Week 17 Fantasy Faceoffs

Editor's note: Senior Fantasy Writers Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg disagree a lot on particular players in a given week. Instead of trying to convince each other they are right, we feel it makes for good reading to hear each argument. Here are their best debates entering Week 17.

Start Donovan McNabb vs. Dallas?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
Don't look now, but the Cowboys pass defense has moved to fourth overall in the NFL and have given up just two passing touchdowns in their last four games. They've also done a number on McNabb, holding him to one touchdown pass in each of their last three games against him. McNabb also will likely be without two of his key receivers in Kevin Curtis and Hank Baskett, and he sorely missed them last week in Philly's loss at Washington. With the Cowboys expected to bring a serious blitz on Sunday to help their secondary, McNabb's stats should be limited. I'd rather start: Chad Pennington at N.Y. Jets	There's a good chance this could be McNabb's last game in Philadelphia because of his contract in 2009 and his failure to win a Super Bowl. He's not going out with a bad game. McNabb has played well against Dallas in his career and has averaged 255 passing yards in his past five games against the Cowboys with five touchdowns and three interceptions over that span while also adding two rushing touchdowns. And McNabb has nine touchdowns and two interceptions in his past three home games. There's no reason to bench McNabb this week. If he's done with the Eagles, he will finish on a high note. I'd start him over: Matt Ryan vs. St. Louis

Start Tarvaris Jackson vs. N.Y. Giants?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
There's a lot to like about Jackson in Week 17. He'll be playing against the Giants, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will have their well-being on their minds instead of winning this game. We've also seen Jackson progress by make smarter throws, using his legs to gain yardage. And for what it's worth, he's familiar with this defense from the Vikings' blowout win at the Giants last year. In a week where several starting quarterbacks will be rested, Jackson should find his way into lineups. I'd start him over: Matt Ryan vs. St. Louis	Come on Dave, really? You're benching Donovan McNabb but starting Jackson against the Giants? You can't argue talent or matchup in comparing those two. I don't care that Jackson has seven touchdowns in his past three games and also ran for 76 yards last week against Atlanta. He has played Detroit, Arizona and the Falcons. The Giants will clamp down on Jackson and make him miserable this week. There's no way I trust Jackson to win a Fantasy title. I'd rather start: Seneca Wallace at Arizona

Start Cedric Benson vs. Kansas City?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
If you're expecting another 171-yard effort from Benson, you're nuts. If you're expecting even 100 rush yards, you're a little kooky. Let's not forget that in the 10 games before his big week against the Browns, Benson had one other 100-yard game and two 100-total-yard efforts with one touchdown. The Chiefs will play better than the Brownies did a week ago and know not to underestimate Ced Ben. I can't trust him as anything other than a No. 3 Fantasy option. I'd rather start: Darren McFadden at Tampa Bay	All Benson has done the past two weeks is gain 161 total yards against Washington in Week 15 and run for 171 yards at Cleveland in Week 16. This week he gets the Chiefs, who can't stop anyone on the ground. Benson is playing for a job in 2009 and will be motivated for one more good performance this season. The Bengals will give him the ball, and Fantasy owners should trust him as a starting option in all leagues. I'd start him over: Clinton Portis at San Francisco

Start Santana Moss at San Francisco?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
What's the significance of these numbers: 14, 29, 72, 55, 48, 72 and 28? They're not Powerball numbers, they are the yardage totals for Santana Moss over his last seven games with one touchdown in Week 15 to boot. Moss and the Redskins, out of the playoff hunt, will end their season flying across the country to play the 49ers. Now I know he's a professional and all, but this is a game that he'll be hard-pressed to step up for, especially considering how little he's done over the last two months (maybe he's hurt). I'd rather start: Dennis Northcutt at Baltimore	The last time Moss faced a weak secondary was Week 15 against Cincinnati, and he had seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. He will post similar stats this week. The 49ers struggle to defend wide receivers, especially speed guys. Moss has been a disappointment in the second half of the season against some top pass defenses in Pittsburgh, the Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia. But in a matchup he can exploit, look for him to shine and keep him active as a No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver. I'd start him over: Bernard Berrian vs. N.Y. Giants

Who should owners absolutely bench in Week 17?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
If the Giants were resting Brandon Jacobs during the regular season, then it only makes sense that they rest him in a game with no playoff implications. Derrick Ward has been iffy as a starting replacement for Jacobs, but after rolling the Panthers for 215 yards last week, he's deserving of another chance at being the featured back. Possibly Jacobs reverts back to being a short-yardage/goal-line runner for the Giants this week in an effort to give him some rest but some work at the same time, but the Giants haven't operated that way with him previously. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you were reading this after the word was out that he won't play!	There's no chance that Peyton Manning plays more than a half this week because that's what the Colts do. They rest their stars. In Manning's last three regular-season finales, he only has one good game in 2006 against Miami with 282 yards passing and two touchdowns. In 2005 against Arizona he had five yards passing, and in 2007 against Tennessee he had 95 yards passing. The Colts have nothing to gain in this matchup and could face the Titans down the road. They want to be ready for that game and not this meaningless one.

Do you agree with Dave or Jamey? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.