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.



Dallas Cowboys (6-9) at New York Giants (5-10)

Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: WR Amari Cooper, WR CeeDee Lamb.
    NYG: TE Evan Engram.

    Sit Em:
  • Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
    Ezekiel Elliott has gained weight and quit on his team.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) at Cleveland Browns (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: None.
    CLE: RB Nick Chubb, TE Austin Hooper.

    Sit Em:
  • Steelers Offense
    There’s a chance the Steelers sit all of their starters.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    New York Jets (2-13) at New England Patriots (6-9)

    Start Em:
  • Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims, WR, Jets
    These guys went off the last time they played against the Patriots.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: None.
    NE: Patriots Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets
    Bill Belichick can erase the best aspect of the opposing offense.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Minnesota Vikings (6-9) at Detroit Lions (5-10)

    Start Em:
  • D’Andre Swift, RB, Lions
    This is a much easier matchup for D’Andre Swift.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIN: RB Alexander Mattison, WR Justin Jefferson, WR Adam Thielen.
    DET: WR Marvin Jones, TE T.J. Hockenson.

    Sit Em:
  • Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings
    If you haven’t heard, Dalvin Cook will sit out this game.




    Atlanta Falcons (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5)

    Start Em:
  • Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
    Matt Ryan’s been inconsistent this year, but he should get plenty of garbage yardage in this game.

  • Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers
    Leonard Fournette can be started if Ronald Jones is out once again.

  • Obvious Starts:
    ATL: WR Calvin Ridley, TE Hayden Hurst.
    TB: WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin, TE Rob Gronkowski.

    Sit Em:
  • Todd Gurley, RB, Falcons
    Todd Gurley’s not getting touches anymore.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1)

    Start Em:
  • Marquise Brown, WR, Ravens
    This is another easy matchup for Marquise Brown.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews, Ravens Defense.
    CIN: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Ravens Running Backs
    There are too many guys splitting too many carries.

  • Bengals Offense
    Cincinnati has a much tougher matchup this week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Miami Dolphins (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (12-3)

    Start Em:
  • Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins
    Myles Gaskin is back, so I’d use him in most matchups because of his receiving ability.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIA: TE Mike Gesicki, Dolphins Defense.
    BUF: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Bills Offense
    The Bills may not play their starters the entire game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14) at Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

    Start Em:
  • T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
    T.Y. Hilton is finally clicking with Philip Rivers.

  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: None.
    IND: RB Jonathan Taylor, Colts Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Jaguars Offense
    D.J. Chark and James Robinson are ruled out, so there’s no one worth playing on the Jaguars.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Green Bay Packers (12-3) at Chicago Bears (8-7)

    Start Em:
  • Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
    Allen Lazard is healthy again.

  • Obvious Starts:
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, TE Robert Tonyan, Packers Defense.
    CHI: RB David Montgomery, WR Allen Robinson.

    Sit Em:
  • Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bears
    Mitchell Trubisky might be a popular streaming option this week, but I just don’t trust him.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Tennessee Titans (10-5) at Houston Texans (4-11)

    Start Em:
  • Corey Davis, WR, Titans
    This is the easiest matchup of the year for Corey Davis.

  • Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen, WRs, Texans
    The Titans can’t cover anyone.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TEN: RB Derrick Henry, WR A.J. Brown.
    HOU: QB Deshaun Watson, RB David Johnson, WR Brandin Cooks.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    New Orleans Saints (10-4) at Carolina Panthers (4-10)

    Start Em:
  • Ty Montgomery, RB, Saints
    Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray and Dwayne Washington are out, so Ty Montgomery is the next man up.

  • Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Saints
    Emmanuel Sanders is the Saints’ top receiver with Michael Thomas out for the year.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: TE Jared Cook.
    CAR: WR Curtis Samuel.

    Sit Em:
  • Drew Brees, QB, Saints
    Drew Brees doesn’t appear to be 100 percent.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Los Angeles Chargers (6-9) at Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

    Start Em:
  • Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
    Justin Herbert can be used against a second-string defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    LAC: RB Austin Ekeler.
    KC: None.

    Sit Em:
  • All Chiefs
    Andy Reid always sits his starters in Week 17.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Seattle Seahawks (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, RB Chris Carson, WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks Defense.
    SF: RB Jeff Wilson Jr., TE George Kittle. Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) at Denver Broncos (5-10)

    Start Em:
  • Nelson Agholor, WR, Raiders
    Nelson Agholor has blossomed into a good receiver somehow, and the matchup is positive.

  • Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy, WRs, Broncos
    This is a good matchup for both of Denver’s receivers.

  • Obvious Starts:
    LV: RB Josh Jacobs, TE Darren Waller.
    DEN: RB Melvin Gordon, TE Noah Fant.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Arizona Cardinals (8-7) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

    Start Em:
  • Rams Starting Running Back
    It’s Cam Akers if he’s playing. If not, it’s Darrell Henderson. If both are out, it’s Malcolm Brown.

  • Obvious Starts:
    ARZ: QB Kyler Murray, WR DeAndre Hopkins.
    LAR: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Kenyan Drake, RB, Cardinals
    Kenyan Drake is losing too many touches to Chase Edmonds.

  • Rams Passing Offense
    No one is to be trusted with John Wolford under center.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Washington Redskins (6-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: RB J.D. McKissic (PPR), WR Terry McLaurin, TE Logan Thomas, Redskins Defense.
    PHI: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Boston Scott, TE Zach Ertz.

    Sit Em:
  • Eagles Receivers
    Jalen Hurts is spreading the ball around too much.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





    NFL Picks - Dec. 11


    2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11


    NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9


    2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29


    Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4