“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”- Plato

1) Since Week 10, Tyler Shough is averaging more fantasy points than Jalen Hurts.

True. In fact, over that span his 20.7 FPts/G is better than Hurts, Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Bo Nix, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Cam Ward. He's been top-12 in three of the last four games. They are 2-2 in their last four contests. Has New Orleans found a quarterback?

2) Jonathan Taylor has fallen on hard times and has cracked 16 points just once in his last five games.

Fact. His season-long average hasn't suffered because that one game was a stunning 49.6 points effort (32-244-3), but his other four games combined for 72-262-1 and 44.8 fantasy points. In head-to-head leagues he could have cost you up to four wins. As we enter the first round of the playoffs, and a date with the tough Seahawks defense in Seattle (eighth against opposing RBs), it is a bad time to be at your season's worst.

3) Harold Fannin Jr. has averaged 15.7 FPts/G when Shedeur Sanders has started at quarterback.

That's higher than Brock Bowers is averaging for the season (15.1 FPts/G). Fannin averaged 9.9 for the first 10 games of the season. The rookie from Bowling Green saw 6.3 targets before Sanders and 7.3 with his fellow rookie from Colorado. The best news is he's still available to be claimed in 60% of all fantasy leagues. He has favorable matchups in two of the three playoff rounds (Chicago, Buffalo and Pittsburgh).

4) Baker Mayfield's 2024 season appears to have been a "career-year," and not a step up in class.

Mayfield was top 3 among fantasy quarterbacks but is averaging 19.3 FPts/G, down 26.3-percent from a year ago, when he posted a 26.2 FPts/G average. His season looks eerily similar to his five seasons from 2019-2023 when he averaged 18.1 FPts/G for Cleveland, Carolina, Los Angeles Rams and his first season in Tampa Bay. I can't blame wideout injuries because he did it last season with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin injured. Even with the addition of talented Ohio State rookie Emeka Egbuka and the return of Godwin, he's failed fantasy owners and the last three games have been his worst stretch of the season (12.9 FPts/G).

5) If CeeDee Lamb (concussion) doesn't return for Week 15, Jake Ferguson becomes a "must start" tight end.

In the four games Lamb missed from Week 3-6, Ferguson averaged 18.6 FPts/G on 8.3 targets. In the nine games he shared the field with Lamb, he's averaging 10.7 FPts/G on 6.3 targets per game. With Lamb he ranks 13th among tight ends, without Lamb he ranks No.1. A similar situation occurs in Atlanta where Kyle Pitts has become viable with Drake London (PCL) sidelined. In four games without London, Pitts is averaging 12.4 FPts/G and with him, 9.1 FPts/G.

Lies

“The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves,” - Bessel A. van der Kolk

1) I told myself Justin Jefferson will turn it around, so I traded for him at the deadline.

Oops. I thought that the return of J.J. McCarthy would be huge and he would make a concerted effort to get my new wideout the ball and Jefferson's elite talent would reward me. Three touchdown passes later, all to tight ends, I knew I was in trouble. Four targets, two receptions and 11 yards. It's sad I ache for the days of Carson Wentz at quarterback. Jefferson has produced less than 10 points in four of the last five games. The Vikings and Jefferson play two of the worst pass defenses the next two weeks (Dallas 40.3 FPts/G to opposing WRs and the New York Giants at 36.4), so I am still likely starting him.

2) Playing just-signed 17-year retired veteran Philip Rivers as a replacement for your injured QB is a good idea.

Sorry, no. All of a sudden people think because Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have managed to play through their 40s that anyone can. That's probably not the case for Rivers, who last played in 2020. With one week of practice (yes I know he's familiar with the offense), he'll face a top-10 defense. The Seahawks are second in interceptions (15) and fourth in sacks (41). Rivers was barely viable before his "first" retirement throwing for 4,169 yards (10th) and 24 touchdowns (17th) against 11 interceptions for the Colts and ranked 28th among quarterbacks that season at 19.0 FPts/G.

3) The Eagles' DeVonta Smith is still playable.

False. Since the Week 10 game when teammate A.J. Brown (a.k.a. the squeaky wheel) complained about his usage, Smith's numbers have fallen dramatically. Smith is averaging 8.6 fantasy points. He averaged 14.6 FPts/G before the verbal outburst. Incidentally, the Eagles are 1-3 since Brown spoke out after starting the season 7-2. Coincidence? I think not.

4) Chase Brown has been a disappointment in 2025.

False. He started the season slowly, hurt by the lack of solid play at the quarterback position, but since Week 7 has been a consistent contributor. In Week 6 veteran Joe Flacco replaced struggling Jake Browning and started until Joe Burrow returned in Week 13. Brown has averaged 18.2 FPts/G once the Bengals solved their quarterback problem. If he continues at this pace, he'll almost equal last season's average production (15.9 FPts/G). Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase aren't the only players ecstatic with Burrow under center.

5) Bo Nix is the same quarterback he was last season.

The numbers would say its close (21.9 FPts/G in 2024 vs. 20.9 FPts/G in 2025), but it's been a tale of two seasons just in 2025. His first eight games saw Nix produce at a 22.4 points-per-game clip, and the last five games at a 19.2 FPts/G rate. One noticeable trait which is hurting his fantasy value in the second half of the season is a lack of running. He's rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown in the last five games (2.6 fantasy points-per-game via the run) versus 171 yards and three scores in the first eight games (4.4 FPts/G via the run). Over his 17 games last season he averaged 3.9 FPts/G on the ground. Run Bo run.