Week 17 of the fantasy football season is here. In the war that is the NFL season, we are DEEP in the trenches. A number of teams have already waived the white flag. Others are on the brink of annihilation. Yet some are enjoying the spoils of war, cruising comfortably into the NFL playoffs. We’re here to break down the NFL Playoff implications of the Week 17 matchups while also letting you know what the impacts could be for fantasy football lineups. So let’s break down who has something to fight for and who you might need to evacuate from your lineups. As you might find out, the worst thing for your fantasy football team might not be that your their NFL team is already eliminated from playoff contention.

 

2022 NFL Playoffs Scenarios

Already Eliminated

  • Houston Texans
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Chicago Bears
  • Denver Broncos
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Cleveland Browns

Must-Win Game in Week 17

Las Vegas Raiders 

The circumstances that would lead the Las Vegas Raiders to making the playoffs are so insanely specific that FiveThirtyEight.com gives them a 0.6% chance of happening. That could be why the Raiders decided to bench their quarterback Derek Carr in favor of Jarrett Stidham. They will be playing to win since they are eliminated if they lose so you start Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams. But Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow only played 50% of the snaps as is last week so maybe avoid them if you can with Stidham at QB. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

They have no shot at the division but have an outside chance at a Wild Card spot. Mike Tomlin is not the type of coach to waive the white flag until the fight is done so shouldn’t lean away from anyone in this matchup.

New York Jets 

The Bills have won the division but they can still fight for a wild card spot. If they lose they are done. Mike White is back so Garrett Wilson is back on the menu. After that, it gets pretty dicey but you can at least trust them not to just bench guys for no reason.

New England Patriots 

The Patriots are in a similar spot to the Jets though they control their own destiny whereas the Jets need to win and get some help. They can’t win the division, but they lock up a wild card if they beat the Dolphins and then the Bills. So they will be playing to win this week.

Carolina Panthers 

The only path to the playoffs is winning the division. If they lose to Tampa Bay this week, they are out. So they will be playing for keeps. 

New Orleans Saints 

Same spot as the Panthers. They need to win the NFC South to get in. If they lose this week, they are done.

 

Practically Must-Win in Week 17

Seattle Seahawks 

According to oddsmakers, if the Seahawks win this week their odds of making the playoffs would be 43%. If they lose it plummets to 5%. That’s why Tyler Lockett is pushing so hard to play despite coming off recent hand surgery. So this team is practically in the same boat as the group above.

Washington Commanders 

Very similar situation for the Washington Commanders. They control their own destiny so they are IN the playoffs if they win both games. If they lose this week, they need VERY specific circumstances to backdoor their way in. They will be playing hard here.

Detroit Lions 

The way Dan Campbell has built this culture, I’d expect them to play to win if they were 3-13 right now. But they are 7-9 and would have a pretty good shot of making the playoffs if they win both games here. If they lose this week, their odds plummet. So they need this one.

Green Bay Packers 

Virtually the same spot as the Lions which makes sense because they are in the same division with the same record. They won’t hold back against the Vikings.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Unlike the Panthers, they can still sneak the wild card if they lose. But that road would require outside help. A win locks up the division and a home playoff spot so they will treat this as a must win. 

Still Playing To Win

Baltimore Ravens 

The Ravens have a playoff spot locked up. If they win this week and next vs. the Bengals, they win the division. 

Miami Dolphins 

If they win both games, they are in. They could technically still get in if they lose this week then beat the Jets but they would need help. So it’s full steam ahead for them. 

New York Giants 

The Giants could lose both games and still have an 80% chance of backdooring a playoff spot, per FiveThirtyEight. But why take that chance? If they win this week vs. the Colts they lock up a playoff spot. 

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Unlike the Titans, they don’t have to win the AFC South to make the playoffs. They can get there via the wild card even if they lose in Week 18. If they lose this week, the wild card is off the table though. So they’ll play to win here.

Dallas Cowboys 

If the Cowboys win out and the Eagles lose out, they win the division. You better believe they will be playing for that. The scary thing here is that the Titans have zero reasons to play to win so the game tonight might be TOO easy. With Tony Pollard out, that makes guys like backup RB Malik Davis someone who could get some garbage time making for an interesting DFS play. Or maybe you go down the depth chart at pass catcher with a wide receiver like KaVontae Turpin or a tight end like Peyton Hendershot. 

Philadelphia Eagles 

Even if the Cowboys lose, the Eagles technically won’t have the first-round bye locked up. They lock that in with one more win. So I don’t expect the Eagles to bench starters regardless. 

Cincinnati Bengals 

A first round bye is still in play but their odds of winning that drop if they lose to the Bills. You don’t mail it in in that situation.

Buffalo Bills 

Same situation as the Bengals but on the other side.

Kansas City Chiefs 

This game is the most important for all three of the Bengals, Bills, and Chiefs. If the Chiefs somehow lose to the Broncos, their odds of getting the bye week fall through the floor.

Technically Something To Play For

Los Angeles Chargers 

The Chargers are in a unique spot where they cannot win the division (the Chiefs have that locked up) but they are also guaranteed a playoff spot. The five seed technically gives you an easier road to the Super Bowl so they are going to want to fight to get that vs. the seven seed. So I don’t expect them to sit starters unless someone gets nicked up. So you start Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler. Gerald Everett and Josh Palmer are on the backburner these days. 

Virtually Meaningless Week

Tennessee Titans 

The TItans are in a weird spot. They cannot win the wild card. But they COULD still win the division. And that all comes down to the Week 18 game against the Jaguars. So tonight’s game vs. the Jaguars does not matter. They already announced they were benching Malik Willis, Derrick Henry, Jeffrey Simmons, etc. I would steer clear of virtually ALL of the pass catchers here. If you are desperate, maybe start Hassan Haskins but there is a chance they just let Julius Chestnut play a bunch and keep Haskins as Henry insurance for next week. It is a scary spot for fantasy. 

San Francisco 49ers 

They have the division locked up. Their odds of getting the bye week are insanely low since the situation would be so specific for it to happen. In fact, if the Eagles win at 1 PM EST, their game at 4:05 PM EST doesn’t matter at all. So the 49ers technically don’t have much to play for here.

Minnesota Vikings 

Virtually the same scenario as the 49ers with the caveat that they can make it incredibly difficult for Aaron Rodgers to make the playoffs if they win. So I don’t expect them to bench guys but they are in this category since the outcome doesn’t affect their seeding. 

 

Fantasy Alarm is the home of all things Fantasy Sports. Bringing you the best Fantasy Football, Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Basketball content all year long. Be sure to also check out the best fantasy promo codes on offer today!

Related NFL Links: