Fantasy football advice, Week 17: Who to start/sit for Titans vs. Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are technically still alive for a playoff berth, but they need a win Sunday over the Tennessee Titans, a loss by the Houston Texans and seven other games to go their way. In all practical sense, the Colts are eliminated and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and only the second since 2001. Still, they do have a shot, so they'll be going all out Sunday against the Titans.

The Titans will sit quarterback Marcus Mariota and wide receiver Kendall Wright for their season finale. On the Indianapolis side, injuries have ravaged the team. Quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst will all sit for the finale, as will tight end Dwayne Allen. Wide receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief are both question marks as well, and fantasy owners should check the status of both players when the active reports come out Sunday morning.

Start ‘em: In a miserable season for Tennessee, Delanie Walker has been the bright spot. He's been one of the league's top fantasy tight ends.

Sit ‘em: In four starts this year, Zach Mettenberger has averaged 7.8 fantasy points a game, reaching double figures only once. That's not helpful. ... Fumbles appear to have cost Antonio Andrews his role, but it's not like David Cobb or Bishop Sankey have done much in his stead. There's talent in Dorial Green-Beckham, but in Mettenberger's four starts, he's topped one fantasy point only one time. ... Ryan Succop has zero or one fantasy point in three of his last five games.

Start ‘em?: It was a nice Week 16 for Frank Gore, and he's averaged 11.5 fantasy points a game in his last four. The downside, though, is that the Titans know the Colts are just out of other weapons, and Gore could face every single defensive Titan on each of his runs. He's a flex play, admittedly with upside. ... The Colts' defense has been decent of late (five games of seven-plus fantasy points in its last six), and the Tennessee offense is very bad.

Sit ‘em: The Colts have had ridiculously bad quarterback luck. Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst have all come and gone. To end the regular season now, the team will turn to one of Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley, with Stephen Morris around as well. Suffice it to say there isn't a fantasy contributor there. ... Between their injuries and quarterback situation, T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief both need to hit fantasy benches for the finale. ... Coby Fleener has two or fewer fantasy points in five straight, and 10 times on the season. ... The likely struggles of the Indianapolis offense Sunday make it hard to trust Adam Vinatieri.

Start in every league: Delanie Walker
Start if you're desperate: Tennessee defense, Frank Gore, Indianapolis defense
Bench: Zach Mettenberger, Antonio Andrews, David Cobb, Bishop Sankey, Dorial Green-Beckham, Ryan Succop, Josh Freeman, Ryan Lindley, Stephen Morris, T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Coby Fleener, Adam Vinatieri