Week 17
Games through December 30

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START

QB:

Tommy Maddox, Pit: Tommy is back. He was the main reason the Steelers came out winning in a tough road game at Tampa last Monday night. Maddox by far posted the best QB rating of any QB against the Buccaneers this season, and we see no reason why he shouldn’t do even better against a weak Ravens defense.

John Kitna, Cin: He is one of those crazy week 17 picks, which could turn out both ways. The Bills are out of the playoffs with last week’s loss, and there is a good chance they won’t play inspired this week. On the other hand, the Bengals showed they have heart by beating the Saints, so there is a good chance Kitna will come out big this Sunday.

No-brainers: Rich Gannon, Oak; Brett Favre, GB; Tom Brady, NE; Peyton Manning, Ind; Michael Vick, Atl; Daunte Culpepper, Min

Others to start: Trent Green, KC; Tim Couch, Cle; Matt Hasselbeck, Sea; Aaron Brooks, NO; Joey Harrington, Det; Drew Bledsoe, Buf

RB:

Warrick Dunn, Atl: Atlanta plays at Cleveland this week and they have to win to have a playoff spot guaranteed if the Giants win the day before. Follow that one closely, but if the Falcons need a win, Dunn will have a big part in doing so. If not, there is a good chance he will be rested for a half – nevertheless, we think the Giants will beat Philly, so the Falcons indeed have to win.

Shaun Alexander, Sea: Seattle has really improved in the last weeks, big part of it was the improved play of QB Matt Hasselbeck. However, with the development of the passing game, Alexander found more holes and also got more reliable that way. He will be a big part of the Seahawks offense at San Diego, so he is a good start.

No-brainers: Ricky Williams, Mia; LaDainan Tomlinson, SD; Deuce McAllister, NO; Clinton Portis, Den; Travis Henry, Buf; Ahman Green, GB; Charlie Garner, Oak; Michael Bennett, Min

Others to start: Mike Cloud, KC; Eddie George, Ten; Michael Pittman, TB; William Green, Cle; James Stewart, Det; James Mungro, Ind; Marcel Shipp, Ari

WR:

Bill Schroeder, Det: Detroit vs Minnesoa has a good chance to turn into a shootout, so try to get more players in from this game. Schroeder was the main target of Harrington recently, so he is a good start this week.

Steve Smith, Car: After his injury, he seemed to never get back to the form he had at the start of the season, but now it looks like he is finally back at full strength. The Panthers play at New Orleans, who have been vulnerable to the air a lot. So if you are in need of help here, Smith could be your man.

No-brainers: Donald Driver, GB; Marvin Harrison, Ind; Joe Horn, NO; Randy Moss, Min; Hines Ward, Pit; Jerry Rice, Oak; Troy Brown, NE; Rod Smith, Den; Amani Toomer, NYG; Peerless Price, Buf; Eric Moulds, Buf

Others to start: Torry Holt, StL; Chad Johnson, Cin; Terry Glenn, GB; Keyshawn Johnson, TB; Tim Brown, Oak; Koren Robinson, Sea; Derrius Thompson, Was; Derrick Mason, Ten; Curtis Conway, SD; Mark Boerigter, KC; Jimmy Smith, Jax; Plaxico Buress, Pit; Laveranues Coles, NYJ; Travis Taylor, Bal; Ashley Lelie, Den

TE/K/D:

Stephen Alexander, TE, SD: Conway still wasn’t back last week, and although the Chargers really need him to win their final game and keep their slim playoff hopes alive, Alexander has quietly turned into a reliable target. Conway will be back, but you should still start Alexander.

Jason Hanson, K, Det: We predict a shootout at Detroit this week, and that means good news for Hanson. Put him in, he will get a lot of chances.

Indianapolis: The Jaguars really looked bad in the recent weeks after they were thrown out of the playoffs. The Colts may still need a win at Sunday afternoon, and they will get it, shutting down a listless Jacksonville offense.

 
BENCH

QB:

Jamie Martin, StL: Martin has once again earned the starting job at St. Louis, but didn’t look good either in last week’s loss at Seattle. Even more, he still battles knee problems, so it may be that Scott Covington will play. Anyhow, bench him, and don’t bother picking up Covington either. The Rams are done.

Chad Pennington, NYJ: This is a tough pick here, but the Packers still need a win to clinch at least a first round bye. The Packers have stopped everyone in the last weeks (they even shut out Buffalo), so Chad faces his toughest game of his career. It will be a fearce battle, so don’t expect too much points, and, therefore, not much fantasy points in that one.

RB:

William Green, Cle: Atlanta needs a win in Cleveland, so they will primarily shut down the Browns’ running game. And they will do so. Green still has some ups and downs, and this week will be a down for sure.

Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow, SF: The 49ers play for nothing once again, and they have shown how they react by resting Terell Owens last week. Even if it’s Monday night against a listless Rams team, the least thing the Niners want is to risk an injury. So both of them will get a handful of carries, but neither one will get enough to make a fantasy impact.

WR:

Dez White, Chi: He had a great game once again, catching two TDs and 81 yards last Sunday, but the Bears play against Tampa, who are doing great against the pass. Even if Tampa may play for nothing anymore when Green Bay wins their earlier game at the Jets, we would not recommend using White, as the outcome would still remain unsure.

Isaac Bruce, StL: We put him on the bench because of the ongoing QB woes in St. Louis. Looks like he is more vulnerable to all these changes than Holt, who still catches an occasional deep pass. The Rams are done with this season, and nothing showed that better than the 30-10 beating by the Seahawks.

TE/K/D:

Kyle Brady, TE, Jax: He was the lonely bright spot on the listless Jaguars offense last week, but we are not sure he can duplicate that, as the Colts are a tough defense to play. We do recommend not to start any Jacksonville offense player right now, so also better bench Brady.

Jeff Wilkins, K, StL: The Niners may play for nothing anymore, as their playoff fate is sealed, but the Rams do so neither. Some may think this also could be a scoring festival, but we think it probably goes the other way. That being said, better bench Wilkins, as the Rams are not the team anymore that used to light up the scoreboard.

San Diego: The Chargers need a win to have a shot at the playoffs, but they need to win it on offense, as their defense wasn’t really playing well recently. They play Seattle on Sunday, who are rolling offensively right now, and the Chargers will have a hard time stopping Hasselbeck and Alexander.