Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



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.



Cleveland Browns (6-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-14)

Start Em:
  • Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns (PPR)
    I’d be fine using Kareem Hunt in PPR leagues, given how many targets he’s seeing.

  • Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals
    Tyler Boyd doesn’t have an impossible matchup, so you can use him.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CLE: RB Nick Chubb.
    CIN: RB Joe Mixon.

    Sit Em:
  • Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns
    Baker Mayfield was a popular sleeper two weeks ago in DFS. Don’t fall into that trap again.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Chicago Bears (7-7) at Minnesota Vikings (10-4)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    CHI: WR Allen Robinson.
    MIN: None.

    Sit Em:
  • David Montgomery, RB, Bears
    The Vikings are stout against the run.

  • Vikings Starters
    The Vikings will likely sit their starters.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Atlanta Falcons (5-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

    Start Em:
  • Breshad Perriman and Justin Watson, WRs, Buccaneers
    Breshad Perriman is finally blossoming into the receiver Ozzie Newsome thought he’d be. However, I’d rather play Justin Watson, who has a better chance for more targets. Both are good options.

  • Obvious Starts:
    ATL: QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio Jones, TE Austin Hooper.
    TB: QB Jameis Winston, TE O.J. Howard.

    Sit Em:
  • Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
    The Buccaneers have an elite run defense.

  • Buccaneers Running Backs
    It’s impossible to trust any Tampa runner going forward.




    New Orleans Saints (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (5-10)

    Start Em: c
  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: QB Drew Brees, RB Alvin Kamara, WR Michael Thomas.
    CAR: RB Christian McCaffrey, WR D.J. Moore (if he plays).

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    New York Jets (6-9) at Buffalo Bills (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: RB Le’Veon Bell (PPR).
    BUF: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Bills Starters
    The Bills’ starters won’t play very much if they even take the field.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Miami Dolphins (4-11) at New England Patriots (12-3)

    Start Em:
  • Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
    Tom Brady is a good fantasy option this week against Miami’s poor defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIA: None.
    NE: RB James White (PPR), WR Julian Edelman, Patriots Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
    DeVante Parker could cool down against Stephon Gilmore.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Green Bay Packers (12-3) at Detroit Lions (3-11-1)

    Start Em:
  • Danny Amendola, WR, Lions
    Danny Amendola is seeing more targets with Marvin Jones injured.

  • Obvious Starts:
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, Packers Defense.
    DET: WR Kenny Golladay.

    Sit Em:
  • Lions Running Backs
    Kerryon Johnson is back, but he’s not seeing the entire workload.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)

    Start Em:
  • Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
    This isn’t a great matchup, but Philip Rivers could get lots of garabge yardage.

  • Damien Williams, RB, Chiefs
    Damien Williams is back, and his touches could increase this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    LAC: WR Austin Ekeler (PPR), WR Keenan Allen, TE Hunter Henry.
    KC: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce.

    Sit Em:
  • LeSean McCoy, RB, Chiefs
    LeSean McCoy is on a snap count, and he may not even play.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Tennessee Titans (8-7) at Houston Texans (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans
    Ryan Tannehill can be started in an easy matchup.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TEN: RB Derrick Henry, WR A.J. Brown.
    HOU: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Texans Starters
    Bill O’Brien said he’s playing his starters, but I don’t believe him.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Indianapolis Colts (7-8) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    IND: RB Marlon Mack, WR T.Y. Hilton, Colts Defense.
    JAX: RB Leonard Fournette, WR D.J. Chark.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Washington Redskins (3-12) at Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

    Start Em:
  • Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins
    Terry McLaurin has proven that he can produce with any quarterback.

  • Steven Sims, WR, Redskins
    I’d be willing to try this guy after he scored two touchdowns last week.

  • Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys
    Michael Gallup is the safe option with Amari Cooper dealing with a shoulder injury.

  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: None.
    DAL: RB Ezekiel Elliott.

    Sit Em:
  • Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
    Dak Prescott has a major shoulder concern.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) at New York Giants (4-11)

    Start Em:
  • Greg Ward, WR, Eagles
    Greg Ward has become the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver.

  • Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
    Continue to use Dallas Goedert, whose role continues to increase.

  • Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
    Daniel Jones could have another monster game against a bad secondary.

  • Darius Slayton, WR, Giants
    Darius Slayton will be back from injury this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PHI: QB Carson Wentz, RB Miles Sanders, TE Zach Ertz (if he plays).
    NYG: RB Saquon Barkley, WR Sterling Shepard, WR Golden Tate (PPR).

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-2)

    Start Em:
  • JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers
    JuJu Smith-Schuster likely won’t have to battle Baltimore’s talented cornerbacks this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: RB James Conner (if he plays), Steelers Defense.
    BAL: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Ravens Starters
    The Ravens are sitting their starters.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1) at Los Angeles Rams (8-7)

    Start Em:
  • Jared Goff, QB, Rams
    Jared Goff is a strong option this week in a very easy matchup.

  • Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
    Tyler Higbee will be an option again versus Arizona’s poor defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    ARZ: RB Kenyan Drake.
    LAR: WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods, Rams Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
    Todd Gurley may not see much of a workload in a meaningless game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Oakland Raiders (7-8) at Denver Broncos (6-9)

    Start Em:
  • DeAndre Washington*, RB, Raiders
    DeAndre Washington can be started if Josh Jacobs is sidelined.

  • Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders (PPR)
    Derek Carr loves throwing to Hunter Henfrow, who seems like a good PPR option.

  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: RB Josh Jacobs (if he plays), TE Darren Waller.
    DEN: RB Phillip Lindsay, WR Courtland Sutton, TE Noah Fant.

    Sit Em:
  • Tyrell Williams, WR, Raiders
    Tyrell Williams is dealing with an injury.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    San Francisco 49ers (12-3) at Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

    Start Em:
  • Raheem Mostert, RB, 49ers
    Raheem Mostert has been stellar lately.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SF: WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle, 49ers Defense.
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson.

    Sit Em:
  • Seahawks Offense
    I can’t say I really love anyone on the Seahawks besides Russell Wilson, given the number of injuries and poor offensive line play.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





    2024 NFL Mock Draft - March 19


    NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22


    Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19


    NFL Picks - Feb. 12