NFL survivor pool strategy, Week 16: Target all those who have checked out

Take the San Diego Chargers, for instance. Their Super Bowl was last week in front of their home crowd of San Diego for the very last time. Now that they close out the final two games of the season on the road, they've essentially accomplished what they've set out to do. Charles Woodson, on the other hand, will be playing in Oakland for the last time this season. Sorry, Chargers fans, but there's a great chance no one has used the Oakland Raiders up to this point. Nothing personal.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos defense ranks first in passing yards allowed. They've also allowed the fewest rushing yards and yards per attempt. And whilst they've limited opposing offenses to essentially nothing, they've recorded the most sacks this season. The Cincinnati Bengals...well, they have A.J. McCarron. - JD

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There was a time a few weeks back when the Bears were a trendy sleeper to make a playoff run. They had shaken off a brutal early schedule to get back to within a game of .500, and who knows what might happen? Well, what might happen was the Bears going winless in three games and losing four of five, falling all the way out of the race. Now Alshon Jeffery is hurt (for the millionth time). The Buccaneers, meanwhile, are 3-3 in their last six, but only one of those losses was my more than one score. They’re competitive, they’re at home, and the Bears are done. - DK

Detroit Lions

The Lions have been one of the best teams in football since their bye in Week 9 and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. In fact, if it wasn't for the one time Todd Gurley decided to show up in the past eight weeks, the only blemish on Detroit's record would be a freak hail mary that cost them their game against Green Bay. Don't let garbage time in the Super Dome fool you: these second-half Lions are the real deal. - JD

Arizona Cardinals

At this point, I wouldn’t trust the Packers to make me a grilled cheese, not the way that offense has let me down in fantasy. But the Cardinals are almost totally locked into their playoff seed (things could change, but it would take a lot) and just lost Tyronn Mathieu for the rest of the season. They’re going to try to win this game, but they aren’t going to kill themselves to do so. - DK

Carolina Panthers

I know, I know. 14-0, something to play for, Josh Norman, MVP, yada yada yada. And if you've somehow avoided using the Panthers until now, then yes, you're likely getting them out of the way this week. But in a road division game against a team that has essentially tanked all other contests just waiting for this moment, I'm admittedly terrified. Their miracle comeback against the New York Giants last week was either a wakeup call or relief, and I'm not sure I'd like to stick around to discover which one. - JD