Fantasy Football Week 17: Preview and Predictions

Week 17 of the 2015 fantasy football season is here. This is a bittersweet time, because it means the end of fantasy football this season, but it also means you could win a championship. This article will help you prep for the final week of the season by previewing each position and making several bold predictions.

At quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger is set to bounce back in Week 17 after disappointing everyone in Week 16.

New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower has worked his way into the RB1 rankings—a spot his teammate, Mark Ingram, held throughout most of the 2015 season prior to his injury.

At wide receiver, we once again have two Pittsburgh Steelers appear in the top 10, but Atlanta Falcons star Julio Jones has been dynamite over the past two weeks. There’s no removing him from the top spot this week.

This is just a taste of the previews of each position. This slideshow will check in on every position entering Week 17 and will also provide several bold predictions.

QBs: Trust Ben Roethlisberger in Week 17

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a dud in Week 16. He scored just four fantasy points and likely tanked many fantasy seasons in the process.

If you own Big Ben and somehow advanced to Week 17, don’t overthink it. He's set for a rebound game against a bad Cleveland Browns D/ST unit.

Week 17’s Top 10 QBs

1. Cam Newton (vs. TB)
2. Tom Brady (at MIA)
3. Ben Roethlisberger (at CLE)
4. Drew Brees (at ATL)
5. Blake Bortles (at HOU)
6. Aaron Rodgers (vs. MIN)
7. Carson Palmer (vs. SEA)
8. Eli Manning (vs. PHI)
9. Russell Wilson (at ARI)
10. Matthew Stafford (at CHI)

Breakout QB of the Week: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger has scored single-digit fantasy points in two of his past three games, but he does have 20-plus points in five of his past seven. The law of averages says he’ll pick it up again.

And what better time than in Week 17, when he’ll face a bad Cleveland defense? The Browns have given up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season, according to ESPN.com. Roethlisberger threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns when he played the Browns in Week 10. A repeat performance is in the cards. 

QB Bust of the Week: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers 

Rivers has been all over the place this season. He has four games with 300-plus yards and three touchdowns, but he also has three games with no touchdowns and three more games with just one score.

So which Rivers will we see in Week 17?

The best that fantasy owners could hope for would be two scores and 250 yards, but even that’s a stretch. Rivers may be looking more at a 225-yard, one-touchdown outing. He gained just 202 yards and didn’t score (while throwing an interception) against the Broncos in early December. Rivers' quarterback rating in that game was 57.1, his worst of the season.

RBs: Frank Gore Set for a Strong Week

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Frank Gore

Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams has become a touchdown machine. He has more touchdowns than games started this season; that’s an impressive track record that’s hard to argue with. Up next for Williams is the porous Cleveland Browns run defense.

Williams isn’t the only unfamiliar name in the top 10 this week, however. We also have David Johnson, Charcandrick West, Tim Hightower, Karlos Williams and Eddie Lacy ranked high this week, because of their matchups, impressive play or both.

Week 17’s Top 10 RBs

1. DeAngelo Williams (at CLE)
2. Adrian Peterson (at GB)
3. Todd Gurley (at SF)
4. Devonta Freeman (vs. NO)
5. David Johnson (vs. SEA)
6. Charcandrick West (vs. OAK)
7. Doug Martin (at CAR)
8. Tim Hightower (at ATL)
9. Karlos Williams (vs. NYJ)
10. Eddie Lacy (vs. MIN)

Breakout RB of the Week: Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts

Gore scored two rushing touchdowns last week, and while he hasn’t had all that great of a season (those were his first rushing scores since Week 9, and he hasn’t had a 100-yard effort this season), he can be trusted as a tail-end RB2 once again in Week 17.

That’s because he’s playing the Tennessee Titans, who have given up 20-plus fantasy points to opposing running backs in three of their past four games.

When these two teams played in Week 3, Gore ran for a season-high 86 yards and scored twice, recording 20 fantasy points on the day.

RB Bust of the Week: DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles

Murray—who actually “replaced” Gore in Philadelphia during the free agency dance of 2015—scored a touchdown in Week 16, but he still can’t be trusted as a fantasy starter. Remember, he only touched the ball eight times last week, and he now has single-digit carries in three of his past four games.

The Week 16 touchdown helps cover up the fact that Murray’s role in Philadelphia’s offense has been diminished to the point where he’s barely usable as a flex player. He really shouldn’t be in lineups at all, but the Eagles do appear content with giving him some goal-line looks, so if you are forced to start Murray, at least there’s some touchdown potential.

WRs: Jeremy Maclin an Elite Option in Week 17

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Jeremy Maclin

As noted in the opening slide, Atlanta Falcons wideout Julio Jones has been on a tear lately, and he is entrenched as the top wideout in fantasy to close out the 2015 season.

Jones, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins all have great matchups in Week 17. But there’s still room for Jeremy Maclin of the Kansas City Chiefs, a newcomer to the top 10.

Week 17’s Top 10 WRs 

1. Julio Jones (vs. NO)
2. Antonio Brown (at CLE)
3. Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. PHI)
4. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. JAC)
5. Brandon Marshall (at BUF)
6. Allen Robinson (at HOU)
7. A.J. Green (vs. BAL)
8. Calvin Johnson (at CHI)
9. Jeremy Maclin (vs. OAK)
10. Martavis Bryant (at CLE)

Breakout WR of the Week: Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs

The Oakland Raiders have been an average team when it comes to slowing fantasy wideouts so far this season, according to ESPN.com, but they did give up two touchdowns to the Kansas City Chiefs receiving corps when these two teams met in Week 13.

In fact, that Week 13 tilt against the Chiefs marked the only time all season that the Raiders gave up multiple touchdowns to wideouts in a game this year.

Maclin caught both of those touchdowns.

WR Bust of the Week: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Evans will likely draw Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman in Week 17, which means you should limit expectations.

Don’t be lured in by Jones’ massive Week 16 stat line when he faced Josh Norman. The majority of Jones’ fantasy points came on a single play—a 70-yard touchdown—during which Norman wasn’t even covering him.

When the Buccaneers and Panthers met in Week 3, Evans caught just three passes for 32 yards.

Evans should still be in your fantasy lineup given the high-volume role he plays in Tampa Bay’s offense, but he’s more of a tail-end WR2 this week, not a tail-end WR1.

TEs: Zach Ertz Steps into TE1 Territory

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Zach Ertz

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has 21 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks combined, and he has a juicy Week 17 matchup as well. These two factors—his hot streak and his favorable matchup—help boost him into the top 10.

Week 17’s Top 10 TEs 

1. Rob Gronkowski (at MIA)
2. Jordan Reed (at DAL)
3. Greg Olsen (vs. TB)
4. Travis Kelce (vs. OAK)
5. Delanie Walker (at IND)
6. Julius Thomas (at HOU)
7. Gary Barnidge (vs. PIT)
8. Antonio Gates (at DEN)
9. Ben Watson (at ATL)
10. Zach Ertz (at NYG)
11. Richard Rodgers (vs. MIN)

Breakout TE of the Week: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

As noted above, Ertz has been on fire lately, and there’s no reason to believe he will slow down in Week 17. Now an integral part of Philadelphia’s offense, Ertz could put up huge numbers against the New York Giants this week, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends so far this season, according to ESPN.com.

The Giants even made Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph look like a star in Week 16 (he’s not). He turned just two receptions into 52 yards and a touchdown.

Don’t be surprised if Ertz goes for more than 100 yards and scores this week.

TE Bust of the Week: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys 

Believe it or not, but the Washington Redskins—Witten’s Week 17 opponent—rank in the top 10 in terms of slowing down tight ends from scoring fantasy points, according to ESPN.com.

The Redskins have given up only three touchdowns to tight ends all season long, and despite the fact Ertz just torched them to the tune of 13 receptions and 100-plus yards last week, they still rank well against tight ends overall (and they did keep him out of the end zone).

If you’re hoping Witten will end 2015 the same way he began it (by catching a touchdown), don’t hold your breath. It’s probable that he will end the 2015 season with just two touchdown receptions—the same number he had heading into Week 2 of the season.

Ks: Fire Up Josh Brown Week 17

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

Josh Brown

Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano is set for a strong week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There was some fear that the Panthers would have nothing to play for in Week 17 and would sit their starters as a result, but that question was answered for us when the Panthers lost in Week 16. They still have to earn home-field advantage.

You can also fire up New York Giants kicker Josh Brown this week, who should be in field-goal range throughout the day.

Week 17’s Top 10 Ks

1. Stephen Gostkowski (at MIA)
2. Graham Gano (vs. TB)
3. Cairo Santos (vs. OAK)
4. Steven Hauschka (at ARI)
5. Chandler Catanzaro (vs. SEA)
6. Josh Brown (vs. PHI)
7. Chris Boswell (at CLE)
8. Brandon McManus (vs. SD)
9. Blair Walsh (at GB)
10. Dustin Hopkins (at DAL)

Breakout K of the Week: Josh Brown, New York Giants 

Josh Brown of the New York Giants will play the Philadelphia Eagles this week, who rank in the bottom 10 in terms of fantasy points ceded to kickers this season, per ESPN.com.

The Giants will also have wideout Odell Beckham Jr. back in the lineup on offense, which will no doubt help them get into field-goal range more often.

K Bust of the Week: Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders 

According to ESPN.com, the Chiefs—Sebastian Janikowski’s Week 17 opponent—have given up the fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers for far this season.

When these two teams met in Week 13, Janikowski scored just one fantasy point. He should ride the fantasy bench this week.

Defense and Special Teams: Stream the St. Louis Rams D/ST This Week

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

There are a ton of great D/ST matchups worth taking a look at this week. The “Grade A” defenses all have dreamy matchups. And even some less touted D/STs, like the St. Louis Rams, have matchups that can be exploited this week.

Week 17’s Top 10 D/STs

1. Denver Broncos (vs. SD)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. OAK)
3. Carolina Panthers (vs. TB)
4. Houston Texans (vs. JAC)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
6. New England Patriots (at MIA)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE)
8. St. Louis Rams (at SF)
9. Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
10. Detroit Lions (at CHI) 

Breakout D/ST of the Week: St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams D/ST will square off against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs so far this season, according to ESPN.com. The Rams are also coming off a game in which they scored 17 fantasy points against the formerly red-hot Seattle Seahawks.

D/ST Bust of the Week: Seattle Seahawks

If you own the Seahawks D/ST, it’s probably a good idea to look elsewhere in Week 17. They will face the Arizona Cardinals, who have scored at will for much of the season.

Coming into 2015, this Week 17 tilt looked like it would be a defensive-minded game. Now—with Seattle’s offense rolling as well—it has the makings of a shootout.

Bold Predictions: Devonta Freeman Has a Massive Week 17 to Cap off Season

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Devonta Freeman

Below are five bold predictions for Week 17 of the 2015 fantasy football season. 

• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Antonio Brown will catch two of them, Martavis Bryant will catch another, and even running back DeAngelo Williams will get in on the action, catching the fourth touchdown. Such a performance from Roethlisberger wouldn’t be all that different from the numbers he put up on the Cleveland Browns earlier this season.

• Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has another monster game to cap off the season and scores 30 fantasy points. He’ll play the New Orleans Saints, who have given up the most fantasy points to running backs so far this season, according to ESPN.com. Freeman scored 27 points against them last time around, but he hasn’t scored over 15 since then.

• New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. scores twice and tops 100 yards. This would be close to an “average” game for OBJ, so we’ll say he scores twice to make it “bolder.” But it’s not an unreasonable prediction, especially when considering the fact the Eagles have given up at least one passing score to a wideout in every game this season, save for one.

• Travis Kelce builds on his momentum for the Kansas City Chiefs, catches two touchdowns. He finally got back on the right track in Week 16, catching six passes for 43 yards and scoring. He also had six receptions for the second week in a row. He’ll also play the Oakland Raiders in Week 17, who have given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, according to ESPN.com.

• Sam Bradford puts up tail-end QB1 numbers as his Philadelphia Eagles take on the New York Giants in Week 17. The Giants have given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this season, according to ESPN.com. Bradford is also on fire right now, as he has thrown for at least 360 yards in a two straight games.

The rankings provided throughout this article are the author's own preliminary Week 17 rankings. His rankings are updated throughout the week at FantasyPros.com.