.jpg?w=1280 "49ers Colts Football")
Week 17 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
It has all come down to this.
In most leagues, Week 17 means it's Championship Week. By the time 16 more NFL games have been played, one of the two remaining teams will accomplish the ultimate goal: a title victory.
The other will be stewing about this loss until next summer.
Not only are the stakes higher than at any point in the season, but the margin for error is also slimmer than ever. The teams that are left didn't come this far by accident. Every lineup decision can be the difference between victory and defeat.
However, the point of this column is to settle those frayed nerves and ensure you don't settle for second place by highlighting some players who can lead fantasy managers to success.
Quarterbacks
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Start 'Em
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]
Brissett has just one win in 10 starts for the Cardinals this season, but his statistical production hasn't been bad at all. Since taking over as Arizona's starting quarterback in Week 6, he is sixth in fantasy points among QBs. He should be a solid Week 17 play against a Bengals defense that has struggled mightily at times this season.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]
The Buccaneers are reeling after losing six of seven since the bye week, and Mayfield has just one 20-point fantasy outing over that span. But the desperate Bucs should get right against the floundering Dolphins this week, and Miami has surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2025.
Sit 'Em
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,000]
No one is going to sit fantasy's highest-scoring quarterback in the championship game. But Allen managers need to keep a couple of things in mind. His Week 16 output in Cleveland was his worst fantasy start of the year, and the Eagles have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (at BUF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]
Hurts has been essentially what fantasy managers expected in 2025, and he ranks just outside the top five in fantasy points among quarterbacks. But this week's potential Super Bowl preview in Western New York could be tough sledding—the Bills have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Sleeper
Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]
Smith's first (and possibly last) season in Las Vegas has been rocky. But he has posted a passer rating of more than 105 in two of his past three games, and this week, the Raiders host a Giants team that has surrendered more fantasy points to quarterbacks than 28 teams.
Running Backs
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Start 'Em
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]
That Michael Carter is going to carry quite a few fantasy teams to a championship is fantasy football in a nutshell: wild. But he is the unquestioned lead back in Arizona headed into a Week 17 matchup with a Bengals team giving up a league-high 156 yards per game on the ground.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]
TreVeyon Henderson is in the concussion protocol, which could mean a featured back workload for Stevenson Sunday against the Jets. If that's the case, the fifth-year veteran could be primed for a big game. New York has allowed the fifth-most PPR points to running backs in 2025.
Sit 'Em
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Harvey is one of fantasy football's hottest backs, having 121 scrimmage yards last week against the Jaguars and scoring a touchdown in four straight games. But his last game without a score was the first meeting with the Chiefs—a contest in which he managed just 30 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,800]
The last thing Taylor managers want to hear is what this analyst is about to write. The Jacksonville Jaguars lead the league in run defense. In the first meeting between these teams this year, Taylor managed just 3.5 yards per carry. And only the Denver Broncos have allowed fewer PPR points to running backs this year than the Jags.
Sleeper
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,600]
White's seven touches and 60 scrimmage yards aren't exactly eye‑popping numbers, but this is a game the Buccaneers desperately need to win. A game they should win. And a game in which the team could be grinding clock with a lead late against a soft Dolphins run defense.
Wide Receivers
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Start 'Em
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]
Jennings has found the end zone in six of the past seven games, and he's a top-15 fantasy receiver since Week 12. The fifth-year veteran should keep that hot streak going in a big game against the Bears, who have allowed the 10th-most PPR points to wide receivers this season.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]
By almost every estimation, Thomas has been a fantasy disappointment in 2025. But this week, the Jaguars face a Colts team that ranks dead-last in the AFC in pass defense, so he may have one big stat line left in him at the ideal time. Better late than never for managers who have been patient.
Sit 'Em
Nico Collins, Houston Texans (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,400]
Collins has lived up to his lofty asking price in drafts over the summer—he's eighth in PPR points among wide receivers this season. But it's worth noting that the Los Angeles Chargers have given up the fifth-fewest PPR points to wide receivers this year, and Collins wouldn't be the first big-name wideout the Bolts held in check.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Evans has been productive since returning to action, positing at least 14 PPR points in back-to-back games. But while the Dolphins haven't done much well this year, they have defended the wide receiver position well—Miami has allowed the eighth-fewest PPR points to wide receivers.
Sleeper
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,800]
Let's put it this way: If this analyst had Thomas and Washington rostered, he'd be perfectly willing to start both. Washington is coming off a huge game, and the Colts are a prime matchup for the position. Throw in a red-hot quarterback, and it's double-dip time.
Tight Ends
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Start 'Em
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (at SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]
Loveland has had his moments as a rookie for the Bears, including double-digit PPR outings in three of five games. Since Week 9, he's sixth among all tight ends in fantasy points. The Bears are beat up at wideout, trying to nail down an NFC North title and draw a plus Week 17 matchup with the 49ers.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]
It's a full-on lovefest where pass-catchers for the Jaguars are concerned this week. Last week against the Denver Broncos, Strange turned seven targets into almost 15 PPR points, and the Indy pass defense has been every bit as generous to tight ends as they have wide receivers.
Sit 'Em
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (at BUF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,300]
That's right—the other side of Sunday's interconference showdown is a no-go, too. Kincaid has been a hit-or-miss fantasy option this year—as likely to vanish completely as to post a big stat line. And while the Bills are the worst fantasy matchup for tight ends in 2025, the Eagles aren't that much better.
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]
Kincaid has been a hit-or-miss fantasy option this year—as likely to vanish as to post a big stat line. And while the Bills are the worst fantasy matchup for tight ends in 2025, the Eagles aren't that much better for fantasy managers.
Sleeper
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. ARI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]
Yes, there's always a chance Gesicki will get lost in the shuffle in Cincinnati. But over the past three weeks, his 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns rank 11th in PPR points among tight ends, and the eight-year veteran draws a top-10 fantasy matchup for the position in Week 17 with the Cardinals.
Team Defenses
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Start 'Em
New Orleans Saints Defense (at TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]
The Saints are quietly riding a three-game winning streak, and the defense has played its part in that winning streak. The Titans have also played better recently, but the team has still surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to defenses this season. This is a game that could be something of a defensive jackpot—more on that in a bit.
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (at CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: 3,300]
The Steelers may be headed toward an AFC North title, but their defense hasn't been great for much of the season. But Pittsburgh ranks sixth among defenses in fantasy points for the season, and Cleveland has allowed the third-most fantasy points to defenses this season.
Sit 'Em
Philadelphia Eagles Defense (at BUF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,600]
The Eagles have been as advertised (mostly) from a fantasy perspective—sixth in points at the position on the year. But Philly's inability to consistently rush the passer could be a major sticking point against a Bills team surrendering the sixth-fewest fantasy points to defenses this season.
San Francisco 49ers Defense (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has been arguably the best defensive coordinator this season given the injuries that have blasted the team all season long. But the Chicago Bears just aren't allowing fantasy points to defenses—fourth-fewest in the NFL this year.
Sleeper
Tennessee Titans Defense (vs. NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]
The Titans have struggled this season, and their defense is 24th in the league in fantasy points. Of late, though, they have been showing glimmers of improvement and are coming off a decisive win in Kansas City. Now, they host a Saints team surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to defenses.
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
.jpg?w=480 "Browns Football")
.jpg?w=600 "A.J. Brown Deal Not 'Firm'")
