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





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