Week 17 Observations

Florida

I was supposed to be back in Lisbon right about now, but am still in Florida. The itinerary changed on me, though it was always this way, and I just didn’t know it. Turns out Heather *thought* she had booked the flight for December 29th to arrive on the 30th, but really had booked the 30th to arrive on the 31st. She discovered this on the night of the 28th. It meant we had to cancel a 6:30 am New Year’s Day ski trip to France which was, to be honest, a relief to all of us.

I love skiing, but it entailed a two hour flight to Geneva, an hour drive to our friend’s house, then 40 minutes each way the next few days from there to the slopes, renting all the gear, etc. all while being jetlagged af and not having slept more than a few hours for two days after an eight day international trip to states. And cancelling only cost us half the price of the Lisbon to Geneva tickets, about $450 total, while saving us a couple thousand in meals, four-wheel drive rental car, lift tickets, etc. Plus we get Oscar back early from the dog camp now.

As a result, instead of traveling, I was able to catch some of the games yesterday, mostly the two late ones. My season is done, so this was more just observing how badly I botched my Steak League lineup at the last second and feeling enraged about that.

Anyway, the French alps would have been cool, but Florida isn’t that bad.

• I have Anthony Richardson at QB in the Steak League because you get a point every 10 yards rushing and six points per rushing TD, but only four per passing TD and one point every 25 passing yards. But Richardson was hurt, it was a 14-team league, and the best I could do on waivers was his backup Joe Flacco against the Giants. So I had Flacco in the lineup, but right before we were about to leave for brunch, I saw that Davante Adams was active against the Bills, impulsively picked up Aaron Rodgers and subbed him in for Flacco. That cost me 17 points and could very well result in my buying rather than eating Steak.

• Malik Nabers wears No. 1 and looks like a clone of Ja’Marr Chase in a Giants uniform. He’ll be a first round pick next year, no matter who the Giants QB is. And who knows, maybe Drew Lock is next year’s Sam Darnold.

• The Giants win kicked them out of the top draft slot, and I’m good with that. I don’t want them to be forced to take a QB — better to sign someone unless the rookie is a can’t-miss generational prospect if that even exists anymore.

• I thought I was being clever taking the Cowboys +9.5 with Jalen Hurts iffy, but I was not.

• Saquon Barkley broke 2,000 yards but will probably sit against the Giants next week rather than go for Eric Dickerson’s all-time record of 2,105. It would be easy for him to do, but given he got to 2K in 16 games, and the Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed, better to rest him. Breaking the 16-game record in a 17-game season means less than it would. The NFL single-season record books are one big asterisk field now.

• When I started Rodgers I was afraid the game might go the way it did, and that Tyrod Taylor was able to engineer two TDs in garbage time was insult to injury. The Jets have packed it in, and I should have factored that into my decision.

• I caught some of the Bengals-Broncos Saturday, but was at a restaurant when the Bengals went for the game-winning FG in overtime, assumed they made it, only to find out later they covered on a third-TD catch by Tee Higgins. This after they should have won on a FG in regulation but for some bizarre clock mismanagement. Tough beat if you had the Broncos +3.5.

• Joe Burrow has 4,641 yards and 42 TDs vs eight picks with one game to go. The Bengals are still alive for the playoffs, but they’d need to beat the Steelers, the resting Chiefs to beat the Broncos and the packed-it-in Jets to beat the Dolphins, so they’re almost drawing dead. It’s too bad because Bengals-Bills in the Wild Card round would be a lot more exciting than Broncos-Bills.

• Chase Brown sprained his ankle on the dumbest play of all time. Why run the ball toward the end zone and slide to avoid scoring at the one? Just kneel down at the six!

• Ja’Marr Chase killed me this week with a meager 9-102-0 line.

• Why wasn’t Marvin Mims getting more looks all year?

• I went 2-3 in Circa, but boy was I right about Chargers -4. Perfect spot for a solid team to destroy a weak one that had played over its head the prior week.

• Ladd McConkey is a bit fragile, but he’ll go around the 2/3 turn in next year’s drafts.

• I didn’t catch much of Rams-Cardinals mercifully. Kyler Murray is so inconsistent.

• Puka Nacua should be a top-10 fantasy pick next year too. The only receivers I’d take ahead of him are Chase, Nabers, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

• Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s rookie receiving record. Depending upon the QB situation there, he might go at the 1-2 turn.

• You have to love games where where the top RBs are Ameer Abdullah and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I honestly didn’t realize CEH was even on the Saints until I looked at the box score.

• The Panthers play everyone tight except apparently the Bucs. I’m glad they won, and the Falcons lost, as the Bucs are a much more entertaining playoff team.

• Bucky Irving will go no later than the fourth round next year.

• Mike Evans got 97 yards, putting him just 85 shy of 1,000. The Bucs need the game next week against the Saints, too. Only a injury can prevent him from getting there for an 11th straight year.

• What if Mac Jones is next year’s Sam Darnold? Trevor Lawrence might be the next Baker Mayfield too.

• Brian Thomas will go no later than early second-round next year, maybe even late first. I was one pick away in the 14-team RotoWire Dynasty league from getting Nabers and Thomas with my first two picks. Had to settle for Xavier Worthy and Bucky Irving/Jonnu Smith at the 3/4 turn.

• The Dolphins without Tua are bad, but DTR is the worst QB in NFL history.

• Jerry Jeudy is going in the third round again next year, and no one can stop this from happening.

• Darnold threw one bad pick, but otherwise balled out again. He has 35 TDs and 12 picks with 8.2 YPA. If the Vikings upset the Lions in Detroit next week, and he has another big game — which is likely as the Lions defense isn’t good — Darnold will have MVP-type numbers on the 15-2 No. 1 seed. He won’t win because it’s Josh Allen’s “turn” but he would deserve it as much as anyone.

• I didn’t watch the Sunday night game, but I’m glad the Falcons lost. They have no business being near the playoffs.