Week 17 Start Them - Sit Them
- Every week we will put together our "start them - sit them" list. Obviously, if Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson aren't walking on crutches you are going to start them. This list is aimed at the borderline "start-or-sit" players.
Also remember it's getting late in the season and weather can be a factor, particularly in the cold and windy northeast. Or on a late Sunday night in Denver.
Most leagues had their title game last week, but a few extent to Week 17 and even into the playoffs. We'll continue our start them - sit them through the end of the season.
Indianapolis at Buffalo
Colts
Start - Donald Brown, Austin Collie, Adam Vinatieri
Bills
Start - Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, Rian Lindell
Comments - The Colts have nothing to play for and as we saw last week will pull there starters very quickly. Peyton Manning likely will play one series to keep his start streak intact. Reggie Wayne has been nicked all season and Pierre Garcon has a hand injury so neither will play much , if at all. Owens is looking for a 2010 contract, so might have a big game against the second-string Colts defense.
New Orleans at Carolina
Saints
Start - Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem
Panthers
Start - Matt Moore, Jonathan Stewart, Muhsin Muhammad, John Kasay
Comments - The Saints are locked into the No.1 seed, so they having nothing to play for, but they've looked bad the last two weeks and need to get back to their winning ways. Still, you can't be guaranteed that the starters will play more than a half of football. Muhammad will be Moore's No.1 target with Steve Smith sidelined by a broken arm.
Jacksonville at Cleveland
Jaguars
Start - David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, Josh Scobee
Browns
Start - Jerome Harrison, Mohamed Massaquoi
Comments - The Jaguars are still alive in the playoff race, so you'll get a full effort from Jacksonville starters. The Jaguars defense will likely key on the Browns only reliable offensive weapon - Harrison. This could open it up for a Derek Anderson-to-Massaquoi hookup, although I wouldn't use the QB as a starter unless I was desperate.
Chicago at Detroit
Bears
Start - Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Greg Olsen, Devin Aromashodu, Robbie Gould
Lions
Start -Maurice Morris, Calvin Johnson, Jason Hanson
Comments - If Cutler played all season like he did last week, the Bears might still be in the title chase. Unfortunately, he's been inconsistent and just as likely will revert to the multi-interception throwing machine that has him leading the league in INTs.
New England at Houston
Patriots
Start - Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Steven Gostkowski
Texans
Start - Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Kris Brown
Comments - The Pats' will be trying to secure the No.3 seed, which will allow them to avoid a second-round matchup with Indianapolis. It's likely the starters will play at least 3/4 of the game, even if they have the game locked up. The Patriots backfield is un-playable with Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk all getting playing time.
Pittsburgh at Miami
Steelers
Start - Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, Jeff Reed
Dolphins
Start - Chad Henne, Ricky Williams, Davone Bess, Dan Carpenter
Comments - "Big Ben" will be throwing against rookie cornerbacks - a huge mismatch. Hines Ward, might be the third best Steelers receiver because of his hamstring injury that has him well below full strength. With all the starting quarterbacks that will be rested this weekend, Henne is a viable option.
New York Giants at Minnesota
Giants
Start - Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks
Vikings
Start - Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, Ryan Longwell
Comments - The Vikings need to win to secure the No.2 seed and a bye in the first round and Favre will likely abuse the Giants vulnerable secondary. With Brandon Jacobs sidelined, Bradshaw will get a solid day's work in as his backup is Gartrell Johnson.
San Francisco at St. Louis
49ers
Start - Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, 49ers defense
Rams
Start - none
Comments - Unless Steven Jackson makes it onto the playing field, this game should be all 49ers. Even with him, I'd start the San Francisco defense.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Falcons
Start - Matt Ryan, Jason Snelling, Roddy White
Buccaneers
Start - Cadillac Williams, Kellen Winslow
Comments - Michael Turner likely won't play, so the obvious start in Snelling. Tony Gonzalez is struggling with a calf injury and might not give you much. Don't expect a repeat of last week for Cadillac, the Falcons know how to stop the run, but he's worth starting anyway.
Green Bay at Arizona
Packers
Start - none
Cardinals
Start - Kurt Warner, Chris Wells, Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Cardinals defense
Comments - The Packers have nothing on the line this week, so no matter what the coach says, you have to sit your Green Bay starters. The same could be true for Arizona, depending on what happens with Minnesota in the one o'clock game. However, if the Vikings lose, every available Cardinals player should be utilized.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Eagles
Start - Donovan McNabb, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, David Akers
Cowboys
Start - Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Roy Williams, Shaun Suisham
Comments - This game is for the NFC East Division title and possibly the No.2 seed and a bye depending upon the Minnesota result. Plus they don't like each other, so you can safely start your guys here, they're going to play the whole game.
Kansas City at Denver
Chiefs
Start - Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Chris Chambers, Ryan Succop
Broncos
Start - Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Matt Prater, Broncos defense
Comments - Denver will be without their No.1 receiver, Brandon Marshall because of disciplinary reasons. They might also be missing No.2 Eddie Royal. For that reason, you can't start Kyle Orton. Charles makes the Chiefs go on offense and will be the focus of the Denver defense which could open up some passing lanes.
Baltimore at Oakland
Ravens
Start - Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Billy Cundiff, Ravens defense
Raiders
Start - Sebastian Janikowski
Comments - The Ravens need the win and the schedule provides them with the perfect opponent.
Washington at San Diego
Redskins
Start - Jason Campbell, Quinton Ganther, Santana Moss, Fred Davis
Chargers
Start - Billy Volek, Darren Sproles, Nate Kaeding
Comments - The San Diego Chargers have the No.2 seed locked up so you won't see their stars. Sproles could get extensive work. If the Redskins are playing against the second team, they might actually be "fantasy-worthy" this week. It certainly beats playing a guy who will be eating a hot dog on the sidelines.
Tennessee at Seattle
Titans
Start - Vince Young, Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Rob Bironas, Nate Washington
Seahawks
Start - Justin Forsett
Comments - The Titans emphasis will be getting Johnson to the 2,000-yard mark. All other players are a gamble. If Julius Jones misses the game as expected, Forsett could be a decent play.
Cincinnati at New York Jets
Bengals
Start - none
Jets
Start - Mark Sanchez, Thomas Jones, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, Jay Feely
Comments - The Bengals will sit their starters as should you. The Jets will be playing to win, making most of them viable options.
- Every week we will put together our "start them - sit them" list. Obviously, if Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson aren't walking on crutches you are going to start them. This list is aimed at the borderline "start-or-sit" players.
Also remember it's getting late in the season and weather can be a factor, particularly in the cold and windy northeast. Or on a late Sunday night in Denver.
Most leagues had their title game last week, but a few extent to Week 17 and even into the playoffs. We'll continue our start them - sit them through the end of the season.
Indianapolis at Buffalo
Colts
Start - Donald Brown, Austin Collie, Adam Vinatieri
Bills
Start - Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, Rian Lindell
Comments - The Colts have nothing to play for and as we saw last week will pull there starters very quickly. Peyton Manning likely will play one series to keep his start streak intact. Reggie Wayne has been nicked all season and Pierre Garcon has a hand injury so neither will play much , if at all. Owens is looking for a 2010 contract, so might have a big game against the second-string Colts defense.
New Orleans at Carolina
Saints
Start - Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem
Panthers
Start - Matt Moore, Jonathan Stewart, Muhsin Muhammad, John Kasay
Comments - The Saints are locked into the No.1 seed, so they having nothing to play for, but they've looked bad the last two weeks and need to get back to their winning ways. Still, you can't be guaranteed that the starters will play more than a half of football. Muhammad will be Moore's No.1 target with Steve Smith sidelined by a broken arm.
Jacksonville at Cleveland
Jaguars
Start - David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, Josh Scobee
Browns
Start - Jerome Harrison, Mohamed Massaquoi
Comments - The Jaguars are still alive in the playoff race, so you'll get a full effort from Jacksonville starters. The Jaguars defense will likely key on the Browns only reliable offensive weapon - Harrison. This could open it up for a Derek Anderson-to-Massaquoi hookup, although I wouldn't use the QB as a starter unless I was desperate.
Chicago at Detroit
Bears
Start - Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Greg Olsen, Devin Aromashodu, Robbie Gould
Lions
Start -Maurice Morris, Calvin Johnson, Jason Hanson
Comments - If Cutler played all season like he did last week, the Bears might still be in the title chase. Unfortunately, he's been inconsistent and just as likely will revert to the multi-interception throwing machine that has him leading the league in INTs.
New England at Houston
Patriots
Start - Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Steven Gostkowski
Texans
Start - Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Kris Brown
Comments - The Pats' will be trying to secure the No.3 seed, which will allow them to avoid a second-round matchup with Indianapolis. It's likely the starters will play at least 3/4 of the game, even if they have the game locked up. The Patriots backfield is un-playable with Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk all getting playing time.
Pittsburgh at Miami
Steelers
Start - Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, Jeff Reed
Dolphins
Start - Chad Henne, Ricky Williams, Davone Bess, Dan Carpenter
Comments - "Big Ben" will be throwing against rookie cornerbacks - a huge mismatch. Hines Ward, might be the third best Steelers receiver because of his hamstring injury that has him well below full strength. With all the starting quarterbacks that will be rested this weekend, Henne is a viable option.
New York Giants at Minnesota
Giants
Start - Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks
Vikings
Start - Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, Ryan Longwell
Comments - The Vikings need to win to secure the No.2 seed and a bye in the first round and Favre will likely abuse the Giants vulnerable secondary. With Brandon Jacobs sidelined, Bradshaw will get a solid day's work in as his backup is Gartrell Johnson.
San Francisco at St. Louis
49ers
Start - Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, 49ers defense
Rams
Start - none
Comments - Unless Steven Jackson makes it onto the playing field, this game should be all 49ers. Even with him, I'd start the San Francisco defense.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Falcons
Start - Matt Ryan, Jason Snelling, Roddy White
Buccaneers
Start - Cadillac Williams, Kellen Winslow
Comments - Michael Turner likely won't play, so the obvious start in Snelling. Tony Gonzalez is struggling with a calf injury and might not give you much. Don't expect a repeat of last week for Cadillac, the Falcons know how to stop the run, but he's worth starting anyway.
Green Bay at Arizona
Packers
Start - none
Cardinals
Start - Kurt Warner, Chris Wells, Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Cardinals defense
Comments - The Packers have nothing on the line this week, so no matter what the coach says, you have to sit your Green Bay starters. The same could be true for Arizona, depending on what happens with Minnesota in the one o'clock game. However, if the Vikings lose, every available Cardinals player should be utilized.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Eagles
Start - Donovan McNabb, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, David Akers
Cowboys
Start - Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Roy Williams, Shaun Suisham
Comments - This game is for the NFC East Division title and possibly the No.2 seed and a bye depending upon the Minnesota result. Plus they don't like each other, so you can safely start your guys here, they're going to play the whole game.
Kansas City at Denver
Chiefs
Start - Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Chris Chambers, Ryan Succop
Broncos
Start - Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Matt Prater, Broncos defense
Comments - Denver will be without their No.1 receiver, Brandon Marshall because of disciplinary reasons. They might also be missing No.2 Eddie Royal. For that reason, you can't start Kyle Orton. Charles makes the Chiefs go on offense and will be the focus of the Denver defense which could open up some passing lanes.
Baltimore at Oakland
Ravens
Start - Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Billy Cundiff, Ravens defense
Raiders
Start - Sebastian Janikowski
Comments - The Ravens need the win and the schedule provides them with the perfect opponent.
Washington at San Diego
Redskins
Start - Jason Campbell, Quinton Ganther, Santana Moss, Fred Davis
Chargers
Start - Billy Volek, Darren Sproles, Nate Kaeding
Comments - The San Diego Chargers have the No.2 seed locked up so you won't see their stars. Sproles could get extensive work. If the Redskins are playing against the second team, they might actually be "fantasy-worthy" this week. It certainly beats playing a guy who will be eating a hot dog on the sidelines.
Tennessee at Seattle
Titans
Start - Vince Young, Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Rob Bironas, Nate Washington
Seahawks
Start - Justin Forsett
Comments - The Titans emphasis will be getting Johnson to the 2,000-yard mark. All other players are a gamble. If Julius Jones misses the game as expected, Forsett could be a decent play.
Cincinnati at New York Jets
Bengals
Start - none
Jets
Start - Mark Sanchez, Thomas Jones, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, Jay Feely
Comments - The Bengals will sit their starters as should you. The Jets will be playing to win, making most of them viable options.
