Congratulations! If you're still reading this article in Week 17, there's an increased likelihood that you have something to play for this holiday weekend. Even if you don't, congrats again for studying earlier for next season! This is for all the marbles folks. This is why we wait the entire summer, throwing out trades like old boxes. Whether this starts for you in a garage with your buddies shooting the breeze or a highly passionate bar-room style draft, it all ends here. Who are the guys bound for glory? Who are the Christmas donkeys obnoxious and out of place? One last time for 2024, RING. THE. BELL.

Fortune 5

Stock Up: Brian Branch, Detroit

Branch had a four-game stretch where it was touch and go on whether we should trust him down the season's stretch run. In a four-game stretch from Week 11 Through 14, he combined for just 20 tackles and no other statistics. While this is somewhat stable tackle production, his ability to hit the big play for his defense sets Branch apart from others at the position. So, barring elevated tackle numbers or other meaningful stats, he's very pedestrian. These past two weeks? He combined for 26 tackles and two defended passes. This is the guy we thought we had at the beginning of the year; it appears his batteries are recharged for the championship run!

Stock Up: Blake Cashman, Minnesota

For the stretch run of the playoffs, we will see players emerge year after year from "nobody" to "somebody". While Cashman may be more popular than to be called a nobody, he is defitnitely a surprise player that is helping managers stay in and potentially win their playoff brackets. Last season he achieved his career year, achieving 106 total tackles as well as his career high in TFLs, this season he is well on his way to surpassing these numbers as well as already setting a career-high in defended passes. He has a fun matchup versus the Packers this week, with both teams having something to play for, so expect Cashman to keep producing like he has the last two weeks (20 total tackles).

Stock Up: Micah Parsons, Dallas

There are a variety of things to discuss here. To start with, this market has been brutal to Parsons managers in the past. He is the perfect trade candidate at this stage of his career, but there is the downside of seeing him produce for someone else. If you were bold enough to go against this market advice, it has paid off handsomely over the past two weeks. He has been the definition of a league winner. Nine tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble will lift any team from the bottomless pit that is playoff elimination. He now faces an Eagles team with something to play for, but their offensive line is ranked 29th against edge rushers this season, leaving us with a tantalizing matchup for Parsons in Championship Week 17. This may be the rare advice on the market that is pro Parsons. He is a must-start this week with the highest upside in the league.  

Stock Up: Zack Baun, Philadelphia

One final victory lap for the most favorable pick the market had all season. Baun has emerged as a true IDP asset and is currently ranked No. 1 in all IDP. He is undoubtedly in the conversation for dynasty LB1 and plays with his tail on fire each week. He is a model of consistency. He has the safe tackle floor with just enough consistency in his boom games that you can almost rely on it. The best part? This is just his first full season of playing time, and you can see when he is popping off the screen during games that the Eagles have found a pivotal piece of their defensive roster in Baun.

Stock Up: Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh

I hope you were here last week! Highsmith appeared as No. 4 in last week's market and there were definitive statements that he was a must-start. Four tackles and a sack was just another day at the office for Highsmith, who, when healthy, is a game-wrecking type of a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Star edge rusher T.J. Watt did manage to play last week, but that didn't stop Highsmith from making his presence known yet again. He is now on a three-game streak with a sack and is averaging five tackles a game through that stretch. He is on the list again because he finishes against a Chiefs team with both teams playing for something, and when games like that appear in the schedule, the stars on the field tend to shine bright!  

Falling 4

Stock Down: Brian Burns, NY Giants

On a short list for one of the more disappointing players of the 2024 season, Burns never seemed to get back to the form he showed us through Week 8. To start the season, he appeared to be the player we were used to seeing in Carolina, but since Week 8, he has only had three sacks. The tackle floor is okay. A nine-tackle game in Week 10 is helping his average, but a player like Burns you either drafted or acquired for his ability to get to the quarterback. He doesn't do that part consistently enough to be considered elite at the position, and if you're not elite, then you're susceptible to benching like the rest of the league. I wouldn't trust him in fantasy championships. He hasn't earned that role lately.

Stock Down: Braden Fiske, LA Rams

Fiske was a player I had fallen in love with throughout his rookie season, but here, when it matters most, he has disappeared nearly without a trace! He is an interior defensive lineman, which always carries a fair amount of risk depending on your league's roster makeup, but he had proven reliable until about Week 13. Up until Week 13, he acquired 33 tackles and six sacks. Since then, he has eight total tackles and no other stats. Without a doubt, this will be considered a productive rookie season, but don't live in the past glory by keeping him in your lineups throughout the championship. Find another option and dynasty managers be happy that you found this diamond in the tough that is the interior defensive line position.

Stock Down: Nick Cross, Indianapolis

Cross had an out-of-nowhere season when the Colts' starting safety was injured in the preseason. The Colts may not have missed a beat at the position the way that Cross has played up until last week. He had his first dud game in what has otherwise been a fantastic season. Cross came into last week with 130 total tackles, five defended passes, and three interceptions. Last week, he had just one tackle. It's tough when a staple of your team has a dud in a crucial game, but I don't think we need to do anything drastic. Cross has been and will continue to be a reliable option for the safety position, but he may have cost some managers a chance at glory with last week's dud.

Stock Down: Byron Young, LA Rams

I was harsh on Braden Fiske earlier in this article, but maybe it isn't just a "him" problem. Young plays for the same defensive line and has also given me some concerns the last few weeks. Last season, Young emerged in his rookie season with 61 total tackles and eight sacks. Going into Week 12, he had already amassed six sacks and 47 tackles. He was well on his way to breaking both marks he set as career highs, but since then, he has just 13 tackles and no other statistics. It is as if he lost his mojo, like Austin Powers back in the day, and he has turned into just another guy. He's someone you need to make other plans for this week. He isn't worth stressing a title shot over!

Premiere Pennies

Stock Up: Cedric Gray, Tennessee

Here we go, you degenerates! A day three rookie linebacker got to debut in a major way and killed it! After starting the season on IR, Gray didn't get many opportunities to play outside of special teams. This past week, due to the injuries at the linebacker position for Tennessee, Gray saw 35 total snaps at linebacker and, in those snaps, amassed an incredible 15 total tackles. That's a way to make a name for yourself. If the Titans are missing more linebackers this week, Gray is as good of a dart throw as any, because he appears to know he is playing for the right to get in the field more. It is fun to watch a rookie get an opportunity; it's a whole other level when he goes off like Gray did.

Stock Up: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Las Vegas

Do you want to get weird? This is the week we need our strongest contenders for a spot start. So, this week, we are looking at a couple of safeties, the first being Pola-Mao. Pola-Mao may be a player whose name you've heard but likely don't know much about. He has played 100% of snaps since Week 5, where he played 95%. He is getting opportunities to play for the defense, and that is a safe place to put your faith in if you need a streamer for the big dance. He doesn't often go off, but he is consistent. Last week, he showed us there is a little juice in there with 11 total tackles and two recovered fumbles. He has a matchup against a tough Saints team versus the position, but when players play bad teams, their production tends to trend positively, so take Pola-Mao to the bank and thank me next week.

Stock Up: Jordan Battle, Cincinnati

At the beginning of the season, I was a huge fan of what Battle could contribute to the Cincinnati Bengals and IDP managers. Well, the Bengals' assessment couldn't have been further off, considering their defensive efforts this season, and Battle hasn't had much of an opportunity to contribute to rosters. After starting the first four weeks, all with zeros, in the middle of the season, around Week 9, he began to contribute a bit to the box score. Since Week 15, he has been playing like prime Ed Reed (minus the dropping the ball part as he is about to score versus the Titans). Since then, he has had 17 tackles and two boom plays carrying fantasy benches to the promised land. This is a good dice roll this week if you are desperate at the position. The Bengals are as motivated as they can be this week versus the Broncos to stay alive in a playoff race, and Battle will need to continue to play like this to help the Bengals defense overcome a strong coach and quarterback combo of Sean Payton and Bo Nix.

To anyone who takes the time to read this, thank you for another wonderful year. I appreciate this wholeheartedly. If you'd like to connect, I'm on most social media @mattmontyff and love talking ball! Thanks for being a footballguys subscriber, and have a happy holiday season. Do us all a favor and win your league!