Week 17 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em is here to highlight a few players at each position that we would like to sit or start (where possible). It’s the fantasy championships for most, and this is the week where it’s go big or go home. I’m going to help you with those tough start / sit decisions and with some controversial takes to help you win your matchups.
This series will avoid the “obvious” answers. So, just because I don’t tell you to start the RB1 in the week doesn’t mean you should sit him. It means I just felt it was a no-brainer and didn’t need to be discussed. Also, consider these suggestions in the context of your lineup. When I say to sit a player, there are obviously going to be situations where you have no choice but to play them. Bye weeks and injuries can cause us to start players with whom we are uncomfortable. Examine your squad’s situation before blindly following this column.
Week 17 Quarterback Starts Of The Week:
Tyler Shough, NO @ TEN
For the 2nd game in a row, Tyler Shough threw the ball over 30 times and had over 270+ yards. Last week, he set a career high with 308 yards passing, but he only threw one touchdown, which didn’t make him a top quarterback. With the injuries at the running back position, Shough is going to continue to sling the ball, and in another friendly matchup, Shough should get his 3rd multi-touchdown game.
Baker Mayfield, TB @ MIA
Since week 7, Baker Mayfield has only had 2 performances over 20 fantasy points and top-10 finishes. In week 17, I have him finishing as a top-10 and eclipsing the 20-point mark again. The Buccaneers play the Miami Dolphins, who were absolutely destroyed last week by the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins let Joe Burrow throw for over 300+ yards and 4 touchdowns last week. I’m not expecting Baker to play as well as Burrow did, but I’m expecting a 250+ performance and multi-touchdown game from the struggling quarterback.
Week 17 Quarterback Sits Of The Week:
Jared Goff, DET @ MIN
The Minnesota Vikings are the only team not to allow a single passing touchdown over the last month. Their defense has undergone a complete 180-degree shift compared to the unit we saw at the beginning of the season. They have allowed less than 4 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position over the last 4 weeks. Even a quarterback like Jared Goff in a high-octane offense, I wouldn’t trust against a defense like that. Goff should end that touchdown streak, but I don’t expect him to do much more than that.
Aaron Rodgers, PIT @ CLE
The Cleveland Browns just held Josh Allen to his worst fantasy performance of the season, and we’re supposed to believe that Aaron Rodgers is going to fare better. I’m not buying that, and especially without his top weapon in DK Metcalf, who is suspended for the next two games. Rodgers is a sit, going against what is surprisingly a tougher Browns defense, despite what their record might show.
Week 17 Running Backs Starts Of The Week
Ashton Jeanty, LV vs. NYG
It’s been very hit or miss for Ashton Jeanty in his rookie campaign. He has only managed 2 games over 100 yards and 4 games as a top-10 running back. Last week, going against the league’s best defense in Houston, he exploded for 128 yards rushing, 60 yards receiving, and 2 touchdowns for a top-5 finish. The Raiders face a defense on the other end of the spectrum in the Giants, who give up the 3rd most points to the running back position. The Raiders are going to go run-heavy and continue to capitalize on the success of Jeanty last week. Jeanty is a must-start in your championship matchups.d cracking the top-15 running backs of the week.
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE @ NYJ
With TreVeyon Henderson unlikely to clear concussion protocol, this sets Rhamondre Stevenson in line to take the workload. With the New York Jets having one of the worst defenses in the league, the Patriots are going to stomp over them. The Patriots should get off to a big start, and then Stevenson will get a high volume of carries and rack up the fantasy points.
Week 17 Running Back Sits Of The Week
Woody Marks, HOU @ LAC
The Houston Texans reported that Woody Marks was healthy enough to play last week, but they felt it was in their best interest to rest him and keep him healthy for this weekend. The Texans didn’t need him last week as they beat the Raiders, but this weekend is a very tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have allowed the 5th fewest points to running backs on the year and the 2nd fewest over the last four weeks. The last 4 weeks include matchups against Javonte Williams, Saquon Barkley, and Ashton Jeanty. Marks is worse than all 3 of those guys, and the Chargers shouldn’t have a problem with containing him.
Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. JAX
After a historic start to the season, Jonathan Taylor has come back down to earth since the Colts bye week. Over the last 5 games, he’s only had two finishes above the top-20 and hasn’t had more than 4 yards per carry in a game. The Jacksonville Jaguars allow the fewest rushing yards to opposing teams and under 4 yards per carry. Jonathan Taylor is touchdown-dependent to being a top-10 back. I’m not saying sit him completely, but simmer expectations. He’s a mid RB2 this week and is likely the reason you are in the fantasy championship to begin with, but if you have a flex like George Pickens, AJ Brown, or James Cook, they might be worth starting instead.
Week 17 Wide Receiver Starts Of The Week
Zay Flowers, BAL @ GB
Over the last 3 weeks, Zay Flowers has been WR6 as he’s had nearly 300 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. The Ravens offense has kicked it up a notch lately, and even with Lamar going to play in a limited fashion, I still like them to have a big performance against the Packers’ defense. The Packers’ defense took a big hit when they lost Micah Parsons and have let quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Bo Nix light them up over the last two weeks. I’m expecting the Ravens to do the same and Zay Flowers to be the beneficiary of that. He’s a must-start this week, and I’m playing him with 100% confidence as long as Lamar Jackson plays.
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG @ LV
Both Jaxson Dart and Wan’Dale Robinson were sitting last week, but this week, Wan’Dale Robinson is going to go nuclear. That was a horrendous game from Dart as he only threw an embarrassingly low 33 yards, with 19 of those going to Robinson. I’m expecting Robinson to command a similar percentage of yards, just in a much higher volume, in the 100+ range. Don’t let last week’s performance against the Vikings concern you; Robinson is a must-start.
Week 17 Wide Receiver Sits Of The Week
Jameson Williams, DET @ MIN
As mentioned earlier, the Vikings’ defense has not allowed a passing touchdown over the last month and has been incredible against the pass. I think Amon-Ra St.Brown will change that and still be productive, but the other wideout in Detroit, Jameson Williams, is going to have a rough outing. Jameson Williams is already boom-or-bust as it stands now, and facing a defense of Minnesota’s caliber is going to put Williams in the bust category.
Ladd McConkey, LAC vs. HOU
With how high you drafted Ladd MCConkey, you’ve likely continued to plug him into your lineup out of hope that this will be the week that Justin Herbert targets him. Each week, it feels like a new player on the Chargers leads the team in receiving, and it has not been consistent. With so much on the line, I’m not even wanting to risk that this week will be the week for Ladd, especially against a stingy Texans defense.
Week 17 Tight End Starts Of The Week:
Harold Fannin Jr, CLE vs. PIT
It’s been quite the season for the Cleveland Browns’ rookie tight end, Harold Fannin Jr., as he has eclipsed over 700 yards and 5 touchdowns so far. He’s currently the TE6 on the season in PPR, and I have him finishing week 17 as a top-3 option. Not only will this be a pass-friendly game script, but the Cleveland Browns just lost starting running back Quinshon Judkins. They also have fellow rookie Dylan Sampson dealing with an injury, even if he does manage to take the field this weekend.
Pat Freiermuth, PIT @ CLE
With the Pittsburgh Steelers having a trio of tight ends in Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington, none of the three has been worth playing all year. These next two weeks, I am going to be turning to Pat Freiermuth, though. With DK Metcalf suspended, Freirmuth is the 3rd on the team in receptions behind Metcalf and Kenneth Gainwell. If you need someone to stream, Freiermuth is a boom option with the chance to rack up targets.
Week 17 Tight End Sits Of The Week
Travis Kelce, KC vs. DEN
In what can very well be the last home game that Travis Kelce plays, if he does end up retiring at the end of this season, it’s not going to be a good one. The Chiefs are eliminated from the playoffs and down to their 3rd quarterback in Chris Oladokun. This will be the first start in Oladokun’s career, and it’s against the AFC-leading Denver Broncos. This game won’t be pretty, and unfortunately for Kelce, he is going to be disappointing for fantasy managers.
Dalton Kincaid, BUF vs. PHI
Every week, I typically feature whoever is playing the Buffalo Bills at the tight end position. This week, we’ll do a Buffalo Bills tight end playing against the 2nd toughest defense. Dalton Kincaid is a sit for me against the Philadelphia Eagles, who are not far behind the Bills in allowing points to the tight end position. With a championship on the line, I’m not risking Kincaid and opting for safer options like Dalton Schultz, Juwan Johnson, or Jake Ferguson instead.
For your final lineup decisions, check out the FSAN Rankings Page or check out our Sit & Start live show every Sunday before kickoff on Spilled Coffee.