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Two of the Giants’ best remaining defenders are questionable to play this week. Burns managed just one limited practice (Friday) while CB Deonte Banks (rib) remained limited all week. Both players are at risk of missing Michael Penix’s first career start, elevating his fantasy-scoring potential.

Crowder has played sparingly following his return from injured reserve, a trend that held true in Week 17 even with Dyami Brown absent from the game-day roster due to injury. It is clear that Olamide Zaccheus is the preferred weapon alongside Terry McLaurin as the team prepares for the postseason.

His Week 17 performance goes down as his second consecutive modest-output game after being confined to a 5-60-1 line against the Eagles a week ago, with both games paving the way for Olamide Zaccheaus to be featured through the air. We can’t fault McLaurin for either performance considering the matchups he had to overcome, this time in the face of one of the true lockdown corners remaining in the league. It is unclear how the Commanders will handle personnel decisions in what now amounts to a meaningless game against the Cowboys in Week 18.

Ertz’s first score came in the third quarter to bring the team within three points while his second walked the game off in overtime to lock up the team’s first playoff berth since they made the postseason in 2020 with a losing record by winning the division. He also made a ridiculous catch in the fourth quarter to extend what would be a touchdown drive by pinning the ball between his legs. The veteran tight end is unlikely to see immense weekly volume but has enough of a connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels to see sporadic spike weeks such as this one. It is unclear whether Ertz will suit up in Week 18 against the Cowboys considering his veteran status and the fact the team locked up a playoff spot this week.

Zaccheaus has become one of quarterback Jayden Daniels’ top targets in the previous two games without Noah Brown on the field, the latter of whom was sent to injured reserve during the team’s Week 14 bye. A week after scoring twice, Zaccheaus provided quite the encore while returning 22.5 PPR fantasy points against the Falcons. It’s enough of a wave to ride into Week 18, assuming he plays considering the Commanders locked up a playoff berth with the win. Should he suit up, it’ll come against the vulnerable Cowboys secondary on the road.

The meager fantasy production comes one week after the veteran back lost two fumbles for the Commanders in a game they would ultimately win over the Eagles. Many assumed the absence of Austin Ekeler would vault Robinson into a workhorse role for the Commanders, but the presence of Chris Rodriguez, who scored in this one, and Jeremy McNichols have proved those predictions false. After locking up a playoff berth and seemingly having nothing left to play for, there is the possibility the Commanders rest key starters in Week 18 against the Cowboys. That could provide more run for Rodriguez, who managed 16 yards on five carries and a score in Week 17.

That now marks four elite fantasy outings in a row for the electric dual threat quarterback, with this one clinching a playoff spot for the Commanders in the NFC. Down 17-7 at the half, Daniels emerged from the locker room on a clear mission to will his team to victory, eventually scoring 17 unanswered points to hold a 24-17 lead with under five minutes to play. The Falcons would drive the field while converting two fourth downs to know the game with just over a minute remaining before a missed field goal by the Falcons as time expired sent the game to overtime. The Commanders would win the toss and not allow the Falcons to see the ball again, with Daniels completing a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz for the second time in the game to send the team to the postseason. Up next for the Commanders are the Cowboys in Week 18 with seemingly little left to play for.

This now makes two consecutive games of muted production for the diminutive veteran, with the change at quarterback from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix clearly signaling an end to his fantasy-friendly production. That trend appears likely to continue into Week 18 when the Falcons attempt to save their season against the Panthers.

Mooney took a significant backseat to alpha wide receiver Drake London in this one, the latter of whom saw a robust 13 targets as Michael Penix’s top target. Mooney will look to get back into good fantasy graces in Week 18 when the Falcons aim to save their season against the Panthers.

Pitts committed a drop late in the fourth quarter on the team’s penultimate drive of the game which forced the first fourth down of the drive for the Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix would convert that fourth down to sustain the drive, one that ultimately concluded with a fourth down touchdown reception by Pitts to tie the game with just over a minute remaining to play. They would force a quick three-and-out and drove into field goal position via a defensive pass interference penalty, but the 57-yard field goal attempt ultimately fell just short to send the game into overtime. Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the ball again, sending the team to the No. 8 seed in the NFC. They now require a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints in Week 18 to make the postseason.

London served as rookie quarterback Michael Penix’s top target after departing the team’s Week 16 game with a hamstring injury, an injury that typically forced pass-catchers to miss time considering what is asked of them during a game. He made several spectacular catches for the Falcons, two of which extended the team’s penultimate drive which eventually resulted in them tying the game. They would get the ball back late in the game after a quick three-and-out from the Commanders but a 57-yard field goal came up just short to send the game into overtime. The Falcons enter a Week 18 meeting with the Panthers in need of a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints to reach the postseason.