What You Need to Know From Week 17

Photo: Imagn Images

NYG @ CHI

• Mike Glennon is terrible and should be ushered out of the fraternity of NFL backup quarterbacks.
• Saquon Barkley can notch a 100-yard game and still not matter in fantasy leagues.
• Darnell Mooney is continuing to establish himself as a core part of the Bears passing game going forward, with Allen Robinson almost certainly gone in free agency.
• David Montgomery is the clear cornerstone of this offense going into next season, pending a head coach hire that could change the blueprint.

JAX @ NE

• Laquon Treadwell has rehabilitated his career enough to compete for a role in an offense somewhere next season.
• Damien Harris sat with an aggravation of his hamstring issue. Rhamondre Stevenson scored twice in his stead, but may play sparingly in Week 18 even though the Patriots technically can win the division by beating the Dolphins if the Bills lose to the Jets.
• Jakobi Meyers notched another elusive score and continues to build chemistry with Mac Jones.
• The Patriots are likely to open the playoffs on the road against Cincinnati or Buffalo if they beat the Dolphins, pending the outcome of the Bengals/Browns game, but could fall as low as the seventh seed and face the Chiefs or Titans if they lose to the Dolphins and the Raiders and Colts win, so there could be motivation to play the starters even though the division is probably not up for grabs.

LAR @ BAL

• Matthew Stafford was shaky but did enough for the Rams to stay in control of their destiny in the NFC West with a furious fourth quarter comeback. The Rams need to beat their nemesis, the 49ers, to lock up the division. If they lose and the Cardinals beat the Seahawks, Arizona will win the division. Stafford doesn’t look like an attractive playoff fantasy quarterback after throwing two more bad picks and his fourth pick six despite facing a bunch of backups in the Ravens secondary.
• Odell Beckham had two crucial catches on the game-winning drive including the game-winning touchdown to increase the trust between him and Stafford.
• Tyler Huntley looked like a backup quarterback for the first time this year and couldn’t muster an offensive touchdown, which would have likely been enough to win and increase the Ravens chances of making the playoffs.

TB @ NYJ

• Antonio Brown walked off of the field during the game and is reportedly no longer a member of the Bucs.
• Tom Brady still led a comeback win with the likes of Cyril Grayson and Tyler Johnson making big catches. The Bucs can get up to the #2 seed if they win and the Rams lose, and Bruce Arians says he is inclined to play his starters.
• Ronald Jones II left with an ankle injury and Ke’Shawn Vaughn with a rib injury, so Le’Veon Bell is the only healthy Bucs running back heading into Week 18. Jones is having an MRI on his injury to determine its severity.
• Michael Carter got off to a hot start but left with a concussion. His Week 18 status is unknown.
• Braxton Berrios shined in place of Jamison Crowder and should draw some interest in free agency.
• UDFA Kenny Yeboah got on the field and made a few plays to give the coaches something to think about at tight end with his wide receiver-esque skillset.

ATL @ BUF

• Kyle Pitts got over 1000 yards with a dominant 61-yard catch but left the game with a hamstring injury, putting his Week 18 status up in the air.
• Josh Allen was uneven as a passer, with three bad interceptions, but scored twice as a runner and racked up over 80 rushing yards to still post a good fantasy afternoon.
• Devin Singletary scored twice and is the clear lead back going into Week 18, when the Bills have to beat the Jets to win the division.

KC @ CIN

• Patrick Mahomes II was sharp, but not making huge plays with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, and the Bengals defense basically shut him down in the second half to open the door for a huge win.
• Darrel Williams ran with toughness and finished his runs physically in a way Clyde Edwards-Helaire can not. We’ll see how the Chiefs manage their backfield when Edwards-Helaire returns.
• Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase combined to break a rookie record for receiving yards in a game and lock up a division title.
• Joe Mixon was in the background as a runner but active as a receiver. He was placed on the covid list this week and may miss Week 18. The Bengals are likely to open the playoffs as the #3 seed.

MIA @ TEN

• Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense was feeble and the team was eliminated from the playoffs, including a dud from Jaylen Waddle in the fantasy championship. There will be a lot of attention paid to how Miami handles their quarterback situation this offseason.
• D’Onta Foreman was strong as the Titans controlled the game. He’ll be the lead back this week before handing the baton off to Derrick Henry in the playoffs.
• If the Titans beat the Texans in Week 18, they will be the AFC’s #1 seed and get a bye.

LV @ IND

• Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow made enough to plays to put the Raiders over the top at the end and keep them in control of their destiny. If they beat the Chargers in the final game of the regular season, they’ll make the postseason.
• Josh Jacobs is performing like a foundational lead back again and should be a big part of the offense against the weak Chargers run defense in Week 18.
• Carson Wentz was inconsistent as usual and even his touchdown pass was ill-advised into double coverage, but it deflected to T.Y. Hilton for a long score.
• The Colts need to beat the Jaguars in Week 18 to go to the playoffs.

PHI @ WAS

• The Eagles eked out a win behind Boston Scott’s two scores as he showed he’ll run ahead of Jordan Howard, who is dealing with a shoulder stinger. Both are on the covid list and will likely miss Week 18. The Eagles clinched a playoff berth and will be the #6 or #7 seed.
• Taylor Heinicke came out of the gate red hot, completing his first 11 passes to eight different receivers. He is under contract cheap for 2022 and could be the Week 1 starter for Washington.
• Jaret Patterson scored and was active in the passing game, showing he belongs in the NFL after making the team as a UDFA this year. Antonio Gibson will return from the covid list in Week 18, so Patterson’s stint as the starter will only be one week.

DEN @ LAC

• The Broncos offense was miserable with Drew Lock and the running game stalled despite the good matchup with the Chargers. Vic Fangio’s status for next season as the head coach is uncertain.
• The Chargers offense was balanced and Justin Herbert had a strong game heading into a quasi-playoff matchup with the Raiders which will send the winner to the postseason.

HOU @ SF

• Brandin Cooks scored to prove his value durability once again, but Rex Burkhead couldn’t reproduce his Week 16 heroics as the Texans never really challenged the 49ers.
• Trey Lance showed that he has made strides as a passer and posted a good fantasy result, but it looks like Jimmy Garoppolo will return for Week 18 to try to beat the Rams and go to the playoffs.
• Elijah Mitchell was the clear lead back in his return and was a league winner with a 100-yard rushing game and a receiving score.
• Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were solid plays, but George Kittle was left out in a preview of how this offense could look for fantasy with Lance at the helm, not being able to feed three mouths in the passing game.

DET @ SEA

• Amon-Ra St. Brown scored twice and crushed the opportunity he had in a depleted offense once again.
• Russell Wilson went out like a champion in what could be his last home game as a Seahawk, throwing three scores to DK Metcalf and one to Tyler Lockett.
• Rashaad Penny continues to be a stud any time he gets at least 12 carries and he helped a lot of fantasy teams win championships this year.

ARI @ DAL

• Kyler Murray stopped their December swoon and can win the division if they beat Seattle and the Rams lose to the 49ers in Week 18.
• Antoine Wesley scored twice and the Cardinals passing game spread the ball around as they adjust to not having DeAndre Hopkins, who may not return in the playoffs.
• James Conner wasn’t able to go and Chase Edmonds wasn’t very effective running the ball against the Cowboys, but his receiving contributions still made him a solid Week 17 PPR play.
• Michael Gallup went down with a torn ACL, but Cedrick Wilson scored while replacing him as the #3 wide receiver.
• Dak Prescott wasn’t at his best, although the Cowboys didn’t have much to play for as a division winner who was unlikely to get to the #1 seed. The Cowboys could face the Cardinals again in the wild card round if the Rams beat the 49ers.

CAR @ NO

• Chuba Hubbard scored in no one’s Week 17 lineup as the Panthers offense predictably fizzled with Sam Darnold at the helm.
• Taysom Hill didn’t make any big mistakes with the ball and he can lead the Saints to the playoffs if he beats the Falcons and the 49ers lose to the Rams.
• Alvin Kamara was bottled up as a runner with Mark Ingram out, but made a few big plays in the passing game and came through for fantasy teams. Ingram’s Week 18 status is unknown.
• Marquez Callaway hasn’t become a reliable fantasy option, but he has cemented his role with the team as the 23-year-old has been the closest thing the team has to a #1 receiver with Michael Thomas out and likely done as a Saint.

MIN @ GB

• Sean Mannion started and killed the fantasy value of Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. Kirk Cousins will return for a meaningless Week 18 game, likely Mike Zimmer’s last as head coach of the Vikings.
• Aaron Rodgers hookup with Davante Adams was strong and Allen Lazard was the clear #2 receiver as Rodgers continued to play very well since breaking his pinky toe. The Packers locked up the #1 seed behind his effort.
• A.J. Dillon was the finisher in the blowout win with two scores and he should have a big role in the playoffs.

CLE @ PIT

• Baker Mayfield was knocked around and will likely miss Week 18 in preparation for offseason shoulder surgery.
• Ben Roethlisberger was triumphant in his final home game, but was a meager passer, averaging less than three yards per attempt. Diontae Johnson caught one for a score to help fantasy teams that were waiting on him.
• Najee Harris was the Steelers offense and he had a 37-yard score when simply going down with a first down would have iced the game, changing the outcome of many fantasy championships.
• The Steelers can still make the playoffs with a win and Colts loss, but they’ll need help from the Jaguars, good luck with that.