Coin Toss: Week 17

BY ZACH COSBY

SPORTSNET.CA

The title of this blog couldn't be more appropriate for Week 17.

The amount that some normally-reliable fantasy starters will play in the final week of the season is really anybody's guess. Normally, I don't advocate starting any fantasy stud (regardless of their level of studosity) who has a chance at being benched, but as is usually the case in our fake game, we have to weigh the pros and cons of each situation.

I also don't condone fantasy championships being decided in the week where this is a possibility, but I'm here, so let's address a few more predicaments before calling it a season.

Partial Packers vs. Full-Gamers

You're not starting Aaron Rodgers. Matt Flynn is a difficult call because they may try to run it more than usual. On top of that, nobody knows for sure how much he'll play -- not even Mike McCarthy. I'll take four quarters of Josh McCown and John Skelton -- who have great matchups -- over a roll of the dice with Flynn, who likely won't have the same Green Bay weapons (Jermichael Finley for one) that Rodgers is used to having next to him in the huddle.

*Bonus note: In my eyes, Jordy Nelson stays fantasy relevant this week thanks to the early deactivation of Randall Cobb.

Touch-and-go Texans vs. The 10-to-15 Touchers

Forget about Arian Foster. Okay, now that he's out of the picture, you find yourself going gaga for Ben Tate. Not me. If Houston sees Tate as a valuable part of their running game, why would they chuck him out there 20 times?

Since there's no guarantee that Tate (and not Derrick Ward) gets the majority of the work, I like the following guys in his place: Kahlil Bell, Toby Gerhart and Daniel Thomas. Since those guys may not be in your free agent pool, here are a few more rushers that should get close to 15 opportunities with the ball and that I'd play ahead of Tate: Evan Royster, Thomas Jones, Donald Brown and Kendall Hunter.

Flaky Falcons vs. Worthy Waiver Wideouts

Sick of the alliteration yet? Me too.

Julio Jones (phew, two 'J's but they sound different) is not an option this week. Yes, if the Lions somehow lose to the Pack, Atlanta will be playing for the fifth seed, but that's not a lot to play for and given Julio's season-long battle with the injury bug, there is no way Mike Smith would risk Jones' playoff availability by having him out there against Tampa.

When it comes to Roddy White, even if the game had meaning, his rank wouldn't be very high as the Falcons will likely look to pound the ball on the ground against a porous Bucs defence.

By the same token, you can't get cute and start Harry Douglas, especially since there's a chance someone other than Matt Ryan will be throwing him the ball. Plug in possibly-available wideouts like Malcom Floyd, Denarius Moore and David Nelson ahead of any Falcon, or go out and get widely available targets Roy Williams, Andre Roberts, Doug Baldwin or Titus Young to fill your receiver need.

Accountability Section -- Week 16

Mike Wallace vs. Your Bench -- Cosby's call: Wallace (flip). Wallace (four rec, 82 yards) was an overturned touchdown away from being a Top 15 receiver, but more importantly, he was a touchdown away from being the right call. [I was right about Antonio Brown (three rec, 34 yards) at least -- does that count?]

Kahlil Bell vs. The One That Brung Ya -- Cosby's call: Bell (flip). Actually there were two lists. Bell (159 total yards) actually had a better day than two of the guys (LeSean McCoy, Adrian Peterson) I told you to play instead of him. Bell fumbled on the goal line -- costing him a spot in the top three at his position for Week 16 -- so three dudes (C.J. Spiller, Marshawn Lynch, Darren Sproles), who I told you to consider benching in favour of Bell, ended up having better stat lines.

Eli Manning vs. The Rest -- Cosby's call: Eli (flip). This was a strange one from the start so to sum it up -- Eli (225 yards, TD, INT) finished in the middle of the pack as expected thanks to a 99-yard TD.

Against all odds, we're through the debut season of The Coin Toss on sportsnet.ca. If your Fantasy Super Bowl is on the line this week, good luck. If you're just a devoted reader ("Hi Mom!" -- holds up sign like those dudes in the Lockport Gambino Ford ads), thanks as always for the time, enjoy the games and all the best in 2012!

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