🏈 Champions are made on waivers

Good morning. There are so many quality deep dives, I recommend checking your waiver wire and dropping anyone you won’t start this week or next. What are you holding them for? (that sentence does not apply to keeper or dynasty)

Deep Dives: Championship Pickups

Three players available in almost every league worth picking up. The idea is you grab a player the week before everyone wants them. Last week, the perfect pickups were Nelson Agholor and Irv Smith Jr. - who we mentioned a week earlier.

This week, you’ll want to have the following players stashed for the championship game (ownership in brackets):

RB: Ito Smith (3.1%) - Watching Todd Gurley run gives me arthritis. He’s a shell of his former self and Ito Smith is the best RB on the team. The Falcons are well out of playoff contention, and any possible opening for Ito could produce league-winning results.

• Averaging 10 carries over the past three games, the Falcons realize their best back should get touches. Last game - Ito supplanted Todd Gurley for touches as the game went on… It’s only a matter of time.

RB/WR: Lynn Bowden Jr. (7.2%) - I’m shocked how quiet the Bowden hype train is. Serving as the slot receiver for the Dolphins this past week, Bowden Jr. was the top target and route runner for the team in Week 14.

• Catching seven of nine targets for 82 yards, Bowden showed instant chemistry with Tua. DeVante Parker (leg), Mike Gesicki (shoulder) and Jakeem Grant (leg) all left the game with injuries. Tua has to throw to someone.

WR: Tyrone Johnson (0.1%) - When Mike Williams went down last week, Johnson saw significant playing time while leading the Chargers WRs in receiving yards, catching six of seven passes thrown his way with a touchdown.

• Johnson graded well in limited action this season, and against a vulnerable Broncos defense championship week, Johnson could be an excellent league-winning pickup. This is all dependent on Mike Williams, but Johnson could be the replacement WR you need.

Call me the White House

Because I’ve got a Covid-19 report for you: NFL edition.

• Texans activated RB David Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Coach Romeo expects Johnson to return to the lineup, but he shouldn’t be in yours.

• Ravens placed WR Marquise Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Dez Bryant SZN.

• Bucs placed RB Ronald Jones on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A top-10 rushing leader in 2020, Jones will be out this week.

• Bucs placed K Ryan Succop on the reserve/COVID-19 list.  Who cares.

Throwback Thursday - Bush Comparisons

Remember Bush? Since women began shaving down under, you don’t hear about it much anymore. How about these Bushes?

Being a Bengals fan: The HYPE

After a horrific season, the Bengals have at least one over-achiever: Long Snapper Clark Harris. They produced a hype video calling him “Thanos.”

BONUS

• Corey Davis is second in the NFL in yards per route ran. That’s really really good.

• Matthew Berry and Josh Jacobs have BEEF. Jacobs blocked Berry after the fantasy analyst claimed Jacobs doesn’t care about his fans. Someone schedule a boxing match.

• Maybe the most important two minutes you’ll spend today: Adam Levitan releases his patented #teamsex rankings, specifically the NUMBER 1 NFL coach. It’s not who you think.

For all you healthcare workers, thank you. If you aren’t an NFL fan, I would be willing to accompany you to this game:

Good day.