Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Outlook
Week 17 is here, which means that most season-long fantasy leagues are set to hold championship games. Lineup decisions will be as critical as they've been all year, and unfortunately, injuries are still a big problem for managers.
Players like C.J. Stroud, Ja'Marr Chase and Will Levis all missed Week 16, while fantasy standouts like T.J. Hockenson and Trevor Lawrence exited with injuries.
Managers will have several situations to monitor during the week, but it's best to plan ahead and have alternative options.
With this in mind, let's run down our updated point-per-reception (PPR) rankings for Week 17 and examine a few waiver-wire targets to consider.
Quarterback
1 of 4
1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
6. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
7. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
8. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Waiver Target: Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has a tough matchup in Week 17, as the New York Jets have been stingy against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. However, managers in a bind should trust the 38-year-old to keep doing what he's been doing.
Flacco has become the centerpiece of the Browns offense, which now flows through the passing game. As the Browns starter, Flacco has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game, and he's thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the last three.
A strong connection with Amari Cooper and David Njoku gives Flacco a very reasonable floor this week, even against a solid Jets defense—New York has surrendered an average of only 13.1 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Flacco is rostered in only 33 percent of Yahoo leagues and 13 percent of ESPN leagues.
Running Back
2 of 4
1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
5. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
7. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
8. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
9. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
10. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Waiver Target: Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
While managers aren't going to find a starting-caliber running back this late in the season, Tyjae Spears of the Tennessee Titans is an intriguing flex option.
Spears may replace Derrick Henry, who is an impending free agent, and the Titans appear to be auditioning him down the stretch. The rookie has recorded at least 10 touches in each of the past four games, and in Week 16, he recorded five receptions and 67 scrimmage yards.
The Titans will face the Houston Texans in Week 17, and while Houston is stout against the run, it hasn't completely shut down opposing backs. The Texans have allowed an average of 18.0 fantasy points to opposing backfields this season.
Spears is rostered in 45 percent of Yahoo leagues and 41 percent of ESPN leagues.
Wide Receiver
3 of 4
1. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
4. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
5. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
6. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
7. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
10. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Waiver Target: K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
There's a very real chance that the Minnesota Vikings will be without both Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson this week. Addison is considered week-to-week, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Hockenson's knee injury is "not good," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
This makes wideout K.J. Osborn a very enticing play, even with some ongoing quarterback uncertainty in Minnesota. Osborn finished Week 16 with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He could have similar or even better numbers this week.
The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers, and their defense has struggled mightily in recent weeks. Green Bay coughed up more than 300 passing yards to rookie Bryce Young on Sunday, and it has surrendered an average of 28.1 fantasy points to opposing receiver groups this season.
Osborn is rostered in 16 percent of Yahoo leagues and 23 percent of ESPN leagues.
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Tight End
4 of 4
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
2. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
3. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
4. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
6. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
7. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
10. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Waiver Target: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
Hockenson managers will likely struggle to find a suitable replacement in Week 17, and Gerald Everett certainly isn't going to replicate Hockenson's steady production. However, the Los Angeles Chargers tight end does carry a reasonable floor.
Everett has caught at least four passes and recorded at least 39 receiving yards in each of his past five games. His production didn't dip after Justin Herbert was lost for the season, and, if anything, he's been more dependable with Easton Stick under center.
In Stick's two starts, Everett has tallied 12 combined receptions for 83 yards.
The Chargers are set to face the Denver Broncos, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Everett is rostered in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues and 26 percent of ESPN leagues.
*Fantasy scoring and roster information from FantasyPros.
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