RADIO
To recap Week 16: Matt Ryan did well, but so did a lot of other quarterbacks – a group that Matt Barkley wasn’t part of. Robert Kelley got hurt, but so did Carlos Hyde. My Jordy Nelson fade looked good in the second half when the Vikings covered him according to plan, but their first half shenanigans tanked it.
At least I was finally right about Eric Ebron being a true TE1 play, and the process with Jimmy Graham was sound (only two catches!) but Arizona forgot how to tackle on his rumbling 37-yard score. Let’s see what the final week of the season yields!
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Week 17 Quarterbacks - Rankings Analysis
Blake Bortles is up at #8 against a #12 consensus thanks to a date with an Indianapolis defense that has all but checked out on the 2016 season. To be honest, they weren’t ever really there in the first place. With so many quarterbacks dealing with uncertain scenarios regarding playoffs and being shut down, Bortles and the Jags have nothing scary surrounding them. Other than being Jacksonville, of course. With Gus Bradley out of the picture, the Jags looked rejuvenated against a beleaguered Titans defense in Week 16. Give Bortles a whirl as a true QB1 in Week 17.
Cam Newton may not have to deal with rumors about being pulled at halftime, but he does carry around the albatross of sucking lately. He just completed only 18-of-43 pass attempts in Week 16 against the Falcons, with a shoulder injury and general ineffectiveness truly bringing down his stock. He has had success against Tampa Bay in the past, but these Bucs are still mathematically in the playoff race and have been playing much defense lately compared to the past few years. Cam will struggle to be a QB1 on the road here.
Week 17 Running Backs - Rankings Analysis
Bilal Powell is my #4 RB here against a #8 consensus, as he’s clearly locked into a starting role against a Bills team that very well may implode like a dying star without the Ryans at the helm. Buffalo won’t be starting Tyrod Taylor and that taint of giving up may trickle down to the defense. Honestly, it will most likely permeate the whole team. If Matt Forte plays, then Powell is obviously downgraded. However, there’s little reason for him to suit up here.
Jordan Howard is coming off of a 128-yard effort against Washington in Week 16, which is certainly solid, but he did fuel that with some garbage-time love and also wasn’t in on a goal-line carry that he ceded to Jeremy Langford. Now Howard and the Bears have to travel to Minnesota and take on a Vikings defense that just got its butt handed to it by Green Bay. With the reports of mutiny allegedly quelled for now, look for the Vikings’ defense to end their season on a high note with a statement game to restore their early-season reputation.
Speaking of the Vikings, Jerick McKinnon (#19 vs. #25) out-touched Matt Asiata (#39 vs. #47) 16-to-9 in Week 16 against the Packers, but both of them should be in line to succeed against a Bears team that has folded in on itself. Suffering a myriad of injuries to their defense, including their nose tackle Eddie Goldman who anchors the rush defense, the Vikes should able to do as they please here.
Week 17 Wide Receivers - Rankings Analysis
Allen Robinson (#5 vs. #14 consensus) came back to life for the aforementioned Gus Bradley-less Jaguars’ attack to the tune of a 9-147-0 line against a struggling Titans secondary in Week 16. While the plus matchup definitely helped things, he’ll also see a marshmallow-soft matchup in Week 17 against a Colts defense that is 29th in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average against opposing #1 receivers. With Bortles and Robinson showing us that they are still capable of being on the same page, look for AR-15 to end the season hot. Giving us just enough to think about going into 2017 drafts.
Steve Smith Sr. (#18 vs. #23 consensus) may very well be playing in the final game of his career in Week 17 against the Bengals. With Baltimore’s playoff hopes long gone, look for the Ravens to send him out with an appropriate victory parade. While buying into narratives is dangerous, it isn’t as though “Smiff” has been bad this season. He just caught all seven of his Week 16 targets for 79 yards and a TD against Pittsburgh, but I do expect an extra target or two to come his way as a sign of respect.
Week 17 Tight Ends - Rankings Analysis
Jesse James (#16 vs. #22 consensus) may very well have to deal with Landry Jones throwing him the ball, but he also won’t have to contend with Le’Veon Bell or Antonio Brown for much of the contest if initial reports are to be believed. It would make sense to rest the Killer B’s anyway. Did we mention that the Steelers are playing the Browns? With so many TEs in the middle of the TE2 dealing with considerable fleas, I’ll take James against most of the field.
Brandon Myers (#23 vs. #33 consensus) also becomes a longshot TE2 play, as Cameron Brate is out for Week 17 and Myers is the only tight end left with any real pass-catching abilities in Tampa Bay. Luke Stocker is almost used entirely as a blocker, and hybrid FB/TE Alan Cross may come in for a few specialty packages but Myers is the one who should step into Brate’s role. This was illustrated by Myers’ six targets in Week 16. The downside is illustrated by his catching only two of them for 21 yards, but the opportunity should be there. In Week 17, sometimes you’ve got to really dig for deep-league value.
I’d rather talk more about the skill positions than include kicker or defense, as they are far less interesting to me. Feel free to send me a vitriolic message should you want them back, I’ll listen I swear.
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
