Week 17 Fantasy Football Previews & Predictions: A Wild Week For Fantasy Owners
Cam Newton (credits below)
You SHOULD be playing fantasy football this week.
You probably aren't, but you should.
For some reason, the most important week for many football teams has become irrelevant for fantasy owners as most standard leagues have developed 16-week seasons.
It seems that an even number works best for most schedules and there is the crazy fear that every top player in the league will be rested, so the drama that comes from Week 17 has been eliminated from most fantasy leagues, and that's too bad.
I started playing fantasy football 25 years ago in a standard year-long points league that included every week of the season. If one of your guys was being rested for Week 17, it was a challenge that every other owner had to deal with too. I stayed in that league up until about five years ago, so this 16-week schedule is still a little new to me and I refuse to embrace it.
I hate ending the fantasy season when there is still one more week of football to go.
So if you are reading this, you're probably still playing, and that is the way it should be.
Here’s a look at what to expect on Sunday:
Carolina at New Orleans: Cam Newton should finish up strong as he tries to keep up with the Saints and Steve Smith should be the guy hauling in those passes once again. New Orleans still has an outside shot at a first-round bye, so play all their studs like Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, and Jimmy Graham.
Buffalo at New England: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson could be sneaky plays this week as they take advantage of a weak New England pass defense that could be resting some guys. C.J. Spiller has become a solid RB2. I'd play Fitzpatrick over Brady in this game because the Pats have clinched a first-round bye, so I don't expect Brady, Welker or Gronkowski to be on the field in the second half.
Chicago at Minnesota: Toby Gerhart is a solid running back choice, especially if you had Adrian Peterson, and I like Percy Harvin to continue his strong late-season push. Kahlil Bell is a solid flex option.
New York Jets at Miami: The Jets have a tiny shot at the playoffs left, so they will play everyone, but that doesn't mean much because you can't count on any of them right now. I'd prefer Matt Moore, Reggie Bush, and Brandon Marshall as the top players for their position in this match-up.
San Francisco at St. Louis: The 49ers need a win to guarantee a first-round bye, so they will play everyone, but Frank Gore scares me because the 49ers may try to limit his carries if this game gets out of hand early, as expected. Steven Jackson is the only Ram you want.
Detroit at Green Bay: Should be a shootout between two playoff teams, but I only expect that for a half. I think both quarterbacks will put up big points early and Jordy Nelson and Calvin Johnson too. However, considering Matthew Stafford’s injury history and Aaron Rodgers’ importance to the Pack, I’d be surprised if either starter was in the game in the fourth quarter so it may sound strange, but you may want to look for options more reliable than two of the top fantasy quarterbacks.
Washington at Philadelphia: Nothing to play for here and I don't want any Redskins. I do think the Eagles will try to finish strong to save some pride from what has been an embarrassing season, so Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy are all solid plays.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville: Maurice-Jones Drew and the Jacksonville defense are the only things to consider playing here.
Tennessee at Houston: Could be some nice fantasy performances here from Matt Hasselbeck, Chris Johnson, and Jared Cook. I'm staying away from the Texans. Andre Johnson is going to play, but not enough for me to start him and I think Arian Foster will at best share the workload with Ben Tate, but don't expect Foster to get many carries considering he battled a hamstring early and the Texans will need him in the playoffs.
Seattle at Arizona: Marshawn Lynch is my No. 2 running back behind Jones-Drew this week. Larry Fitzgerald is the only Cardinal I'd trust.
Kansas City at Denver: You know Tim Tebow is going to find a way to get into the playoffs and keep his storyline going another week, so he's a top 10 quarterback for me as he will get nearly 20 points. Willis McGahee and Demaryius Thomas are also solid plays. Dwayne Bowe is a solid WR2 and I think Kyle Orton could be a sneaky pick if you fear your regular starter will not play a full game, Orton could also get near 20 points.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta: LaGarrette Blount is about it for Tampa Bay at this time and the Falcons are another of those teams with little to play for before the playoffs. I’d feel fine needing something from Roddy White and Julio Jones, but I think Jacquizz Rodgers takes some carries to let Michael Turner rest and I’d be surprised if Matt Ryan was still in the game late in the third quarter especially considering the blowout this could become.
Baltimore at Cincinnati: Ravens must win to clinch a first-round bye, so Joe Flacco is another one of those guys I’d consider playing over guys like Rodgers/Stafford/Brady, who could exit early. Ray Rice is a good bet here and I like Torrey Smith with Anquan Boldin out again. Andy Dalton is another of those QBs to consider because you know he will play a full game.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland: Steelers are still playing for a possible first-round bye, but I'm not playing Ben Roethlisberger off an injury this week. Rashard Mendenhall is in for another big week and I think Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown are good plays. The Steelers defense is a top-five pick for the week. No Browns for me.
San Diego at Oakland: I think Philip Rivers, Malcolm Floyd, and Vincent Jackson have a big day passing the ball against the Raiders. Carson Palmer is a safe play along with Michael Bush and Denarius Moore.
Dallas at New York Giants: If Tony Romo is good to go, I think he puts up big numbers along with Laurent Robinson, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and Jason Witten, but if not, then I don't want any of those guys. Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, and Ahmad Bradshaw are all good bets for the week.
You probably aren't, but you should.
For some reason, the most important week for many football teams has become irrelevant for fantasy owners as most standard leagues have developed 16-week seasons.
It seems that an even number works best for most schedules and there is the crazy fear that every top player in the league will be rested, so the drama that comes from Week 17 has been eliminated from most fantasy leagues, and that's too bad.
I started playing fantasy football 25 years ago in a standard year-long points league that included every week of the season. If one of your guys was being rested for Week 17, it was a challenge that every other owner had to deal with too. I stayed in that league up until about five years ago, so this 16-week schedule is still a little new to me and I refuse to embrace it.
I hate ending the fantasy season when there is still one more week of football to go.
So if you are reading this, you're probably still playing, and that is the way it should be.
Here’s a look at what to expect on Sunday:
Carolina at New Orleans: Cam Newton should finish up strong as he tries to keep up with the Saints and Steve Smith should be the guy hauling in those passes once again. New Orleans still has an outside shot at a first-round bye, so play all their studs like Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, and Jimmy Graham.
Buffalo at New England: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson could be sneaky plays this week as they take advantage of a weak New England pass defense that could be resting some guys. C.J. Spiller has become a solid RB2. I'd play Fitzpatrick over Brady in this game because the Pats have clinched a first-round bye, so I don't expect Brady, Welker or Gronkowski to be on the field in the second half.
Chicago at Minnesota: Toby Gerhart is a solid running back choice, especially if you had Adrian Peterson, and I like Percy Harvin to continue his strong late-season push. Kahlil Bell is a solid flex option.
New York Jets at Miami: The Jets have a tiny shot at the playoffs left, so they will play everyone, but that doesn't mean much because you can't count on any of them right now. I'd prefer Matt Moore, Reggie Bush, and Brandon Marshall as the top players for their position in this match-up.
San Francisco at St. Louis: The 49ers need a win to guarantee a first-round bye, so they will play everyone, but Frank Gore scares me because the 49ers may try to limit his carries if this game gets out of hand early, as expected. Steven Jackson is the only Ram you want.
Detroit at Green Bay: Should be a shootout between two playoff teams, but I only expect that for a half. I think both quarterbacks will put up big points early and Jordy Nelson and Calvin Johnson too. However, considering Matthew Stafford’s injury history and Aaron Rodgers’ importance to the Pack, I’d be surprised if either starter was in the game in the fourth quarter so it may sound strange, but you may want to look for options more reliable than two of the top fantasy quarterbacks.
Washington at Philadelphia: Nothing to play for here and I don't want any Redskins. I do think the Eagles will try to finish strong to save some pride from what has been an embarrassing season, so Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy are all solid plays.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville: Maurice-Jones Drew and the Jacksonville defense are the only things to consider playing here.
Tennessee at Houston: Could be some nice fantasy performances here from Matt Hasselbeck, Chris Johnson, and Jared Cook. I'm staying away from the Texans. Andre Johnson is going to play, but not enough for me to start him and I think Arian Foster will at best share the workload with Ben Tate, but don't expect Foster to get many carries considering he battled a hamstring early and the Texans will need him in the playoffs.
Seattle at Arizona: Marshawn Lynch is my No. 2 running back behind Jones-Drew this week. Larry Fitzgerald is the only Cardinal I'd trust.
Kansas City at Denver: You know Tim Tebow is going to find a way to get into the playoffs and keep his storyline going another week, so he's a top 10 quarterback for me as he will get nearly 20 points. Willis McGahee and Demaryius Thomas are also solid plays. Dwayne Bowe is a solid WR2 and I think Kyle Orton could be a sneaky pick if you fear your regular starter will not play a full game, Orton could also get near 20 points.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta: LaGarrette Blount is about it for Tampa Bay at this time and the Falcons are another of those teams with little to play for before the playoffs. I’d feel fine needing something from Roddy White and Julio Jones, but I think Jacquizz Rodgers takes some carries to let Michael Turner rest and I’d be surprised if Matt Ryan was still in the game late in the third quarter especially considering the blowout this could become.
Baltimore at Cincinnati: Ravens must win to clinch a first-round bye, so Joe Flacco is another one of those guys I’d consider playing over guys like Rodgers/Stafford/Brady, who could exit early. Ray Rice is a good bet here and I like Torrey Smith with Anquan Boldin out again. Andy Dalton is another of those QBs to consider because you know he will play a full game.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland: Steelers are still playing for a possible first-round bye, but I'm not playing Ben Roethlisberger off an injury this week. Rashard Mendenhall is in for another big week and I think Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown are good plays. The Steelers defense is a top-five pick for the week. No Browns for me.
San Diego at Oakland: I think Philip Rivers, Malcolm Floyd, and Vincent Jackson have a big day passing the ball against the Raiders. Carson Palmer is a safe play along with Michael Bush and Denarius Moore.
Dallas at New York Giants: If Tony Romo is good to go, I think he puts up big numbers along with Laurent Robinson, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and Jason Witten, but if not, then I don't want any of those guys. Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, and Ahmad Bradshaw are all good bets for the week.
Written by Steve Mims exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @nwsportscards
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(December 3, 2011 – Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images North America)
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