Thursday Night Football this week may only feature a few viable names, but every fantasy football decision matters in a big way this time of year!
The Cleveland Browns‘ fantasy outlook revolves around Amari Cooper after his historic performance, while the New York Jets‘ fantasy preview dives into the value of Breece Hall and others.
TNF Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
- Spread: Browns -7.5
- Total: 35
- Jets implied points: 13.8
- Browns implied points: 21.3
Joe Flacco, QB, Cleveland Browns
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins is very much a part of the MVP discussion with two weeks to go in the regular season, and Joe Flacco has more top-10 fantasy finishes than him since late October.
That tidbit in the year 2023 would be amazing without any context, but how about the fact Flacco didn’t make his debut this season until December?
This Browns offense has evolved into a top-five pass rate above-expectation unit under Mr. Elite. That level of volume — 42+ pass attempts in every game — puts fantasy success on the radar, even against one of the best defenses in the sport.
There are streaming options I prefer to Flacco (namely Derek Carr), but once you get outside of the top eight at the position for me this week, we’re talking about a massive tier that could easily be justified plugging in this week. Flacco currently sits at QB17 for me this week.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
I’m not sure that multiple rushing scores on top of a 34.8% target share are what we thought was possible for Hall, but he certainly made the most of a perfect matchup against easily the worst-scoring defense in the league in the Washington Commanders.
Of course, this breakout came on the heels of an 18-yard dud against the Dolphins — such is life as a member of an offense with QB issues.
While the first game of Week 17 should be competitive like New York’s game last week was, the low projected total tells you everything you need to know about the expected flow of this game. In his last three games in which under 36 points have been scored, Hall has amassed just 180 total yards and hasn’t found the end zone.
I have Hall ranked as a strong RB2 this week, but that’s more a statement on the position than it is unfeathered confidence in New York’s lead back. The range of outcomes is wide, but Hall’s upside is high enough to gamble on in what I think will be a tight game throughout.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
He got into the end zone last week in Houston. That’s great, but nothing under the surface is trending in a positive direction for Jerome Ford, which is why he’s on the fringes of my Flex radar despite having a lead role.
In this “Wacco Flacco” system, the RB position isn’t worth a ton. In December, Ford is averaging 10.6 carries per game (23 carries for 45 yards over the past two weeks).
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And while we’ve seen flashes of usage in the passing game, the fact that Flacco may finish as fantasy’s QB1 and Ford has negative receiving yards is a problem.
I’d rather ride running backs like Zamir White and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (assuming they’re starters), who have bankable volume with my season on the line, than hope for Ford to be involved in the passing game.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns
I don’t care if it’s by design or a result of a nagging groin injury; Kareem Hunt simply isn’t involved enough to matter. He has totaled 66 yards over the past three weeks and has realistically relied on scoring all season long.
That’s not to say he hasn’t provided value at points this season (career-high eight rushing scores), but we’re in the business of projecting forward to Week 17 against an elite defense. The odds are not in your favor when it comes to Hunt’s role and matchup.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
For the eighth time this season, Garrett Wilson earned double-digit targets. In theory, that’s what we want, but this offense is just so prohibitive.
I think we can all agree that Wilson is a special talent. Players like him shouldn’t have just two games this season with a 35-yard catch and more fumbles lost (two) than touchdowns scored (one) since mid-September.
We aren’t in the business of ranking talent. We’re in the business of getting statistics — and Wilson is a tough sell.
The volume lands him inside my top 30 and, thus, in the Flex conversation for most managers. But the empty-calorie nature of Wilson’s opportunities keeps him out of my WR2 tier and is rounded out by young receivers like Jayden Reed and Zay Flowers, who have access to more valuable targets, even on fewer opportunities.
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Editor’s note: Cooper is INACTIVE for Week 17.
Nothing to see here, just a franchise record 265 yards (11 catches, two touchdowns) in a game film that should be sent to Canton. OK, maybe that’s a bit strong, but it seemed like every Cooper catch had something special to it: ball placement, field awareness, athleticism, concentration, etc.
The tape was as impressive as the production and maybe more so. What does it all mean? It means that you have an important matchup this week and that you’re going to feel obligated to start the star receiver with confidence.
Cooper’s fantasy ranking has increased every week since Flacco took over: WR48, WR31, WR13, WR1. Plus, the 37 targets he has earned over the past three weeks are encouraging when projecting forward.
No, I don’t think the franchise record for receiving yards is in danger of being broken in consecutive weeks. Still, an average of the two weeks prior (15.1 half-PPR points) is certainly in play despite the tough matchup.
Over the past two weeks, the opposing WR1 vs. the Jets (Terry McLaurin and Jaylen Waddle sans Tyreek Hill) has averaged 13.7 yards per target. By no means am I calling this a strong matchup, but it’s not prohibitive enough for me to drop Cooper outside of my top 20.
Tyler Conklin, TE, New York Jets
I’m sorry. I have to have a sizable lead on the rest of the internet when it comes to positive words written about Tyler Conklin.
To me, he’s what a TE streamer should be. Conklin has caught at least four passes in nine games this season, offering the type of full-PPR floor that isn’t easy to find at this position.
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Without a touchdown on his résumé this season, the limitations of a ceiling are obvious. But if the goal of your mission is to not lose your position because of a goose egg at the TE position, Conklin checks that box.
You’re not adding him to win you your week as an underdog. You’re adding him to not lose your week as a favorite — a niche role that might not apply to most but certainly has an appeal to some.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
In Cleveland these days, we have a high-volume, highly concentrated passing game. That’s cat-nip to fantasy managers.
Cooper has been the driving force behind Flacco’s success through the air, but with 31 targets and four touchdowns over the past three weeks, David Njoku’s impact on fantasy matchups has been equally impressive when adjusted for the position he plays.
The Jets own the third-lowest opponent aDOT this season, so I’m very much willing to bet on Njoku’s involvement lasting another week and propelling his fantasy managers to a good spot in their Super Bowl!
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