Most leagues have wrapped up their fantasy season, but a few stragglers will hold their title game in Week 17.
Fantasy football, Week 17: Who to start and sit across the NFL
A look at the biggest fantasy football decisions to make in Week 17.
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Unfortunately, that means many teams will be resting starters or limiting their playing time with their postseason fates already known. That makes it a very challenging task for you to assemble an optimal fantasy lineup.
With that in mind, here is a look at the biggest start-sit decisions facing your fantasy lineup in Week 17.
START
The rise of Alex Collins has been a great development for fantasy owners and the Ravens, who are on the verge of a playoff berth with a win over the Bengals your fantasy team is on the verge of a championship, and Collins should play a big part in it. Expect a big game from him against the Bengals this week, especially with their depleted defense. They are already allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. They also might be without Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict in this game because of a shoulder injury. That makes Collins a must-start in Week 17.
Matt Ryan and the Falcons are primed for a playoff spot if they can win at home versus the Panthers on Sunday. Expect Ryan to throw early and often against Carolina’s struggling defense, which is allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. With other fantasy quarterbacks like Alex Smith, Jared Goff and Case Keenum potentially sitting this week, as well as Ryan’s great matchup, he is a very easy call to start in Week 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster vs. Cleveland Browns
In Pittsburgh’s first game without Antonio Brown, it became clear who the top dog at wide receiver was going to be. Juju Smith-Schuster continued his stellar rookie season with six grabs on seven targets for 75 yards and a score. Pittsburgh still has a chance to earn the AFC’s top seed, so expect Juju to get a full workload against the fading Browns, who are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the last three weeks. Get Juju into your starting lineup for the regular-season finale.
Since trading away Jay Ajayi, the Dolphins’ offense has relied heavily on Kenyan Drake, and he’s responded in a big way. Over the last five weeks, Drake ranks eighth among running backs in fantasy scoring. Expect that to continue in a big way against a Bills defense allowing the most fantasy points to running backs this season. Be sure to start Drake this Sunday.
The Colts’ offense hasn’t had much to celebrate this season, but the play of T.Y. Hilton has been a bright spot. Even without Andrew Luck, Hilton has found some nice rhythm with Jacoby Brissett over the course of the season. That was especially true the first time Hilton faced the Texans, as he caught five balls for 175 yards and two scores. Things haven’t gotten any better for Houston’s defense, which is allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Start Hilton in Week 17.
The Lions will be very deflated in Week 17 after a gut-wrenching loss to the Bengals killed their postseason hopes. They lost in Cincinnati in large part because they are horrific against running backs. They’re allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season, making them a great fantasy matchup for whichever running back they’re facing. This week, it’s Jamaal Williams, who has accounted for 464 total yards and five touchdowns over the last five weeks. Start Williams this Sunday.
SIT
Todd Gurley has put together a fantastic that hopefully carried your team to a fantasy championship already. But if your championship is this week, you may not have Gurley on your side. The Rams have won their division, but they cannot get higher than the third seed in the NFC playoffs. That is why head coach Sean McVay is hinting that several Rams starters could see limited or no playing time in Week 17. That will likely include Gurley seeing few, if any carries in this game, so play it safe and bench him this week.
The Chiefs are locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC, so they won’t have much of anything to play for against the Broncos in Week 17. That means we may only see certain players for a quarter or two, but Kansas City won’t even allow Alex Smith to play. They’ll instead go with Patrick Mahomes as the starting quarterback on Sunday. Even if Smith played a full game, Denver is allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last five weeks.
Jordan Howard has pretty much had the season fantasy owners were hoping when they spent a high pick on him this year. Howard still enters Week 17 with 1,113 rushing yards and nine scores to go with 120 yards on 22 catches. He’s also scored four times over the last three games, so he’s done well in the fantasy playoffs thus far. Don’t expect that to continue against the Vikings this week, as they’re allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. With this being the finale, Chicago also will likely give a lot more snaps to rookie Tarik Cohen to get a better feel for him going into next season. Sit Howard this Sunday.
Baltimore Ravens WR Mike Wallace vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens are relying mostly on Mike Wallace as their top wide receiver, but that hasn’t exactly led to eye-popping numbers. Wallace has no touchdowns and three games under 72 receiving yards over the past five weeks while. During that same span, the Bengals have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Keep Wallace on the bench this Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Jay Ajayi vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles are a team that will almost certainly limit the snaps of their starters in Week 17, as they’ve locked up the NFC’s top seed. That means Jay Ajayi probably won’t get much work, but even if he does, he’ll face a Cowboys defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs over the last three weeks. Bench Ajayi in Week 17.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill vs. Denver Broncos
With Alex Smith set to sit this game out, we probably won’t see much of Tyreek Hill in Denver. Even if Hill plays, he’ll likely find limited success against a Broncos defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The first time these two teams matched up, Hill was held to two catches for 38 yards on six targets. Put Hill on the bench this week.
