My all-time favorite sports hero is Earvin “Magic” Johnson. I may have stated this before. I’ll forever argue that Magic is the greatest basketball player ever. Even greater than Michael Jordan, though LeBron James is catching up to both of them.

I’ve had avid sports fans raise their eyebrows when I’ve said that over the years. My argument was simple: He made his teammates better. When he ran the fast break, through his incredible vision and preternatural sense for where his teammates were at every instant, Magic would often thread the needle on often-spectacular passes. And by his making the pass cool again, he turned everyone on his team into a scoring threat. To this day, I don’t think I’ve seen a player who could dominate a game through passing and rebounding, and score just 8 points. 

When he was drafted as a 19-year-old who had just led Michigan State to a national championship over Larry Bird’s Indiana State team in what remains the highest-rated national championship title game in history. I don’t think I ever saw any other athlete have such a love for life and a bright smile. He still has that incredible smile that draws people to him and lights up every room. I still remember the day I went to see Michael Jackson in concert in the late ’80s at the Sports Arena. There was a commotion on one of the concourses, and it seemed to be moving like a slow wave. As I approached my section, I heard someone say, “It’s Magic!” Sure enough, I then saw his large hand waving gently to everyone on either side of the concourse before he came around and sat down in the front row. I still feel bad for the people sitting behind that 6-foot-9 superstar.

One thing I learned is that just as brilliant as his smile was and still is, his eyes said so much. There was an intensity to those eyes when he played, even when he looked as happy as a baby who just got a favorite toy. There are pictures of Magic staring straight at the camera, almost through the lens and into the soul of the person staring at the page.

That intensity showed that Magic burned for one thing: to win. He wanted to beat whomever was on the other side, even people who were friends of his like Bird or Isiah Thomas. He coined the playoffs, “Winnin’ time.” He even talked about going into a shell during the playoffs, where he didn’t go out at all and even limited how many times a day he ate. The goal was to win, and nothing was going to derail him from that singular mindset.

That’s where we are in the fantasy football calendar. You’re reading this, you’re in the playoffs. There’s only one mission. One directive… To win. Advance. Then win again and again through Week 16. 

So it’s time to stare down your opponent, and even if it’s a friend, you have to take that friend down. Sometimes that’s even more fun. And here, let’s take a look at some of the players who can help you win during the most important time of the year. Remember, only players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues are eligible for the Los Waivers column. Yes, it’s Winnin’ time!

QUARTERBACK
Philip Rivers @ Raiders
40%
Rivers is on a nice run with at least 285 yards in the past 4 games. He hit that mark in Week 13, completing 27 of 35 passes, 2 of them for TDs. The matchup looks juicy, as the Raiders are 23rd in fantasy PPG allowed to the QB. Then he has the Texans in Week 15, when he’ll be a great play against that porous D.

Mitchell Trubisky vs. Texans
13%
Could Trubisky be a streaming league winner? In all the crazy things that have happened in fantasy football over the years, this will rank up there. And it happening in 2020 would be so appropriate. Trubisky just finished throwing for 267 yards and a TD against the Lions. Now he has this tasty run through the fantasy playoffs: Houston, at Minnesota and at Jacksonville. All of those defenses are among the bottom dwellers in the league, and add to it that only the Houston game at Soldier Field has a threat of any weather being an issue. Again, it’s 2020. Crazier things have happened than even Trubisky leading your fantasy team to a title. 

RUNNING BACK

Ty Johnson @ Seahawks
2%
Through pure attrition Johnson is getting an opportunity. Le’Veon Bell has been released. La’Mical Perine is on IR. Frank Gore went into the concussion protocol after the Jets lost to the Raiders. Wally Pipp anyone? No, Gore hasn’t been playing long enough to have seen Lou Gehrig take the first base job from Pipp almost 100 years ago. Johnson ran the ball 22 times for 104 yards, and ran 14 routes, the most on the team. The Jets aren’t doing much offensively these days, but any back getting the lead caballo role in Week 14 at least can fall into the end zone to help your team. 

Peyton Barber vs. 49ers
1%
The numbers don’t pop: 14 carries for 23 yards and 1 TD against Pittsburgh in relief. Barber is not going to make anyone forget Antonio Gibson. But that toe injury could keep Gibson out a while. The 49ers are the #8 rushing defense, according to Football Outsiders. But if you lost Gibson, at least you’d have his replacement. 

J.D. McKissic vs 49ers
48%
McKissic’s usage in the passing game was going down as Gibson was becoming more utilized as a pass catcher. Look at what McKissic did Monday night after Gibson went out: caught all 10 targets for 70 yards. This could be James White-type of utilization. Seattle and Carolina follow the 49ers, if Gibson’s absence continues. 

WIDE RECEIVER

T.Y. Hilton @ Raiders
45%
Hilton is partying like it’s 2016 the past couple weeks. Against the Texans, whom he has made a habit of torching over his career, Hilton went off for 8 catches for 110 yards and 1 TD. Up next are the Raiders and their #21 defense in fantasy PPG allowed to the WR position. Then the Texans follow. In Week 16, the Steelers await after having just allowed 296 passing yards to Alex Smith. What’s that I said up above about crazy things happening in 2020?

Keke Coutee @ Bears
27%
Coutee did his best Will Fuller imitation, catching 8 of 9 targets for 141 yards. He was very much deployed as a deep threat. And he did it against a very good Indianapolis pass defense. Up next are the Bears (#11 against the pass), then at Indianapolis again. The Bengals await in Week 16, when I would feel most comfortable starting Coutee. 

Denzel Mims @ Seahawks
11%
The 3 targets against the Raiders’ forgiving pass defense seemed low, especially considering the 23 targets Mims received the previous 3 games. Up next are the Seahawks, who have been better against the pass of late, but still are #27 on the season. You’re not starting Mims against the #5 Rams in Week 15, but championship week the Browns and their #22 pass defense await.

Rashard Higgins vs Ravens
8%
Catching 6 of 9 targets for 95 yards and 1 TD put Higgins back on the map, though now come the Ravens. Sitting at #9 against the pass, the Ravens did have both their starting DBs get hurt against the Steelers in Week 12. Whatever level of health they’re at could determine whether you’re starting Higgins this week. The Week 16 matchup against the Jets looks tasty.

TIGHT ENDS

Cole Kmet
1%
The rookie Kmet has gradually taken ownership of the TE position for the Bears, highlighted by his 5 catches on 7 targets for 37 yards and 1 TD. More telling, Kmet outsnapped incumbent Jimmy Graham 54-34 on the way to 0 targets for Graham. We talked about the upcoming schedule earlier with Trubisky. Kmet paid off in DFS this past weekend, and almost got a TD the week before. Trubisky is definitely looking for Kmet in the red zone. 

Statistical sources: Pro Football Focus, Football Outsiders and Pro Football Reference.