As December welcomes itself, it does so in winter fashion with a snowstorm throughout the northeast. This means the fall semester is coming to a close, and Fantasy Football playoffs are just weeks away. If you want to know what games will yield the highest fantasy performances or which ones should be the most enjoyable, check out this year’s final Fantasy Forecast.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills
For those who took part in the football festivities of Thanksgiving, you may have witnessed something you did not know was possible. No, not the existence of a turducken, but the dominance of the Bengals. While many credit
The Cincinnati defense stepped up last Thursday, forcing five turnovers and keeping running back Derrick Henry to only 60 rushing yards. Their performance compared to the rest of the season was night and day: they were quick and efficient rather than sluggish and chaotic. Regarding a playoff spot, the Bengals will need to win out while their division rivals pick up losses along the way. The chances of this are slim, but with Burrow off a “turf-toe” injury and their defense looking sharp, anything is possible.
The Bills, fresh off a 26-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, sit at four games above 500 and will need to win at least three more games to clinch a spot in the postseason. On paper, they should have no issues picking up wins in Weeks 16 and 18. To get the third, they will have to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England Patriots or the Bengals, none of which are guaranteed.
With Cincinnati trying to keep its season alive and quarterback Josh Allen looking to secure his seventh straight playoff appearance, the 1 p.m. matchup should be pure entertainment.
Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Texans are seeking their fifth straight win taking on the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. Quarterback C.J. Stroud returned to the field from a concussion last week in a stunning 20-16 win over a hardy Indianapolis Colts. If Houston can shock the league yet again, the Texans should have little issue locking in a playoff spot.
However, Patrick Mahomes is coming off an elite performance himself, as he threw for 261 yards with four touchdowns in the mix. Despite the 37 fantasy point display, the Chiefs still fell short to the Dallas Cowboys last week, 31-28. Kansas City’s playoff hopes are slipping away as its record sits at 6-6. The Chiefs will need a fruitful December to continue into January.
As Houston looks to continue their late season push into the playoffs, the Chiefs are trying to get one started. Kickoff between the two is slated for 8:20 p.m. on Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Chargers
It’s never a good sign when ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith says your team is “coming apart at the seams.” This dreadful sentiment is a reality for the Eagles, as their previous two performances have highlighted crucial flaws in their game. Their 21-point lead over Dallas in Week 12 was not enough to secure the win, as the Cowboys went on to score 24 unanswered points. The spiral continued into Black Friday, as the Eagles went on to hand the Chicago Bears their ninth win of the season in a 24-15 loss.
The reigning Super Bowl champions have looked slow on offense as star running back Saquon Barkley continues his late-season slump. The former Offensive Player of the Year has not rushed for more than 60 yards in the past two weeks and has recorded just four touchdowns for the season. If the Eagles want to succeed in the postseason, Barkley will have to step up, as the road matchup this week will be playoff-caliber.
The thing that every team wishes to avoid this late in the season just happened to the Chargers. Late in the first quarter of last Sunday’s 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a break in his non-throwing hand. The sixth-year veteran returned to the game nine plays later and threw two touchdowns while wearing a hard cast. Herbert will have to undergo a minor medical procedure, but the good news for L.A. is that Herbert plans on suiting up for the Eagles.
The Chargers have a difficult schedule ahead of them with one home game remaining after this week’s contest. A win in Week 14 will give them a surge of confidence they need to finish the season strong. The battle between the two 8-4 teams takes place this Monday at 8:15 p.m.
Wherever your fantasy team has taken you this season, finish strong and as always, best of luck, Huskies.