Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own brief take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
What follows is a brief look at all the games with how I'd react in my own lineups to injury developments or other news. The official rankings are the ones in the Weekly. Those take precedence. But sometimes players are very close, and in those cases I'm glad to offer opinions on how I'd approach those situations. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries etc.
Steelers at Ravens: Baltimore is holding out a lot of key starters. But I think they'll have some interest in knocking the Steelers out of the playoff picture. I'm not sure Tyler Huntley and company can do it, but I think he and probably Melvin Gordon will be playing hard. For Pittsburgh, usual deal: running back tandem, George Pickens blowing up lately. Baltimore's defense shouldn't be as good as if they cared, but still not a pushover. Oh yeah: it's going to be raining throughout this game.
Texans at Colts: Winner makes the playoffs (as a wild-card; they need a Jacksonville loss to also win the division). But they're in with a win, which makes for a cool game to watch, good job NFL scheduling it in primetime. C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Michael Pittman -- starting all three. Jonathan Taylor and Devin Singletary and Dalton Schultz probably, Gardner Minshew and Josh Downs (Houston weak against the pass), maybe. Earlier in the week I did a game outcome parlay where I picked the Texans to win, so I must have felt really good about it. I'm not sure why.
Bucs at Panthers: Strange things happen all the time but I don't see how Carolina pulls the upset here. Bucs win the NFC South with a win and that should happen. Carolina defense a credible group so maybe they get a big play early and win, but the Panthers haven't made big plays on offense or defense all season. Rachaad White should be the key player.
Browns at Bengals: Browns have made no secret that they're helping themselves to a bye this week. Cincinnati defense not very good so maybe you chance Jeff Driskel or Pierre Strong, but not much to go on with either player. I wouldn't use any Cleveland regular starters even if they're active. Seems like only Tee Higgins is definitely out for the Bengals, but I'm a little hesitant to count on Joe Mixon either. Probably fine, I just worry he might not want to risk injury in the finale and maybe Chase Brown plays as much. JaMarr Chase should be fine.
Vikings at Lions: Lions say they're playing starters and playing to win. I believe them to a point. I remember the Patriots doing this some years back and Wes Welker tore his ACL in the meaningless regular season finale; they lost their first playoff game and maybe would have anyway. But I just can't see key guys (especially running backs) playing throughout this game. Vikings offense should be productive, Detroit defense not so good.
Jets at Patriots: Here in the Northeast, snow is supposed to start tonight and run through tomorrow morning and at least early afternoon. That should make for a cool game to watch but not great for offenses probably. The Jets and Patriots aren't good for offenses if they were playing in a dome, of course. Ezekiel Elliott and Breece Hall are the players I'd consider in this game. Maybe Garrett Wilson, but not necessarily.
Falcons at Saints: One of these teams wins the division if the Bucs stumble at Carolina. There are also wildcard possibilities for the Saints -- that's right, we could have TWO NFC South teams in the playoffs. No one wants to see that. Alvin Kamara is questionable, but others are healthy. I'd use players like Bijan and Olave and London, something to be said for a motivated team. But expectations should be small because neither team is great. Both teams alive for division title in Week 18, but both teams could/should at least be thinking about replacing their coaches, I think.
Jaguars at Titans: Jacksonville a little banged-up but I'm expecting Trevor Lawrence and probably Christian Kirk to play, given the importance of the game. Probably not a shootout, but at least you've got motivated starters. Potentially Derrick Henry's last game as a Titan, so I'm thinking they find a way to get him in the end zone. DeAndre Hopkins also viable. I'm not sure it's that big a downgrade from Will Levis to Ryan Tannehill.
Seahawks at Cardinals: Both offenses look promising, neither defense very good. Kenneth Walker apparently good to go, Seattle wideouts look solid, Arizona has been putting up nice numbers lately. Cardinals could be shopping their early draft pick since they say they're committed to Kyler Murray, which seems reasonable.
Bears at Packers: Packers can get into the playoffs with a win, but I don't think it will be easy. But I've underestimated them most of the year (except for when I overestimate them and they cost me some money, like when they became the only team all year not to get like 5-6 sacks against the Giants, instead getting zero). Bears have a running back question, again, with Khalil Herbert looking great until he missed practice yesterday with either injury or a personal issue; I have no idea what's up. But I'll sign off on DJ Moore and Justin Fields. Seems like Jayden Reed OK for Green Bay, also Love and Aaron Jones and Tucker Kraft.
Kansas City at Chargers: I'm not really confident in the Chargers in this game, just looking to get the season over with. What do they prove by beating up on Kansas City backups? For Kansas City, it could be Clyde Edwards-Helaire or LaMical Perine, apparently even Isiah Pacheco hasn't been ruled out, though I really doubt he's active. Only if CEH is inactive would I want to use Perine. Joshua Palmer fine for the Chargers, Gerald Everett too. I don't love Ekeler though.
Broncos at Raiders: My son's a Broncos fan and is torn on this one: win to get to 9-8, plus he despises the Raiders, or a higher draft pick. Gotta figure Sean Payton is similarly torn. No Josh Jacobs, so Zamir White looks good. Davante and Courtland the main wideouts looking to put up good numbers before disappearing for the offseason.
Eagles at Giants: Weather should be gone by the time this game kicks off. Shocking that the Eagles have slipped from having a two-game lead for the No. 1 seed to suddenly being a wild-card team, if Dallas wins. I don't think Dallas losing on the road is impossible, and suspect the Eagles will take care of business here, but maybe not with big numbers, and maybe more Kenneth Gainwell and Giant-killer Boston Scott even rather than D'Andre Swift. For the Giants, Saquon the appealing option, though he (like Ekeler) has to be thinking a little about staying healthy.
Rams at 49ers: Neither team is playing many starters, making for a game where neither is likely to put up big numbers. Maybe you get a shootout between former top-3 picks turned journeyman backups Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold; maybe. But I'm not sure what receivers they'll have, aside from Puka Nacua for the first quarter or maybe half to get him his 29 yards. Only if Elijah Mitchell is inactive does Jordan Mason look safe to use. Rams, I have no idea, only that it won't be Kyren Williams getting most of the carries (they have three potential backups who could carry it.
Cowboys at Commanders: As noted, I think Washington could spring the upset. Dallas not as good on the road, and maybe they come in overconfident. Sam Howell, scattershot though he is, has the puncher's chance of putting some good rushing numbers and maybe making a game of this. I'm not betting it, mind you, but just because Howell's not very good doesn't mean this can't be a crazy game where Dallas makes a few mistakes and suddenly it's a game.
Bills at Dolphins: Winning this game means a division title and a home playoff game, so it's important. But if either the Steelers or Jaguars lose, both teams are in the playoffs, so it's a little less important. A little. I understand you want that higher seed and home game, but some of the intensity goes away if Buffalo knows they're in. Buffalo won the home matchup easily, but Miami plays better at home. Some injury issues with Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Waddle; I don't think either can be used and neither might even be active. Bills offense should be fine.
And that's a wrap on the regular season. Whether you've got fantasy interest or not this week, enjoy the games. We'll talk again in the playoffs.
