This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
There is a reason that most season-long fantasy football leagues end on Week 16. Week 17 can be very weird for fantasy purposes. Teams are already locked in their playoff positions, so they will be resting players and/or playing very vanilla schemes. Also, other teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, so they are willing to play younger guys to get them experience. The news and team updates will be your most important resource this week to get a feel for which players are resting or will be playing more snaps than during a normal week of the season.
This week, I will explore the playoff scenarios for the games, identifying which teams have an incentive to play their studs and which teams will be resting key players. The information includes the game's over/under (total), the spread (home team), the playoff scenarios and information on teams that should be resting players.
Chicago @Minnesota (-6.5) – 44 O/U
Playoff Impact – None
Teams Resting Players – None
This game has no playoff impact. Both teams are eliminated, so they will not be resting their players. Minnesota has been playing well of late. I really like Charles Johnson ($6,100) and Mike Asiata ($6,400). Jay Cutler is playing again because of the Jimmy Clausen concussion. I wouldn't play Cutler or any of the other Bears except maybe Marquess Wilson ($5,800) as a cheap GPP wide receiver.
Buffalo @New England (-10.5) – 47 O/U
Playoff Impact – None
Team(s) Resting Players – New England Patriots
New England has clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, so they have no incentive to win this game or play their starters. If Tom Brady sits the full game, Jimmy Garoppolo ($5,000) becomes an interesting option. Besides Garoppolo, I wouldn't touch any Patriots in this game. The Buffalo plays are dependent on the news coming out of New England. If the Pats are resting a lot of their defensive guys (especially Darrelle Revis), players like Sammy Watkins ($7,000) become viable options.
N.Y. Jets @Miami (-5.5) – 42 O/U
Playoff Impact – None
Teams Resting Players – None
B oth teams are eliminated from the playoffs, so they will not be resting their players. I like the Miami passing game here. Ryan Tannehill ($8,300), Mike Wallace ($7,400), Jarvis Landry ($6,700), and Charles Clay ($5,400) are all solid plays. I am not playing any of the Jets in this game.
New Orleans @Tampa Bay (+4) – 46.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – None
Teams Resting Players – None
Another game with no playoff significance; however, there could be some fantasy value here. Kenny Stills ($6,000) is a solid mid-tier value and should be highly owned again this week. Also, I really like Tampa Bay wide receivers Mike Evans ($7,600) and Vincent Jackson ($6,500)
Philadelphia @N.Y. Giants (-3) - 52 O/U
Playoff Impact – None
Teams Resting Players – None
Both of these teams are eliminated from the playoffs; however, I expect this to be the most fantasy relevant game of the week. This game has the highest total by a 2.5 points and Eagles coach Chip Kelly is involved. Odell Beckham Jr. ($9,200) is close to a must play, even at his sky rocketing salary. He is averaging 30.83 fantasy points a game over the last three and gets a great matchup against the Eagles. ODB is a beast and could solidify the best second half of a rookie season in NFL history. Stacking Eli Manning ($8,200) and Beckham should make a great play in all contest formats. If Rashad Jennings (ankle) is ruled out, Andre Williams ($6,800) becomes a solid mid-tier value play. All of the Eagles are in play. My favorite is Zach Ertz ($5,400) coming off a monster game last week.
Carolina @Atlanta (-4) – 47.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – WINNER TAKE ALL
Teams Resting Players – None
Finally, here is a game with playoff impact; winner wins the miserable NFC South. This is the type of game I love to target on Week 17. Both teams will be throwing haymakers and going all out. Both quarterbacks should be considered, but I really like Cam Newton ($8,300) to get a rushing touchdown or two. If DeAngelo Williams (hand) is out, Jonathan Stewart ($6,600) is a wonderful option. Julio Jones ($8,700) and Kelvin Benjamin ($7,400) should be considered. I really like the idea of stacking both in a GPP and hoping for a shoot out. Greg Olsen ($6,400) makes a solid play at tight end and both kickers are in play.
Cleveland @Baltimore (-9) – 42.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – BAL in with a win + SD loss or tie
Teams Resting Players – None
This is a must win for Baltimore, so they should be going all out; all of their players are in play. Justin Forsett ($6,900) is my favorite play on the Ravens. Do not play any Browns. Clevelnad doesn't have a quarterback. The Browns even called Rex Grossman, but he declined because he has family in town for the holidays. It sounds like an excuse someone on my softball team would make for missing a game.
Dallas @Washington (+6.5) – 49.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – DAL can clinch a first round bye (too many scenarios to list)
Teams Resting Players – None
This should be a good game to target. Dallas is playing for playoff positioning and Washington is playing for pride. Alfred Morris ($6,700) is a nice play; he plays much better with Robert Griffin III under center. Most of the Dallas players are in play, but I wouldn't roster DeMarco Murray because of the hand injury. My favorite play on the Dallas side is Jason Witten ($5,500).
San Diego @Kansas City (-2.5) – 42 O/U
Playoff Impact – KC in with win +BAL loss +HOU loss or tie, SD in with a win
Teams Resting Players – None
Both of these teams are fighting to extend their seasons. Dontrelle Inman ($4,800) came out of nowhere last week to post a solid stat line. He makes a great cheap GPP dart to throw in a couple tournaments, if Keenan Allen (collarbone) is ruled out. Eddie Royal ($6,000) is also in play, if Allen is out. Jamaal Charles ($8,500) has a really depressed price for his potential. This is not a great matchup, but he has the highest ceiling in the NFL and makes a great GPP play. Both tight ends in this game, Antonio Gates ($6,400) and Travis Kelce ($5,400), should be considered.
Jacksonville @Houston (-10) – 40.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – HOU in with win + BAL loss + SD loss
Teams Resting Players – None
Houston is still in the race somehow, but they need a lot of help. Arian Foster ($8,600) should get as much work as he can handle, which makes him a great play this week. The Houston Defense ($5,400) is close to a must play in this appetizing matchup. I'm not in on anyone else in this game.
Indianapolis @Tennessee (+6.5) – 46.5
Playoff Impact – None
Team(s) Resting Players – Indianapolis
Monitor the news coming out of Indy to see how they will handle this game. The Colts are already locked into their playoff seed, so they will not be playing for anything. Avoid the Colts. I don't like much on Tennessee side either. Kendall Wright ($6,400) and Delanie Walker ($5,200) are options in GPP's.
Detroit @Green Bay (-7.5) – 48 O/U
Playoff Impact – DET can clinch a first round bye with a win, GB can clinch a first-round bye with a win
Teams Resting Players – None
Both of these have clinched playoff spots, but are still both playing for a NFC North division title and an important first round bye. Matthew Stafford ($7,800) has been terrible lately, but I think he has a decent game here at a reduced salary. Aaron Rodgers ($9,800) is always a good play, but he does get a tough matchup here. He is a solid GPP target. The top three wide receivers in this game -- Calvin Johnson ($8,900), Jordy Nelson ($8,800) and Randall Cobb ($8,500) -- all have very high ceilings. Nelson is my favorite in this trio. It looks like it will be cold at Lambeau (around 15 degrees), so the running game may play a large role in this game. The Lions backfield is a little crowded, so I'm avoiding that mess. Meanwhile, Eddie Lacy ($8,700) gets a terrible matchup against one of the best running defenses in the NFL.
St. Louis @Seattle (-13) – 41 O/U
Playoff Impact – SEA can clinch home-field advantage with a win + a non tie in the DET/GB game
Teams Resting Players – None
Seattle is really rolling right now defensively, so I wouldn't think about playing a St. Louis player this week. On the Seattle side, I don't like much on offense, outside of Russell Wilson ($8,600). The Seattle Defense ($5,500) and Steven Hauschka are the best plays in this game.
Oakland @Denver (-14) – 48 O/U
Playoff Impact – DEN can clinch a first-round bye with a win or tie
Teams Resting Players – None
Denver still needs a win to clinch a first round bye, so they will still have to play their studs. Peyton Manning ($9,600) has been playing terrible of late, so his price is at a very reasonable level for him. A bounce back game right before the playoffs may be in line for Manning. C.J. Anderson ($8,300) continues his hot streak, but his price is also streaking up. That being said, he should get a ton of action this week and reach value. Demaryius Thomas ($9,000) and Emmanuel Sanders ($8,100) are both in play, but I don't love either of them this week. The only Raider I would consider is Latavius Murray ($6,200). While this isn't a great matchup for him, he should get a ton of touches in this game.
Arizona @San Francisco (-6) – 36.5 O/U
Playoff Impact – ARI can clinch the NFC West with a win + SEA loss or tie
Teams Resting Players – None
This game should be a fantasy wasteland with one of the lowest game totals of the year. Arizona is still playing for an NFC West title, but that doesn't matter in this game. The Cards offense is terrible under Ryan Lindley, pushing all other positions out of consideration. Frank Gore ($5,900) is coming off his best fantasy game of the year, but he gets a tough matchup here. Both defenses and kickers in this game are in play, but I wouldn't touch any of the other players.
Cincinnati @Pittsburgh (-3.5) – 48 O/U
Playoff Impact – Winner takes the AFC North, CIN can get a first-round bye with a win and DEN loss
Teams Resting Players – None
Both teams are playing for the AFC North crown and a first round playoff game at home. There should be a lot of fantasy gold in this game starting with the 2014 fantasy MVP, Le'Veon Bell ($9,400). Jeremy Hill ($7,300) has been on fire recently, but his price is still very reasonable. I really like Ben Roethlisberger ($8,100) in this one at a decent price point. Pair him with Antonio Brown ($8,900) in GPP's. Health Miller ($5,300) and Jermaine Gresham ($5,200) have been very reliable recently and make solid cheap tight end plays this week. I also like the kickers in this game.
