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Week 17 Playoffs - Which teams might rest players? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ldizzle
- Start date
Its so rare that people sit I would just wait til next week. Two of the teams you named are likely to still be playing for something next week. Even if the saints clinch you really think they will give their crappy team a week off except players who are injured not being pushed to go.
Edit- one more thing do you really have that many waiver wire options to do anything this week to pick up replacements?
Edit- one more thing do you really have that many waiver wire options to do anything this week to pick up replacements?
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QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Patriots and Colts will for sure, gotta think. Both are basically locked into their seed (technically the Colts can end up #3 with a win and a tie by the Steelers and Bengals - barring that they are #4).
That's pretty much it. The rest are playing for something:
Broncos need to win to get the #2 seed for sure.
Bengals need to win to get at least a home game.
Steelers need to win to get at least a home game.
Chargers, Ravens, Texans, and Chiefs are all playing at the same time and thus will be alive at kickoff.
Cowboys play at 1pm. They will still have a chance at a bye with a win and losses by the Cardinals and Seahawks (who play at 4pm)
Cardinals can still win the division (and get a bye) and play at the same time as Seahawks
Seahawks can still win the division (and get home field) and play at the same time as the Cardinals.
Packers and Lions play each other - winner gets a bye, loser is a wild card.
Panthers and Falcons play each other - winner is in, loser is out.
As for the 16 teams with no chance at the playoffs - that's the ones you have to look out for.
Example - will Hoyer start after all for the Browns or will they go with the dude who's name I forget.?
Are there other players with bumps and bruises that might get a break?
The eliminated teams are the ones to watch - though traditionally they don't bench guys to rest them in the last game very often.
-QG
That's pretty much it. The rest are playing for something:
Broncos need to win to get the #2 seed for sure.
Bengals need to win to get at least a home game.
Steelers need to win to get at least a home game.
Chargers, Ravens, Texans, and Chiefs are all playing at the same time and thus will be alive at kickoff.
Cowboys play at 1pm. They will still have a chance at a bye with a win and losses by the Cardinals and Seahawks (who play at 4pm)
Cardinals can still win the division (and get a bye) and play at the same time as Seahawks
Seahawks can still win the division (and get home field) and play at the same time as the Cardinals.
Packers and Lions play each other - winner gets a bye, loser is a wild card.
Panthers and Falcons play each other - winner is in, loser is out.
As for the 16 teams with no chance at the playoffs - that's the ones you have to look out for.
Example - will Hoyer start after all for the Browns or will they go with the dude who's name I forget.?
Are there other players with bumps and bruises that might get a break?
The eliminated teams are the ones to watch - though traditionally they don't bench guys to rest them in the last game very often.
-QG
FUBAR
Footballguy
Nope. But for those of us in Week 17 Super Bowls or other things to play for (top weekly prize, whatever other games your league may have), the lineup decisions can be influenced by knowing a player might sit.
Thankfully not too many of my decisions look to be impacted, but E Sanders / Peyton and other Broncos could sit if Indy loses to Tennessee (yeah, never mind).
It does look like Patriots and Colts are the only teams likely to bench their players in the 2nd half, but it's helpful to confirm that.
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packersfan
Footballguy
Belichick's history has often been to play his starters in meaningless games (remember Welker's ACL injury several years ago). They often play into the fourth quarter before he pulls them.
Pagano said yesterday he's playing the starters because the team needs to build some momentum going into the playoffs. So Luck and Hilton (if he plays) look safe to play as of right now.
Pagano said yesterday he's playing the starters because the team needs to build some momentum going into the playoffs. So Luck and Hilton (if he plays) look safe to play as of right now.
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Will be following this thread.... massively important week 17 title game...
packersfan
Footballguy
Me too unfortunately. I've been trying to vote down Week 17 for years and keep getting outvoted. I love fantasy football but despise this week with all of its uncertainty.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
Week 17 final makes no sense whatsoever.
packersfan
Footballguy
Sure wish I could convince the majority of people in my league that, including my co-commissioner. He loves it and is the driving force behind keeping it.
cheese
Footballguy
Easier/better scheduling. No dead/boring week. And for what, to make a game that involves a TON of variance and chance 1% more "fair" IF a couple guys sit? I'm a wk17 guy anywhere it's my call.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Patriots - Have #1 seed locked up. Could see them resting guys in the 2nd half.
Broncos - Win against the Raiders and #2 seed is theirs. Another one where they could play until the 2nd half when the game is out of reach.
Colts - Not much to play for.
Cowboys - More than likely #3 seed. Doubt we see much Murray since he was saying his hand was bothering him last week.
Those seem to be the 4 teams where you could see players not going all 4 quarters.
Broncos - Win against the Raiders and #2 seed is theirs. Another one where they could play until the 2nd half when the game is out of reach.
Colts - Not much to play for.
Cowboys - More than likely #3 seed. Doubt we see much Murray since he was saying his hand was bothering him last week.
Those seem to be the 4 teams where you could see players not going all 4 quarters.
packersfan
Footballguy
I think Denver's loss means the Colts have nothing to play for and they can't move out of the fourth seed, correct?
MattFancy
Footballguy
ProFootballZone @ProFootballZone
Cowboys expected to rest DeMarco Murray in week 17 http://wp.me/p1L24z-ypA
Cowboys expected to rest DeMarco Murray in week 17 http://wp.me/p1L24z-ypA
packersfan
Footballguy
Not expected to rest him according to the article.
Murray can set the team's single season rushing record. Jones was talking about how important all that stuff is today so Murray could play, get his 30+ yards and then maybe come out.
Dez is also in the hunt to lead the league in TDs so that may factor into their thinking as well.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Think they play a little. Maybe a half and into the 3rd quarter. Guess it depends what time the Packers/Lions and Seahawks/Rams games are. Cowboys can't really do any better than the 3rd seed right? Unless the Seahawks lose or can they possibly get by the North winner?
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Best thing that coulda happened if you own Broncos was them losing to cinci and then cinci/Pitt getting flexed to Sunday night. If cinci played early and lost, Denver would have rested players, now Broncos will be full bore in week 17, should get another good game out of dt, Julius is a dice roll once again
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MattFancy
Footballguy
Still don't think they'll play a full game. They should be able to have a good lead by half time against Oakland. If you own Broncos players, you just need to hope the Raiders keep in close by halftime.
packersfan
Footballguy
If the Broncos (of any team that could rest top players) has a big lead at halftime chances are good their best players had something to do with it. So you could have gotten good production even without getting the players for four quarters. The Packers went through a stretch this season where they had a few games over at halftime. Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb and Nelson never played four full quarters but still put up strong numbers consistently. You obviously want four quarters out of everyone but you don't always need a full game to get the desired or at least acceptable results.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Very true. The Broncos are tough to predict since the Bengals/Steelers isn't until Sunday night. But they should have no problem with the Raiders.
BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
If you’re playing head-to-head season-long fantasy football into Week 17, I suggest you get on your league-mates next year and change the rules. This week will be more about figuring out who is motivated rather than who has the best combination of usage, talent and matchup. The first step in that is processing all the playoff scenarios.
NFC
* Teams eliminated from the playoffs: 49ers, Bears, Bucs, Eagles, Giants, Rams, Redskins, Saints, Vikings.
* The Panthers at Falcons game will decide the NFC South. Winner hosts a playoff game, loser goes home. Both teams motivated.
* The Lions at Packers game will decide the NFC North. Winner gets a first-round bye, loser could fall as low as the No. 6 seed. Both teams motivated.
* The Cowboys are virtually locked into the No. 3 seed. The only way they can earn a first-round bye is by beating the Redskins and netting both of these unlikely outcomes: Seahawks lose at home to Rams, Cardinals lose at 49ers. Questionable motivation for Cowboys.
* The Cardinals are still fighting for a bye and playoff seeding. They will be motivated.
* The Seahawks are still fighting for a bye and playoff seeding. They will be motivated.
AFC
* Teams eliminated from the playoffs: Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, Raiders, Titans.
* The Patriots have clinched the No. 1 overall seed and home field throughout the playoffs. Questionable motivation.
* The Chiefs are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Texans are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Ravens are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot with a win. They will be motivated.
* The Colts are essentially locked into the No. 4 seed. Questionable motivation.
* The Broncos must win to earn a first-round bye. They will be motivated.
* The Bengals and Steelers will likely be fighting for playoff seeding by the time this 8pm ET game rolls around. They will be reasonably motivated, even if neither can earn a bye. The Broncos can lock up the first round bye earlier in the day by beating the Raiders.
NFC
* Teams eliminated from the playoffs: 49ers, Bears, Bucs, Eagles, Giants, Rams, Redskins, Saints, Vikings.
* The Panthers at Falcons game will decide the NFC South. Winner hosts a playoff game, loser goes home. Both teams motivated.
* The Lions at Packers game will decide the NFC North. Winner gets a first-round bye, loser could fall as low as the No. 6 seed. Both teams motivated.
* The Cowboys are virtually locked into the No. 3 seed. The only way they can earn a first-round bye is by beating the Redskins and netting both of these unlikely outcomes: Seahawks lose at home to Rams, Cardinals lose at 49ers. Questionable motivation for Cowboys.
* The Cardinals are still fighting for a bye and playoff seeding. They will be motivated.
* The Seahawks are still fighting for a bye and playoff seeding. They will be motivated.
AFC
* Teams eliminated from the playoffs: Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, Raiders, Titans.
* The Patriots have clinched the No. 1 overall seed and home field throughout the playoffs. Questionable motivation.
* The Chiefs are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Texans are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Ravens are still fighting for a playoff spot. They will be motivated.
* The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot with a win. They will be motivated.
* The Colts are essentially locked into the No. 4 seed. Questionable motivation.
* The Broncos must win to earn a first-round bye. They will be motivated.
* The Bengals and Steelers will likely be fighting for playoff seeding by the time this 8pm ET game rolls around. They will be reasonably motivated, even if neither can earn a bye. The Broncos can lock up the first round bye earlier in the day by beating the Raiders.
BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
So teams already eliminated will be playing for pride ,like the saints for example. Im trying to remember if they play to win or not ?
Yenrub
Footballguy
According to the post above there are 16 teams eliminated from the playoffs to start week 17
How many of these teams were eliminated before week 16?
Teams I know for sure that were eliminated prior to week 16 were
Bears, Bucs, Giants, Rams, Redskins and Vikings in the NFC
Jags, Jets, Raiders and Titans in the AFC
newbie_bewbie
Footballguy
So it seems like teams aren't just going to roll over just because they're not in the post season. Would that be fair to say?Yenrub said:
Jeremy
Footballguy
Yeah, me too. The reasoning we get is that the regular season needs to be 14 games long so each team can play each out of division team once (8 games) and each team in the division twice (6 games). 3 divisions with 4 teams each. Somehow other leagues manage to make it work, but the rest of the league seems to have no complaints so I go along with it.
Worried about Gronk this week, but I think I'm in decent shape otherwise.
Sigh. And apparently Murray as well.
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Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
No, not fair to say. They're playing for the division and hosting a game no matter what else happens.
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
Dallas can be #1 seed if GB-Det tie, assuming they win AND Seattle wins the west. It's so unlikely as to be immaterial. They can win the #2 seed, but their game is actually irrelevant. If Seattle AND Arizona lose, Dallas is #2 seed, win or lose.MattFancy said:
The Dallas game is as statistically close to irrelevant as it can be. I can't see Romo's back being put in harm's way for long. ditto Murray's entire body.
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
newbie_bewbie
Footballguy
That's what I meant, like they'll still play even if they're not in the playoffs... I think we're on the same page lol
Exactly, having a home game in the playoffs is a huge potential advantage. People seem to think seeding doesn't matter. What if Cincy or Pitt plays Denver again in round 2 and wins and the Pats get upset in round 2? Guess what, home field for the AFC Championship. A whole lot more difficult for that to play out as a wild card.
newbie_bewbie
Footballguy
Any chance Romo being in MVP race effects whether or not he plays?
Him playing a half might be better for me than Cutler a whole game lol
Him playing a half might be better for me than Cutler a whole game lol
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packersfan
Footballguy
Based on what Jerry Jones said today about the value of personal achievements it might.
If Romo sits Sunday or plays a quarter or so I don't see any way he wins the MVP award, especially with Rodgers playing a full game later that day. Not to mention Watt playing, Wilson playing and Brady maybe playing a good chunk of his game.
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
Sorry, quoted the wrong post -- meant to quote the post about Pitt and Cincy being "locked in".
Dragon1952
Footballguy
Everything I've seen has the Saints eliminated, but if Carolina and Atlanta, who face each other, ends in a tie and the Saints win the standings would look like this:
NO 7-9
Car 6-8-2
Atl 6-9-1
I know it's a long shot but they are not technically eliminated unless I'm missing something.
NO 7-9
Car 6-8-2
Atl 6-9-1
I know it's a long shot but they are not technically eliminated unless I'm missing something.
Marauder
Footballguy
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/new-orleans-saints-nfc-south-tie-playoffs
What happens is that the Saints and Panthers would, in the eyes of the NFL, be tied. The NFL considers a tie as one-half of a win; at 7-9 for the Saints and 6-8-2 for the Panthers, the two teams would have identical winning percentages of 43.75 percent. With the head-to-head tiebreaker a 1-1 split of their series, the Panthers would eke out the division tiebreaker with a 3-2-1 mark over the Saints’ 3-3 record.
Tennessee_ATO
Footballguy
Unfortunately, you're missing something. The math is essentially 6-8-2 = 7-9. Car owns the tie-breaker over NO.
Dragon1952
Footballguy
cubbie5150
Footballguy
What about teams NOT in contention for (real) playoffs? Anyone care to offer their crystal ball insights (regardless of team)? I should probably ask in individual team threads..
--What will Philly do w/ Shady, for example? Give Polk extended time? There's speculation Shady won't be in Philly next year a/c contract.
--Wonder if Trestman is salivating at the thought of benching Cutler after his first Int, giving Fales some live action (meaning, final 55 minutes of game since I assume Cutler has an early pick).
--In general, many teams who might opt to take a look at young guys? Or maybe even some vets claiming a pulled hammy...and start their offseason earlier (I'd like to assume such crassness doesn't exist, but methinks it does). I know, no way of knowing; just curious if anyone has opinions about any such players in this type of scenario
--What will Philly do w/ Shady, for example? Give Polk extended time? There's speculation Shady won't be in Philly next year a/c contract.
--Wonder if Trestman is salivating at the thought of benching Cutler after his first Int, giving Fales some live action (meaning, final 55 minutes of game since I assume Cutler has an early pick).
--In general, many teams who might opt to take a look at young guys? Or maybe even some vets claiming a pulled hammy...and start their offseason earlier (I'd like to assume such crassness doesn't exist, but methinks it does). I know, no way of knowing; just curious if anyone has opinions about any such players in this type of scenario
Sinrman
Footballguy
Everyone has to remember that for the teams NOT in the playoffs, a number of players are playing for bonuses and such, and a lot of coaches realize this. Several coaches are also playing to keep their jobs and/or want to have positive momentum at the end of the season. So they will play to win...
packersfan
Footballguy
I think the Patriots will be safe. I'm pretty sure Belichick lets the top guys play into the fourth quarter in these games. I know Brady has before. I owned Moss one year and he did. Welker played and historically got hurt bad in a meaningless Week 17 game.
I really think it's gonna be the Colts and Cowboys we gotta worry about. Pagano said yesterday his guys will play. Jones and Garrett have said the starters will play for Dallas but both have emphasized "healthy" starters which could lead to Murray sitting or playing only until he gets the rushing record. I know Romo's not fully healthy but given how long he played in the wins over the Jags and then Colts last Sunday it seems like he's not treated as an injured player. At least he wasn't in those games where he played deep into the game despite Dallas have insurmountable leads.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Couple of things: I'm more concerned with the other side of the ball for NE. I'm willing to play Sammy if Revis figures to get most of the afternoon off. As for Romo, as much as I'd like to see him play, I think the Skins have blown him up the last two times they've played. And Garrett said the starters "will play" but he avoided the follow-up question of "how long will they play?" That situation is a total crapshoot. Romo could play into the 3rd Q, or be done after one series. I'm not sure even Garrett knows the answer yet.
packersfan
Footballguy
Agree on the Cowboys. Hopefully we get some strong info by Sunday morning at the latest. I'm thinking we probably will. We knew all last week that Murray was going to play. I'm hoping for similar insight with the starters this week.
Good point about Revis/Watkins. Sammy's been so hard to trust to begin with. Just when you start losing faith like last Sunday he scores and just when you're starting to feel good about him he comes up small.
Good point about Revis/Watkins. Sammy's been so hard to trust to begin with. Just when you start losing faith like last Sunday he scores and just when you're starting to feel good about him he comes up small.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Berry has Romo ranked as the #3 QB this week. 
If I heard him correctly on his podcast, I think he thinks Dallas needs to win if Arizona and Seattle lose. They don't.
If I heard him correctly on his podcast, I think he thinks Dallas needs to win if Arizona and Seattle lose. They don't.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Actually it might be useful to see if there's any list of possible bonuses that could be earned. Remember Brees with the yardage record a couple of years ago? Are there other players that have some sort of incentive for their team to feed them more than they otherwise might in a meaningless game?
-QG
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Oh wow nice catch RN - Dallas has no control over their seed? Man then they are probably resting everyone. Maybe Romo gets a quarter or a half to stay sharp.Berry has Romo ranked as the #3 QB this week.
If I heard him correctly on his podcast, I think he thinks Dallas needs to win if Arizona and Seattle lose. They don't.
Here's an NFC seed scenario chart (from fantsided) that confirms this:
http://fansided.com/2014/12/23/nfc-playoff-scenarios-week-17/
The AFC Chart is much clearer. Interesting to note that (barring a tie) it is impossible for the Bengals and Steelers to meet in round 1:
http://fansided.com/2014/12/23/afc-playoff-cheat-sheet/
(to
out for a second, the only way Cincy plays Pittsburgh in round 1 is if they tie in their game and Indy wins).-QG
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Call me naive, but Jerruh sounds pretty convincing here:
