Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.The Indianapolis Colts are taking an amazing amount of heat on Monday as they pulled their starters in Sunday, resulting in their first loss of the season and making sure we won't see Mercury Morris on out television sets any time soon.
If you started any of the offensive stars for the Colts, you probably regret it now. Please do not consider starting them again in Week 17. But the Colts aren't the only team you need to worry about resting starters.
Looking ahead to Week 17, the outcome of the Monday Night Football game cold change the way two teams play next weekend. The Chicago Bears upset the Minnesota Vikings, ensuring that the New Orleans Saints have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune says that the Saints will still play to win.
The Saints say they will go all-out, but with the Vikings loss on Monday, it's no longer a certainty they'll reside in the number two seed. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals could now slide up and earn a first-round bye. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says this means the Cardinals will surely play to win (note: Kent's article was written prior to the Monday Night Football game).Coach Sean Payton said his team will play all-out on Sunday at Carolina, regardless of what happens with the Minnesota Vikings tonight at Chicago.
The Saints can lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC if Minnesota loses. But even more important right now for the struggling Saints is some positive momentum.
"Our plan is to play this game just like it would be the last game to get in the playoffs," Payton said, adding that he thinks it's a good time for his team to travel for a road game to help it get re-focused after a two-game losing streak.
Now that both the Saints and Cardinals will use their starters, the available pool of fantasy players remains full. That's great news for fantasy football GM's who have championship games in Week 17.If the Vikings lose tonight, Whisenhunt will try his best to win this week. A Dallas victory over the Eagles and a Cardinals victory would give the Cardinals a No. 2 seed and a bye. The history of teams with byes in the first round hasn't been good lately (Giants, Carolina lost last year, Dallas the year before
Other Fantasy Football Notes
• Not only is Philadelphia going to play to win this weekend, but Brian Westbrook will see lots of work says Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News. Westbrook worked more in Week 16 than expected because he felt no ill effects from his concussions. Barring any setbacks this week, Westbrook could be a viable fantasy starter.
• Speaking of more playing time, Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com says Arian Foster and Ryan Moats will see more touches in Week 17.
• Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer says that DeAngelo Williams might be back by the weekend and ready to play in Week 17. This is terrible news for owners of Jonathan Stewart who has thrived as the sole back in the Panthers offense.
• According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, there is some question to how the Patriots may handle their starters since they have already clinched the AFC East and cannot move up and grab a first-round bye. Tom Brady wants to play in Week 17 and I can safely say that fantasy owners who own him, Wes Welker and Randy Moss agree.
• Shonn Greene played a much bigger role in the New York Jets offense in Week 16 and Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News isn't sure if this is a new approach to running the football or punishment because Thomas Jones didn't practice all week last week.
• Bill Nichols of The Dallas Morning News says that the Dallas Cowboys are concerned about the inability of Marion Barber to convert short yardage situations. If Barber loses touches in goal line situations, his fantasy value will plummet.
