While the NFL season still has a full month of merriment to go, Crunch Time for fantasy mavens is now.

Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 in Minneapolis. Chicago won 12-10. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

For most leagues, Week 14 is the regular season finale, with three weeks of playoff combat to follow. And the NFL schedule those weeks will play a huge factor.

The schedule in Weeks 15 through 17 is shaping up well for a pair of Vikings. Running back Alexander Mattison and tight end T.J. Hockenson may stand out against three not-too-imposing defenses: Cincinnati in Week 15, Detroit in Week 16 and Green Bay in Week 17.

Next week, we’ll take a look at the players who could face tough sledding against prolific defenses during the fantasy playoffs. But for today, here are players who could overperform when you need them most, and the defenses they will face over the next three weeks:

RUNNING BACKS
D’Andre Swift (Eagles RB) – Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals
Austin Ekeler (Chargers RB) – Raiders, Bills, Broncos
Josh Jacobs (Raiders RB) – Chargers, Chiefs, Colts
Bijan Robinson (Falcons RB) – Panthers, Colts, Bears
Jaylen Warren (Steelers RB) – Colts, Bengals, Seahawks

Philadelphia Eagles’ D’Andre Swift in action an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PASS CATCHERS
D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks WR) – Eagles, Titans, Steelers
Chris Olave (Saints WR) – Giants, Rams, Buccaneers
Nico Collins (Texans WR) – Titans, Browns, Titans
Christian Watson (Packers WR) – Buccaneers, Panthers, Vikings
David Njoku (Browns TE) – Bears, Texans, Jets

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) celebrates one of his touchdowns during an NFL football game against the , Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in Dallas, Texas (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

QUARTERBACKS
Brock Purdy (49ers QB) – Cardinals, Ravens, Commanders
Russell Wilson (Broncos QB) – Lions, Patriots, Chargers
Matthew Stafford (Rams QB) – Commanders, Saints, Giants

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs the ball and is pushed out of bounds by Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA. 49ers defeat the Eagles 42-19. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

Sitting stars

The Jets have apparently decided they’re done blocking for RB Breece Hall. … Dallas’ Tony Pollard won’t post great numbers against the Eagles as the Cowboys focus on their air attack. … Steelers RB Najee Harris will regress vs. the Patriots’ unheralded defense. … As will Cleveland RB Jerome Ford vs. the Jaguars. … Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs is coming off three mediocre games and will add a fourth against the Chiefs. … The Rams’ Cooper Kupp will be covered very tightly by Baltimore. … And two quarterbacks you can expect to underperform are Seattle’s Geno Smith vs. San Francisco and the Rams’ Matthew Stafford vs. Baltimore.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) is tackled by the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Matchup game

We like Detroit RB David Montgomery facing his old team, even though the Bears statistically rate as one of the league’s best rush defenses. … Giants RB Saquon Barkley is due for a good game against Green Bay. … Cleveland WR Elijah Moore appears to be a favorite of new QB Joe Flacco. … Receivers we like this week include Dallas’ Brandin Cooks vs. Philly, the Chargers’ Keenan Allen vs. the Broncos and Denver’s Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy against the Chargers. … Two backup QBs should have a good game facing each other: the Colts’ Gardner Minshew and the Bengals’ Jake Browning.

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Injury watch

Trevor Lawrence’s ankle injury and C.J. Beathard’s elevation likely ended the Jaguars’ hopes of getting the AFC’s top seed. … Tennessee RB Derrick Henry should be good to go Monday night in Miami after leaving early Sunday, so Tyjae Spears will continue to wait for his big chance. … Rhamondre Stevenson’s ankle injury means New England’s rushing attack will consist entirely of Ezekiel Elliott. … Houston WR Tank Dell is done for the year after breaking his leg. … Other QBs who were injured Sunday are Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett and New Orleans’ Derek Carr. … Notables listed as questionable include Philly RB D’Andre Swift, Green Bay RB Aaron Jones, Pittsburgh RB Najee Harris, Seattle RBs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, Rams WR Puka Nacua, Packers WR Christian Watson, Cleveland WR Amari Cooper and Philly tight end Dallas Goedert.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is assisted off the field after he was injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Deepest sleeper

We’ll admit we had never really heard about Jacksonville rookie wideout Parker Washington before Monday night. The rookie from Penn State came into the game with exactly zero career receptions. But then Christian Kirk injured his groin, and Washington came on in relief and caught six passes for 61 yards and his first-career touchdown. That score came when he pulled in the ball after it deflected off Cincinnati safety Dax Hill in the back of the end zone. He’ll likely see similar action in the next couple of weeks for the depleted Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11), left, catches a pass for a touchdown in the endzone defended by Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill (23) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

The Thursday pick

Patriots at Steelers (-5):
Pick: Steelers by 7

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) plays during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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