Fantasy Football Handcuff Report: Week 17

If your season long league’s season plays out until Week 17 you’re going to have to maneuver past some obstacles as you try to determine which RBs to include in your lineups this week. DFS players will have the luxury of having all RBs at their disposal as they create their lineups, but even they will have to make careful and wise choices.

As this article is being written, there is speculation as to how much playing time, if any, Rams RB Todd Gurley will get in a meaningless Week 17 matchup against the Cardinals. Fellow RB Darrell Henderson has missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. Malcolm Brown could see some extended playing time out of the Rams backfield, but this is a situation that should be carefully monitored, and probably avoided.

The Steelers need a win in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. They play against the Ravens who will be resting many of their starters but, it looks like there’s a good chance James Conner may be sidelined with a thigh injury in Week 17. Jaylen Samuels has consistently been playing more snaps per game than Benny Snell Jr., but neither player has been lighting it up this season. Snap counts aside, if Conner is out Samuels, Snell and Kerrith Whyte Jr. should split time, making the Steelers backfield one to ignore in fantasy this week.

Last week many fantasy football players were hoping that Vikings RB Mike Boone could lead their teams to a fantasy championship, but unfortunately he was sitting on the bench by the end of his Week 16 matchup against the Packers. It’s looking like Vikings RB Dalvin Cook may miss another game this week and Alexander Mattison is still limited due to his ankle injury. With the Vikings locked in as the number six seed, we may again be treated to a running game consisting of Boone, Ameer Abdullah and C.J. Ham . Stay away!

Will Seahawks RB Travis Homer be this week’s version of Mike Boone ? If you believe Pete Carroll, the Seahawks are going to lean on Homer heavily this week. With Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise hitting the IR this past week, Carroll might have no choice but to turn to Homer in Week 17. The Seahawks signed Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin this week but with both being on the wrong side of 30 and inactive so far this season, it’s unlikely that they’ll have a big impact against the 49ers. Homer had a college career six yards per carry average and would be a more intriguing option if he wasn’t facing the Niners who need a win to clinch the NFC West and a first round bye.

The Chiefs backfield has many moving parts and continues to be one to be wary of. Damien Williams is finally healthy, and led the Chiefs in snaps played in Week 16. He rushed for 65 yards (4.06 YPC) and added three catches for 27 yards, as well as a receiving TD.  LeSean McCoy , who was a healthy scratch in Week 16, may be called back into action with the Chiefs having had to send Spencer Ware to the IR this past week. Darwin Thompson will also likely steal a few carries this week as the Chiefs try to clinch a first-round bye.

There are still plenty of good options for you to choose from as you set your season long and DFS fantasy lineups heading into Week 17.

Ezekiel Elliott is a must start every week, and he’ll be trying to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs against a Redskins team that is giving up the third most fantasy points per game to RBs this season.

Eagles RB Miles Sanders will also be trying to lead his team into the playoffs this week. He has scored TDs in his last two games. Sanders is an effective runner (4.72 YPC over his last five games) and receiver (23 catches and two receiving TDs in his last five games).

Niners RB Raheem Mostert has scored at least one TD in five straight games and takes on the Seahawks, who’ve given up the fifth most fantasy points per game to RBs over the past four weeks.

Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake has been on fire of late, scoring six TDS and rushing for 303 yards over the past two weeks. He’s averaged 5.25 YPC in his seven games as a Cardinal, and takes on a Rams team that is playing out the string this week.