Week 17 is the single most difficult week to predict for fantasy football.
With NFL teams locking up playoff spots and studs being benched early in
games, there are just too many variables that can swing the wrong way and
leave some serious egg on your face. As such, most fantasy leagues
have their championship games in week 16. However, for those of you
facing week 17 championship games, we are still here for you and going to
give it our best shot to help you bring home the title. Having said
that, let’s get to it...
Give 'em the rock (a.k.a. Start)
Darren Sproles, RB, SD – With LT2 in all likelihood
only playing part of the game and with the wet tissue paper run D of the
Raiders on the slate, the only difficult thing here is predicting which back-up
will mop up all the fantasy points. Turner has a nicked-up shoulder
and is too valuable to risk taking any more abuse prior to playoff time, so
our money is on Sproles.
Aaron Stecker, RB, NO – For the Saints’ slim
playoff chances to remain alive, they will need a big game from Stecker.
The weather in Chicago this time of year demands a solid ground game, and
Stecker has been red hot over the last two weeks.
Shaun Hill, QB, SF – If you can’t beat them,
join them. Despite all common sense, Hill has emerged as a decent fantasy
option since taking over the starting reigns. Why would this stop against
the pathetic Browns secondary?
Frank Gore, RB, SF – Hill’s emergence has
kept opposing defenses honest and helped open things up for Gore. As
a duel run-catch option out of the backfield, Gore is awfully tough to stop
when you can’t stack 8 and sometimes 9 in the box.
Vernon Davis, TE, SF – Davis has emerged as
Hill’s favorite receiving target, and Davis has received 9, 7, and 6 targets
over Hill’s last three games. That is a healthy number of targets for
a TE. More targets = more opportunities to score fantasy points.
Brandon Jackson, RB, GB – It is hard to imagine
the Packers risking injury to Ryan Grant in a meaningless game against the
Lions. As such, someone else should emerge as a viable fantasy option
for the Packers ground game. Here’s saying the Packers take the rookie
Jackson out for another test drive to see if he can build on some good running
against the Bears last week.
Kolby Smith, RB, KC – With Larry Johnson done
for the year, it is the Kolby Smith show in Kansas City. We liked what
we saw from Smith last week and think that momentum will spill over into
yielding another solid effort in week 17.
Tory Holt, WR, STL – Holt has been a disappointment
this year, but this week he exits 2007 on a high note and shows what yelling
at your coach to get you the ball can do for you stat wise. The perfect,
pathetic opponent is on the slate: Arizona. If it looks explosive,
sounds explosive, and smells explosive... it’s explosive.
LenDale White, RB, TEN– The Titans need to win to get in, so you should expect this team and their best fantasy player, White, to have a solid day. White has been running pretty well and should have a nice day against the Colts. The Colts have nothing left to play for and that means Bob Sanders will see little action. Sanders gets injured too often and is too valuable to play much this week. That means there should be plenty of room for White to run.
Randy Moss, WR, NE– The only thing the Patriots have to play for is the perfect season. Based on the way the Patriots have played all season, you should still be able to get a TD out of Moss. The chances Moss has of nailing a huge game are limited, but he is still going to be out there for enough plays to warrant a start.
Donovan McNabb, QB, PHI– McNabb will likely be playing his last game as an Eagle in Philadelphia. He will put on a show for the home crowd just like the ex-girlfriend who wants to show her old boyfriend what he is (or will be) missing. McNabb is also auditioning for his new team, so expect some fireworks.
Brian Westbrook, RB, PHI– Westbrook is a great football player and he will give you solid numbers in a meaningless game. He knows he will be able to rest after this weekend, so expect him to take out some of his frustrations against Buffalo.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, SD– Tomlinson won’t play the whole game, but he will play enough against the poor Raiders run defense to warrant a fantasy start in week 17. Yes and as noted above, Darren Sproles is also a good start.
Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE– Lewis has been a great back the second half of this season. He will continue to run well this week since the team has a chance at a playoff birth.
Let 'em warm up the pine (a.k.a. Bench)
Julius Jones, RB, DAL – The Redskins have
a heck of a lot to play for and the Cowboys don’t. We have a hard time
seeing Marion Barber getting many touches with the playoffs on the horizon,
so that means Jones stands a decent shot at being the featured back.
The Redskins run D is nothing to be toyed with, and Jones is a sheep going
to the slaughter house. This could get ugly.
Willis McGahee, RB, BAL – McGahee suffered
two broken ribs last week and it makes absolutely no sense for the Ravens
to start him against a fierce Steelers D this week. However, nothing
official has been stated yet this week, so to cover our bases, we’ve got
McGahee on this list.
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET – It is going to be
cold and nasty in Green Bay, and the Lions are a mess. Need we say
more?
Musa Smith, RB, BAL – In all likelihood Smith
will receive the bulk of the Raven’s carries in week 17. The Steel
Curtain will clamp on him tighter than a German Shepherd on the TV show COPS.
Chris Chambers, WR, SD – Chambers has emerged
has a solid fit in the Chargers’ offense. While he had a nice week
last week, this week he faces a very solid Raiders secondary. Here’s
saying he can’t do it in back to back weeks.
Travis Henry, RB, DEN – Henry has been a major
flop this season. The Vikings are fighting for their playoff lives
and will make sure Henry ends the season with a grand flop. Avoid starting
Henry at all costs.
Warrick Dunn, RB, ATL – The Falcons are a
mess and so has been Dunn. In a historically unpredictable week of
the NFL, it is nice to know some things are still predictable.
Matt Moore, QB, CAR – For those in a QB pinch,
don’t get too excited over this rookie. Sure, his numbers are slowly
getting better and Steve Smith is running around begging to get the ball,
but Moore will show his true rookie colors with a bad game against the Bucs this week.
Devery Henderson, WR, NO – Yes Marques Colston
is banged up, but he is expected to play this week. For those of you
thinking Henderson is a sneaky play, we would shy away and look to a more reliable
option.
Peyton Manning, QB, IND– Since the Colts have nothing to play for and Tony Dungy has a history of resting good players, you can expect to see a whole lot of Peyton Manning wearing a ball cap on the sideline.
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND– See Peyton Manning. Wayne won’t be playing much either with Marvin Harrison still banged up.
Tony Romo, QB, DAL– We are concerned that without Terrell Owens and without anything at stake for the playoffs that Romo will have a light load in week 17. As a result, you should probably look for other options.
Brett Favre, QB, GB– Favre isn’t getting any younger and he has had a long season. This week he has nothing to play for, so you can expect to see Favre head toward the bench very early in the game.
Greg Jennings, WR, GB– See Brett Favre. The Packers need Greg Jennings healthy, so he will likely rest his sprained ankle.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, SEA– Hasselbeck will not see much action in a game that has no effect on the Seahawks postseason. Expect his backups to get some reps this weekend.
