Fantasy Football Player Notes

Week 17 Rankings
Patrick Mahomes photo 1. Patrick Mahomes KC (vs . OAK)
Ben Roethlisberger photo 2. Ben Roethlisberger PIT (vs . CIN)
Matt Ryan photo 3. Matt Ryan ATL (at TB)
Ryan hasn't missed a game since 2009, so let's operate as if he plays without any Week 17 ramifications. It's not like the Falcons need to give 37-year-old reserve Matt Schaub reps. He has enjoyed the second-best season of his career, entering the final weekend with 4,546 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, a career-high three rushing scores, and six picks. The Buccaneers have played better defense down the stretch, but they have still allowed 8.2 yards per pass attempt and an NFL-high 111.0 quarterback rating. This season's QB3 is a top-five option.
16 weeks ago
Aaron Rodgers photo 4. Aaron Rodgers GB (vs . DET)
As everyone wondered if the Packers will shut him down, Rodgers instead matched a season high with 442 passing yards while scoring two passing and rushing touchdowns apiece. The last time he accrued 442 yards? Week 5 against the Lions. Just like that, he's the QB4 in what has been universally considered a lost season. He has thrown just two picks in 592 pass attempts, and the Lions have yielded 8.2 yards per pass attempt. Since he's clearly still playing for pride, trust Rodgers as a high-end QB1.
16 weeks ago
Andrew Luck photo 5. Andrew Luck IND (at TEN)
Deshaun Watson photo 6. Deshaun Watson HOU (vs . JAC)
Even despite an awful matchup versus the Jaguars, Watson has just been too good, especially on the ground, for him to be benched during your Week 17 championship game.
16 weeks ago
Jared Goff photo 7. Jared Goff LAR (vs . SF)
Goff hasn't put up big fantasy numbers in a while, but he played great last week and should see more volume in Week 17's matchup versus the 49ers so you can start him as a top 10 option this week.
16 weeks ago
Russell Wilson photo 8. Russell Wilson SEA (vs . ARI)
Although the Seahawks can only finish as the fifth or sixth seed, Pete Carroll said he doesn't want to rest his starters this weekend. Yet if Wilson only threw 29 times in a 38-31 win over Kansas City, he's not going to compile much yardage against the Cardinals, who rank fifth in passing defense and last in rushing. He's entirely touchdown-dependent, and there's at least a chance he sees an early exit. Consider him a high-end QB2 who may settle for 172 passing yards like in their last meeting.
16 weeks ago
Lamar Jackson photo 9. Lamar Jackson BAL (vs . CLE)
Jackson didn't rush for as many yards last game, but still has yet to post fewer than 16 fantasy points in any start this season. You can bank on another solid performance this week at home against the Browns.
16 weeks ago
Jameis Winston photo 10. Jameis Winston TB (vs . ATL)
Winston struggled the last two games in difficult matchups, but has otherwise been brilliant from a fantasy perspective this year. Start him with confidence versus the Falcons.
16 weeks ago
Tom Brady photo 11. Tom Brady NE (vs . NYJ)
Nick Foles photo 12. Nick Foles JAC (at HOU)
Foles may have had a tremendous performance last weekend, but we've seen plenty of more mediocre performances. Add in the fact that Washington's defense has been quite good this year and you ought to have Foles outside your top 12 this week.
16 weeks ago
Philip Rivers photo 13. Philip Rivers LAC (at DEN)
Rivers may have had a rough game last week, but there is a reason he was in MVP conversations. With a bye on the line, you can bet he will be startable this week in Denver.
16 weeks ago
Josh Allen photo 14. Josh Allen BUF (vs . MIA)
Allen has been a special streamer for the past month and a half, but teams appear that have figured out how to slow down his running game so he is no longer in the top 12 options each week.
16 weeks ago
Kirk Cousins photo 15. Kirk Cousins MIN (vs . CHI)
On the bright side, Cousins needs to lead the Vikings to a Week 17 win to secure a wild-card berth. Yet he's still not a viable QB1 against the Bears, who rank first in DVOA against the pass and third in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. They have permitted one passing touchdown in five games since yielding two (along with two interceptions) to Cousins, who has traded volume for efficiency in two games without fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. He's a QB2 despite playing-time security.
16 weeks ago
Sam Darnold photo 16. Sam Darnold NYJ (at NE)
Baker Mayfield photo 17. Baker Mayfield CLE (at BAL)
Baker has been sensational this season, but that doesn't mean you should run him out there in standard one-QB leagues this week versus the Ravens. In fact, he is outside the top 15 options.
16 weeks ago
Derek Carr photo 18. Derek Carr OAK (at KC)
Mitch Trubisky photo 19. Mitch Trubisky CHI (at MIN)
Trubisky has had his big games, but since returning from injury, he just hasn't been the same. You can't rely on him in an awful matchup against the Vikings this weekend.
16 weeks ago
Josh Johnson photo 20. Josh Johnson FA (BYE)
No team has allowed more passing yards than the Eagles, but Johnson will need to run his way to fantasy value. The journeyman reserve has completed just 29 of 48 passes for 304 yards in two games as a starter. This is also, however, by far his easiest matchup after dealing with the Jaguars and Titans on the road. Philadelphia at least proved competent enough to stop Mark Sanchez in Week 13, so Johnson remains a QB2 dart throw.
16 weeks ago
Eli Manning photo 21. Eli Manning NYG (vs . DAL)
With nothing to play for besides draft positioning, the Giants are going to give Kyle Lauletta a proper audition. Just kidding. They're starting Manning on Sunday, and probably for the next three years. To be fair, he's two yards away from his seventh 4,000-yard season while setting a personal high in completion percentage (66.5). His Week 17 hinges on whether Dallas rests starters in preparation for the Wild Card Round. If Jerry Jones is to be believed, that's not the plan. Manning remains a middling QB2 without Odell Beckham Jr.
16 weeks ago
Teddy Bridgewater photo 22. Teddy Bridgewater NO (vs . CAR)
The Saints, who clinched home-field throughout the NFC bracket, will rest Drew Brees for Bridgewater. He hasn't completed a pass in three years, so keep expectations tempered. Yet the Panthers have permitted the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, and they could also sit some starters. He's merely a deep QB2 flier, but one who will be motivated to impress teams searching for a 2019 starter.
16 weeks ago
Matthew Stafford photo 23. Matthew Stafford DET (at GB)
At this point, Stafford is probably just relieved to end 2018. He's averaging 187.7 passing yards over the past six games with just three touchdowns. Josh Rosen is the only full-time starter averaging fewer fantasy points per game than his 12.9. He draws a more manageable Packers defense after facing three top-five passing units this month, but no NFL defense can turn him into a viable QB1 without Kerryon Johnson, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., and Kenny Golladay.
16 weeks ago
Nick Mullens photo 24. Nick Mullens SF (at LAR)
An undrafted third-stringer entering the season, Mullens may find a 2019 starting gig somewhere after registering 285 yards per game with 8.3 yards per attempt through seven contests. Nobody should have expected him to deliver gaudy numbers against the Bears, so don't dismiss his previous strong showings against the Seahawks and Broncos. As considerable road underdogs against the Rams, who can wrap up a first-round bye with a win, he may need to throw 40-plus times. The potential for garbage-time compiling makes him a serviceable QB2.
16 weeks ago
Case Keenum photo 25. Case Keenum WAS (vs . PHI)
Blake Bortles photo 26. Blake Bortles LAR (vs . SF)
Ryan Tannehill photo 27. Ryan Tannehill TEN (vs . IND)
Jeff Driskel photo 28. Jeff Driskel CIN (at PIT)
Dak Prescott photo 29. Dak Prescott DAL (at NYG)
Even though the Cowboys are locked into the NFC's No. 4 seed, Jerry Jones said they plan to go "all out" in an inconsequential Week 17 game. It's not worth taking the chance with Prescott, the QB15 who tossed 160 yards and a touchdown in Week 2's win over the Giants. Big Blue has relinquished 10 passing touchdowns over the last nine games, so he'd be a fringe starter even with a promise of a full four quarters.
16 weeks ago
Josh Rosen photo 30. Josh Rosen ARI (at SEA)
While Rosen offered a season-high 49 rushing yards in Week 16, that's hardly enough when flanked by 87 passing yards and no scores. The rookie has gone four games without a touchdown and is averaging as many fantasy points per contest (8.2) as Peyton Barber. He can only hope the Cardinals surround him with a better offensive line and coaching scheme next year.
16 weeks ago
Blaine Gabbert photo 31. Blaine Gabbert TB (vs . ATL)
Kyle Allen photo 32. Kyle Allen CAR (at NO)
A week after shutting down Cam Newton, the Panthers placed backup Taylor Heinicke on the injured reserve with an elbow injury. Allen, who completed all four of his only NFL passes when Heinicke briefly left Week 16's game, will get the start. The undrafted rookie could see some second-stringers since the Saints have secured home-field advantage. Yet that's no reason to mess with a third-stringer only playing because the Panthers also have nothing on the line.
16 weeks ago
Taysom Hill photo 33. Taysom Hill NO (vs . CAR)
Cooper Rush photo 34. Cooper Rush DAL (at NYG)
Cody Kessler photo 35. Cody Kessler JAC (at HOU)
Ryan Griffin photo 36. Ryan Griffin TB (vs . ATL)
Geno Smith photo 37. Geno Smith FA (BYE)
Chase Daniel photo 38. Chase Daniel CHI (at MIN)
Chad Henne photo 39. Chad Henne KC (vs . OAK)
Sean Mannion photo 40. Sean Mannion MIN (vs . CHI)
Joe Flacco photo 41. Joe Flacco DEN (vs . LAC)
Brian Hoyer photo 42. Brian Hoyer NE (vs . NYJ)
Josh McCown photo 43. Josh McCown FA (BYE)
Matt Cassel photo 44. Matt Cassel FA (BYE)
Matt Schaub photo 45. Matt Schaub ATL (at TB)
Tyrod Taylor photo 46. Tyrod Taylor LAC (at DEN)
Robert Griffin photo 47. Robert Griffin BAL (vs . CLE)
Brandon Weeden photo 48. Brandon Weeden FA (BYE)
Brock Osweiler photo 49. Brock Osweiler FA (BYE)
Mike Glennon photo 50. Mike Glennon OAK (at KC)
Matt Barkley photo 51. Matt Barkley BUF (vs . MIA)
AJ McCarron photo 52. AJ McCarron HOU (vs . JAC)
Tom Savage photo 53. Tom Savage DET (at GB)
Brett Hundley photo 54. Brett Hundley ARI (at SEA)
Trevor Siemian photo 55. Trevor Siemian NYJ (at NE)
Connor Cook photo 56. Connor Cook DET (at GB)
Jacoby Brissett photo 57. Jacoby Brissett IND (at TEN)
Nate Sudfeld photo 58. Nate Sudfeld FA (BYE)
DeShone Kizer photo 59. DeShone Kizer GB (vs . DET)
Nathan Peterman photo 60. Nathan Peterman OAK (at KC)
Joshua Dobbs photo 61. Joshua Dobbs PIT (vs . CIN)
C.J. Beathard photo 62. C.J. Beathard SF (at LAR)
Kyle Sloter photo 63. Kyle Sloter MIN (vs . CHI)