Pftt 2016 12 29

NFC North, AFC West division titles come down to season finales SINCE 1967

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 29, 2016

Bill & Tom’s

Adventure • BELICHICK, BRADY

PURSUE A FIFTH SUPER BOWL RING • THE PATRIOTS FINISH ATOP OUR WEEK 17 POWER RANKINGS • PFW SELECTS TOM BRADY AS MVP

ProFootballWeekly.com

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2 DALLAS COWBOYS 3 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 4 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 5 ATLANTA FALCONS 6 GREEN BAY PACKERS 7 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 8 NEW YORK GIANTS 9 OAKLAND RAIDERS 10 MIAMI DOLPHINS 11 BALTIMORE RAVENS 12 HOUSTON TEXANS 13 DETROIT LIONS 14 DENVER BRONCOS 15 WASHINGTON 16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 17 ARIZONA CARDINALS 18 TENNESSEE TITANS 19 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 20 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 21 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 22 BUFFALO BILLS 23 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 24 CAROLINA PANTHERS 25 CINCINNATI BENGALS 26 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 27 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 28 CHICAGO BEARS 29 NEW YORK JETS 30 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 31 LOS ANGELES RAMS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS Clearly the best right now

And the kids and Dez will carry them

Will be scary if Coates, Green, Tuitt get healthy Tyreek Hill is an absolute game-changer Offense is super; can defense be?

Here comes A-Rod

They’re the weakest of the best

And the G-men are the best of the rest

#5 with Carr, maybe not even this high with McGloin Is Adam Gase the coach of the year?

Tough, well coached, need more playmakers And now Jadeveon shall lead them

Washington only winning team they’ve beat Let the Paxton Lynch era begin

Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 17 Power Rankings

Five gifts from Bears enough to hang in race If only they could play defense

Big effort in Seattle; where has it been all year?

Mariota injury a shame but were still a year away So what’s up with the “Muscle Hamster,” Dirk?

Please get Luck and defense some help up front No idea what’s going on here at this point

They’re still fighting but couldn’t save Rex

If only they could play ‘em all at home: 5-2 in Philly Is Newton getting enough of the blame for this?

The Chiefs moved up a spot after a convincing win over Denver, while Derek Carr’s injury sent the Raiders down the rankings. The Dolphins, now a wild-card team, crack the top 10, while the Lions and Washington hope to get into the playoffs and higher in our rankings next week.

AP PHOTO

Just an off year, or beginning of downward trend?

Ouch, that one could cost Mike McCoy his job So how many points is that for Doug Marrone?

You mean Matt Barkley isn’t the second coming?

How do you like them now?

Kap’s shown enough for future somewhere

Tom Brady and the Patriots remain on top of our rankings after crushing the Jets on Saturday

Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

Even with Goff, these guys really hard to watch If they win another one, we can talk about 31st

I

t’s awards time around the NFL and I have found myself thinking lately about an award they give in the NBA every year but it’s not one you see with the NFL. I’m talking about the most improved player in the league.

There have been a number of really impressive turnarounds in the National Football League this season and some of those players are worth recognizing.

Marqise Lee was drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars three seasons ago, 22 picks ahead of Allen Robinson and before the Jags found undrafted rookie free agent Allen Hurns that year.

While the latter two emerged as 1,000-yard receivers last season, Lee lagged behind.

But this year it’s Lee who has emerged as one of Blake Bortles’ favorite targets with 57 catches for 765 yards (13.4 yards per catch) and three TDs after totaling just 52-613-2 over his first two seasons.

Melvin Gordon was a first-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2015 but struggled most of his rookie season, rushing for 641 yards, catching 33 passes for 192 yards and failing to get into the end zone.

Gordon has exploded this season

in spite of missing a MVP candidate.

Travis Kelce was a few games to injury, nice tight end for the rushing for 997 yards Chiefs his first two on 254 carries with 10 years on the field, averscores, plus two more aging 69 catches for 868 TDs on 41 catches for yards.

419 yards.

This season, Kelce Matt Stafford was has exploded with 84 the No. 1 overall pick grabs for 1,117 yards in the draft by the Detroit Lions eight sea(13.3 YPC) and four TDs sons ago and through with a game left to play. his first six-and-a-half I think everyone’s favorite story and favorseasons was the poster ite candidate for most child for highly rated HUB ARKUSH q u a r t e r b a c k s w i t h harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com improved this season @Hub_Arkush has to be Buffalo Bills unique gifts and awful outside linebacker Lomechanics. renzo Alexander.

Through his first six-and-a-half Alexander is in his 10th NFL seaseasons, Stafford averaged 19.5 touchdowns and 11.7 interceptions per season, having spent his first six seasons son, but right about the midway point in the league in Washington, two of 2015 the light went on. years with the Cardinals and last seaFrom the ninth game of 2015 son with the Raiders before signing through Week 15, Stafford has with the Bills as a free agent in 2016.

His best year in the league was in thrown 41 TDs and just 11 picks, with 2010 with Washington, when he tofour of those interceptions coming in taled 57 tackles, 1½ sacks and three his past three games after dislocating the middle finger on his throwforced fumbles. Over his first nine ing hand. years in the NFL, Alexander totaled With eight fourth quarter comenine QB sacks. from-behind wins this season, an This season in Buffalo, Alexander NFL record, Stafford has improved has 72 tackles, three forced fumbles, to the point where he is a legitimate one interception returned for 28

yards, six passes defensed, nine tackles for loss and he is tied for fourth in the NFL with 11½ sacks – 2½ more than he totaled his first nine seasons.

In any other year, Alexander would almost certainly win the most improved player award, but this year I can only give him a second-place ribbon.

Three years ago, the Houston Texans made Jadeveon Clowney the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Through his first two seasons, he was hampered by injuries that limited him to just four games his rookie year and then 13 last season after coming back from microfracture knee surgery.

Clowney also had to overcome multiple reports of lack of effort, poor practice habits and understanding of what it takes to play in the NFL. Through 15 games this year, with six sacks and an amazing 16 tackles for loss, Clowney is currently the single most dominating defender in the game.

Watching tape of Clowney recently, if there is one player in the league you might compare him to it would be J.J. Watt, and that has to be a really scary thing for Texans opponents to think about next year when Watt returns from back surgery and both players are Defensive MVP candidates.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

In strong pool of most improved player candidates, Jadeveon Clowney is a cut above the rest

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Packers, Lions to play for NFC North glory

W

hen the Packers visit the Lions in prime-time Sunday to conclude the NFL regular season, it’ll mark the fourth consecutive year the NFC North is decided on the final day of the regular season.

Unlike the past two years, when the Packers fell in Minnesota and Detroit went down in Green Bay but both notched wild-card berths, the loser might miss the playoffs altogether.

The Lions, in search of their first-ever NFC North crown and first division title in 23 years, missed an opportunity to clinch the NFC’s final spot thanks to a disastrous second half Monday night in Dallas. Now, on short rest, they’ll at-

tempt to salvage their storybook season at home against the conference’s hottest club and quarterback and, frankly, their big brother in the division.

Detroit’s well-documented “cardiac cats” season included 12 of the first 13 games ending in one-score margins, with Matthew Stafford and Co. authoring an NFL-record eight fourth-quarter comebacks. Suddenly, Jim Caldwell’s resilient crew has been outscored by a combined 59-27 against the Giants and Cowboys, with consecutive losses for the first time since Weeks 3-4.

Stafford’s injured middle finger hasn’t been as much of an issue as his seemingly waning patience – five of his 11 giveaways have come in the past three games. The turnovers haven’t been as cost-

ly as Detroit’s exposed cornerback depth without Darius Slay and a young offensive line increasingly springing leaks.

Five weeks ago, with their longest losing streak (four games) since 2008 and job security rumors swirling, Aaron Rodgers vowed, “We’re going to run the table.” Green Bay has five consecutive wins and 154 points faster than one of Rodgers’ patented missile strikes. The secondary has had its issues, letting Matt Barkley and the Bears come within three yards of a massive fourth-quarter comeback, and surrendering 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns to Minnesota’s Adam Thielen. It hasn’t mattered, as Rodgers and Jordy Nelson are in the midst of one of those runs we’ll be talking about years from now. And they’re doing

JAGUARS AT COLTS

Marrone likely earned interview for head vacancy with Bortles, offense awakening to spoil Titans’ season. Colts will officially miss playoffs in consecutive years for first time since pre-Peyton Manning era.

BEARS AT VIKINGS

Chicago in jeopardy of first winless season on road, 3-13 campaign in franchise history. Vikings’ eighth loss in 10 games overshadowed by defensive mutiny.

BILLS AT JETS

If this is Rex’s final game in Buffalo, Jay Ajayi helped write his Bills obituary. Jets’ season wouldn’t have been complete without the Marshall-Richardson public airing of laundry.

COWBOYS AT EAGLES

Dallas says the starters will play; hold your breath, Cowboys fans. What a difference Lane Johnson makes for the Eagles.

BROWNS AT STEELERS

The Browns aren’t going 0-16 ... and they may not go 1-15 if Pittsburgh rests its studs with AFC North title and the No. 3 seed already secure.

Aaron Rodgers

Matthew Stafford

it with outstanding complements from all directions in Ty Montgomery, Davante Adams and a superb offensive line.

Meantime, perhaps the Packers’ best overall defender, Clay Matthews, and arguably their most impactful for the majority of this season, Nick Perry, looked as healthy as they have in a month while helping Green Bay put away the Vikings. They bolster a defense that has 14 takeaways against just one turnover during the Packers’ ascent.

Momentum, if you believe in it, is on the Packers’ side, as is pedigree and history for a team looking to secure its 12th division title since the Lions’ most recent, in 1993.

Why should the Lions even bother showing up, then? Their season started with a new general manager, Bob Quinn, retaining Caldwell but being forced to replace Calvin Johnson with a hodgepodge of pass catchers including Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin. They’ve endured prolonged absences from their top three defenders, including Ezekiel Ansah, DeAndre Levy and Slay. Many predicted they’d fall into the division basement, not

Matt McGloin

AP PHOTO

AP PHOTOS

rise to the top.

Stafford absolutely deserves MVP consideration for the way he’s carried his squad, and he is used to being overlooked.

He needs his teammates to look out for him.

Jones, who had a career day with 205 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s 31-24 Week 2 victory, has to take pressure off Boldin, Golden Tate and Eric Ebron. The offensive line has to do a better job handling Dom Capers’ pressure than it did Steve Spagnuolo’s and Rod Marinelli’s. Jim Bob Cooter must stick with Zach Zenner and a run game that has finally found a pulse.

A Lions win likely necessitates a shootout. But the defense needs Ansah, Levy and Glover Quin to play like stars. Without Slay, Johnson Bademosi desperately needs the help to slow Nelson that never arrived versus Dez Bryant.

Remember: both of these teams were written off at one point this season. Likely just one of them gets to rewrite the ending.

••• Thanks to their rivals in Dallas keeping Dak’s

and Zeke’s feet on the gas Monday night vs. Detroit, Washington can earn the final wild-card spot with a win in New York, and the Giants are already locked into the No. 3 seed. A Washington loss reopens the door for Green Bay, Detroit and Tampa (at Carolina).

NFC South champion Atlanta can clinch the No. 2 seed with a home win over the Saints. A loss, paired with a Seattle win in San Francisco, would give the Seahawks next week off.

The Patriots can secure the AFC’s top seed with a win in Miami, where they lost it in the finale last season before having to visit the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos in the AFC title game.

The Raiders, whose fate now rests in Matt McGloin’s hands, can win the AFC West with a win in Denver, and the top seed with a win and Patriots loss. But if the Raiders fail their first test without Derek Carr, the Chiefs can take the division with a win in San Diego.

PANTHERS AT BUCCANEERS

Fitting playoff-elimination loss for Carolina, Cam – following up best game with worst. Bucs fell short of playoffs, and Doug Martin being a healthy scratch stunning, but nice debut for Koetter.

TEXANS AT TITANS

As fun as Tom Savage vs. Matt Cassel would’ve been to decide AFC South, it won’t be necessary after Texans’ Christmas Eve win. Let’s hope Marcus Mariota picks up where he left off before broken fibula.

PATRIOTS AT DOLPHINS

Still eyeing potential No. 1 seed, Pats won’t take foot off gas in South Beach, where Tom Brady has struggled of late. ’Phins postseason swimming for first time since 2008, can still secure fifth seed with win, Chiefs loss.

SAINTS AT FALCONS

New Orleans proved last week it’s a formidable spoiler and will try and prevent prolific Falcons offense, MVP candidate Ryan from grabbing No. 2 seed.

RAIDERS AT BRONCOS

Matt McGloin’s first start since 2013 comes against dangerous Broncos ‘D’ with top seed still attainable. Broncos aren’t returning to postseason, so why return to Siemian instead of Lynch?

CARDINALS AT RAMS

Too little, too late for Cards, but at least Carson Palmer proving he may have something left to offer. How much Rams roster has to offer next head coach is in eye of beholder.

CHIEFS AT CHARGERS

The Chiefs, AFC West champs with a win, were dangerous before unleashing “Bloated Tebow” to humiliate Broncos. Mike McCoy seems hard-pressed to overcome Bolts’ death march ending in five straight losses, including one to winless Browns.

SEAHAWKS AT 49ERS

Seattle limping into playoffs without Thomas and Lockett, but still outside shot at No. 2 seed. Niners snapped 13-game losing streak by stunning lowly Rams late, but does it save Chip Kelly?

GIANTS AT WASHINGTON

Back in the playoffs, Giants better hope postseason version of Eli Manning returns as well. Washington extended its season with win in Chicago but that London tie still looms large.

PACKERS AT LIONS

For the fourth year in a row, it comes down to this: a Week 17 NFC North title game involving the Packers. Lions couldn’t seal it in 2014 at Lambeau, will home-field advantage help flip script?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

RAVENS AT BENGALS

Should NFL’s second- and sixth-longest tenured coaches be feeling heat with both playing a meaningless Week 17 division rivalry game when seasons began with Super Bowl ambitions?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

THIS WEEK’S GAMES BAL @ CIN HOU @ TEN CAR @ TB JAX @ IND NE @ MIA CHI @ MIN BUF @ NYJ DAL @ PHI CLE @ PIT NO @ ATL NYG @ WAS AZ @ LA OAK @ DEN KC @ SD SEA @ SF GB @ DET

Baltimore 20, Cincinnati 17 | Ravens have more pride than Bungles

Baltimore 17, Cincinnati 10 | Cincy phones one in

Houston 16, Tennessee 15 | Valiant Titans effort but no Mariota

Houston 21, Tennessee 20 | Texans finish strong with Savage

Tampa Bay 30, Carolina 27 | Has Cam Newton lost interest?

Tampa Bay 35, Carolina 31 | Love home teams in meaningless games

Indianapolis 27, Jacksonville 20 | Colts win one for Chuckie

Indianapolis 35, Jacksonville 10 | Colts go out strong vs. disinterested Jags

New England 27, Miami 23 | Belichick never takes his foot off the gas

Miami 31, New England 21 | My upset special, Pats caught napping

Minnesota 19, Chicago 16 | Road teams going nowhere rarely focused

Minnesota 27, Chicago 21 | Vikings flash pride, apology to Zimmer

Buffalo 20, N.Y. Jets 13 | Jets locker room is a disaster right now

Buffalo 24, N.Y. Jets 10 | Jets are a joke

Philadelphia 23, Dallas 17 | Cowboys on cruise control, Wentz big finish

Philadelphia 20, Dallas 10 | Eagles playing for jobs, Pokes just have to play

Pittsburgh 24, Cleveland 16 | Steelers are Steelers and Browns are Browns

Pittsburgh 17 , Cleveland 15 | Steelers don’t want to strain themselves here

Atlanta 41, New Orleans 31 | Falcons hang on to bye for dear life

Atlanta 42, New Orleans 32 | Falcons firing on all cylinders

Washington 27, N.Y. Giants 24 | Giants practicing, Washington fights for life

Washington 31, N.Y. Giants 24 | Washington must win, Giants don’t care

Arizona 30, Los Angeles 13 | Not sure Rams can beat anyone right now

Arizona 42, Los Angeles 12 | Cards put Rams out of their misery

Denver 27, Oakland 13 | Carr to McGloin like Mercedes to Yaris

Denver 38, Oakland 28 | Broncos still have hearts of champions

Kansas City 27, San Diego 20 | Chiefs want that bye, they need that bye

Kansas City 23, San Diego 20 | It’s a struggle but Chiefs win West

Seattle 24, San Francisco 12 | Seattle needs 60-minute performance now

Seattle 17, San Francisco 10 | Seahawks still stumbling along

Green Bay 30, Detroit 20 | Lions got here beating bad, mediocre teams

Green Bay 29, Detroit 20 | Was there ever any doubt? Relax

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Jets a lot more likely to get rid of Marshall, Richardson than Bowles

O

ne nice thing about the New York Jets is it’s not at all hard to figure out who is in charge.

While so many NFL teams these days have general managers, senior vice presidents of football operations and team presidents, there is no such ambiguity with the Jets.

Team owner Woody Johnson is the Chairman and CEO, Mike Maccagnan is the GM and all the football people report directly to him, including embattled coach Todd Bowles.

There are four senior VPs with the Jets, but their functions are communications, corporate partnership, marketing and fan engagement, and consumer and premium sales and service.

In other words, the Jets do have a lot of suits, but none has a voice or gets a vote when it comes to the product on the field.

That is all up to Maccagnan, and

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan hired head coach Todd Bowles and believes Bowles is not to blame for the team’s disappointing season

that is why, according to our sources, Bowles is likely to survive as head coach in spite of the disastrous 2016 season.

The Jets have played like a team that has quit the past few weeks. If they have, that is clearly the responsibility of their head coach, and when a head coach loses his locker room, he is almost always gone.

But we’re hearing that Maccagnan believes there are extenuating circumstances here, and that owner Johnson is listening.

Following an embarrassing 4-12 2014 campaign, Johnson launched general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan, who had clearly lost that locker room. He then brought in Maccagnan, who had spent the four years prior as director of college scouting for the Texans, to be his football czar.

Maccagnan hired Bowles, and then traded for Brandon Marshall and signed Ryan Fitzpatrick and Darrelle Revis, but other than those three key

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CAN McCOY HANG ON IN SAN DIEGO?

his coach under the bus, he sets himself up for a fall if the next guy he brings in doesn’t author an immediate turnaround, which isn’t likely to happen with the Jets’ current mess at quarterback.

New York probably wouldn’t be 10-6 again if Ryan Fitzpatrick had just played better, but there is little doubt around the league that Maccagnan unwittingly tied Bowles’ hands behind his back with the choices he

The Way We Hear It, Chargers owner Dean Spanos would love to find a reason to keep Mike McCoy as his head coach, but events have been conspiring against that Mike McCoy happening all season long. Last Saturday’s loss to the previous winless Cleveland Browns might have been the last straw.

According to sources close to the team, McCoy will get the axe come Black Monday next week or very shortly thereafter.

Some will point to San Diego’s injured reserve list and cry foul, as the Chargers haven’t just had an injury epidemic this season, it has struck almost all of their best players.

Keenan Allen, Danny Woodhead, Jeremiah Attaochu, Manti Te’o, Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers have all landed on injured reserve, and Melvin Gordon and Joey Bosa have missed significant time.

But the Chargers’ troubles appear to run deeper than

gave him at the most important position.

As for the problems on the field and in the locker room, beyond Fitzpatrick’s awful performance – which shouldn’t be on Bowles – Revis appears to have lost whatever he had left over the past offseason. He fell right off the backside of the hill, and it’s hard to hang that on Bowles, either.

Most of the bad acting in the lock-

that.

McCoy has been in trouble since early in the season when his club got off to a 1-4 start. He was believed to be in danger of getting axed in season after a Week 4, 35-34 loss to the Saints in which San Diego led 34-21 with five minutes to play but lost after the Saints scored touchdowns following fumbles by Gordon and Travis Benjamin.

The following Sunday, the Chargers suffered their fourth loss, 34-31 to Oakland, after rookie holder Drew Kaser fielded a good snap but couldn’t get the ball down for a potential game-tying 36-yard field goal attempt.

But McCoy appeared to be saving his job when the Chargers scored upsets of the Broncos and the Falcons (in Atlanta) the next two weeks, lost a rematch with Denver but then beat Tennessee and Houston, sandwiched around a loss to Miami.

At 5-6, McCoy seemed to have a real shot at keeping his job.

But after dropping their past four, including Saturday’s loss at Cleveland, and with a move to Los Angeles now looking like a near certainty, we’re hearing that Spanos believes he has no choice but to go for a fresh start with his coaching staff.

er room appears to be coming from Sheldon Richardson and Brandon Marshall, two outstanding football players but well-documented troublemakers.

According to our sources, Marshall and Richardson are a lot more likely to be gone than Bowles following the season.

But if he does get another chance, Bowles will spend 2017 on a very short leash.

KELLY WANTS OUT OF SOUTH BEND

No, Notre Dame doesn’t have a professional football team, even if some of its alumni believe they have the equivalent.

But while social media churns and the Notre Dame alums debate over whether or not Brian Kelly should keep his job as the school’s head football coach, we’re hearing Kelly is turning over every rock to find himself a job in the NFL. According to our sources, Kelly’s representatives are on speed dial with every team in the league trying to find one that might have interest in Kelly as their next head coach.

But not only are there no takers, there apparently is no one even interested in listening.

Many feel Kelly has never been a good fit in South Bend, and his 4-8 2016 campaign and a recent decision by the NCAA voiding all of his team’s 2012 (12-0, lost BCS championship game to Alabama) and 2013 (8-4) victories has him doing everything he can to try and get out of town ahead of the posse, we’re told.

Sadly for Kelly and possibly for Notre Dame, too, no one in the NFL seems to want him.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

moves, he and Bowles went 10-6 with a similar roster to the group Ryan could only win four games with.

That bought the new GM and head coach a lot of creditability with Johnson, and we’re hearing the owner is loathe to publicly indict himself now by cleaning house again just two seasons later.

Maccagnan is said to understand that Bowles didn’t suddenly become a bad coach overnight, and if he throws

ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

PFW names all-fantasy players, busts

By J.C.

TALON

M

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

ost leagues ended their fantasy seasons in Week 16. For the true die-hard leagues that play on through the fantasy wasteland of Week 17, we offer some fantasy notes for the final week.

For those of you celebrating a championship, or looking ahead to next year, we’ve included a fantasy awards segment.

On to Week 17…

MATCHUPS TO CONSIDER

Just because a team has secured a playoff spot doesn’t mean that team will be resting their fantasy studs in Week 17. Several teams are in the playoffs, but still will be motivated to win. The Patriots can lock up the No. 1 seed with a victory. Although they can do no worse than the No. 2 seed, having the AFC Championship at home is a worthwhile goal. The Falcons, Raiders, Chiefs and Seahawks are trying to secure a bye, and should be playing full throttle this week.

Their game in Tennessee means nothing to them, so you have to think the Texans will again rest Lamar Miller and let Alfred Blue take the bulk of the carries. Should you jump on the Adam Thielen bandwagon? His 12-catch, 212-yard performance against the Packers is obviously an outlier. Thielen had no catches against the Colts in Week 15. However, he caught 24 balls combined in the four weeks previous to Week 15.

Let’s call him a reasonable WR2 this week.

In order to secure a bye, Oakland will very much want to beat the Broncos this week. Although Latavius Murray was third – on his team – in rushing yards last week against the Colts, a bounce back game is a possibility. Denver has a great pass defense, but is vulnerable to the run.

Murray had two TDs last time these teams faced each other.

The Bills fired coach Rex Ryan. Who could have possibly seen that coming? In spite of that (and perhaps because of that) we like LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins against a Jets team that has completely quit. The Bills D/ST isn’t a bad play either.

And speaking of defense, the Steelers look to be a good play against the Browns. True, Pittsburgh has nothing to play for, but the Steelers can only rest so many starters. They’ll be playing loose. If you’re looking for Steelers this week, consider DeAngelo Williams and Eli Rogers. QB Landry Jones might limit Rogers, but Williams could have a very good game.

The Saints and Falcons, respectively, have produced the most yards this year in the NFL. Atlanta wants to earn a bye and New Orleans will want to finish up with a win. That will make Matt Ryan and Drew Brees two of the three top QB options this week. The Falcons’ defense is 23rd and the Saints are ranked 25th. Devonta

Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks are all must starts.

The top QB spot goes to Aaron Rodgers. The Lions seem to be limping toward the finish line. Ex-

Fantasy Awards MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

David Johnson BIGGEST SURPRISE

Dak Prescott BIGGEST BUST

(TIE)

Cam Newton, Todd Gurley MOST PROMISING ROOKIE

Ezekiel Elliott

Dream Team QUARTERBACK

Aaron Rodgers RUNNING BACKS

David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott WIDE RECEIVERS

Jordy Nelson, Antonio Brown TIGHT END

Travis Kelce FLEX

Le’Veon Bell PLACEKICKER

Matt Bryant D/ST

Kansas City Chiefs

All-Bust Team (not injury related) QUARTERBACK

Cam Newton RUNNING BACKS

Todd Gurley, Lamar Miller WIDE RECEIVERS

DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson TIGHT END

Gary Barnidge PLACEKICKER

Chandler Catanzaro D/ST

New York Jets

All-Injury Team QUARTERBACK

Tony Romo RUNNING BACKS

Adrian Peterson, Eddie Lacy WIDE RECEIVERS

Keenan Allen, Eric Decker TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski FLEX

Jamaal Charles

pect big days from Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Ty Montgomery. Mason Crosby is also a good play.

Washington needs a win and some help to make the playoffs. The Giants have nothing to play for, but will be obligated to put up a fight.

We still like Kirk Cousins, Rob Kelley and DeSean Jackson. Washington is 25th against the run.

Paul Perkins of the Giants is worth a look.

Just when we told you to dump Allen Robinson, he goes for 147 yards against the Titans. Maybe he’s worth a shot at Indy. The Vikings’ defense is a shell of its early season self. Don’t be surprised if Alshon Jeffery goes for 100 yards and a score.

MATCHUPS TO BEWARE

The obvious concern this week is teams that have secured a playoff start resting their best players to ensure they are healthy for the playoffs. The Texans, Giants, Cowboys, and Steelers are locked into their current playoff spot, thus have nothing to gain from a victory this week.

This is a confusing mess for fantasy owners.

Even if a coach says he’ll play his starters, you have no idea if that’s true. And, if they do start, there’s a good chance they’ll be on a pitch count.

The Dolphins are locked into the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, but the difference between the two seeds is negligible. You’ll want to do your research this week before plugging in a player from the Texans, Giants, Steelers, Cowboys or Dolphins.

Martellus Bennett sat nearly the entire second half as New England cruised to a victory over the hapless Jets. He’s banged up and might be used sparingly in Week 17. Todd Gurley could manage just 2.9 yards per carry last week versus a historically bad 49ers run defense. Total bust. Ryan Mathews has a herniated disc in his neck and is out. If Jeremy Hill can only average 1.1 yards per carry at Houston, he should be benched against the Ravens and their No. 2 run defense. No Bengals are worth starting this week.

Justin Forsett has not been the answer for the Broncos’ pathetic run game. Hunter Henry played only 19 snaps in the Chargers loss in Cleveland.

He might be great next year, but has no value in Week 17. Doug Martin was a healthy scratch against the Saints. Tampa lost the game, so perhaps he plays this week, but we have zero interest in him.

Brandon Marshall is engaged in a war of words with other players in the Jets locker room. This comes as no surprise to anyone in Chicago, Denver or Miami. Marshall’s act may finally be coming to an end. He has six catches in his last five games and his last 100-yard performance was in Week 5.

Rishard Matthews had a nice thing going with Marcus Mariota. With Matt Cassel behind center, Matthews is not worth considering. The Colts are playing musical chairs at tight end.

Jack Doyle, Dwayne Allen and Erik Swoope are as likely to go without a target as they are to score a TD. The Miami passing game is not worth considering. Jarvis Landry has six catches in the two games Matt Moore has started. Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker have five apiece.

By ARTHUR

D

ARKUSH

aarkush@profootballweekly.com

aily fantasy players, here’s how you’re going to afford that lavish Aaron Rodgers-Jordy Nelson Week 17 NFC North title game stack: a minimum salary backfield.

Not convinced? What if I said you could add to a roster anchored by Rodgers and Nelson, Julio Jones and Travis Kelce. That would give you fantasy’s top-scoring passer, receiver and tight end over the past four weeks, plus Julio down by the schoolyard, along with your minimum salary backfield.

Are you still with me? John Sahly, your DFS tour guide all season long, wrote in this space in the fourth week of the preseason about astute DFS players playing from a position of strength, while others simply go through the motions and select Bell, Ben and Beckham – essentially forfeiting roster spots with players who won’t play.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game? How about know the players, love a game you can leverage and profit?

So while “minimum salary backfield” sounds about as appealing as, say, paying full price for a preseason ticket, much less preseason players who won’t play, it’s actually being one step ahead of the guys setting prices at FanDuel and DraftKings.

The Cowboys said their Ezekiel Elliott usage would be status quo Monday night despite their

Aaron Rodgers

Jordy Nelson

top seed already being secured. In reality, the status quo part was Elliott remaining a beast, but his workload included a season-low 12 carries (he had at least 20 in 13 of his first 14 games). Meantime, Darren McFadden, who you’ll find on the FanDuel price list only by scrolling down until your sure you’ve missed him but actually just haven’t gone far enough, can be found for $4,500. He managed a pedestrian 49 yards on 14 carries, but even McFadden’s floor should be higher in Week 17 in Philadelphia, where you’ll see more of him than Elliott and probably more of Tony Romo than Dak Prescott.

The same situation is poised to unfold in Cleveland, where the Steelers are already locked into the No. 3 seed with Ben Roethlisberger hinting rest would be appreciated. Like McFadden, a valuable veteran who’s been in mothballs most of this season due to the starter’s dominance, in addition

to an unfortunate “dropped cell phone” mishap, DeAngelo Williams ($4,500) has a prime opportunity to spell Le’Veon Bell and shake some rust off.

Unlike the Cowboys, who get a respectable Eagles stop-unit, the Steelers visit a still-defenseless Browns team (yay, 1-14!). And after giving Bell all but eight carries handled by a back over the past eight games combined, Pittsburgh knows its lead back has taken a heavy toll and Williams is fresh.

Those are two prime examples of opportunity knocking. But what about the 600-pound elephant in the room, also known as Week 17 motivation (more like 1,200 pounds in the Jets’ and Vikings’ locker rooms these days) with only three or four NFC clubs realistically still vying for two remaining playoff spots?

Feel free to fire up your Packers and Washington studs – that’s a big reason why we started with Rodgers and Nelson – and if you’re trusting Detroit and Tampa, that’s your prerogative.

But why not consider a few stalwarts chasing records with Father Time chasing them? Antonio Gates ($6,200) needs two touchdowns to pass Tony Gonzalez for the NFL tight end scoring record.

Frank Gore ($6,200) needs 36 yards to become the oldest 1K rusher in 32 years. (And the Colts need any positives they can find, including, look, our old man became our first overall back in nine years to get 1,000, so our offensive line must’ve improved!) They’re both affordable FanDuel options in manageable home matchups.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

DFS: Here’s how you can afford ARod and Jordy in Week 17

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016 Cam Robinson

AP PHOTO

Roderick Johnson

AP PHOTO

Draft appears to be weak at the OT position

W

hile we still have three weeks before the deadline of underclassmen declaring for the NFL Draft, a position that is usually a strength in most drafts looks as if it might be a weakness this year regardless of who declares. That position is offensive tackle.

Right now, I don’t see a senior offensive tackle who you could say would be a lock first-round selection. Sure, there are talented players, guys who might be able to step in as a rookie and contribute. But with these guys, you are hoping more than knowing they will contribute.

The players I am talking about here are guys like Taylor Moton of Western Michigan, Chad Wheeler of USC, Adam Bisnowaty of Pittsburgh

and Avery Gennesy of him come Draft Day is Texas A&M. Wheeler and an arrest last summer.

Gennesy have the length, Teams will do their extensive research before feet and agility to play left they feel comfortable tackle in the NFL while taking him with a high Moton and Bisnowaty first-round pick. His talwill be right tackles or ent says he should be the perhaps guards when first tackle selected. We they make the jump to shall see if he comes out. the next level.

That leaves underMany analysts have classmen to fill the void.

GREG GABRIEL Wisconsin junior Ryan Ramczyk as the next But even if most of the @greggabe best tackle. Ramczyk has rumored prospects do only played one year of major college in fact enter the draft, the offensive football. He is a transfer from a Divitackle position will still be weak as sion III school and had to sit out last compared to other years. year. While his tape is impressive, he The best underclassman by far is has a guard’s body and may ultimateAlabama left tackle Cam Robinson.

He has lined up at left tackle his enly play inside in the NFL. tire three-year career and played The next best left tackle prospect very well. He has the size, strength, is Florida State’s Roderick Johnson who, like Robinson, has the size, length and athleticism to play left length and athleticism to play on the tackle in the NFL. What may hurt

left side. Johnson needs to become more consistent down after down, but the physical traits are there.

Another junior who is often mentioned as a possible high draft pick is Utah’s Garett Bolles. Bolles has the height, length and athleticism required but at this time he lacks bulk and lower body strength. That will come, but will he be ready to play at a high level as a rookie?

In most years, there are usually a minimum of four or five tackles that a club could take and be comfortable with. Not this year, unless some unexpected underclassmen decide to enter this year’s draft.

Tackle looks like one of the weaker positions, especially when you are looking at premium-round picks. If your team needs an offensive tackle, you better hope they get lucky because it may be luck that gets them a solid prospect.

By ARTHUR

I

testament to each of them in addition to Garrett executing Jerry Jones’ vision. But it’s Elliott who eases the burden of Prescott and an undermanned defense, strapping everyone on his shoulders and setting the tone for the NFL’s most physical and dynamic offense while running away with the league’s rushing title.

ARKUSH

aarkush@profootballweekly.com

f the Raiders are Vegas bound, it’s fitting they’ll depart Oakland as the big winners in our postseason awards, comprising the best defensive player, coach and executive this season. Is there a more fitting ending to Tom Brady’s eventful year, save for accepting the Lombardi Trophy from Roger Goodell in Houston, than being named for the third time the Most Valuable Player of the league that many think conspired against him? The futures of the Cowboys and Chargers appear bright with our Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively, while Jordy Nelson turned back the clock in Green Bay after missing all of 2015.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

DE Joey Bosa SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Khalil Mack had a sack in eight straight games

* Pro Football Weekly’s 14-person panel, consisting of our in-house editors and leading national correspondents, held our vote in Week 16.

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

MVP / OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

GM Reggie McKenzie

QB Tom Brady NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

In his seventeenth season, inexplicably shortened by ‘Deflategate,’ the 39-year-old exacted revenge with one of his finest years ever. Brady’s passer rating and completion percentage are his best since his previous MVP season, in 2010. His interception percentage easily paced the NFL and was the best of his incomparable career. With his third-, fourth- and fifth-leading receivers new, and without a healthy Rob Gronkowski for more than half the season, Brady led the NFL’s best team as if his savage beating in last year’s AFC Championship game and subsequent suspension never happened. Matt Ryan, the orchestrator of the NFL’s most prolific attack, and the Packers’ steely Aaron Rodgers were a close second and third, respectively, behind Brady.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DE Khalil Mack OAKLAND RAIDERS

When a back injury to J.J. Watt, the three-time reigning defensive MVP, opened the door to this award, Mack wasn’t the first one through. When he made his move, though, around Week 5, he slammed it behind him with the finality akin to his dominating fourth quarters. Mack notched at least one sack in eight consecutive games beginning in Week 6. His strip-sack-recovery trifecta to close out games seemingly became another weekly occurrence by the midway point of the season. Some players, like our third-leading

Scary reminder: Bosa missed the first quarter of 2016 following his offseason holdout, then switched positions and was still a man among boys. His meteoric ascent to one of the NFL’s top defenders was stunning, not unlike the unbridled energy, strength and effort he expends on every play. The AFC West, already flush with edge talent (Mack, Von Miller and Justin Houston), has more company.

AP PHOTOS

Head coach Jack Del Rio, GM Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders’ ended their 14-year playoff drought

vote getter Vic Beasley, are pass-rush specialists.

Mack is a tour-de-force vs. the run and pass with the killer instinct that’s helped embody the Raiders’ magical season.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jack Del Rio OAKLAND RAIDERS

Rarely does winning the offseason carry into January. That’s why Del Rio made it clear in Week 1, when his riverboat gambling identity began to form with a pair of gutsy two-point conversion attempts in the fourth quarter in New Orleans to help erase a 14-point deficit for a 35-34 victory, he was channeling Al Davis’ directive, “just win, baby.” And win the Raiders did, snapping a 14year playoff drought with Derek Carr leading a clutch, yet efficient and electric offense, and Del Rio overseeing a star-laden, bend-don’t-break ‘D’ that entered the postseason playing its best football. Dallas’ Jason Garrett finished second for his masterful worst-to-first season.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

RB Ezekiel Elliott DALLAS COWBOYS

Dallas’ fabulous freshmen, Elliott and Dak Prescott, were the only ones receiving votes – a

OAKLAND RAIDERS

The immediate draft returns may not move the needle quite like Jones in Dallas and Jon Robinson in Nashville, who finished in a tie behind McKenzie. But add first-round S Karl Joseph and spark plug RBs DeAndre Washington (Round 5) and Jalen Richard (UDFA) to a freeagent coup including perhaps the best guard in football, prized Pro Bowler Kelechi Osemele; fellow Pro Bowler, veteran value signing and the NFL’s co-interceptions leader since 2015 Reggie Nelson; and Mack’s partner-in-crime Bruce Irvin, at 29 enjoying his best season, and you’ll see McKenzie deftly surrounded his homegrown star power.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

WR Jordy Nelson GREEN BAY PACKERS

All he’s done since Aug. 2015 ACL reconstruction surgery is lead the NFL in touchdown catches while finishing in the top five in receptions and yardage. Nelson, 31 and in his ninth season, went from possession and red-zone warrior early in his return from a missed season to recently flashing his trademark explosion and versatility, all as Rodgers’ most trusted confidant. The NFL’s hottest receiver since Week 8, with at least 91 yards or a touchdown in nine straight heading into Week 17, followed his clutch 60-yarder in the final minute in Chicago by sending Minnesota into disarray.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Raiders come up big in PFW’s 2016 awards

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Who is most deserving of being named MVP? NATE ATKINS HUB ARKUSH

he have been disqualified for serving a four-game suspension he didn’t deserve?

McCaleb: Hey Hub, I agree with you about the arguments for and against several players. I disagree with you about Brady’s suspension being undeserved. Regardless, he should not be disqualified because of it. In fact, I don’t see how he can’t be the MVP, even though he will qualify for AARP membership in just a couple of years. Despite the fact the Patriots will be without Rob Gronkowski, the best tight end in football, for the duration of the postseason, New England is the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. Why? One Tom Brady, of course. Take him off the team, they’re more like pretenders.

That’s the definition of MVP. I’m guessing you disagree, Hub. Tell me I’m wrong.

PATRICK FINLEY DAN McCALEB

Arkush: Well, you’re wrong about the suspension, but I can’t say you’re wrong about Brady being the MVP. My dilemma, Dan, is two-fold.

First, they were 3-1 without him, and the loss was because Jimmy Garoppolo trashed his shoulder and a rookie, Jacoby Brissett, had to try and play Buffalo with torn ligaments in his thumb in just his third NFL game. And when you consider all of that, how come I’m likely the only one who’s voting for Bill Belichick as the Coach of the Year? Where would the Pats and Brady be without Belichick and the rest of that staff ? All that coach preaches is it’s about the team. So would they be lost without Brady, or would Brady struggle without them?

McCaleb: Well, it’s the chicken or the egg argument, Hub, but with a much simpler an-

swer. And you already know my bias. Belichick was a head coach before New England and Tom Brady. Where was the “genius” when he coached the Cleveland Browns, benched and then cut Bernie Kosar in favor of Vinnie Testaverde, and led a losing team to drive Art Modell to move the team to Baltimore? OK, I know I’m being unfair on the Browns moving to Baltimore part. Belichick is definitely a very good coach, but he hasn’t been a “genius” without Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback ever. Were Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant great because of Phil Jackson? Or the other way around?

Arkush: Or both? And Kosar accomplished what after Belichick? For those of you who haven’t noticed over the course of our Take 2 fun here this year, McCaleb is a Browns

fan who’s apparently so busy celebrating his annual win this week he’s forgotten Belichick even coached his Brownies to 11-5 and the playoffs in 1994, and in 2008 lost Brady on opening day and still got the Pats to 11-5 with Matt Cassel, who never even started a game in college. But I digress, Daniel. My last question I’ll leave you with is, which club would be in the most trouble without its QB, the 13-2 Patriots, 13-2 Cowboys,12-3 Raiders or 9-6 Packers, and should that define the MVP? Full disclosure, I voted for A-Rod. McCaleb: Wait, did the Pats make the playoffs in 2008, Hub? Or was that the only year since Brady turned pro that they did not? Anyway, you ask an impossible-to-answer question. Unfortunately, we’re going to find out how the Raiders do without Derek Carr at QB (Matt McGloin? really?). And I’ve got to think the Cowboys are in the best shape with Tony Romo ready to step in if necessary. That leaves Green Bay and New England, both of which would be in big trouble in the playoffs without their starting QBs. This may be a cop-out, but let’s hope we don’t have to find out on the field which would be in worse shape.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

P

ro Football Weekly’s Hub Arkush and Dan McCaleb discuss who is most deserving of being named the 2016 NFL MVP. Arkush: Hey Dan, I hope you and all of our readers had an outstanding Christmas and Hanukkah weekend. I actually spent mine in Pittsburgh working on the Westwood One broadcast of the Pittsburgh vs.

Baltimore game and trying to figure out who the Most Valuable Player in the NFL is this season. Tom Brady is the winner in our Pro Football Weekly writers’ poll, but I’ve never seen a season like this where there are arguments for and against every one of at least half a dozen really solid candidates. Brady is a great choice but he missed 25 percent of the Patriots season. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott appear to be the biggest difference between last year’s 4-12 club and this year’s 13-2 edition of the Cowboys, but would either be where he is without that offensive line? Matt Ryan, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford have all had great seasons, but do they really feel like MVPs? And then there’s Aaron Rodgers, Antonio Brown, etc. This is really tough, so let’s start by going back to Brady. Should

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

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