Your weekend fantasy playbook for Week 17
The latest fantasy football news, rankings and start/sit advice to help you avoid misery on Sunday.
🤕 Fantasy pain index
🚫 Nope: Derek Carr (hand), Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger), Alvin Kamara (groin), CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), David Montgomery (knee), David Njoku (knee), Cedric Tillman (concussion)
🫤 Looking iffy: Davante Adams (hip), Trey Benson (ankle), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest), Jaylen Waddle (knee), Christian Watson (knee)
🙏 Cautiously optimistic: Tyler Boyd (foot), Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring), Tyreek Hill (wrist, rest), Chuba Hubbard (knee), Chris Olave (head), Tony Pollard (ankle), Tua Tagovailoa (hip), Jalen Tolbert (finger)
✅ Looking good: James Conner (knee), J.K. Dobbins (knee), Malik Nabers (toe), Alec Pierce (concussion), Aaron Rodgers (knee), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle)
Note: The above are estimates based on the latest news and injury reports. Always double-check your own rosters before Sunday kickoff!
📋 Weekend update: Latest player rankings
🚨 My Week 17 fantasy football rankings for PPR, Half-PPR, and Standard scoring formats will be updated throughout the weekend.
📈 3 guys up
Deebo Samuel - WR, SF (vs. DET)
My current half-ppr rank: WR20 (+4 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
Samuel will look to build on a big Week 16 that saw him haul in seven of nine targets for 96 yards, a touchdown, and tack on 25 rushing yards. “Both Niners wideouts bring enticing upside in a game where the 49ers could be chasing points,” writes NFL.com’s Michael Florio, referring to Samuel and Jauan Jennings in their favourable matchup with the Lions.
Calvin Ridley - WR, TEN (at JAC)
My current half-ppr rank: WR26 (+2 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
Ridley was targeted 12 times the last time these two teams met. “I expect the Titans to feed him in his return to Jacksonville, and this could be a fun revenge game against the Jaguars,” writes CBS Sports’ Jamey Eisenberg, who also points out that Ridley has reached at least 12.3 PPR points in three of his past four starts with Mason Rudolph at quarterback.
Brian Robinson Jr. - RB, WAS (vs. ATL)
My current half-ppr rank: RB14 (+3 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
If you managed to survive Robinson’s dreadful, two-fumble performance last week in a very tough matchup with the Eagles, he could pay you back this weekend. “The Commanders are four-point favorites with a healthy implied team total (27.5 points) in a game with potentially heavy rain, so Sunday night’s matchup is more favorable. Robinson Jr. has gotten 5.1 YPC at home this season and sees good usage in the red zone, so he belongs in fantasy lineups this week,” writes Yahoo’s Dalton Del Don.
📉 3 guys down
Tony Pollard - RB, TEN (at JAC)
My current half-ppr rank: RB23 (-2 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
Tyjae Spears is closing out the NFL season as the clear preferred backfield option for the Titans, having out-snapped, out-targeted and earned more goalline carries than the banged-up Pollard. “When you consider Pollard is clearly not 100% healthy (Pollard has barely practiced in the past two weeks) plus the drop in usage, it’s easy to understand why Pollard is averaging just 8.3 PPG in his last two games,” writes NBC Sports’ Matt Berry.
Rhamondre Stevenson - RB, NE (vs. LAC)
My current half-ppr rank: RB26 (-2 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
After Stevenson fumbled for the third time this season and dropped a backward pass, Coach Meyo hinted that Antonio Gibson may start at running back this week. This wouldn’t completely kill his fantasy value, but it certainly wouldn’t help. Regardless of that, Stevenson has been inconsistent of late, with 9.5 PPR points or less in three of his last six games.
DeVonta Smith - WR, PHI (vs. DAL)
My current half-ppr rank: WR32 (-2 vs. avg expert ranking on Fantasy Pros)
With Jalen Hurts ruled out for Week 17, Smith is someone with whom to temper expectations. Kenny Pickett did target him eight times against Washington, but he only had 51 yards to show for them. He’s also struggled against Dallas of late, with 87 yards and no TDs on 13 targets.