For many, the fantasy soccer playoffs conclude with championship matchups this week. In case you’ve made it to Week 17, congratulations! Lineup choices shall be vital with gamers banged up and a few groups nonetheless seeking to enhance their postseason hopes. We wish to assist.
Every Tuesday and Saturday in the course of the season, ESPN fantasy analyst Eric Moody will ask our NFL Nation reporters essentially the most urgent questions heading into the weekend and what to make of the fallout after video games are performed. Who’s primed for an enormous efficiency, who’s impacted by accidents and what roles would possibly change? This is what our crew needed to say about a few of the largest storylines heading into the third, and for many, closing week of the fantasy playoffs.
With Jarrett Stidham changing Russell Wilson beneath heart, what can we count on from the Broncos offense?
You’ll be able to count on Broncos coach Sean Payton to do no matter he can to make his resolution to bench Wilson seem like the precise transfer. Whereas Payton benched Wilson after the offense’s struggles towards a stingy Patriots protection — Wilson did throw two fourth-quarter touchdowns — Stidham will get a much more favorable state of affairs. The Chargers are twenty ninth in complete protection, thirtieth in move protection, thirtieth in yards allowed per move play and twenty sixth in scoring protection. Payton has persistently lauded Stidham’s efforts for the Raiders within the final two video games of the 2022 season (365 yards and 219 yards passing with 4 touchdowns mixed), so there’s potential for Payton to let Stidham put the ball within the air. Vast receiver Courtland Sutton has been in concussion protocol all week and the Broncos have gotten little from their tight ends within the passing recreation this yr, however Payton is taking warmth with the quarterback transfer and will definitely attempt to give Stidham an opportunity to make some performs. — Jeff Legwold
How assured can we be in Justin Jefferson and Okay.J. Osborn with Jaren Corridor beneath heart?
I might count on a level of discount of their manufacturing. Corridor has a ok arm to get them the ball downfield, and the Vikings will at all times construct their recreation plan round Jefferson. They will do their finest to get it to him in ways in which he can create massive performs. However Corridor has some mobility that can doubtless lead him to go away the pocket greater than Nick Mullens, and the Vikings determine to provide Ty Chandler an excellent likelihood to manage the ball on the bottom as properly. — Kevin Seifert
What can we count on from the Chiefs’ backfield if Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are unable to play?
Since Jerick McKinnon is on IR, the Chiefs on this case would largely be heading into the unknown. The one different working again on their energetic roster is La’Mical Perine, who was on the follow squad many of the season and has performed little when energetic. The Chiefs even have two working backs, Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram, on their follow squad. One or each gamers could possibly be promoted for the Bengals recreation if the Chiefs are this short-handed. — Adam Teicher
What’s going to the Chargers’ passing assault seem like with out Keenan Allen or Joshua Palmer?
The Chargers may have no selection however to depend on rookie first-round receiver Quentin Johnston, who has had a disappointing rookie season, highlighted by drops in massive moments, however has been taking part in higher recently. He has 195 yards over his previous 4 video games, 5 extra yards than he had via the Chargers’ first 11 contests. Tight finish Gerald Everett also needs to see a rise in targets. Everett leads the workforce in common yards after a catch (5.3). — Kris Rhim
How will the Seahawks offense change if DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker III cannot play?
Each are listed as questionable, however Pete Carroll stated Friday that he expects Metcalf to play Sunday vs. Pittsburgh regardless of decrease again stiffness that saved him out of form the previous two days. Carroll stated Walker shall be a game-time resolution, although a couple of indicators appear to level to the probability that he performs. Walker performed via the identical shoulder damage final week vs. Tennessee and returned to follow Friday as a restricted participant. If he cannot go, rookie Zach Charbonnet would begin, and Seattle’s run recreation would have his highly effective working model whereas lacking Walker’s explosiveness. — Brady Henderson
Would Miles Sanders inherit Chuba Hubbard’s workload if he have been to be dominated out?
Sure. Sanders actually is the one choice exterior of Hubbard, who’s coping with a hamstring damage however has no damage designation for Sunday, as an each down again. Though he is has solely 9 carries over the previous two video games, Sanders had 10 carries for 74 yards 4 video games in the past in a loss to the Saints. Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who had two carries for 33 yards (together with a 20-yard landing run) in Sunday’s loss to Inexperienced Bay, is at finest a change-of-pace again. — David Newton
If Zay Flowers is not accessible, who will fill the void within the Ravens’ passing recreation?
Flowers returned to follow Friday after lacking the previous two days with a calf damage, so he is trending towards taking part in. Flowers has been Lamar Jackson’s go-to goal since tight finish Mark Andrews suffered an ankle damage. If Flowers is restricted, Rashod Bateman may get a much bigger function. Bateman’s profession recreation got here final season towards Miami, when he had 108 yards receiving and a landing. The Dolphins have allowed 15 landing passes to extensive receivers, tied for the sixth most within the NFL. — Jamison Hensley
How apprehensive ought to we be about Kyler Murray’s sickness?
Not very. He’ll return to follow Friday and is anticipated to play Sunday towards the Eagles, coach Jonathan Gannon stated. — Josh Weinfuss
