Week 17 of the NFL season featured big plays from Cincinnati rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase and more trips to the end zone by New England running back Damien Harris.
How should fantasy football managers react? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their takes.
Ja'Marr Chase comes through with game for the ages
What a game by the rookie, as Chase scored a best-from-the-1-p.m.-ET-games (and almost certainly week-leading) 55.6 PPR fantasy points, which by the way is the best single-game total by any player in the 2021 season to date. In fact, it's a near-record-setting performance by the rookie -- the third-largest total by a first-year player since at least 1950, trailing only Jerry Butler's record 60.7 PPR fantasy points in Week 4 of 1979 and Gale Sayers' 58.2 points in Week 13 of 1965. It's also the seventh-best score by any wide receiver since the merger. With it, Chase now has 300.0 PPR fantasy points for the season, which is the second-most by any rookie wide receiver in history and only 4.7 fewer than the current record holder, Randy Moss (304.7 in 1998). Chase came through at the ideal time for his fantasy managers, and this game will surely restore interest in him heading into 2022. He's a dynamic talent, a clear WR1 for next season, and he could pace the position in points in the best-case scenario, considering how great his chemistry with Joe Burrow is. -- Cockcroft
Chase played at a different level today. And, really, he took over the game. We can look at his explosive-play juice after the catch. Or the ability to consistently win one-on-ones outside of the numbers. Locate the ball and finish. Ridiculous body control there. Remember, we are talking about a rookie who plays with a physical element at the position, too. I'm with you on Chase heading into 2022. Lock him in as a WR1. He's simply that good when paired with Burrow in Cincy. -- Bowen
Joe Burrow stays hot
The Burrow-Chase connection was at peak form on Sunday, as Burrow scored 34.84 fantasy points in Week 17, the second consecutive week he has totaled at least that many. He threw for at least 400 yards and four touchdowns in each, becoming only the fifth quarterback since at least 1950 to do that, along with Dan Marino (Weeks 14-15 of 1984), Billy Volek (Weeks 14-15 of 2004), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Weeks 1-2 of 2018) and Jameis Winston (Weeks 14-15 of 2019). Burrow is throwing with a great amount of confidence, which bodes extremely well for his prospects of a QB1 season in 2022. -- Cockcroft
The processing ability, the movement skills and the ability to throw with location. I see Burrow as a high-level player in this league. And, with those young offensive talents in Cincy, Burrow should be considered a midtier QB1 when we put together our 2022 rankings. -- Bowen
Damien Harris makes red zone carries count
He has certainly come through in a big way for his fantasy managers these past two weeks, rewarding those who started him in 35.5% of ESPN leagues in Week 17 with 17.7 PPR fantasy points, all scored before the Patriots pulled him from the game after they took a 38-point lead in the third quarter. Harris received three more carries in goal-to-go situations, giving him 22 for the season (on 191 total rushing attempts), and converted two for scores to make him 9-for-22 converting touchdowns on those plays, with 14 total rushing scores. He has benefited from Bill Belichick's revamped offense, but has also elevated himself into a bona fide starter and, more importantly for our purposes, goal-line back. Expect more of the same in Week 18, and he should have a good chance at a borderline top-20 positional ranking heading into 2022, too. -- Cockcroft
Cooper Kupp closes in on Jerry Rice
Kupp's 21.5 PPR fantasy points probably didn't single-handedly win his managers their matchups, but it was another good score accomplished despite the struggles of his quarterback, and it moved his season total to 412.9. That's the second-most by any wide receiver in history, behind only Jerry Rice's 414.0 of 1995, which was accomplished in 16 team games, as Kupp's has been. It was also Kupp's 13th game with 20-plus points this season, the most by any wide receiver in a single year all-time. -- Cockcroft
Quick hitters
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams: I was all-in on Stafford this week as a top-five play at the position. Really liked the matchup there versus a pressure-heavy Baltimore defense that is pretty thin in the secondary right now. And Stafford did throw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in this one, including a second half where he went 14-of-14 passing. But the turnovers? Yeah. Not good. Stafford tossed two interceptions on Sunday (with one being returned for a pick-six). And he also gave the ball back on a fumble, finishing with 14.26 fantasy points. Now, I can point to multiple reasons why Stafford upgrades the Rams pass game when we look at scheme, plus his traits as a thrower. However, during the fantasy playoffs, Stafford turned the ball over a total of six times in his last two games. Just brutal. -- Bowen
Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The 22nd-most started wide receiver in ESPN leagues in Week 17, active in 53.4%, Brown made headlines instead for removing his shirt and abruptly exiting the field during the third quarter, his day -- and ultimately his Buccaneers career, per coach Bruce Arians during the postgame news conference -- done with 5.6 PPR fantasy points on five targets in what was an absolutely outstanding matchup on paper for him and his team's passing game. His modest score left many of his fantasy teams in a big hole in a critical week. -- Cockcroft
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks: He's no PPR-league specialist, but Penny has been outstanding for his fantasy managers in these critical late-season weeks. He ran for 100-plus yards and at least one score for the third time in his past four games, scoring a career-high 32.5 PPR fantasy points in the process (padded by a mere 3.5 on receptions). During that four-week span, he has amassed a best-among-running backs 85.2 points, coinciding with the Seahawks' offensive rebirth. Penny will be a strong RB2 for the regular-season finale, though the opposing Arizona Cardinals will bring their A game with a division title on the line. -- Cockcroft
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions: The rookie wide receiver should be in the mix for the MVP of the fantasy playoffs, right? After scoring 23.5 PPR points or more in his last two games, St. Brown checked in with 35.4 PPR points on Sunday versus Seattle. He posted two touchdowns in this game (one receiving, one rushing), and also added a two-point conversion. A key late-season pickup for fantasy managers, St. Brown caught at least eight passes a game in the last five weeks. Pretty impressive here. -- Bowen
DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks: Metcalf dropped a season-high 30.9 PPR points on the Lions' defense after failing to post over 13 PPR points in his last seven games. What changed here? Look at the red zone throws from Russell Wilson. Metcalf caught six passes in this one, with three red zone touchdown grabs. Take the matchups in scoring position. With a Week 18 game against the Cardinals defense, I'll have DK in the WR2 mix -- with more upside in non-PPR formats. -- Bowen
Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks: The 10th-most started quarterback of Week 17, Wilson enjoyed a rebound performance, scoring a season-best 27.84 fantasy points. The matchup certainly played into it, but this gave him a fifth game in his past six with multiple passing scores, which should provide more encouragement to his fantasy managers heading into a tougher Week 18 matchup against the Cardinals. -- Cockcroft
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots: Jones dropped 22.28 points on a subpar Jags defense in Week 17, the third-highest scoring output at the quarterback position during the early slate of Sunday games (behind Joe Burrow and Tom Brady). With three touchdown throws here, Jones posted his best fantasy numbers since back in Week 7 versus the Jets. An efficient thrower who can be viewed as a complimentary player in the Patriots' run-heavy offense, Jones will be in my QB2 ranks to start next season. -- Bowen
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans: A week after racking up 31.5 points on the 49ers defense, a zone-heavy unit that gave Brown free access off the ball, the Titans wide receiver caught just two passes for 41 yards in the Week 17 win over the Dolphins, finishing with 6.1 PPR points. Remember, the matchups matter in fantasy football, especially when looking at coverage trends of opposing defenses. And that blitz-heavy Miami defense, led by press-man corners, are going to challenge receivers. -- Bowen
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Lance had a late touchdown run erased by a holding penalty, but the rookie still produced 19.6 fantasy points in his second pro start. As expected, the QB run game was a part of Kyle Shanahan's game plan with Lance (eight carries, 31 yards rushing). Plus, we saw Shanahan scheme up Lance on both of his touchdown throws off play-action. Get the rookie to the edge there. With a Week 18 game against the Seattle defense, Lance is a smart play for 2QB leagues given Shanahan's ability to cater to the quarterback's dual-threat ability. -- Bowen
Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs: With 19 touches on Sunday, and two red zone touchdowns, Williams posted 25.7 PPR points in the Week 17 loss to the Bengals. The run game volume was there (14 carries), and we know that Williams can contribute on screens and unders in this Chiefs offense. If Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still down next week, Williams will again have RB2 value against the Broncos -- for managers who play in 18 week leagues. -- Bowen
Braxton Berrios, WR, New York Jets: Congratulations to those of you who made up the 2.3% of fantasy managers in ESPN leagues to start Berrios, whose 25.7 PPR points were second most at his position and fifth overall from the 1 p.m. ET games. He got the scoring going early with a 1-yard touchdown run, then added a 9-yard receiving score early in the second quarter, resulting in his career-best fantasy score. Berrios now has four straight games of double-digit fantasy points, and the Jets' creative usage of him keeps him in the WR4/flex mix if you're in a pinch. Granted, he has a tough-as-nails Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, but that usage does keep him in that rankings tier. -- Cockcroft