Starts and Sits Week 17

This week is all about ‘trust’- but who can you trust to come through? Fantasy Playoff Final weekend, let’s not mess about here, let’s get straight to it. Because, as always we have your back –  with Week 17 ‘Start / Sits’!

Let’s go!

Starts and Sits Week 17 Quarterbacks

My top-ranked Quarterbacks for Week 17 are:

1. Allen vs ATL
2. Mahomes @ CIN
3. Rodgers vs MIN
4. Stafford @ BAL
5. Brady @ NYJ

Start QB 1- Jalen Hurts @ WAS

Hurts has been consistent all year, he has had 2 poor games. He faces the Washington Football Team who were blown out last week by the Cowboys and in his last outing against the football team, he scored 26.64 points. Fire him up this week.

Start QB 2- Russell Wilson vs DET

Wilson has put up 21.74 fantasy points in weeks 15 and 16 combined, not an ideal QB stat for your fantasy playoffs, I feel he will have a strong week against the Lions. Roll the dice one last time.

Sit QB 1- Ryan Tannehill vs MIA

Tannehill has not registered over 18 fantasy points since week 8 and he faces a tough matchup here in his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Sit him, you can’t trust him in your last game of the fantasy season.

Sit QB 2- Derek Carr @ IND 

Carr finds himself in a bit of a slump from a fantasy prospective, he has not broken 10 fantasy points in any of his last 3 games. The magic word ‘trust’ he can’t be trusted here.

Starts and Sits Week 17 Running Backs

My top-ranked Running Backs for Week 17 are:

1. Taylor vs LV
2. Chubb @ PIT
3. Cook @ GB
4. Ekeler vs DEN
5. Mixon vs KC

Start RB 1- Chase Edmonds @ DAL

Keep an eye on his progress as he is limited with a back injury but, if he plays, you start him. The matchup is not great but neither was it last week against the Colts and he came through, the usage is great with Connor missing.

Start RB 2- Ronald Jones vs NYJ

Jones was solid as a starter last week against stiff opposition, he faces the worst run defence in football this week. The Jets are allowing 30 plus points to opposing backs. You can trust him, he could be a title winner.

Start RB 3- Jeff Wilson vs HOU

Wilson has been good for your playoff run and in week 17 he is a sure start. He faces the Texans who are allowing 25 fantasy points per game to the running back position. 

Sit RB 1- D’Onta Foreman vs MIA

Foreman had decent stats in weeks 14 and 15 but he struggled in week 16 against the 49ers, who are middle of the pack against the run. He faces the 4th best run defence this week. I wouldn’t start him here.

Sit RB 2- DeVonta Freeman vs LAR

Freeman has had up and down weeks since breaking into the Ravens backfield and it’s hard to tell when he is going to pop. The touchdown saved him last week and against a decent run defence this week, I’ll be sitting him.

Sit RB 3- Rex Burkhead @ SF

I haven’t checked, but I imagine the week 16 stat line of Burkhead was a career-high for him, if you started him regardless of the reason, well done. Sit him in week 17 because the matchup is not great and other than last week, he has not been reliable.

Start and Sits Week 17 Wide Receivers

My top-ranked Wide Receivers for Week 17 are:

1. Adams vs MIN
2. Kupp @ BAL
3. Hill @ CIN
4. Jefferson @ GB
5. Samuel vs HOU

Start WR 1- Amon-Ra St. Brown @ SEA

The breakout continues and he has my trust. Over the last 4 games, he is averaging 22.4 fantasy, 11 targets, 8.75 receptions and has 3 touchdowns. Fire him up!

Start WR 2- Tyler Lockett vs DET

This is a tough one for fantasy managers but I’ll be playing Lockett in week 17. I like Wilson and I like Lockett to break his career-high records in both catches and touchdowns. He needs 5 catches and a touchdown in week 17, I fancy he will achieve both.

Start WR 3- Odell Beckham Jr @ BAL

Since his bye week, Beckham has been pretty consistent with only 1 dud game which was in week 15. He saved himself last week with a touchdown and I like him to pad his stats in week 17 against a beat-up Ravens secondary.

Sit WR 1- DeVante Parker @ TEN 

Parker Played 71% of last week’s snaps and didn’t have a single target thrown his way, the matchup is good this week but you can’t trust him.

Sit WR 2- Chase Claypool vs CLE

Too hit and miss all season, the quarterback and offensive line play hasn’t been good enough, sit him in week 17 as the matchup isn’t great.

Sit WR 3 – Brandon Aiyuk vs HOU

Aiyuk has only had 7 targets and 5 catches over the past 2 weeks and I imagine this week’s game script will feature Wilson, Samuel out of the backfield and Kittle as the main receiving option. Sit him if you can.

Start and Sits Week 17 Tight Ends

My top-ranked Tight Ends for Week 17 are:

1. Kelce @ CIN
2. Andrews vs LAR
3. Kittle vs HOU
4. Gronkowski @ NYJ
5. Knox vs ATL

Start TE 1- Foster Moreau @ IND

The Colts have been one of the best matchups for the Tight End position all season, with Waller out I’d feel confident starting Moreau here. He has had solid performances in weeks 15 and 16.

Start TE 2- Gerald Everett vs DET

Other than one game since week 10, which was against solid opposition, Everett has put up very decent numbers. The Matchup is great, start him.

Sit TE 1- Jared Cook vs DEN

The targets have been there over the past few weeks but, other than last week, the catches haven’t and touchdowns have saved a couple of weeks. The matchup is not good for him, sit him if you can.

Sit TE 2- Noah Fant @ LAC

This one is not analytical for me, it’s a gut feeling. I have Fant and Everett in a playoff final and my gut tells me to avoid Fant. The stats say the matchup is good and his past 5 weeks have been decent compared to mid-range tight ends.

– Colin @ukfantasyballer