Last chance to move up into the top 20 in this thing. I think I only need to score about 250 points while the top teams forget to submit a lineup or load up on Saints and Cowboys and take zeroes when those guys don't play. It could happen.
In this competition, each week's high score (standard scoring) will win a $25 Fantasy Index gift certificate, and the season champ will win an enviable prize package, which may be delivered to your door if you happen to live near me.
How to play: Sign into your Fantasy Index account and click the blue "Your stuff" button in the top right corner. Then look for the link to Fantasy Index Blackout on the right side of the page. Pretty simple.
Here's my Week 17 lineup.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. Sometimes you want guys who are motivated by playoff positioning, but those guys are either blacked out (Patrick Mahomes), might not play throughout (Philip Rivers), or have lesser matchups (Deshaun Watson, Andrew Luck). So I'm going with a couple of guys facing disinterested defenses who should play throughout and generate some decent, meaningless stats.
Running back: Saquon Barkley and Sony Michel. Barkley is a given; seems pretty certain to play throughout and be productive against a Dallas defense that should be smart enough to hold some key starters out. Michel is home against a barely-there Jets defense in a game the Patriots actually need to win for a first-round bye. I considered Joe Mixon and Jamaal Williams, and perhaps a Steeler (though I think Conner and Samuels might share time).
Wide receiver: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, T.Y. Hilton. I need to post a big number this week. So I'm going with Hill, risking his occasional bust potential, in hopes he turns in one of the monster weeks he's fully capable of against a Raiders defense that tends to leave its motivation at the airport. Adams for the QB-WR stack, although injury concern, so maybe not. Hilton because he's been hot and also has the big-play, big-game potential. Did think about JuJu Smith-Schuster, with Antonio Brown blacked out and Pittsburgh likely to put up good numbers against the Bengals.
Tight end: George Kittle and Eric Ebron. Kittle is gunning for Rob Gronkowski's receiving yards record. Travis Kelce is closer, but Kelce might get an early seat and is blacked out anyway. Ebron comes off a dud game and needs to clear the concussion protocol. Hmm, two Colts receivers, that might be a mistake. Evan Engram is a possibility, or I'll switch out Hilton.
Kicker: Justin Tucker and Stephen Gostkowski. They're home, they're winning, they're going to be on the field plenty.
Defense/Special Teams: L.A. Rams and Baltimore. I love the Rams matchup with San Francisco for sacks and potential turnovers. I do think there's a small remote chance the Browns pull an upset in Baltimore, but the Ravens defense has been on fire lately, including with defensive touchdowns, and I need a big number this week.
Good luck to the rest of you.