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.
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. If I don't answer your question, either I missed it (it happens) or the rankings are very clear.
Quick note: comments a little buggy, doubtless people noticed. If your comment doesn't show up to you right away, though, it probably posted (try leaving the page and coming back), no need to post again. Hopefully will be straightened out.
Philadelphia at Washington: I expect the Eagles will wrap up the East here, but I've learned you can never be too sure, even when one team is an injury-riddled, poorly constructed mess like the Commanders. In general I'm using Eagles and hoping their offense favors the approach that works (they can run or pass on Washington, if they choose) and steering clear of pretty much every Commander besides Terry McLaurin.
Green Bay at Chicago: We're not expecting a shootout. The running backs, sure, assuming Jacobs is active. People ask questions about Green Bay wide receivers, who we're double-listing because of the uncertainty of Christian Watson playing or not. They don't feature one guy, making it a very hit or miss proposition. I'm generally lukewarm on Jayden Reed, especially if Watson plays. If you need a wide receiver, No. 2 Olamide Zaccheaus is a possibility, with Odunze and Burden both out. Should be a good game and huge for the NFC playoff picture, although I'm not going to try to figure out all the permutations. One NFC North team isn't going to make the playoffs, that much is clear.
Tampa Bay at Carolina: One of these teams, in contrast, is going to make the playoffs as the NFC South champs, to use the term loosely. Mike Evans, Tetairoa McMillan, and the top running backs Bucky Irving and Rico Dowdle are the players to strong consider, with them of course limited by the other players at their positions on the rosters. What are you gonna do, you start Bucky and acknowledge he could lose a short score to Sean Tucker, you start Dowdle and realize Hubbard could fare better. And that Egbuka or Godwin could step up. Jalen Coker, no interest in starting Bryce Young's No. 2.
Buffalo at Cleveland: Allen Cook Kincaid mebbe Shakir. Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin. I think that's everyone to think about in this one. And Bills D obviously.
L.A. Chargers at Dallas: Weather not a factor, always a plus. General thoughts, Dallas better against the run, but I'd use Hampton and hope he gets more of that timeshare. Dallas weak against the pass, making main components of the LA passing game solid. Chargers better against the pass, but Dak and the passing game generally produce at home. Should be a good game, those counting on the Cowboys can debate whether Dallas will be better or worse if the Eagles win today (in which case Dallas is eliminated and just playing spoiler).
Cincinnati at Miami: Two lousy defenses. One maybe disinterested quarterback, one 7th-round rookie. Seemingly higher scoring and I think you start your stars, although with Miami there's only Achane (Waddle OK, but star pushing it). I expect Tee Higgins to play, although we won't know for sure until tomorrow.
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans: Jets a trainwreck on both sides of the ball, Saints strangely competitive. Audric Estime, well, it's a tandem with Evan Hull most likely. And he's Audric Estime, released by a Denver team that didn't really have a viable running back. But facing a crap defense, also a plus for Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Shough. Jets, uh, Breece Hall sneaks into the top 30. They're terrible and the Saints defense hasn't been a disaster.
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants: Friend of mine is selling his tickets to this game, if anyone's interested. Oddly, there's not much of a market for two lousy teams playing out the string. Tyrone Tracy and WanDale are the interesting Giants, Jaxson Dart somewhat (but Minnesota defense has been really good lately). Giants D has been the opposite, which gets most key Vikings in the discussion as starters (but Justin Jefferson's invisible season is part of why one of my otherwise strong teams is out of the playoffs, thank you very much).
Kansas City at Tennessee: So Gardner Minshew slinging it to Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, with a running back committee. Tennessee has given up lots of offense and I'm willing to use Minshew and perhaps Kareem Hunt (scoring potential), oh and Travis Kelce, what they hey this is it for him I think and he'll be interested in finishing strong. Perhaps. For Tennessee, the KC defense is not going to be fully invested in things, but not much star power to use here.
Atlanta at Arizona: Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and supposedly returning Drake London against a lousy defense. Michael Carter and the Cardinals passing game, which should have Marvin Harrison back. These player ranked high because neither defense is good and neither team has much to play for, so maybe we'll get a nice shootout type of game.
Jacksonville at Denver: Somewhat important game for AFC playoff positioning. Not to get all matchup-y here, but Jacksonville tough on the run and not on the pass, which is why we're cool on RJ Harvey and high on Nix-Sutton. Lawrence, Etienne and Jakobi Meyers OK, albeit against a tough defense where touchdowns might be hard to come by.
Pittsburgh at Detroit: I like both passing games, that's what the opposing defenses are worse against. Gibbs because he's great, Montgomery and Steelers running backs not as much. Huge game for teams that need wins to make the playoffs (in Detroit's case, though, it might not matter).
Las Vegas at Houston: Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty catching a handful of balls in PPR formats, that's the Raider interest. Houston, the backfield is a mess and it's not clear who will be active, or featured, if anyone. If you're wondering why the running backs aren't ranked favorably, well, that's why. Stroud, Nico, Schultz, sure.
New England at Baltimore: Big game in the AFC and should be entertaining. I would use the quarterbacks, think I like Derrick Henry a bit more than the rankings suggest, but concede that it's hard to have much confidence in receivers on either team. Zay Flowers yes and Stefon Diggs maybe. If you ask me about Mark Andrews, I'll say, maybe he scores and is good, or doesn't and is bad. Risk in using or sitting him. TreVeyon, New England's best running back and I'd probably use him if my team with him didn't get bounced last week.
San Francisco at Indianapolis: I haven't looked closely but I believe the 49ers are the No. 1 seed if they win out? They would have a head to head sweep of Seattle and the best division record. They'll probably get this one, though at least their defense shouldn't do too much to Grandpa Rivers. Good matchup for their offense, fine for Taylor, Pittman and Warren.
Will answer questions as able, got some shopping etc. this afternoon and evening. Good luck to all in your playoff matchups, and enjoy the games.