Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! With the fantasy football season nearing its end, I hope that you’re still in the championship race — or that you’ve at least avoided your league’s toilet bowl. Regardless, if you’re seeking out last-minute pointers for a do-or-die matchup, I encourage you to read through our expert consensus rankings and articles for tips.
Experienced fantasy football players have come to learn that history repeats itself. NFL players often find themselves in situations similar to ones other players have experienced in the past — and that information can help us predict their future performance. While not always accurate, comparisons can at least help us communicate our expectations in accessible ways.
But wait. What if we compared players to Christmas characters, not other players? Like I did last Christmas, I’ve matched several significant fantasy contributors with the characters most similar to them from popular holiday songs and movies.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! With the fantasy football season nearing its end, I hope that you’re still in the championship race — or that you’ve at least avoided your league’s toilet bowl. Regardless, if you’re seeking out last-minute pointers for a do-or-die matchup, I encourage you to read through our expert consensus rankings and articles for tips.
Experienced fantasy football players have come to learn that history repeats itself. NFL players often find themselves in situations similar to ones other players have experienced in the past — and that information can help us predict their future performance. While not always accurate, comparisons can at least help us communicate our expectations in accessible ways.
But wait. What if we compared players to Christmas characters, not other players? Like I did last Christmas, I’ve matched several significant fantasy contributors with the characters most similar to them from popular holiday songs and movies.
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Lineup & Trade advice
I didn’t want to repeat any tropes from last year, but this one is too perfect to pass up. Trevor Lawrence has been handing out gifts to opposing defenses all season, both on the ground and through the air. It’s safe to say that Lawrence, who ranked as the QB16 in average draft position (ADP) this year, did not deliver for those who took him.
Entering Week 16, Lawrence ranks first in interceptions thrown (14), tying him with Ryan Tannehill and Joe Burrow. While he trails the three of them in interception rate, the rookie first-rounder has also lost four fumbles this year. When you factor in his pair of rushing touchdowns, Lawrence owns an ugly 11:18 touchdown-to-turnover ratio. And he has done it all without the milk and cookies, to boot.
McCaffrey brought joy to those lucky enough to land him with the first overall pick this season. Visions of fantasy championships danced in managers’ as he thumpity-thump-thumped opposing defenses for 18.2 PPR points per game (PPG), good for the sixth-best such number so far.
And, as the children know, he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.
Unfortunately, McCaffrey knew the sun was hot that day. So he said, “let’s run, and we’ll have some fun! — now before I melt away” — like Frosty, McCaffrey couldn’t stick around forever. He spent time on the injured reserve earlier this year after straining his hamstring in Week 3, and he landed back on it with an ankle sprain in Week 12, ending his season. But fortunately, like Frosty, McCaffrey isn’t gone forever — he’ll be back again some day!
WR: Cooper Kupp — The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
You’re a mean one, Cooper Kupp. Although the talented slot receiver may be more charming than an eel, he certainly is just as selfish as the movie’s titular mountain-dwelling hermit. Tired of the Christmas joy down in Whoville, the Grinch vows to steal the holiday for himself — and lug it all the way back up Mount Crumpit with him.
Kupp has done the same thing to the Los Angeles Rams’ offense. Instead of sharing with those around him, Kupp has racked up an NFL-high 32.9% target share. Because of his efficiency, Kupp’s share of the team’s receptions sits even higher at 36.1%, as does his share of the team’s receiving yards, which sits at 39.1%. The wideout has even accounted for 40% of Los Angeles’ receiving touchdowns and 32.5% of their total offensive touchdowns!
If opposing defenses want to slow down his monstrous campaign, they’ll have to start touching him with more than a 39-and-a-half-foot pole.
TE: Tyler Conklin — Scott Calvin (The Santa Clause)
I suspect many fantasy managers didn’t know Conklin’s name before this year. He ranked 40th in ADP among tight ends heading into the season, below the likes of Tim Tebow and Jimmy Graham. But just like virtual no-name Scott Calvin, he found himself thrust into quite a big role.
In The Santa Clause, Scott (Tim Allen) runs into Santa Claus on the roof. Surprised, the big man in the red suit slips and falls, meeting his demise in the process. His death leaves Scott to don the coat and deliver the remaining presents to their well-behaved recipients.
As Minnesota’s backup tight end, no one expected much from Conklin entering 2021. But after former first-round pick Irv Smith Jr. went down in the preseason, Conklin had a big suit (well, role) to fill. And like Scott, Conklin has delivered — he ranks as the TE16 on the year. He has even flirted with low-end TE1 status at different points, too; he finished as the overall TE2 in Week 3 and the TE4 in Week 10.
Irv Smith may return next year to reclaim his role, but Conklin has still made a lasting impression on those lucky enough to stream him in the right matchups.
You know Randy Moss, Justin Jefferson, and Percy Harvin. But do you recall the most famous first-round wide receiver drafted by the Minnesota Vikings of all? Well, it might be a stretch to bestow that honor upon Patterson, but 2013’s 29th overall pick deserves some recognition for what he has accomplished, especially after Minnesota stopped letting him join in any Vikings games.
Like Rudolph, Patterson is a bit of a misfit. The Vikings drafted him to play wide receiver, but the big-bodied speedster never quite found a place in the receiving corps. He caught just 54.2% of his targets through his first two seasons and averaged only 426.5 yards per season. As a result, the Vikings turned him loose after four years.
But then the Atlanta Falcons asked him if he’d lead their offense this season, and, well, Patterson now ranks as the RB8 on the year — far, far above his RB88 ADP.
Cordarrelle Patterson, you’ll go down in history!
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Isaiah Sirois is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Isaiah, check out his archive and follow him @is_sirois.
