Week 17 Fantasy Advice: Packers Passing Attack Gets One Last Opportunity

Granted, most fantasy leagues are finished and done by now. Hopefully, you managed well in these leagues. It is a mathematical certainty that most of you did not win your championship. Still, for those of you with teams still contending for championships in the final week of this 2016 season, here are the things you should consider.

PACKERS-LIONS

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers will likely have to face a Lions defense with Darius Slay in the lineup. Slay has been limited in practice this week. He is not an elite cornerback, but they are definitely better with him. While the Lions are right in the middle of the league in passing yards per game, the Lions are dead last in Defensive Passing DVOA. Rodgers looked very good against the Lions last time they played and now he will face them in a dome in a high stakes game. Expect Rodgers’ best.

Matthew Stafford

Stafford has been on a cold streak. In his last three games he has thrown one touchdown against four interceptions. These games include games against the Bears and the Cowboys. In fact, over the last eight games he has seven touchdowns to five interceptions and has only reached a QR Rating of 90 twice. Only 250 yards in half of these eight games is also a low mark for Stafford. Stafford is not the guy you are hoping to see leading your team if you are chasing a championship.

Ty Montgomery/Christine Michael

Detroit’s run defense is better than its pass defense, but still middle of the road at best. Montgomery gives the option of receiver speed and big play skill. This will not look like the Bears game, but Montgomery has a chance to be a mid-level RB2 this week with a ceiling as an RB1. Christine Michael is a flex option at best. He is not getting starter carries and will get more carries if this game becomes a comfortable lead in the Packers’ favor.

Dwayne Washington/Zach Zenner

Theo Riddick appears to be out again this week. Washington is the far more athletic back and Zenner will act as the battering ram, more or less. Neither is a fantasy starter this week. Washington is the more likely to have yards and catches and Zenner is the more likely to fall into the end zone. Average running backs have not fared well against the Packers defense and neither of these players should give you confidence.

Jordy Nelson/Davante Adams/Randall Cobb

Cobb might still have some ways to go before he is starting. Coming off injury makes Cobb too much of a risk to start unless you are gambling on a big game in a match up you are expected to lose. Nelson is still a WR1. He has been looking stronger and stronger every week. There was a point mid-season where Nelson and Adams had the same stat totals for receptions and yards. Since then Nelson has 22 more catches for 225 more yards. Nelson is just nine catches away from 100. Expect Nelson to lead the way in targets yet again. Adams has lost some concentration in the last few weeks with a few key drops. Adams looks like a low-end WR2 at this point with an upside of a low-end WR1.

Golden Tate/Marvin Jones

Jones exploded in the last game against Green Bay, in a manner similar to what Stefon Diggs did. Diggs could not repeat his feat in the Vikings’ second matchup against the Packers, but his teammate Adam Thielen did. Jones has not continued the strong performances that he had early in the year, but Golden Tate has come on much stronger than before. Tate is the more likely favored target this week. That said, Tate is likely a high-end WR2 this week as he has been far too inconsistent to trust too highly. Jones is a flex option at this point in the season.

THE REST OF THE LEAGUE

Quarterbacks

Among teams still looking to play out the stretch, Tampa Bay is one with a quarterback that might still be available in your league. Jameis Winston will be going against the Carolina Panthers secondary and still hanging on to a weak possibility of making the playoffs. Winston is available in 24% of ESPN leagues and 17% of Yahoo leagues. With Kansas City still playing for a possible division title, Alex Smith is not a bad option. He had a poor game against Tennessee, but has looked good against Denver, Oakland and Atlanta. Smith may not have a particularly high ceiling, but his floor is high.

Running Backs

Atlanta might not have a lot to play for, but they can lock up a first round bye yet this week. Tevin Coleman should get plenty of carries, and if the game gets little out of hand he should take carries away from Devonta Freeman as the game goes along. Coleman has been getting good fantasy numbers since returning from injury. Coleman is still available in 22% of Yahoo leagues and 17% of ESPN leagues. Darren Sproles has been a double digit player when he is on the field. Ryan Matthews is out and the Eagles are playing a Dallas team with nothing for which to play.

Wide Receivers

Tyreek Hill has been a very solid player. He has been getting rushing attempts and passing yards. At this point, Hill’s season long point total makes him a high-end WR2. He has managed double digits in four of the last five games. Still, he is available in 25% of ESPN leagues and 15% of Yahoo leagues. Someone else with similar availability is Tyrell Williams. Williams has been slow of late, but he did show up in the loss to Cleveland. Williams will be given every chance to put up points this week in the stand against Kansas City.