Quick hits week 16 2017

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley Joe Flacco & Alex Collins are two Ravens players that should definitely be started this week as they are playing the lifeless Colts. The Colts can’t stop the rush or the pass so Flacco and Collins can be your answer to winning the championship in your fantasy football league.

The Packers vs Vikings game offers some serious fantasy football intrigue. The Vikings are still in contention for the #1 seed in the NFC so Case Keenum is going to need to have a big game. Jerrick McKinnon, Adam Theilen, & Keenum are must starts for fantasy football this week as they will look to score early and often against the Packers, who have nothing left to play for except being playoff spoilers.

Given that the Packers have nothing left to play for, Brett Hundley, who two weeks ago played his best game of his career, could be in for another surprising big game. Hundley has looked like he is anywhere from a lost cause at QB, to a potential starter in the NFL in his starts this season. If he can let the offensive fireworks fly this week, he could lead someone to a fantasy football championship as well.

With Davante Adams being out due to concussion, it might be time to start Jordy Nelson. Hundley and Nelson don’t have the same connection that Nelson and Aaron Rodgers have but he will be forced to look his way more often with Adams being out.

All of a sudden it seems like Jameis Winston is fighting for his job in the future, he has had a shaky 2017 in the game he has played, and has looked like anything but a franchise QB. Then last week, he answered back by throwing three TDs and no INTs. Winston needs to have another big game like that over the next two weeks of the Bucs could be thinking of drafting another QB in the later rounds.

Cam Newton seems like he is determined this year. He keeps finding ways to win, even though he basically has one of the worst WR crews in the NFL. This week he threw for four TDs in a close win over the Packers. Newton and rookie Christian McCaffrey who finally had a big game last week as well, are must starts in championship week for fantasy football.

This could be considered a reach, but if you have Deshone Kizer on your bench and you are in a duel QB league, this might be the week to start him. They play the Bears this week, and this might be their best shot at winning a game all season. Kizer also is going to want to play well to prove that he was a better choice than whom the Bears chose, Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky has started to look better as of lately but the Browns defense is better than most people give them credit for, and the Bears have one of the worst sets of starting WRs in the NFL.

The Lions have to win out and hope a few other teams lose in order to make the playoffs. They aren’t going to win by defense or running the ball so look for Matthew Stafford to air it out early and often. That makes Marvin Jones Jr. a must start also, especially since they are playing the Bengals who don’t even really have a head coach to play for, given Marvin Lewis status as a HC is up in the air.

Kareem Hunt and Kansas City got back on the winning train and they did so the same way they did earlier in the season, running the ball early and often with Hunt. Hunt is a monster and although there was a rough four game stretch where he didn’t produce must, he is looking ready to make another run going into the playoffs.

Philip Rivers and the Chargers are another team that need to win out in order to have any hope at the playoffs. That being said Rivers is having an amazing year and he should absolutely have a huge game against the awful Jets who are now on their backup QB. Rivers favorite target Keenan Allen is also a no brainer to start for fantasy football playoffs.

The Falcons vs Saints game turned into a huge contest quickly. Both teams are in the playoffs as of now and still have a shot to win the NFC south. Given it is a home game, the edge should be in the favor of the Saints. Alvin Kamara & Mark Ingram coming off just being selected for the pro-bowl should have a huge game when the Saints need it the most.

Jared Goff & Todd Gurley are coming off an absolute beat down of Seattle, and they get the reward of playing the Titans this week. The Titans are coming off back to back losses to the Cardinals and the 49ers. Look for Gurley and Goff to continue their amazing 2017 season in a big way this week.

Seattle vs Dallas it the third game on this week’s slate that has huge playoff implications. They both come in with identical 8-6 records, both needing to win out, and either Atlanta/New Orleans/Carolina to lose all of their remaining games. Dallas is coming off two straight wins and they are welcoming Ezekiel Elliott back from his suspension, Seattle is coming of a 42-7 beat down from the Rams and the game is in Dallas. All signs lead towards Elliott having a monster comeback game and Seattle ducking out of the playoff competition quietly.

Nick Foles started his first game in 2017 and threw four TD passes, looking like he is the Foles from 2013. They have a more difficult game against the Raiders this week who somehow are still in playoff contention. If Foles does a fraction of what he did last week in a win the Eagles should walk away with a victory again. The trio of Eagles RBs should have a big day against a Raiders defense that can’t seem to defend against anyone.