- Sheesh: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes missed WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on two separate potential monster touchdowns.
- Opportunity isn’t everything: New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson, Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson and New England Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton were the only three players in Week 17 with more than 100 unrealized air yards.
- So close: San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey was stopped at the one-yard line and didn't cap off the drive with a touchdown on two separate occasions on Sunday.
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Week 17 has come and gone. 16 NFL games brought joy, laughs and tears, so today, we’ll focus on the latter sadness and break down just how close some came to achieving fantasy football glory.
What follows is a breakdown on all the “sheesh” moments from Week 17. I’ve watched every game and used PFF’s backend tools to help determine instances when:
- Pass-catchers did receive an accurate pass that should have resulted in a score or big gain, but the ball was dropped
- Pass-catchers could have scored or picked up big yardage with a more accurate pass
- Players scored or picked up big yardage, but the play was nullified by penalty
- Ball carriers managed to get all the way to the one-yard line, but didn’t score
- Other random shit happened that tilted fantasy football managers of all shapes and sizes
Sheesh player of the week: Kansas City Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The ex-Packers wide receiver hasn’t exactly thrived during his first season with the Chiefs, but just realize MVS did his part in creating several big-play opportunities in Week 17.
First, the Denver Broncos busted a coverage early in the third quarter and left Valdes-Scantling wide open deep for what probably should have been a 73-yard house call. The problem was that Patrick Mahomes badly underthrew the deep ball and gave the defense enough time to catch up. Incomplete.
Next, Valdes-Scantling again broke open deep thanks to a nifty double-move, only for Mahomes to sail this attempt way too long and out of bounds. The play probably should have been an 80-yard touchdown.
MVSheesh pic.twitter.com/QP8IAlMU30
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 2, 2023
Sheesh play of the week: Los Angeles Rams QB Baker Mayfield barely overthrows Cam Akers on a potential 59-yard touchdown
The Rams nearly started off their ill-fated battle for Los Angeles with a bang when Akers broke wide open down the sideline. Mayfield did a good job going through his reads inside of an incredibly well-maintained pocket but simply couldn’t put the ball right where it needed to be. The pass wasn’t brutally overthrown – it did indeed hit Akers in one hand – but certainly wasn’t a dime. Remember that Akers went under his receiving yards prop by one yard. And for that, we sheesh.
Sheesh pic.twitter.com/I6LCck1OGP
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 2, 2023
So close, yet so far away
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