Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



2015 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. Follow @walterfootball for updates.


Jets at Bills

Start Em:
  • Karlos Williams, RB, Bills
    With LeSean McCoy out, Karlos Williams can be started.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: RB Chris Ivory, RB Bilal Powell (PPR), WR Brandon Marshall, WR Eric Decker, Jets Defense.
    BUF: WR Sammy Watkins, Bills Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills
    If you haven’t heard, LeSean McCoy tore his MCL.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Patriots at Dolphins

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    NE: QB Tom Brady, RB James White (PPR only), TE Rob Gronkowski.
    MIA: WR Jarvis Landry.

    Sit Em:
  • Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots
    If Bill Belichick doesn’t trust his running backs, why should you?

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Ravens at Bengals

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: None.
    CIN: WR A.J. Green, TE Tyler Eifert (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • Buck Allen, RB, Ravens
    Buck Allen is always one mistake away from being benched, so I wouldn’t want to trust anyone like that in a championship.

  • Bengals Running Backs
    It’ll be difficult to use either back versus Baltimore’s solid run defense.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Saints at Falcons

    Start Em:
  • Tim Hightower, RB, Saints
    Keep firing up a producing running back who was out of the league a few weeks ago.

  • Willie Snead, WR, Saints
    Willie Snead is healthy again, so he can be used as a WR3 with Drew Brees hot.

  • Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
    Matt Ryan has been just “meh” all year, but he has a great matchup against the Saints.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: QB Drew Brees, WR Brandin Cooks.
    ATL: RB Devonta Freeman, WR Julio Jones.

    Sit Em:
  • Ben Watson, TE, Saints
    Ben Watson played just half the snaps last week because he was banged up.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Jaguars at Texans

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: WR Allen Robinson, WR Allen Hurns.
    HOU: WR DeAndre Hopkins.

    Sit Em:
  • T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars
    Even if T.J. Yeldon returns this week, he could split the workload against a tough defense.

  • Texans Running Backs
    Bill O’Brien is exactly like Bill Belichick when it comes to his running back rotations.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Steelers at Browns

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB DeAngelo Williams, WR Antonio Brown, WR Martavis Bryant.
    CLE: TE Gary Barnidge.

    Sit Em:
  • Browns Running Backs
    Who the hell knows what Mike Pettine is going to do. Pittsburgh’s defense is decent against the run.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Titans at Colts

    Start Em:
  • Frank Gore, RB, Colts
    Even with a depleted supporting cast, Frank Gore could produce.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TEN: TE Delanie Walker.
    IND: QB Andrew Luck (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
    Sit T.Y. Hilton if Stephen Morris starts. Start him if Andrew Luck suits up.

  • Titans Running Backs
    Tennessee’s running backs are terrible and can’t be started against anyone.




    Redskins at Cowboys

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: None.
    DAL: RB Darren McFadden, WR Dez Bryant (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • All Redskins
    Jay Gruden may either start or limit his starters in a meaningless game.




    Lions at Bears

    Start Em:
  • Zach Miller, TE, Bears
    Zach Miller will be Jay Cutler’s top option if Alshon Jeffery is out.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DET: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, WR Golden Tate.
    CHI: RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery (if he starts).

    Sit Em:
  • Lions Running Backs
    If there was just one, he would be a solid start. But three players sharing the workload is too much.

  • Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
    People are trying to force Eric Ebron as a stud fantasy player, but it’s just not working because he sucks.

  • Eddie Royal, WR, Bears
    Even with Alshon Jeffery potentially out, I’d have issues starting such a mediocre talent.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


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    Eagles at Giants

    Start Em:
  • Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles
    Jordan Matthews finally came alive. You have to like his matchup against New York’s secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PHI: TE Zach Ertz.
    NYG: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

    Sit Em:
  • DeMarco Murray, RB, Eagles
    DeMarco Murray has been demoted, but he was ineffective anyway.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Panthers at Buccaneers

    Start Em:
  • Ted Ginn, WR, Panthers
    Ted Ginn hates me, so I wouldn’t use him, but feel free to start him versus a terrible secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CAR: QB Cam Newton, RB Jonathan Stewart (if he plays), TE Greg Olsen, Panthers Defense.
    TB: RB Doug Martin, WR Mike Evans.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Raiders at Chiefs

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: RB Latavius Murray.
    KC: WR Jeremy Maclin, TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Raiders Receivers
    Amari Cooper is banged up and doesn’t look like himself. Kansas City has a strong secondary anyway.

  • Chiefs Running Backs
    Spencer Ware will be healthier this week, so that means the two backs will split carries.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Chargers at Broncos

    Start Em:
  • Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
    Philip Rivers has been better on the road, so he makes for a decent start here.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SD: TE Antonio Gates.
    DEN: WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Emmanuel Sanders.

    Sit Em:
  • Donald Brown, RB, Chargers
    You might be inclined to start Donald Brown if you just picked him up, but the Broncos are solid versus the run.

  • Broncos Running Backs
    The two players are splitting carries, and the Chargers have been better versus the run lately.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Rams at 49ers

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    STL: RB Todd Gurley.
    SF: RB Shaun Draughn (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Seahawks at Cardinals

    Start Em:
  • Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
    Tyler Lockett has been great recently, so fire him up as a WR3.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch (if he plays), WR Doug Baldwin, Seahawks Defense.
    ARZ: QB Carson Palmer, RB David Johnson, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR John Brown, WR Michael Floyd.

    Sit Em:
  • Christine Michael, RB, Seahawks
    The Seahawks will be splitting their carries if Marshawn Lynch is out again, so it’s unclear how much of a workload Christine Michael will receive.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Vikings at Packers

    Start Em:
  • Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings
    Stefon Diggs could continue to play well with Sam Shields likely to be out again.

  • Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
    Eddie Lacy can be started this week in a favorable matchup.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIN: RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings Defense.
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers.

    Sit Em:
  • Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
    Randall Cobb has been an awful option ever since he got hurt earlier in the season.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





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