Trashmans’ Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 17

One more week of fantasy finagling to bring home the gold. Hopefully you don’t have to make too many adjustments, but here’s the fallout just in case…

 

49ers – 17 @ Titans – 20

 

• Jeff Wilson(17/57/1) managed a goal line score in this one, and with Eli Mitchell seemingly far away from returning, Wilson would be a solid option against Houston in the finals. 

 

• No, nothing’s wrong with George Kittle, Jimmy G just got real bad, real fast on Thursday night. If you’ve survived Kittle’s flop, then you should feel good about using him against Houston this week. 

 

• It was almost an even split in the Titans backfield with D’Onta Foreman, Jeremy McNichols and Dontrell Hilliard splitting touches(9-7-7). Foreman managed to score, but he had only 17 yards otherwise. I can’t advocate using any of these guys in the finals. AJ Brown is the only Titan I’m interested in this week. 

 

Browns – 22 @ Packers – 24

 

• Baker Mayfield is stinking up the field, so you just can’t use anybody except Nick Chubb this week, as the Browns are playing a Steelers team they only scored 10 points against in their first meeting this season. 

 

• Aaron Jones had 17 touches to 12 for AJ Dillon against the Browns on Saturday. Double digit touches for a RB in a good offense warrants at least a flex, so you can start either back this week against Minnesota in a game that the Packers will be tuned up for, as a first round bye is in the balance. 

 

• Marquez Valdes-Scantling missed the game with COVID-19, leaving Allen Lazard to get 5 targets, one of which was a TD. MVS will probably return this week against a league worst Vikings secondary, making both Lazard and him risky flexes. If there is a game to take a risk like that in it’s this one though….

 

Colts – 22 @ Cardinals – 16

 

• Ty Hilton(4/51/1) scored on one of his 5 targets on the day, but he was a distant 2nd in looks to Michael Pittman(12). Only Pittman and Jonathan Taylor can be used this week against Oakland. 

 

• Chase Edmonds(24/127/1) feasted against the Colts with James Conner out with a heel injury. It’ll be important to keep tabs on Conner’s practices this week, as Edmonds would be a must start this week against the Cowboys if Conner can’t go. If Conner can play, Edmonds is still a solid PPR play.

 

• Christian Kirk(7/48) looks like the no.1 WR, in DeAndre Hopkins‘ absence. He makes for a strong play this week against a Dallas team that is opportunistic and tends to give up the big play. 

 

• Zach Ertz(8/54) had a whopping 13 targets in this one, as Kyler Murray‘s safety blanket. He makes for a solid TE option in the finals against Dallas. 

 

Giants – 10 @ Eagles – 34

 

• As long as Mike Glennon is QB for the Giants, which looks like the foreseeable future, no Giants pass-catcher can be used in fantasy. Kadarius Toney(4/28) did have 9 targets on the day, but only 4 of them were catchable. 

 

• Miles Sanders has a broken hand, and he’s out for the week. Jordan Howard and Boston Scott will split carries. They will each be flex considerations, as the Eagles run the ball more than any team in the league right now. 

 

Chargers – 29 @ Texans – 41

 

• Justin Jackson had a monster 2 TD game on Sunday in Austin Ekeler‘s stead. Unfortunately for him, Ekeler will probably be back this week. Jackson will still probably be involved, but he’ll be hard to trust against Denver.

 

• Josh Palmer(5/43/1) led the Chargers in receiving, with both Jalen Guyton and Mike Williams out with COVID-19, but both players are likely to return this week. Palmer would be too risky a play in the finals going up against Denver. 

 

• Rex Burkhead(24/129/2) showed us all what it might be like if the Texans actually stuck with one back for most of the game for once. Royce Freeman did have 12 touches, but they were fruitless. If David Johnson can’t make it back this week, Burkhead would be a high volume flex against the 49ers and the only Texans player besides Brandin Cooks that you could take a shot on. 

 

Ravens – 21 @ Bengals – 41

 

• Josh Johnson was ok in a last minute start for the Ravens, but he probably won’t be the QB this week, so I won’t extrapolate from his performance. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews are the only Ravens pass-catchers you can use this week, in any case. 

 

• Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray split touches almost evenly on Sunday to little effect. Freeman managed to score, but he had only 20 yards on the day. You can’t use either of these guys against the Rams this week. 

 

• You could’ve used any of the Bengals pass-catchers this week and been happy, as they all had double-digit fantasy point games in a career game for Joe Burrow. They’re all worth a start against KC this week in what should be a high-scoring shoot-out. 

 

Bills – 33 @ Patriots – 21

 

• With Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley out with COVID-19. Isaiah Mackenzie(11/125/1) went bonkers on the Patriots secondary. Neither Davis or Beasley are vaccinated, so they could both miss Week 17 as well, making Mackenzie a must start against Atlanta this week. 

 

• Damien Harris(18/103/3) handled 18 of the Patriots 26 backfield touches, with Rhamodre Stevenson out with COVID-19. If Stevenson returns this week, it limits both players’ upsides, but they would still both be reasonable starts against the Jaguars. 

 

Jaguars – 31 @ Jets – 33

 

• Dare Ogunbowale(19/72/1) is now the starting RB for the Jags, as James Robinson tore his achilles in the first half and is gone for the season. Ogunbowale will get plenty of touches this week, but the Jags play the Patriots so it’s no guarantee that he’ll be worth the start. He’s a risky flex. 

 

• Michael Carter had 124 yards on the day, but he only out-touched Tevin Coleman 18 to 15. The Jets play the Bucs this week, so I’m not using either back unless absolutely necessary, with Carter being the obvious first choice. 

 

Rams – 30 @ Vikings – 23

 

• Darrell Henderson has a knee injury and is questionable to play this week, making Sony Michel an excellent start this week against Baltimore. Even if Henderson goes, the Rams seem to favor Michel’s more powerful downhill running style. 

 

• Odell Beckham (4/37/1) has surpassed Van Jefferson as the no.2 WR in LA. I like Beckham this week, but Jefferson is dicey as he’s a deep threat but his floor is low. 

 

• Adam Thielen reaggravated his ankle injury during the game on Sunday but was able to return eventually. Kj Osborn(5/68/1) thrived in his absence, but If Thielen gets in a week of practice, Osborn isn’t an option this week. 

 

Lions – 16 @ Falcons – 20

 

• Jamaal Williams(19/77) took his rightful place as the lead back over Craig Reynolds(14/51), out touching him 19 to 14. They play the Falcons this week, so Williams is usable in most formats, while Reynolds is relegated to deep PPR formats. 

 

• Amon-Ra St. Brown(9/91/1) continues to roll as the sole pass-catcher worth playng in fantasy leagues. He’s a must start versus the Falcons.

 

• Kyle Pitts(6/102) has had 3 straight solid outings. The Falcons play Buffalo this week, but TE is one position that fares pretty well against them. 

 

• Cordarrelle Patterson(8/13/1) had another quiet day this week, which is a little disconcerting. Mike Davis matched him in touches, which seems odd, but Patterson should see plenty of touches this week against Buffalo, as the Falcons won’t be able to run right at them. 

 

Buccaneers – 32 @ Panthers – 6

 

• Ke’Shawn Vaughn(7/70/1) had a deceptively good line, scoring on a 55 yard run. It was all Ron Jones otherwise. Jones is the only backfield play this week for TB.

 

• Antonio Brown(10/101) was the only TB WR who did anything, but he was the only one who needed to, as the Bucs ran away with it early. The Bucs play the Jets this week, so things probably won’t change much. 

 

• The backfield in Carolina is all mixed up right now with no player eclipsing 6 touches on Sunday. It was against TB, so that tracks, but it just makes an easy decision to not start anyone against the Saints this week. 

 

Bears – 25 @ Seahawks – 24

 

• Darnell Mooney(5/57) saw 9 targets, but David Montgomery is the only Bear you can use this week against the Giants.

 

• Rashaad Penny bounced back after a down Week 15, putting up 135 yards and a score. With Detroit and Arizona on board, he seems like a safe bet from here on out. 

 

• DK Metcalf managed to score on a 41 yard play, but he had nothing otherwise. I’m hesitant to start him this week unless you really need to, even against Detroit. 

 

Broncos – 13 @ Raiders – 17\

 

• The Broncos play the Chargers this week, so it should be a run funnel day, full of action for Javonte Williams and Melvin Ingram. It’s hands off everyone else, as Drew Lock hasn’t shown himself to be an improvement on Teddy Bridgewater. 

 

• Peyton Barber managed a score, but his run on that drive was one of nine, the other 8 belonging to Josh Jacobs. Barber is not an option. 

 

Steelers – 10 @ Chiefs – 36

 

• Ben Roethlisberger seems like he’s given up on being accurate. Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson are the only sure bets going into Week 17 against the Browns. Chase Claypool(4/41) can’t be relied upon this week. 

 

• KC was without Travis Kelce on Sunday, and Tyreek Hill may have had a COVID-19 hangover, leaving Byron Pringle(6/75/2) to run wild. Kelce will probably return this week, and HIll will be more involved, so Pringle remains a daily option only. 

 

Washington – 14 @ Cowboys – 56

 

• This game seemed like an anomaly on several fronts, so it’s hard to take away much from the Washington side of things. Antonio Gibson was rested in the second half, when it was already a blowout, but he looked like he could have finished the game, despite rumors of injury. He should be good to go against Philly. 

 

• The Cowboys could do no wrong on offense against Washington and should continue to be productive this week against Arizona. Fire up whatever Cowboys you have, because it should be a shootout.