NFL Barometer: Bengal Burning Bright

While many leagues crowned their champions in Week 16, there are also a fair share of formats that are still in action as the NFL wraps up its regular season. As we dive into the final regular-season edition of the Barometer, let's take a look at who's heading into the offseason or postseason on a strong note and who appears to have already packed it in.

RISING

Quarterback

Joe Flacco, Ravens- Flacco looked downright pedestrian for a couple of different multi-game stretches earlier this season, but he's steadied his production during the stretch run. The strong-armed veteran has thrown for between 237 and 288 yards and generated a 7:1 TD:INT over the last four games, completing between 61.9 and 76.3 percent of his passes in three of them. He'll also be in a favorable Week 17 position against the Bengals as the Ravens look to clinch an AFC wild-card spot with a victory.

Tyrod Taylor, Bills- Taylor is also helming a team still harboring playoff hopes heading into Week 17, and he's coming off a solid two-week stretch during which he's thrown for 505 yards and a touchdown while rushing for an additional 58 and another score. Sunday, he'll draw a matchup versus a Dolphins defense that's allowed the 10th most passing touchdowns (25) in the NFL, and that he just compiled 266 total yards (224 passing, 42 rushing) and two total touchdowns against in Week 15.

Running Back

Giovani Bernard, Bengals- Bernard found himself right back in the driver's seat in the Bengals' backfield early in Week 16, as rookie Joe Mixon exited with an ankle injury. As he did when Mixon was forced from a Week 13 contest with a concussion, Bernard parlayed emergency duty into meaningful fantasy production, rushing for a season-high 116 yards and a touchdown while adding seven catches for 52 yards in an upset win over the Lions. With Mixon questionable for Sunday's season finale against Ravens, Bernard could see a full workload once again.

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys- The word coming into Week 16 was that Elliott was in excellent shape due to his intense workout regimen during his six-game suspension, and that the Cowboys would give him plenty of opportunities against the Seahawks. His readiness to resume a workhorse role and the team's willingness to afford him the opportunity were both borne out, as he logged 28 touches and 118 total yards, even without All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in the lineup most of the game. Dallas' playoff hopes are long gone, but Elliott should once again be fed plenty against the Eagles in the season finale, especially considering quarterback Dak Prescott's recent struggles.

Todd Gurley, Rams- Naturally, Gurley has already made this space previously during his outstanding season, but he appears to actually be peaking as the postseason approaches. The third-year back's Week 15-16 body of work consists of 456 total yards (270 rushing, 186 receiving) and six touchdowns overall. The Rams still have a chance to improve playoff positioning in Week 17 (although they can't eclipse the No. 3 seed due to regular-season losses to both the Eagles and Vikings), so Gurley could still see a regular workload versus the 49ers come Sunday.

Wide Receiver

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers- Godwin racked up 98 yards on three receptions in a Week 16 starting opportunity, with the bulk of that production coming on a 70-yard catch-and-run. The rookie had been able to capitalize on his pair of starting opportunities this season, and he could well be in for a third run with the first unit against the Saints in Week 17 if DeSean Jackson (ankle) is held out once again.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals- Fitzgerald had exhibited a pattern of slowing down considerably in the latter half of the last few seasons, but he's decidedly reversed that trend in 2017 despite fielding passes from Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert. He's tallied a pair of 100-yard efforts since Week 10, with the more recent outing coming against the Giants last Sunday (nine receptions, 119 yards, one touchdown). He's also posted at least five catches in four straight games and has seen a whopping 25 targets in the last two, keeping him in play for a Week 17 tilt against the short-handed Seahawks secondary.

Tight End

Eric Ebron, Lions- Featured in this space just two weeks ago, Ebron returns for a quick cameo as a result of maintaining the positive play he'd started exhibiting at that point. The veteran tight end has five catches apiece in the last two contests, including a touchdown grab in each. He also eclipsed the 80-yard mark through the air for the second time in the last three games in Week 16, and he draws a tantalizing Week 17 matchup versus the Packers to close out the campaign.

Antonio Gates, Chargers- Gates exploded out of mothballs in Week 16 to post season bests in receptions (six) and receiving yards (81), while also scoring for the second consecutive week. The fact that he's out there running routes at age 37 is offset by the fact that he hadn't logged more than 27 snaps in any game since back in Week 6 prior to last Sunday, giving him fresh legs in late December for likely the first time in his long career. With Hunter Henry (kidney) on injured reserve, Gates should once again see plenty of targets against the vulnerable Raiders defense in Week 17 as the Chargers try to keep faint playoff hopes alive.

FALLING

Quarterback

Dak Prescott, Cowboys- The Cowboys' playoff hopes have been officially dashed, and Prescott's play in some second-half games didn't exactly help their cause, especially since several came while Elliot served his suspension. Moreover, with Elliott back in the fold in Week 16, Prescott underwhelmed once again, throwing for just 182 yards and his second straight two-interception game in a home loss to Seattle. He's now thrown for under 200 yards in five of his last seven games, and a Week 17 road matchup against the Eagles defense isn't exactly a recipe for him to right the ship.

DeShone Kizer, Browns- Like most rookie signal callers, Kizer has had his moments this season, but matters are on the downswing again as the campaign comes to a close. Kizer has back-to-back zero-touchdown, two-interception outings in which he's also thrown for under 200 yards, and he could well be in for another rough day at the office on the road against the Steelers in a Week 17 matchup.

Running Back

Mike Davis, Seahawks- Davis appeared to be long-awaited answer to the Seahawks' running back woes a few weeks back, but the harsh reality of relying on one of the most ineffective offensive lines in the NFL has caught up to him. The 25-year-old tailback has netted just 44 yards on 21 rushes (2.1 yards per carry) in the last two games, and although he's offset that somewhat with six receptions, he's still provided fantasy owners with middling production overall.

LeGarrette Blount, Eagles- The more versatile Jay Ajayi appears to be asserting himself as the lead dog in the Eagles' three-headed backfield, leaving the one-dimensional Blount in an increasingly reduced role. While his short-yardage and goal-line proficiency should continue affording him a fair share of opportunity, the veteran bruiser has notably failed to exceed eight carries, 3.3 yards per tote or 26 rushing yards in any of the last four games. Meanwhile, although he's yet to generate any spectacular numbers, Ajayi does have double-digit totes in three straight contests, a trend that's likely to continue in Week 17.

Wide Receiver

Zay Jones, Bills- Jones has been completely shut out on the stat sheet for three straight games, a particularly surprising development considering that No. 2 wideout Jordan Matthews went on injured reserve after Week 13 with knee and ankle injuries. The rookie speedster had appeared to be hitting his stride with 18 catches in the five games he'd played between Weeks 8 and 13, but the momentum he'd generated is a distant memory.

Devin Funchess, Panthers- Funchess has surprisingly been a bit player in the Panthers' passing game over the last two weeks, compiling just four catches (on eight targets) for 26 yards during that stretch. The slump came right in the heart of the fantasy postseason for most of his owners, and a lingering shoulder injury that he's been toughing out could certainly be playing a role. Carolina's playoff positioning is still highly fluid, but it's a bit risky to trust Funchess going into Week 17, even with fellow pass catcher Damiere Byrd (lower leg) heading to injured reserve.

Jordy Nelson, Packers- Nelson has seen a multi-week downturn that even Aaron Rodgers' one-game return back in Week 15 couldn't shake. The former Pro Bowler hasn't topped 79 receiving yards all season, has posted under 20 receiving yards in three of the last five games and is now contending with a shoulder injury that could well keep him out of the regular-season finale versus the Lions. Even if he's able to suit up, there's no reason for optimism, especially with Brett Hundley under center.

Tight End

Ricky Seals-Jones, Cardinals- Seals-Jones was a waiver-wire darling during Weeks 11-13, a stretch in which he racked up nine catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns. His subsequent crash back down to earth has been pronounced, as he's managed just a trio of grabs for 31 yards over the subsequent three games, including a blanking in Week 16 against a Giants defense typically vulnerable to tight ends. With quarterback Drew Stanton showing a heavy preference for Larry Fitzgerald in the passing attack, Seals-Jones' fantasy prospects remain dim heading into the regular-season finale versus the Seahawks.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jets- ASJ has done a solid job of reviving his career in 2017, but he won't exactly finish on a strong note overall. The fourth-year tight end hasn't topped 27 receiving yards or four catches since Week 10, while his best YPC over the last four contests is an unsightly 6.5. Bryce Petty's limitations under center certainly don't help his cause either as the Jets finish off the season on the road against the Patriots.