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.
Carolina at Tampa Bay: I go back and forth on this one. On the one hand I think the Bucs are better. On the other hand they haven't been for about half a season. Surely whatever NFL gods there are don't want the division being decided by two eliminated teams tomorrow, something that almost never happens (I can't think of a recent example). Probably a close game decided by a late field goal or clutch drive. No. 1 wide receivers look best, starting running backs OK.
Seattle at San Francisco: A little surprised that Seattle is favored in this game. They're both really good, and the winner gets a nice first-round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. Seattle defense really good but so is San Francisco's offense. I can't bring myself to bet against the 49ers, which I've been doing for most of the season and been wrong about. I'm a little nervous about George Kittle, playing through injury, but he's George Kittle and seems like he's good to go. Just some risk. Should be a good game, I understand the bye and the No. 1 seed are important, but I think it needs to be mentioned that the team that loses this game is still very much in the Super Bowl picture (could lose, beat the NFC South champ next week, and be right back playing this game again in two weeks).
New Orleans at Atlanta: I think the Saints are better at this point in time, but not having Chris Olave is a pretty significant absence. Seems possible Bijan Robinson has another huge game, he's essentially the lone fully healthy star playing for either team. Juwan Johnson sure, banged-up Kyle Pitts probably. Audric Estime by default, he'll be out there getting carries. Hard to know what either team will really bring to this one -- do they care if Carolina or Tampa Bay wins the division? (Only an issue if Tampa Bay wins on Saturday, otherwise it's meaningless.)
Cleveland at Cincinnati: Surely Myles Garrett will get the sack he needs this week. Otherwise I think Cincinnati's offense will be very good. Cleveland is facing a bad defense, but they're so light on healthy skill guys (no Fannin, no Njoku), with lesser backups in a running back committee, hard to recommend any. I guess Jerry Jeudy a viable starter, just further reminder that it's best for fantasy leagues to end in Week 17.
Indianapolis at Houston: Texans have a shot at the division so should be playing it straight against a lousy Colts defense. Colts are starting Riley Leonard, which they wanted to do so little a few weeks back that they talked a 44-year-old out of retirement. Maybe Jonathan Taylor has a big game, there's a rushing title at stake, but he'll be the guy Houston is focusing on. Obviously.
Tennessee at Jacksonville: Jaguars should win this game pretty comfortably, locking up the AFC South. I'm interested in Chig Okonkwo, with Gunnar Helm out, and maybe Ayomanor and Dike, with the Titans needing to pass to move the ball. But when these teams played in Tennessee a month ago the Jaguars won 25-3, so let's keep expectations low for the offense.
Green Bay at Minnesota: Clayton Tune is starting this one against the league's best pass defense for the past half season. If you need my help avoiding all things Green Bay I feel for you. Jordan Mason is probably Minnesota's best option, but Justin Jefferson needs 53 yards for a 1,000-yard season and surely the team will help him get that. Both defenses seems appealing, so OK there's one Green Bay possibility, but not too favorably (they'll be mailing this one in).
Dallas at N.Y. Giants: Will Jaydon Blue be a Week 18 star? Maybe, he's apparently going to be Dallas' top back this week, although Phil Mafah is a possibility -- not a given they commit to either player. Giants don't have Wan'Dale Robinson or Theo Johnson, so I guess we need to consider Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins against a terrible pass defense. But I like Tyrone Tracy most in this game. I expect questions about Blue's low ranking. I think I like him more than Ian but we really don't know how Dallas will deploy these guys. A reminder, Blue has been a healthy scratch most of the season.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo: Buffalo hasn't said how they'll use or not sure starters. I personally do not trust either James Cook or Josh Allen playing much. With the Jets, for whatever reason, Aaron Glenn is being cagey about Breece Hall. It's too ridiculous to get upset about. Isaiah Davis is definitely out. The Jets may be starting returner Kene Nwangwu. If anyone wants to know why I'm against Week 18 fantasy games, consider Kene Nwangwu possibly starting.
Detroit at Chicago: Bears should be playing to win. Detroit will compete but I could see them protecting Jahmyr Gibbs a little (though I'd use him if I had him), and Amon-Ra St. Brown may be limited by injury. Luther Burden looks best among Bears wideouts, DJ Moore viable if mostly disappointing. Bears running backs, sure.
L.A. Chargers at Denver: Chargers holding some guys out, I have little interest in the guys playing. They don't care, Denver does, that's why we have some Broncos ranked high. Nix, Harvey, Sutton. I don't expect the Week 18 blowout they put on KC a year ago, but Denver scoring in the 20s and LA scoring in the 10s is what to expect.
Cardinals at Rams: This is a tough one. First off, if San Francisco wins, which I've already said I expect, the Rams are locked in place as the No. 6 seed. If that happens, I do not expect Stafford, Kyren, Puka to play much if at all. People can come here and say momentum, not wanting to lose a third straight game, yada yada. You're welcome to your opinion. If San Francisco wins tonight, I have zero interest in starting any Rams tomorrow. That is my opinion. If Seattle wins, which means the Rams can be the 5 seed rather than the 6 if they win, I then become interested in key Rams. Arizona's passing game should be productive either way.
Kansas City at Las Vegas: Ashton Jeanty, Michael Mayer, Travis Kelce. Moving on.
Miami at New England: No DeVon Achane, and maybe no Jaylen Waddle. Not too optimistic about Miami here, but Jaylen Wright and Greg Dulcich might be viable. I think Pats play starters for at least a half, keeping an eye on the Chargers-Broncos game, but if Denver gets up double-digits in the first half, Patriots will be heading to the sidelines.
Washington at Philadelphia: Eagles are resting starters. Tank Bigsby and Jahan Dotson worth considering. Washington's offense should be Ok but Josh Johnson at quarterback, which isn't great. Hard to see either team being overly interested in this one.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh: While this is a game between two fairly modest teams, playing to be the No. 4 seed, there's enough there to think they'll have a chance to beat the No. 5 seed, Buffalo or maybe Houston. Pittsburgh not having DK Metcalf definitely a factor in last week's loss and could be a factor here, I hope the Lions fan is pleased with himself (not that Metcalf isn't at fault here, but whatever). I think Aaron Rodgers will be passing to his 8 different marginal wideouts and tight ends, and Derrick Henry will be a running a ton even if he's averaging under 4 yards per attempt. In general, I expect Baltimore to win, but should be a pretty good game.
Enjoy the games.