Below Bones has provided his Week 17 Start Bench Advice. We realize not every league plays through Week 17… in fact, we advise against it, as too many players it out Week 17 from season to season. For those that play on, here is to you…
1.) Tom Brady. I know that seems like a no-brainer, but with the possibility of playoff players being rested, maybe not so much. I think Brady plays a lot this week. Not only do the Pats need to win to achieve home field advantage throughout the playoffs, it’s just the Belechik way. He always wants to pound the opponent. But additionally, I bet he wants to have Brady surpass Marino’s single season yardage record TOO, just so people HAVE to include Brady’s name with Brees for years to come. Yes, they are that conceited in New England, but what do you care if you are starting Brady and getting 300+ yards and 3 TDs?
2.) Hakeem Nicks. Great players tend to bounce back after a poor performance, and Hakeem is going to desperately want to atone for 1 catch for 20 yards last week. Additionally, he shot off his mouth about getting off of Revis Island, so he HAS to make up for that too. Oh, and there is this small thing of playing a “play-in” game into the playoffs, against an arch rival, on your home turf. Look for Eli to target his #1 receiver more than 7 times this week, and for Nicks to approach 100 yards and get a score or two.
3.) Kahlil Bell. I said it last week and I’ll say it again, the Chicago offense has been geared towards Matt Forte all season, and Bell is “Forte Light.” Anyone who watched him run this past weekend against Green Bay who needs a RB has got to snatch him up. He was patient, hit the right holes, and ran for 121 yards on 23 carries. He also caught 4 balls for 38 yards. He should get those 25+ touches again this week, and this time he holds onto the ball near the end zone and scores a touchdown to boot.
1.) Toby Gerhart: With AP done for the year, he’ll get 20+ touches and approach 100 yards as he did in his previous 3 starts.
2.) Rashard Mendenhall: He’s back, Big Ben may sit again, and he goes against Cleveland’s porous run defense.
3.) Marshawn Lynch: He scored the only rushing TD against the vaunted 49er defense, and now plays Arizona. Touchdown Lynch!
4.) Maurice Jones-Drew: He gets the Colts and he will get to tell us fantasy folks whats what after he secures the rushing title.
5.) Larry Fitzgerald: The Cards won’t be able to run on Seattle, and Skelton is starting, which is good for Fitzy.
6.) CJ Spiller: Smitty calls another one, as he gets better with more touches each week. He’ll catch a number of balls vs. New England.
7.) Ben Tate: Houston is locked into the #3 seed, so why run Arian Foster out there to risk injury? Tate carries the load.
8.) Frank Gore: The 49er’s can lock down a 1st round bye (I can’t believe I can type that!), so Gore will thrash the St. Louis D.
9.) Wes Welker: He will want to wrap up the best receiver stats in the league, and will easily do it against the Bills.
10.) Tim Tebow: He will be focused on the Chiefs and not Christmas this week. Seriously, someone who works as hard as him will make up for last weeks disaster. 40 yards rushing and a TD on the ground is just the beginning…
1.) Aaron Rogers: Welcome to the philosophy opposite of New England’s. The deed is done, the #1 playoff seed is secure, so the regulars will get rested. It isn’t about records and personal glory here, it’s about winning Super Bowls. Rogers will sit and the coaching staff with get the back-up some playing time. If you had Rogers all year he probably got you into the championship game with last weeks performance (I had a 27 point comeback to win mine thankyouverymuch Mr. Rogers!), now you have to find a back-up. I’d take a real quick look to see if Joe Webb is available on the waiver wire.
2.) LeSean McCoy: He either tweaked an ankle or sprained a knee, but regardless, the Eagles are out of the playoff hunt, and McCoy can’t lead the league in rushing, so why risk your number one asset? Sure there is a team record for most yards from scrimmage, but as LeSean said, he can get that next year. Even though Andy Reed says he may play, I wouldn’t trust him to be on the field very long, if at all. I’m guessing not at all.
3.) Tony Romo: Remember in “Bugs Life” when the insect is flying towards the Bug zapper and another one yells out, “Don’t go towards the light”? Well, I ain’t going towards Tony Romo this week. Too much history here. He doesn’t play well in December; he doesn’t play well when everything is on the line; he has a bruised hand (most of his owners are at best in the bronze medal game now after last weeks goose egg); he is on the road; the game is against the Giants, who beat the ‘Boys a few weeks ago IN Dallas; it’s the 5:20 game and everyone will be watching, etc. etc. Count me out.
1.) Arian Foster: Why risk the injury when Houston is already locked into the #3 seed?
2.) Andre Johnson: He’ll only play a little bit to get the rust out.
3.) Darren McFadden: Ditto Andre Johnson…if he plays at all.
4.) Vincent Jackson: He’s beat up and the Chargers have been eliminated from the playoffs.
5.) LeGarrette Blount: Fumbled on the 1st series and got benched the rest of the game. Need I say more?
6.) Cedric Benson: Goes against Baltimore with everything on the line for both teams. I say the Raven D wins this battle.
7.) Mike Williams: Three straight games of 4 catches and 40 yards or less; this won’t win you anything.
8.) Steven Jackson: He’s a workhorse, but the Niner’s have something to play for.
9.) Kevin Smith: I’m guessing getting in the playoffs after all these years is enough for the Lions; they’ll rest him.
10.) Chris Johnson: What have you done for me lately?
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Smitty I wanted to thank you for another great season, 2 championship in 3 years. Awesome, and I got one more that ends this weekend. SGreene or KBell? PPR
Sorry this league is non ppr, thanks and have a Happy New Year.
dolfan51: Nice job with the Championships, dolfan51! Keep it up! And glad to have you, you’re a solid part of the community.. After 121 and 38 (receiving) in Week 16, I couldn’t sit Bell. Especially in a PPR, as Bell got 4 receptions last week and could have more this week. Greene could have a good week, and both are arguable as fantasy RB2s this week… so the decision isn’t easy, but I couldn’t sit the hot hand, not when it’s a PPR.
Hey Smitty, not to sure what to do with Stafford, Calvin and Foster this week. Coaches say they plan to play them like a regular game. Don’t know if we can trust their word though.
Non PPR, Standard scoring.
I have been thinking of starting Tebow, Kahlil Bell and Malcolm Floyd instead.
Hoping to get this league to change to Week 16 championship next year.
greatprodigy: I would just stay on the news right up to each player’s kickoff, and I don’t think you can sit your big guns if news suggests that they will play even 3 quarters. Not sure you’d forgive yourself for leaving studs on the bench in Week 17. But that’s me. Good luck, buddy. And get that league changed to Week 16!
Smitty: Thanks for answering all my questions here in the comments section in the early weeks. Thanks to the rest of the Xtreme team for all the great info on this site. I entered the playoffs as a 1 seed in a 10 team non-ppr and a 4th seed in a 12 team ppr league and ended up winning both! Happy New Year!