We made it. It's Week 17, which is the championship week in the majority of leagues, and if you're reading this it likely means you're competing for the ultimate prize.
By now, you probably don't have many questions about your lineup. You're likely going to ride with the players who helped you get to this point, which makes sense. These are your guys, and you want to cross the finish line with the players who helped you advance.
But the key to winning a Fantasy championship, aside from luck, is playing the right matchups. So don't overlook someone on your bench who might be a better option than a struggling starter.
Remember, your opponent has a loaded roster as well, so you'll need all the points you can get. And, hopefully, you won't suffer any injuries in the middle of a game. I hope by the time we get to Monday night you're celebrating in a big way.
Congratulations on making it to the championship game. Good luck in your matchup in Week 17, and happy holidays to everyone
Start of the Week
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Jayden Daniels is going to win Rookie of the Year, but Bo Nix has made it a fun race. And Nix has turned into a solid Fantasy quarterback this season, with at least one more big outing to go in Week 17.
I like Nix as a top-10 Fantasy quarterback with his matchup at Cincinnati. This is a huge game for both teams, and if the Broncos win or tie against the Bengals then they clinch a playoff spot.
A loss will make things interesting for Denver, Cincinnati and potentially Indianapolis and Miami heading into Week 18, but let's worry about this game first. And Nix has the chance to go off against the Bengals.
Cincinnati is No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and five quarterbacks this season have scored at least 28.4 Fantasy points against the Bengals. Cincinnati allows an average of 22.7 Fantasy points per game to the position.
Nix has scored at least 23.4 Fantasy points in three of his past five games, and he scored at least 20.1 Fantasy points in three road games in a row at Kansas City, Las Vegas and the Chargers. He's not going to be afraid of this moment.
It wouldn't surprise me if the Bengals win the game, but I'm expecting a shootout. It should be fun to watch Nix go head-to-head against Joe Burrow. And Nix likely won't be far behind in terms of production.
It's been a great rookie season so far for Nix in Fantasy and reality. And he should help Fantasy managers win a potential championship in Week 17.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
QBs to Start
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The last time Mayfield played the Panthers in Week 13, he was bad with 12.2 Fantasy points. Since then, he's scored at least 25 Fantasy points in three games in a row against the Raiders, Chargers, and Cowboys, and I expect him to stay hot in this matchup at home. Carolina is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and three quarterbacks in a row have scored at least 22.4 Fantasy points against the Panthers coming into Week 17.
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Goff wasn't worried about playing outdoors in Week 16 at Chicago when he lit up the Bears for 336 yards and three touchdowns for 31.3 Fantasy points. He's now scored at least 28 Fantasy points in three games in a row, and he's worth trusting in this Monday night matchup at San Francisco. The 49ers have only allowed three quarterbacks this season to score at least 20 Fantasy points, but I'm just trusting Goff at this point in the season, given how well he's played all year.
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Darnold went into Seattle in Week 16 and passed for 246 yards and three touchdowns and scored 28.9 Fantasy points. He's now scored at least 23.6 Fantasy points in five of his past six games, and I'm expecting him to have another solid outing in this NFC North showdown with the Packers in Week 17. He scored 26.5 Fantasy points at Green Bay in Week 4, and he should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback again in the rematch.
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Richardson once again used his legs to have a solid Fantasy outing in Week 16 against Tennessee, and he should do something similar in Week 17 at the Giants. Against the Titans, Richardson ran for 70 yards and a touchdown, which is the fifth time in his past five games that he's scored at least 6.1 Fantasy points with his rushing totals alone. He has five rushing touchdowns over that span as well, and he should be able to run through the Giants defense. Now, he was only 7-of-11 passing for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Titans, but he scored 22.2 Fantasy points. And he's hit at least that mark in three of his past five games, which is why I like him as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in Week 17.
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I liked Williams in Week 16 against Detroit, and he delivered 26.8 Fantasy points with 334 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 34 rushing yards. He's now scored at least 18.1 Fantasy points in four of his past five games, including three games with at least 26.8 points over that span. Seattle has allowed three quarterbacks in a row to score at least 21.6 Fantasy points with Kyler Murray, Jordan Love, and Sam Darnold, and Williams is worth trusting as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues in Week 17.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Stafford has been a bad Fantasy quarterback in his past two games against San Francisco and the Jets, but both of those outings were on the road in bad weather. He returns home in Week 17 against the Cardinals, and he should deliver a standout performance. In his past four home games since Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have been healthy, Stafford has scored at least 23.2 Fantasy points three times. And the Cardinals just allowed Bryce Young to score 31.1 Fantasy points in Week 16. Stafford should be considered a low-end No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues.
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Purdy once again played well coming off a loss, and the Dolphins just beat the 49ers 29-17 in Week 16. He's now scored at least 25.1 Fantasy points in five of his past six games coming off a loss, and he should have the chance for another solid outing in Week 17 against the Lions. Detroit has allowed at least 26.8 Fantasy points to an opposing quarterback in three of its past four games, and Purdy should be considered a low-end No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues.
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Smith scored 27.4 Fantasy points in Week 16 against Minnesota, which snapped a five-game streak of him scoring fewer than 16 Fantasy points. He should stay hot in Week 17 at Chicago, and the Bears have allowed five of their past six opposing quarterbacks to score at least 20.9 Fantasy points. I like Smith as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues in Week 17.
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QBs to Sit
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I was worried about Rodgers last week against the Rams, and he struggled with 14.8 Fantasy points. I'm worried about him again in Week 17 at Buffalo, and I would only start Rodgers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He's dealing with an MCL injury in his knee, and the Jets are placing rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu (foot) on injured reserve. The Bills just got a scare from the Patriots in a 24-21 win in Week 16 and should be re-focused in this matchup, and Rodgers is not worth trusting as a starter in one-quarterback leagues in Week 17.
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Stroud is without Tank Dell (knee) for this Christmas game, and that makes it even harder to trust Stroud against the Ravens. While he scored 20.1 Fantasy points at Kansas City in Week 16, that was his first game over 20 Fantasy points since Week 6. Baltimore also has not allowed a quarterback to score 20 Fantasy points in five games in a row, which includes matchups with Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Russell Wilson twice. I would only start Stroud in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in Week 17.
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Rush has been a serviceable Fantasy quarterback since taking over for Dak Prescott (hamstring), and Rush scored at least 17.3 Fantasy points in five of his past six starts, including two outings with at least 21.9 points. But it's hard to trust him in Week 17 at Philadelphia, even though the Eagles just gave up 44.4 Fantasy points to Jayden Daniels in Week 16. Only three quarterbacks in the past 12 games against Philadelphia have scored more than 20 Fantasy points, and they were Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson, and Daniels. Rush is barely worth starting in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in Week 17.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Murray has been one of the bigger Fantasy disappointments this season, and it's tough to trust him in one-quarterback leagues in Week 17 at the Rams. He's scored 17.2 Fantasy points or less in three of his past five games, and he has four touchdowns and six interceptions over that span, with just one rushing touchdown. The Rams have held four of their past five opposing quarterbacks to fewer than 17 Fantasy points, including Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy, and Aaron Rodgers. This could be a rough game for Murray, especially since the Cardinals were just officially eliminated from the playoffs.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receivers
RBs to Start
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If Kenneth Walker III (ankle) is out for Thursday's game as expected then Charbonnet is a must-start running back in all leagues. He started four games this season for Walker, and Charbonnet scored at least 13.6 PPR points in each outing, including three games with at least 17.9 PPR points. The Bears have allowed a running back to score at least 15.4 PPR points in six games in a row, with eight rushing touchdowns over that span. Charbonnet has top-10 upside in all formats if Walker is out in Week 17.
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Irving was excellent as the Start of the Week in Week 16 at Dallas with 16 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 24 yards on three targets. He scored 18.2 PPR points, and he's now scored at least 17.7 PPR points in four of his past six games, with only one game below 13.3 PPR points over that span. He faced the Panthers in Week 13 and had 25 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 33 yards on three targets, and Carolina is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Rachaad White is also worth using as a sleeper in this matchup, but Irving has top-10 upside in all leagues in Week 17.
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Ford did better than expected in Week 16 at Cincinnati with 24.1 PPR points, and he had 11 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 39 yards on five targets. He's now scored at least 15.5 PPR points in four of his past seven outings where Nick Chubb (foot) was either out or injured, including two in a row, and Ford is worth starting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues against the Dolphins. It's tough to run on Miami, but Ford should be heavily involved in the passing game with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. The Dolphins have allowed 20 receptions to running backs in their past four games.
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Tracy is dealing with an ankle injury, so hopefully he's 100 percent for Sunday's game against the Colts. If he's able to play then he's worth starting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues. Tracy has scored at least 14.5 PPR points in four of his past five games, and he's been excellent in the passing game with Drew Lock at quarterback. In Lock's past two starts against New Orleans and Atlanta, Tracy has nine catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Indianapolis is No. 8 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and six running backs in the past five games against the Colts have scored at least 12.2 PPR points.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Abdullah and Mattison are both in play as potential starters this week against the Saints. They split touches in Week 16 against Jacksonville in the first game without Sincere McCormick (ankle), with Mattison playing 57 percent of the snaps and Abdullah at 43 percent. Mattison had 12 carries for 27 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 29 yards on seven targets, while Abdullah had seven carries for 38 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 47 yards on six targets. I like Abdullah slightly better than Mattison in PPR, and he's now scored at least 17.5 PPR points in three of his past five games. He also has 12 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in his past two outings. The Saints are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and three Packers running backs just scored touchdowns against New Orleans in Week 16.
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We'll see what happens with Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) in Week 17 at Cincinnati, but if he's out again then I like Williams as a low-end starter in all leagues. In Week 16 at the Chargers with McLaughlin sidelined, Williams had four carries for 24 yards and seven catches for 29 yards on 11 targets. This game should be a shootout, and Williams will hopefully stay heavily involved in the passing game. The Bengals have allowed eight running backs to score at least 10.4 PPR points in their past five games, and Williams has the most upside of all the Denver running backs heading into Week 17.
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It wouldn't surprise me if Tony Pollard has a big game this week against the Jaguars, especially if the Titans are playing with a lead. Jacksonville is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Pollard had a solid game against the Jaguars in Week 14 with 21 carries for 102 yards and two catches for 22 yards on two targets. But in the past two games, Tennessee has fallen behind early against Cincinnati and Indianapolis, which has helped Spears play more snaps than Pollard. Spears scored at least 21.6 PPR points in each of those two games, with four total touchdowns and nine catches for 126 yards on 11 targets. But he also has just 14 carries for 32 yards over that span as well. Game script matters a lot here, but Spears is worth using as at least a flex option in all leagues.
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RBs to Sit
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If you have to use a Steelers running back in Week 17 then I would lean toward Jaylen Warren over Harris. Warren has played more snaps than Harris in each of the past three games, and Warren will likely be more involved in the passing game as usual if the Steelers are chasing points. Harris has one catch for 7 yards on two targets in his past three games, and he scored a combined 7.3 PPR points in his past two outings against the Eagles and Ravens. The Chiefs are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Harris is a risky flex option in this matchup on Christmas Day.
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Things went from bad to worse for Pacheco in Week 16 against Houston when he was outplayed by Kareem Hunt, and now you can't trust Pacheco as even a flex in most leagues at Pittsburgh in Week 17. Since coming back from his broken leg in Week 13, Pacheco has scored 8.1 PPR points or less in all four outings. He has no touchdowns and a combined five catches for 25 yards on eight targets over that span. I'm hesitant to trust Hunt as well since the Chiefs will also use Samaje Perine on passing downs, but Hunt is the best bet as a flex if you need a Chiefs running back in this matchup on the road.
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We have an interesting situation at play with the Patriots in Week 17 since Jerod Mayo indicated Antonio Gibson could start for New England against the Chargers because of Stevenson's fumble woes. Stevenson lost his third fumble of the season in Week 16 at Buffalo, and he also dropped a backward pass from Drake Maye that was recovered in the end zone by the Bills. And just because Gibson starts that doesn't mean Stevenson won't play. The Chargers have given up some big games lately to Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson and Bucky Irving in their past five games, and Stevenson has scored at least 12.3 PPR points in three of his past six games. But he also has 9.5 PPR points or less in three games over that span. I still like Stevenson as a flex option, but he's risky if Gibson starts in this game.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Dowdle had a rough game in Week 16 against Tampa Bay with 13 carries for 23 yards and three catches for 28 yards on three targets. It snapped his three-game streak of rushing for at least 112 yards, and he had a four-game streak of scoring at least 10.8 PPR points that ended against the Buccaneers. I don't expect Dowdle to get back on track in Week 17 at Philadelphia, and he was limited to 8.6 PPR points against the Eagles in Week 10 when he had 12 carries for 53 yards and three catches for 3 yards on three targets. Philadelphia is No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and the Eagles just held the Steelers and Commanders running backs to a combined 19.8 PPR points in the past two games. Dowdle is a flex option at best in most leagues in Week 17.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receivers
WRs to Start
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Sutton is due for a big game after two down performances, and I expect him to get back on track in Week 17 at Cincinnati. Sutton has scored a combined 22.2 PPR points in his past two games against the Colts and Chargers with just eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. Prior to that, he scored at least 14.8 PPR points in six games in a row, and he should be in that range against the Bengals -- or better. Cincinnati has shut down the receivers in Tennessee and Cleveland in the past two games, but prior to that at least one receiver had scored at least 16.1 PPR points against the Bengals in seven games in a row. Sutton should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Allen is closing the season strong, and he should remain a starter in all leagues in Week 17 against the Seahawks. He had nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Week 16 against Detroit, and he has now scored at least 20.2 PPR points in four of his past five games. He has at least eight targets in four of his past five games, and Caleb Williams should continue to lean on Allen against Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed five receivers to score at least 13.7 PPR points in their past five games, with seven touchdowns over that span, and Allen and D.J. Moore are both worth trusting in this matchup.
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Addison has faced the Packers three times in his career, and he scored at least 21.4 PPR points in two of those games. That includes Week 4 when he had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on four targets, along with a 7-yard rushing score. He comes into Week 17 having scored at least 13.3 PPR points in five of his past six games, with six touchdowns over that span, and he has 29 targets in his past three outings. Addison should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Thielen has scored at least 15.3 PPR points in three of his past four games, including 23.9 PPR points in Week 13 against Tampa Bay. He went off in that game with eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, and he should have the chance for another quality performance in the rematch. The Buccaneers are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and six receivers in the past five games have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against Tampa Bay. I trust Thielen as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Meyers is due for a big game, and he has the chance to go off against New Orleans. The Saints are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and six receivers have scored at least 12.9 PPR points against New Orleans in the past five games, with seven touchdowns. Meyers hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 8, and he's combined for just 17 PPR points in his past two outings against Atlanta and Jacksonville. But prior to that he scored at least 13.7 PPR points in three games in a row and five of his past six outings, and I expect him to get back to that level of production in Week 17.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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McMillan is hot heading into Week 17 against Carolina, and I'm willing to trust him as a borderline starter in all leagues. He had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in Week 16 at Dallas, and that's now 14 catches for 191 yards and four touchdowns in his past three games. He's scored at least 16.7 PPR points in each outing, and he continues to be a go-to guy for Baker Mayfield. This should be a fun game for McMillan and Mike Evans in this matchup with the Panthers.
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Jennings and Deebo Samuel should have the chance to play well in Week 17 against the Lions, and both are worth using as borderline starters in all leagues. Jennings is due for a big game after scoring 9.1 PPR points or less in each of the past two games against the Rams and Dolphins. And Samuel is coming off his best game of the season at Miami with 25.1 PPR points, so hopefully he'll stay hot against Detroit. The Lions are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and seven receivers have scored at least 14 PPR points against Detroit in the past five games. This game could be a high-scoring affair, and Jennings and Samuel should take advantage of this matchup at home.
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Ridley scored 12.9 PPR points in his first meeting with the Jaguars in Week 14, and he had seven catches for 59 yards on 12 targets in that game. I expect the Titans to feed him in his return to Jacksonville, and this could be a fun revenge game against the Jaguars. Jacksonville is No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and six receivers have scored at least 12.9 PPR points against the Jaguars in their past five games. Ridley has scored at least 12.3 PPR points in three of his past four starts with Mason Rudolph, and Ridley is worth using as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 17.
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We'll see what happens with Christian Watson (knee) in this game at Minnesota, but if he's out then that improves the outlook for Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Watson left the Week 4 game against the Vikings due to injury, and Reed (seven catches, 139 yards and a touchdown on eight targets) and Wicks (five catches, 78 yards, two touchdowns on 13 targets) each scored at least 24.8 PPR points. Doubs was limited to four catches for 39 yards on eight targets, but this is a great matchup since Minnesota is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, which should help all the Packers, even if Watson is healthy.
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Zaccheus is only worth a look in deeper leagues if you're desperate for a No. 3 Fantasy receiver. But he just had a solid outing in Week 16 against Philadelphia, and he could carry that over to Week 17 against Atlanta. It's back-to-back revenge games for Zaccheus, who spent 2023 with the Eagles and the first four years of his career with the Falcons. Against Philadelphia, Zaccheus had five catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets, and Atlanta is No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. With Noah Brown (kidney) out, Jayden Daniels will hopefully lean on Zaccheus again in Week 17.
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WRs to Sit
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The best game of Harrison's career came in Week 2 against the Rams when he had four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets for 29 PPR points. We thought he was on his way to a dominant rookie campaign, but he's been inconsistent for most of the season and struggling in his past three games. He comes into Week 17 having scored 8.9 PPR points or less in three games in a row, and he has one touchdown in his past five outings. The Rams don't have a dominant secondary, but this is more about trusting Harrison. At best, he's only worth starting in three-receiver leagues in Week 17.
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Our fears for Jeudy came true in Week 16 at Cincinnati that with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback it would mean bad news for Jeudy. After scoring at least 12.9 PPR points in seven games in a row, including three outings with at least 21.8 PPR points over that span, he was limited to two catches for 20 yards on three targets against the Bengals. Thompson-Robinson is expected to start again in Week 17 against Miami, which means Jeudy is not worth starting in the majority of leagues, especially since the Dolphins are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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The Chiefs suddenly have a crowded receiving corps with Marquise Brown making his 2024 debut in Week 16 against Houston after being out with a shoulder injury, and he had eight targets against the Texans. Xavier Worthy has emerged as the best Fantasy receiver in Kansas City, and he should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues after scoring at least 19.6 PPR points in each of his past two games, with 22 targets over that span. Hopkins, meanwhile, has 10 targets in his past two games for nine catches, 73 yards and no touchdowns. He's not worth starting in the majority of leagues in Week 17 at Pittsburgh.
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I expected Johnston to struggle in Week 16 against Denver, and he had three catches for 18 yards on six targets, including another drop. He scored at least 15.5 PPR points in each of his previous two games prior to Week 16, but this could be another down performance for him in Week 17 at New England. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez could make things tough on Johnston, and New England hasn't allowed a receiver to score double digits in PPR points in three games in a row against Indianapolis, Arizona and Buffalo. I like Ladd McConkey as a starter in all three-receiver leagues, but Johnston is tough to trust in this matchup on the road.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I'll likely remove Smith from this spot if Jalen Hurts (concussion) is cleared to play in Week 17 against Dallas after he was knocked out of Week 16 at Washington. Smith has struggled in his past two games against the Cowboys with a combined seven catches for 87 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets, with a lost fumble. Without Hurts against the Commanders, Smith had six catches for 51 yards on eight targets, including a bad drop. He's still a must-start receiver in three-receiver leagues, even with Kenny Pickett under center. But I'm nervous to trust Smith in all leagues if Hurts can't play against the Cowboys.
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/table>
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Tight End
TEs to Start
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It could be risky to trust Okonkwo given the limited sample size, but it's hard to overlook his involvement in the past two games against Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He has 21 targets over that span with 17 catches for 140 yards, and he scored at least 13.9 PPR points in each outing. The Jaguars are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and three tight ends in the past six games against Jacksonville have scored at least 15.2 PPR points. I like Okonkwo as a No. 1 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Henry has a tough matchup in Week 17 against the Chargers, who are No. 9 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, but I'm still going to start him in the majority of leagues. He just had four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in Week 16 at Buffalo, and he has now scored at least 9.4 PPR points in eight of his past 10 games, including six outings with at least 12.3 PPR points. There have been eight tight ends with at least five targets against the Chargers, and five have scored at least 9.5 PPR points. Henry has at least five targets in eight of his past 10 games.
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Tank Dell (knee) is out for the rest of the season, and the Texans need Schultz to step up in a big way, starting in Week 17 against the Ravens. And he's playing well coming into this matchup with at least 15.5 PPR points in two of his past three games, including catching five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown on eight targets in Week 16 at Kansas City. The Ravens have allowed eight tight ends to score at least 9.7 PPR points this season, and Schultz is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 17.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Ertz had a down game in Week 16 against Philadelphia with one catch for 12 yards on two targets, but prior to suffering a concussion in Week 15 at New Orleans he scored at least 12.5 PPR points in three games in a row. I still like Ertz as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 16 against Atlanta in Week 17. Seven tight ends have scored at least 8.2 PPR points against the Falcons this year, and Ertz should continue to be a go-to target for Jayden Daniels in this matchup.
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Kraft could have had a big game in Week 16 against New Orleans, but the Packers didn't need much from him in a 34-0 blowout. He still managed three catches for 63 yards on four targets, and he has now scored at least 9.5 PPR points in four of his past five games. He also did well against the Vikings in Week 4 with six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and I expect this game to be a shootout in Minnesota in Week 17. The Vikings have allowed four tight ends to score at least 8.0 PPR points in their past five games.
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Freiermuth had a down game in Week 16 at Baltimore with three catches for 16 yards, which snapped his three-game streak of scoring a touchdown and four-game streak of scoring at least 9.9 PPR points. He should get back on track in Week 17 against the Chiefs, who are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Three tight ends in the past four games have scored at least 8.4 PPR points against Kansas City, and we could see Russell Wilson lean on Freiermuth in this matchup, even with George Pickens back for Pittsburgh.
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TEs to Sit
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Pitts dropped what could have been the first NFL touchdown for Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16 against the Giants, and it ended up as an interception at the goal line. He finished the game with one catch for 7 yards, and you can't start Pitts with any confidence in Week 17 at Washington. He's now gone five games in a row with 6.8 PPR points or less, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 8. Maybe Penix can bring out the best in Pitts, but until we see it, he should remain on the bench in most Fantasy leagues.
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Strange was a major letdown in Week 16 at Las Vegas with two catches for 22 yards on four targets, and he lost a fumble. This came after he had a standout game in Week 15 against the Jets with 11 catches for 73 yards on 12 targets. We'll see which version of Strange shows up in Week 17 against the Titans, who are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Only four tight ends have scored double digits in PPR against Tennessee this season.
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Kmet scored a touchdown in Week 16 against Detroit, but don't go chasing that production in Week 17 against Seattle. Kmet only had two targets against the Lions, and he finished with two catches for 9 yards and the score for 8.9 PPR points. He's now scored fewer than 9.0 PPR points in eight of his past nine games and four in a row, and the Seahawks haven't allowed a tight end to score a touchdown since Week 8. Kmet is not worth trusting in the majority of leagues.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Henry had a down game in Week 15 at Arizona with four catches for 25 yards on four targets, but prior to that he scored at least 9.4 PPR points in six of his previous seven outings. He has a tough matchup in Week 16 at Buffalo, and I'd lower expectations for Henry in the majority of leagues. The Bills have only allowed three touchdowns to tight ends this season, and only three tight ends have scored double digits in Fantasy points. Henry also has just one touchdown this season, which came in Week 6, so his value is even lower in non-PPR leagues.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
DST
DST to Start
Dolphins (at CLE)
The Dolphins DST could be a league-winning Fantasy option in Week 17 against the Browns with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. He was sacked five times in Week 16 against the Bengals and had two interceptions. Cleveland also fumbled against Cincinnati and scored only six points. Miami has seven sacks in the past two games against Houston and San Francisco, with two turnovers over that span, and the Dolphins have allowed just 37 total points against the Texans and Colts. This should be a big week for the Dolphins DST in Week 17.
Sleepers
- Colts (at NYG)
- Rams (vs. ARI)
- Chargers (at NE)
DST to Sit
Falcons (at WAS)
The Falcons DST has been fantastic for the past two weeks against the Raiders and Giants with matchups against Desmond Ridder and Drew Lock. Now, the Falcons have to face Jayden Daniels, and it will be tough to trust Atlanta's defense in this matchup. While the Commanders had five turnovers against the Eagles in Week 16, Washington still scored 36 points, and Daniels was sacked only once. The Falcons DST likely helped you advance to Week 17, but this is a good week to find another DST given the matchup.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
KICKERS
Kicker to Start
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Karty has scored at least eight Fantasy points in three games in a row heading into Week 17 against the Cardinals, including 11-of-11 on field goals and 6-of-8 on PATs. Two of those games were on the road in bad weather at San Francisco and the Jets, but he's back indoors at home at Los Angeles. Arizona is No. 8 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers, and two of the past four opposing kickers against the Cardinals have scored at least 11 Fantasy points.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Kicker to Sit
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Butker is 2-of-3 on field goals and 6-of-6 on PATs in his two games back following a four-game absence with a knee injury. We'll see how he does in Week 17 at Pittsburgh, but this has been a tough matchup for opposing kickers. Only two kickers this season have scored double digits in Fantasy points against the Steelers. And for the season, opposing kickers are 21-of-28 on field goals, including six missed kicks in Pittsburgh.
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