Week 17 in Review

Ballers of the Week

Larry Fitzgerald

, WR Arizona Cardinals

In my opinion, Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver in the NFL and he proved just that as he went off in week 17. The wideout grabbed five balls for 130 yards with two TDs. It was the seventh time this season that Fitzgerald has gone over the 100-yard receiving mark. In case you’re wondering who to draft as the first fantasy WR in 2009, I think Larry would be a safe bet.

Steelers D/ST

Pittsburgh

put on a defensive clinic on Sunday, destroying the Browns 31-0. They had two INTs and a defensive touchdown to go along with the shutout. I know it was against lowly

Cleveland, but the Steelers still ended on a good note after getting embarrassed the previous week against the Titans. They will once again be a top defense in 2009.

Drew Brees

, QB

New Orleans Saints

Brees fell just 16 yards short of breaking Dan Marino’s single season passing yards record on Sunday and his Saints fell to

Carolina on a late John Kasey field goal. Brees finished the day throwing for an insane 386 yards on 30-for-49 passing with four touchdowns and just one interception. He was the best fantasy QB and wouldn’t be a bad pick at all next year.

Busts of the Week

Brett Favre

, QB

New York Jets

Favre’s decline continued into the last week of the 2008 season as he played terribly against the Dolphins. The Jets lost the game and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Brett didn’t help matters at all, throwing three INTs, one of which was returned for a TD by a lineman. He was up and down all season, but really finished poorly the last six weeks of the season. It’s tough to say if Favre will be back in 2009 and if he is, I wouldn’t draft him for nothing.

Tampa

Bay

Buccaneers

The Bucs controlled their own destiny in Week 17 and failed miserably. All they had to do was beat the pathetic Oakland Raiders and they would make the playoffs. Well easier said then done, as the Raiders outplayed

Tampa

Bay and eliminated them from postseason play, 31-24. Perhaps the worst part about this loss was that

Oakland came in to the Buccaneers’ home stadium and beat them.

Tony Romo

, QB Dallas Cowboys

Once again, Romo cracked under pressure. There is no doubt that he is a solid NFL QB, but it seems that he’s starting a trend here. Whenever there is a big game and the season is on the line, Romo always folds. He did just that on Sunday as his Cowboys were beat down by rival Philly. The winner of the Week 17 contest made the playoffs, but it wasn’t even close. The Eagles crushed

Dallas 44-6 as Romo completed 21-for-39 passes for 183 yards with no touchdowns and one INT. He also lost two fumbles. Nonetheless, I would still draft him very high in fantasy drafts next season.

Shocker Special

Ladainian Tomlinson

, RB

San Diego Chargers

It’s real hard and doesn’t make much sense to classify a player like LT as a “shocker,” but he hasn’t given owners much to be happy about all season so his Week 17 performance was a bit of a shocker. Tomlinson ran the ball 14 times for 96 yards and piled on three touchdowns as his team beat the Broncos and clinched a playoff spot. This was by far LaDainian’s best performance of the season.

Keep on Your Fantasy Radar

Michael Bush

, RB

Oakland Raiders

I know that the Raiders have a ton of talent at the running back position going into the 2009 season, but I would keep a close eye on Bush. Though, in all likelihood he will be going into next season as the No. 3 RB on the depth chart, don’t be surprised if Bush begins to jump. He got his chance to shine in Week 17 against a tough

Tampa

Bay run defense and didn’t disappoint as he ran 27 times for 177 yards and two scores. I understand that Darren McFadden is the RB of the future in Oakland, but don’t be shocked if Bush cuts into his carries next season because Run DMC does have problems staying healthy.