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In years past, who to cut before your Championship Game really only came with one rule – don't drop someone your opponent can pick up and use against you. That was it, simple and easy. Thanks to Covid-19, the rules have changed and changed drastically. Fantasy managers were able to make it 14 weeks with Covid-19 being a general nuisance. That all changed the past two weeks and there's no reason to expect anything different this week.
Fantasy managers are no longer just concerned about helping their opponent with an untimely drop, they need to be worried about hurting themselves too. Backup running backs are one positive test to the starter away from being a solid fantasy starter and that's something that fantasy managers need to think about before making any moves.
If you've made it this far, it's because you've made a number of smart and calculating moves, so now is not the time to stop that trend. Covid-19 has incredibly changed how we need to approach our waiver wire moves and who we are dropping and sitting. If you've made it to the Championship game, congratulations to you!
Quarterbacks to Drop for Week 17?
This is such a hard one now that we're in Championship Week. In a "normal" season, the advice would be simple – drop any quarterback you're not planning on starting this week. If your fantasy league happens to go through Week 18, don't drop any quarterback you're planning on starting this week or next. Unfortunately, we're not in a "normal" season.
The 106 NFL players who went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list today as a result of positive tests brings the total 521 in December, including 476 since Dec. 13, per @RealJackAndrade at @NFLResearch.
That’s nearly 1 out of 4 active players.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 27, 2021
Typically, if you have Josh Allen and say Kirk Cousins, you could easily cut Cousins and move on about your day, but with the way Covid-19 is running rampant through the NFL right now, there's a lot of value in having a quality backup on your roster because you never know when you might need him. In years past, it'd be very rare for a quarterback to suffer an injury mid-week and be ruled out for the upcoming game, but now one out of every four active players are testing positive for Covid-19 and with those odds, it pays to have a quality insurance plan in place.
Running Backs to Drop for Week 17?
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins
89.4% rostered
Gaskin has become that kind of player you drop in the hopes of your opponent picking him up and starting him against you. Gaskin has scored 5.9, 5.4 and now 2.1 in his last three games. The Miami backfield has become a three-headed monster with the additions of Duke Johnson and Phillip Lindsay. Well, maybe monster wasn't the right word.
Dolphins halftime HB snap count #MIAvsNO
Myles Gaskin 13
Duke Johnson 11
Phillip Lindsay 11Out of 36 plays
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) December 28, 2021
In Week 17, the Dolphins go on the road to face off against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have allowed the second-fewest points to running backs in half-PPR scoring all year at just 15.8 points per game. With the way the Dolphins are using all three running backs, Gaskin simply cannot be started under any circumstances. Even if Lindsay or Johnson were to miss next week's game for any reason, in such an unfriendly matchup, Gaskin could hardly be trusted. Fantasy managers can feel confident in letting Gaskin go to the waiver wire.
Wide Receivers to Drop for Week 17?
Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills
50.1% rostered
Despite being held to under nine points in eight of his last nine games, there was some optimism that Sanders might go put forth and put up a fantasy viable performance in Week 16. After all, Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley were out due to Covid-19. With both of those receivers out, Sanders would jump right back into the starting lineup. The Patriots have been one of the most difficult opponents for tight ends this season, so it was fairly easy to predict a lackluster game from Dawson Knox. In theory, this left Stefon Diggs and Emmanuel Sanders as Josh Allen's primary targets. Not only that, but with Davis and Beasley both being unvaccinated, there's a good chance both players will miss Week 17 as well – Gabriel Davis is already assured of being ruled out due to the 10-day waiting period. Unfortunately for any fantasy managers who trusted him, Sanders dropped the ball. Figuratively and literally.
Sheesh alert: Josh Allen pass on 4th down into the end zone to Emmanuel Sanders ... dropped. Coulda shoulda woulda been a short touchdown; instead it's meow Patriots ball. Ball was a tad behind, but sheesh, hit the dude in the chest. That's a sheesh. Sheesh.
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 26, 2021
He was solidly outplayed by fellow receiver, Isaiah McKenzie. Despite the plus-matchup in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons, it'll be near impossible to trust Sanders in a championship game.
Tight Ends to Drop for Week 17?
Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers
54.0% rostered
In Week 16, the Chargers played against the Houston Texans, who give up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Fellow tight end Donald Parham missed the contest with a concussion. Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton and Austin Ekeler were also ruled out due to Covid-19. Surprisingly, the Chargers also found themselves in an uphill battle and a positive game script for any Chargers' pass-catchers. The Texans scored 41 points, which forced Herbert to drop back to pass 35 times, en route to 336 yards. It was a perfect combination of circumstances for Cook to bust out of a nine-game slump where he failed to score double-digits. Despite all of that, Cook scored just 7.9 points.
If that's the kind of "upside" you're looking for then....well... maybe Jared Cook is for you, but he's certainly not for me. Especially since those perfect circumstances that existed in Week 16 won't be there in Week 17. The Chargers will go up against the Broncos who have allowed just 4.7 half-PPR points to tight ends this season, which is the third-fewest in the league. While Mike Williams has already been ruled out, Guyton could yet be back and Ekeler has already been activated.
On the Hot Seat
Elijah Moore, New York Jets
46.4% rostered
This has nothing to do with what Moore has put onto the field. He's been terrific during the second half of the season and his career trajectory is certainly pointing up. He was placed on IR before Week 14 and there was some optimism he'd be able to return in Week 17. With Corey Davis already on IR, Moore would be the undisputed No.1 target for Zach Wilson and he's proved he can make the most out of his targets.
Elijah Moore Moves To COVID-19 List https://t.co/2JA8Rjn1cV
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 22, 2021
Going onto the Covid-19 list puts his Week 17 availability in doubt, and even if he does return, fantasy managers will need to determine how much they can really trust him after missing three games and now having his practice time erased by virtue of being on the Covid-19 list. He's been so great the second half of the season that it would be hard to cut him, especially if he finds his way onto the field this Sunday.
Hold On
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
29.6% rostered
Adam Thielen returned to the field in Week 16 and with his return, many fantasy managers likely lost hope in Osborn. Thielen struggled in his first game back and seemed, at one point, to have possibly reinjured his ankle. Still, he maintained his fantasy relevance despite Thielen's return. Osborn finished Week 16 with five catches for 68 yards and a score.
The Vikings go on the road in Week 17 against the Packers, but the Vikings are still in the playoff hunt. The Packers' are a tough matchup, but Aaron Rodgers shouldn't have any problem hanging points on the Vikings' defense. That would likely put Kirk Cousins and company in a position where they need to keep up. Most defenses are smartly throwing everything they can at stopping Justin Jefferson and that's helped Osborn throw up some positive fantasy performances. Fantasy managers should hang onto Osborn and see what happens with Thielen's practice schedule this week.
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