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We didn’t forget about the fantasy wrap up.   You didn’t think that we would actually skip out on critiquing our performance did you?   Week 17 was a wacky week and it was a tough one for teams playing in a championship game.   Just figuring out who will play and who won’t play was a challenge in some cases.   If you followed our advice, we hope that your team was victorious.   We were able to make some outstanding predictions week 17 despite the amount of players being benched.   Join us as we go over our bench /start calls for week 17.

Note: Due to the unpredictable nature of week 17, the Docs recommended some studs to start this week rather than by-passing these calls as obvious.  Nothing is obvious in week 17 of the NFL.  In addition, they also recommended benching some studs, which is in clear violation of their firm belief to never bench your super studs.  Again, all rules are thrown out the window for week 17 of the NFL.

Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Muhsin Muhammad – This was a slam dunk start call week 17.   Muhammad had a fantastic game that would have been even better if the Panthers could have made it into overtime.   Muhammad had 95 yards receiving and 2 TDs.   Those are great fantasy stats in any fantasy scoring system.

Green Bay Packers D – We sure hope that you were able to get your hands on the Packers D for your week 17 game.   The Pack only allowed 14 points.   In addition, they had 1 interception that was returned for a TD and 9 sacks.   That is a ton of sacks.

Aaron Brooks – Brooks and the Saints gave the playoffs their best shot down the stretch, but in the end they fell a little short.   If you started Brooks week 17, you got a solid effort from this typically inconsistent QB.   Brooks had no turnovers, 11 yards rushing, 216 yards passing, and a 44 yard TD that gave you bonus points in big play leagues.

Joe Horn – Horn experienced somewhat of a resurgence in 2004.   He continued his fantasy streak by posting 75 yards receiving and a 44 yard TD strike.

Jason Elam – We called this super stud performance.   If you had Elam as your kicker week 17, you experienced a great fantasy game.   Elam had 3 PATs and 4 field goals.   Three of Elam’s field goals were 40 yards or more.   In many leagues, kickers get extra points for nailing the more difficult long distance field goals.

Curtis Martin – Curtis Martin became the oldest player in the NFL history to capture the rushing title week 17.   In the process of accomplishing this feat, he posted 175 yards of total offense in the Jets’ tough loss to the Rams.

Isaac Bruce – Bruce rekindled his old flame with Bulger by amassing 86 yards and a touchdown grab in Saint Louis’ win week 17.

Daunte Culpepper – Culpepper can almost always be counted on for big fantasy games.   Week 17 he was there for many fantasy teams while Peyton Manning and McNabb cooled their heels.   Culpepper had no interceptions, 299 yards passing, 2 TDs, and 24 yards rushing. The big man of the purple pride posted a solid fantasy week.

Randy Moss – Moss seemed to still be suffering from his injuries that he sustained earlier in the season, but he managed 66 yards and a touchdown.   Moss continues to prove that he doesn’t need to be 100% to have a good game.

Jake Plummer – Plummer was one of the best QBs out there week 17.   He came through with 2 TD passes and 1 rushing TD.   Amazingly, Plummer didn’t turn the ball over week 17.   Since Plummer managed to add some nice yardage to these gaudy stats, he was a solid play in almost all leagues.

Bench:
Michael Vick – Vick did get a TD pass, but his 35 yards passing and his 13 yards rushing were pretty ugly.   He was a good bench call week 17.

Alge Crumpler – Crumpler did not play, so most of you were very happy that he wasn’t in your starting line-up.

Edgerrin James – We said that most of you were glad that someone like Crumpler wasn’t in your week 17 fantasy line-up.   The question is, “Who would want a 0.00 from their fantasy player?”   The answer is people who started James.   James managed a negative score in many scoring systems.

Jerome Bettis – Goose egg for The Bus as well.   We hope you left him on your pine.

Brian Westbrook – Westbrook and much of the Eagles were cooling their heels week 17.   We will see how that works out for them in the end.

Plaxico Burress – Burress was another notable no-show week 17.   He makes another good argument for having your championship game week 16 instead of week 17.

Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben has a big Zero week 17.   We hope that you were able to get another QB in your line-up.

Donovan McNabb – McNabb was one of the few week 16 and week 17 no shows.   The week 16 was unusual, but don’t be surprised if the week 17 benching happens in future seasons for the Eagles QB.


Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Nick Goings – Goings didn’t score, but his yardage was solid.   His fumble made sure he remained in the so-so starts of the week.

Nate Burleson – Burleson had only 63 yards week 17.   He wasn’t going to help many teams week 17, but he wouldn’t have hurt your team that much either.

Rod Smith – Smith had no TDs, but he had 76 yards receiving.

Reuben Droughns – Droughns didn’t get 100 yards rushing and he didn’t score.   Tatum Bell took away more than a few carries from this RB down the stretch.

Bench:
Deion Branch – Branch only had 22 yards receiving, but his TD made him a so-so call week 17.


Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
None this week.

Bench:
Brett Favre – Favre had no turnovers and 2 TDs.   This made him a reasonable start.