Bye Weeks: N/A

Ready to Rebound: Jamaal Chalres hasn't cracked double-digit fantasy points the last two weeks.

Grab a Helmet

Jamaal Charles v. SD: Despite being the one and only consistent playmaker on his team, Charles has really been underutilized, especially in the fantasy playoffs. He’s suffered some bumps and bruises this year, but will fall well short of his fantasy totals of 2013, especially as a receiver where he has only racked up 38 catches for 283 yards. He hasn’t had over 20 touches since Week 12, but I think that will change in a big way this weekend. The Chargers were gashed by the 49ers and Frank Gore last week, and Charles had his third-highest yardage total of the season in Week 7 at San Diego. Look for close to 20 carries and additional 5 catches, as well as a long touchdown or two, making Charles one of the best RB1 plays in the season’s final week.

Jonathan Stewart @ ATL: Quietly one of the hottest running backs in the NFL, Stewart is coming off one of the better four game stretches of his career. With 78 carries for 435 yards (5.5 ypc) and two scores in his last four games, Stewart has not only become a focal point of a resurgent Carolina running game, he is benefiting from the renewed running threat of Cam Newton. He looks powerful, fast, and most importantly, healthy. Expect the Panthers to use the run to set up the play-action pass game on the road in a winner-take-all game against Atlanta. With some of the top backs possibly getting rest in Week 17, Stewart could provide some amazing RB2 value.

Arian Foster vs. JAC: In 2014 Foster proved that when he’s healthy, he’s one of the most consistently productive NFL backs. With 12 touchdowns and a nearly 5-yard per carry average this season, Foster has been a big part of fantasy rosters this year. In Week 17 he gets a Jacksonville team he torched for 127 yards and a score in Week 14. Look for a similar stat line this week as Houston tries to keep their dim playoff hopes alive.

Grab Some Pine

Isaiah Crowell v. BAL: After a Week 12 game against Atlanta where he rushed for 88 yards and 2 scores on only 12 carries, I thought for sure Crowell would be leading a host of fantasy team’s to their league championships. But that fantasy stardom never materialized, and many owners were left as disappointed as a bad kid on Christmas. Since that Week 12 explosion, Crowell has failed to top 55 rushing yards in a game, and has only found the end zone once. During that time the Cleveland offense has tanked, and the culmination is a Week 17 road game with an unknown entity at quarterback and a date with a dominant Baltimore run defense. Maybe next year.

DeMarco Murray v. WAS: Injuries to his hand and the offensive line have limited Murray to back-to-back 2.6 ypc games, but he was saved by three short-yardage touchdowns in those games. With disaster averted last week against the Colts, look for Dallas to back off Murray in a big way this week against Washington as Dallas is virtually locked into the No.3 seed. With a reduced role, and little to play for, don’t count on Murray for much in Week 17.

Branden Oliver/Donald Brown @ KC: Somehow, some way this Chargers team controls their playoff destiny in Week 17. Beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead, and they get in. Despite being on their 27th starting center, 4th tailback, and relying on some receiver from the CFL, this offense put up 31 second-half points against the 49ers last week. Oliver and Brown have basically canceled each other out as they have replaced the snaps of oft-injured starter Ryan Mathews. Mathews may or may not return this week, but it hardly matters, as this game will be decided on how well the line can protect Rivers. Neither of these backs gets enough touches to be anything more than fantasy leftovers in Week 17.

Wide Receivers