Fantasy football advice, Week 17: Who to start/sit for Jets vs. Bills

The New York Jets have ridden a five-game winning streak into the thick of the AFC playoff race. Win Sunday over the 7-8 Buffalo Bills, and the Jets are in the postseason. Lose, and they will have to depend on outside help. There are some teams who might not play all their regulars Sunday; the Jets are not on that list.

For what feels like the hundredth week in a row, New York quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are on the injury report. This week, they are joined by running backs Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory. Of the five, only Powell, questionable with an ankle injury, is expected to miss time, and he could be out of the game altogether. For Buffalo, running back LeSean McCoy's season is over, but quarterback Tyrod Taylor should be fine to play through his injuries.

Start ‘em: Two elite receivers, a disappointing defense opposite him, a must-win game and four games of 20-plus fantasy points in his last five. Everything checks out for Ryan Fitzpatrick. ... It sucks that Bilal Powell appears to be out with an injury right after we all started buying in on his productiveness, but it does put Chris Ivory back in solid RB2 territory. ... Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have been fantasy monsters all year. ... It took Randy Bullock a couple of weeks to find his feet with the Jets, but in his last five games, he's averaged 9.8 fantasy points a game. That's worth starting. ... The Jets' defense has been a low-end starting unit basically all year long.

Sit ‘em: The last time Jeff Cumberland scored a fantasy point, Nick Folk was still active, and he hit injured reserve in early November. So that's fun.

Start ‘em: The last five games, Sammy Watkins has averaged 17.6 fantasy points a game. He's been susceptible to shutdown corners this year, so the matchup against Darrelle Revis is worrying, but his recent stretch means you need to start him.

Start ‘em?: With the Jets' defense making for a tough opponent, Tyrod Taylor is more high-end QB2 than QB1. ... Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee make for a decent 1-2 punch at running back, but with both battling for touches and against the Jets' run defense, neither is more than a flex play by himself.

Sit ‘em: With Charles Clay out for the season, Buffalo will use Nick O'Leary as its primary tight end. He has potential, but isn't a fantasy option right now. ... Dan Carpenter hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points in any of his last six games. ... The Bills' defense has struggled, and the Jets have a strong offense.

Start in every league: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chris Ivory, Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Randy Bullock, New York defense, Sammy Watkins
Start if you're desperate: Tyrod Taylor, Karlos Williams, Mike Gillislee
Bench: Jeff Cumberland, Nick O'Leary, Dan Carpenter, Buffalo defense