The Sideline Sage w/ Frank Ober – Week 17

Fantasy Football Article: 2025 – 2026 Season Week 17

Congratulations if you made it to the championship game in your fantasy football league.  There is no reason to change your strategy moving forward because it has obviously worked for you.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t as lucky as I lost in round two of the playoffs primarily due to injuries.  I secured the final playoff spot and the eight seed in my league with a 6-8-0 record.  However, I upset the number one seed in the first round of the playoffs with my best game of the season winning 152 – 112.  In fact, all four lower seeds defeated the four higher seeds in round one.  This just goes to show that the main objective in the regular season is to make the playoffs because anything can happen.  The championship game is between two teams with records of 8-6-0 and 7-6-1.

Players to Start Week 17

QB: Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts)

Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears)

RB: Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots at New York Jets)

Kenneth Gainwell (Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns)

WR: Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Jauan Jennings (San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears)

TE: Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans)

Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts)

PK: Harrison Mevis (Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons)

Evan McPherson (Cincinnati Bengals vs. Arizona Cardinals)

DF: New England Patriots (at New York Jets)

Pittsburgh Steelers (at Cleveland Browns)

Week 15 Selections vs. the Point Spread

Atlanta Falcons (+4.0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Final Score: Atl. 29  TB 28

Dallas Cowboys (-6.0) vs. Minnesota Vikings Final Score: Minn. 34  Dal. 26

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.0) vs. Miami Dolphins Final Score: Pitt. 28  Mia. 15

Week 15 Record:  2– 1 Season Record:  25 – 20

Note:  No selections submitted for week 16.

Week 17 Selections vs. the Point Spread

Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) vs. Houston Texans

The Chargers are playing excellent football on both sides of the ball.  Houston struggled at home against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders.  Both teams need to win in a potential bid for a division title.  I’ll take the home team with the better offense.

San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) vs. Chicago Bears

Another huge matchup that will impact playoff seeding and potentially a division title.  The Bears somehow keep winning despite QB Caleb Williams being up and down.  The 49ers are playing outstanding offensive football and have all-world RB Christian McCaffrey.  I expect a dog fight and extremely close game, but I’ll take the home team and give the points.

Los Angeles Rams (-8.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons

After a bitter loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week, the Rams will look to get back on track in a big way against the Falcons.  The Rams have accumulated over 500 yards of offense in three consecutive games.  I don’t think the Falcons will be able to keep up.  The Rams defense will pressure Falcons QB Kirk Cousins into mistakes.  Take the visitors and give the points.