Ask the Experts

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them:

If you had a meaningful game in Week 17, who would you be looking to add right now?

SAM HENDRICKS

Most of these RBs should not be available simply because of their handcuff value yet a few are out there. Kendall Hunter tops the list as SF could easily rest Gore in week 17 against STL, but what a great matchup. Another candidate is Ben Tate who faces TEN @ HOU, assuming Arian Foster gets a rest before the playoffs. Of course, if these teams are fighting for a higher seed all bets are off. In the non contender category, Isaac Redman (@CLE) and Evan Royster (WAS RB@ PHI, now we are diving deep) are sneaky plays for week 17 too. Mark Sanchez and Kyle Orton at QB could surprise against tough defenses at MIA and DEN.

Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Basics, all available at his website, www.ffguidebook.com, at all major bookstores, and at www.amazon.com. He is a 20-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th and 16th overall (out of 228 competitors) in the 2008 and 2009 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

SCOTT PIANOWSKI

The Niners have been taking it easy on Frank Gore - he didn't play the full game against Pittsburgh - and they might not need the Week 17 match at St. Louis. Sounds like a heavy dose of Kendall Hunter could be on the way, up against a team that struggles to stop the run. A similar theme might apply for Chris Ivory and the Saints, at home against Carolina's vulnerable front seven. Look for running back lottery tickets wherever you can.

Pianowski has been playing fantasy football for 18 years and writing about it for 15. He joined Yahoo! Sports in 2008 and has been blogging 24/7 on RotoArcade.com ever since.

IAN ALLAN

Minnesota and New England both have really weak pass defenses, so I’d be looking at the pass catchers going up against those defenses. Earl Bennett, Dane Sanzenbacher, David Nelson, Scott Chandler. I would be checking the availability of those players as possible fill-in players.

Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index. He's been in that role since 1987, generating most of the player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine, and also at www.fantasyindex.com.

JEFFREY KAMYS

Kyle Orton, who played well last week against the Packers, could be a guy worth considering if you are very needy at the QB slot.

Kamys is president of Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports. His company, via the web, offers player news, injury reports, cheat sheets, projections, weekly matchups, statistics, and a customized team tracker. Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports also e-mails preseason newsletters and reports throughout the season. For more info visit www.docstats.com or send email to webmaster@docstats.com.

DISH ADAMS

I think Matt Flynn may be the best bet, because I cannot conceive the Packers let Rodgers play in Week 17. But if Flynn hasn't been named the starter, I believe the best way to play it is with a flyer on either Andre Johnson or Matt Forte if your roster is solid enough to take a risk. If not, I think the best now healthy play may very well be a resurgent Dwayne Bowe, who will likely begin performing at a much higher level with Kyle Orton at the helm.

Adams is the publisher of www.fantasyinsights.com. Adams appears on NBC in Los Angeles on The Challenge with Fred Roggin following NFL Sunday Night Football in America, with extended web commentary on NBCLA’s website. On Bloomberg Sports ”4th & Fantasy” Dish became the “man who beat the machine,” outpicking Bloomberg Sports Fantasy Decision Maker data tool for the 2010 season. Dish also hosts Fantasy Insights, a podcast on Voiceamericasports.com weekly on Thursdays from 5:00-6:00 PM EST.

ANDY RICHARDSON

Matt Flynn is one possibility, as I doubt Rodgers plays much that week. The other guy I'd be looking at would be Keiland Williams of Detroit. If the Lions win this week, they'll clinch and I could see them resting Kevin Smith in the finale at Green Bay; I definitely don't expect Green Bay to use many starters. Other possibilities are Ben Tate (though he's probably on a roster) and Stevan Ridley.

Richardson has been a columnist and contributor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and web site for the past ten years. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual draft and auction leagues since their inception. He previews all the NFL games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays during the NFL season.

New this season! We'll post the weekly question on Facebook, and the best reader answer will get included in the column. Here is this week's reader winner:

ERIC KAIN SCOLNICK

Matt Flynn, there is no way Aaron Rodgers is playing more than a couple of snaps in week 17. Even if you do not have Rodgers there is a good chance the team you will play does.

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