Week 14 is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner.
Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you’re completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard to what to watch, we’ve ranked all 16 games from most appealing to least enticing.
Potential classics
1. Cowboys at Giants (Sunday night, NBC): One of the game’s hottest rivalries is renewed in ideal fashion. The only team that has beaten Dallas all season, at home, in desperate need of a bounce-back win as they fight for a playoff spot. Beautiful.
2. Raiders at Chiefs (Thursday night, NBC/NFL Network): This likely decides who wins the league’s best division. It’s the first absolute must-watch game of the 2016 season.
3. Seahawks at Packers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Russell Wilson vs. Aaron Rodgers in a battle between two NFC contenders. At Lambeau, no less. This deserves to be the focus during the late-afternoon time slot.
4. Ravens at Patriots (Monday night, ESPN): These two AFC division leaders always play close and wild games. No reason this should be any different.
Potential thrillers
5. Broncos at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Tennessee has a real shot at an upset at home against a beatable Denver team. Should be a close matchup between two AFC playoff contenders.
6. Saints at Buccaneers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Watch for the high-powered Saints to put up a fight against a fun and exciting Bucs team that is on a bit of a tear. This should be filled with fireworks.
7. Steelers at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Both teams are exciting and in playoff contention in the AFC, so check this out if it’s close in the second half.
8. Texans at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): I guess it’s for first place in a division, but that division is just so damn bad! Still, this should be close in the fourth quarter, and both teams are desperate.
9. Redskins at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Philly has lost a lot of luster, but this is unlikely to be a blowout and the desperate, explosive Redskins are at least fun to watch.
Good, not great
10. Cardinals at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Lots of talent here, and neither team has been eliminated from playoff contention. But neither team is too exciting, and neither is likely going to the playoffs.
11. Falcons at Rams (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Atlanta is fading, but that could make this interesting if the defensively stout Rams are keeping it close in the second half.
12. Chargers at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Honestly, this really isn’t bad for a meaningless game. You’re almost guaranteed to be entertained by some extremely talented football players, and it’ll likely end in wild fashion.
13. Bears at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Only worth checking out if Chicago is hanging around in the fourth quarter, because both teams are prone to wild finishes.
Dear god…
14. Vikings at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): It becomes easier to identify dog games in December. Sure, the Vikes are on the road and trying to stay alive, but we all know how their season will end. And this might be a one-sided affair anyway, because Jacksonville is that bad.
15. Bengals at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Not only does it not matter, but there aren’t likely many fantasy football implications.
16. Jets at 49ers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): Watching this is punishment for shoplifting in some countries.
