Fantasy Football Week 17 Rankings: Matchups and Projections for Players We Love

Fantasy football championship week is off and running.

If you're seeking out fantasy coverage, there's a decent chance that means you've made it to the championship round. That's awesome—just don't blow this opportunity.

Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season will require you to put your best foot forward. We'll help make that happen by laying out rankings and spotlighting an exploitable matchup at each of the four skill positions.

Quarterback

Loren Elliott/Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Levi's Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. ARI)

2. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. DET)

3. Lamar Jackson, BAL (vs. MIA)

4. Josh Allen, BUF (vs. NE)

5. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. CIN)

6. Brock Purdy, SF (at WAS)

7. C.J. Stroud, HOU (vs. TEN)

8. Justin Fields, CHI (vs. ATL)

9. Kyler Murray, ARI (at PHI)

10. Baker Mayfield, TB (vs. NO)

Matchup to love: Brock Purdy at Washington Commanders

Purdy had a disastrous showing against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night, going scoreless for the first time this season and throwing a career-high four interceptions. He needs a bounce-back game in the worst kind of way, and the schedule-makers may have granted him exactly that.

No team has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Commanders, per Yahoo Sports. Five different quarterbacks have thrown for 300-plus yards and multiple scores against this defense, including Russell Wilson, Desmond Ridder and Tommy DeVito.

Projected stats: 18-of-24 passing for 276 yards and three touchdowns

Running Back

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 10: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) carries the football during the first quarter of the National Football League game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns on December 10, 2023, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (at WAS)

2. Kyren Williams, LAR (at NYG)

3. James Cook, BUF (vs. NE)

4. Rachaad White, TB (vs. NO)

5. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. LAR)

6. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (at DAL)

7. Alvin Kamara, NO (at TB)

8. Travis Etienne, JAX (vs. CAR)

9. Isiah Pacheco, KC (vs. CIN)

10. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. LV)

Matchup to love: Travis Etienne vs. Carolina Panthers

Etienne's last two weeks have been a mess, as he's gone back-to-back games without finding the end zone and tallied a total of only 90 scrimmage yards in both contests combined. Prior to this quiet stretch, though, he'd been making things happen as both a ball-carrier and a pass-catcher, and with his talent, he could snap out of this funk at any time.

Like, probably as soon as Sunday, when he locks horns with a Panthers defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. Just last week, Packers running back Aaron Jones pulverized the Panthers for 135 scrimmage yards on 22 touches.

Projected stats: 15 carries for 83 yards, three receptions for 37 yards, two touchdowns

Wide Receiver

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 24: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a first down during the fourth quarter in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (vs. DET)

2. Tyreek Hill, MIA (at BAL)

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at DAL)

4. Justin Jefferson, MIN (vs. GB)

5. Deebo Samuel, SF (at WAS)

6. A.J. Brown, PHI (vs. ARI)

7. Rashee Rice, KC (vs. CIN)

8. Davante Adams, LV (at IND)

9. Nico Collins, HOU (vs. TEN)

10. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs. LV)

Matchup to love: CeeDee Lamb vs. Detroit Lions

Lamb has torched just about any defense he's faced this season, and that trend continued this past week. On Sunday, he turned his 10 targets—his fourth consecutive outing with double-digit targets—into 118 yards and a score against the Dolphins.

If his volume stays up in this contest, he could really post some silly stats. The Lions have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to the position and just allowed the tandem of Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn to combine for 11 receptions on 17 targets for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

Projected stats: Eleven receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns

Tight End

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 25: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. CIN)

2. George Kittle, SF (at WAS)

3. Sam LaPorta, DET (at DAL)

4. Trey McBride, ARI (at PHI)

5. Jake Ferguson, DAL (vs. DET)

6. Evan Engram, JAX (vs. CAR)

7. Isaiah Likely, BAL (vs. MIA)

8. Dalton Schultz, HOU (vs. TEN)

9. Darren Waller, NYG (vs. LAR)

10. Dallas Goedert, PHI (vs. ARI)

Matchup to love: Travis Kelce vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Kelce's numbers have quieted a bit in recent weeks, as Kansas City's typically electric offense has noticeably lacked some juice. Still, he's seen seven-plus targets in five of his last six games and thrice cleared 80 receiving yards during this stretch.

He should be in line for more this Sunday when he draws a Bengals defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Projected stats: Nine receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns