Fantasy Football Week 17 Rankings: Latest Position-by-Position Rundown

The NFL fires a 16-game salvo Sunday to conclude the regular season just in time for fantasy football championships.

This means no sloppy Thursday Night Football contests in which most players become the must-avoid variety. It means no rare Saturday contests that are just as unpredictable.

Instead, owners have the broadest talent pool possible to choose from for the first time in a long time. Even better, there is extra breathing room to make those difficult lineup decisions—just in time for the holiday rush.

With so many options available, it is only right to run down each position for a better look.

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Tony Romo, DAL	28
2	Andrew Luck, IND	24
3	Aaron Rodgers, GB	23
4	Peyton Manning, DEN	22
5	Tom Brady, NE	22
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	21
7	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	20
8	Russell Wilson, SEA	19
9	Drew Brees, NO	18
10	Eli Manning, NYG	17
11	Philip Rivers, SD	17
12	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	16
13	Derek Carr, OAK	15
14	Jay Cutler, CHI	14
15	Matthew Stafford, DET	14
16	Cam Newton, CAR	14
17	Chase Daniel, KC	12
18	Colin Kaepernick, SF	12
19	Teddy Bridgewater, MIN	12
20	Joe Flacco, BAL	11

It is wild to think on this season's wild quarterback ride, highlighted by up-and-down performances by Peyton Manning and elite showings from Mark Sanchez and other wild cards. 

Stick with Manning for a moment, as his name being so high on the list may offend those owners hurt by him in the playoffs. 

After all, Manning has not scored more than 13 points in a contest since Week 12. Before that, he had scored a minimum of 20 points in 10 games.

So why should owners trust that Manning turns things around to close the season? For one, retirement questions after a putrid stretch should motivate any quarterback:

Seriously, though, the only right answer is the Oakland Raiders. Manning encountered the divisional rival in Week 10 and threw for 340 yards and five scores, good for 29 points.

Now Manning welcomes the Raiders to Denver with much at stake concerning playoff seeding. Oakland has allowed three of its last four opponents to score a minimum of 20 points.

Things will get back to normal, folks.

Running Back

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Arian Foster, HOU	24
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	22
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	21
4	Justin Forsett, BAL	20
5	DeMarco Murray, DAL	18
6	Eddie Lacy, GB	17
7	Jamaal Charles, KC	16
8	Matt Forte, CHI	15
9	Jeremy Hill, CIN	15
10	Alfred Morris, WSH	14
11	Joique Bell, DET	14
12	Mark Ingram, NO	13
13	LeSean McCoy, PHI	12
14	Lamar Miller, MIA	11
15	C.J. Anderson, DEN	10
16	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	10
17	Chris Ivory, NYJ	9
18	Fred Jackson, BUF	9
19	Matt Asiata, MIN	8
20	Tre Mason, STL	8
21	Knile Davis, KC	8
22	Darren Sproles, PHI	7
23	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	7
24	Shane Vereen, NE	7
25	Steven Jackson, ATL	6
26	Giovani Bernard, CIN	6
27	Frank Gore, SF	6
28	Andre Williams, NYG	6
29	Trent Richardson, IND	6
30	Terrance West, CLE	6

Speaking of normal, Seattle Seahawks back Marshawn Lynch is anything but in most ways.

Look at last week, when an apparent sickness held him out for a decent portion of a game against the Arizona Cardinals, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times:

So what did Lynch do? Rush 10 times for 113 yards and two scores, good for 23 points—all against an Arizona defense that still surrenders the fifth-fewest points to backs this season.

Two spots further down that list resides the St. Louis Rams, Lynch's next opponent.

The Rams held Lynch to six points in Week 7, but a revenge game seems to be in the cards to end the season. Lynch owns double-digit outings in four consecutive contests while the Rams have allowed that feat in five of their last six games.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Dez Bryant, DAL	20
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	20
3	Mike Evans, TB	17
4	Antonio Brown, PIT	16
5	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	16
6	Calvin Johnson, DET	15
7	Julio Jones, ATL	15
8	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	14
9	Randall Cobb, GB	14
10	A.J. Green, CIN	13
11	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	13
12	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	13
13	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	12
14	Golden Tate, DET	12
15	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	12
16	Julian Edelman, NE	11
17	DeSean Jackson, WSH	11
18	T.Y. Hilton, IND	11
19	Steve Smith, BAL	11
20	Mike Wallace, MIA	10
21	Jordy Nelson, GB	10
22	Brandon LaFell, NE	10
23	Roddy White, ATL	9
24	Mohamed Sanu, CIN	9
25	Anquan Boldin, SF	9
26	Torrey Smith, BAL	9
27	Sammy Watkins, BUF	8
28	Jordan Matthews, PHI	8
29	Malcom Floyd, SD	8
30	Vincent Jackson, TB	7
31	Marques Colston, NO	7
32	Allen Hurns, JAC	7
33	Eric Decker, NYJ	6
34	Kendall Wright, TEN	6
35	Kenny Stills, NO	6
36	Eddie Royal, SD	5
37	Greg Jennings, MIN	5
38	Martavis Bryant, PIT	5
39	James Jones, OAK	5
40	Josh Gordon, CLE	5

Rookies are scary this time of year.

It takes a major leap of faith for owners to throw one in the lineup with potential championships on the line, but now is not the time to go away from Carolina Panthers wideout Kelvin Benjamin.

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Quietly a top-15 scorer at the position this year, Benjamin has reached double digits only once in his last four tries. Those who dig a bit deeper, though, know a rebound game is in store at just the right time.

The last time Benjamin ran wild on the Atlanta Falcons, he posted 16 points by way of a season-high nine grabs for 109 yards and a score.

Those Falcons still surrender the sixth-most points to wideouts this year and just one of the team's last 12 opponents has failed to reach the 20-point threshold. In a dome free of the elements and against a miserable secondary, Benjamin is about so explode.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Jason Witten, DAL	15
2	Antonio Gates, SD	14
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	13
4	Jimmy Graham, NO	12
5	Rob Gronkowski, NE	11
6	Martellus Bennett, CHI	10
7	Delanie Walker, TEN	10
8	Travis Kelce, KC	9
9	Julius Thomas, DEN	9
10	Coby Fleener, IND	8
11	Dwayne Allen, IND	7
12	Larry Donnell, NYG	7
13	Heath Miller, PIT	6
14	Jared Cook, STL	6
15	Mychal Rivera, OAK	5

Again, things seem just normal this time of year.

Look at San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. The 34-year-old star is second only to Rob Gronkowski in scoring this year and rides a two-game streak of double digits into Week 17 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Stat-happy owners will raise an eyebrow at the matchup, as Andy Reid's team ranks pretty well against the position. 

Try to keep in mind, though, that Gates torched the Chiefs in Week 7 for 12 points thanks to 61 yards and a score on just three catches.

As NFL Network's Gil Brandt notes, Gates may be on the hunt for history to close the season:

Hardly a week removed from two scores on seven catches for 92 yards, it is not unreasonable to think Gates can reach those heights once again.

D/ST

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Houston Texans	JAC	14
2	Seattle Seahawks	STL	13
3	Philadelphia Eagles	at NYG	12
4	Miami Dolphins	NYJ	11
5	Green Bay Packers	DET	10
6	Baltimore Ravens	CLE	10
7	Arizona Cardinals	at SF	10
8	Buffalo Bills	at NE	9
9	New England Patriots	BUF	8
10	St. Louis Rams	at SEA	7
11	Detroit Lions	GB	7
12	Minnesota Vikings	CHI	6
13	San Francisco 49ers	ARI	6
14	Cleveland Browns	at BAL	5
15	Denver Broncos	OAK	5

Kicker

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Cody Parkey, PHI	14
2	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	13
3	Adam Vinatieri, IND	12
4	Dan Carpenter, BUF	12
5	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	11
6	Steven Hauschka, SEA	11
7	Matt Bryant, ATL	10
8	Justin Tucker, BAL	9
9	Dan Bailey, DAL	9
10	Shaun Suisham, PIT	9
11	Caleb Sturgis, MIA	8
12	Blair Walsh, MIN	8
13	Mason Crosby, GB	8
14	Graham Gano, CAR	7
15	Nick Folk, NYJ	6

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of 10 p.m. ET on December 26. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.