How do you prioritize your fantasy team compared to your favorite NFL team?

Let’s address this question in the form of a hypothetical situation.

Your favorite team is the Chicago Bears. The Bears are 8-5 heading into their Week 15 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, who lead the division at 9-4. Let’s assume this game is on Monday Night Football. A loss for Chicago puts them two games behind Green Bay in the standings with the tie breaker belonging to the Packers, so the Bears divisional hopes are dead. Chances at a wild-card berth are still alive, but the task becomes much more difficult with the loss. It’s predicted that the Bears would have to win both their remaining games to make the playoffs and even that might not be enough.

Your fantasy team is named “The Monstars of the Midway,” a name combining both your fanhood of the Bears and your love of Space Jam. You’re made fun of mercilessly and for good reason. Still, the Monstars have an excellent regular season, advance past the first round of the playoffs and now face a semifinal matchup with the biggest critic of your team name, Brent. You hate Brent. You hate his name, and you hate his face. There is no one else you’d rather defeat in a crucial fantasy contest.

The Bears hold a 21-17 lead with just under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense take the field with every Bears fan in the world holding their breath, knowing what is about to happen.

The Monstars of the Midway are down three points. It’s Monday night, there are no more games to be played and only one player on either team is still on the field — your quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

If the Bears can stop the Packers on this drive, they win the game and essentially clinch a playoff berth.

If Aaron Rodgers throws a touchdown pass, the Monstars head to the championship against an overachieving team you’re sure you will beat.

Rodgers marches the Packers down the field. But the offense stalls inside the Chicago red zone and faces a 4th-and-goal with six seconds remaining.

Rodgers takes the snap and drops back. He surveys the field, looks left, then back to the right, plants his back foot and fires …

What are you hoping will happen? Be honest. What is your first thought when that ball leaves Rodgers’ hand? Is it, “Incomplete. Please, please be incomplete,” or is it, “Come on. Touchdown. Come on”?

I offer no opinions, and I pass no judgment. But truly consider this scenario. You can tell a lot about yourself by how you answer this question.

Oh, and here are some people to start this week.

START

Andrew Luck (quarterback, Colts) — Luck is without a touchdown pass in his last two weeks, so he is due for a breakout game. Lucky for him, he’s facing a Tennessee team Sunday that has allowed the following point totals this season: 34, 38, 41, 38, 30, 23 and 34. That is an average of 34 points given up per game, which ranks last in the NFL. Luck should have a good time picking apart a defense like that.

Stevan Ridley (running back, Patriots) — Ridley’s production is forming a pattern. Dating back to Week 17 of last season, he either thrives or slumps in two week increments — two good weeks, then two bad weeks, then two good weeks and etc. After touchdown-less games of 34 yards and 65 yards last two weeks, Ridley’s two good weeks begin against the Rams.

SIT

Trent Richardson (running back, Browns) — Richardson is listed on the injury report as questionable, but even if healthy, I just don’t know about him. Some games he demolishes everything in his path like Walter Payton. And other games, like last week against the Colts, he averages one yard per carry. He’s too inconsistent for my liking.

Eli Manning (quarterback, Giants) — Manning is a star, but his matchup this week against the Cowboys is tough. Dallas has not allowed a quarterback to throw for 300 yards this season, and the Cowboys have allowed two passing touchdowns only once. Manning very well could be the man to break that trend, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with him in my starting lineup. If you have a viable backup, play him this week.

Jack is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @JCassidy10.