Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Just last week I was all happy that we had two NFL games on Saturday. And now here we are in Week 17 and we don't have any. College football games, OK. It would still be nice if they could sneak one in for us. Don't even get me started on the fact that tomorrow's primetime game is Steelers-Bengals, which matters only for seeding purposes and to determine who gets to raise the "AFC North Champion" banner next fall. They should have flexed either the Chargers game or the NFC South title game, without question.
But nobody asked me. On to the Week 17 games.
Browns at Ravens: Somebody named Connor Shaw is starting this thing for Cleveland, which doesn't bode well for their chances of springing an upset and helping Houston or Kansas City sneak into the playoffs. I can't fathom using any Cleveland players here if you can possibly help it. EDIT: Josh Gordon has been suspended for this game. Baltimore's offense should have some success running the ball and do a lot of it; the passing game is less promising.
Jaguars at Texans: Jacksonville will try to run with Toby Gerhart, fail, then try to pass and probably struggle. Marqise Lee is the only Jaguar I'd reasonably be considering, maybe Jordan Todman (who will play more once Houston gets a big lead). Houston should run and run some more; Arian Foster will have a big game.
Chargers at Kansas City: In the Weekly we said we thought Kansas City would win this game, but now Alex Smith is out, and I think the Chargers are playing a little better right now. There's also the fact that Kansas City's chances of slipping in the playoffs are so remote that I wonder how amped up they'll be for this game. I like Branden Oliver here, as he'll do most of the running. Philip Rivers should keep things going although the matchup is tougher for him. San Diego's defense not too good, so Jamaal Charles looks fine.
Jets at Dolphins: Quickly, I like the Jets running backs and the key components of Miami's passing game, and that's about it. Won't be a high-scoring game and neither team cares that much.
Bears at Vikings: Minnesota's offense should be good, although I can't really get behind using Matt Asiata, because he's Matt Asiata. Charles Johnson, sure. Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett should be productive. There are a whole lot of meaningless games this week, which didn't figure to be the case just a few weeks back.
Bills at Patriots: Here's one of those where you can't be 100 percent sure New England will play everyone throughout. I think starters will start and New England wants to win, but I don't expect Tom Brady to come out after halftime, I don't expect Rob Gronkowski to play more than a series, and you never know how New England will use its running backs. If I had to start a Patriot back I'd be looking at Brandon Bolden as somebody who will play a lot. Wary of LeGarrette Blount, personally.
Eagles at Giants: This one I expect to be fairly high-scoring. The Giants are rolling up good numbers regularly and should do so here. Philly, meanwhile, has a bunch of guys playing for contracts and 2015 roles, notably Maclin and Sanchez. I like most of the key starters for both teams here. The running back situation is the biggest worry for the Giants, maybe the Eagles too (because no use getting somebody like LeSean McCoy hurt). I'd use Andre Williams over Rashad Jennings, but it's definitely risky if both are active.
Saints at Buccaneers: New Orleans will be glum that they're out of the playoffs and stuff, but they've tended to be stat-driven in recent years so I expect their offense to be productive. Tampa Bay, I don't know what they really care about, but no doubt management is quietly hoping for a loss and the No. 1 pick in next year's draft. I suppose you can start Doug Martin and the two main wideouts, plus any and all starting Saints.
Colts at Titans: The Colts really do want to put something positive on the field after last week's ugly beating in Dallas, but I still think it's risky counting on them doing too much here. Getting Andrew Luck hurt or T.Y. Hilton more hurt would be counter productive to any playoff run. Should be a lot of Trent Richardson, because even he should be able to run on the Titans. I would not want to use Luck or his main receivers. Tennessee I wouldn't want to use anyone because they're Tennessee and they've got Charlie Whitehurst out there.
Cowboys at Washington: Dallas might want to rest players here, but St. Louis winning in Seattle, while unlikely, isn't impossible, and at this point I think most of us expect Arizona to lose at San Francisco. So you can start Cowboys and figure they'll play plenty. Washington, they should play hard and have some success against a soft Cowboys defense.
Panthers at Falcons: This is the actual biggest game of the week, since one of these teams will still be playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, likely at Seattle, while the other will see their season end right here. I think I'm betting on Matt Ryan, and I'd be fine using his main receivers too. Steer clear of the running back committee, which should be split by Jacquizz and Devonta. Carolina should lean on Jonathan Stewart, thank heavens it only took them a few years to figure that out.
Raiders at Broncos: Denver needs to win this game to secure a bye, so you can use your regular Broncos without reservation. Julius Thomas is apparently playing hurt, though, and should be avoided. Raiders should be avoided because, you know, Raiders.
Lions at Packers: I'd like to think Detroit will make a game of this one, but Packers at home are tough to bet against. Maybe Detroit's defense can limit what Green Bay's offense does; I'd certainly rather use the passing game than count on Eddie Lacy, who did his job by helping me win a fantasy title last week, thanks man. He shouldn't do a lot against Detroit. Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb. Those guys are fine. Detroit will also probably pass more than run, but Joique Bell is a guy you're starting if you've got him.
Rams at Seahawks and Cardinals at 49ers: Grouping these games for the heck of it. You don't want any part of the Rams up in Seattle, but some will need to use Tre Mason. Seattle, Lynch and Wilson and Baldwin, those guys should be fine, Seattle needs a win to clinch that top spot. Arizona's offense, like St. Louis, can be entirely ignored. San Francisco, I'd consider Kaepernick and Frank Gore, with Arizona's defense maybe not quite as good as it was earlier (and deflated by the knowledge they're going to make a quick and quiet playoff exit).
Bengals at Steelers: I will concede there is some entertainment potential in this game, with likely plenty of offense and back and forth, up and down the field production. The problem is that I personally do not care who wins the AFC North, or which one of these teams ends up hosting the Chargers or (ugh) Ravens next week. I say ugh because we really don't need to see yet another Steelers-Ravens playoff game. A.J. Green is apparently healthy enough, and the other regular starters should be fine. I just wish the game mattered more, but this is what we get. And at least we'll know who the 12 playoff teams are by 7:30 Eastern, so there's that.
Enjoy the games.
