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 page for this. Follow @walterfootball for updates.
New York Jets (5-9) at Cleveland Browns (9-5)
Start Em:
NYJ: RB Breece Hall, WR Garrett Wilson.
CLE: WR Amari Cooper, TE David Njoku.
Sit Em:
I’m fine with Amari Cooper, but no one else against the Jets’ great secondary.
Detroit Lions (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-5)
Start Em:
The Cowboys should be able to throw all over the Lions.
DET: RB David Montgomery, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, TE Sam LaPorta.
DAL: QB Dak Prescott, RB Tony Pollard, WR CeeDee Lamb.
Sit Em:
Miami Dolphins (11-4) at Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
Start Em:
MIA: RB Raheem Mostert, WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle.
BAL: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Isaiah Likely.
Sit Em:
It’s difficult to run on the Dolphins.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
New England Patriots (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (9-6)
Start Em:
Demario Douglas continues to be a solid PPR option.
NE: RB Ezekiel Elliott.
BUF: QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook, WR Stefon Diggs.
Sit Em:
The Patriots excel at stopping tight ends, and Dalton Kincaid is losing targets to Dawson Knox.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Chicago Bears (6-9)
Start Em:
I guess Bijan Robinson is back on the table? It’s still difficult to trust Arthur Smith.
ATL: TE Kyle Pitts.
CHI: QB Justin Fields, WR D.J. Moore, TE Cole Kmet.
Sit Em:
Chicago running backs are very unappealing because of the three-man committee. Khalil Herbert can be started if D’Onta Foreman is out again.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Tennessee Titans (5-10) at Houston Texans (8-7)
Start Em:
Noah Brown is a good play if Sean Murphy-Bunting sits again.
TEN: WR DeAndre Hopkins.
HOU: QB C.J. Stroud, WR Nico Collins.
Sit Em:
These are not your slightly older brother’s Houston Texans.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
Start Em:
LV: RB Josh Jacobs, WR Davante Adams.
IND: RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Sit Em:
The Raiders usually defend slot receivers rather well.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Carolina Panthers (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
Start Em:
CAR: WR Adam Thielen.
JAX: RB Travis Etienne, WR Calvin Ridley, TE Evan Engram.
Sit Em:
Chuba Hubbard has a very difficult matchup against the Jaguars.
Miles Sanders has been benched.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at New York Giants (5-10)
Start Em:
LAR: QB Matthew Stafford, RB Kyren Williams, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Puka Nacua.
NYG: RB Saquon Barkley, TE Darren Waller.
Sit Em:
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)
Start Em:
Kyler Murray has a great matchup against Philadelphia’s awful secondary.
The Cardinals are very weak against the run.
ARZ: WR Marquise Brown, TE Trey McBride.
PHI: QB Jalen Hurts, WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith.
Sit Em:
The Eagles are stellar against the run.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
New Orleans Saints (7-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
Start Em:
Rashid Shaheed has a great matchup in this game.
The Buccaneers are weak against tight ends.
Chris Godwin has finally caught fire.
NO: RB Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Olave.
TB: RB Rachaad White (PPR), WR Mike Evans.
Sit Em:
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Washington Redskins (4-11)
Start Em:
SF: QB Brock Purdy, RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle.
WAS: None.
Sit Em:
It’s very difficult to run on the 49ers.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) at Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Start Em:
Both Steeler backs can be used against a sub-par Seattle run defense.
PIT: TE Pat Freirmuth.
SEA: WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett.
Sit Em:
The Steelers should be better against the run now.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-4*)
Start Em:
Rashee Rice has emerged as the Chiefs’ top receiver.
CIN: RB Joe Mixon, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins.
KC: QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco, TE Travis Kelce.
Sit Em:
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) at Denver Broncos (7-8)
Start Em:
Russell Wilson has a great connection with Courtland Sutton.
LAC: RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen.
DEN: Broncos Defense.
Sit Em:
Don’t expect another big play against Denver’s secondary.
Russell Wilson is barely looking in Jerry Jeudy’s direction.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Green Bay Packers (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
Start Em:
The Vikings are poor against slot receivers.
Every quarterback looks great against the Packers.
Green Bay is awful against the run.
GB: RB Aaron Jones, WR Christian Watson (if he plays).
MIN: WR Justin Jefferson, WR Jordan Addison, TE T.J. Hockenson.
Sit Em:
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
