Do you understand now, friends, Romans and countrymen, that this is why you schedule your fantasy football title game during Week 16? If not, then learn a hard lesson because the NFL playoff teams are shaking up their rosters for the final week of the regular season.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
In case you thought head coach Sean McVay was just threatening to sit people during his early week interviews, Wednesday he made it official. Jared Goff, Todd Gurley II, Aaron Donald, Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan will all be in street clothes in the Los Angeles Rams’ finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
Goff, Gurley, Donald, Whitworth + Sullivan will not play Sunday.
Sean Mannion will get the start at QB. #SFvsLA
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 27, 2017
The Rams have been extremely lucky this year and come into the playoffs with only one starter, cornerback Kavon Webster, lost for the season. With the Rams set as a Wild Card host, it doesn’t really matter to them if they win this game against the 49ers or not.
“There’s four potential teams we could play,” McVay told reporters Tuesday. “All of them are very, very good football teams, and however it plays out, you’re going to be on the road the following week (if the Rams win). When you think about the risk-reward, we feel like that’s probably going to be the best decision, to rest some guys.”
The four possible teams? The Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons or Seattle Seahawks.
This gives Sean Mannion the opportunity to be the 4th former Jeff Fisher QB to shine this year. Outduel Jimmy G.
— LA Rams Fan Zone (@LARamsFanZone) December 27, 2017
The best match up for the Rams would probably be the Seahawks, though I wouldn’t expect the same ass kicking that Los Angeles delivered two Sundays ago to be repeated. The worst is the Panthers, but, if the Rams do win, they’ll have a much better round two contest traveling to the Philadelphia Eagles without Carson Wentz.
Not only will the players already listed be out for sure, but I’d expect short days for Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. Quinn needs 1.5 sacks to get to double digits and if he hits that early, he won’t play after. Woods was banged up for a few weeks, so his reps will be limited as well. This will give plenty of pass-catching opportunities to Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Joshua Reynolds and maybe even Tavon Austin.
Austin and Malcolm Brown will get the carries in the backfield. Sean Mannion will get the start at quarterback.
So, that's pretty big news…. Gurley's back-up is Malcolm Brown for those looking at waivers tonight. https://t.co/MHcqYIOuvS
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 27, 2017
With just the threat of sitting players, the books pushed the line on this an entire touchdown. The Rams opened the week favored at -4. They’re now at +3 facing off against the 49ers and one of the great stories of the final third of the season, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Quarterback Alex Smith is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. The Chiefs drafted his replacement back in April and now, on New Year’s Eve, they’re finally going to see him play. Head coach Andy Reid has made it official that rookie Patrick Mahomes will start the team’s final game against the Denver Broncos Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes, first career start, in Mile High against the No Fly Zone, in a figurative pressure-free situation. Unless it’s to put pressure on Broncos if their young QB out-performs Lynch. Quality button-press by Andy Reid. And high-quality Week 17 fun.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 27, 2017
Mahomes joins Steve Fuller as the only rookies to ever start in a non-strike season for the Chiefs. Fuller got that call in 1979.
“The biggest thing for me is just to expect to go out there and win in any way possible,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. “If that’s 300 yards (passing) or 100 yards or whatever it is. Whatever it takes to get a win is the biggest thing.”
The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West and are locked in as the No. 4 seed. Starting Smith would be silly at this point and, even though nobody’s said anything yet, I don’t expect to see Kareem Hunt out there either. Justin Houston should stay in sweats too.
“Every snap that he gets is a valuable snap for him for whenever he has that chance of getting in there,” Reid said. “Fortunately, we’re in a situation where we can do that.”
If Patrick Mahomes goes into Denver with our 2nd stringers and pulls out a victory in the city where the Mile High Curse has been held over this franchise then it will be the first footnote in the legacy of Patrick Mahomes in KC
— JKuhn (@h8rproof82) December 27, 2017
The only reason to let Hunt play is he’s 10 yards short of the NFL rushing title. He has 1,292 yards and Todd Gurley leads the league with 1,302 yards. Since Gurley isn’t playing for sure, the title (and whatever it’s worth to Hunt and the Chiefs) is there for the taking. That is, if Le’Veon Bell doesn’t surpass them both. He’s just a yard behind Hunt and with the Pittsburgh Steelers still playing for home field (against the Cleveland Browns, no less), Guaranteed a bye next week, the Steelers might just unleash Bell.
https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/945008791875084288
Is it worth it for Hunt and the Chiefs? We’ll find out Sunday.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AND PITTSBURGH STEELERS
These two teams are likely headed for an AFC Championship rematch and now there’s a little extra coal on the fire. The Steelers, as per his request, cut James Harrison this week and, wouldn’t you know it, he was immediately signed by the New England Patriots.
James Harrison is a Patriot.
Here's what Bill Belichick had to say about it. https://t.co/SPVBlMjMU6
— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2017
Needless to say, the Steelers fans in my Twitter and Facebook feed were aghast.
At the time, the Steelers used Marcus Gilbert’s return from suspension as an excuse. It turns out that Harrison, unsatisfied with his playing time behind Bud Dupree and rookie T.J. Watt, asked to set free.
“If you didn’t want to be here, come out and say it,” center Maurkice Pouncey told reporters. “Don’t make it look like it’s the team’s fault. …You think the team and the organization wanted to get rid of James Harrison? Come on, now. If I wanted out, I wouldn’t let the team take the blame for it.”
Maurkice Pouncey just went off on James Harrison. He said he forced his way out and ruined his Steelers legacy. Much more coming in a story
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) December 27, 2017
Dupree chimed in as well.
“I don’t want the media to portray that we’re the reason he left,” Dupree said. “That ain’t the reason. He chose to leave. He made certain decisions, and his actions got him to this circumstance.”
What does Harrison’s addition do to the rivalry? As a player, I’m not sure what Harrison actually gives the Pats on the field. What he might be able to supply is defensive calls and alignments in helping the New England offense prepare. Head coach Bill Belichick can’t tape the opponents anymore. This might be the next best thing.
Here’s James Harrison in Patriots blue at practice today. Photo by John Tlumacki. pic.twitter.com/8Vr0wf5OOj
— Boston Globe Sports (@BGlobeSports) December 27, 2017
Harrison played in five games for the Steelers this season, recording three tackles and a sack.
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