NFL Barometer: Tennessee Stud

The most critical time of year has arrived for fantasy owners, which makes it more pertinent than ever to identify who's heading in what direction in terms of their production and usage. There's plenty to dig into on both sides of the spectrum this week, with injuries and poor play opening up opportunities for some players. Without further delay, let's take the temperature of the fantasy landscape as we head into the thick of the playoffs.

Trending Up

Quarterback

Josh Johnson, Redskins: To say it was a long shot just a week ago that we would have considered ever uttering Johnson's name again in a fantasy context would be an understatement. Well, not only is he back on the radar for the first time since 2011, Johnson immediately earns the Trending Up label due to both his performance in relief of Mark Sanchez against the Giants last Sunday and the fact he's set to start the Redskins' final three games. The mobile veteran completed 11 of 16 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and an interception versus New York, and he added 45 rushing yards and another score on seven carries. A remaining schedule consisting of the Jaguars, Titans and Eagles brings a mixed bag in terms of matchups, but Johnson is nevertheless a fantasy option due to his starting role.

Running Back

Jordan Howard, Bears: Howard is still handling the same lead-back role he's carried all season, but he's finally started to find some running room over the last pair of contests. After averaging over four yards per tote in only two of his first 11 games, Howard has cleared the mark in each of his last pair of contests. The third-year pro is averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry during that span, and he's coming off his first 100-yard game of the season against the Rams on Sunday night.

Elijah McGuire, Jets: McGuire took over for an injured Isaiah Crowell early into the Jets' Week 14 win over the Bills and was entrusted with a game-deciding fourth-down carry with 1:17 remaining that he converted into a go-ahead touchdown. McGuire toted it 17 times for 60 yards overall and added another 23 yards on three receptions. He could well draw a Week 15 start against the Texans with Crowell's troublesome toe potentially keeping him out of action, and more favorable matchups versus the Packers and Patriots await to finish off the season if Crowell ends up going on injured reserve.

Derrick Henry, Titans: Henry's spectacular 238-yard rushing effort versus the Jaguars last Thursday night may have earned him a true lead-back role, but it will be difficult to gauge that until the Titans kick off against the Giants next Sunday, given coach Mike Vrabel's spotty deployment of his backfield this season. If Henry were to take on at least 70-75 percent of the carries moving forward, his elite speed/size combination could lead to handsome returns over what remains of the season.

Wide Receiver

T.Y. Hilton, Colts: Hilton's prospects are typically on the bright side, but he's really stepped it up a notch over the last four games. The veteran speedster has torched the secondaries of the Titans, Dolphins and Texans for a combined 25 catches, 479 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and he also brought in eight of 13 targets against the tough Jags secondary in the other game during that span. That's easily the best stretch of Hilton's season, leaving him peaking at just the right time for fantasy owners.

Jarvis Landry, Browns: It's just a two-game sample after a season of inconsistency, but the Browns may finally be figuring out that letting Landry touch the ball in as many ways as possible is a good idea. In Week 13, Landry brought in six of nine targets for 103 yards against the Texans. Then, he got into the end zone through the air for the first time since Week 7 against the Panthers last Sunday, and he parlayed two carries into a rushing score and 54 yards on the ground as well. Landry even uncorked an across-the-field pass to Nick Chubb that just fell incomplete, giving him involvement in all three phases of offense. A pair of favorable matchups are also on tap in the form of the Broncos and Bengals over the next pair of contests.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos: Emmanuel Sanders' Achilles tear in last Wednesday's practice bumped up a trio of young Broncos wideouts on the depth chart, with Sutton leading the way. Now the de facto No. 1 in Denver, Sutton didn't exactly get off to a rousing start in the role, bringing in just two of six targets for 14 yards. Nevertheless, given his clear upside and what should be a handsome target share over the last three games, his outlook is reasonably bright for the balance of the season.

DaeSean Hamilton / Tim Patrick, Broncos: Hamilton and Patrick are the other two wideouts that stand to benefit from Sanders' misfortune. Hamilton brought in seven of nine targets for 47 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers on Sunday, while Patrick contributed seven receptions (on 10 targets) for 85 yards and added 11 yards on a carry. Both players will continue to see expanded roles for what remains of the regular season, giving each a degree of utility in matchups versus the Browns, Raiders and Chargers.

Tight End

Vernon Davis, Redskins: It admittedly took much longer into the season than it usually does, but Jordan Reed finally succumbed to injury last Sunday against the Giants. The Redskins starting tight end isn't yet on injured reserve, but an injury to one of his troublesome toes appears to be serious enough to potentially knock him out for the final three games. Davis has proven he still has plenty left in the tank over the last two-plus seasons, seeing extended playing time in both the 2016 and 2017 campaigns. Davis collected 87 receptions for 1,231 yards and five touchdowns over that pair of seasons while often logging time in the same starting role he's projected to fill for at least Week 15 against the Jaguars.

Anthony Firkser, Titans: Jonnu Smith appears on the precipice of injured reserve after hurting his MCL in last Thursday's win over the Jaguars, opening the door for Firkser to serve as Tennessee's pass-catching tight end. The rookie has already been coming on over the last four games, notching at least three grabs in each. With a solid 12.6 YPC in tow and the potential for robust snaps moving forward, the athletic Firkser is an intriguing fantasy postseason prospect for those desperate at the fickle tight end position, and a high-upside keeper/dynasty candidate.

Cameron Brate, Buccaneers: We've seen Brate enjoy plenty of red-zone success over the prior two seasons, as the Harvard product scored 14 touchdowns overall during that span. He's already notched six scores this season despite spending the majority of it as a clear secondary option to starter O.J. Howard, with three of those coming since the latter's placement on injured reserve with ankle and foot injuries. Given his extensive rapport with quarterback Jameis Winston, Brate figures to continue receiving plenty of looks over the last three games.

Trending Down

Quarterback

Case Keenum, Broncos: Keenum just lost his No. 1 receiver for the rest of the season due to Sanders' aforementioned Achilles injury, and although the QB has the promising trio of Sutton, Hamilton and Patrick to work with, they remain an unproven group that's bound to have some growing pains. That could result in yet another hit to Keenum's production, which was already on somewhat of a downturn before Sanders' injury. The veteran had thrown for under 200 yards in Weeks 12 and 13 against the Steelers and Bengals, and he'd completed under 60 percent of his throws in three consecutive games overall. Then, he managed a season-low 4.4 YPA against the normally permeable 49ers secondary last Sunday while throwing for just 186 yards.

Mark Sanchez, Redskins: It took all of two-plus quarters for Sanchez to get the boot from the starting job, as he was pulled by coach Jay Gruden after going 6-for-14 for 38 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions against the Giants. Josh Johnson promptly came in and was exponentially more productive, leading Gruden to already name Johnson the starter for Week 15. Given how poorly he played, it's virtually inconceivable Sanchez gets another shot at the top job over the final three games, barring an injury to Johnson.

Running Back

Duke Johnson, Browns: There have been some signs of life from Johnson in a handful of games this season, but he's firmly on a downward swing as of late. Johnson only has a combined nine targets over his last four games, including zero in last Sunday's game against Carolina, when he also saw under 20 snaps for the third time in the the past four contests. For perspective, consider Johnson had seen nine targets versus the Chiefs in Week 9 alone. With coordinator Freddie Kitchens seemingly intent on utilizing Nick Chubb more in the passing attack (15 targets over last four games), Johnson appears on the outside looking in.

Isaiah Crowell, Jets: Crowell returns to this space due to his current health status, which appears precarious enough to potentially cost him the remaining three games. Crowell made it through just five snaps versus the Bills in Week 14 before exiting with the toe that had him questionable heading into the contest, and coach Todd Bowles reported Monday that his running back remains very sore. Crowell had rushed for just 30 and 19 yards, respectively, in two of the prior three games, and with Elijah McGuire and, to a lesser extent, Trenton Cannon showing well in his stead Sunday, Crowell could be rested in Week 15 at a minimum.

Latavius Murray, Vikings: Murray has done a fine job filling in for Dalvin Cook when called upon this season, but with Cook getting progressively more involved over the last several weeks, Murray has seen a corresponding drop in touches. Cook hasn't exactly lit the world on fire either, but he's clearly the higher-upside player. Murray has single-digit carries in three of the last four contests, maxing out at 21 snaps during that span. He also has just two receptions on three targets over that stretch, cementing his secondary role.

Wide Receiver

Calvin Ridley, Falcons: Ridley has turned heads in multiple games this season, but only one of those occasions has come over the last five games. Ridley did secure eight receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in Week 12, but he combined for just four grabs and 32 yards on nine targets in the subsequent pair of contests. He'd also totaled just six combined catches for 69 yards in Weeks 10 and 11, making it an extended stretch of middling production at a key time of the fantasy season.

Devin Funchess, Panthers: Funchess has been dealing with a back injury and a reduced role in the Panthers' passing game over the last three weeks. The fourth-year wideout missed the Week 12 contest against the Seahawks due to his back issue before bringing in just one of three targets for 10 yards against the Bucs in Week 13. Then, he was held catchless for the first time all season against the Browns last Sunday while playing a season-low 29 snaps. The emerging duo of Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore, both of whom have been highlighted in this space in recent weeks, have seemingly leapfrogged Funchess in the pecking order at this point.

Ryan Grant, Colts: Grant was a fairly prominent figure in the Colts air attack early in the season, but things have been on a downturn over the last several weeks. Grant missed Weeks 7 and 8 with an ankle issue, and he has just five catches for 39 yards over the subsequent five games. Dontrelle Inman's emergence certainly affected Grant's viability upon his return from the aforementioned two-game absence, and he seems relegated to a minor role, given his eight targets over the last five contests.

Jordan Matthews, Eagles: Matthews compiled 10 receptions for 170 yards in a three-game stretch over Weeks 8-11, but he's essentially disappeared since that point. With the Eagles passing game sputtering and Golden Tate also on hand to soak up slot targets, Matthews has all of two receptions for 10 yards and a touchdown on just four targets over the last three games. Moreover, he's logged single-digit snaps in two of those games, further illustrating his minimal role.

Maurice Harris, Redskins: Harris' situation is similar to Matthews in that he had a brief moment in the sun earlier in the season that has been followed by an almost complete disappearing act. Weeks 9 and 10 saw Harris post 15 receptions on 17 targets for a total of 176 yards. However, he has just one grab on 11 targets over the subsequent four games. The quarterback carousel in Washington certainly has a role to play in that atrocious catch rate, but Jamison Crowder's Week 14 recent return from injury has also factored in.