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‘Take 2’ looks at the undrafted Bears players to keep an eye on SINCE 1967

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 15, 2016

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2 DALLAS COWBOYS 3 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 4 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 5 OAKLAND RAIDERS 6 DETROIT LIONS 7 ATLANTA FALCONS 8 NEW YORK GIANTS 9 GREEN BAY PACKERS 10 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 11 DENVER BRONCOS 12 BALTIMORE RAVENS 13 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 14 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 15 WASHINGTON 16 MIAMI DOLPHINS 17 HOUSTON TEXANS 18 TENNESSEE TITANS 19 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 20 BUFFALO BILLS 21 CAROLINA PANTHERS 22 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 23 ARIZONA CARDINALS 24 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 25 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 26 CINCINNATI BENGALS 27 CHICAGO BEARS 28 LOS ANGELES RAMS 29 NEW YORK JETS 30 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 31 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS Who can beat them in a must-win?

Past 3 have been a lot tougher for Prescott Could be Super but Derrick Johnson is a big loss Starting to play like the team to beat

Really good but defense is a year away Very beatable but they just don’t lose

Were they really that good even without Julio?

That was a statement win over Cowboys Don’t look now but here they come

Will loss of Thomas prove to be too much?

Don’t appear to have the answers on offense In danger of being best team to miss playoffs They’re hot but can they play with the best?

Hanging on by thread but still hanging on

Can be good but they’re not quite good enough Great comeback but loss of Tannehill a bitter pill

Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 15 Power Rankings

New England and Dallas switch places atop the rankings this week after the Cowboys loss to the Giants and the banged up Patriots win over a good Ravens team. The Steelers move up three spots to No. 4 after their fourth straight win.

AP PHOTO

Tom Brady and New England move back into the top spot of our rankings with their win over Baltimore Monday night

Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

Did they save season with win in Indianapolis?

Have they arrived with win over Broncos?

Luck is all the way back but Texans loss a killer Will Rex survive to fight another season?

At this point it’s looking like a lost season

Fighting but just not enough weapons on offense May be biggest underachievers of the season Have they done enough to save Mike McCoy’s job?

7-9, 7-9, 5-8 – why is Sean Payton so safe?

0-7 playoffs, 5-7-1– why is Marvin Lewis so safe?

They haven’t quit, just not very good

They did quit, cost their coach his job

They quit too, will it cost Todd Bowles his job?

Hard to understand how this team is this awful Is Chip Kelly’s job safe? Should it be?

They claim to have a plan but what is it?

T

he old story about the Bears hiring a football consultant – this time Bill Polian – that broke anew last Sunday morning as the Bears prepared to play the Detroit Lions in Detroit is puzzling on a number of fronts.

Much like when it broke five or six weeks ago with a slightly different spin, the Bears insist it isn’t true.

Regardless, with the city now all abuzz, the story isn’t going away even though we will never really know the truth until the Bears either hire someone or continue into next season under their current structure.

But in the meantime, there are several things that are troubling about the report.

First, if in fact the Bears are looking to hire someone to tell them for sure whether or not their current employees know what they’re doing and whether or not they’re getting it done, it is a tacit admission they are incapable of knowing for themselves.

Again, I am told this is not the case.

But if it is, clearly the only reason-

able move is to get right people working out of the business. for you and whether Why would anyor not they’re doing one ever attempt to the job correctly, operate a multi-bilwhat would make you lion dollar business capable of hiring the they know nothing right person to tell about? you whether or not The choice would your other folks are then be to ruin it or any good? get filthy rich getting It makes no sense. out of it.

When Ernie AccorOr, if they don’t besi – a man with idenlieve they can run it tical if not quite as vosuccessfully (which luminous credentials HUB ARKUSH is not a fact currentas Bill Polian – was harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com @Hub_Arkush ly in evidence) but brought in to oversee they can’t or don’t the hiring of Ryan want to give up the family business, Pace and John Fox, we were told sell the majority 51 percent control Pace was the right guy and he would to someone who is qualified to run have complete control over the footit, get filthy rich on about $1.2 billion ball operations. instead of $1.8 billion, and keep the There is a much more logical opother 26 percent as a really nice, extion for George McCaskey than now pensive toy. seeking out someone else who might There is no shame in that, and it be better at his job than he is. isn’t selling out the family legacy if Step to the table and reaffirm as the McCaskeys believe they can’t run loudly and clearly as you can that it successfully themselves.

Pace is your guy and give him a Secondly, if you’re not capable of chance to finish the job he’s started. knowing whether or not you have the Rebuilding the mess left behind by

Phil Emery and Marc Trestman was always going to be a minimum threeyear job. The Bears were never going to be good this year with Pace, Bill Polian or George Halas himself.

Injuries and suspensions have just made it worse.

What exactly has Pace done wrong so far that he suddenly needs a handler?

I am honestly not at all convinced the Bears’ glass isn’t half full.

The McCaskeys’ best bet right now is to see if their people make the obvious adjustments they need to on the coaching staff, and then if their third truckload of new talent is enough to allow them to at least compete.

If at the end of Year 3 they haven’t at least turned a corner, then you clean house and start over. You don’t bring in someone you hope will be good to oversee the guys you fear might be bad.

The only question that really needs to be answered right now is, does Pace in fact have complete control of the football operation?

If he does, I like most of what we’ve seen. If he doesn’t, it’s ownership’s fault as much as his if Pace fails.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

It would make no sense for Bears to bring in a consultant

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

Bears rushing offense vs Packers run defense Jordan Howard should have had more than 13 carries, sure, but 11 of those carries went for only 27 yards, as the Lions – aside from two big plays – did a fine job stuffing the box. Still, Howard’s ability to push the pile forward and find yards is the best thing the Bears’ offense has going for it. Having Josh Sitton, the former Packer, back in the lineup helps. The Pack did a number on Howard in Week 7, though, holding him to 22 yards on seven carries. It was Ka’Deem Carey (10 touches for 48 yards) who got going in Lambeau. Injuries prevented Green Bay from maintaining its ridiculous pace on run ‘D,’ but it still allows

time of possession will need Howard to sustain drives and keep the offense out there. The Bears should force it this week with the run game, and Howard hasn’t really been stopped – well, since Green Bay. Slight advantage to the rookie in the rematch.

EDGE uBEARS less than four yards per carry. However, opponents have rushed for more than 120 yards in four of the Packers’ past five games, going for at least 5.0 yards a clip in three of those five. Not having Blake Martinez since Week 11 has hurt. The run game with Howard is the Bears’ strength right now, and to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, the team with the fourth-worst

Bears passing offense vs Packers pass defense Matt Barkley will be much more prepared and confident in this game than he was in relief of Brian Hoyer at Lambeau on Oct. 20 (6-of-15 passing with two picks). Barkley has been poised in

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7:25 p.m. Thursday, NBC All interim Rams coach John Fassel must do is get his team ready on a short week to visit the Seahawks, coming off their worst loss since Pete Carroll’s first season.

DOLPHINS AT JETS

7:25 p.m. Saturday, NFLN Dolphins’ playoff push now in the hands of backup QB Matt Moore. Gang Green, fresh off first win since Week 8, will try and welcome Tannehill replacement rudely.

EAGLES AT RAVENS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX Philly down two RBs as it visits NFL’s best run ‘D,’ likely another long day for Carson Wentz. Baltimore can’t look ahead to AFC North title game in Week 16.

BROWNS AT BILLS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS Playoff drought party! If historic day for Le’Veon Bell didn’t bury Rex Ryan, surely losing to the Browns would do the trick.

PACKERS AT BEARS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX This is the Super Bowl for John Fox’s team this season: a chance to help end the Packers’ NFL-best seven-year playoff streak.

JAGUARS AT TEXANS

Nick Perry

AP PHOTOS

Akiem Hicks

the pocket and made some impressive throws, like the touchdown last week to Cameron Meredith. He has not thrown a pick since Week 12 and has been sacked only twice in 104 pass attempts.

The Packers will bring it with the pass rush, though maybe without Nick Perry and his eight sacks because of a hand injury. Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews and Mike Daniels can get the job done. Green Bay’s secondary is healthier than it was in the first matchup, and it is coming off a five-interception performance against Russell Wilson – granted, in unfriendly weather. Drops continue to be an issue for the Bears’ pass catchers, though having Alshon Jeffery back in the lineup will infuse playmaking into a unit full of second stringers. Dom Capers should have a good plan for Barkley.

EDGE

u PACKERS

Packers rushing offense vs Bears run defense Green Bay’s best runner is a converted receiver, but Ty Montgomery’s coming-out party was in the second half against the Bears in Week 7.

He finished that game with 60 yards rushing, including a 30-yarder. He might not have the typical running-back traits, but he has speed. Christine Michael is a good complement to Montgomery, but the Packers’ run game isn’t the same without Eddie Lacy, who still leads the team with 360 rushing yards. Even without their top inside linebackers, the Bears continue to stop the run, though the group struggled in the second half against Dwayne Washington and Zach Zenner. If Eddie Goldman (ankle) is limited or out, that will also be a hindrance. Chicago has the eighth-best run defense (3.88 yards per carry allowed) and Nick Kwiatkoski is playing well. This is not Green Bay’s strong suit – and with Aaron Rodgers, it’s not a necessity. With Goldman’s status up in the air, though, the Packers get this one by a nose.

EDGE

u PACKERS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS Gus Bradley outlasted Jeff Fisher; let that sink in. Houston saved its season in Indianapolis despite 1-for-5 in the red zone and Osweiler registering a 58.9 rating.

TITANS AT CHIEFS

Packers passing offense vs Bears pass defense

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS After getting rattled by Denver but escaping with a huge win, Mariota’s Titans get another huge AFC West defensive test. Tyreek Hill might be Devin Hester 2.0 for Dave Toub.

Can Rodgers be back if he really didn’t go anywhere? He was pinpoint in his 18-of-23 passing game vs. the Seahawks’ defense to the tune of 246 yards and three scores, and let us not forget that he tossed three touchdowns against the Bears in Week 7. Rodgers has not thrown a pick since Week 10 and still holds a ridiculous 32:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 101.1 rating. The best weapon the Bears have vs. Rodgers is the outside linebacker corps.

Willie Young, Pernell McPhee and Leonard Floyd caused major problems for the Lions last week, drawing multiple holding penalties. The Bears are fifth in the league in sacks per pass attempt, but Rodgers’ mobility and quick decision-making mean he doesn’t go down easily. Rodgers’ movement skills were hampered a week ago by a calf injury he’ll play through.

Floyd’s speed will be paramount to containing Rodgers and helping a young secondary that did end a takeaway drought last week against Matthew Stafford, but it’s a little tougher vs.

Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson.

COLTS AT VIKINGS

EDGE

u PACKERS

Sunday’s overall edge The Packers have been weak this season defending on third down (25th) and in the red zone (28th), and the defense gives up 24 points per game. This is a day where the Bears’ offense has to play as close to a mistake-free game as possible to keep up with a red hot Rodgers and a Packers team that needs to win to stay alive for the playoffs. Green Bay is healthy, motivated and confident. The Bears? Well, they aren’t lacking in effort in these games, but they lack in playmakers. Most of the Bears on the field are too new to the NFL to truly grasp the rivalry.

EDGE

u PACKERS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX Colts brass just received extensions, yet it’s hard to envision Jim Irsay standing pat if Colts stay home in January again. This could be the week Adrian Peterson returns to Vikings.

LIONS AT GIANTS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX The No. 2 seed is up for grabs in this one, which pits two of our favorite coaching names, Jim Bob Cooter (future head coach) and Ben McAdoo (Coach of Year candidate).

STEELERS AT BENGALS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS Have yourself a contract year, Le’Veon Bell. Steelers needed all 298 total yards, three scores in Buffalo slop fest. Adam Jones thinks Terrelle Pryor is a garbage can, much like Bengals’ season?

SAINTS AT CARDINALS

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX Drew Brees’ past two games: 0 TDs, 6 INTs. Cards’ season so far off rails Bruce Arians thinks Mother Nature is conspiring against them.

49ERS AT FALCONS

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX Everyone assuming Cleveland was a lock for top pick may have given Trent Baalke’s Niners too much credit. Matt Ryan’s NFC South-leading Falcons have weapons for days.

PATRIOTS AT BRONCOS

3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS With season on brink, Super Bowl champs host Tom Brady seeking revenge for 2015 AFC Championship game defeat.

RAIDERS AT CHARGERS

3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS Big spot for Derek Carr, Raiders after having extra time to recover from first hiccup in seven weeks. An offseason to recover – and relocate? – can’t come soon enough for battered Bolts.

BUCCANEERS AT COWBOYS

7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC Bucs, riding five-game win streak, aim to join fellow 2015 bottom-dwellers Cowboys in the playoffs. Dallas is in, but Dak must recover to avoid falling out of Jerry’s favor.

PANTHERS AT WASHINGTON

7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN Too little too late, but Carolina suddenly leading NFL in sacks, No. 2 in INTs; Washington avoided three-game tumble with late comeback in Philly to maintain control of playoff fate.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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BEARS 20 PACKERS 31

BEARS 16 PACKERS 29

BEARS 20 PACKERS 25

BEARS 16 PACKERS 31

BEARS 20 PACKERS 17

Tundra will be frozen at Soldier Field and Bears ‘D’ just doesn’t have enough healthy horses to handle Rodgers and Co.

Fangio’s defense and Jordan Howard keep it close in the first before Rodgers pulls away vs. young ‘D’ in the second.

Aaron Rodgers, even on one good calf, way too much for Bears with Green Bay’s postseason lives at stake.

The Bears’ secondary is shaky at best and Aaron Rodgers is heating up. Bad combination for the home team.

Call me crazy. It’s a total gut pick and, right now, I feel like deep dish, not brats.

SEASON RECORD: 8-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 7-6

SEASON RECORD: 9-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-8

SEASON RECORD: 9-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 7-5-1

SEASON RECORD: 8-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-7

SEASON RECORD: 8-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-7-2

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BEARS 27 PACKERS 24

BEARS 20 PACKERS 27

BEARS 21 PACKERS 27

Green Bay has won a few in a row but that doesn’t delete all of their issues this season.

Closer than expected.

Matt Barkley makes the Bears worth watching, but he needs receivers who can catch the ball.

Here it is, folks. The upset win that salvages the season and hurts the Pack’s playoff chances.

Alshon Jeffery is back, but that’s not going to be enough against a suddenly hot Packers team.

Alshon Jeffery’s return should keep the Bears competitive against a soft Packers secondary.

SEASON RECORD: 11-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 9-4

SEASON RECORD: 7-6 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-8

SEASON RECORD: 6-7 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-8

SEASON RECORD: 8-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-7

SEASON RECORD: 10-3 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-7

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

Cameron Meredith’s ascension is a feel-good story

T

he 2016 season was supposed to belong to Bears receivers Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery.

Healthy and determined, White was expected to show why the Bears made him the seventh overall selection in 2015. Determined to stay healthy, Jeffery was expected to produce an elite season that was worthy of an elite long-term extension.

Instead, when it comes to receivers, this season has belonged to receiver Cameron Meredith. In a season that’s short of feel-good stories, Meredith, a local kid from St. Joseph and Illinois State, has been a main one.

Unlike White, Meredith emerged as a viable receiver in his second season. Unlike Jeffery, he has excelled with quarterbacks not named Jay Cutler.

Need more?

Unlike Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson, Meredith has stayed on the field. And unlike Daniel Braverman, he’s truly earned a spot for the future.

Meredith’s 44 receptions, 588 receiving yards and three touchdowns won’t spell the end for Jeffery or push

White out of the picture.

Meredith said. “He puts it His ceiling might be as a out there. Matt throws it No. 2 receiver. with a little more touch.

But Meredith’s producThere’s not much of a tion and improvement difference, but it is differshould make him part of ent. You try not to pay too the conversations when much attention to it. But it comes to evaluating I mean Jay and Matt are Jeffery and White’s fupretty similar as far as tures. their play style.”

The Bears have something in Meredith. He’s a An overlooked factor young, upcoming player of roster building for bad who is insurance should ADAM JAHNS teams is the waiver wire.

Jeffery leave in free agenajahns@ww.com It involves undercy or if White’s twice-re@ajahns standing the strengths paired leg forever changand weaknesses of other es him as a player. teams’ rosters. And it starts in the Jeffery will deservedly get plenty of preseason. Teams make tough deattention over the next three games cisions, and good young players get after he sat four games because of his waived and become available. performance-enhancing drugs susIt’s how the Bears added corpension. nerback Cre’Von LeBlanc. He was But don’t ignore Meredith. He was claimed off waivers from the Patriquarterback Brian Hoyer’s favorite ots on Sept. 4. It helped that the Bears target, not Jeffery, and he already has trained with the Patriots in the prea rapport with Matt Barkley. season, but trusting your own evaluaJeffery’s best games this year have tions and accepting the weaknesses of come with Cutler under center. As evyour own roster are crucial. eryone knows, Cutler’s time might be Safety Harold Jones-Quartey (from up in Chicago after this season. the Cardinals last year), offensive “We all know Jay is a gunslinger,”

•••

lineman Eric Kush (Rams) and tight end Daniel Brown (Ravens) are other examples of solid waiver-wire claims made by the Bears.

Kush, who was claimed on the same day as LeBlanc, has played well in place of an injured Josh Sitton this season. Since being claimed on Oct. 24, Brown has 11 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in three games.

No one is saying that LeBlanc, Kush, Brown and Jones-Quartey are long-time starters. Jones-Quartey certainly has had his ups and downs in 15 starts over his first two seasons.

But all four players have provided the Bears with some production this season, while improving the Bears’ overall depth.

•••

This week’s random draft thought: the Bears might have something in LeBlanc, Bryce Callahan and Deiondre’ Hall. They’ve all flashed play-making abilities at cornerback.

LeBlanc’s pick-six is a highlight.

That said, it’s still important that the Bears add a cornerback in the draft. Veteran Tracy Porter can’t play forever. It’s considered a good draft year for cornerbacks. That helps.

Barkley should be even better with Jeffery’s return

W

ith two more starts under his belt, we’ve now seen what Matt Barkley can do when his receivers catch most of the passes he puts on their numbers, unlike in his debut.

This week, we’ll see what he can do with a legitimate Pro Bowl receiver to work with in his first start with Alshon Jeffery back in the lineup after a four-game PED suspension.

It’s not just Jeffery that Barkley has been without.

It’s all the other key targets who have been missing, and the drops that have plagued the Bears, who are 1-2 in his three starts.

Barkley deserves better.

“If we could have played better around him, we could very easily be 3-0 in those three starts,” Bears coach John Fox said. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and that’s part of the growing pains you go through with where we’re at right now.”

That he’s been able to keep a team competitive despite an injury-decimated receiving crew is what makes Barkley’s performance so exceptional.

Still, it would be an overreaction

to say that Barkley is the pass for minus-6 yards Bears’ long-term answer early in Barkley’s first at quarterback, partly start and has been inacbecause he still hasn’t tive since with a turf toe. proven he has enough Starting tight end Zach arm strength. But BarkMiller was the Bears’ ley has shown that he’s leading pass catchmore than capable of beer through the first 10 ing the 2017 opening day games when he suffered starter if the Bears draft a season-ending foot their quarterback of the fracture. Barkley didn’t future in April and debecome the starter until cide to bring the rookie Game 11. along slowly.

Despite all that, in his BOB LeGERE Barkley’s only win was first three NFL starts, rlegere@dailyherald.com against a bad 49ers team, the four-year veteran @BobLeGere but he’s had the 3-10 who entered this season Bears on the verge of defeating much having played in just four games with better teams in 6-point losses to the no starts, has an 83.0 passer rating.

7-6 Titans and the 9-4 Lions. And he’s Adding a big-play threat, especially done it short-handed. one with reliable hands like Jeffery, To this point, Barkley has not had is a godsend for Barkley. the luxury of any of the Bears’ top “The more guys the better, and esthree wide receivers, and their No. 1 pecially Alshon, who’s been in the tight end. system for so long,” Barkley said.

Kevin White, the 2015 first-round “He’s a dynamic playmaker. Hopefuldraft pick (seventh overall), was on ly, he doesn’t miss a step and comes injured reserve before Barkley beright back (at) game speed, and we’ll came the third Bears starting quarbe able to do well.” terback this year. Eddie Royal, a reIn his first three starts, Barkley put liable, veteran slot receiver for Jay up more than commendable numbers Cutler and Brian Hoyer, caught one throwing to wide receivers Cam Mer-

edith, Marquess Wilson, Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson and tight end Daniel Brown. Not exactly household names.

Meredith was an undrafted rookie out of Illinois State in 2015 who never started a game until this season. Wilson came off PUP for Game 10 and in Game 11 caught eight Barkley passes for 125 yards and one touchdown, the best game of his injury-interrupted four-year career. Bellamy, who has appeared in at least three games every year since 2012 but has just two accrued seasons, has been much more valuable as a special teams stud than a wide receiver. But he has 11 catches in Barkley’s three starts.

Thompson, primarily a kickoff returner, had 17 receptions in his previous four seasons with three teams. He has 11 catches this year, and his first NFL touchdown, courtesy of Barkley.

Brown also was an undrafted free agent originally signed by the Ravens and didn’t join the Bears until Oct. 24.

His first NFL touchdown reception was Barkley’s first NFL touchdown pass.

Throw Jeffery into that mix, and it should be interesting to see how Barkley responds.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

Check the weather forecasts as fantasy playoffs begin By

J.C. TALON

I

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

f you’re still playing fantasy football, congratulations are in order. The smarts that got you to the postseason will come in handy this week. According to oddsmakers, points will be hard to come by. Three games have projected point totals under 40, and five more come in under 43. Not coincidentally, up to 10 games could be impacted by cold or snow.

To gain an advantage in your playoff matchup, be sure to monitor injury and weather reports right up until kickoff.

On to Week 15 …

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Buffalo Bills

OPPONENT: VS CLEVELAND BROWNS, SUNDAY, NOON Tyrod Taylor has to be thankful – despite continued struggles – he remains the starting QB in Buffalo. What a bummer it would have been to get benched just as the hapless Browns are coming to town. Cleveland’s defense is ranked 31st overall and against the rush. The Bills can’t beat the top-tier teams, but they are 5-1 against opponents with a losing record. Taylor is an intriguing option for fantasy owners in need of a playoff QB. The advice here would be to find a better option: Taylor has faced two bottom-five defenses this season (San Francisco and Oakland). Against SF, at home, he threw for two TDs, but had only 179 yards passing. He added 68 yards on the ground. In Oakland, he threw for 191 yards with no TDs, although he did run for a score. Those who start Taylor have to hope for ground production, and that’s always an iffy proposition. This is, however, a dream matchup for LeSean McCoy. There could also be some mop-up duty for Mike Gillislee.

MUST START: McCoy, Bills D/ST SOLID PLAY: Sammy Watkins WORTH A LOOK: Taylor, Gillislee, Charles Clay, Dan Carpenter LAST RESORT: None STAY AWAY: Robert Woods

Green Bay Packers

OPPONENT: AT CHICAGO BEARS, SUNDAY, NOON During their current three-game win streak, the Packers have averaged 28.7 points per game. From a fantasy perspective, there was never anything to worry about. Even as they dropped four straight from Week 8 through Week 11, they were averaging 26.8 points per game. Chicago actually has a solid defense, but the Packers will eventually wear them down. There is snow in Chicago’s weekend forecast and that will make the always-dicey Soldier Field turf even more problematic for defenders. Davante Adams is Green Bay’s over-the-top threat, but Aaron Rodgers looks for Jordy Nelson in the red zone.

This would be a good week to consider the Packers D/ST. If Green Bay gets out to a big lead (a distinct possibility), Bears QB Matt Barkley will be forced to throw, and that could lead to turnovers.

MUST START: Rodgers, Nelson SOLID PLAY: Adams, Mason Crosby, Packers D/ST WORTH A LOOK: Ty Montgomery, Randall Cobb LAST RESORT: Christine Michael, Jared Cook* STAY AWAY: James Starks

Atlanta Falcons

OPPONENT: VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, SUNDAY, 3:05 This one seems almost too easy: the Falcons’ top-scoring offense versus the 49ers and their leagueworst defense. The only real question is whether or not Julio Jones (toe) will suit up for Atlanta. If he does, he’s probably the No. 1 WR this week. If he doesn’t go, move Taylor Gabriel and Nick Williams up one category. Devonta Freeman hasn’t had a 100yard rushing game since Week 3 and was held to six yards on six carries in L.A. He should bounce back this week.

MUST START: Matt Ryan, Freeman, Jones, Matt Bryant SOLID PLAY: Tevin Coleman, Falcons D/ST WORTH A LOOK: Taylor Gabriel LAST RESORT: Nick Williams STAY AWAY: Levine Toilolo, Austin Hooper

Oakland Raiders

OPPONENT: AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Only three teams give up more points than San Diego. The Raiders are coming off a very disappointing performance last Thursday in Kansas City.

Derek Carr was awful, which has led to speculation that his injured finger is worse than reported. Others have countered that Carr’s finger is OK based on the fact he played well after injuring the finger during Week 13. There is no way to know for sure, and you can bet that the Raiders will not provide any clues. Our best guess is that he finished Week 13 on adrenaline. In Week 14, he struggled in part due to the finger, but also because of the cold weather and a solid KC defense. With 10 days to adapt, heal and prepare, and facing a lesser defense in good weather, he should be fine.

MUST START: Carr, Amari Cooper SOLID PLAY: Latavius Murray, Michael Crabtree, Sebastian Janikowski WORTH A LOOK: None LAST RESORT: Jalen Richard, Seth Roberts, Clive Walford, Raiders D/ST

ALSO CONSIDER Seattle Seahawks

OPPONENT: VS LOS ANGELES RAMS, THURSDAY, 7:25 We hate Thursday games and the Seahawks looked absolutely atrocious last week in Green Bay. The Rams have the league’s 10th-ranked defense and are eighth against the pass. So why are we telling you to consider Seattle? L.A. is an absolute trainwreck right now. They’ve given up 117 points in their past three games. There is no way to know how the Rams will respond to the firing of Jeff Fisher, but let’s not overthink it.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID Detroit Lions

OPPONENT: AT NEW YORK GIANTS, SUNDAY, NOON In their past five games, the Giants have yielded more than 20 points just one time – at Pittsburgh in a 24-14 loss. The Lions have a middling offense: 17th in points, 14th in passing, and a dismal 29th in rushing. With New York ranked eighth against the rush, this is not the week for the Lions to get the ground game going. Monitor the status of Theo Riddick, al-

though any offensive success Detroit is going to have will likely have to come through the air. Eric Ebron is a reasonable fantasy option this week. The Giants have given up a lot of yards to TEs in recent weeks.

MUST START: None SOLID PLAY: Ebron WORTH A LOOK: Matthew Stafford*, Golden Tate, Matt Prater, Lions D/ST LAST RESORT: Riddick*, Dwayne Washington (if no Riddick), Marvin Jones STAY AWAY: Zach Zenner

Houston Texans

OPPONENT: VS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, SUNDAY, NOON With Houston averaging 17.6 points (28th in the league) and Jacksonville averaging 18.5 (27th), it’s no wonder that the over/under in this game is a paltry 39.5. We have selected the Texans as the “avoid” simply because we assume – if you’ve made the playoffs – you already know to avoid the Jags. It’s been a miserable season for Jacksonville, but it’s not because of its fifth-ranked defense. The Jags are great against the pass, but their rushing defense can be exploited. Unfortunately, Houston has a problem, and his name is Brock Osweiler.

Jacksonville is not going to respect the pass. When Lamar Miller looks at the line of scrimmage, he is going to see a lot of eight-man fronts wearing ugly black-and-gold helmets.

MUST START: Texans D/ST SOLID PLAY: Miller WORTH A LOOK: C.J. Fiedorowicz*, DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Novak LAST RESORT: Alfred Blue, Will Fuller STAY AWAY: Osweiler

Indianapolis Colts

OPPONENT: AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, SUNDAY, NOON Although the Colts have the league’s 9th-ranked passing attack, this is an extremely difficult matchup for them. They have not fared well against strong pass defenses. Indy scored just 17 points last week against Houston; just seven in Week 12 against Pittsburgh; and only 14 in a Week 8 loss against KC. Interestingly, those were all home games. Minnesota’s defense is ranked second overall and third against the pass. As much as we’d like to list T.Y. Hilton as a “must start,” the Vikings have given up just one 100-yard receiving day all season and that was last week to Marqise Lee (113 yards). Donte Moncrief may miss the game due to a hamstring injury.

MUST START: None SOLID PLAY: Andrew Luck, Hilton WORTH A LOOK: Frank Gore, Adam Vinatieri LAST RESORT: Phillip Dorsett (if no Moncrief), Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Colts D/ST STAY AWAY: Robert Turbin

ALSO BEWARE

Philadelphia Eagles

OPPONENT: AT BALTIMORE RAVENS, SUNDAY, NOON It’s hard to imagine Philadelphia generating much offense against the Ravens and their No. 1 rushing defense. The Eagles are 1-6 on the road this season.

* — Check injury status

By JOHN

SAHLY

O

jsahly@shawmedia.com

K, so admittedly the photo with this article is a bit of an overstatement.

You were playing Le’Veon Bell last week in DFS, right? You for sure had him going in your season-long league.

But Bell was the second-most expensive running back in DFS last week behind Arizona’s David Johnson. And the Pittsburgh running back did not disappoint, rushing for a Steelers franchise-record 236 yards and three touchdowns.

That was good for 54 points on DraftKings, which said Bell’s performance was the fourth-highest single-game fantasy total in site history.

Look at the photo again. Do you see something?

A whole bunch of white flakes? The Steelers and Bills played in about four inches of snow this past Sunday.

It. Did. Not. Stop. Bell. From. History.

We’re in December, and as long as there are outdoor games in December, there’s a chance that a few players you’re considering putting onto your DFS rosters each week will be playing in some

kind of nasty weather.

There are weather elements to be concerned about, snow is not one of them, especially for running backs. Three years ago, in blizzard conditions, LeSean McCoy ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles against the Lions. Two weeks ago, Bears rookie Jordan Howard found the end zone three times against the 49ers.

But quarterbacks and wide receivers aren’t immune to having good games in the snow and cold, either. Fantasy Labs writer Kelly McCann pointed out last week that Aaron Rodgers has averaged 25.94 DraftKings points in games with below freezing temperatures. Matthew Stafford averaged 23.75 in two below-freezing games in the past three seasons. Brandon Marshall has three below freezing games under his belt, and scored at least 28 points in all three.

This doesn’t mean you should actively target a player because of bad weather, but the point is to not be afraid of doing it. If other DFS players are going to take a look at the weather, see snow or rain in the forecast and immediately write off certain guys, a successful and potentially contrarian strat-

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egy is to put those players on your roster, with the added bonus of reduced ownership.

So when should you be concerned about a player in bad weather?

Check the wind.

Meteorologist and Rotogrinders writer Kevin Roth put it this way in a tweet: “To me, 15mph sustained is on the low end of ‘worry-spectrum’. By 20-25mph sustained I’m concerned. Stronger than that and I’m out.”

It makes sense. Sustained high winds are going to affect a passing game in a dramatic way. I want no part of a quarterback, wide receiver or tight end in a windy game. Instead, look for the defenses in those games as potential sources of wayward interceptions, and points for you.

Weather is one of the easiest ways to separate yourself from an opponent in fantasy sports, but you have to know what you’re looking for first.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

DFS: Stop worrying about snow in fantasy football, worry about wind instead

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

By

ARTHUR ARKUSH OVERVIEW

After letting the Jaguars hang around for too long largely due to red-zone ineptitude, the Vikings secured just their second win since Week 5 to remain one game out of the final wild-card spot, clung to by the surging Buccaneers. But the Vikings, at 7-6, are also looking up at 7-5-1 Washington, whom they’ve already lost to, and must avoid looking ahead to a Week 16 trip to Green Bay. The big question this week will be the availability of Adrian Peterson, who resumed practicing for the first time since undergoing meniscus repair surgery Sept. 18. Peterson says he’ll soon play if the Vikings remain in contention for the postseason, and although it’s probably naïve to think even the threetime rushing champ and 2012 MVP can get the ground game going behind Minnesota’s brutal offensive line, he can help the 29th-ranked red-zone offense, which twice managed zero points from the Jacksonville one-yard line a week ago.

The Colts just surrendered a sea-

son-high 185 rushing yards at home to the Texans in one of the more disappointing defeats of Chuck Pagano’s tenure, leaving them on the cusp of a dubious distinction never held in 14 years under Bill Polian and Peyton Manning: missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

In addition to another strong performance by Sam Bradford, the Vikings benefited Sunday from their recharged pass rush. They’ve accumulated 13 sacks in the past four games, following the previous four netting just three. Similarly to Minnesota, an offseason dedicated to reinforcing the offensive line in Indianapolis hasn’t yielded the necessary results. Keep an eye on Vikings DRE Danielle Hunter, whose 10.5 sacks lead the club. He has at least a half sack in five consecutive games and will look to torment Andrew Luck, coming off a three-turnover outing, by taking advantage of the struggles of RT Joe Reitz and rookie RG Joe Haeg.

OVERVIEW

The 9-4 Lions, after climbing to the No. 2 seed with their win over the Bears, visit the 9-4 Giants – Detroit’s first of back-to-back road trips to NFC East playoff clubs. And considering the Lions’ wins have come against teams with a combined mark of 46-64-1, with eight of them by just one score after Detroit trailed in the fourth quarter, consider the next two weeks their big reveal – as formidable postseason foe or fraudulent first-place club. Adding to the intrigue is that Matthew Stafford, arguably the top challenger to Tom Brady for MVP honors, suffered what’s been reported as a dislocated right ring finger with additional ligament damage, requiring him to wear a protective glove. Indeed, no glove on an NFC North’s quarterback hand has been discussed more since Teddy Bridgewater broke through with the Vikings two seasons ago. Detroit continued living on the edge versus an inferior opponent in Week 14, when the Lions overcame just Stafford’s sixth and seventh interceptions – both in the fourth quarter, the second of which was returned by Chicago for a go-

ahead touchdown – with another calm and cool crunch-time touchdown drive.

The Lions actually discovered a ground game, though not a consistent pass rush, in their ninth victory, but they’ll now see a Giants club ranked in the top five in sacks and rushing yards allowed per attempt.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Conventional wisdom suggested the Giants’ No. 7 scoring ‘D’ was poised for a significant step back when Jason Pierre-Paul underwent sports hernia surgery prior to Week 14. Instead, Steve Spagnuolo’s group authored perhaps its best game of the season Sunday night, holding the NFC-leading Cowboys to seven points, 260 yards and 1-for-15 on third downs – all season-bests for Big Blue. In JPP’s absence, undrafted rookie Romeo Okwara, in his first-ever start, answered the bell opposite routinely disruptive Olivier Vernon. With Stafford injured, and in light of the problems the Bears OLBs gave rookie LT Eric Decker and RT Riley Reiff, better securing the edges Sunday against an aggressive Giants rush will be paramount.

CARS815.com

I

t appears 2016 is going to be a slow year for head coaching changes in the NFL. Normally in recent seasons by Week 15, there have been at least a half dozen and usually more coaches very much on the bubble.

Jeff Fisher became the first domino to fall on Monday following the Rams’ 42-14 loss to the Falcons.

There are multiple reports that Rex Ryan could be in trouble in Buffalo. Some believe Todd Bowles could be out after the season with the Jets and others suggest John Fox might get the axe in Chicago.

The Way We Hear It, however, both Bowles and Fox are likely to survive and be given a chance to turn things around in their third seasons with their respective clubs.

Mike McCoy appears to have dodged a bullet in San Diego after starting 1-4 by going 4-4 since, but the Chargers have dropped their last two.

Marvin Lewis probably deserves the axe in Cincinnati, but few believe Mike Brown will wield it, and we’re not convinced even Chip Kelly knows what his next move will be.

Beyond that, there may be a surprise or two. Other than Fisher, though, the only other guy who is certainly a dead man walking is Gus Bradley in Jacksonville.

So for the most part, what we’re hearing is the only jobs certain to be open are in Los Angeles and Jacksonville. There’s a chance Buffalo opens up and we won’t be shocked if the Chargers make a change.

WHO ARE THE HOTTEST CANDIDATES OUT THERE?

We are hearing you can bet the house on Josh McDaniels (Patriots OC), Kyle Shanahan (Falcons OC), Jim Bob Cooter (Lions OC), Teryl Austin (Lions DC) and Matt Patricia (Patriots DC) all getting interviews and most likely multiple interviews.

The second tier of candidates will include Dave Toub (Chiefs ST), Vance Joseph (Dolphins DC), Jim Schwartz (Eagles DC), Anthony Lynn (Bills OC), Sean McDermott (Panthers DC), Scott Linehan (Cowboys OC) and Tom Coughlin.

Heading the wild card list is Jim Harbaugh, who multiple pundits rushed to encourage Stan Kroenke

Mike Smith may be in line to replace Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley

Josh McDaniels

Kyle Shanahan

Jim Bob Cooter

to do whatever it takes to pry out of Ann Arbor, but we’re hearing that won’t happen.

Other names you will probably hear are Penn State’s James Franklin, former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, and what would this list be if Bill Cowher wasn’t on it?

IS BRADLEY’S REPLACEMENT SET TO GO IN JACKSONVILLE?

There is one very hot name we’ve saved because, the Way We Hear It, he might already have a job, and that’s Tampa Bay defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith.

Sources have told us that Smith might believe the Jaguars job is his if he wants it, and that he has already begun reaching out to candidates to put a staff of assistants together.

To be clear, Jaguars owner Shad

Teryl Austin

Matt Patricia

Khan has not confirmed that Gus Bradley will be fired, and we at Pro Football Weekly do not wish to play any role in promoting the loss of his job, but we have confirmed with multiple sources very close to the situation there is next to nothing Bradley can do now to save that job after going 14-47 though three seasons and 13 games.

There are multiple dots you can connect to get Smith to Jacksonville, but a number of them depend on whether Khan intends to retain general manager David Caldwell and allow him a second shot at hiring a head coach.

Caldwell’s first act after getting the Jaguars GM job was to fire Mike Mularkey and hire Bradley.

According to our sources, Khan believes the Jaguars’ talent is better than the record indicates and that Caldwell will get another crack at hiring a coach.

So let’s look at the multiple ways

in which Smith fits in Jacksonville.

He spent five seasons in Jacksonville as the club’s defensive coordinator from 2003-07 under Jack Del Rio and was so successful the Atlanta Falcons hired him to be their head coach in 2008.

That same year, the Falcons hired Caldwell to be the director of college scouting, a position he held through the end of the 2011 season, when he was promoted to personnel director in 2012.

Following the 2012 season, Caldwell got the Jaguars GM job.

In his first year as Falcons head coach, Smith was voted the 2008 NFL Coach of the Year for guiding Atlanta to an 11-5 record and wild-card birth, after taking over a 4-12 football team.

During the five years Caldwell and Smith worked together in Atlanta, Smith compiled a 56-24 record and took the Falcons to the playoffs four times.

In their final season together, the Falcons were 13-3 and lost to San Francisco, 28-24, in the NFC title game.

It is easy to see why, if he is allowed to make this hire, Caldwell would favor Smith, and there is more.

In just his first season as the defensive coordinator in Tampa this year, after a 3-5 start, the Bucs have won their past five with most of the credit going to improvement in Smith’s defense, which has allowed just 12.8 points a game, including five to Seattle and 11 to the high-powered Saints offense last week.

There is also a belief in Jacksonville that with exciting youngsters Jalen Ramsey, Dante Fowler Jr., Myles Jack, Yannick Ngakoue, and highpriced free agents Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Davon House and Prince Amukamara, the right defensive coach just might be able to guide the same kind of instant turnaround as the one Smith oversaw in Atlanta in 2008.

We’re also hearing that even though there are a ton of hot young coordinators out there, the hottest are almost all on the offensive side of the ball, and after the disappointing experience with Gus Bradley – who was absolutely the flavor of the month four years ago after working as the Seahawks defensive coordinatior – Khan and Caldwell both are more comfortable with a proven veteran winner this time around.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

Has Shad Khan already identified Gus Bradley’s successor in Jacksonville?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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Fishbain: Another week goes by, Patrick, as we look for young players who will be part of the Bears’ plans in 2017. Draft picks aren’t going anywhere, but Ryan Pace has found some undrafted players who have made impacts, like cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Cre’Von LeBlanc. Corner has to be a need for the Bears. As well as Tracy Porter has played, that’s a position that could be infused with playmakers, but we do know that Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell like Callahan and LeBlanc. Have they done enough to lessen the need at corner?

Finley: Pace had a really good Undraft. (Too bad it

in the same?

Which Bears undrafted players-turned-starters are building blocks?

NATE ATKINS KEVIN FISHBAIN

rained all weekend and ruined Undraft Town at Grant Park.) LeBlanc, who he claimed from the Patriots, and Callahan, who he signed a year earlier, have been solid. My issue is with their size: the ideal cornerback in Fangio’s system is taller and longer. Because of that, I think the two will compete against each other for the slot corner job next year. The Bears still need to find a corner to play opposite Porter.

Could it be Kyle Fuller or Deiondre’ Hall, or do they need to look outside? Because there are other needs in the defensive backfield, no?

Fishbain: We don’t have

enough pages in the paper this week to break down the needs at safety (but for those curious, just go back and read every ‘Bears Offseason Priorities’ story from the last decade). A full offseason for Hall should put him in good position for a starting role, and he does have that length and showed ball skills earlier this season.

We talked Fuller last week – he’ll be in the conversation, but this regime isn’t beholden to him. LeBlanc and Callahan do have the physicality and aggressive play the Bears obviously prefer in the secondary. Even if they aren’t long-term op-

tions, their abilities should add to the confidence folks can have in Pace’s scouting.

That’s a nice consolation, isn’t it?

Finley: Maybe it is, Kev. Maybe it is. A Biblical run of injuries means the Bears have given their no-name players an almost unprecedented tryout. Otherwise, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, tight ends Ben Braunecker and Daniel Brown wouldn’t have an opportunity to make plays in the first place. But does that make them good?

How do we separate opportunistic players from the ones the Bears can count on next year? Or are they one

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Fishbain: Realistically, a good draft and a few veterans added in free agency will put some of these players into roster bubble situations next summer. And that’s OK. This Bears team needs depth, and experience. The more Callahans, LeBlancs, Eric Kushes and Daniel Browns they can rely on will make the team have a better second group if starters get hurt. But I don’t think we can get carried away with the potential of some of these players, or am I being too cynical?

Finley: Nope – just the right amount of cynical.

Watching young players develop in a 3-10 season is one thing; having them beat out their healthy teammates the next is something completely different. Flashes of good play by LeBlanc certainly beats the alternative, but the game film merely gives the Bears more to evaluate.

Remember, most of these guys were backups for a reason.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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n this week’s edition of ’Take 2,’ Patrick Finley of the Chicago SunTimes and Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly debate what to make of the strong play from some undrafted players on the Bears roster.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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