Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



2016 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.


Houston Texans (9-6) at Tennessee Titans (8-7)

Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    HOU: Texans Defense.
    TEN: RB DeMarco Murray, TE Delanie Walker, Titans Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Lamar Miller, RB, Texans
    Lamar Miller is likely to sit out a meaningless game.

  • Rishard Matthews, WR, Titans
    Rishard Matthews can’t be trusted with Matt Cassel at quarterback.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Buffalo Bills (7-8) at New York Jets (3-12)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    BUF: RB LeSean McCoy, WR Sammy Watkins, Bills Defense.
    NYJ: RB Bilal Powell.

    Sit Em:
  • Matt Forte, RB, Jets
    Matt Forte has taken a back seat to Bilal Powell.

  • Jets Wide Receivers
    Brandon Marshall is banged up, while Robby Anderson just isn’t good enough, despite all the targets he’s getting.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-9-1)

    Start Em:
  • Kenneth Dixon, RB, Ravens
    I’d take a chance on Kenneth Dixon, who could get more carries this week with Baltimore eliminated.

  • Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals (PPR)
    Jeremy Hill will continue to catch lots of passes with Giovani Bernard out.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: WR Steve Smith.
    CIN: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Mike Wallace, WR, Ravens
    Mike Wallace is an inconsistent deep threat who consistently posts mediocre numbers.

  • A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
    A.J. Green has been ruled out for this game.

  • Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals
    Tyler Eifert has been ruled out for this game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) at Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

    Start Em:
  • Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars
    Blake Bortles should be able to continue his great play against the Colts’ horrible defense.

  • Chris Ivory, RB, Jaguars
    Chris Ivory should be able to run all over the Colts, who couldn’t stop Oakland’s running backs.

  • Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars
    I’d use Allen Robinson despite his struggles because Indianapolis’ secondary has issues.

  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: None.
    IND: QB Andrew Luck, WR T.Y. Hilton, WR Donte Moncrief (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars
    Ruled out for Sunday’s game.




    Dallas Cowboys (13-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-9)

    Start Em:
  • Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles
    Dallas has problems in its secondary and may not play its starters the entire game.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: None.
    PHI: RB Darren Sproles (PPR), TE Zach Ertz.

    Sit Em:
  • Cowboys Starters
    The Cowboys have stated that their starters will play, but how long will they be on the field this Sunday? Start them if you’re daring, but you could regret it.






    Chicago Bears (3-12) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

    Start Em:
  • Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings
    If you want to trust Adam Thielen again, that’s fine. He could have an OK game, but he’s not getting 200 yards again.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CHI: RB Jordan Howard, Bears Defense.
    MIN: WR Stefon Diggs, Vikings Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears
    Xavier Rhodes could be a problem for Alshon Jeffery.

  • Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
    Adrian Peterson can’t really be trusted, and the Vikings can’t block anyway.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Carolina Panthers (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

    Start Em:
  • Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers
    Kelvin Benjamin has another easy matchup.

  • Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
    Jameis Winston should have a bounce-back game against Carolina’s poor defense.

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

    Sit Em:
  • Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers
    Doug Martin has sucked this year, so it’s not surprising that he was a healthy scratch last week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Cleveland Browns (1-14) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns
    Isaiah Crowell will likely get most of the touches with Duke Johnson banged up, and he could be going up against Pittsburgh’s backups.

  • Terrelle Pryor, WR, Browns
    Terrelle Pryor can be used again with Cody Kessler back under center.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CLE: TE Gary Barnidge.
    PIT: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Steelers Offense
    The Steelers will likely sit their starters in a meaningless game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    New England Patriots (13-2) at Miami Dolphins (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots
    Dion Lewis appears to have become New England’s primary back.

  • Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Patriots
    The Patriots are using three-receiver sets with Rob Gronkowski out, and Malcolm Mitchell is producing. He has an easier matchup this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NE: QB Tom Brady, WR Julian Edelman, TE Martellus Bennett, Patriots Defense.
    MIA: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Dolphins Offense
    The Dolphins have said they’re going to play their starters, but for how long? I would not use any of them.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    New York Giants (10-5) at Washington Redskins (8-6-1)

    Start Em:
  • Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
    Kirk Cousins should be able to play well against a New York defense missing some starters.

  • Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins
    With that in mind, fire up Pierre Garcon again.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYG: None.
    WAS: WR DeSean Jackson.

    Sit Em:
  • Giants Offense
    There have been rumblings that the Giants will sit their starters.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    New Orleans Saints (7-8) at Atlanta Falcons (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Willie Snead, WR, Saints
    Willie Snead should be started, as Drew Brees will continue to spread the ball around.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: QB Drew Brees, RB Mark Ingram, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Michael Thomas.
    ATL: QB Matt Ryan, RB Devonta Freeman, WR Julio Jones.

    Sit Em:
  • Taylor Gabriel and Mohamed Sanu, WR, Falcons
    Taylor Gabriel isn’t a good option with Julio Jones back. Mohamed Sanu is a marginal talent.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Arizona Cardinals (6-8-1) at Los Angeles Rams (4-11)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    ARZ: RB David Johnson, WR Larry Fitzgerald.
    LA: RB Todd Gurley.

    Sit Em:
  • Kenny Britt, WR, Rams
    Kenny Britt will have to go up against Patrick Peterson.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) at San Diego Chargers (5-10)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    KC: RB Spencer Ware, TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs Defense.
    SD: TE Antonio Gates.

    Sit Em:
  • Jeremy Maclin, WR, Chiefs
    Jeremy Maclin has a tough matchup against Casey Hayward.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1) at San Francisco 49ers (2-13)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, WR Doug Baldwin, TE Jimmy Graham, Seahawks Defense.
    SF: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
    Thomas Rawls is iffy for this week, so he may not get many carries if he plays.

  • Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
    Carlos Hyde is ruled out for Sunday’s game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Oakland Raiders (12-3) at Denver Broncos (8-7)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: Raiders Defense.
    DEN: Broncos Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Raiders Wide Receivers
    I wouldn’t trust the Oakland receivers against Denver’s defense, especially with Matt McGloin under center.

  • Broncos Wide Receivers
    I like Denver’s receivers even less with Paxton Lynch starting.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Detroit Lions (9-6)

    Start Em:
  • Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
    Marvin Jones has an easy matchup versus a secondary that just surrendered 200 yards to Adam Thielen.

  • Obvious Starts:
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Jordy Nelson, WR Davante Adams.
    DET: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Golden Tate, Lions Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
    Randall Cobb is banged up, so I’d be cautious about starting him.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





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