Tastefully Curated Every Wednesday by LineStar Fantasy Experts. This edition and Playoff editions may be on a different schedule to better accommodate injury reporting days.

Week 17 Top Plays - MAIN SLATE 😀

QB:

• Russell Wilson, SEA (vs ARI) [CASH]The Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives in this final game of the regular season. By some estimates they have a 29% chance to make the playoffs which means this is a must win game and need other things have to go right as well. Wilson who is pretty much the sole source of offense for this team is going to need to put the weight of Seattle onto his back to get this win. It would honestly be shocking if they lost at home, facing a team that has no playoff hopes and is using almost pure backups at the skill spots now.

• Tom Brady, NE (vs NYJ) [TOURNAMENT] The Jets won't say it, but they would love to beat the Patriots here to keep them from being the top seed heading into the playoffs. Sure, if they Jets get blown out here early, Brady could be rested in the 4th quarter. However if the Jets put up a good fight we could see a full game with Brady behind the helm against a defense which has been bad against the pass all season, and worst in the league over the last 4 weeks.

• Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (@LAR) [CONTRARIAN] The 49ers have nothing to play for, but getting one last look at Jimmy Garoppolo before they deciding whether they want to offer him a big contract is a good reason. They'll be facing the Rams who have already said they're going to be sitting all of their starters. Look for Garoppolo to try and prove decisively that he's the future of this franchise and why they should pay him big bucks this off season.

Other QBs to consider:

• Landry Jones, PIT (vs CLE): He's dirt cheap and has plenty of starting experience. He won't have the support of Bell or other top players, so pass he must.

• Kirk Cousins, WAS (@NYG): Washington has said they will treat this as a normal game and Captain Kirk wants to showcase himself for a big contract this off season.

• Matthew Stafford, DET (vs GB): Neither team has anything to play for and GB defense is basically like playing catch in your backyard, don't trip and you get a TD each toss.

RB:

• Alex Collins, BAL (vs CIN) [CASH]If the Ravens secure a win, they are virtually a lock to make the playoffs but if they lose they need to cross their fingers and hope. The Bengals have nothing to play for here and have had one of the worst defenses against the run all season. They're ranked dead last over the last 4 weeks versus running backs and will be without Vontaze Burfict once again. Look for Baltimore to stomp all over the Bengals with a big dose of Collins in the backfield.

• LeSean McCoy, BUF (@MIA) [TOURNAMENT]Buffalo is a long-shot to make the playoffs but if they win they still have an outside chance. The key to the Bills winning is getting McCoy rolling and thankfully for them they're facing Miami who has nothing to play for. The Dolphins are ranked 28th on the season against running backs allowing 27 fantasy points a game. Shady is going to give this game his full attention, and could be in line for a big day.

• Malcolm Brown, LAR [CONTRARIAN]With all of the various players sitting and backups playing this crazy last week, Malcolm Brown may get overlooked. We have already been told by the Rams that Gurley and the other starters will take a seat in this final game of the regular season. Malcolm Brown is expected to get the bulk of the workload here in a game which the 49ers are actually looking to showcase a young QB, so Brown could be in line for a large workload for a very cheap salary.

Other RBs to consider:

• Jamaal Williams, GB (@DET): Jones has been ruled out so it's Williams all day. Detroit is ranked 31st on the season and 30th over the last 4 weeks against the run.

• Alvin Kamara, NO (@TB): Saints would be a virtual lock for the division win if they win this game. Kamara has been a weapon all season and now faces a defeated defense.

• Derrick Henry, TEN (vs JAX): Titans are still fighting for a playoff spot, and Murray has been ruled out. It's Henry all day to show what he's got finally.

TE

• Antonio Gates, LAC (vs OAK) [CASH] Hunter Henry is out for the season and Gates has fallen back into a big workload. It's obvious from last week that Rivers and Gates still have a solid connection, so look for that to continue in a must win game for the Chargers. If the Chargers win they have a shot at the playoffs but multiple things would still have to go right. The Raiders have been horrible guarding tight ends all season, ranked dead last over the last 4 weeks allowing 18.6 fantasy points per game.

DEFENSE:

• Chargers (vs OAK) [CASH]The Chargers defense really stepped up in the final half of the season, scoring 13 fantasy points a game over the final 9 weeks of the season. The Chargers are in a must win game here, facing the Raiders who have nothing to play for. The Chargers could be without their top running back in this game which means the defense will have to step up to help secure the win for this game.

• Ravens (vs CIN) [TOURNAMENT]Baltimore's defense has had big games in about 50% of their games this season, and now get to face a Bengals team that was horrible all season and has nothing to play for. They could easily see a Bengals backup QB under center, though one could argue Dalton hasn't been any better than a backup with 12 interceptions on the season and barely throwing for more than 200 yards a week. Vegas has the Bengals as scoring 15 points, but it wouldn't be shocking if the Ravens shut them out here.

• Steelers (vs CLE) [CONTRARIAN]There are plenty of good defenses to target this week, but the Steelers will likely be overlooked. They haven't been a great defense this season, but their offensive starters won't be playing and they get to face the worst team in the league. They'll likely want to get things tuned up on the defensive side of the ball and facing the Browns is a great way to give confidence to your players heading into the playoffs.

Other Defenses to consider:

• Patriots (vs NYJ): Patriots playing at home, in a game they want to win against possibly a 3rd string QB if things go downhill fast.

• Bills (@MIA): Just wait until you see how Cutler performs when nothing is on the line. If anyone gets close to him, that ball will be up in the air for anyone to grab.

• Seahawks (vs ARI): Seattle at home, in a must win game facing a team that has nothing to play for and a backup QB. Sign me up.

INJURIES TO WATCH 🤕

• Joe Mixon, CIN - Ankle, Questionable

• Jeremy Maclin, BAL - Knee, Doubtful

• Mike Wallace, BAL - Knee, Questionable

• Davante Adams, GB - Head, OUT

• Aaron Jones, GB - Knee, OUT

• Jordy Nelson, GB - Shoulder, OUT

• DeAndre Hopkins, HOU - Calf, OUT

• Kelvin Benjamin, BUF - Knee, Probable

• Charles Clay, BUF - Knee, Probable

• Deonte Thompson, BUF - Shoulder, Questionable

• Damien Williams, MIA - Shoulder, OUT

• DeVante Parker, MIA - Ankle, Questionable

• Adam Shaheen, CHI - Chest, Questionable

• Kyle Rudolph, MIN - Ankle, Probable

• Matthew Forte, NYJ - Knee, Questionable

• Jermaine Kearse, NYJ - Ankle, Doubtful

• Mike Gillislee, NE - Knee, Questionable

• James White, NE - Ankle, Questionable

• Chris Hogan, NE - Shoulder, Questionable

• Evan Engram, NYG - Ribs, OUT

• Sterling Shepard, NYG - Neck, OUT

• Cole Beasley, DAL - Illness, Questionable

• Rod Smith, DAL - Shoulder, Questionable

• Le'Veon Bell, PIT - Rest, OUT

• Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Rest, OUT

• Antonio Brown, PIT - Rest, OUT

• Cameron Brate, TB - Hip, Questionable

• DeSean Jackson, TB - Ankle, Probable

• Marqise Lee, JAX - Ankle, OUT

• Allen Hurns, JAX - Ankle, Questionable

• DeMarco Murray, TEN - Knee, OUT

• Charcandrick West, KC - Illness, Questionable

• Cody Latimer, DEN - Thigh, OUT

• Emmanuel Sanders, DEN - Ankle, OUT

• Melvin Gordon, LAC - Ankle, Questionable

• Cooper Kupp, LAR - Rest, OUT

• Jared Goff, LAR - Rest, OUT

• Todd Gurley, LAR - Rest, OUT

• Robert Woods, LAR - Rest, OUT

• Sammy Watkins, LAR - Rest, Doubtful

• John Brown, ARI - Toe, Probable

• Kerwynn Williams, ARI - Quad/Ribs, Probable

• Jimmy Graham, SEA - Knee, Probable

Remember, if you win over $100 any given week - sign-up for LineStar MVP - it's free and you get a dope hat and 1-month of subscription time! 🏆💰

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