NFL coaches and players always talk about how the playoffs bring a whole new level of intensity. It’s true.
The same is true of fantasy football and its playoffs are now upon us. At this point, you have to go for broke. Sometimes, desperate measures are needed. That sums up what the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars are doing in reality.
The Jaguars have no margin for error for the playoffs. The Steelers don’t have much more room for error. But they’re going with rookie quarterbacks Devlin Hodges in Pittsburgh and Gardner Minshew in Jacksonville for the rest of the season.
Are they good enough to start in fantasy? I say yes.
Let me explain my reasoning a little deeper as Hodges and Minshew highlight Touchdown Wire’s weekly list of nine fantasy football sleepers.
9. Gardner Minshew, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars benched high-priced quarterback Nick Foles last week after falling behind, 25-0, last week. The turned back to the rookie Minshew, who went 4-4 as a starter when Foles was injured early in the season and he sparked the Jaguars to two quick scores. That led to the Jaguars announcing that Minshew will be the starter the rest of the season. Minshew has a favorable matchup against the struggling Los Angeles Chargers this week.
8. Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Keep an eye on Gerald Everett’s status with his knee injury. If he’s out, Higbee will be a good tight end to start against Seattle. The Rams love to throw to their tight ends. Higbee and Everett have combine for 100 targets this season.
7. Darwin Thompson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City’s backfield situation is very confusing right now. Damien Williams (ribs) and Darrel Williams (hamstring) are banged up and the Chiefs keep veteran LeSean McCoy on a tight pitch count. That opens the door for Thompson to get more than the 11 carries he got last week. Yeah, he faces a tough matchup against New England’s stout defense. But Kansas City’s offense still is going to move the ball and that means there will be an opportunity for Thompson to score some fantasy points.
6. Raheem Mostert, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Mostert had a monstrous game last week, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown in Week 13. He appears to have moved well ahead of Tevin Coleman in the pecking order. Mostert has a favorable matchup against a New Orleans defense that recently allowed Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey to gain over 130 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
5. James Washington, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington seems to have developed a good relationship with rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges. They’ve hooked up on a touchdown pass in each of the last two games. Both seem to improve each time out and they’ll be facing an Arizona defense that isn’t very good this week.
4. Peyton Barber, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronald Jones had moved ahead of Barber on the depth chart. But the Bucs turned back to Barber after Jones missed a blitz pickup in Week 13 and Barber responded with two touchdowns. Coach Bruce Arians was critical of Jones after the game. That means it’s likely Barber will get the bulk of the touches against Indianapolis.
3. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins
Gesicki’s role had been gradually increasing recently and he had a breakout game against the Eagles last week, catching five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He has been targeted at least six times in each of the last five games. Plus, he has a favorable matchup against the struggling New York Jets.
2. Zach Pascal, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Bay’s young secondary showed improvement against the Jaguars this week, but the Bucs still are playing mostly rookies and second-year players. Tampa’s pass defense is due for a letdown. With T.Y. Hilton dealing with a hamstring injury, the Colts are going to have to turn somewhere else for targets and Pascal is a likely candidate.
1. Devlin Hodges, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The rookie from Samford has won both his starts this season, including last week’s victory over Cleveland in which he threw for 212 yards and a touchdown. Hodges seems to have the “it factor’’ and has won the respect of his teammates. Plus, he’ll be facing a bad Arizona defense this week.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
