Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions to Consider
We're already three games into Week 17, and another three games are slated for Saturday. This could leave some fantasy football managers scrambling to make difficult lineup decisions.
Saturday's slate will feature the Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams. Don't forget to set your lineups accordingly.
Some tough matchups are looming over the next three days, and with most season-long leagues in championship week, every choice will be critical.
Here, you'll find a look at some of the toughest remaining matchups of Week 17, along with start-sit advice based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Start: De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
1 of 4
At this point in the fantasy playoffs, it's usually wise to stick with the players who have delivered all season. Managers shouldn't overthink things with Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane, even though he faces a tricky situation.
The Dolphins will visit the Cleveland Browns this week. While the Browns defense has been thoroughly underwhelming this season, it's been a problem for running backs in fantasy. This is largely because teams have often found success by throwing the ball against Cleveland.
The Browns rank 20th in yards per carry allowed but have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. That may be surprising, considering Cleveland has faced the likes of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, J.K. Dobbins and Chase Brown in 2024.
Still, managers can trust Achane to deliver in Cleveland this weekend. He has an extremely high PPR floor—Achane caught six passes in Week 16—and Miami could pull away early in this one. Cleveland's offense has been a disaster with Dorian Thompson-Robinson behind center, and the Dolphins could spend two-thirds of the game looking to close things out on the ground.
Sit: Patrick Taylor Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers
2 of 4
While some managers have made it this far because of fortunate drafting, others have made it through smart waiver-wire management. Anyone who scooped up San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason early in the season got multiple weeks of high-end RB production as a reward.
However, Mason and Christian McCaffrey are both on injured reserve. With rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) also limited, Patrick Taylor Jr. has become a late waiver-wire target.
While there's no harm in snagging Taylor for added depth, he's not worth starting in Week 17. San Francisco will face the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, and Taylor isn't guaranteed a heavy workload.
Against Miami last week, Taylor only saw eight carries and one reception for 25 combined yards. Instead of leaning on Taylor, the 49ers opted to augment their ground game with Deebo Samuel (five carries) and some Brock Purdy scrambles (four carries).
And while Guerendo has been limited in practice, there's a chance that he's healthy enough by Monday night to reenter the backfield rotation.
Start: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
3 of 4
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr. wasn't the first receiver taken in the 2024 NFL draft. However, he's been one of the most consistently productive performers in fantasy this season.
That's been especially true over the last month, as Thomas has recorded double-digit targets in each of his last four games. While the Jaguars have been relying on backup quarterback Mac Jones instead of injured starter Trevor Lawrence, Thomas' role has only grown.
Thomas leads all rookie receivers with 1,088 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
The LSU product has topped 100 yards in back-to-back weeks. He may not hit that mark this week against the Tennessee Titans, who have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. However, he should still see a double-digit floor in fantasy.
The Jaguars visited Tennessee only three weeks ago, and Thomas finished with eight catches on 12 targets for 86 receiving yards. He should post similar or better numbers at home in the rematch.
Sit: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns
4 of 4
Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy has been one of the bigger surprises in fantasy this season. He ranks seventh in the NFL with 1,072 receiving yards and is finishing up a career year after four largely underwhelming seasons with the Denver Broncos.
In his first four campaigns, Jeudy only topped 900 yards once and never reached the coveted 1,000-yard mark.
However, it's probably time for fantasy managers to abandon Jeudy for the remainder of 2024. His best work has come with Jameis Winston behind center, and the Browns are set to roll with Thompson-Robinson (calf) against Miami if he's healthy enough to start.
"It feels really well right now," Thompson-Robinson said of the injury, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.
As previously mentioned, the Browns offense has sagged with Thompson-Robinon at quarterback. Jeudy has suffered too and finished Week 16 with two catches for 20 yards on three targets.
Against a Dolphins defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs, Jeudy can be kept on the bench.
*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "Who Will Panthers Take at No. 9 ? 🤔")
