandable, as Kupp has been a productive wideout for years. He finished last season with 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns in nine games before missing the remainder of the season because of a high-ankle sprain that required surgery. But assuming things turn out well, the 29-year-old should be one of the first receivers taken in fantasy drafts heading into Week 1.

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Arthur Smith Jun 2 11:30pm ET
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According to Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, tight end Kyle Pitts (knee) is expected to be ready for Week 1. However, Smith declined to provide further details. The 22-year-old began his career by catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. He also made the Pro Bowl. As a result, many had assumed Pitts would progress in 2022. Yet, he had only 28 receptions for 356 yards and two touchdowns before going down in Week 11 with a knee injury that resulted in surgery. That said, the 2021 first-round pick is an excellent bounce-back candidate, even more so if quarterback Desmond Ridder improves under center.

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Von Miller Jun 2 5:20pm ET
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Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (knee) feels that he'll be ready to play by the season opener. The veteran linebacker is recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered on Thanksgiving of last year. Despite the long road to recovery involving an ACL tear, Miller believes he'll be ready for the beginning of next season. Last season, Miller recorded 21 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, and eight sacks in 11 games during his first season in Buffalo. It'll obviously be a huge boost for the Bills defense if Miller is ready to go for Week 1 versus the New York Jets.

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Yannick Ngakoue Jun 2 5:10pm ET
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Breshad Perriman Jun 2 4:50pm ET
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