Sports
Don’t be surprised if … Brock Purdy, Chase Brown are league winners down the stretch
Each week in the NFL is its own story — full of surprises, both positive and negative — and fantasy football managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe moving forward. Perhaps we can help. If any of these thoughts come true … don’t be surprised!
NOTE: All mention of fantasy points is for PPR formats, unless otherwise mentioned.
Don’t be surprised if … San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy is a top-10 fantasy QB this month
Matchups matter, and Purdy and his buddies play the Tennessee Titans this week, then the reeling Indianapolis Colts. That should be enough to persuade fantasy managers to slide Purdy into their lineups. The Titans are bad, and they have been lit up recently by Shedeur Sanders, Davis Mills and others. There’s more. The 49ers didn’t play in Week 14. While we/many mocked the NFL for having teams serve bye weeks in December, during our fantasy playoffs! (how dare they!), the aftermath of this is important. RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle rested. Of course, they are the lone 49ers typically in a fantasy lineup.
Purdy rested, too. He lacks the flashy statistics this season as he battled a sprained left shoulder and then a toe injury, missing more than half the games. Purdy threw three touchdown passes in Week 11 against Arizona, then threw three interceptions the following Monday night against the tougher-than-people-realize Carolina Panthers. He scored 17.12 points in Week 13 against a strong Cleveland Browns defense. Purdy averaged 17.8 points last season. He was fantasy’s No. 6 QB in 2023. We have seen and enjoyed his upside, and with this schedule, I say he rewards those who trust him. Play Purdy over Patrick Mahomes (vs. Chargers), Lamar Jackson (no, I don’t think he is fine), Dak Prescott and myriad others this week.
Other QB thoughts:
-
Sticking to the matchups theme, do not talk yourself out of relying on Philadelphia Eagles starter Jalen Hurts. C’mon, people. The Las Vegas Raiders are coming to Philly, and Hurts, fresh off a five-turnover nightmare Monday in Los Angeles, is not going to score only 0.4 more points than you and I again. The Raiders are awful. Calls for backup Tanner McKee are ridiculous. The Eagles have lost three in a row, but they should score at will against the Raiders, and then they get the indifferent Washington Commanders in Weeks 16 and 18. Hurts scored 30.86 fantasy points in Week 12. Nobody — Eagles or you — is benching him.
-
The situation with Hurts highlights that there is a big difference between evaluating quarterbacks for real-life and fantasy purposes. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell discussed the league’s top MVP candidates, with QBs Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford and Jordan Love leading the way. Fantasy managers should view Love quite differently. Although he could still finish among the top 10 QB scorers this season, he isn’t there yet, and last season he finished 17th. Give Love credit for strides in the turnover department, but he has scored single-digit fantasy points in three of the past six games, and I like his odds for another statistically disappointing effort in Denver on Sunday. Perhaps the Green Bay Packers keep winning, but one must separate fantasy and reality.
-
The Indianapolis Colts, having lost three games in a row and their starting QB Daniel Jones, hit the road Sunday to face the Seattle Seahawks. No, I don’t think they are winning that one, either. Choose your statistical evidence however you please, but the Seahawks and Broncos are right up there for toughest defense to do just about anything against. We would not have recommended a healthy Jones for this matchup, so don’t even ask about Riley Leonard (knee), Philip Rivers (grandpa), Anthony Richardson Sr. (knee), Peyton Manning (on my TV a lot more than the other fellows), Bert Jones (Google him) or whomever else the Colts could find for this one.
Don’t be surprised if … Cincinnati Bengals veteran Chase Brown finishes among the top 10 RB scorers
Brown has been on a fantasy tear the past two months, reaching 18 fantasy points in five of six games. Perhaps he was among the bigger disappointments for the first six weeks, but he has been among the top five RBs since then. Brown isn’t doing this solely with touchdowns, either, even though he scored a pair in Week 14. He produced 113 scrimmage yards against the team he faces this week, the Baltimore Ravens, in Week 13, and he is fifth at his position in receptions. Yeah, Samaje Perine took some touches away last week, but that might not matter much. Brown still enjoyed 15 touches. The Bengals are the easiest team for RBs to accrue fantasy points against, but the Ravens are fourth.
McCaffrey should finish as the top running back fantasy scorer this season, with Jahmyr Gibbs finishing second. Gibbs should pass Jonathan Taylor, whom I wouldn’t sit in a fantasy playoff game, but hey, because of the QB situation he may find things more challenging than normal this and every Sunday. Because of his rough start to the season, Brown may not match his 255 fantasy points (15.9 per game) from last season, but he has been above that range for the past six weeks, and he should be in all lineups.
1:11
Is Jaylen Wright worth adding in fantasy?
Eric Karabell explains why fantasy managers should consider adding Jaylen Wright afer his nice game vs. the Jets.
Other RB thoughts:
-
I think Miami Dolphins star De’Von Achane (ribs) plays in Pittsburgh on Monday night, but alas, we may not have a finite answer by Sunday morning. So I am a bit surprised Jaylen Wright wasn’t added in more leagues, especially by Achane investors. As of Thursday afternoon, Wright’s roster figure is up only 3.7% from last week to 14.6%, before he ripped the admittedly embarrassing New York Jets for 107 rushing yards and a score in a relief role. These are our playoffs. Have a plan. Really, the Dolphins should throw all over the Pittsburgh Steelers, since they permit the most fantasy points to WRs and third most to TEs. Make sure Jaylen Waddle is in lineups, and if you don’t have one of the top-tier tight ends, we are making the case for Darren Waller, too.
-
Next year will be the first big one for New England Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson. I may even rank him among the top 10 running backs, depending on what happens with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. This season, however, we should be wary of both, because they cancel each other out when each is active. Stevenson, averaging 3.2 yards per rush, is not having a good season, but he continues to see relatively equal volume to Henderson, who averages 4.8 yards per tote. Fantasy managers may not like it, but Henderson is hardly guaranteed to shine this month, even against a Bills defense that struggles against the run. Henderson ran for 24 yards in the Week 6 game at Buffalo. Though Henderson has made strides in pass blocking, Stevenson is the proven veteran and the Patriots seem to trust him more in that capacity, still.
Don’t be surprised if … Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson remains a top-five option the rest of the season
The Cardinals face the mighty Houston Texans defense this week, so this prediction may seem odd, but give any receiver a million targets and good things tend to happen. First, I don’t think Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) is playing again this season. The 3-10 Cardinals have locked up last place in the NFC West, and Harrison playing can’t change anything. They struggle to run the football effectively, so journeyman QB Jacoby Brissett slings it 40-something times per game. No, seriously, he averages more than 300 passing yards per game this season. Nobody else is.
Wilson is fantasy’s top WR over the past four weeks, averaging 24.7 fantasy points on 14 targets per game, and there’s little reason to expect things to alter — assuming Harrison sits — even against the top defense. This should be like the Rams game last week, with the Cardinals getting blown out and the winning team caring little about Wilson piling on numbers. Old-timers may recall Billy Volek and Drew Bennett going gangbusters for about a month later in the 2004 season for the Tennessee Titans. This Cardinals deal feels similar.
0:44
Should you start Michael Wilson in Week 15?
Liz Loza discusses why fantasy managers should look forward to starting Michael Wilson in Week 15 if Marvin Harrison Jr. is still sidelined.
Other WR thoughts:
-
I find myself discussing this each week, but I view Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers as a WR2 these days. Do you really want to judge him on his numbers with the Raiders? Meyers is thriving with Trevor Lawrence, and this week, the Jaguars get to feast on the lowly Jets. Predicting touchdowns for wide receivers is dangerous, but Meyers certainly has quite the opportunity to make it four games in a row Sunday.
-
Ravens WR Zay Flowers looked better against a bad Steelers pass defense in Week 14, catching eight of 11 targets for 124 yards, but he still hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. I don’t really trust him against the Bengals and likely shadow DJ Turner II, since these fellows matched up two weeks ago and Flowers caught two passes for six yards. Also, Lamar Jackson still isn’t right. I like TEs Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to have big games against the Bengals, but not the Baltimore WRs.
Pakistan Shaheens have announced their squad for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against England Lions to be played in the United Arab Emirates, with Shamil Hussain named captain for both formats.
All matches of the series will be held at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The three-match T20 series will begin on February 20, followed by a five-match ODI series from February 27 to March 9.
Abdul Samad, Hassan Nawaz, Moaz Sadaqat and Saad Khan have been included in the squad, along with Sameer Minhas and Arafat Minhas.
Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will share wicketkeeping duties.
Spin bowlers Saad Masood and Sufyan Muqim are also part of the team, while the fast bowling unit includes Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Muhammad Salman and Shahid Aziz.
Pakistan Shaheens will hold a seven-day training camp in Karachi from February 11 to February 17.
Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed mentor and manager of the Shaheens.
Ijaz Ahmed will serve as head coach, with Mansoor Amjad named fielding coach and Aizaz Cheema as bowling coach.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning credited the first goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game for helping to spark their historic Stadium Series comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
With 8:59 left in the second period and the Bruins leading 5-2, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel tried to poke the puck from under Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after a save. Swayman then jumped on top of Hagel next to his crease, leading to a melee between the teams while the Lightning were on a power play. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy skated from his crease to the opposite blue line during the chaos.
“I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,” Vasilevskiy said.
Swayman spotted the Tampa Bay goalie, dropped his stick and skated out to meet Vasilevskiy as the two engaged near center ice. Swayman took off his gloves and mask and signaled to Vasilevskiy to remember to remove his mask before the fists flew.
“I don’t want to hit his helmet, so I’m glad we didn’t do that,” Swayman said.
The Lightning goalie nicknamed “The Big Cat” grabbed Swayman’s collar and started throwing left hands. The Boston goalie wasn’t able to get much offense in before Vasilevskiy wrestled him to the ice.
Did Swayman know that Vasilevskiy was a lefty before their fight?
“No,” the Bruins goalie said curtly, with a laugh. “Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.”
Vasilevskiy gave him a tap on the back and then tapped the back of Swayman’s head in appreciation of the moment, grinning widely as the fans roared inside Raymond James Stadium.
“When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words. It was super nice. It’s one of the biggest moments for me, because I never fought in the NHL,” Vasilevskiy said. “Big thanks to him. He was great in the net all game and great in the fight as well.”
Swayman was also appreciative.
“He wanted to win, which is good. So did I. So that’s game respecting game,” he said. “I’m fighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but glad we got the first one out of the way. Probably retire after that.”
The crowd of nearly 65,000 fans stood and cheered during the confrontation, and then again when the referee announced the goalies had both received five-minute majors for fighting. Players on both benches were on their feet, too, slapping their sticks against the boards in appreciation and respect for their netminders.
“He was throwing lefts. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t want to be the other guy,” Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov said. “I was so happy. I was so fired up. I think the bench felt it. Everyone in the building felt it. Ever since that fight, the game was turned. Vasy had to do it, I guess. He had to wake us up.”
The Lightning would score twice on 5-on-3 power plays over the next 5:12, cutting the Bruins’ lead to 5-4 heading into the third period. Kucherov tied the score in the third period, and the Lightning eventually won 6-5 in a shootout.
Tampa Bay’s rally from a four-goal deficit to win marked the largest comeback victory in franchise history and the largest in an NHL outdoor game.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he could feel the momentum starting to swing before the fight, but the goalie throwdown was an emotional high the Lightning needed at that moment.
“I was like, ‘Thank goodness something positive was going to happen to our game,'” he said. “I give Boston a lot of credit. They took it to us and we weren’t prepared for it. Vasy was pissed.”
Hagel said he felt the fight was “a big turning point in the game.”
So did Kucherov, who was also convinced that his goalie would win the fight.
“I knew he was going to beat the wheels off of Swayman right away,” Kucherov said. “We call him ‘White Tyson’ now.”
MILAN:
Inter Milan moved eight points clear at the top of Serie A after a comfortable 2-0 victory over hosts Cremonese on Sunday, but the victory was marred by a flare thrown on to the pitch from the away end that narrowly missed home goalkeeper Emil Audero.
The win takes Inter to 55 points from 23 games, eight ahead of city rivals AC Milan, who have a game in hand. Cremonese lie in 16th with 23 points from the same number of games.
Lautaro Martinez and Piotr Zielinski scored first-half goals as the visitors took control of the contest and despite not finding the back of the net again, they never looked unduly troubled by their hosts.
“There’s a long way to go,” Martinez told DAZN. “We made mistakes, especially in the first half, but there’s also a lot to enjoy because the championship is very balanced.”
Early in the second half a flare was thrown from the stands and landed near Audero, who dropped to the floor but did not appear to be injured. The match continued following a short delay.
“These things must not happen, there’s a risk to a person,” Martinez said. “We’re putting on a show that can be seen all over the world. I apologise to Audero and all the Cremonese fans.”
Inter have won 10 of their last 11 Serie A games since losing to AC Milan in November, their only blemish in that run a 2-2 home draw with Napoli.
By contrast, Cremonese are winless in eight, with five defeats in that sequence, which leaves them six points above the relegation zone.
The visitors might have won by a greater margin given their dominance of possession and chances, but did more than enough to secure another three points.
Inter hit the front on 16 minutes thanks to a header from Martinez, who steered Federico Dimarco’s corner into the net. It was just reward for a bright start.
Cremonese had an excellent chance to equalise when Jamie Vardy was sent through on goal. However, a heavy touch allowed Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to get to the ball ahead of him.
The ball swerved past Audero, who will feel he should have made the save, but the power and the movement through the air left him floundering.
Free baby bundles sent to newborn parents but some miss out
US inks reciprocal trade agreement with Guatemala
Iran president orders talks with US as Trump hopeful of deal
-
Sports6 days agoPSL 11: Local players’ category renewals unveiled ahead of auction
-
Entertainment6 days agoClaire Danes reveals how she reacted to pregnancy at 44
-
Tech1 week agoICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations
-
Business6 days agoBanking services disrupted as bank employees go on nationwide strike demanding five-day work week
-
Fashion1 week agoSpain’s apparel imports up 7.10% in Jan-Oct as sourcing realigns
-
Sports6 days agoCollege football’s top 100 games of the 2025 season
-
Politics1 week agoFresh protests after man shot dead in Minneapolis operation
-
Politics6 days agoTrump vows to ‘de-escalate’ after Minneapolis shootings