2009 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em: Week 17
Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 17 NFL Picks page, I thought I’d devote a new page for this.
There WILL NOT be a START EM, SIT EM column for Week 17. However, there WILL BE Week 17 NFL Fantasy Football Rankings posted Thursday morning.
Chargers at Titans
Start Em:
The Chargers have been poor versus the pass lately; each of the last three quarterbacks to face them has posted 239 yards or more, including Brady Quinn and Carson Palmer.
SD: QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, WR Vincent Jackson, TE Antonio Gates.
TEN: RB Chris Johnson.
Sit Em:
With a championship or semi-final on the line, you can’t trust any of these guys.
Bills at Falcons
Start Em:
Mike Smith is either dumb or insane, so he may try to push Michael Turner back into the lineup after yet another setback to his high ankle sprain. However, there’s a good chance that Jason Snelling starts. If so, he’s a good fantasy play; Snelling will be battling a defense that has surrendered at least 100 rushing yards to each foe since Week 3.
ATL: WR Roddy White, TE Tony Gonzalez.
Sit Em:
In the past five weeks, the highest rushing total Atlanta allowed was 103 to the Eagles. They completely put the clamps on Thomas Jones on Sunday.
Brian Brohm will start. Who knows what you’re going to get with him?
Matt Ryan is hurt. Plus, Buffalo owns 26 interceptions and has held six consecutive opponents to 210 passing yards or less.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Chiefs at Bengals
Start Em:
KC: RB Jamaal Charles.
CIN: RB Cedric Benson, WR Chad Ochocinco, Bengals Defense.
Sit Em:
The Bengals’ cornerbacking duo is awesome. They’ll use bracket coverage on Dwayne Bowe, and I don’t completely trust Chris Chambers.
Prior to last week’s game, Carson Palmer had just four touchdowns in a six-game span. Do you really trust him in your championship or semi-final?
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Raiders at Browns
Start Em:
Not a bad start if you don’t have any options. Derek Anderson tends to throw a lot of picks.
Sit Em:
Who knows how the Raiders plan on running the ball this week? Michael Bush could get anywhere between 4-20 carries.
Jerome Harrison seemingly has a great matchup. Two things: The Raiders shut down Knowshon Moreno last week. Also, Eric Mangina might go with Chris Jennings this week. He’s that much of a douche.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Seahawks at Packers
Start Em:
GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Ryan Grant, WR Donald Driver, WR Greg Jennings, TE Jermichael Finley, Packers Defense.
Sit Em:
He has quietly become one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL.
In the past seven weeks, the Packers have allowed 81 rushing yards or less to each opponent they’ve faced.
Not against Charles Woodson.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Texans at Dolphins
Start Em:
If you’re REALLY desperate for a WR3 – notice the caps – you can try Kevin Walter. Miami’s secondary isn’t any good and Matt Schaub is on fire.
HOU: QB Matt Schaub, WR Andre Johnson.
MIA: RB Ricky Williams.
Sit Em:
Shame on you if you started Arian Foster last week. Gary Kubiak is a pretty anal man when it comes to his running backs. Perhaps he’d have fun at Eric Mangini’s birthday party?
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Jaguars at Patriots
Start Em:
The Jaguars stop the run really well, but Laurence Maroney gets a lot of goal-line opportunities. He’s an OK RB2.
JAX: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR Mike Sims-Walker.
NE: QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, WR Randy Moss.
Sit Em:
David Garrard just posted three touchdowns against the Colts, but keep in mind he had only five touchdowns between Weeks 5 and 14. He’s not to be trusted.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Buccaneers at Saints
Start Em:
Antonio Bryant should bounce back against a Saints secondary that is having major problems right now.
Still very involved in the offense with Lance Moore back. A very good WR3 to have.
TB: Kellen Winslow Jr.
NO: QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston.
Sit Em:
You can’t rely on these guys, especially in a fantasy playoff game. Sean Payton obviously hates fantasy football.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Panthers at Giants
Start Em:
Only if DeAngelo Williams sits. Williams reaggravated his ankle injury against the Vikings, but the Panthers haven’t given out any information about the injury since.
Given Carolina’s struggles against the run, I’d say there’s a good chance Brandon Jacobs gets into the end zone.
It was only one game, but it looks like the Giants have gotten it together on defense. They’ll take advantage of Carolina’s reserve tackles.
CAR: RB DeAngelo Williams (if healthy), WR Steve Smith.
NYG: Steve Smith.
Sit Em:
Hakeem Nicks injured his hamstring against the Redskins. Soft-tissue injuries tend to linger, so don’t expect much from Hakeem Nicks in the next couple of weeks.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Ravens at Steelers
Start Em:
Only if Troy Polamalu is out again. In his past two games, Joe Flacco is 34-of-49 for 464 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Ravens don’t get many sacks, but they should be able to generate some against Ben Roethlisberger.
BAL: RB Ray Rice, WR Derrick Mason.
PIT: QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Hines Ward, WR Santonio Holmes, TE Heath Miller, Steelers Defense.
Sit Em:
No team has gained more than 4.1 YPC against the Ravens since Adrian Peterson and the Vikings managed to do so back on Oct. 18. Rashard Mendenhall’s not a terrible start because he had 91 rushing yards against Baltimore the last time he played them, but you might have better options.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Lions at 49ers
Start Em:
I’d start Maurice Morris in PPR leagues because he’s a big part of the passing game. Otherwise, I’d stay away and only consider him as a flex option.
A solid WR3 against Detroit’s horrific secondary.
Playing the 49ers against either Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton sounds very lucrative.
DET: WR Calvin Johnson.
SF: RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis.
Sit Em:
Josh Morgan just had a solid game, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable relying on him. In Week 14, Morgan had just three catches for 14 yards.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Rams at Cardinals
Start Em:
Excluding last week because the Texans don’t run the ball, the last time the Rams have allowed less than 120 rushing yards to an opponent was Oct. 11. Chris Wells is getting more touches each week.
Two words: Keith Null.
STL: RB Steven Jackson.
ARZ: QB Kurt Warner, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Anquan Boldin.
Sit Em:
His carry totals the last three weeks: 6, 2, 6.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Jets at Colts
Start Em:
His last two games with Mark Sanchez: eight catches, 150 yards, two touchdowns.
With Reggie Wayne erased by Darrelle Revis and Pierre Garcon likely out, Austin Collie could be Peyton Manning’s only option outside of Dallas Clark.
NYJ: RB Thomas Jones.
IND: QB Peyton Manning (pending), TE Dallas Clark (pending).
Sit Em:
He might not play. Even if he does, he could struggle; the Jets are great against the run.
Darrelle Revis Alert. Plus, he might not play the entire game.
Hand injury. Could be out.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Broncos at Eagles
Start Em:
The Eagles have struggled a bit against the run lately. Correll Buckhalter might be out again (stay tuned).
DEN: WR Brandon Marshall.
PHI: QB Donovan McNabb, WR DeSean Jackson, TE Brent Celek, Eagles Defense.
Sit Em:
In his last three games, LeSean McCoy has just 78 rushing yards. He also has just one touchdown since Week 11.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Cowboys at Redskins
Start Em:
Did you see what the Giants did to Washington’s offensive line on Monday night?
DAL: QB Tony Aurora Snowmo, RB Marion Barber, WR Miles Austin-Jones, TE Jason Witten.
WAS: TE Fred Davis.
Sit Em:
Way too inconsistent. Had just one catch last week.
Dallas is decent against the run and Washington’s offensive line can’t open up any holes anyway.
Santana Moss has just one touchdown since Week 4, and his yardage totals the past seven weeks are: 47, 8, 38, 28, 68, 58, 55.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Vikings at Bears
Start Em:
I like tight ends who are projected to get tons of red-zone opportunities. The Vikings will be in scoring territory quite often here.
MIN: QB Brett Favre, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Sidney Rice, Vikings Defense.
Sit Em:
Percy Harvin is having major issues with his migraines. I’d recommend staying away barring some positive news later in the week.
The only question is how many interceptions Jay Cutler will toss in this game.
Matt Forte had just 27 rushing yards the last time he battled the Bears.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Thursday
Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em for the other games to be posted when the corresponding Week 17 NFL Picks are up.
NFL Picks - Dec. 15
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
