It’s been an entertaining year doing these weekly articles for you. Thanks for sticking with me all year long. It’s been a rough year with an alarming amount of QB injuries, but I hope I’ve helped you succeed somehow. I speak my piece here, but ultimately, you decide for your rosters. If you’ve made it to your fantasy finals, bring the championship home with our week 17 starts/sits.
Starts – Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford – Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants
The Rams’ offense is hot at the right time and Stafford is the ringleader. He finished as a top-12 QB in his last five games. As long as he’s not playing a top-tier defense (which the Giants aren’t), I have no fear of his downfall. He’s a top-10 play for me this week.
Derek Carr – New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are few better cheap streaming options this week than Carr; this is a shock considering how low I’ve been on Carr this year. Tampa is leading the league in passing yards allowed over their last three matchups. Carr is coming off back-to-back top-10 QB performances. I’ve got him projected as a mid to high-end QB2 this week.
Sits – Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco – Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets
I’m sure you’ve heard this, but I believe in this Jets’ defense. The only QBs this season to post a top-10 week against the Jets are Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen. Unless Flacco can rewind time on his body and use his legs more, I don’t trust him to beat the odds this week.
Mason Rudolph – Pittsburgh Steelers @ Seattle Seahawks
Rudolph had a solid outing last week, but don’t expect lightning to strike twice. The Steelers still have tons of issues to fix on offense. Although they did start passing more downfield, they’re playing on the road this week where Pittsburgh ranks dead last in pass attempts. They throw for the sixth-fewest yards on the road. Things are starting to look up, but I still wouldn’t trust a Pittsburgh QB heading into fantasy championships.
Jared Goff – Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
Dallas ranks as a top-10 passing defense in the league over their last three games. In the same span, they’re allowing the fourth most rushing yards per game in the league. Unfortunately, Jared Goff will likely have to take a backseat this week. Dan Campbell will likely revert to his preferred smash-mouth playstyle and feature Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery this week.
Starts – Running Backs
David Montgomery – Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
Please see Jared Goff‘s sit section. Both Detroit RBs should be fantasy-viable this week. Nine of Montgomery’s eleven TDs this year have come from inside the 10-yard line. He also ranks fifth in the league in rush attempts within the 10-yard line. Given the Cowboys’ recent struggles with the rushing attack, Montgomery should carve out an excellent role this week with significant goal line usage.
Ezekiel Elliott – New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
I don’t care how old he is, how inefficient he is, or how “washed” he is, Zeke is receiving the workload we dream of for RBs. He’s been a top-10 RB in two of his last three games. Buffalo is a neutral matchup for RBs, so he should have a decent outing this week. I would even go as far as to say he’s worth sending a trade offer for. If you need a flex for your championship, it’s hard to think of any as cheap or better.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
With Isiah Pacheco still not practicing and Jerick McKinnon on IR, CEH is another hot option to start this week. The Bengals are a favorable matchup for running backs this year, and I doubt we see La’Mical Perine or Elijah McGuire getting many reps. The volume and upside of being in the Kansas City offense are enough to propel him to being a flex-worthy option.
Sits – Running Backs
James Conner – Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs this year. The last time Conner faced a defense this stout against RBs was in week 12 against the Rams, where he finished as the RB44. He’ll likely provide a safe floor, but the ceiling is as low as it gets. There are too many better options available this week.
Khalil Herbert – Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons
Herbert finally bounced back last week, finishing as the RB7. However, Atlanta ranks first in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Combine a tough defense with average NFL talent and you find why I have Herbert on the sit list. He ranks outside of my top 25 RBs this week.
Gus Edwards – Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins
Edwards had a mediocre day last week, posting poor volume and efficiency, saved only by a touchdown on a long catch on his lone target. I could easily be wrong about Baltimore being the fourth-highest-scoring offense, but I don’t think it would be wise to lean on Edwards for fantasy production. He could easily have the same game as last week without the touchdown and long catch.
Starts – Wide Receivers
Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccanneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Mike Evans is a WR1 this week. Baker Mayfield is on a tear and Evans is his primary target. Marshon Lattimore (CB – NO) is out this week, so I expect a regular game from Evans. Don’t be fooled by Evans’ history versus the Saints when the guy normally stuck to his hip in those games is not playing. Have no fear.
Rashee Rice – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Rice has seen 9+ targets in each of his last five games, posting three top-12 WR weeks in that span. Cincinnati allows the fourth-most adjusted fantasy points per target to WRs and Travis Kelce is seemingly in a slump after posting back-to-back performances outside the top 20 TEs. Rice could get fantasy managers a solid performance this week.
Sits – Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs – Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Call me crazy, I don’t care. Diggs is sabotaging fantasy managers in the playoffs this year–there’s a clear line in his production drop since the firing of Ken Dorsey in week 10. Since then, he has had one WR13 week and five weeks outside the top 45 WRs. We can’t take another week like that from a guy you’re banking on for matchup-winning upside. He ranks outside of my top 24 WRs this week. If you’re struggling with a replacement, please message me via Twitter/X or stop by the DFF Discord channel.
Drake London – Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears
London has finished outside of the top 50 WRs in his past two games. Some hoped the switch to Taylor Heinicke would boost London and the passing offense in Atlanta. However, I don’t think that’s the case this into the season. We have to trust what we see and all I see is that Atlanta doesn’t want their pass catchers to be great. Surprisingly, Chicago has not been a favorable matchup for WRs this year, but that’s still not a good reason to start London this week.
Amari Cooper – Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets
We thanked the fantasy gods for Cooper’s fantastic performance last week that propelled many teams to the fantasy championships. Unfortunately, I’m fading this week–this Jets defense is just too powerful. In my opinion, the floor is too low to warrant putting Cooper in your starting lineup this week.
Tee Higgins – Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs this season, so as incredible as Higgins has been for fantasy managers these past weeks, it’s tough to trust him this week. Ja’Marr Chase is back at practice and looks to resume his number-one role this week. Mixon is likely the second option for the offense, making Higgins a low-ceiling option this week.
Starts – Tight Ends
Trey McBride – Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles
We can expect the Cardinals to pass the ball often, as the Eagles have a stout run defense–ranking second in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs. Arizona doesn’t have many options in the passing attack, so McBride has effectively become the second option. I’m expecting an above-average day for this favorable matchup.
Jake Ferguson – Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions
Detroit ranks among the best-run defenses in the league. After two straight weeks outside the top 15 TEs, a favorable matchup should see Ferguson work his way back into fantasy managers’ hearts. Ferguson has plenty of TD upside this week in what could be one of the higher-scoring matchups of the week.
Sits – Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid – Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Fool me once, shame on you. Kincaid has been severely underutilized since the return of Dawson Knox. This trend is likely to continue. Kincaid is now playing less than 50% of snaps and not seeing nearly the volume he previously saw. It is unfortunate, but until we’re shown differently, Kincaid belongs on fantasy benches.
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears
I am fed up with Pitts, personally. This might be considered low-hanging fruit, but he still has name value. Fantasy managers could be enticed to start him this week due to his matchup. However, we’ve been burned before and I find it impossible that Arthur Smith will come through for us when we need it most. After a decent week last week, Pitts is a major sit this week.
I hope you all benefitted from this article, and I thank you for reading it. I find true enjoyment in sharing my experience and helping others. So, I’m always more than willing to answer any fantasy football questions via Twitter/X @FF_Reez. Thanks for reading! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
