Jimmy G has scored 20-plus FPts in his
last three games and gets a depleted Rams team in Week 17.
Grab a Helmet
Jimmy
Garoppolo @ LAR: My how things change. At the start of
the year these two franchises were expected to fight for scraps
at the bottom of the division, and now, in Week 17, we could be
looking at a budding California rivalry. The Rams are in the playoffs
and are basically locked into their seed. Jimmy G. has somehow gone
4-0, and made all phases of San Fran’s roster better (does he sit
in the defensive and special teams meetings too?). The Niners are
literally the hottest team in football with a four-game win streak
and the Rams are expected to rest most of their significant starters.
With as sketchy as Week 17 is from a fantasy perspective, go with
the guy that’s been white hot.
Philip
Rivers vs OAK: The Shot Caller’s Report is by far the
hardest to do during Week 17. Teams are either resting starters
for the playoffs, or playing out the final game before the offseason.
And then there are a handful of teams fighting for their lives.
The Chargers are one of those teams. They need to win to have a
shot at the post-season, and they host a Raiders team coming off
a tough cross-country loss to the Eagles. Rivers has cooled in recent
weeks, but he’s got a prime matchup against a Raider defense that
has given up some monster weeks to QBs this season. This Chargers
team is as baffling as they come, but with everything on line, and
their workhorse running back hobbled, I’m betting on Rivers.
Joe
Flacco vs CIN: Normally I wouldn’t advocate for Flacco,
but sticking with the theme of settling on teams that have everything
to play for, means all roads lead to Joe. Cincinnati played inspired
last week against Detroit, but has given up some big weeks to quarterbacks
in the last month. Flacco has accounted for 8 touchdowns and only
1 turnover during the last four games, and is coming off a game
against the Colts that saw him complete a season high 76% of his
passes. Baltimore needs to win this one, and will be a scary wildcard
team if they get in. Fire up Flacco and his mates for your Week
17 fantasy needs.
Grab a Headset
Jameis
Winston vs NO: A nightmare season for Winston and the
Bucs is about to come to an end. Injuries and sideline antics
have overshadowed Winston’s play on the field. Considered a fantasy
sleeper my many prior to the season, Winston and this offense
fell hard. Devoid of big plays in the passing game, Tampa hasn’t
been able to overcome adversity this season, and counting on them
to put up a fight against a hungry Saints team is asking a lot.
Nick
Foles vs DAL: Foles and the Eagles offense were dreadful
Monday night against the Raiders. Maybe it was the Christmas Day
hangover, or they just overlooked their opponent, but the passing
game was out of sync, and that’s not a good thing going to the
playoffs. But reading the tea leaves this week tells me that Foles
is unlikely to play a full game against Dallas. Head Coach Doug
Pederson has said he will get his quarterback “as many reps as
possible” this week. That sounds like a half to me, as he also
needs to get back-up Nate Sudfeld some real life reps before the
playoffs.
Matt
Ryan vs CAR: It speaks volumes for Ryan’s fantasy value
that I have him in this spot in Week 17, in a must win game. The
former MVP is putting up his fewest fantasy-points-per-game (18.5)
since his second year in the league. Despite returning all of
the skill position players from a year ago, Ryan has regressed,
and hasn’t had a two touchdown game since Week 11. For 16
weeks he’s done close to nothing, and a monster break-out
game against a division rival who also has something to play for,
seems incredibly unlikely. He hasn’t been worth the trouble
all season, why start now.
