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Colby Cavaliere | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Quarterbacks
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 17
12/29/16
QBs | RBs | WRs

Bye Weeks: N/A

EJ Manuel

EJ Manuel: One of the few backup quarterbacks that has some legitimate fantasy value in Week 17.


Grab a Helmet

EJ Manuel @ NYJ: Coming off another lost season, Manuel looks to close out his Bills career on a high note against a Jets defense that gave up a few weeks ago. Manuel has been a pretty huge bust since being a first round pick several years ago, and hasn’t managed a meaningful snap this year. His two spot starts in 2015 weren’t disasters, and he’s shown the ability to run the ball a little if he has too. He’s one of the few quarterbacks healthy and playing for something in Week 17. Manuel is trying to put some good game tape together in order to garner a decent job in 2017. Although they are out of playoff contention, the Bills will be fired up to embarrass the Jets and I expect that they’ll go all out, giving Manuel some decent upside at a bargain basement price.

Russell Wilson @ SF: Wilson has 7 touchdowns in his last two games, is playing a historically bad 49ers defense, and hits the road in what amounts to a very important game for playoff seeding. Wilson and the Seahawks beat the tar out of the Niners in Week 3 and I expect a similar result. The Seattle running game is banged up, and it would be nice for Seattle to jump out to an early lead for once. I look for Seattle to come out gunning. The Niners have given up the 3rd most touchdown passes in the league, so look for Wilson to add a few more to that total before Week 17 is complete.

Drew Brees @ ATL: Brees is the ultimate competitor, so although he won’t be motivated by playoff opportunities, Brees does get another shot to vanquish a division foe on the road. After a two-week hiccup, Brees is back to his normal self with 688 yards and 5 touchdowns in his last two games. Drew has been well over 300 yards passing in his last five games against Atlanta, and the Falcons have the No.2 seed as motivation, meaning they aren’t going to give this one away. This game could have a final score total in the 70’s, so get Brees out there and hope for an absolute carnival of offense.

Grab a Headset

Matt McGloin @ DEN: Not only were the Broncos eliminated from the playoffs Sunday night, but their vaunted defense was kicked around by the Chiefs. They surrendered 33 points, gave up huge chunk play after another and generally looked outclassed. This week they play for pride as they host a Raiders team reeling from the loss of its MVP caliber quarterback. McGloin, who has been on the team for the past several years, steps in for the injured Carr and will get his first meaningful snaps since Week 1 of 2015. McGloin sports an 11-11 touchdown to interception ratio for his career and has really done nothing to inspire much confidence in his four years. This is a prideful bunch on Denver, and they are going to be sour about missing the playoffs after winning it all last year. McGloin is an incredibly tough spot and simply not a recommended start this week.

Dak Prescott @ PHI: Dallas keeps saying they are going to play their starters, and I don’t doubt that guys like Prescott and Elliott will start, I find it very hard to believe any of the “Big 3” see more than a half of football. The Eagles played inspired football last week against the playoff bound Giants, and I think they do the same this week. Will absolutely nothing to play for I look for Dallas to be smart and conservative with their starters. He’s been mostly magical all year, but Prescott isn’t going to be a usable option in fantasy this week.

Andy Dalton vs BAL: Other than an 86-yard catch and run touchdown by Brandon LaFell, Dalton has struggled to generate plays in the passing game since the loss of A.J. Green. With Green and Tyler Eiftert already ruled out for the season finale, it’s incredibly hard for me to find a scenario where Dalton lights it up against a Raven defense that will bring the hammer even in a meaningless game. Games between these two teams are always bloody street fights but Dalton is simply fighting with plastic weapons. Always a gamer, Dalton will hang in there and sling the ball around, but there are several other higher upside options.


Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers