Okay, we could spend thousands of words debating the value of a week 17 championship. Or more specifically, the lack of value. But no matter how you feel about it, it's not changing this year. The title game is still ahead.

That's the bad news. The good news is, a lot of you are actually in one of those games.

Let's not discount that fact. You reached the title game. Whether it's week 15, 16 or 17, your team is where everyone wants to be. Congratulations!

This week presents its own challenges, of course. Some teams are mailing it in, sending players to injured reserve for common injuries and seeing what they have in their backups. Others have clinched a playoff spot, but don't have a bye. Week 17 is their manufactured bye, so their skill players won't be doing much, if anything at all.

The Cowboys, of course, have clinched everything they can clinch. Even if they want to avoid playoff rust, it would be hard for them to go all-out in week 17.

When it comes to navigating who will or won't see the bench in week 17, Ian knows best. I can't add anything to that analysis. But you still have lineup decisions to make, so I want to offer a few issues to consider when considering one player over another.

Milestones mean something. Yes, players want 100 receptions or 1,000 yards or to lead the league in rushing. Sure, those milestones are personal goals and sources of pride. But they’re also sources of income. Many players have bonuses worked into their contract for reaching those milestones, so they have plenty of motivation to reach them. The teams wants to keep their players happy and also keep a reputation for helping players trigger those bonuses. That reputation helps when free agency rolls around.

A good reason to play doesn't mean they'll play good. I know, it's "play well." I just think it sounds better that way. A team could have everything to play for, and still have players to avoid. Do you feel great about Oakland's receivers against Denver's defense? How excited are you about Washington's running game? Needing to win is a huge plus on a player's resume. But don't get obsessed about stacking your lineup with those guys. Better options could be available.

Sometimes pride is enough. Some teams are out of the playoffs, but they won't be taking the week off. The Buccaneers have an infinitesimal shot at the playoffs, but a decent chance to finish with a winning record. For a young quarterback and new coach, there's motivation to achieve 9-7.

The Saints have a chance to hurt two division rivals in the last two weeks of the season, and they're still playing at a high level. They might not beat the Falcons, but it shouldn't be for lack of trying. Arizona also seems to be going all-out, even though they're out. Those are important factors to consider when picking players in week 17.

Sometimes it isn't enough. I know that NFL players have a lot of pride, but teams are businesses, and the Jaguars and Bills are going in new directions next year. Winning is always nice, but succeeding next year is more important. Those teams don't seem too worried about week 17.

And while the Broncos could finish 9-7 like the Buccaneers, it's not as important when you're the defending Super Bowl champions. They've already said they want to see Paxton Lynch play in week 17. Anything can happen, but teams eager to reach the offseason rarely get there with impressive statistics.

Coaches lie. Never forget that fact. They lie all the time. Sometimes they say things they don't mean, and other times they omit important data. They don't care about your fantasy team. Coaches who say their team will "play to win" could change their mind due to another game's score or a twist of an ankle. They might want to see how a backup plays, but never mention it leading up to the game. Or they might just go with whatever they feel on Sunday due to game flow and overall job security.

Pay attention to what coaches say, but don't take it as gospel. Mike Tomlin is pretty clear about resting starters this week, but he's the exception. Coaches will never apologize for being deceptive with the media. It's part of their jobs, and they do it well. I agree with those decisions as a competitive tactic, but I hate them as a fantasy owner.

If you have a week 17 game, I hope it goes your way as an owner. If you've already completed your season, I hope you enjoy the contests as a fan. There should be some fun ones to finish out the year. Good luck this week.

Do you have any tips for getting through week 17? Any strategies that work for you? Share your thoughts below.