![Zach Pascal had two touchdown catches on Sunday. [Image Source: Flickr | KA Sports Photos]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/12/22/660x290/b_502x220x82/zach-pascal-had-two-touchdown-catches-on-sunday-image-source-flickr-ka-sports-photos_2560606.jpg "Zach Pascal had two touchdown catches on Sunday. [Image Source: Flickr | KA Sports Photos]")
As we have done every week since the start of the season, let’s take a look at the players who performed well in fantasy despite being mostly unowned. This week’s list includes a former second overall pick at quarterback who made his season debut and a tight end who is third on the depth chart when the team is at full strength.
To be eligible for this list, the player must have been owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues. Each week, we look at one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end.
Since most fantasy leagues end after Week 16’s action, this will be the last time this list comes out this season. It was fun to do and something that will likely be done in 2021 as well. After Week 16, we will instead look at the top fantasy performers of the year who went mostly undrafted. Fantasy leagues are often won not only through the draft but the waiver wire, so if you added anybody that makes their way on next week’s list, you were awfully happy.
QB - Marcus Mariota, Raiders (226 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 88 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown)
With Derek Carr leaving Thursday’s game with a groin injury, Mariota saw his first action as a Raider and recorded his second-most rushing yards in his 64-game career. According to CBS Sports, it is unclear if Carr will be ready to go for Week 16.
I've never seen Marcus Mariota play at a higher level than he is right now.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 18, 2020
RB - Tony Pollard, Cowboys (69 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 6 receptions, 63 receiving yards)
With Ezekiel Elliott a late scratch just hours before Sunday’s kickoff, fantasy owners didn’t have the chance to pick up his backup in Pollard. That’s a shame because, in his expanded role, Pollard actually was the highest-scoring running back for the week.
There goes Tony Pollard! @Tp__5 #DallasCowboys
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2020
📺: #SFvsDAL on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/EJLjYXQNy2 pic.twitter.com/2eklIxh6Jk
RB - Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins (122 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 reception, 5 receiving yards)
Like Pollard, Ahmed took advantage of the team’s starter (Myles Gaskin) missing Week 15 with an injury. Ahmed was the leading rusher for a Miami team that gashed the New England defense with 250 yards on the ground.
.@MiamiDolphins running back Salvon Ahmed delivered on a promise he made to his grandmother who is in the hospital that he would get 100 yards for her. In Sunday's game against the @Patriots, he rushed for 122 yards and scored a touchdown. https://t.co/1aX87jZROQ
— CBS4 Miami (@CBSMiami) December 21, 2020
WR - Zach Pascal, Colts (5 receptions, 79 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns)
Week 15 saw Pascal tie a season-high with five catches, finish with a new season-high of 79 yards, and score his third and fourth touchdowns of the year. It was the second time in his 46 career games that he caught two touchdown passes.
From an undrafted underdog to making game-changing plays in a playoff race.@ZachPascal6 never stops grinding. 💯 (by @Fidelity) pic.twitter.com/zAh0Ua3N1i
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2020
WR - Kendrick Bourne, 49ers (4 receptions, 86 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown)
It was one of Bourne’s best games as the fourth-year receiver set a new career-high with his 86 receiving yards. It came with a bit of luck, though, as he caught a 49-yard touchdown as time expired, which still wasn’t enough for San Francisco to pull out the win.
Trust me it wasn't pretty this week. But I got lucky thanks to that last minute TD catch by Kendrick Bourne from the 49ers
— Marjorie Dowhos (@marjoriedowhos) December 22, 2020
TE - Tyler Conklin, Vikings (3 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown)
With Kyle Rudolph missing the last two games, Conklin has seen a larger role for Minnesota. He now has eight receptions over those two outings and reached the end zone for the first time in his career on Sunday.
Not a bad time for your first score, @T_Conk1
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 20, 2020
📱: https://t.co/EYGyNNxBPN pic.twitter.com/7oA7gOHIhA
