Chris Carson

As we head into the fourth week of the 2020 NFL season, it's as important as ever for fantasy managers to be cognizant of their roster options. While we haven't yet reached bye-week season, injuries and unexpected real-world roles have made it impossible to simply ride the same lineup from week to week.

With many key injuries around the league, working the waiver wire is a must.

Unfortunately for some managers, picking up just one player off the wire might not be enough. If you had a roster headlined by Christian McCaffrey, Julio Jones, Deebo Samuel and Phillip Lindsay in Week 3, you were in trouble.

This is where deep sleepers come into play. If you have multiple roster slots to fill, getting value with your second or third waiver claim will be key. We'll dive into some potentially valuable deep sleepers here, but first, let's run down the top 40 point-per-reception (PPF) flex plays for Week 4.

         

Week 4 Flex Cheat Sheet

1. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

2. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

3. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

4. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

6. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

7. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

8. Allen Robinson II, WR, Chicago Bears

9. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

10. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

11. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

12. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

13. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

14. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

15. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

16. Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals

17. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

18. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

19. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

20. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

21. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team

22. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

23. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

24. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

25. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

26. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

27. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

29. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

30. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

31. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

32. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills

33. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

34. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

35. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

36. Melvin Gordon III, RB, Denver Broncos

37. Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns

38. Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

39. Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns

40. Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions

    

Deep Sleepers to Target

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Miami Dolphins

Nick Foles, QB, Chicago Bears

Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Carlos Hyde, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tre'Quan Smith, WR, New Orleans Saints

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Football Team

Mo Alie-Cox, TE, Indianapolis Colts

       

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Miami Dolphins

If you're streaming your quarterbacks this season or are looking to replace a struggling signal-caller like Carson Wentz, Ryan Fitzpatrick might be the deep sleeper for you.

The Miami Dolphins' bearded bomber has produced strong fantasy numbers in each of the past two weeks. He had 328 passing yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and 160 passing yards, 38 rushing yards and three total scores in Week 3.

This week, Fitzpatrick has a prime fantasy matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. No team has allowed more passing yards this season than Seattle, which is making a long road trip to play in Miami. The Seahawks' potent offense, led by early MVP candidate Russell Wilson, should keep the Dolphins in pass mode, too.

While we may see a couple of turnovers from Fitzpatrick as he tries to keep pace with Wilson, he should have another strong stat line by the final whistle. He is rostered in only 10 percent of Yahoo leagues and 8 percent of ESPN leagues.

      

Carlos Hyde, RB, Seattle Seahawks

We'll stay in the Miami-Seattle matchup to examine Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde. While Hyde isn't quite as deep a sleeper as Fitzpatrick—he's rostered in 33 percent of Yahoo leagues and 14 percent of ESPN leagues—he might be an even better long-term option.

Seahawks starter Chris Carson is dealing with a knee strain that resulted from a dirty play by Dallas Cowboys defender Trysten Hill. Carson could miss extended time.

"We'll just have to see how that goes," head coach Pete Carroll told ESPN 710 Seattle (h/t Lindsey Wisniewski of NBC Sports Northwest).

With Carson out, Hyde could see a sizeable increase in rushing opportunities in Week 4 and beyond. This week, he'll face a Miami defense that ranks just 25th against the run.

      

Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

While the Jacksonville Jaguars struggled against the Dolphins in Week 3, they were far more competitive in the first two weeks than most expected. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts and narrowly lost to the now 3-0 Tennessee Titans.

Jacksonville has stayed in games because of quarterback Gardner Minshew II. He has thrown for 787 yards with six touchdowns, three interceptions and a 101.3 passer rating.

Rookie wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. has quickly become one of Minshew's favorite and most reliable targets. He's been targeted 14 times, according to Pro Football Reference, and has caught 11 balls for 105 yards and a touchdown.

With wideout DJ Chark Jr. only just returning from a chest injury, Shenault should be a significant piece of the passing attack this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Consider him a mid-level flex play who should see a half-dozen targets or more against an inconsistent Cincinnati defense.

Shenault is rostered in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues and 47 percent of ESPN leagues.

    

*Yahoo and ESPN roster percentages from FantasyPros

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson suffered a first-degree knee sprain Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and could be ready for next week's game against the Miami Dolphins.

Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed the severity of the injury Monday on 710 ESPN Seattle (h/t ESPN's Adam Schefter). He said Carson could return soon but added that the Seahawks "just have to see how that goes." Tom Pelissero of NFL Network previously reported Carson had a "chance" to play Sunday against the Dolphins.

Schefter reported the injury is considered one that takes one to two weeks to recover from, but Seattle "wants to see how he feels and recovers this week."

Carson was removed from Sunday's win over Dallas after suffering the knee injury in the fourth quarter, but an MRI confirmed his ligaments are intact, per Pelissero. He was injured on a tackle by Trysten Hill, who held on to the running back's leg as he rolled over while making the tackle.

Carroll said he was "really pissed" about the tackle that injured Carson.

The 26-year-old has been relatively durable since he became a primary playmaker for the Seahawks, appearing in 14 games in 2018 and 15 games in 2019.

However, Carson suffered a hip injury in a Week 16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals last season and missed the remainder of the campaign and the playoffs.

When healthy, the Oklahoma State product is a critical cog in the offense. He ran for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018 and 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. He also became more of a factor in the aerial attack last year with 37 catches for 266 yards and two touchdowns, which were all career-high marks.

Carson has followed up with 157 rushing yards and 93 receiving yards in three games in 2020 with three total touchdowns.

While it is unrealistic to expect the offense to operate at the same level without him, Seattle is better equipped than most to deal with an injury to a star running back.

Russell Wilson is on the short list of the best quarterbacks in the league and can keep the offense running smoothly with his arm and legs. Veteran Carlos Hyde ran for 1,070 yards on the Houston Texans last year, and Travis Homer adds depth in the backfield.

Still, the Seahawks are more of a Super Bowl threat if Carson is healthy and on the field alongside Wilson.

Several running backs, including Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara, have seen their contracts become a primary topic in their respective camps. Despite being in the last year of his rookie deal, Chris Carson isn't concerned about his future with the Seattle Seahawks.

"Of course it's something that's on my mind," Carson told reporters Tuesday. "You see a lot of guys, they're starting to get paid, but I try not to [let it] distract me from this season. I just try to push it away, but like I said, it is something that's on my mind but I try not to let it affect me."

Carson has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, and the Seahawks trusted him more in the passing game last year (his receptions leaped from 20 in 2018 to 37 in 2019). He's been one of the sport's biggest bargains since being taken in the seventh round of the 2017 draft and will make just $2.1 million this season.

Backups Rashaad Penny and Carlos Hyde both have higher cap numbers.

Negotiations with Carson, if existent, are probably unlike any others on the market. Mixon, Kamara and Christian McCaffrey bring a pass-catching dynamism that Carson does not, despite his improvement. Carson is more of a two-down back in an ideal scenario, which limits his value in a crowded running back market.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the Seahawks allowed the 2020 season to play out before offering Carson a long-term extension or franchising him in the offseason.

When it comes to risk-reward players in fantasy, few stand out more than those returning from injury. Some players never seem to regain their previous form, while others—like Adrian Peterson back in 2012—seem to come back better than ever.

The reality is that players returning from significant injuries are complete unknowns, and it's hard to know whom to trust.

We'll try to answer the question of which notable players returning from injury are worth trusting here. We'll examine the players, the injuries and the situations that are likely to arise in 2020—then buying or selling each player at his current ADP, according to FantasyPros.

   

Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks

We'll start things off with Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson. The former seventh-round pick has been a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his last two seasons. However, he suffered a fractured hip in Week 16 and missed the rest of the year, including the playoffs.

The good news is that Carson appears to be healthy and has been a participant in training camp. The bad news is that Seattle added veteran back Carlos Hyde in the offseason and will presumably get Rashaad Penny back at some point.

Simply put, Carson might not be in store for a starting-back workload in 2020.

"Seattle's running back depth has looked very good in camp with Carlos Hyde, Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas carrying the load, but having Carson back is always good news for the offense," John Boyle of the team's official website wrote.

Given the depth that Seattle has at running back, Carson's ADP of 34 feels too high. While he might be the lead back in Seattle's committee, he's going to be part of a committee. He's currently trending about a round too high.

    

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, on the other hand, is trending too low with an ADP of 101. He only played in eight games last season but was on pace for 4,998 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. As long as he's healthy in 2020, he's going to approach similar numbers.

And the early indication is that Stafford is indeed at or close to 100 percent. He has been a full-go in training camp and has wowed new backup Chase Daniel.

"Staff just continues to blow my mind on some of these throws, whether it's watching it in the film room or we're seeing it live," he said, per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News.

With weapons like Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal, Stafford can potentially be one of fantasy's most productive quarterbacks this season. If he continues trending as an eighth- or ninth-round pick, he'll definitely be worth buying at that price.

   

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Stafford isn't the only prolific passer returning from a significant injury this season. Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger is back after missing 14 games with an elbow injury that required surgery.

Two years ago, Roethlisberger passes for 5,129 yards and 34 touchdowns. Could he provide fantasy managers with that sort of production in 2020? Maybe. However, as Mark Madden of TribLive.com recently noted, the days of Big Ben being a pure gunslinger may need to end.

"His strong arm at training camp duly noted, Roethlisberger has likely reached the stage of his career where less is more," Madden wrote. "He needs to meld being a gunslinger with being a game manager. If he leads the NFL in pass attempts like he did in 2018, that won't be good."

Managers would be wise not to expect Roethlisberger to top 5,000 yards this season. However, he should still be a serviceable fantasy starter and is worth picking up as a streaming option later in drafts.

With an ADP of 124, this is exactly where managers are likely to find him.

    

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson exploded in his first game back with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. In Week 1, he caught eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, a sports hernia limited him to just three games and nine catches on the season.

Jackson is back once again, however, and has looked to be the same explosive weapon he was before the injury.

"The buzz has been that Jackson is as fast as ever following core muscle surgery last season," ESPN's Tim McManus wrote.

Jackson's value will be helped by the fact that Alshon Jeffery remains on the PUP list while Jalen Reagor is dealing with a shoulder injury. Jackson will likely be Philadelphia's No. 1 receiver early in the season.

With an ADP of just 168, Jackson is worth targeting several spots higher than where he is currently trending.

Running back is arguably the most important position in fantasy football.

Nabbing productive backs can be a separator, and selecting multidimensional guys who can carry the ball and also be reliable pass-catchers is absolutely vital.

Running back depth is also imperative because of injury concerns, which explains why the very best backs in the NFL are stockpiled at the top of draft boards.

But while guys like Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott are no-brainers because of their skill sets and volume, other backs might not be up to capitalizing on their current value.

With just under a month until Week 1, here are a few running backs to avoid in fantasy drafts.

   

Running Backs to Avoid in Drafts

Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons

Gurley is just one year removed from being one of the top backs in football.

The former Georgia star was named a first-team All-Pro with the Los Angeles Rams in both 2017 and 2018. He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2017 and led the league in total touchdowns both years. But Gurley's knee concerns leading up to Super Bowl 53 almost seemed like an omen.

Gurley barely topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season, the lowest mark of his career. He managed to play 15 games, but almost always seemed to be week-to-week with knee soreness.

Moreover, Gurley managed just 3.8 yards per carry and 6.7 yards per reception. Granted, L.A. had the second-worst offensive line in football last year, per Pro Football Focus. Still, Gurley's massive drop in production is a concern.

The 26-year-old is hoping to bounce back with the Falcons. But is Atlanta the best situation for Gurley as a fantasy back? Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has ranked third in pass attempts in each of the last two years, and running backs are often secondary weapons in Atlanta's offense.

Gurley is currently RB15 with an average draft position of 27, per Fantasy Pros. But owners can surely find better value elsewhere.

   

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

There are certainly reasons to be high on Carson. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, and he ranked third in success rate in 2019, per Football Outsiders.

However, health is a major question mark with Carson.

The 25-year-old suffered a fractured hip toward the end of the 2019 campaign. While the injury did not require offseason surgery, it remains to be seen whether Carson will have the same explosiveness.

In addition to the health concerns, Carson fumbled seven times last year. The fumbles led to Carson ceding some time to Rashaad Penny in the last quarter of the season, and Penny excelled prior to suffering a torn ACL in Week 14 against the Rams.

Penny's status might give Carson the opportunity to see a lot of volume at the start of the year. But owners should be wary of his health and possible competition in the backfield later in the season.

Plus, Carson does not add a ton of value in the passing game, and he could become a bit of a liability if the fumbling issues persist.

   

Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars

Fournette is sandwiched between Gurley and Carson at RB16, per Fantasy Pros. However, it seems unlikely Fournette will live up to that value in 2020.

The former LSU star gained nearly 1,700 yards from scrimmage last season and asserted himself as a bigger part of the passing game. Simultaneously, Fournette ranked toward the bottom of the NFL in terms of success rate, per Football Outsiders. He also scored just three touchdowns.

Then, of course, there is uncertainty regarding his status in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars had discussions with other teams regarding Fournette in April, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. They subsequently declined his fifth-year player option in May, making Fournette a free agent at the end of the year.

Fournette remains a "bell cow" type for now. But Jacksonville is in rebuilding mode and also signed Chris Thompson in the offseason. It might not be a surprise to hear Fournette's name resurface in the rumor mill.

There are just so many question marks when it comes to Fournette, making it hard to justify his value in mock drafts.

   

Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos

Gordon is currently RB19, per Fantasy Pros, and he is ranked over 50 spots ahead of backfield mate Phillip Lindsay. But this seems like a massive reach.

For starters, Gordon averaged just 3.8 yards per carry with the Los Angeles Chargers last year after holding out the first few weeks. He also fumbled four times in 12 games and was so unconvincing the Chargers elected to re-sign Austin Ekeler instead.

Plus, Lindsay is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season. The 26-year-old also appears to be extremely motivated by Denver's decision to sign Gordon this offseason.

There are no guarantees Gordon will even get the majority of the touches in Denver's backfield. Perhaps the Broncos hope he can infuse some playmaking in the passing game.

Even still, Gordon is averaging 4.0 yards per carry for his career and will almost certainly have to fight for volume. He should not even be sniffing the top 20 in terms of fantasy running backs.

   

David Johnson, Houston Texans

Johnson burst onto the scene in his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015. One year later, in his first year as a starter, Johnson was named first-team All-Pro after totaling 20 touchdowns and more than 2,100 yards from scrimmage.

The Northern Iowa product was suddenly a fantasy star. But a wrist injury at the start of the 2017 campaign halted all of Johnson's momentum. He did not play a single game after suffering the injury in Week 1. Johnson would return in 2018, but he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on the ground and also had eight drops.

This past year was a major indictment against Johnson's fantasy value. He totaled just 715 yards from scrimmage and lost the starting job after Arizona acquired Kenyan Drake. The Cardinals then shipped Johnson to the Texans in the deal that landed them DeAndre Hopkins.

Johnson is trending down, yet he is still just outside the top 20 in RB rankings, per Fantasy Pros.

The 28-year-old might be the projected starter in Houston, but Duke Johnson is sure to eat into David's touches. Some fantasy owners might believe David will have more to offer in Houston's passing game.

However, Duke ranks higher in the passing game in terms of defense-adjusted yards above replacement, per Football Outisders, and also averaged 4.9 yards per carry last year.

David is a fantasy star of the past. It is not worth reaching on him in hopes of a bounce-back season even in points-per-reception leagues, especially not ahead of guys like Devin Singletary or even James White.

   

All stats obtained via Pro Football Reference, unless otherwise noted. All fantasy information obtained via Fantasy Pros.

The Seattle Seahawks have reached an agreement with running back Carlos Hyde, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

Hyde joins a backfield currently led by Chris Carson, who finished last season with a career-high 1,496 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns. He rushed for 4.4 yards per carry and added 37 receptions.

The third-year pro out of Oklahoma State led the Seahawks in rushing for the second straight year, having gained 1,151 of his 1,314 scrimmage yards on the ground.

The question now is how a Carson-Hyde partnership in the backfield will shake out. Will Carson get the vast majority of carries, with Hyde merely spelling the starter on occasion? Or will Carson and Hyde split the touches, creating a timeshare of sorts in Seattle? And how will that affect Carson's fantasy outlook for 2020?

On that front, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported that "the Seahawks still intend on Chris Carson to be their primary running back."

Condotta also referenced the team's end-of-season situation at running back, when the team re-signed the retired Marshawn Lynch and turned to third-stringer Travis Homer in light of Carson and Rashaad Penny both being unavailable for the playoffs due to injury.

"But after the merry-go-round of the end of last season and some uncertainty about the health of key players entering the 2020 season, Seattle had made it known that it wanted to beef up the position some," Condotta wrote.

In essence, it appears Carson's starting job is mostly safe, although Hyde comes into town off a career-high 1,070 rushing yards for the Houston Texans last season. He's also hard to take down, as evidenced by this statistic from Pro Football Focus:

Carlos Hyde had 680 rushing yards after contact last season

13th most among all RBs pic.twitter.com/9SXQHr9Pc5

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) May 22, 2020

Carson averaged 19.07 touches per game in 2018 before seeing that total rise to 21.0 in 2019. Mike Davis and Penny backed up Carson in 2018, with Penny acting as the primary backup in 2019 before he suffered a torn ACL.

Although Carson got the bulk of the work even before Penny was injured, 

Per FF Today, the Seahawks ran the ball 48.2 percent of the time, which ranked fifth-most in the league.

Seattle's penchant for sticking with the run is notable considering that the Hawks have one of the league's best quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and a potential star wideout duo in Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. In other words, the 'Hawks appear ready to establish the run regardless of the passing game's talent level.

Long story short, that speaks volumes for Carson's projected volume in 2020. Unless the Seahawks undergo a dramatic philosophy change before the 2020 season, the 'Hawks' lead back should still see somewhere between 250-300 carries.

There are a few X-factors in play, however.

First, Carson has a fumbling problem. He put the ball on the ground seven times in 2019 and three times in 2018 for an average of one fumble per 57.2 touches (or once every three games). If head coach Pete Carroll's patience wears thin provided the trend continues, then Hyde could see more work.

Second, Carson was part of a de-facto timeshare with a resurgent Penny for two games last year. Penny, who struggled during hi 2018 rookie year, roared back with 5.7 yards per carry in 2019. He out-gained and out-touched Carson in a 17-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in November, gaining 129 yards on just 14 carries.

He and Carson split the workload against the Minnesota Vikings the following Monday, but Penny suffered a torn ACL during the game. He looks ready to return in 2020 but not in time for Week 1. Condotta relayed comments from Seattle general manager John Schneider to 950 KJR on the topic:

Schneider implies on @SportsRadioKJR
that Rashaad Penny will start season on PUP list as he recovers from ACL injury. That's usually a 9-10 month injury and he suffered it Dec. 8. Says "he's doing great but it was a late-season injury.''

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) May 1, 2020

To sum it all up, Carson is still a viable starting running back option in all formats. FantasyPros' aggregated list of 58 fantasy football experts places Carson 17th among running backs and 38th overall for point-per-reception leagues, making him a solid RB2 option in the third or fourth round of 12-team contests.

The ranking isn't much different on Fantasy Football's average-draft-position (ADP) calculator, with Carson 33rd overall and 18th among running backs.

In conclusion, while there are some risks involving taking Carson, he's a strong RB2 option worthy of a fourth-round pick in 12-team leagues.

The NFL's Wild Card Weekend got off to a thrilling start Saturday. The Houston Texans outlasted the Buffalo Bills in a back-and-forth contest that ended in overtime. In the nightcap, the Tennessee Titans did the seemingly unthinkable and knocked off the New England Patriots.

Now, it's the NFC's turn to get in on the fun. Four teams are set to face off for the right to battle either the Green Bay Packers or the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. Here, we'll take a look at some of the latest storylines heading into Sunday along with the full schedule, predictions and the latest odds and over/unders from Caesars.

   

2020 NFL Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 4

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans: Houston 22-19

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots: Tennessee 20-13

   

Sunday, January 5

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

When: 1:05 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports Go

Line and O/U: NO -7.5, 50.5

Prediction: New Orleans 33-24

        

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles

When: 4:40 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: NBC, NBC Sports

Line and O/U: Even, 45

Prediction: Philadelphia 29-27

    

Vikings Not Expected to Make Significant Front-Office Changes

The Minnesota Vikings are already facing a ton of pressure going into Sunday. This franchise hasn't been to the Super Bowl since the 1976 season. The Vikings are facing a New Orleans Saints team loaded on both sides of the ball. This may be the last chance for quarterback Kirk Cousins to prove himself before the final year of his contract.

The challenge and the pressure of winning are very real.

Fortunately, head coach Mike Zimmer won't face the pressure of having his job on the line. His contract runs through 2020, and Zimmer will have the opportunity to coach until then, according to owner Mark Wilf.

"We value Mike and [general manager Rick Spielman's] leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations, next year and beyond," Wilf said, per NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman.

Wilf's intent could change if Minnesota suffers a crushing loss Sunday, but Zimmer shouldn't have that in the back of his head during the game.

Seahawks Looking to Continue Road Success

The Seattle Seahawks faded down the stretch during the regular season. Losing running backs Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise definitely played a role, but dropping three of their last four games is why the Seahawks are playing in the wild-card round.

A couple of weeks ago, Seattle was the No. 1 seed.

While the late-season slide has robbed the Seahawks of momentum, their play on the road should give them a bit of a confidence boost. While Seattle went just 4-4 at home, it was 7-1 away from CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks are eager to make it 8-1 on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"No questions, we’ve been road warriors all year," head coach Pete Carroll said, via the team's official website. "Our guys have handled it well. I know why we’ve done well on the road… We’re not worried about going on the road, that’s for sure."

When the Seahawks and Eagles squared off back in Week 12, Seattle left Philadelphia with a 17-9 victory.

   

Ertz Set to Play

While the Seahawks stumbled into the postseason, the Eagles charged. They won their final four games, uncovering a new gritty, physical identity in the process. The Eagles have every right to be confident heading into Sunday's game.

Adding to that confidence is the fact that Philadelphia is set to have one of its top weapons back in the lineup. Standout tight end Zach Ertz, who suffered a rib fracture and a lacerated kidney in Week 16, is expected to play, per Derrick Gunn of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

Here’s some news eagles fans have been waiting to hear... looks like Zach Ertz has been cleared to play tomorrow .... per league source.

— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunn) January 4, 2020

Ertz's return is huge for the Eagles. While they managed to win without him in Week 17, the three-time Pro Bowler is the team's No. 1 receiver. Even if he isn't at 100 percent, the Seahawks will have to give him a fair amount of defensive attention. This, in turn, should open things up a bit for fellow pass-catchers like Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward.

It also means that Carson Wentz may have his favorite target on the field if faced with a critical late-game drive. Ertz finished the regular season with 88 catches, 916 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

This is it, folks. The final week of the 2019 NFL season has arrived, and the final push for the postseason is at hand. Only one playoff spot remains—the AFC's sixth seed—but much has yet to be decided.

Most notably, the NFC East and NFC West division races have yet to be settled. Three of the four first-round byes are still there for the taking, and three teams remaining alive for that aforementioned wild-card spot.

Here, we'll dig into some of the most important playoff-related storylines for Week 17. First, though, let's take a look at how things stand.

    

Week 17 NFL Playoff Picture

AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens (Z) 13-2

2. New England Patriots (Z) 12-3

3. Kansas City Chiefs (Z) 11-4

4. Houston Texans (Z) 10-5

5. Buffalo Bills (X) 10-5

6. Tennessee Titans 8-7

7. Pittsburgh Steelers 8-7

8. Oakland Raiders 7-8

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (X) 12-3

2. Green Bay Packers (Z) 12-3

3. New Orleans Saints (Z) 12-3

4. Philadelphia Eagles 8-7

5. Seattle Seahawks (X) 11-4

6. Minnesota Vikings (X) 10-5

*X indicated clinched playoff spot, Z indicates division champion.

     

Ravens, Bills, Vikings Have Nothing to Play For

Before we get into some of the top playoff scenarios, it's worth looking at the teams that have nothing at stake. The Baltimore Ravens are already locked into the AFC's No. 1 seed, while the Buffalo Bills are locked into the fifth seed. The Minnesota Vikings are locked into the NFC's No. 6 slot.

Where the Bills and Vikings are concerned, this has little bearing on the playoff race. However, the Ravens' position could impact the AFC's wild-card race.

The Ravens have already announced that they plan to sit star players like quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Mark Ingram. This means the Pittsburgh Steelers will have an edge in Week 17—and Pittsburgh is one of the three teams with a wild-card chance.

    

The Race for the Sixth Seed

Along with Pittsburgh, the Tennessee Titans and the Oakland Raiders are alive for the AFC's final playoff spot. Tennessee has the most straightforward path to the postseason of the bunch. If the Titans win, they're in the playoffs.

The Steelers need a win and a Titans loss to get in. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, the Houston Texans don't appear willing to rest their starters like the Ravens are.

"We're playing to win," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said, per CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr.

Unlike the Ravens, the Texans have a slim chance of improving their playoff position. If the Kansas City Chiefs lose in the early afternoon, Houston can move from the fourth seed to the third seed by knocking off Tennessee.

If stars like Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins suit up for the Texans, there's a legitimate chance that the Steelers are able to limp into the postseason.

For the Raiders, the road to January is a bit more circuitous. Oakland needs a win, an Indianapolis Colts win and losses by the Titans and Steelers. This would result in a four-way tie in which the Raiders would hold the tiebreaker.

     

The AFC's Two Seed

Here's where Houston's plan to play its starters could change. If the Chiefs win in the early afternoon—the Texans will play at 4:25 p.m.—there will be no chance of moving up a spot. The Chiefs are unlikely to go through the motions against the Los Angeles Chargers, as they still have a shot at the AFC's second seed.

"We have to take care of business," head coach Andy Reid said, per Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star. 

If the Chiefs win and the New England Patriots lose, Kansas City will earn the last remaining AFC bye.

While it seems unlikely that the Patriots will stumble at home against the Miami Dolphins, there are no guaranteed wins. And since the Chiefs and Patriots are playing at the same time, Kansas City has all the reason in the world to play to win.

    

Battles for the NFC East and West

Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys are alive for the NFC East title. Whichever team doesn't get it will be at home for the postseason. The Eagles have the edge, only needing a win over the New York Giants to clinch. A win and an Eagles loss will hand the division to Dallas.

The path to the NFC title is even more straightforward, as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will face off in Week 17. Whoever wins will take the division. The 49ers have a one-game lead, but Seattle won the earlier head-to-head matchup and will win the tiebreaker if both finish 12-4.

A tie will result in the 49ers taking the division.

However, there is more at stake in the 49ers-Seahawks matchup than just the division. The game could have major implications at the top of the conference.

If the 49ers win, they'll take the No. 1 seed. If the Seahawks win, the Green Bay Packers can take it with a win over the Detroit Lions. Green Bay will take the No. 2 seed with a win and a 49ers win.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints can still take the No. 1 seed if the Seahawks and Lions win on Sunday. If the Seahawks and Packers win, they'll take the No. 2 seed.

Unfortunately for New Orleans and Green Bay—both of whom should be rooting for Seattle—the Seahawks are dealing with some significant injuries. Left tackle Duane Brown, running back Chris Carson and running back C.J. Prosise are all out. At running back, the Seahawks will instead rely on the recently added tandem of Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin.

     

If the Season Ended Today...

If the NFL decided to end the playoff race after 16 weeks, the opening round of the postseason would be as follows:

AFC

Byes: 1. Baltimore Ravens, 2. New England Patriots

6. Tennessee Titans at 3. Kansas City Chiefs

5. Buffalo Bills at 4. Houston Texans

NFC

Byes: 1. San Francisco 49ers, 2. Green Bay Packers

6. Minnesota Vikings at 3. New Orleans Saints

5. Seattle Seahawks at 4. Philadelphia Eagles

Only one week remains in the 2019 NFL season, yet there is much in the playoff race to be decided. Three first-round byes are out there for the taking, as is one wild-card spot in the AFC. Meanwhile, the NFC East and NFC West both remain undecided.

This means that there will be plenty of drama in the season's final week, even if many teams already have their sights set on 2020.

Here, you'll find a look at the biggest storylines for Week 17, along with the latest lines and over/unders from Caesars and score predictions for every game.

    

Week 17 Lines, Over/Unders and Score Predictions

Atlanta Falcons (even, 48.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Atlanta 30-27

Cleveland Browns (-3, 45) at Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati 24-20

Chicago Bears (no line) at Minnesota Vikings: Chicago 20-17

Los Angeles Chargers (+9, 46.5) at Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City 31-21

Miami Dolphins (+15.5, 45) at New England Patriots: New England 27-14

Green Bay Packers (no line) at Detroit Lions: Green Bay 33-20

New Orleans Saints (-13, 47.5) at Carolina Panthers: New Orleans 28-20

New York Jets (+1.5, 37) at Buffalo Bills: Buffalo 18-13

Indianapolis Colts (-3.5, 43.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Indianapolis 30-20

Oakland Raiders (+3.5, 41) at Denver Broncos: Oakland 26-24

Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5, 45) at New York Giants: Philadelphia 28-26

Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5, 38) at Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore 16-15

Tennessee Titans (-4, 46) at Houston Texans: Tennessee 27-17

Washington Redskins (+11, 44.5) at Dallas Cowboys: Dallas 30-18

Arizona Cardinals (no line) at Los Angeles Rams: Los Angeles 28-26

San Francisco 49ers (no line) at Seattle Seahawks: San Francisco 26-23

     

The Showdown for the NFC West

Sunday's nightcap—and arguably one of the most important games of the season—features the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. The winner will claim the NFC West title and potentially a first-round bye.

If the 49ers win, they'll get the NFC's No. 1 seed. If the Seahawks win, they'll need a loss by the Green Bay Packers to get the second seed.

As for the game itself, injuries are likely to be the biggest storyline. The Seahawks will be without starting left tackle Duane Brown and running backs Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise. At running back they'll rely on the recently signed tandem of Robert Turbin and Marshawn Lynch.

New #Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch passed a physical, signed a deal, and is in position to play this week in a huge game on Sunday night. That should spice it up a bit.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2019

While Lynch is a Seahawks legend, it's worth noting that neither he nor Turbin has played since Week 6 of the 2018 season. If Seattle is going to pull out a win, it's likely to need some magic from quarterback Russell Wilson.

    

The AFC Still Has a Bye Available

While the 49ers-Seahawks clash will go a long way toward determining which teams get a bye in the NFC, the AFC's remaining bye will be settled in the early afternoon. If the New England Patriots defeat the Miami Dolphins, they'll get the conference's No. 2 seed. If they lose and the Kansas City Chiefs win, Kansas City will earn the bye.

Since the Patriots and Chiefs both play at 1 p.m. ET, we can expect them both to treat their finales as must-win games. For this reason, it's difficult to back either the Miami Dolphins or the Los Angeles Chargers as underdogs.

"Look, this is very simple now. Miami is a playoff game," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, via the team's official website. "If we beat Miami, then we get a bye. If we don't, then we'll be playing the next week. So, it's a playoff game."

Expect both the Patriots and the Chiefs to win Sunday and to win convincingly.

    

Houston, Baltimore May Both Rest Starters

If the Chiefs happen to lose to the Chargers, the Houston Texans will have something to play for in the late-afternoon slot—a shot at moving up from the fourth seed to the third. If the Chiefs win, the Texans will have nothing to play for—aside from keeping the rival Tennessee Titans out of the playoffs.

Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, however, insists that he will treat the finale like any other game.

"We're playing to win," he said, per CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr.

Of course, O'Brien may change his mind when and if there is nothing left to play for. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have already decided that some of their key players won suit up.

Baltimore, which has already clinched the No. 1 seed, plans to sit starters like Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram II against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Like Houston, Baltimore has the opportunity to keep a rival out of the playoffs, but that isn't a concern to head coach John Harbaugh.

"It's not a hard decision really, if you sit back and think about it," Harbaugh said, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.

Both the Steelers and Titans could wind up with an easy path to victory in Week 17.