Pigskin Papers Postscript - Week 14
The Unstoppable Cooper Kupp
(Posted December 14, 2021)
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Another week, another batch of crazy finishes in the NFL. Several games that looked like they were on the verge of being put away (BUF-TB, MIN-PIT, BAL-CLE, SF-CIN) turned into nail biters, with 2 of them eventually being decided on overtime TDs. On the flip side, 6 games in particular had little drama, and ultimately played out just as you’d expect. The 6 worst teams in the NFL - Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston, the NYJ, Chicago, and the NYG - lost by a combined 120 points, with each of them getting thumped by at least 15. Maybe the NFL is finally making some sense.
Waiver Wire, Week 15: Here’s the link to our Week 15 Waiver Wire column, which posted after the game last night: https://www.thepigskinpapers.com/posts-1/pigskin-papers-waiver-wire-week-15
What We Learned - Week 14
Kittle: Playing Like a Man Possessed
Here are my key week 14 fantasy takeaways (and some NFL takeaways), in no particular order:
George Kittle is a beast. His last 2 games: 27 targets, 22 catches, 332 yards and 3 TDs. Really. He was unstoppable on Sunday, and especially on the game winning drive in OT. He’s had issues staying healthy, and for whatever reason he isn’t always as heavily used in the passing game, but he’s on some kind of run, and could be a big factor in the fantasy playoffs. The 49ers are looking frisky right now and have the inside track on one of the last 2 NFC wild cards.
Justin Jefferson and Deontae Johnson are both really good WRs, which has been on display the last couple of weeks. Look for JJ to be one of the first 5 WRs off the board in fantasy drafts next year, and Johnson one of the first 10 (assuming the Steelers have a competent QB).
Joe Burrow is a gamer. So is Josh Allen. Both took a beating on Sunday, and while both ultimately fell short in their comeback bids, they each led multiple second half scoring drives to get their teams into OT.
Dak is struggling right now, and Zeke is clearly not 100%. But thanks to a defense loaded with playmakers who keep coming up with sacks, picks, and fumbles, they didn’t need to be at their best for the Cowboys to dispatch the WFT. But Dak is going to need to play better, and to get the ball to his playmakers, if Dallas is going to compete with the other top teams in the NFC.
Don’t look now but OBJ has a TD in 3 straight games, and he’s making big plays. He and Van Jefferson have emerged as excellent complements to Cooper Kupp, and the Rams have found answers for the loss of Robert Woods. As for Kupp, well, the wave just keeps rolling and nothing can slow it down.
The Bucs look like a team with a decent chance to repeat. And remember, AB should be back in 2 weeks. The Bucs have a favorable schedule down the stretch which is good for the fantasy playoffs and it also gives them an excellent shot at the 1 seed.
The Broncos’ 1-2 punch at RB continues to rumble - with Melvin Gordon back, the team went right back to a pretty even split, and both backs are viable RB2s most weeks.
They won’t play the Bears every week, but the Packers are spreading the wealth - Allen Lazard and A.J. Dillon can both be considered for your flex spot in deeper leagues.
And then there’s James Robinson. His last 2 games: 14 carries for 28 yards plus 1 catch for 11 yards. You’ve got to think long and hard about starting him in the fantasy playoffs, even against the Texans.
I know John Harbaugh is saying the plan is for Lamar to start this week vs. Packers, but he couldn’t put any weight on his leg on Sunday. A gimpy Lamar on a sprained ankle isn’t Lamar. If he does play, be careful starting him in round 1 of the fantasy playoffs.
James Connor is a VERY good route runner, and pass catcher. Oh, and he’s a very good runner too. He continues to be the single best value in fantasy this year.
COVID is wreaking havoc. There were 37positive tests around the league yesterday, the most since the pandemic began. It’s hard to have a backup plan for every player. Hopefully, the unavailability of players won’t be a big factor in deciding fantasy league titles.
Dalvin Cooks the Steelers
GOAT of the Week: Dalvin Cook. Cook sliced and diced the Steelers’ D for 200+ and 2 TDs. I’d hate to see what he could do with 2 good shoulders. Dalvin, have a cold one on us.
Goat of the week: Urban Meyer. And not for the first time this year. His off-field drama is hurting the team, and his team is a complete mess that rarely competes. Not sure how this will end, but Jacksonville can’t bring him back next season. The 2021 Toilet Bowl: Houston at Jacksonville, this coming Sunday. Mark your calendars and set your DVRs! Anyone who bets on this game has a gambling problem.
Wait, What??? Facts That Interest Me, and Maybe Only Me:
The GOAT - doing more GOAT things
Tom Brady moved past Drew Brees for the career completions record. The record now stands at 7,156 (and counting).
More Brady - with his 1 yard TD run, Brady tied Jerry Rice for most TDs scored (10) by a player after turning 40.
The Panthers have lost 11 straight games with Cam Newton as their starting QB.
The Vikings’ last 10 games have all been decided by 8 points or less.
The very first and very last plays from scrimmage on Monday night both went like this: Kyler Murray sacked by Aaron Donald.
The second quarter of the Sunday night game featured 5 TDs of 35+ yards - a first since the NFL began keeping complete records in 1925.
In their 2 games against each other this season, the Chiefs outscored the Raiders 89-23.
The Jaguars are on a 2-26 streak, dating back to week 2 of the 2020 season.
Davis Mills completed his first 14 passes on Sunday - the most consecutive completions to start a game by a rookie since at least 1991.
Josh Allen is the first player in the SB era to have all of his team’s rushing and passing attempts in the first half of a game.
Bears’ minority owner Aaron Rodgers is now 22-5 against the Bears for his career (including postseason) and is tied with Brett Favre for most QB wins all-time against the franchise.
A.J. Green became the 50th player all-time to go over 10,000 receiving yards.
Micah Parsons has a sack in 6 straight games, the second longest such streak ever by a rookie (Jevon Kearse, 8 straight, 1999). Parsons has 12 sacks on the season - the rookie record belongs to Kearse, at 14.5.
Bengals’ DE Trey Hendrickson has at least one sack in 9 straight games, tied for the 4th longest such streak in NFL history.
The first 2 picks in the 2021 draft, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, have combined to throw 15 TDs and 25 INTs.
Cooper Kupp has totaled 90+ receiving yards in 9 straight games. That ties Michael Irvin and his teammate OBJ for the longest such streak in the last 70 years.
Matt LaFleur has a 36-9 regular season record as an NFL Head Coach
Since the start of the 2016 season, the QB with the most TD passes off of play-action is…Kirk Cousins, with 61. The next highest total is 50.
Jakeem Grant’s 97 yard punt return TD was the longest in Bears’ franchise history. Gale Sayers and Devin Hester both played for the Bears.
Alvin Kamara moved past Roger Craig for the most receptions by a running back through the first 5 years of a career (he now has 362).
The only teams that have both scored and given up 300+ points this season are the Vikings, 49ers and Chargers.
In his first 234 games as Steelers’ Head Coach, Mike Tomlin’s team never allowed a running back to run for more than 100 yards in the first half. It’s happened twice in the last 3 games.
Davante Adams has scored at least 1 TD in his last 11 Sunday Night football games.
Matt Prater hit his 64th and 65th FGs from 50+ yards - extending his NFL record.
Rasul Douglas is the first Packer with a pick-6 in back to back games since Herb Adderly in 1965.
We’ve got another Scorigami! The 48-9 final in Raiders-Chiefs was an NFL first.
As I said, this stuff might interest only me.
Thanks for reading the Pigskin Papers. Coming Thursday - the Pigskin Papers Week 15 Fantasy Preview!
DH
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