Matt Ryan has been a top 12 fantasy quarterback
in each of the last three weeks.
Grab a Helmet
Matt
Ryan @ TB: Although they have
been a bit more stout lately, the Tampa defense isn’t a unit I’m
prepared to shy away from. Ryan’s home/road splits for fantasy production
have been terribly imbalanced, but this a match-up Ryan is used
to putting up Top-5 numbers against. Hot over his last three games
(9 total touchdowns and 23+ fantasy points in each) the Falcons
are playing only for pride in the final game of the season. In a
contest that has the highest potential scoring output, I’m more
than happy to roll with Ryan during a muddled Week 17 slate.
Jameis
Winston vs ATL: Everything
I said about Ryan applies to Winston this week. Winston has weathered
a tough end of the year schedule to be a QB1 option each week. Despite
two fumbles versus Dallas last week, he hung one of the few QB1
weeks on the Cowboys defense with 336 yards and a score to go along
with a 70%+ completion percentage. Winston seems to have righted
the ship, and proven to the Bucs that he’s the long term answer
in Tampa. I’m not sure about all of that, but he’s a high end starter
for the season’s final week.
Nick
Foles @ WAS: Foles once again
brought the Eagles back from the brink with a masterful performance
last week against the Texans. He set the Eagles franchise record
with 471 yards passing, and his willingness to take chances downfield
has totally opened up this offense. Previously left for dead receivers
Nelson Agholor and Alshon Jeffery have had season-best games with
Foles at the helm. The magic might end for this team regardless
of the result against Washington, but it’s clear this Philly team
has a new lease on life. I like the Eagle offense to keep rolling
despite a road division game.
Grab a Headset
Baker
Mayfield @ BAL: Mayfield
has been a revelation since the departure of Hugh Jackson and
Todd Haley. This offense is now built to suit his talents, and
he has a creative offensive staff that keeps defenses honest.
With that said, Baltimore’s defense put another notch in its belt
by absolutely throttling the Chargers on the road last week. The
Ravens are playing a brand of football that few in the NFL can
match or handle, and they seem to have the perfect formula for
putting the brash rookie in his place. I have a soft place in
my heart for the rookie from Oklahoma, as he won me a league this
past week, but I’ll take the Ravens defense at home in a must-win
game.
Mitchell
Trubisky @ MIN: Two reasons
I’m not a fan of Trubisky this week. No.1, the Vikings defense.
Minnesota has given up the 3rd fewest fantasy points per game
to quarterbacks this season, including a suffocating performance
against Trubisky in Week 11. The other reason Trubisky makes for
a shaky proposition this week in the dreaded Week 17 factor. The
Bears have a very small chance of improving their playoff seeding,
and considering that coach Matt Nagy wasn’t afraid to sit his
young quarterback ALL preseason, I don’t think he’ll hesitate
to rest his starters if this game, or the Rams game is getting
out of hand. In Week 17 you have to go with players you are sure
to give you full four quarters of football and I’m not sure Trubisky
fits the bill.
Marcus
Mariota vs IND: Supremely
talented, but equally fragile, it seems like Mariota simply isn’t
going to have much a career if he can’t stay healthy. Another
shoulder/arm/elbow injury caused him to miss most of the Week
16 win against Washington. This injury has lingered since Week
2, and the most innocuous of hits seem to trigger it. Mariota
will likely play through this latest flare up, but he’s
proven multiple times this season that he doesn't play effectively
with it. Tennessee will likely employ a very run heavy-based game
plan this week in an effort to protect their quarterback and keep
the other one off the field.
