NFL Reactions: Week 17

Abbott and Costello. Jerry and George. Michael and Dwight. Chandler and Joey. Bert and Ernie. Mary-Kate and Ashley. Who doesn't love a good TV duo? They've created memories for us over the years and shown us what two people working together with great chemistry can accomplish. 

Watching Sunday's games, I started to think of some other duos I've had the opportunity to witness on my own television over the years. In my fantasy-centric brain, it's not surprising that my mind wandered to the gridiron — more specifically, the dynamic duos of fantasy football championship lore. 

The year was 2012. It was a Week 16 matchup between the Cowboys and the Saints. New Orleans won 34-31 in an overtime thriller, but fantasy managers who started the Cowboys' Tony Romo and Dez Bryant had a thrill of their own in fantasy championship week. Romo went off, throwing for 416 yards and four touchdowns. Bryant caught nine balls for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The pair did everything they could for our fantasy squads, and that's what makes them legends in our world. We won't remember the Cowboys loss, but we'll remember the fantasy title.

Need an example in recent history? You need only look back to a year ago, when fantasy managers saw Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams combining for another championship-winning type of performance. In a huge win over the Titans, Rodgers completed 21 of 25 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Adams caught three of those scores while catching 11 passes for 142 yards. If you started this duo last season in your championship match, there's a good chance you hoisted your league's trophy in 2020. 

Week 18 brought us another duo to join these ranks of historic performances that will surely be burned into our memories for years to come. 

Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow were unbelievable in Sunday's win over the Chiefs. Burrow completed 30 of 39 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns. Not to be outdone for fantasy purposes, Ja'Marr Chase caught 11 of his 12 targets for 266 yards and three scores. Those who started these two in their championship matches are likely cruising to a victory. If not, I'd be interested to hear some of those stories in the comments below. 

I mentioned last week that the Bengals seem like a team on the brink of making some true noise in the league. I knew they were close, but a win like this, in that fashion, with your young quarterback and rookie wideout running the show … it's just too big to ignore. This offense can go toe-to-toe with anyone, as they just proved again. The defense lacks consistency, but when that gets figured out, this team is going to surprise a lot of people — though at this point, it may not be a surprise. 

Burrow and Chase are the latest duo to join the fantasy history books, and like Batman and Robin, these two look like they are the saviors that Cincinnati needs and that fantasy managers will want for years to come.   

Sunday Takeaways

• So, that Antonio Brown situation was … well … weird. Nonetheless, AB is out of Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers will have to rely on other playmakers on offense. Heading into the end of the season, expect Rob Gronkowski to see a bump in usage as Tom Brady's most trusted pass catcher. His seven catches on 10 targets for 115 yards led the team in each category.
• Another name to look out for in Tampa Bay: Cyril Grayson. He caught the game-winning 33-yard touchdown pass from Brady while totaling six catches for 81 yards. Grayson's eight targets were the second most of any Buccaneers pass catcher. With Brown no longer on the roster and Chris Godwin out for the rest of the season, someone has to step up. Also, there's this:

• Boston Scott was the leading running back for the Eagles in their win over Washington, rushing 14 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Scott also caught all four of his targets for 39 yards. Jordan Howard handled 11 rushes, but Scott was effective with his touches. With a game against Dallas up next, the Eagles likely will need to keep up on the scoreboard with the Cowboys' high-flying offense. That sort of game script could favor Scott and his skills in the passing game.
• D'Onta Foreman had another impressive performance. He carried 26 times for 132 yards and a score in a blowout win over the Dolphins. Foreman gets a favorable matchup against the Texans next week, so we could see him continue to pile up fantasy points in Week 18.
• With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out with a shoulder injury, Darrel Williams carried the load for the Chiefs in the loss to the Bengals. Williams rushed 14 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns, proving once again to be a reliable weapon in the Chiefs offense when given the opportunity. If he gets the nod again in Week 18, he'll have another good chance to produce against the Broncos.
• Mike Glennon completed four of 11 passes for 24 yards in a loss to the Bears. You read that right. It's really difficult to trust any Giants pass catcher when New York closes out the season against Washington. The silver lining: Saquon Barkley rushed 21 times for 102 yards.
• Devin Singletary waited until the end of the season to truly separate from the other members of the Buffalo backfield. In Sunday's win over the Falcons, Singletary carried 23 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This marked his third straight week of finding the end zone. Who does he get in Week 18? A date with the Jets. Singletary should eat.
• Rashaad Penny had another big game as the Seahawks unquestioned No. 1 running back. He rushed 25 times for 170 yards and two scores in Seattle's big win over Detroit. Penny is continuing to prove he deserves a spot as a starter in the league after injuries have derailed the early part of his career. With this level of play, he'll be hard to keep out of fantasy lineups when the Seahawks square off with the Cardinals in Week 18.
• They say patience is a virtue. Anyone who rostered DK Metcalf in 2021 and started him in Week 17 luckily had their patience rewarded. It's been a rough year, but the wideout caught six balls for 63 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Lions. Metcalf is living up to the potential of the talent we are all used to seeing. He'll look to find the end zone for the third-straight week when the Seahawks visit the Cardinals in Week 18.
• In his first start since Week 8 against the Cardinals, Trey Lance had a solid game against the Texans in Week 17. The rookie completed 16 of 23 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, adding eight rushes for 31 yards. It wasn't the lights out performance some were probably hoping for, but he got the job done against a team that the 49ers should beat. If Jimmy Garoppolo misses Week 18, Lance will have an interesting test against the Rams' defense. It's possible we see him use his legs a bit more in an attempt to keep the pass rushers honest. If so, he could have a nice floor for fantasy purposes.

Injury Notes

• Damien Harris exited the Patriots blowout win over the Jaguars with a hamstring injury. He was nursing the injury heading into the game, so his early exit may have just been a way to manage the injury and avoid further damage. If he misses time, Rhamondre Stevenson would be the biggest beneficiary.
• Michael Carter suffered a concussion in Jets' loss to the Buccaneers. He'll know enter the league's concussion protocol and hope to be cleared before next week's matchup against the Bills. If he misses time, Ty Johnson likely will fill in as the starter. If Tevin Coleman is activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, he likely will share work with Johnson.
• Ronald Jones left the Buccaneers win over the Jets in the third quarter with an ankle injury. If he's out next week, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Le'Veon Bell likely would split touches out of the backfield in a Week 18 matchup with the Panthers.
• Ricky Seals-Jones exited Washington's loss to the Eagles with a neck injury. The tight end was carted off the field after colliding with a cameraman on the sidelines. If he is sidelined for Week 18, rookie John Bates would operate as the team's No. 1 tight end.
• Joe Burrow left the Bengals' win over the Chiefs very late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. After the game, Burrow downplayed the seriousness of the injury. The situation is worth monitoring, but it seems that he will be good to go in Week 18 against the Browns.
• Michael Gallup left in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Cardinals with a knee injury. He suffered the injury while reeling in a touchdown pass from Dak Prescott. After the game, Jerry Jones revealed that the team believes that Gallup has a torn ACL. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the injury. If he's out, Cedrick Wilson will benefit with more consistent playing time as a reliable weapon for Prescott.