For most fantasy footballers, their leagues closed up shop on Monday, but there are some of you out there who will soldier on to championship bouts in Week 17. Of course, as we all know, this week provides a unique set of challenges, with the prospect of certain teams resting their stars, or pulling them early, in otherwise meaningless games. For that reason, while we’ll still highlight important matchups and trends in this final edition of Interesting Tidbits, we’ll also touch on some fluid situations you may need to monitor this weekend. Let’s see what’s on tap for Week 17!
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Todd Gurley has 591 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns over his last three games, but will not be winning anyone a fantasy championship in Week 17
MVP candidate Todd Gurley led many to the fantasy football promised land last week, going on one of the most ridiculous fantasy playoff runs in recent memory. Most running backs would be content with eight touchdowns over an entire season, let alone in just three games. Gurley leads the league in both yards from scrimmage (2,093) and total rushing/receiving touchdowns (19). Unfortunately, that’s where his numbers will finish, and if your Super Bowl is this weekend, be prepared to go into fantasy battle without your star running back. The Los Angeles Rams are locked into hosting a Wild Card round game as the No. 3 or 4 seed, and coach Sean McVay already announced on Wednesday that Gurley and Jared Goff will be among the starters who will sit. It’s a tough break, but if you’re in a tight spot, consider picking up Gurley’s backup, Malcolm Brown, who will likely see most of the work with Gurley out.
Jimmy Garoppolo is averaging 8.7 yards per pass attempt this season
The legend of Jimmy Garoppolo keeps growing, with his latest feat being an upset victory over the playoff-bound Jacksonville Jaguars. It was reasonable to expect Garoppolo to falter against the toughest defense in the land, but instead he put up multiple touchdowns for the first time this season, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a rushing score. He’s only made four starts for the 49ers, so his 8.7 yards per pass attempt should be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s still an impressive mark that’s better than either Deshaun Watson (8.3) or Tom Brady (8.1) this season. On paper, a road matchup against the Rams isn’t ideal, but Garoppolo will be facing a junior varsity version of a team with nothing to play for, and the 49ers are actually favored to win.
With DeMarco Murray injured, Derrick Henry should (finally) be the feature back against Jacksonville
If you have Derrick Henry on your squad, you’ve been teased all season long, wondering what could have been if he was the Tennessee Titans lead back. But instead, the oft-injured and mostly ineffective DeMarco Murray has stood in his way like a fantasy football zombie, plodding his way through some ailment seemingly every single week. Even with a torn MCL, Murray is still somehow expected to be a game-time decision against Jacksonville, but this is finally an injury that should leave him with a small role at best. The matchup may not look ideal for Henry, but despite Jacksonville’s accomplishments as a defensive unit, they haven’t been as stout on the ground, ranking just 29th in DVOA against the run. Although coach Doug Marrone claims he won’t rest his starters, there’s also the chance some Jags players take a seat in a game they have nothing to play for.
Dion Lewis gets a career-high 29 touches with Rex Burkhead and James White out
I was cautiously optimistic that Dion Lewis would see more touches with Rex Burkhead out, but with James White also missing the game, the New England Patriots showed they weren’t afraid to take off the training wheels, unleashing Lewis on the Buffalo Bills. Lewis would have himself a day, turning 24 carries and five receptions into 153 total yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots need a win over the New York Jets to ensure they get the top seed in the AFC, so unlike other playoff-bound teams, we shouldn’t need to worry about them not going all-out. Burkhead should once again be out, and even if White returns to steal some passing work, there’s little reason to expect the Pats to significantly dial back Lewis’ usage as a massive home favorite over New York.
Following a season-ending injury to Hunter Henry, Antonio Gates proves he has something left with his best game of the season
After Hunter Henry was lost for the season entering Week 16, it was fair to be skeptical if Antonio Gates would be able to take advantage of the opportunity. Well, he didn’t disappoint, catching 6-of-8 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown, while playing 77% of the snaps. The targets, receptions, yards, and snap count percentage were all season-highs, and there isn’t any reason to think Gates can’t come through again in a plus matchup against the Oakland Raiders.
Branden Oliver might be the last running back standing for the Chargers with both Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler hobbled
Speaking of the Los Angeles Chargers, they’ll be clawing for a spot in the playoffs this weekend, so we needn’t worry about their motivation against the Raiders. But there’s a chance they’ll be without starting running back Melvin Gordon, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Although Gordon is reportedly optimistic that he will play, he’s far from a guarantee, and with Austin Ekeler limited to special teams with a broken hand, we may very well see the Branden Oliver show on Sunday. Maybe that’s not the name you envisioned on your championship roster, but against a beatable Raiders defense, the role and matchup look the part if Gordon is ruled out.
Charcandrick West could play the role of Kareem Hunt against the Broncos
On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs are a team with nothing to play for, and they’ve already announced they will start rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes instead of Alex Smith against the Denver Broncos. As of this writing, nothing official has been said regarding Kareem Hunt, but it’s possible that he too could get the day off. That opens the door for Charcandrick West to have a big workload, and while it’s an uninviting spot against the Broncos, at the very least he deserves consideration in PPR leagues if you’re in a Week 17 bind. Volume is volume, after all. Keep on eye on the chatter leading up to Sunday.
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Kenyatta Storin is a featured writer with FantasyPros. For more from Kenyatta, check out his archive and follow him @kenyattastorin.
