darin3 Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Looks like there are two teams worth discussing as it relates to starters being rested in the coming weeks. New England - first round bye is clinched with a win this week (not a sure thing), a MIA loss (who knows) and a PIT loss/tie (somewhat possible, I suppose). Home field advantage is not clinchable this week. But if a few scenarios listed above happen, they'd likely be looking at potentially clinching that NEXT week and we'd be worried about Week 16. Honestly, it looks like you can play your Patsies for this week and next without worry. Dallas - here's where it gets worrisome. They clinch a first round bye with a win and DET loss/tie or a SEA loss (quite possible one of these happen, no?). They clinch bye AND home field with DET loss/tie AND SEA loss. Obviously there's the thought that you want to keep your starters fresh and ready, but also don't want them to get hurt. Knowing your teams, how your teams' coaches approach this, etc.... which teams/players are you most worried about possibly losing in the next few weeks? I'd say guys like Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant and Zeke Elliott are the ones to be concerned with most, with Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, LeGarrette Blount and Martellus Bennett being the next up. I own both Zeke and Bennett and am fairly concerned that both will see reduced snap counts Week 16. I am actually hoping that the Giants can beat the Boys for a second time this season so Dallas has to stretch this out a bit more. What say you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Dallas would be served well by feeding Zeke less. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Caught a sound-bite on the radio last week where Dallas said they wouldn't rest their starters. FWIW And BB never takes his foot off the gas but there's a first for everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaft Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 New England doesn't rest their players. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Jerry Jones has traditionally had no qualms about overworking his players. DeMarco Murray, in a season where he had 449 touches, still got a carry with 4:08 left in the 4th quarter of Week 17 of 2014 when the Cowboys were up 10 points against Washington. Though they were still playing for a chance at a first round bye (Seattle needed to lose to the Rams in the afternoon game). Dallas might be in a position where they have locked up the #1 seed before week 16. Teams in the past have sometimes rested their players week 16 and then played them week 17. That way the players aren't rusty after having 3 or 4 weeks off before their first playoff game. Instead they have 2 weeks off, play a game, and then have 2 weeks off again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) This information might be too old to be relevant, but: Before week 17 in 1994, Dallas had the #2 seed locked up with no chance at the #1 seed. They sat Emmitt Smith for the whole game and sat Troy Aikman midway through the 2nd quarter. Before week 17 of 1996 the Cowboys had the #3 seed locked up with no chance of moving up. Neither Emmitt Smith nor Troy Aikman played week 17. Before week 17 of 1998, the Cowboys had the #3 seed locked up with no chance of moving up. Emmitt Smith was sat in the 2nd quarter and Aikman was sat at halftime. Before week 17 of 2003, the Cowboys had a wildcard locked up but no chance of winning the division. Quincy Carter (their qb that year) played the whole game. Troy Hambrick (their rb that year) played into the 4th quarter, but only had 12 touches. This was a Bill Parcells team. I doubt Jerry had much of a say in the matter. Before week 17 of 2006, the Cowboys had a wildcard locked up but no chance of winning the division. They rested Tony Romo and Julius Jones week 17. This was another Bill Parcells team. Before week 17 of 2007, the Cowboys had the #1 seed locked up. Tony Romo was sat midway through the 3rd quarter. Julius Jones and Marion Barber played the whole game, but only had 17 touches combined. This team was coached by Wade Phillips. So it seems in Week 17 games with no significance, Dallas has either sat players for the whole game or has sat them midway through the game. Edited December 10, 2016 by michaelredd9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin_Akie Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Patriots will only rest starters in week 17 based on previous years. For most leagues you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTSuper7 Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 The big problem here is the idea that they might treat week 16 as a preseason game if there is no playoff positioning at stake - start and play the first half, maybe play a series in the 3rd. I don't think there's any way to know for sure, so I guess you just have to play these guys (Dez, Zeke, Brady, Edelman, etc.) if you have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 The big problem here is the idea that they might treat week 16 as a preseason game if there is no playoff positioning at stake - start and play the first half, maybe play a series in the 3rd. I don't think there's any way to know for sure, so I guess you just have to play these guys (Dez, Zeke, Brady, Edelman, etc.) if you have them. That is what I'm most worried about. Saying they won't "fully" rest starters... ie, have them in street clothes.... but say they're playing (Week 16 especially) and have them only play the 1st half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Week 16 is a home game so there is a bit of incentive to have their starters active and at least play a half for the sake of the fans. Also, Week 16 is against the Lions so the Cowboys have a bit of a responsibility to take the game seriously for the sake of integrity. Though, I don't think Jerry is above not taking the game seriously as a favor to the Fords. Jerry does have the excuse that he wants to give Romo some playing time so that he isn't rusty for the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Let's not get ahead of ourselves here 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Let's not get ahead of ourselves here Exactly, seems odd to start worrying about players resting in week 16. You need to get there fitst, and what exactly can you do about it now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 Exactly, seems odd to start worrying about players resting in week 16. You need to get there fitst, and what exactly can you do about it now? When the road to a first round bye is as clear and present as it is, it's worth at least mentioning. And uh, I dunno, you can start planning for having others ready to plug in if your usual starters are going to be rested? Not sure where the confusion is coming from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 Let's not get ahead of ourselves here Not trying to jinx anyone here, but you have to admit things look pretty good for the Boys, especially when they can lock up a lot of milestones in the next couple of weeks if things fall right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Not trying to jinx anyone here, but you have to admit things look pretty good for the Boys, especially when they can lock up a lot of milestones in the next couple of weeks if things fall right. shhhh.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Buncha jinxing basstards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 Buncha jinxing basstards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseUp Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I rested my starters today Jameis, Evans, Gordon, Julio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 When the road to a first round bye is as clear and present as it is, it's worth at least mentioning. And uh, I dunno, you can start planning for having others ready to plug in if your usual starters are going to be rested? Not sure where the confusion is coming from. I guess if you're that certain you'll be in it week 16 and can make meaningful moves now that are likely to still make sense in 2 weeks. Just seemed premature to me and hard to know who is worth adding 2 weeks out. Buncha jinxing basstards If we knew it was that easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Lost with Luck in his breakout year during the Week 16 Championship. Colts had it locked and they were in Dallas. He put up negative points in the first half and he never saw the field in the 2nd half. Same thing may happen with DAL this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 The Cowboys week 16 game is on Monday night. So it might not be known if the game matters or not until the games are finished Sunday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 The Cowboys week 16 game is on Monday night. So it might not be known if the game matters or not until the games are finished Sunday. True but we could know after this weekend, and I guess its never too soon to stash an Alfred Morris or Tony Romo for your championship game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegos Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Alright, now what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 Alright, now what? Homefield advantage still up for grabs in both conferences, so I don't see anyone being rested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Homefield advantage still up for grabs in both conferences, so I don't see anyone being rested. DAL hasn't even locked up the division yet, or a first round bye (at least not according to the ESPN playoff machine), they lose their last 2 while Giants win their last 2, the Giants win the division (and the #1 seed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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