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USATSI

Jordan Love has been a mediocre Fantasy quarterback this season, especially lately. But he could go off at Minnesota in Week 17 in a potential shootout.

Love has scored 18.7 Fantasy points or less in three of his past five games. And even in his good games over that span, he's scored 22.9 and 21.6 Fantasy points.

It's not that Love isn't capable of a big performance. The Packers have just become a dominant running team, and Love has attempted 28 passes or less in six games in a row. 

But he might have to air it out this week against the Vikings, who are No. 2 in fewest rushing yards allowed in the NFL. This doesn't mean to sit Josh Jacobs, but this could become a passing game for Green Bay and Love. And Love scored 36.2 Fantasy points against Minnesota in Week 4 when he attempted 54 passes, completing 32 for 389 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. 

It won't be easy since the Vikings are No. 9 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. But Geno Smith just scored 27.4 Fantasy points against Minnesota in Week 16, and I would trust Love if I knew he would be throwing a lot.

Keep an eye on Christian Watson (knee), who could be out in Week 17. But if Love gives Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Tucker Kraft, and Jacobs enough chances to make plays in the passing game, then we could get a fun game with major playoff implications.

I'm excited to see what Love can do -- if he's allowed to throw. I consider him a low-end starting option in all leagues.

QBs to Start
Projections powered by Sportsline
TB Tampa Bay • #6
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CAR TB -8.5 O/U 49.5
OPP VS QB
29th
PROJ PTS
24.7
QB RNK
5th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3920
RUYDS
308
TD
37
INT
15
FPTS/G
25.2
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.
DET Detroit • #16
Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ SF DET -3.5 O/U 50.5
OPP VS QB
5th
PROJ PTS
19.5
QB RNK
6th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
4095
RUYDS
59
TD
34
INT
10
FPTS/G
23.7
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.
MIN Minnesota • #14
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs GB MIN -1 O/U 48.5
OPP VS QB
1st
PROJ PTS
17.7
QB RNK
7th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3776
RUYDS
205
TD
33
INT
11
FPTS/G
22.6
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.
IND Indianapolis • #5
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ NYG IND -8 O/U 40.5
OPP VS QB
20th
PROJ PTS
20.3
QB RNK
9th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1814
RUYDS
499
TD
14
INT
12
FPTS/G
16.3
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.
CHI Chicago • #18
Age: 23 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs SEA SEA -3.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS QB
19th
PROJ PTS
18.5
QB RNK
8th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3271
RUYDS
442
TD
19
INT
5
FPTS/G
18.3
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.
Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
LAR L.A. Rams • #9
Age: 36 • Experience: 16 yrs.
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.
SF San Francisco • #13
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.
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.
SEA Seattle • #7
Age: 34 • Experience: 12 yrs.
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.
QBs to Sit
Projections powered by Sportsline
NYJ N.Y. Jets • #8
Age: 41 • Experience: 20 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ BUF BUF -9.5 O/U 47.5
OPP VS QB
13th
PROJ PTS
15
QB RNK
18th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3511
RUYDS
107
TD
24
INT
8
FPTS/G
18.6
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.
HOU Houston • #7
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs BAL BAL -5.5 O/U 46.5
OPP VS QB
28th
PROJ PTS
17.8
QB RNK
NR
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3492
RUYDS
226
TD
19
INT
11
FPTS/G
16.4
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.
DAL Dallas • #10
Age: 31 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ PHI PHI -9.5 O/U 41
OPP VS QB
10th
PROJ PTS
13.1
QB RNK
NR
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1697
RUYDS
16
TD
11
INT
3
FPTS/G
11.4
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.
Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
ARI Arizona • #1
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ LAR LAR -6.5 O/U 47.5
OPP VS QB
24th
PROJ PTS
22
QB RNK
14th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
3288
RUYDS
518
TD
21
INT
9
FPTS/G
19
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.