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- Week 17 First Look
By: Mike Johnson (@Mjohnson86)
At this point in the season, most trade deadlines have passed so the “Buy Low, Sell High” article no longer makes sense! In its place, on Wednesdays we will give you a quick summary of each game’s important information to know and pay attention to as you get ready for your lineup decisions in these key weeks to end the season and into the playoffs.
Seahawks @ Bears
Spread/Total: SEA -3.5 // 43.5
Weather: 40’s, slight chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Seattle RB Kenneth Walker is out
Matchup Notes:
Seattle RB Zach Charbonnet is in line for another massive workload, this time against the league’s 31st-ranked run defense, with Walker expected to miss.
Seattle needs to win this week to set-up a showdown for the NFC West in Week 18.
Chargers @ Patriots
Spread/Total: LAC -6 // 41
Weather: 30’s, slight chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Chargers RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins have been limited at practice.
Matchup Notes:
Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with a victory and could be anywhere from the No. 5 to No. 7 seed.
New England played the Bills tough in Week 16, jumping out to a lead before falling apart in the second half.
Broncos @ Bengals
Spread/Total: CIN -3 // 48.5
Weather: 60’s, moderate chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin returned to a full practice Thursday after missing Week 16.
Matchup Notes:
Denver clinches a playoff berth with a win. The Bengals have to win both remaining games and get some help to get in.
This is a great matchup between an elite passing game and one of the league’s strongest secondaries.
Cardinals @ Rams
Spread/Total: LAR -6.5 // 48
Weather: Dome
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Cardinals RB James Conner has been limited in practice after suffering a knee injury in Week 16.
Cardinals rookie RB Trey Benson returned to limited practices this week after missing last week.
Matchup Notes:
Arizona has been eliminated from playoff contention, which may affect their decision on whether or not to play James Conner and what type of workload to give him if he is active.
If Seattle loses on Thursday, the Rams can clinch the division with a win.
Arizona won the first meeting between these teams, 41-10, way back in Week 2 while the Rams were decimated by injuries.
Cowboys @ Eagles
Spread/Total: PHI -9 // 41.5
Weather: 50’s and clear
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in Week 16 and his status is in doubt.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb continues to deal with a nagging shoulder injury.
Matchup Notes:
Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East with a win.
Dallas has been eliminated from the playoffs but can still finish the season with a winning record.
Panthers @ Bucs
Spread/Total: TB -8 // 48.5
Weather: 70’s, moderate chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Bucs TE Cade Otton and WR Sterling Shepard both missed practice Wednesday and their statuses are in question.
Matchup Notes:
Carolina has been playing much improved football recently, knocking Arizona out of the playoffs last week and playing close with the Chiefs, Bucs, and Eagles in recent weeks.
If Tampa Bay loses and the Falcons win, the Bucs are eliminated from the playoffs.
Jets @ Bills
Spread/Total: BUF -9.5 // 47
Weather: 50’s, strong chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Jets WR Davante Adams missed practice with a hip injury Wednesday.
Jets CBs Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II also missed practice and their absence would make an already struggling defense even more vulnerable.
Matchup Notes:
Buffalo is now locked into either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the AFC after the Chiefs won on Christmas Day to lock up home field advantage.
The Bills won the first game between these two teams, 23-20, back in October.
Colts @ Giants
Spread/Total: IND -8 // 40.5
Weather: 50’s, slight chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Colts QB Anthony Richardson missed practice with back and foot injuries Wednesday.
Giants rookies RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. and WR Malik Nabers missed practice Wednesday with ankle and toe injuries.
Colts WR Alec Pierce returned to a full practice after missing Week 16 with a concussion.
Matchup Notes:
The Giants have lost their last two games by a combined 48 points.
Indianapolis RB Jonathan Taylor is coming off a massive game with 200+ rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The Colts are still alive for the seventh seed in the AFC if they win both remaining games and get some help. They may be eliminated by the time this game kicks off, however, as the Broncos and Chargers both play on Saturday.
Raiders @ Saints
Spread/Total: LVR -1 // 38
Weather: Dome
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Saints QB Derek Carr and RB Alvin Kamara appear likely to miss this week yet again.
Saints WR Chris Olave returned to full practice and appears likely to return from a concussion he missed several weeks with.
Matchup Notes:
Neither team in this game has scored 20 points in a game since November 3rd.
We may see some surprise inactives in this game as both teams likely value draft position more than wins at this point in the season.
Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers is knocking on the door of several rookie receiving records.
Titans @ Jags
Spread/Total: JAX -1 // 39.5
Weather: 70’s, moderate chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Titans RB Tony Pollard continues to miss practice time due to a foot injury.
Matchup Notes:
Tennessee will once again start QB Mason Rudolph this week. Rudolph has heavily targeted TE Chig Okonkwo recently.
Jaguars RBs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne continue to split the backfield work very evenly.
Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. set the franchise rookie receiving record last week and has 30+ fantasy points in consecutive outings.
Dolphins @ Browns
Spread/Total: MIA -3.5 // 41.5
Weather: 40’s, strong chance of rain
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Browns WRs Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy have been limited in practice, while TE David Njoku has yet to return to practice after posting an 8-66 line on 10 targets in Week 16.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle missed Week 16 with a knee injury and has yet to return to practice.
Matchup Notes:
The Dolphins are still alive for the No. 7 seed in the AFC if they win both remaining games and get some help. They may be eliminated by the time this game kicks off, however, as the Broncos and Chargers both play on Saturday.
Browns second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled again in his first start of 2024, while RB Jerome Ford had his second consecutive strong game.
Packers @ Vikings
Spread/Total: MIN -1 // 48.5
Weather: Dome
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Packers WR Christian Watson suffered a knee injury on Monday night and is in question for this week.
Matchup Notes:
The Packers are locked into a Wild Card spot in the NFC but could finish anywhere from the No. 5 to No. 7 seed.
These teams met in Week 4, with the Vikings jumping out to a huge lead before holding off a furious comeback from Green Bay in a 31-29 victory.
The Vikings will win the NFC North and get the No. 1 seed with homefield advantage if they win their last two games.
Falcons @ Commanders
Spread/Total: WAS -4.5 // 47
Weather: 60’s, moderate chance of rain and strong winds
Key Injuries to Monitor:
Falcons WR Drake London left last week’s game with a knee injury but seems likely to play this week.
Washington WRs Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown missed practice Wednesday due to lower-body injuries.
Matchup Notes:
Atlanta can clinch the NFC South with a win and a Bucs loss.
Washington still has an outside shot at the NFC East title if they win both remaining games and the Eagles lose both games.
Lions @ 49ers
Spread/Total: DET -3.5 // 50.5
Weather: 50’s and clear
Key Injuries to Monitor:
San Francisco tentatively expects RB Isaac Guerendo to return this week after missing Week 16 with a hamstring injury.
Matchup Notes:
The Lions can clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed if they win this game and the Vikings lose to the Packers.
San Francisco has been eliminated from the playoffs and may look to preserve key players after being decimated by injuries this season.
Detroit is the top scoring team in the league and its defense is dealing with a litany of injuries, opening the door for a shootout.