The week has finally come! The championship round has arrived in nearly all fantasy football leagues and formats. To those reaching this round, give yourselves a huge high five. Cleary, you deserve it! However, even though this if the final week of fantasy football for most, lots of decisions still need to be made. Several star players are out due to injury or to the health and safety protocols. As has been the case this entire season, there is no reason to worry. This fantasy football championship pickups are here to help bring home the title. Whatever the outcome this week, please know that the entire Belly Up family and I wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year!

Running Backs

Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers, 48.1% Owned

While it is true that the Chargers have been in Los Angeles for a few seasons now, they are collapsing just as badly as they ever did in San Diego. Case in point is the Sunday game versus the Texans. The Chargers went in as a double-digit favorite, but somehow turned those expectations on their head, suffering a humiliating 41-29 loss. Even so, that defeat cannot be blamed on Justin Jackson. Jackson did it all against the Texans, rushing 11 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Additionally, he was targeted nine times, catching eight for another 98 yards. He finished with 33 fantasy points, clearly saving some fantasy teams in the process. Obviously, all of the above came about because of the absence of Austin Ekeler. No one knows if Ekeler will return against the Broncos next weekend, but it certainly would pay off to have Jackson just in case. He may not be available, but if so, pick Jackson up without delay. At the very least, if an opponent does have Ekeler, prevent Jackson from going to that team if at all possible.

Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers, 50% Owned

For the second straight week, Jeff Wilson is one of the leading running backs to claim off waivers if available. He is right at the 50 percent owned mark and that needs to be close to 100 by the close of waivers. The reason? Just a glance at San Francisco’s schedule for championship week reveals that they next face Houston at home. Case closed. Of course, Elijah Mitchell may well return from his injury this week. Even if Mitchell does play, the 49ers are likely to take it easy on him after he missed playing in three straight games.

As for Thursday’s game, Wilson did score a touchdown against the Titans, but that was about all he accomplished. Wilson finished the game with 45 yards on 14 rushes while catching all three targets for another 12 yards. Clearly, those aren’t numbers to get too excited about, but as stated above, the 49ers play Houston next. There is no reason to overthink this decision. If Wilson is on the wire, make the claim and concentrate on what to do next.

Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks, 44.4% Owned

Without question, we are seeing the demise of the Seattle Seahawks right before our eyes. To lose to the Bears at home with Nick Foles at QB is inexcusable. Even so, the blame for the loss can’t be placed at the feet of Rashaad Penny. Recommended for pickup last week, Penny did everything to justify the pickup with a superior game against Chicago Sunday.

How does a stat line of 17 rushes for 135 yards, a 7.9 yards per carry average and a touchdown sound? Penny finished the day with 22 fantasy points. Without doubt, that works for all managers regardless of format. The kicker that should shoot Penny’s ownership percentage through the roof is that the Seahawks’ next opponent is the Lions at home. As with Wilson above, if Penny is available, stop analyzing right this minute and go pick him up. Certainly, he belongs on this fantasy football championship picks edition.

Wide Receivers

Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers, 16.2% Owned

After catching just four passes the past two games, it would seem strange for Allen Lazard to receive any recognition at all. That would be true just about any other week except for the fact that the Packers next face the Vikings and their last place pass defense at home. Green Bay is still fighting to lock up the number one seed in the NFC playoff race. There is no reason to believe they won’t utilize every weapon at their disposal to make that a reality.

Despite the lack of catches, Lazard has two touchdowns in the last three games. Additionally, Lazard does have 16 targets in that span, indicating that Lazard and Aaron Rodgers just need to get together on timing to make some real noise. It is the bet here that they will do so this week. Minnesota, obviously, will have their hands full with Davante Adams. That will free up Lazard to make plays. The wire can be a tough place to navigate this time of year and if Lazard is available, make the move.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots, 22.7% Owned

All that is required for Kendrick Bourne to get a recommendation this week is a clean bill of health. After all, with Jacksonville up next, no other information is nearly as important. The Jaguars are the 20th ranked defense in the NFL this season and have to hit the road to play the Patriots. Such an assignment clearly doesn’t set Jacksonville up for success. No question, Bourne will be one of the key beneficiaries of that fact.

Don’t look to the Buffalo game to receive any kind of rosy feeling regarding Bourne, or the Patriots for that matter. The Bills held Bourne to just two catches for 33 yards in a 33-21 victory. However, clearly, the Jaguars are not the Bills in anyway shape or form right now. New England will move the football and Bourne will be a primary beneficiary. With so many players leaguewide unavailable, Bourne can help a team short on receivers to take home the title.

Other Receiver to Consider:

It may seem foolhardy to recommend any player from the New York Jets against Tampa Bay. However, Braxton Berrios deserves such treatment after his game against Jacksonville. This is especially true for leagues that include special teams in their scoring. Not only did Berrios catch five of six targets for 37 yards, but he also had one of the highlight real plays of the day with his 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the second time in three weeks Berrios has scored over 23 fantasy points in a game. Several receivers are missing from the Jets lineup and adding Berrios could solve lots of receiver problems on a fantasy roster in time for the title game.

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, 30.4% Owned

Without question, the game that Cole Kmet had against the Seahawks is not the deciding factor in his recommendation this coming week. As is so often the case, the next opponent has much to do with it. In the case of Kmet and the Bears, that opponent would be the New York Giants at home.

The Giants are middle of the round at best at defending tight ends this season and have nothing to play for this time of year. For his part, Kmet caught four of five passes for 49 yards against Seattle. That averages out to 12.3 yards per catch, which is excellent for a tight end. It looks like 13 or 14 fantasy points should be his floor against New York, Any team needing tight end help can certainly use that. With the waiver shelves picked pretty much clean for the position, Kmet goes to the head of the line on this fantasy football championship pickups edition.

Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks, 18% Owned

As with other players mentioned here, the team that Gerald Everett plays for lost this past weekend. Like those players, Everett deserves no blame for the loss. Everett was targeted five times Sunday, catching four for 68 yards and a touchdown. The fantasy result was 16 fantasy points. Everett has now scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games. That makes for an excellent floor for Everett.

However, the clincher that paves the way for a recommendation this week is that Seattle has the Detroit Lions at home this Sunday. Despite the problems that the Seahawks have had this season, they should be able to handle a two-win Lions squad on their own field. Detroit ranks 20th in the league in pass defense. Best of all, only eight teams have allowed more receptions to tight ends this year than the Lions. It is safe to say there aren’t many attractive options at the position right now. Everett can help a fantasy team and is widely available. Pick him up without hesitation.

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers, 20% Owned

Much like Jeff Wilson above, adding Jimmy Garoppolo off waivers simply comes down to San Francisco’s next opponent: the Houston Texans. However, it is not as though Garoppolo has disappeared from the planet and has had some good fantasy games of late. He has eight straight games in which he has thrown a touchdown pass and has two in five of those games.

In fact, against Tennessee Thursday, Garoppolo completed 26 of 35 passes for 322 yards and a TD. He certainly needs to cut down on the two horrendous interceptions, but he didn’t have any in his previous two games. Garoppolo can certainly bring the magic against a listless Texan team. That information is all that is needed to make him the quarterback to add on this fantasy football championship pickups addition.

Mac Jones, New England Patriots, 18.9% Owned

The most important fact to consider when it comes to Mac Jones is that he survived, barely, Buffalo’s defense this past week. There are much greener pastures in store for him and his managers as the Patriots next play Jacksonville at home. Is that a nice way to start the new year or what? Just don’t pay too much attention to Jones’s play against the Bills Sunday. Honestly, it was brutal. There is no other descriptive word appropriate after Jones completed just 14 of 32 passes for a measly 145 yards and no TDs.

Add in the fact that he threw two interceptions and that completes the disastrous outing for Jones. The Patriots fell behind early against Buffalo, which placed Jones in a less than ideal situation. There is practically a zero percent chance that will be the case against Jacksonville this upcoming week. Jones should return to the 299-yard, two TD performance from the previous week. If a fantasy team is in need of quarterback help in the finals, Jones is as a safe a floor add as there is to be found on the wire. Simply stated, add him if needed.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football championship pickups edition! As always, I welcome suggestions, questions and input from all of my readers. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for the latest NFL, NBA, NHL happenings and all the sports news!

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