Fantasy Football Matchups: Week 17
To prepare you as best we can for your week of Fantasy Football, we've devised this series of previews for each NFL game. We'll give you a taste of what to expect, then rank each significant Fantasy contributor on a scale from 1-5 stars (with five stars suggesting can't-miss; a player or unit without any stars suggests you probably shouldn't start him under any circumstances). The rankings take the matchup into account, but injuries and other significant factors also contribute. You should be able to compare the ratings for the players on your team and make an educated pick on who should start -- and sit -- in your lineup.
| Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Lincoln Financial Field |
| A Week 17 'just for fun' game. The winner makes 8-8, which would be a decent consolation prize for either franchise. The weather forecast is for rain and medium winds, which Buffalo has been used to. Rushing has been king in those poor-weather contests, so look for Marshawn Lynch to have at least 20 carries. Even if the Bills were able to pass, Philly's secondary has not allowed a passing score in their last nine quarters. The Eagles should rally behind Brian Westbrook for much of this game simply because the Bills haven't allowed a passing touchdown in four games. That's partially because their secondary is good, partially because their run defense is awful and partially because they've played in some really crummy weather. With the weather expected to be bad news again in Week 17, be careful starting Donovan McNabb and his receivers. Check the weather forecast before finalizing your lineup. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Trent Edwards | * | QB | Donovan McNabb | **** |
| Marshawn Lynch | *** | RB | Brian Westbrook | ***** |
| Fred Jackson | RB | Correll Buckhalter | ||
| Lee Evans | ** | WR | Kevin Curtis | ** |
| Josh Reed | WR | Reggie Brown | ** | |
| Robert Royal | TE | Brent Celek | ||
| Rian Lindell | ** | K | David Akers | **** |
| DST Bills | * | DST | DST Eagles | *** |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Dolphin Stadium |
| No playoff implications here. The Bengals didn't slack against the Browns last week, which gives hope that they won't be uninterested here. Hopefully, they have enough pride to play strong against a beatable team. Kenny Watson is an attractive option here assuming he starts over a hobbling Rudi Johnson as the Dolphins' run defense is awful. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson played better than their stats indicated last week, and Johnson especially could be motivated to finish strong playing in his hometown. The Dolphins have an easy matchup, but who can you trust? The list starts with Cleo Lemon and ends with Jesse Chatman and Lorenzo Booker, and that's only if you're desperate. Finally, kickers might be good here: Shayne Graham is a must-start and Jay Feely could have multiple field goals. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Carson Palmer | **** | QB | Cleo Lemon | ** |
| Kenny Watson | **** | RB | Jesse Chatman | ** |
| Rudi Johnson | RB | Lorenzo Booker | ** | |
| T.J. Houshmandzadeh | **** | WR | Ted Ginn Jr. | * |
| Chad Johnson | *** | WR | Marty Booker | * |
| Chris Henry | ** | WR | Derek Hagan | |
| Reggie Kelly | * | TE | David Martin | |
| Shayne Graham | ***** | K | Jay Feely | ** |
| DST Bengals | ** | DST | DST Dolphins | * |
| San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Cleveland Browns Stadium |
| Even though the Browns are in the AFC playoff hunt, this game has no implications -- the Browns' playoff hopes are tied to the Titans and how they do. That said, expect both teams to play their starters all game long. Shaun Hill (5 TDs in two starts) has done well auditioning for the starting job and has a good matchup here, but Frank Gore has the better matchup as the Browns have allowed two 100-yard runners and two rushing touchdowns in their last three games. Darrell Jackson (10 catches, 113 yards, TD) has come on strong and is a decent No. 3 sleeper. The Niners have been pretty good against the run lately, not allowing a 50-yard rusher or a rushing touchdown in two games (three if you take away Chester Taylor's long score three weeks ago). Even with that going for them, Jamal Lewis should still roll. Derek Anderson should rebound, though, as the Niners' secondary isn't dominant. And with the Browns going for their 10th win, expect a strong effort from all their star players. There is a chance of rain or snow for this game with medium winds, so keep the forecast in mind. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Shaun Hill | *** | QB | Derek Anderson | **** |
| Frank Gore | ***** | RB | Jamal Lewis | **** |
| Maurice Hicks | RB | Jason Wright | ||
| Darrell Jackson | ** | WR | Braylon Edwards | ***** |
| Arnaz Battle | WR | Joe Jurevicius | ||
| Vernon Davis | *** | TE | Kellen Winslow | ***** |
| Joe Nedney | K | Phil Dawson | **** | |
| DST 49ers | DST | DST Browns | * |
| Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Lambeau Field |
| The game is meaningless from a playoff perspective, but Rod Marinelli won't let his players sulk into the offseason, and Mike McCarthy will make his players play at least one half after lousing it up at Chicago last week. That said, the Packers should dominate when Brett Favre and the first teamers are in there. Favre had 381 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions on Thanksgiving, so expect at least half of that in Week 17. Ryan Grant should also be good for double-digit Fantasy points. The Lions' offense tends to ignore the run on the road, and especially when they're behind, so T.J. Duckett shouldn't be expected to shoulder much of a load. Jon Kitna will be forced to throw so long as he's in the game, and he'll deliver his usual high yardage total with a couple of turnovers. There could be some light snow with medium winds. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Jon Kitna | ** | QB | Brett Favre | *** |
| T.J. Duckett | ** | RB | Ryan Grant | *** |
| Tatum Bell | RB | Brandon Jackson | * | |
| Calvin Johnson | ** | WR | Donald Driver | *** |
| Shaun McDonald | ** | WR | Greg Jennings | *** |
| Mike Furrey | * | WR | James Jones | * |
| Sean McHugh | TE | Donald Lee | *** | |
| Jason Hanson | * | K | Mason Crosby | ***** |
| DST Lions | * | DST | DST Packers | *** |
| Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Raymond James Stadium |
| Believe it or not, the Panthers should beat up the Buccaneers here. Why? Because Tampa Bay will rest its starters in preparation for the postseason, much like they did last week at San Francisco. Look for certain Panthers to step up and play strong. Matt Moore wants to continue building his case for a job next year, DeAngelo Williams has seen extended playing time and is making the most of it, and Steve Smith is actually 46 yards shy of 1,000 on the season and one TD shy of tying his second-best touchdown mark. Plus, Smith loves to play big every chance he gets, and he'll have the chance here. Luke McCown, Michael Pittman, Michael Clayton and Jerramy Stevens will see most of the playing time for the Bucs. Pittman is OK in reception-based leagues, but the other three guys shouldn't be counted on for Fantasy help in the regular season finale. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Matt Moore | ** | QB | Luke McCown | * |
| DeAngelo Williams | ** | RB | Michael Pittman | ** |
| DeShaun Foster | * | RB | Michael Bennett | |
| Steve Smith | **** | WR | Michael Clayton | * |
| Drew Carter | WR | Micheal Spurlock | ||
| Jeff King | TE | Jerramy Stevens | * | |
| John Kasay | K | Matt Bryant | * | |
| DST Panthers | DST | DST Buccaneers | ** |
| Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Reliant Stadium |
| Jacksonville is expected to rest its starters for at least one half, which means guys like David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor (who might rest the entire game) aren't optimal Fantasy starters. On a whim, Greg Jones might be of use, but the reality is that Jacksonville has historically had trouble with the Texans. Houston will try to notch their first non-losing season, and that's enough to motivate this offense. Sage Rosenfels has been reliable for two scores a week, and he can do that here. Andre Johnson is a must, and Darius Walker isn't a bad play. Remember, the Jaguars will pull their premier defensive players, too. That only helps Houston. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| David Garrard | * | QB | Sage Rosenfels | *** |
| Quinn Gray | * | QB | Matt Schaub | |
| Maurice Jones-Drew | ** | RB | Darius Walker | ** |
| Greg Jones | ** | RB | Adimchinobe Echemandu | |
| Ernest Wilford | * | WR | Kevin Walter | * |
| Reggie Williams | * | WR | Andre Johnson | ***** |
| Marcedes Lewis | * | TE | Owen Daniels | *** |
| Josh Scobee | *** | K | Kris Brown | ** |
| DST Jaguars | ** | DST | DST Texans | ** |
| Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Georgia Dome |
| The Seahawks must fly across the country for a meaningless game, which must be a bummer for them. Look for the team to focus on getting its starters some career-best numbers, then pull their studs to save them for the postseason. Patrick Kerney is chasing the NFL lead in sacks, Bobby Engram is a touchdown shy of tying his career-high mark and Matt Hasselbeck is less than 30 yards shy of breaking his season-high in pass yards (he's already broken his personal TD mark). Plus, Mike Holmgren wants his starters to get some playing time and not get rusty a week before their playoff game at home. Figure the Seahawks will treat this game like it's their third preseason game, meaning the starters will play into the third quarter. Hasselbeck and his receivers should do well, but it's still hard to trust Shaun Alexander. The Falcons gave a good effort last week but might be eyeing the exits and not the scoreboard. You can trust Roddy White, who is having a career-best season, which makes Chris Redman a low-end desperation option. It will help that Seattle's defense won't be loaded with first-stringers all game long, so that puts Jerious Norwood in play as a sleeper. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Matt Hasselbeck | *** | QB | Chris Redman | * |
| Shaun Alexander | ** | RB | Jerious Norwood | ** |
| Maurice Morris | * | RB | Warrick Dunn | * |
| Nate Burleson | ** | WR | Roddy White | *** |
| Deion Branch | * | WR | Laurent Robinson | * |
| Bobby Engram | * | WR | Joe Horn | |
| Marcus Pollard | TE | Alge Crumpler | * | |
| Josh Brown | **** | K | Morten Andersen | |
| DST Seahawks | **** | DST | DST Falcons |
| New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears |
| Sunday, 1:00 pm, Soldier Field |
| New Orleans will play to win as their postseason hopes will still be alive for the duration of this game. Last year in the NFC Championship Game, Drew Brees struggled and the Bears teed off on him and the Saints in a rout. This year is different as Chicago is weak against the run but can still give passing offenses fits (just ask Brett Favre). The Saints might get Reggie Bush back and can use him and Aaron Stecker as a 1-2 combo running the ball, but there has been no indication that coach Sean Payton is disciplined enough to stick to such a game plan. Chicago will be up for this game; if they win, they have their first two-game win streak of the year, appease the fans and play spoiler. The Saints' secondary should be attacked, but the Bears lack the firepower. Kyle Orton has been OK but not great, and only Bernard Berrian has been consistent. The matchup suggests a good game for him, and Muhsin Muhammad also has a chance. Adrian Peterson looks good too, until you realize that the Saints have allowed one 100-yard rusher and one rushing touchdown in their last three games. Only if the Bears build a huge lead will Peterson do well, and they're not too reliable for that. Weather is not expected to be an issue. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Drew Brees | **** | QB | Kyle Orton | * |
| Aaron Stecker | *** | RB | Adrian Peterson | *** |
| Reggie Bush | ** | RB | Garrett Wolfe | |
| Marques Colston | ***** | WR | Bernard Berrian | ** |
| David Patten | ** | WR | Muhsin Muhammad | * |
| Billy Miller | TE | Desmond Clark | ** | |
| Martin Gramatica | **** | K | Robbie Gould | * |
| DST Saints | DST | DST Bears | *** |
| St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, University of Phoenix Stadium |
| Without question, this should be the Fantasy game of the week. Division rivals looking to finish strong and carry momentum into 2008, and neither one has any kind of defense. Oddly enough, Steven Jackson has never played strong against the Cardinals, including zero career 100-yard games. Expect that to change. Marc Bulger also has consecutive 300-yard games against the Redbirds with three touchdowns, and will face them with second stringers in the secondary. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce should play well. Arizona battles back with Kurt Warner, who has thrown at least two touchdowns in seven straight games (18 total) as he tries to play his way into a starting role next season. Warner hasn't been stunning of late against his old team, but he should buck that trend here. The only guy to worry about is Edgerrin James, who hasn't scored in five straight. He's done fairly well yardage-wise vs. St. Louis over three games as a Cardinal, so figure him to be a No. 2 RB here. Best part about this game? Weather won't be an issue! |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Marc Bulger | **** | QB | Kurt Warner | ***** |
| Steven Jackson | ***** | RB | Edgerrin James | ** |
| Brian Leonard | RB | J.J. Arrington | ||
| Torry Holt | **** | WR | Larry Fitzgerald | ***** |
| Isaac Bruce | ** | WR | Anquan Boldin | **** |
| Randy McMichael | * | TE | Ben Patrick | |
| Jeff Wilkins | **** | K | Neil Rackers | ***** |
| DST Rams | * | DST | DST Cardinals | * |
| Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, Invesco Field at Mile High |
| The Vikings must play to win to keep playoff hopes alive (they need Washington to lose to have a chance). After watching the Broncos run defense get stomped by LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor must be salivating. However, the blueprint on how to contain those guys is out there, and the Broncos will be sure to follow it. Even so, you've got to expect a strong effort from Peterson against a really disappointing run defense. There's also the 'U-Haul' factor: Are the Broncos going through the motions, or are they going to play hard one last time at home? They have played better at home all season long, but the Vikings defense will be on point. Selvin Young has hit the proverbial rookie wall and Travis Henry hasn't averaged 4.0 yards per carry since October and hasn't had more than 10 carries in any of his last three games. Denver hasn't played much at home of late, but in Jay Cutler's last four home games, he's topped 200 yards in each one with 10 total touchdowns. Expect him to play moderately well, which helps Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler as viable Fantasy options. Weather is not expected to be an issue. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Tarvaris Jackson | * | QB | Jay Cutler | *** |
| Adrian Peterson | ***** | RB | Selvin Young | * |
| Chester Taylor | ** | RB | Travis Henry | |
| Bobby Wade | WR | Brandon Marshall | **** | |
| Troy Williamson | WR | Javon Walker | ||
| Visanthe Shiancoe | TE | Tony Scheffler | *** | |
| Ryan Longwell | K | Jason Elam | *** | |
| DST Vikings | **** | DST | DST Broncos |
| San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, McAfee Coliseum |
| With a win, the Chargers clinch the No. 3 seed and avoid seeing the Jaguars in Round 1 and the Patriots in Round 2. Not only will they be motivated to get that seed, but they'll also be excited to crush their hated AFC West rival. LaDainian Tomlinson should play until the game is out of hand, which will likely be by halftime. Antonio Gates isn't a stud lock this week based on his sore back; the Chargers will rest him and Tomlinson as soon as they can. If he's not producing, Philip Rivers' numbers will be decent, not great. Chris Chambers should be good for 75 yards. The real winner will be the Chargers DST, which gets to carve up JaMarcus Russell and an otherwise uninterested Raiders offense. Only Dominic Rhodes is worth a look, and that's if you're really in need of a runner who will get around 15 touches. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Philip Rivers | *** | QB | JaMarcus Russell | * |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | ***** | RB | Dominic Rhodes | ** |
| Michael Turner | ** | RB | LaMont Jordan | |
| Chris Chambers | ** | WR | Jerry Porter | |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Ronald Curry | ||
| Antonio Gates | *** | TE | Zach Miller | * |
| Nate Kaeding | **** | K | Sebastian Janikowski | |
| DST Chargers | ***** | DST | DST Raiders |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, M&T Bank Stadium |
| The Steelers still have hope for the No. 3 seed, so they must win to put pressure on the Chargers, who play at the same time and must win to fend off the Steelers. With Willie Parker gone and Ben Roethlisberger not expected to start, this will be tough for Pittsburgh. Look for them to rely on their defense while limiting Charlie Batch's reps. Baltimore has allowed at least two passing touchdowns in four of its last five games, though, so Batch might not be terrible. Santonio Holmes matches up well with the Ravens' tattered secondary. Once the lead is built, Najeh Davenport should see some work but isn't promised all of it as the Steelers need to keep him healthy. No one is worth starting on Baltimore except Derrick Mason, who is the only reliable Fantasy option left. The Steelers have a bitter rivalry with the Ravens and should kick them while they're down. Rain is in the forecast. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Charlie Batch | ** | QB | Troy Smith | |
| Najeh Davenport | **** | RB | Musa Smith | * |
| Gary Russell | RB | Mike Anderson | ||
| Santonio Holmes | *** | WR | Derrick Mason | ** |
| Hines Ward | *** | WR | Mark Clayton | * |
| Nate Washington | * | WR | Devard Darling | |
| Heath Miller | *** | TE | Todd Heap | |
| Jeff Reed | *** | K | Matt Stover | |
| DST Steelers | ***** | DST | DST Ravens | * |
| Kansas City Chiefs at N.Y. Jets |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, Giants Stadium |
| It's the Herm Edwards Bowl, and it has no playoff implications whatsoever. I like how Kansas City battled back last week down 19-0 against the Lions, but losing that game didn't help their psyche. Dwayne Bowe is less than 20 yards from topping 1,000, and the team would like to get Kolby Smith as much experience as they can. You've got to figure that the Jets will want to show up their old coach, but an inexperienced offensive line and a lack of receivers will make it tough, even against Kansas City's thinned-out defense. Ultimately, this should be a close, low-scoring game. Limit your Fantasy starters from this game. Rain and/or snow is forecast for this game with medium winds. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Brodie Croyle | ** | QB | Kellen Clemens | ** |
| Kolby Smith | ** | RB | Thomas Jones | ** |
| Jackie Battle | RB | Leon Washington | * | |
| Dwayne Bowe | *** | WR | Jerricho Cotchery | *** |
| Samie Parker | WR | Brad Smith | ||
| Tony Gonzalez | **** | TE | Chris Baker | ** |
| John Carney | K | Mike Nugent | * | |
| DST Chiefs | ** | DST | DST Jets |
| Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins |
| Sunday, 4:15 pm, FedEx Field |
| The Cowboys are already without Terrell Owens and locked into the No. 1 seed. Expect them to treat this much like a third preseason game, if not a second or a first. It's a bad week to count on Tony Romo, Marion Barber or Jason Witten. We should see a glimpse of Terry Glenn, who missed the first 16 games rehabbing from knee surgery. Don't start him as it's unlikely he'll see more than a dozen snaps. Your sleeper RB is Tyson Thompson, but even that is a stretch. You're better off staying away from all Cowboys. The Redskins are playoff-bound with a win, so they'll be playing very hard. Clinton Portis' history vs. Dallas isn't very impressive (one TD in his last five games), but you have to figure they'll ride him. Dallas' run defense has taken a step back over the last two weeks; with their starters likely to rest, Portis should have a good game. Todd Collins also has a shot to throw for some scores but I wouldn't count on a lot of yardage. He's not bad as a top-end No. 2 QB. Rain is in the forecast, but with light winds. All the better for Portis. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Tony Romo | * | QB | Todd Collins | *** |
| Marion Barber | ** | RB | Clinton Portis | ***** |
| Julius Jones | RB | Ladell Betts | ||
| Sam Hurd | * | WR | Santana Moss | *** |
| Terry Glenn | WR | Antwaan Randle El | * | |
| Jason Witten | ** | TE | Chris Cooley | **** |
| Nicholas Folk | ***** | K | Shaun Suisham | * |
| DST Cowboys | * | DST | DST Redskins | *** |
| Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts |
| Sunday, 8:15 pm, RCA Dome |
| A win and the Titans are the No. 6 seed in the AFC. A loss and the Browns take their place. Knowing Jeff Fisher's track record, he won't let his team lose this one, especially against Indianapolis' backups. Expect the Titans to use their regular, conservative approach, running the ball and limit Vince Young's mistakes. Against Indy's backups, that shouldn't be a huge problem. LenDale White should be solid, Chris Brown has a shot at a cheap touchdown. No one else from Tennessee can be trusted. Tony Dungy has said that his backups will play at least a half; in the past we'd see Peyton Manning for a series and then on the bench. With Joseph Addai and Anthony Gonzalez banged up, expect Indy to keep its starters off the field for the better part of three quarters. That means we'll see a lot of Jim Sorgi, Clifton Dawson, Devin Aromashodu, Craphonso Thorpe and Bryan Fletcher. Against the Titans' first-string D, we can't say we'd recommend any of them. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Vince Young | * | QB | Peyton Manning | ** |
| LenDale White | **** | RB | Clifton Dawson | * |
| Chris Brown | ** | RB | Kenton Keith | |
| Roydell Williams | * | WR | Reggie Wayne | ** |
| Justin Gage | WR | Anthony Gonzalez | ||
| Bo Scaife | TE | Dallas Clark | ** | |
| Rob Bironas | **** | K | Adam Vinatieri | ***** |
| DST Titans | **** | DST | DST Colts | * |
| New England Patriots at N.Y. Giants |
| Saturday, 8:00 pm, Giants Stadium |
| The Patriots are going for perfection, which means plenty of work for their first-team offense. Tom Brady is two touchdowns shy of breaking the single-season TD record and is expected to try and polish off that task here. Randy Moss will play a role in that, though I wouldn't be surprised if Troy Brown or Mike Vrabel caught the record-breaker. It will be a challenge -- the Giants secondary has allowed one multi-TD passer in its last six games (last week at Buffalo). Once Brady's record is attained, the onus will fall on Laurence Maroney to make headway and keep New England in the lead. The Giants will likely do battle without much of Brandon Jacobs or Plaxico Burress, but they will attempt to deliver the first loss of the season to New England. They'll need an exemplary effort from Eli Manning, and that's hard to imagine considering how Manning has played. Ahmad Bradshaw should see the bulk of the rushing workload for Big Blue, who is locked into the No. 5 playoff seed. Weather is not expected to be an issue. |
| Name | Rating | Pos. | Name | Rating |
| Tom Brady | ***** | QB | Eli Manning | ** |
| Laurence Maroney | ** | RB | Ahmad Bradshaw | ** |
| Kevin Faulk | RB | Brandon Jacobs | ||
| Randy Moss | ***** | WR | Amani Toomer | * |
| Wes Welker | *** | WR | Steve Smith | * |
| Jabar Gaffney | ** | WR | Plaxico Burress | * |
| Kyle Brady | TE | Kevin Boss | ||
| Stephen Gostkowski | ***** | K | Lawrence Tynes | * |
| DST Patriots | **** | DST | DST Giants | * |
