NFL Fantasy Football: Week Seventeen Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em

Ok, if you’re in the an ESPN leagues, this is the last weekend of your playoff doubleheader. Here’s to playing chess with the roster decisions of the real NFL coaches trying to decide who to play to win and who to rest for the postseason. Here are my suggestions, but who knows what wild cards get played on Sunday.

And by the way, here’s where I hold a little confessional. I had 26 fantasy football teams this year. 10 were ESPN teams that are still playing. Of the 16 that have finished, I made the championship playoffs in 11 leagues. Of those 11 teams, I got one fourth place finish, one third place finish, five second place finishes and four league championships. Still have to see how I do in with the 6 teams I still have playing tomorrow.

Start ‘Em!
QB
Alex Smith: He is consistently above average and the  Niners are playing the Rams hoping for a first round bye.

Ryan Fitzpatrick: The Patriots pass defense is leakier than my jalopy’s transmission.

Eli Manning: Let’s face it, he just about owns the Cowboys. And that’s coming from a Cowboys homer.

Philip Rivers: It’s a divisional game and Rivers loves playing in those. He’s playing for pride and that is something that Rivers has in abundance.

RB
Rashard Mendenhall: With Big Ben still gimpy, and facing a soft Cleveland run defense, I say the Steelers ride his back again.

Ben Tate: Speaking of riding a back, despite Tate’s big goose egg last week, I think the Texans ride Tate and rest Foster in a meaningless game with the third seed locked down.

Kahlil Bell: It’s a Black and Blue grudge match with the Vikes and they just gave up some big yards to the Skins last week.

Toby Gerhart: Who else are the Vikes gonna play at RB? Adrian Peterson? Oh, that’s right, they can’t. He just had knee surgery. Because the geniuses on the Bears coaching staff were still using him in the second half of a completely meaningless game.

WR
Steve Johnson: It’s the Patriots. God’s gift to merely adequate passing attacks.

Malcom Floyd: Since he’s gotten healthy he’s been outshining Vincent Jackson.

Percy Harvin: With Peterson out and Gerhart still a little green, he’s gonna see a lot of touches coming his way.

Denarius Moore: Moore is Palmer’s favorite so far. Palmer seems to really be looking for the kid.

TE
Brent Celek: He’s been on a roll lately. It’s like all of a sudden he and Vick are BFFs

Dustin Keller: Sanchez has been targeting him so much, you’d think he’s got a man-crush on Keller. A real bromance.

Jared Cook: Really, Hasselbeck doesn’t have many better options to throw to.

Sit ‘Em!
QB
Joe Flacco: Boldin is out.  With the Bengals keying on Torrey Smith, I don’t see Joe putting up big numbers.

Aaron Rodgers: He’s going to play but I can’t for the life of me see him playing more than a half at the most. It’s just not wise to risk him against the Lions when the Packers already have home field advantage locked up through the playoffs.

Rex Grossman: Philly may be out of it, but they’re playing for blood.

Andy Dalton: The Ravens. ‘Nuff said.

RB
LeGarrette Blount: Atlanta has a pretty tough run defense.

Cedric Benson: He hasn’t done much lately and the Ravens are shooting for home field advantage.

Steven Jackson: Sure the Niners gave up their first rushing TD last week. I don’t think they’r e looking to allow number two this week.

Felix Jones: I don’t think he goes anywhere against the Giants. It’s gonna be cold and he’s brittle.

WR
Brandon Marshall: Revis Island. ‘Nuff said.

Dwayne Bowe: Denver’s fighting for playoff spot and bailey’s gonna lock him down.

Jordy Nelson: If the Packers coaches have just a tiny bit more sense than the Bears coaches, Nelson won’t play more than a half.

Mario Manningham: I think it’ll be Nicks and Cruz that Manning skewers the Cowboys with. Manningham becomes the odd man out.

TE
Jermaine Gresham: Like I said about Dalton, it’s the Ravens, baby.

Jermichael Finley: See above comments about Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson

Tony Gonzalez: No reason to risk a vet at the end of a long season for a mostly meaningless game. I say he gets rested for the playoffs.

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