Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projecting Top 10 Studs at Each Position for Finales

With some fantasy leagues running into Week 17 of the NFL season, it's time to set those championship rosters.

Below, I'll help you break down the top 10 players at each position and decide on which players you should start this week and which players should remain firmly planted on your bench.
 

Matt Camp's Fantasy Football Awards

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	CLE	25
2	Tom Brady, NE	MIA	22
3	Cam Newton, CAR	TB	21
4	Blake Bortles, JAC	HOU	20
5	Carson Palmer, ARI	SEA	19
6	Russell Wilson, SEA	ARI	18
7	Aaron Rodgers, GB	MIN	17
8	Eli Manning, NYG	PHI	17
9	Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ	BUF	16
10	Drew Brees, NO	ATL	16

Start 'Em: Eli Manning, New York Giants

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that just saw head coach Chip Kelly fired and didn't have anything to play for to begin with after losing the division to Washington last week.

So, yes, I suspect Eli Manning, Odell Beckham, Jr. and company will carve this defense to shreds.  

Sit 'Em: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers may move cities next year, but don't expect Philip Rivers and company to end the team's stay in San Diego in style. Not against a Denver defense holding opposing quarterbacks to just 11.6 fantasy points per game, best in the NFL.

When these teams first met, Rivers managed just six fantasy points. Sit him, folks.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Todd Gurley, STL	SF	20
2	Devonta Freeman, ATL	NO	18
3	DeAngelo Williams, PIT	CLE	17
4	Adrian Peterson, MIN	GB	16
5	David Johnson, ARI	SEA	14
6	Lamar Miller, MIA	NE	13
7	Charcandrick West, KC	OAK	12
8	Darren McFadden, DAL	WAS	12
9	Doug Martin, TB	CAR	12
10	Latavius Murray, OAK	KC	11

Start 'Em: David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

David Johnson is on fire. In his last four games, he has a combined 86 fantasy points, a ridiculous tally. To put it into perspective, that's more fantasy points than Eagles running back Darren Sproles has managed all season long.

And his upside seems unlimited.

“David Johnson can be very, very special because of his size, his speed—and he’s a fantastic receiver,” his head coach, Bruce Arians, said about him, per Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News.

At this point, Johnson is a must-start option every week, even against Seattle's unforgiving defense. Make sure he's in those lineups.

Sit 'Em: Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns

Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Yes, Javorius Allen rushed for 79 yards and a score against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. But Pittsburgh has still allowed the second-fewest points to opposing running backs per week this season, making  Isaiah Crowell a very risky start.

Perhaps if Crowell was a bit more consistent, he'd be trustworthy despite the matchup. But he's failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games. That makes him impossible to trust in a tough matchup.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Team	Projected Points
1	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	PHI	20
2	Antonio Brown, PIT	CLE	19
3	A.J. Green, CIN	BAL	17
4	Julio Jones, ATL	NO	16
5	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	BUF	15
6	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	JAC	15
7	Allen Robinson, JAC	HOU	15
8	Brandin Cooks, NO	ATL	13
9	Doug Baldwin, SEA	ARI	12
10	Eric Decker, NYJ	BUF	12

Start 'Em: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Yes, Atlanta has held opposing wide receivers to the second-fewest fantasy points per game this season. However, that stat will likely be trumped by the red-hot Brandin Cooks, who has 13 or more fantasy points in seven of his last 11 games and 37 combined points in his last two games.

Trust in Cooks. He's been a savior in the fantasy playoffs thus far. No need to lose the faith now.

Sit 'Em: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

Whereas Cooks has been hot, Larry Fitzgerald has been about as cold as a frozen lake. He's failed to register double-digit fantasy points in six straight games, notching just one touchdown in that time, and now faces a Seattle defense giving up the third fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses. 

It's probably hard to sit a player who was so good in the first half of the season, but you simply can't trust him in a championship week.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	MIA	15
2	Jordan Reed, WAS	DAL	14
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	TB	12
4	Gary Barnidge, CLE	PIT	12
5	Delanie Walker, TEN	IND	11
6	Tyler Eifert, CIN	BAL	10
7	Travis Kelce, KC	OAK	9
8	Julius Thomas, JAC	HOU	8
9	Zach Ertz, PHI	NYG	7
10	Antonio Gates, SD TE	DEN	7

Start 'Em: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Finally, the Eagles seem to have placed their faith in Zach Ertz. With 38 combined points in the last four weeks, Ertz has finally resembled the TE1 many people projected him to be this season. 

With Sam Bradford targeting him early and often, expect a big showing against a shaky New York Giants defense.

Sit 'Em: Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Richard Rodgers has three catches for 12 yards and a touchdown, total, in his last three games.

Sit him. Don't even think about starting him. 

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projected Points
1	DEN	SD	15
2	CAR	TB	13
3	NE	MIA	12
4	STL	SF	11
5	HOU	JAC	11
6	KC	OAK	10
7	CIN	BAL	10
8	ARI	SEA	8
9	SEA	ARI	8
10	PIT	CLE	7

At this point in the season, you know which defenses you can trust and which defenses have proved to be unreliable. Don't get cute, folks.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	MIA	15
2	Graham Gano, CAR	TB	14
3	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	SEA	13
4	Blair Walsh, MIN	GB	12
5	Cairo Santos, KC	OAK	11
6	Josh Brown, NYG	PHI	10
7	Robbie Gould, CHI	DET	10
8	Steven Hauschka, SEA	ARI	10
9	Dan Bailey, DAL	WAS	9
10	Justin Tucker, BAL	CIN	9

If you don't have a top-10 kicker, get one. That's the advice I give every week, because this position is fickle and there's no excuse to not have a player who regularly produces. 

All fantasy stats, ownership percentages and points-against totals via ESPN standard leagues.