If your fantasy league is one of those that includes week 17 then I feel sorry for you. No league should ever include week 17. It’s just not fair. Too many players are benched. Chances are that if you took Aaron Rodgers in the first round and are still alive, that Rodgers is the guy that carried you there. And now in the most important week of the season you really can’t use him. Let’s take a look at some of the key situations for this ridiculous fantasy football week.
Detroit @ Green Bay- A forgettable fantasy game. Neither of these two teams are playing for anything. Green Bay has already clinched home field advantage, and Detroit has already clinched a playoff spot. Which means major resting. I would not advise starting Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Ryan Grant, James Starks, or Kevin Smith. The only real positive from this matchup would be the defenses of both teams. Both are good starts this week because they should be facing backup QB’s Shaun Hill and Matt Flynn.
San Francisco @ St. Louis- Starting San Fran players is a go. The 49ers have not clinched a 1st round bye yet, so they must win. It should be a pretty easy matchup for them too. If anything, you will only have to worry about them jumping out to a big league and then resting their guys towards the end of the game. But if they do indeed jump out to a big league, that means they score a lot of fantasy points. All of their starters are good to go. I would use any St. Louis players with caution, because obviously they are playing a great defense.
New York Jets @ Miami- The Jets are in a crowded pool of teams fighting for the final wild card spot. This should be a pretty good matchup for both offenses. Proceed to use whoever you would normally use in this one.
Chicago @ Minnesota- Both teams are playing for nothing. Both teams are pretty banged up too. Expect a normal fantasy game here. I’m sure Percy Harvin will have another big day with Peterson being out. Toby Gerhart isn’t a bad option either.
Buffalo @ New England- Luckily for owners of Patriots players, home field advantage has yet to be decided in the AFC. So New England will be forced to start Tom Brady, Welker, Gronkowski, and crew. On another positive, the game will probably be high scoring too. If you have Tom Brady you probably just got a break big enough to win you your championship. Start everyone here.
Carolina @ New Orleans- As I mentioned with the 49ers, the first round bye spot in the NFC is undecided. Which means Brees will at least start this game. If they blow Carolina out he could sit the second half. But their rushing game is weak, so in order for them to blow Carolina out it will take a big day from Brees. Don’t be afraid to start everyone you normally rely on.
Washington @ Philadelphia- Nothing but bragging rights here. Unfortunately that’s probably bad news for LeSean McCoy owners. McCoy is banged up and really has no reason to play this week. That’s a gigantic blow to his owners. If you desperate add Dion Lewis. He has some upside as a starter. Roy Helu looks like he will play this week. All normal starters minus McCoy can be used.
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville- Here’s your worst game of the week. Will Indy want to avoid the Manning/Luck drama and win this one? Or will they throw the game to get Luck? Should Jacksonville throw the game to make sure Luck doesn’t come to their division? All good questions. All questions that make this game too much of a toss up for me.
Tennessee @ Houston- Not sure exactly how the tie breakers work if Baltimore and Pittsburgh both lose. But if they both lose and Houston wins then they are tied with the same record for the first round bye. If Houston still has a shot then maybe they will play full force. Tennessee is in the handful of teams still fighting for a playoff spot. That makes them an aggressive team this week. Definitely start any of their players that you have. I’m a little shaky on Houston.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta- I wouldn’t trust any Falcons. They have nothing to play for this week. I expect them to rest their starters, for the most part. So Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Michael Turner owners should be worried. I guess Tampa Bay actually has some upside if they are playing a second string defense.
Baltimore @ Cincinnati- This one sure is important. If the Ravens win they could win the division and get a bye. They could possibly have home field advantage with a Patriots loss. Cincinnati has to win to be in the playoffs. If they lose they are stuck in tie breaker hell. Definitely start your fantasy players in this one. Highly recommended.
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland- The Steelers have to win to have a chance at the division/first round bye/home field advantage. It’s a must win for them against a weak team. Don’t hesitate to start your Pitt players. Hesitate on starting any Browns whatsoever.
Kansas City @ Denver- It’s a must win for Denver who can win the division with a win. Kansas City has been very strong lately though, and would love to play spoiler. So start your guys regardless. Especially Tebow, who could have yet another big fantasy game.
San Diego @ Oakland- See Denver above. Oakland must win to have a chance to win the division. If both them and Denver wins then Oakland is could be stuck in a tie breaker for the wild card. If Oakland loses they are out for sure. So start their players. Also start the Chargers who want to play spoiler.
Seattle @ Arizona- Pointless game that determines who finishes a distant second place in the division. Avoid players from this game. There is no guarantee that either team will go full speed.
Dallas @ New York Giants- Definitely start everyone in this game. It’s the most important game of the week. The winner wins the division. If you have players on either of these teams then congratulations.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave the. The Fantasy God will respond to everything. Good luck if your playing this week. Your going to need it.
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So I have Matt Stafford and could have used him pretty badly this week but who would you choose out of these guys: Alex Smith, Matt Moore or Joe Webb. Not sure if Joe Webb is actually going to start and a risky start but I think he has big upside if he starts.
Oh and do you think Schwartz is actually telling the truth about playing this like a regular game?
I’m not sure what to think about his comments, but it does worry me that the game has no point of being played. I’m not sure I could put a championship on the line with Stafford in this situation…but you may have to. I would feel comfortable with Joe Webb, but it looks like Ponder is going to play. So Webb is out. Alex Smith is out by default because he’s Alex Smith. No way I would put a championship on him. He hasn’t even thrown for 200 yds in the last 3 games. That narrows it to Matt Moore and Stafford. It’s a tough matchup for Stafford against a nice pass defense. Check the status on Stafford rumors via Google and Twitter all weekend to see if any beat writers are talking about him coming out after the first half. If there are any signs of him not completing the game I’d go with Matt Moore. If you can’t find anything then you might as well let your superstar make or break you. Throw Stafford out there and go all in on him if your really ballsy. If you want to play it safe just go with Moore and put confidence in the rest of your team to carry you.
I meant “it’s a tough matchup for Moore against a nice pass defense.”
Thanks, I think I am just going to have to hope that Stafford goes off in the first half against second string guys. It couldn’t be worse for me to be in week 17. It sounds like McCoy is going to play to try and get the record for most yards but would you start Kahlil Bell over him because of the ‘if’ factor? Thanks again for all the help and looking forward to your Fantasy Baseball advice.
If McCoy is starting then I’d start him. You gotta rely on the guys that got you there to win it for you. I can’t wait to start fantasy baseball. That is my specialty by far.
I’m in the same boat. I need 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs and a flex. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
QBs – Stafford, Flacco
RBs – Benson, Foster, M Morris, Brount
WRs – Calvin Johnson, Fitzgerald, Decker, L Robinson, Driver
Thanks so much!
CM
Flacco is a safer bet. Same as above though. If your ballsy then go all in on Stafford. But he could kill you. If you want to play it safe then go with Flacco and rely on the rest of your team to carry you. Flacco should have to throw a good bit though, so it’s not a bad matchup for him. You have to go with Foster and assume that Houston at least starts the game with intentions of winning a bye. Foster could score early. You gotta go with Cedric Benson too. He does well against the Ravens and it’s a highly important game. I definitely see him scoring. Morris isn’t an option. I’m assuming Brount is supposed to be Blount. I don’t trust him. But he is 3rd on my list out of your guys. Decker also isn’t an option. He didn’t even catch a pass last week. Driver isn’t an option with Flynn throwing to him. Laurent Robinson personally burned me and costed me a championship last week, so I’m very scared of him. Larry Fitzgerald is definitely in. I’d also go with Calvin Johnson. I don’t think he will play the whole game, but if he’s playing a second string defense he will catch a long TD pass early. That means the flex would be Blount or Robinson. I trust Robinson bouncing back more than Blount. Which means I choose Flacco, Foster, Benson, Fitzgerald, Calvin, Laurent
Dear Fantasy God……….can you spare some time and visit Chow this weekend , he and his friends really need a fantasy……….
Thank you very much ,
Spy
Really appreciate your help! I’ll let ya know how it goes! Happy New Year!!
Candy
Best of luck. Really hope you win.
Fantasy God,
Need some help desperately. Please advise me.
Never won a championship before and would love the braggin’ rights.
Pick one – Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger, or Josh McCown
Pick one – Steven Jackson, Beanie Wells or Kahlil Bell (starter Ray Rice)
Pick two – Dez Bryant, Victor Cruz, or Calvin Johnson
Pick one – Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham
Thank you for your help.
JK
I pick Roethlisberger. McCown can’t be considered in the championship. I’d be shocked if Stafford played in the second half. Roethlisberger is in a must win situation against a weak team. That sounds good to me.
Steven Jackson is my RB pick. He usually isn’t very good against SF, but he’s been on fire lately…so I don’t care. I’d rather go with my 1st or 2nd round RB in the championship than go with a backup RB who just took over the job 3 weeks ago. Although I do like Bell’s upside. He is my second choice. I’d avoid Beanie. He is questionable and he’s been awful lately.
Definitely Dez Bryant. In 3 career games vs. NYG he has 4 TDs. Earlier this season he had 50/1 against them. Plus the game will be highly competitive, and it will be the last game of the week. So if your down it will be good to have that extra player still going to win it all. Picking between Calvin and Cruz is tough. Let’s go with Calvin. He will be facing 2nd stringers and could score pretty early. Plus in 8 career games vs. GB he has 9 TD’s. So even if he were playing 1st stringers I’d still like him to score early.
Jimmy Graham is the choice over Gates. Gates hasn’t been himself the last few weeks because SD hasn’t been themselves. The Saints have a reason to win and Graham has produced every week. He has 5 TD’s over the last 6 weeks and the last time he played CAR he put up 129 yards.
Big Ben, SJax, Dez, Megatron, Graham