Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 15 players to start or sit in NFL Week 17
The fantasy football season has come down to one more game. It's championship week, with all the marbles on the line (or whatever else you choose to play for).
If you've made it this far, you probably don't need a whole lot of help assembling a winning lineup. However, injuries can always derail the best-laid plans. So, for the final time this season, we'll try to delve into the matchups and uncover any edge we can find. It could potentially mean the difference between taking home a title or living with regret for an entire offseason.
Here's who to start (and who to sit) for Week 17 NFL fantasy football.
Fantasy football quarterbacks to start in Week 17
∎ Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Earlier in the week, Denver's Russell Wilson looked like the top choice against the fading Los Angeles Chargers. However, the Broncos coaching staff has apparently decided to sit Wilson in favor of Jarrett Stidham. So that requires a pivot here, too.
Fortunately, Stafford is also an excellent option. He's been playing his best football of late, tossing 14 touchdown passes against only one interception over his last five games. The only danger this week against the 5-10 New York Giants is if the Rams jump out to a big lead and Stafford doesn't need to throw the ball much in the second half.
∎ Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
It’s most unsettling to put one’s fantasy fate in Carr’s hands. But let’s look at this objectively. He’s been pretty solid the past two weeks, averaging 268.5 passing yards and throwing for three touchdowns in both games. Plus, he has top wideout Chris Olave (nine receptions, 123 yards in Week 16) back at full strength.
This week’s opponent is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who give up an NFL-high 264 passing yards per game. As long as Carr takes care of the ball, he’s an excellent streaming option.
Fantasy football quarterbacks to sit in Week 17
The season-long narrative of Goff playing well at home and poorly on the road has largely held up, so beware of this week’s matchup in Dallas. The Cowboys defense started the season with guns blazing, but has lacked its usual firepower in back-to-back losses to the Bills and Dolphins.
Despite those struggles, Dallas still gives up the fifth-fewest passing yards per game. Meanwhile, Goff can show a disturbing penchant for turning the ball over, which is the Cowboys’ specialty on defense.
∎ Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
How many fantasy managers rode the Flacco-to-Amari Cooper combination to a spot in the championship round? The 38-year-old veteran continued his late-career resurgence with his third consecutive game of 300 or more passing yards and multiple touchdowns.
However, it should be noted that those games came against the teams ranked 29th, 25th and 26th against the pass on the season. The yards will come much tougher Thursday night against the second-ranked New York Jets, who forced Washington starter Sam Howell out of the game after he went 6-for-22 for 56 yards with two interceptions.
Fantasy football running backs to start in Week 17
∎ Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler has been one of the most disappointing star players this season, tying for 22nd among running backs in PPR fantasy points after being drafted second at the position behind only Christian McCaffrey. Nagging injuries have played a sizable role, but the big difference from last year has been getting into the end zone. After scoring 18 TDs in 2022, Ekeler has just five in 12 games this season.
Under interim coach Giff Smith, Ekeler seems to have regained the lead back role, which comes at a good time with the Chargers visiting Denver. The Broncos rank second in fantasy points allowed to running backs, and Ekeler just tallied 100 total yards and a touchdown against them in Week 14.
∎ Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
This is probably a no-brainer with Taylor back on the active roster after thumb surgery kept him out for three games. He wasn’t particularly effective in his return at Atlanta, but the absence of backfield mate Zack Moss (forearm) gave Taylor plenty of opportunities. And he did score a short-yardage TD to salvage his fantasy day.
Look for a bit better production this week, despite facing a Raiders defense that kept Kansas City’s offense out of the end zone for 57 minutes on Christmas Day. It’s still a plus matchup for Taylor, especially if top wideout Michael Pittman continues to experience concussion symptoms.
Fantasy football running backs to sit in Week 17
∎ Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Pollard is coming off a season-low 43 total yards in Week 16, and he hasn’t scored a touchdown in any of his last three games. Expect that trend to continue this week against the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.
Although the Lions have already clinched a division title, they’ll have plenty of motivation on Sunday night with the NFC’s top overall seed in the playoffs still up for grabs. Look for Dallas to ride the arm of QB Dak Prescott against a Detroit defense that just gave up 411 passing yards to Minnesota’s Nick Mullens.
∎ Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Even in a difficult matchup, it’s tough to sit Barkley when you’re playing for a title. So consider this a warning against inflated expectations. He’s coming off a workmanlike game against the Eagles (23 carries, 80 yards, TD) that’s been commonplace for him this season.
Barkley has only one carry of more than 20 yards since Week 11, and he faces a Rams defense that ranks third in giving up the fewest fantasy points to running backs.
Fantasy football wide receivers to start in Week 17
∎ Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Let’s face it, the Chiefs offense has looked terrible lately as Patrick Mahomes has frequently missed the mark on passes he usually completes in his sleep. That will have to change if K.C. plans on going deep into the postseason.
One possible solution is to get the ball into Rice’s hands more often. The rookie leads the team with seven touchdown receptions, and he saw a season-high 12 targets Monday against the Raiders, though many of them were the short-yardage variety. Look for Mahomes to test the Cincinnati Bengals deep after they gave up a pair of long TD bombs to Pittsburgh’s George Pickens last Saturday.
∎ Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
After a huge game in Week 14, London has seemingly been in a fog the past two weeks – catching a total of five passes for 63 yards. On Sunday vs. the Colts, QB Taylor Heinicke was content to target RB Bijan Robinson and his tight ends rather than look downfield to London.
Starting for a second consecutive week, Heinicke might be more willing to take a deep shot against the Chicago Bears, whose 28 touchdown passes allowed this season is the third-most in the league.
Fantasy football wide receivers to sit in Week 17
∎ DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith has already matched his touchdown total from last season, hauling in his seventh of the year on Monday against the Giants. But don’t expect a repeat this week. The Eagles’ passing offense has sputtered over the past four games, with QB Jalen Hurts only throwing one other TD pass over that span.
Their best path to victory this week vs. Arizona is to run the ball. The Cardinals are the NFL’s worst in allowing fantasy points to running backs, so look for a run-heavy game plan with D’Andre Swift front and center. A.J. Brown remains Hurts’ top receiver, leaving merely scraps for Smith.
∎ Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ridley accounted for both of Jacksonville’s touchdowns in a blowout loss to Tampa Bay, but they came long after the outcome was already decided. This week, the health of QB Trevor Lawrence is the Jaguars’ most pressing concern against Carolina. A shoulder sprain isn’t expected to keep him out, but it could limit his throwing range – and his ability to connect with Ridley for big plays.
The Jags are likely to have more success keeping the ball on the ground with the Panthers allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Fantasy football tight ends to start in Week 17
∎ Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
This one’s a conditional pick since Kmet left Sunday’s game with a knee injury. But before he did, he caught four passes for a season-high 107 yards in less than one half of play.
If he’s good to go against the Falcons, look for Kmet to be a major factor once again. Only four teams have allowed more receiving yards to tight ends, and Kmet is tied for second at the position with six receiving touchdowns.
∎ Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo played a major role in the offense Sunday, racking up season highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (63), and scoring his first touchdown (on a pass from running back Derrick Henry).
He should be able to continue his momentum at Houston, regardless of whether Ryan Tannehill or Will Levis is under center. The Texans give up the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends and were burned repeatedly by the Browns’ David Njoku this past week.
Tight end to sit in Week 17
∎ Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Schultz was the Texans’ leading receiver in Week 16, hauling in eight of his 11 targets for 61 yards. However, most of his production came against Browns backups when the outcome of the game was already decided.
Whether Case Keenum starts again or C.J. Stroud clears the league’s concussion protocol, Schultz should have a more difficult time this week against the Titans, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to tight ends on the season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 17: NFL players to start or sit in your league
