Fantasy Football Starts and Sits: Matchups Analysis for Week 17

Welcome to our Week 17 matchup analysis and start/sit column for fantasy football. We'll be covering every single contest from the Sunday slate in one convenient location, helping you make the best decisions for your fantasy lineups. Be sure to check back regularly because this article will be updated as news comes in regarding injuries and other important information.

Chris O'Reilly will start off by covering the first set of games that begin at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, and Spencer Aguiar will take you home with his analysis of the late afternoon and evening games.

If you have any additional lineup questions, follow us on Twitter @Teeoffsports and @cjoreillyCLE and feel free to ask away! Without further ado, let's get started.

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Matchups Analysis - 1:00 PM ET Games

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Matchups We Love:

Alvin Kamara (RB, NO)

The 1:00 slate is mostly composed of meaningless games, with the Saints being one of the few teams with anything to play for. A first-round bye awaits New Orleans if it wins in Week 17 and San Francisco loses to Seattle (very possible) or Green Bay loses to Detroit (not quite as likely). In any case, the Saints do have some incentive to keep their starters on the field for more than a couple of series' in this one. Their opponent is a Panthers team that, in retrospect, appears to have thrown in the towel on the 2019 season nearly two months ago. Carolina is by far the softest fantasy matchup for running backs, having allowed the most rushing yards and nine more touchdowns to the position than any other team. The leading rusher on each of the Panthers' last four opponents has gone for at least 84 yards and at least one touchdown. The Saints are unlikely to run Alvin Kamara into the ground right before the playoffs start, but he should be in line for more than enough chances to take advantage of this matchup.

Latavius Murray (RB, NO)

Particularly in standard leagues, I like Latavius Murray for all of the same reasons as Kamara, though with less willingness to bank on a boom-day. We already know weekly starters like Chris Carson and Mark Ingram will not play in Week 17, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn of a few more as the week progresses. Murray could be in line for a healthy enough touch count on Sunday to warrant flex consideration, and a touchdown is always within the realm of possibility against a Panthers team that has surrendered 25 of them to running backs.

Michael Thomas (WR, NO)

I'm not sure what you can say about Michael Thomas that hasn't already been said. His Twitter handle literally states that you can't guard him. And he's right. I'm concerned about whether Thomas actually sees enough chances to return WR1 value in Week 17, but the kid has gone for at least 100 yards in eight of his last nine games, while catching at least 10 passes and/or scoring a touchdown in six of those last nine. Even if you're afraid he spends the second half on the sidelines, how can you possibly justify sitting the best wide receiver in football with a championship on the line?

Christian McCaffrey (RB, CAR)

Christian McCaffrey racked up 133 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns the last time these teams met, and if we expect nothing else from the Panthers this week, I'd at least bank on their best player to fight until the bitter end. I worry about the fact that the Saints are an all-around solid run defense, as well as the possibility that Carolina won't exactly be motivated to risk the health of McCaffrey in a meaningless game by giving him the ball 30 times. But there is no ignoring that the Panthers RB has outplayed virtually every matchup he's faced this season, and with the championship at stake, you have to believe in him.

Matchups We Hate:

Will Grier (QB, CAR)

The Saints are the fifth-best team in terms of pressuring the quarterback, and after what we saw from Will Grier in last week's shellacking at the hands of the Colts in which he threw zero touchdowns and three interceptions, I'm not sure what more we need to convince us to look elsewhere for our Week 17 QB.

Other Matchups:

Drew Brees (QB, NO)

It's not that I have anything against Drew Brees this week, it's that I worry the Saints will have this game in hand by halftime. As we mentioned above, the Panthers look like one of the most disinterested teams in football, and I'm not sure the chance to deprive a division rival of a first-round bye qualifies as bulletin-board spoiler motivation. I don't anticipate Carolina scoring many points against the Saints Defense--especially with Will Grier at QB--which means Brees probably only remains a threat to throw the ball a ton if the Saints aren't scoring much either. If you're playing your championship round in Week 17, you can't suddenly bail on the quarterback who got you here. Just bear in mind that there are factors working against him from an opportunity standpoint, and hope he drops a few early scores to pad his stat line.

Tre'Quan Smith/Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, NO)

I can see enough passes being thrown in the direction of Tre'Quan Smith and Ted Ginn to warrant dice-roll consideration this week, assuming the Saints jump out to an early lead and they don't force-feed Thomas the ball 20 times. Even so, that's a difficult prospect for me to get behind unless I'm truly scrambling at wide receiver. The Saints threw the ball 38 times last week in a high-scoring, comeback win on the road. Exactly three of those passes went to Smith and Ginn. You may be forced to take some risks in Week 17 with weekly starters seeing reduced workloads (or sitting altogether), but there should be higher-floor options out there than Smith or Ginn.

Jared Cook (TE, NO)

It hasn't always been pretty from a PPR standpoint, but thanks to a surge in touchdowns over the last month and change, Jared Cook has likely been a big part of why your team is playing for a championship in Week 17. Cook has six scores in his last six games dating back to Week 11, with multiple visits to the endzone in two of those. One of his most lucrative fantasy outings of the season came in Week 12 when he caught six of eight targets for 99 yards and a touchdown against this same Panthers team. I'm fine trotting him out there for the season finale.

D.J. Moore (WR, CAR)

D.J. Moore exited Week 16's game against the Colts with a concussion, bringing his run as a weekly WR1 option to an abrupt halt and clouding his outlook for Week 17. It would not be at all surprising to see Moore in street clothes on the sidelines for this game against the Saints, as the Panthers have no incentive to risk further injury to their best receiver. And even if he does clear concussion protocol by the weekend, let's remember it will be Will Grier throwing him the ball. The Saints have profiled as a friendly matchup for wideouts more often than not, but I'd have to be confident in at least one of Moore's health or his quarterback in order to consider him a safe bet for this week, and I can't pretend to feel good about either.

***UPDATE: D.J. Moore is officially inactive for Week 17.

Curtis Samuel (WR, CAR)

I'll like Curtis Samuel better if Moore doesn't play, on account of the fact that volume stands to work in his favor if nothing else. The same quarterback concerns apply to Samuel, however, as I'm not convinced opportunity alone is enough to keep him above water if Grier is the guy tasked with getting him the ball. The Saints have allowed the 10th-most receptions, the seventh-most yards, and the sixth-most touchdowns (four-way tie) to wide receivers. Keep Samuel on your radar as a potential fill-in for Moore or any other weekly starter who may be inactive this week, but continue to explore other options.

Greg Olsen (TE, CAR)

You're probably noticing a theme by now: with only last week's abysmal performance to go by, Will Grier puts a dent in the fantasy value of his receivers and tight ends. In Greg Olsen's return from a two-game injury absence in Week 16, he caught just two of five targets for 33 yards. There's a silver lining in that the Saints are statistically the seventh-easiest team to score on in the red zone, and that Olsen has the second-highest target share among Panthers pass-catchers inside the 10-yard line. In order to bank on these two factors combining to yield positive results, we'd also have to be confident that the Panthers can sustain drives deep into enemy territory. Consider Olsen a fringe starter with touchdown-dependent upside.

 

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ)

The same idea applies to defensive units as to skill players, which we'll discuss shortly regarding the Bills, but I don't want to hang my championship hopes on, "I'm starting Sam Darnold in Week 17 because Buffalo's defensive starters might not play the whole game." The Bills are the second-worst fantasy defense for a quarterback to face, and even in this odd, preseason-style week in which you can't be sure how much playing time certain guys are going to get, I'd much prefer a quarterback with more upside inherent in his own fantasy profile than Darnold.

Robby Anderson/Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ)

The Bills are a brutal matchup for wide receivers, and the Jets' top pair isn't exactly immune to bad fantasy outings. Wideouts are averaging just over 11 yards per catch and 12 catches per game against Buffalo, with five total touchdowns on the season. With so many injured wide receivers and some other guys looking at limited workloads in Week 17, the argument can be made for starting Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder on a volume-dependent basis. That's about the extent to which I'd feel comfortable with either.

Other Matchups:

Josh Allen/Matt Barkley (QB, BUF)

With the Bills having locked up the five-seed in the AFC, their skill players will all be dicey plays in Week 17. Buffalo will trot them out early to keep them in their weekly game rhythm, but there's no incentive to leave anyone exposed to a potential injury in an otherwise inconsequential game. Unless we get solid confirmation that Josh Allen will play the entire game no matter what, it's best to look elsewhere for championship week. And by that, I do not mean to Matt Barkley, who might not play until the second half.

Devin Singletary / Frank Gore / T.J. Yeldon (RB, BUF)

Get ready for this to be the theme of any playoff-bound team who can't go any higher or lower in the standings, but I wouldn't be super enthused about starting any skill player on such squads. Devin Singletary has taken over the Bills backfield in recent weeks, but we should prepare for the possibility that T.J. Yeldon and Frank Gore are featured more heavily as Buffalo tries to keep its explosive rookie fresh for the Wild Card round. The Jets are holding opposing running backs to just barely over three yards per carry, so there's already not a ton of upside here. Factor in the potential for limited touch counts across the board, and the Bills backfield could collectively be in for an underwhelming day. Let's keep our ears to the ground for updates on what we can expect in terms of playing time for these guys, but we need to tread carefully if we've been relying on Singletary in the fantasy playoffs.

John Brown / Cole Beasley / Robert Foster / Isaiah McKenzie (WR, BUF)

Buffalo's WR corps is the one area in which I might be willing to gamble on some solid first-half production if I don't have any better options to turn to at the position. The Jets have allowed the eighth-most catches to wide receivers and are tied for the fourth-most touchdowns surrendered. We could see the Bills come out aggressive early in an attempt to put this game away and rest their starters, which would bode well for John Brown. Brown has dropped out of the weekly must-start conversation after an uncanny string of tough matchups, but he did score a 53-yard touchdown on his only catch last week and went for 99 yards on seven catches the week prior. Cole Beasley's target counts in recent weeks have lent credence to the idea of a PPR floor, as he's seen at least six passes thrown his way in his last five games. In this span, he's gone for at least 76 yards and/or scored a touchdown four times. Brown is the more likely of the two to bring back high-end value on just a couple of catches, while Beasley probably needs the volume. If you're of the mind that Robert Foster and Isaiah McKenzie stay on the field for all four quarters, the Jets' tough run defense could force the Bills to take to the air, potentially providing them with increased opportunity.

***UPDATE: The Bills are resting key starters including Devin Singletary, Cole Beasley, John Brown.

Dawson Knox (TE, BUF)

Dawson Knox hasn't seen more than four targets in a game since the second week of November, and has caught exactly one pass in each of his last three outings. Only four teams have allowed tight ends to catch fewer passes than the Jets. Maybe Kroft plays the whole game and benefits from some of the more productive Bills starters taking a half day, but I'd have to be in a serious bind to consider him as my starting tight end for championship week.

Le'Veon Bell (RB, NYJ)

Le'Veon Bell has curiously seen two of his three 20-plus-carry games in the last two weeks, with the Jets season all over but the shouting. With that evidence at hand, I have no choice but to believe load management is not a top priority regarding Bell unless this game devolves into a blowout. Teams have had considerably more success running against Buffalo than passing, so volume could yield a decent outing from Bell in Week 17. It is worth noting, however, that Rex Burkhead's one-yard touchdown last week was the first rushing score the Bills had given up since November. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on anything in the form of touchdown upside from Bell.

Bilal Powell / Ty Montgomery (RB, NYJ)

Neither Bilal Powell nor Ty Montgomery have seen anything closely resembling a fantasy-relevant workload in any game in which Bell has been healthy, placing them on the outskirts of the Week 17 fantasy conversation.

 

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Matchups We Love:

Travis Kelce (TE, KC)

Los Angeles is one of seven teams that hasn't allowed tight ends to catch 60 total passes this season, but that's about where my concerns for Travis Kelce begin and end in Week 17. Kelce is as matchup-proof a player as there is in the league, based on the sheer level of opportunity he sees on a weekly basis. He's seen at least nine targets in each of his last five games. He also ranks second in the NFL in targets inside the 10-yard line, so he's always a threat to score.

Matchups We Hate:

Keenan Allen / Mike Williams (WR, LAC)

Part of me wants to believe this game turns into a good old-fashioned AFC West shootout, especially considering it could be Philip Rivers' last game with the Chargers. But it's hard to ignore what the Chiefs have been doing defensively of late, particularly against wide receivers. No team has allowed fewer receptions to wideouts than Kansas City, and only the Patriots have allowed fewer yards. The Chiefs haven't permitted a passing touchdown since the first quarter of a Week 14 game against the Patriots, and neither of their last two opponents have found the endzone at all. Keenan Allen has been rising to the occasion for most of this season as a PPR threat thanks to a consistently healthy target share, but his ceiling could be capped here. It's worth noting volume helped him to an eight-catch, 71-yard outing the first time these teams met, but there's naturally no guarantee of a repeat this time around. The target share of Mike Williams fluctuates enough to cast doubt on his ability to provide you with a dependable PPR floor, so if you're looking to him as a flex option, hope he springs a couple of his customary big gains or gets into the endzone.

Other Matchups:

Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)

What Patrick Mahomes hasn't given you in the form of MVP-caliber fantasy numbers this year, he's mostly accounted for in terms of playing his position responsibly and efficiently. Mahomes has thrown just four interceptions, and his 66% completion rate is right on par with last year's number. On Sunday he'll face a Chargers Defense allowing a league-high 71.1% completion percentage, setting him up to continue picking apart his opposition. In terms of upside, the Chargers are an admirable pass defense when they want to be. They're holding opponents to the third-lowest yards-per-completion average and the fourth-lowest yards-per-game average through the air, and rank inside the top 12 in creating pressure on the quarterback. I wouldn't be sweating Mahomes as my quarterback with a championship at stake, it's just that we've seen enough from the Chiefs to know we can't automatically bank on an absolute explosion from this offense.

Tyreek Hill (WR, KC)

Tyreek Hill continues to be a safe bet to give you five catches for 50-plus yards, providing him something of a safety net in PPR formats. Unlike last season, he's not springing for huge plays or getting into the endzone at a league-winning clip. He scored twice in Week 15, but those were his only touchdowns in his last five games. He also hasn't gone for 100 yards since early November. The Chargers have allowed the ninth-fewest receptions and fourth-fewest yards to receivers. It feels weird to say this, but we're actually looking at Hill as a high-floor option instead of the unlimited-upside guy he was last year. Of course, with him, that upside is never more than one play away.

Other Chiefs Wide Receivers (WR, KC)

If you've read this column on a weekly basis, you know my evaluation of all Chiefs WRs not named Tyreek Hill is as follows. In any given game, one or more of Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, or Mecole Hardman could net you a start-worthy performance on something like two or three receptions. And also in any given week, you're likely looking at only two or three receptions. These guys are too dependent on touchdowns and big plays, and are all lacking in the opportunity necessary for a safe PPR floor.

Damien Williams / LeSean McCoy / Darwin Thompson (RB, KC)

Damien Williams headed the backfield effort for the Chiefs last week in his first game back from a month-long injury absence, racking up 19 touches and a receiving touchdown. You know by now that I consider this committee to be an unpredictable disaster waiting to happen, but Williams was effective enough with his volume to suggest he shouldn't suddenly take a back seat to his teammates in Week 17. Neither Darwin Thompson nor LeSean McCoy have done anything of consequence in any capacity of late, so if I'm forced to trust a Kansas City running back this week, it's Williams. The Chargers profile as a middling matchup for running backs, so set reasonable expectations for Williams as a volume-dependent flex option.

Philip Rivers (QB, LAC)

Could this be the last ride of Philip Rivers in a Chargers uniform? If so, he could've had a less difficult opponent. The Chiefs have held all of their last four opponents to 210 or fewer passing yards, and six of their last seven below 215. Only two of the QBs they've faced in this span have thrown for multiple touchdowns, and the Chiefs haven't allowed any touchdowns of any kind for two straight games now. Rivers' fantasy profile already has a tendency to tilt toward one extreme or the other in a given week thanks to an abundance of turnovers, and against a defense that appears to be hitting its stride just in time for the playoffs, I'm trying to find a different QB for Week 17.

Melvin Gordon (RB, LAC)

In addition to putting the clamps down on opposing passing attacks, the Chiefs have become much tougher to run on than they were earlier in the season. The last four teams they've faced are averaging 92.25 rushing yards per game against them, and only Brandon Jacobs has racked up more than 57 yards individually in this stretch. Melvin Gordon managed to score two touchdowns against the Raiders last week despite accumulating 15 yards on nine carries, and he remains heavily involved in the Chargers passing game. Hope for a score or two and some more PPR work if Gordon is your guy for Week 17, because he could be looking at another tough day establishing much on the ground in terms of chunk yardage.

Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)

Like Gordon, Austin Ekeler's role as a pass-catcher is enough to bank on relatively dependable PPR production from week to week even if he doesn't absolutely go off or score any touchdowns. Unlike Gordon, he doesn't see the rushing attempts necessary to give him a chance at a sturdy floor. The good news is he's averaging over five catches and 78 yards with two receiving touchdowns in his last five games. One of those games was an eight-catch outing against this same Chiefs Defense. Again, the fact that it happened once doesn't mean Ekeler is a shoe-in to produce those same lofty numbers this Sunday, but you just have to trust his combination of pass-catching volume and season-long track record of making good on it.

Hunter Henry (TE, LAC)

Hunter Henry found his way back onto the volume map in Week 16 after three straight games of a regrettably reduced offensive role, hauling in five of seven passes thrown his way for 45 yards. The Chiefs, for all their defensive strengths, have been a PPR-friendly adversary for tight ends this season. Only the Cowboys and Bears have permitted more receptions to the position, and Kansas City ranks fourth in yards allowed as well. Considering how well the Chiefs have played against the other skill positions of late, the window could be open for Henry to see a ton of work on Sunday.

 

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Matchups We Love:

Nick Chubb (RB, CLE)

We're about to find out a lot about the resolve inside the Browns locker room, as jobs could very likely be on the line in Week 17 (if certain decisions on certain fates haven't already been made, that is). If Cleveland wants to end this season on a high note, it couldn't have a better opportunity than a matchup with the team that officially owns next year's top draft pick. In terms of individual matchups, the Bengals are allowing running backs to average 4.65 yards per carry. Nick Chubb has individually exceed that average by nearly half a yard, and he shredded this Bengals unit for 106 yards on 15 carries just three weeks ago. Lock the NFL's leading rusher in to bring you home.

Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)

If the Browns have indeed quit on themselves, you don't need to look much further for evidence than in their numbers against the run in recent weeks. Their last four opponents have accumulated 772 combined rushing yards, and Joe Mixon was responsible for 146 of those by himself in Week 14. Cleveland has also given up seven rushing touchdowns in this span. Lock Mixon in for one last go-round.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Jarvis Landry / Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, CLE)

Both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham are on the Browns' injury report, so keep a close eye on them heading into the weekend. Landry has been a regular on their injury report for awhile now with a hip issue, but it hasn't held him out of any games. Cincinnati is a more favorable matchup for WRs than it appears on paper, as it's been some time since the Bengals faced a quality pass offense (including the Browns three weeks ago). Landry has factored in as a WR2 for most of the season based largely on volume, and should be in line for similar production on Sunday. Beckham has had arguably the most frustrating fantasy season of any NFL player, but volume has worked in his favor enough to warrant flex consideration.

Kareem Hunt (RB, CLE)

Kareem Hunt will have to do his damage via efficiency as opposed to volume, but he's seen enough passing-game work to give him a fighting chance. Hunt is averaging just south of six targets per game with an 85% catch rate. Considering how easy the Bengals are to run against straight-up, teams haven't been compelled to hit their backs in the short-range passing game all that often, but the Browns clearly like utilizing Hunt in this manner. There are enough players looking at limited work or off days in Week 17 that you can do worse than giving Hunt a start at the flex spot.

Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE)

I'm not willing to go all-in on Baker Mayfield considering all the evidence at hand, but he should be in line to finish this circus of a season on a good note. The Bengals are the worst defense in the league in terms of creating turnovers, they allow the second-most yards per completed pass, and are bottom-10 in pressure rate. I expect a big enough day out of Nick Chubb to minimize what Cleveland is required to do through the air, but Mayfield has value as a fill-in option for fantasy owners who will be without the services of Lamar Jackson.

Demetrius Harris / Ricky Seals-Jones / David Njoku (TE, CLE)

Ricky Seals-Jones is listed as questionable and David Njoku hasn't played in either of Cleveland's last two games. Combine this with the possibility of Odell Beckham being inactive, and Demetrius Harris could be looking at increased chances. Even if the cards fall that way, Harris is an extremely risky play at tight end. His season-high in targets is four, and he's only reached that threshold twice. I don't know that a couple of sidelined teammates are enough to outweigh an entire season's worth of evidence that Harris simply isn't a guy in this offense. And if any or all of the above-mentioned players suit up, specifically either of the tight ends, I'd be avoiding this position altogether for the Browns.

Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)

The Browns aren't the softest matchup out there for wide receivers, and Tyler Boyd has pulled enough disappearing acts in a season that has otherwise included some truly remarkable fantasy performances on the league's worst team, that you can't go into this one fully expecting the Bengals' number-one wideout to automatically give your lineup what it needs. This is another trust-the-volume scenario, as Boyd has seen 47 targets in his last five games.

Alex Erickson / John Ross III (WR, CIN)

Alex Erickson and John Ross have both enjoyed serviceable fantasy outings of late, but the consistency to count on either one has been mostly absent. Ross saw 13 targets last week in his third game back from an injury absence that cost him half the season. In the previous two, he saw six targets combined. Erickson's target shares have fluctuated back and forth between PPR-friendly and almost entirely useless in his last five games: eight, two, seven, five, nine. His catch rate in this span is just 51.6%, and he hasn't scored a touchdown all year. I'd be hesitant to fully commit to either guy in Week 17.

Tyler Eifert (TE, CIN)

The Browns are a friendly fantasy defense strictly in terms of points allowed to tight ends, but there's more to the story if we look at how those points have been accumulated. Cleveland is in a four-way tie for the second-most touchdowns surrendered to the position with nine. But they're allowing a pedestrian 4.4 catches and 51.6 yards, which doesn't allow for an extremely high floor. If Tyler Eifert were more of a volume play, I'd be willing to look at the touchdown potential as a bonus. But last week's 38-35 thriller that lasted through the entire duration of overtime was the first time since October that Eifert saw more than five targets in a game. I don't want my Week 17 tight end's hopes riding almost entirely on a touchdown.

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN)

If you were somehow in a position where you had to consider Andy Dalton as a fantasy option, hopefully you took that gamble last week when he scored a million points. The Browns are a relatively tough cookie to crack through the air, and they're adept enough at forcing turnovers that Dalton is a prime candidate to fall victim a couple of times. With championships on the line, we don't need to be taking these kinds of unnecessary risks.

 

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Matchups We Love:

Aaron Rodgers (QB, GB)

Despite not passing the juggernaut eye test at really any point this season, there is a scenario in which the Packers can grab home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win on Sunday. If it doesn't play out quite that way, a win still guarantees them a first-round bye. You can bet that Aaron Rodgers will not take this opportunity lightly, and even if Green Bay's playoff fate does come down to a matchup with the lowly Lions, the Packers are likely to try to leave little doubt on the scoreboard. Detroit has given up the second-most passing yards and the fourth-most passing touchdowns while sporting the lowest interception rate. Rodgers should be more of a surefire QB1 in Week 17 than the fringe starter he's been for much of this season.

Davante Adams (WR, GB)

Naturally, if a team is as dreadful as the Lions are against the pass, you can probably trust wide receivers facing them. Only five teams have given up more touchdowns to wideouts, and only one has given up more yards. Davante Adams' target share is that of a high school kid in some town nobody ever heard of where he's by far the best player on the team and the offense can afford to look his way on what seems like every play of the game. There is no reason to worry about his potential for a big day in this contest.

Kenny Golladay (WR, DET)

Kenny Golladay isn't completely matchup-proof, and you're never going to feel great about his current quarterback situation, but the Lions' WR1 has earned the benefit of the doubt. Plus, I'm not sure what choice his team has other than to throw him the ball 10-plus times in this game. Green Bay is allowing just south of 16 yards per reception to wide receivers, which yielded a 24.2 yards-per-catch average for Golladay the first time these teams squared up. For the season, he's averaging 18 yards per grab, and he leads the league with 13 targets inside the 10-yard line, adding inviting touchdown potential to his field-stretching ability. He's got you this far. Don't quit on him now.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Aaron Jones (RB, GB)

The Lions are giving up 153 yards from scrimmage to running backs per game, but let's break down how they've arrived at that number. On the ground, RBs have had to work for their production, averaging just over four yards per tote. On pass plays, however, the Lions are giving up an impressively bad 10.46 yards per catch to the position. I'd love Aaron Jones this week if I knew going into it that he'd see enough passing-game work to capitalize on Detroit's woes in that department, but his opportunities for PPR output have become sporadic at best. If the bulk of his touches come on rushing attempts, hope he shows off some of the efficiency he's been displaying of late and keeps up his ridiculous touchdown pace.

Jamaal Williams (RB, GB)

Jamaal Williams did not participate in practice on Thursday, potentially opening up a window for Jones to have this backfield to himself. Unfortunately for the PPR production discussed above, Williams hasn't actually been cutting into Jones' chances there. Neither Williams nor Jones have seen a high-floor level of targets over the last two weeks. Combine Williams' diminished role in the offense with his late-week injury concern, and there aren't a ton of reasons to be enthusiastic about his potential for Week 17.

***UPDATE: Jamaal Williams is listed as doubtful heading into the weekend, and there is little chance he'll suit up on Sunday.

Other Packers Wide Receivers (WR, GB)

Allen Lazard saw nine targets on Monday night, but now he's on the Packers' injury report. He's the only WR on this team not named Davante Adams who I'd remotely trust in my fantasy lineup with a premium matchup on the docket. And even Lazard had gone four straight games prior to last week with three or fewer targets. There's room for upside here out of someone other than Adams, but unfortunately none of Green Bay's other receivers have established a safe floor.

***UPDATE: Allen Lazard no longer carries an injury designation as we head into the weekend.

Jimmy Graham (TE, GB)

Jimmy Graham has seen 13 targets in his last five games. In the same span, he has seven catches for 88 yards. He's not a viable fantasy option for Week 17.

David Blough (QB, DET)

David Blough is completing 56.6% of his throws with more interceptions than touchdowns. I can't think of any reason to consider him a starting option in the season finale with a championship on the line.

Kerryon Johnson / Bo Scarbrough (RB, DET)

Don't look now, but it's been a few weeks since the Packers looked like a "you absolutely have to start your RBs against this team" defense. They've given up just three rushing touchdowns in their last five games, and have held their opponents under 100 yards rushing per game in this span. Combine this now-difficult matchup with the fact that neither Kerryon Johnson nor Bo Scarbrough can be enthusiastically trusted to see high-end volume, and I'm nervous about the Detroit backfield in this game.

Danny Amendola (WR, DET)

Danny Amendola is a little too dependent on volume for my liking in this matchup. While Green Bay has routinely been beaten on big plays by wide receivers, it's pretty rare that a wideout catches the ball against them to begin with. The Packers' 10 catches per game allowed to the position is tied for the third-lowest in the league. We know Golladay is a safe bet to get the Lions halfway there, but can we confidently predict Amendola gets the other half--which is probably the minimum of what he'd need to give you a solid PPR day without breaking a huge play or scoring a touchdown of his own?

Logan Thomas / Jesse James (TE, DET)

In their last three games, Jesse James has five catches for 66 yards and Logan Thomas has four for 38. In other words, this TE duo is as far from being safe for fantasy purposes as their real life team is from the playoffs.

 

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Matchups We Love:

Sony Michel (RB, NE)

Sony Michel has racked up 185 yards on 40 carries in his last two games combined, finally demonstrating some level of efficiency worth counting on. The Dolphins have faced more rushing attempts from running backs than any other team in the league, which is due just as much to the fact that they're usually losing as it is to how poorly they defend the run. I've alluded to a relative lack of faith in New England's offense when it goes up against genuine resistance, but I'm not banking on much of that here. The Patriots should be able to assert their will both on the field and the scoreboard, and I trust that Michel sees enough volume to give you flex-level fantasy production.

Tom Brady (QB, NE)

The Dolphins are an elite defense in terms of giving up heaps upon heaps of fantasy points to quarterbacks. Even if you're starting to come around to the idea that Tom Brady and the Patriots aren't all that lethal a pass offense anymore, a disciplined veteran quarterback who isn't going to give the ball away is more than up to the task of putting the Dolphins out to pasture. My only real concern here is that the Patriots might be up by enough at halftime that Brady doesn't have a ton of chances to rack up numbers. Either way, he can be viewed as a high-floor option.

Julian Edelman (WR, NE)

I'm not all that concerned about Julian Edelman's sudden drop-off in opportunity, and I'm confident that he's capable of producing even without double-digit targets against the Dolphins. Miami has given up the fourth-most yards to WRs and five more touchdowns than any other team has allowed to the position. Much like with Brady, my only qualm with Edelman in Week 17 is that there's a reasonable chance he isn't needed much in the second half.

Matchups We Hate:

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, MIA)

Ryan Fitzpatrick has played the role of "quarterback who's a half-decent streaming option because his team hangs him out to dry on the scoreboard every week" well enough to deserve some recognition, but Week 17 does not offer up a chance for him to finish strong. New England has recorded more than twice as many interceptions as it has allowed passing touchdowns, and unless you had someone else managing your fantasy team all season long and have just emerged from a hut in the Mojave Desert to take over for Week 17, you know by now how dreadful an all-around matchup the Patriots are for quarterbacks. What's more, the Patriots do have to win this game in order to stave off the Chiefs for a first-round bye.

Devante Parker (WR, MIA)

DeVante Parker is one of my favorite stories from the 2019 fantasy season. He finally showed off the ability he was always believed to have, and all it took was teaming up with a quarterback who is the football equivalent of a journeyman utility infielder. Unfortunately if you've ridden his breakout season to Week 17, you're likely to need some luck if you want him to help you bring the league trophy home. The Patriots have held WRs to the second-fewest receptions, and are permitting just 11.9 yards per catch with four total touchdowns on the year. Trust Parker's volume to give him a chance at not completely ruining your week, but a boom-day would qualify as an outlier.

Other Dolphins Wide Receivers (WR, MIA)

For the same reasons as discussed above, it's going to be difficult to trust any Miami receiver to go off on Sunday. Albert Wilson has been seeing enough opportunities to offer a chance at half-decent PPR work, but all floors and ceilings are limited in this matchup.

Mike Gesicki (TE, MIA)

It's unfortunate that Mike Gesicki's recent surge in opportunity and production will now be tested against the Patriots with championships at stake, because it's tough to view him as a lock-and-load TE1 in this matchup. We've long since passed the point where you are likely to have an obviously safer option, but the Patriots are holding TEs under four catches and just over 43 yards per game. Like the above-mentioned Parker, bank on volume to keep the bottom from totally dropping out from under Gesicki.

Patrick Laird (RB, MIA)

As you can see, I'm exercising extreme caution with all fantasy options who wear the uniform of the Miami Dolphins this week. Patrick Laird is no exemption; the Patriots are holding opposing backs to 4.69 yards per touch and have allowed the position to score just twice all season. Are those the odds you want your flex player going up against?

Other Matchups:

Rex Burkhead (RB, NE)

Rex Burkhead is about to do that thing where a relatively unheralded New England player absolutely takes over a playoff game, isn't he? Burkhead's opportunities haven't been exponentially increasing, but there's been a noticeable uptick over the last three weeks and he's been producing well enough to earn more. Particularly in this game, I can envision a scenario in which the Patriots take their foot off the gas in the second half and Burkhead winds up seeing double-digit touches. It's a dicey prospect to hang your lineup's hopes on, but it's well within the realm of possibility and the Dolphins are anything but tough sledding for running backs.

James White (RB, NE)

Teams have sparingly targeted running backs in the passing game against the Dolphins, but such plays have resulted in an 83.75% catch rate. James White's target counts, while not exorbitant, have kept him afloat as an RB2 in PPR formats. Without touchdowns or big plays, that's likely his ceiling this week unless the Patriots chuck it to him 10-plus times.

Other Patriots Wide Receivers (WR, NE)

The matchup is such that any New England pass-catcher could go off and it wouldn't surprise you all that much, but there's nothing to latch onto from an opportunity standpoint. I'm not confident enough in any one Patriots wideout other than Edelman to justify starting him in fantasy this week.

 

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

***UPDATE: The Vikings are indeed expected to rest all of their regular players, and Dalvin Cook has officially been ruled out for Week 17.

Matchups We Love:

Allen Robinson (WR, CHI)

If you're of the mind that the Vikings largely mail this one in from the opening kickoff, allow me to interest you in Allen Robinson. Minnesota is already a pretty favorable matchup for wide receivers, but if they take their starters out? Oh boy. Robinson is a target vacuum who has hovered around in fringe WR1 territory all year long. I don't see any reason to jump off this bandwagon now.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Kirk Cousins / Sean Mannion (QB, MIN)

The Vikings have nothing to play for, which means Kirk Cousins is unlikely to play the entire game. The matchup isn't all that enticing to begin with, so it's not like you'd be doing yourself any favors betting on a huge first half.

***UPDATE: The Vikings are expected to rest their key starters this week.

Stefon Diggs / Adam Thielen / Olabisi Johnson (WR, MIN)

Like Cousins, it'd be surprising to see Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen out there for all four quarters. The Bears are among the league's most unkind WR matchups for fantasy purposes, so once again it's going to be tough to justify hoping for week-winning production in limited playing time. As for Olabisi Johnson, he could be in line for increased opportunity if the Vikings do play it as safe as they should with their top guys. But against a tough pass defense with Sean Mannion throwing him the ball, there should be safer options on the board.

***UPDATE: The Vikings are expected to rest their key starters this week.

Dalvin Cook / Mike Boone / Ameer Abdullah / Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN)

Dalvin Cook's status for Week 17 is uncertain due to injury, and at this point the Vikings would be better served to keep him inactive anyway. They have nothing to lose or gain by risking further injury prior to the first round of the playoffs. If he's sidelined again, the only running back in this crop I'd be excited about is Alexander Mattison, who is coincidentally also questionable. Mike Boone rumbled for two touchdowns in Week 15, but then Ameer Abdullah was given the chance to cut into his overall workload last week. This has the potential to be a mess even if we get clear word on the statuses of Cook and Mattison well in advance of Sunday, and the Bears aren't a pushover of a run defense regardless.

***UPDATE: The Vikings are expected to rest their key starters this week.

David Montgomery (RB, CHI)

I am finished giving David Montgomery the benefit of the doubt. His last two opponents--Kansas City and Green Bay--have largely been favorable matchups for RBs. So Montgomery rewarded any faith you might've placed in the circumstances by racking up a combined 96 yards on 27 carries. He is in that rare realm of running back who can't be trusted even though he clearly dominates the touches in his backfield. Start him as a flex if you must in a game that could easily get out of hand in the Bears' favor, but at this point the only way I'd be confident in Montgomery's potential is if his opponent somehow exercised a loophole where they didn't have to play anybody on defense.

Tarik Cohen (RB, CHI)

Only seven teams have allowed fewer receptions to running backs than Minnesota. Again, the theme here is that the Vikings may rest most of their starters at some point in this game, which could turn this game upside down. But where is the predictability in that? If I'm looking in Tarik Cohen's direction for Week 17, I'm focusing on the fact that he's seen 39 targets in his last six games. Volume could work in his favor to the tune of a PPR flex outing if everything breaks right.

Anthony Miller (WR, CHI)

Anthony Miller pulled quite the disappearing act last week against Kansas City, but the Chiefs are a much better defense against wide receivers than the Vikings. He was averaging over 10 targets a game in his last four prior to seeing just two in Week 16, so I wouldn't be running for the hills if Miller was on my flex radar for this contest.

Mitch Trubisky (QB, CHI)

Mitch Trubisky has completed 54% of his passes for one touchdown and two picks in his last two games, quickly reminding us that he's not a trustworthy fantasy option after two much more impressive outings prior to that. The Vikings, at their best, are not a soft fantasy matchup for quarterbacks. At the risk of getting repetitive, yes, there is a good chance Trubisky is facing backups for a large portion of this game, but that's the kind of thing you risk a DFS lineup on--not your league championship trophy. In case you can't tell, I just don't trust this game at all from a fantasy standpoint. There are too many variables on Minnesota's side of things and it's not as though the Bears are some prolific offense primed to pick apart a vulnerable opponent. Allen Robinson has been the one reliable weekly starter on this team, and I'm fine continuing into the most important game of the season believing just that.

 

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Matchups We Love:

Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)

Matt Ryan is one of the few quarterbacks not to lay waste to the Buccaneers this season, but he'll get one last chance to end the year. A lot of whether I continue to "love" his outlook for this week will depend on Julio Jones' availability, but assuming the Falcons number-one WR is good to go, what is there not to like? Tampa Bay has given up the fourth-most passing yards per game, with a middling pressure rate and 29 passing touchdowns allowed. Ryan has gone over 300 yards in three of his last four games, with seven passing touchdowns in the same span. I can live with myself if he's my quarterback in Week 17.

Julio Jones (WR, ATL)

Again, Julio Jones needs to be given the green light to play after dealing with an injury this week. No team has given up more receptions or yards to wide receivers than the Buccaneers, and only two teams have given up more touchdowns. Oh, and this is Julio Jones we're talking about.

***UPDATE: Julio Jones has cleared Atlanta's injury report. He will play on Sunday.

Austin Hooper (TE, ATL)

Austin Hooper reemerged as a high-end starting option in Week 16, going for seven catches and 82 yards on nine targets. The Bucs are allowing five catches and just decimal points under 60 yards per game to tight ends, bringing another double-digit PPR outing well within Hooper's range of outcomes.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Russell Gage (WR, ATL)

Russell Gage has seen 35 targets in his last five games, which lends itself to the possibility of a decent PPR outing against a secondary as bad as Tampa Bay's. The one thing I'd caution fantasy owners on here is that as inviting a matchup as the Bucs are for wideouts, part of why we've targeted them all year is that the Bucs have also been capable of scoring 35 points on any given Sunday. We saw how understandably different this team looks offensively without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin last week, so I'm not entirely sold on the idea of a no-holds-barred shootout to end the season. Consider Gage a volume-dependent fantasy option with a fringe flex floor and matchup-driven upside.

Devonta Freeman (RB, ATL)

I'll keep Devonta Freeman off the hate list based solely on volume, but he's likely to need another nine-catch PPR outing like last week's in order to pull his weight in the final game of the season. The Buccaneers haven't allowed a team, let alone one individual player, to achieve more than 68 rushing yards since Week 11. That's tough sledding whether the running back in question sees 15-plus chances or not. It should also be noted that Freeman's last four games before going off in Week 16 were anything but PPR-friendly. In that four-game stretch, he racked up just 49 receiving yards on 13 catches. Keep him in your lineup as a volume-dependent flex or low-end RB2, with the potential for a score to raise his ceiling.

Chris Godwin (WR, TB)

Chris Godwin is an obvious must-start if he's healthy, but it'd be surprising to see him out there on Sunday with nothing at stake for the Buccaneers. He didn't participate in practice on Thursday, casting doubt on what is already a grim forecast regarding his status.

***UPDATE: Chris Godwin has officially been declared inactive for Week 17.

Breshad Perriman / Justin Watson (WR, TB)

The Falcons are a middle-of-the-pack matchup for wideouts, but Tampa Bay's live-and-die-through-the-air offensive philosophy lifts the floors and ceilings of its wide receivers. Breshad Perriman in particular is evidence that it doesn't matter a ton which wide receivers are actually out there, as he's gone for 15 catches, 285 yards, and four touchdowns in the two and a half games since Mike Evans' season ended in Week 14. He's also seen 24 targets in this span, so proceed with Perriman as a starting option in all formats. Justin Watson has recorded five receptions and a touchdown in two of his last three games, but it's worth noting those two outings book-end a two-catch, 17-yard outing in Week 15. He's not what you would call a safe fantasy option, but again, his team isn't going to suddenly become a run-first offense in the last game of the season. There should be opportunity and upside available for Watson if you're truly scrambling for a flex.

Jameis Winston (QB, TB)

Jameis Winston needs no introduction. He is who he is. He's going to throw the ball 45 times, a few of those are going to end up in the hands of someone on the other team, and more often than not a couple others are going to result in Tampa Bay touchdowns. The Falcons are a pretty interesting matchup in that they've allowed the second-most opposing offensive possessions to result in scores, while also allowing the second-most plays per offensive possession. Only the Bengals force turnovers at a lower rate. If Winston still had his top dogs at wide receiver, he'd be among the loves this week. And even without them, I won't be at all shocked if he winds up finishing as a top QB option.

O.J. Howard (TE, TB)

As part of what can only be considered some kind of cruel, cosmic joke at this point, even injuries to the Buccaneers' two most important offensive players have not been enough to bestow fantasy relevance upon O.J. Howard. He has averaged four receptions for 56.5 yards in his last four, which isn't ghastly, but how he's managed to remain a fringe starter at best in a pass-only offense without its top two options is as mystifying as anything that's transpired in the NFL this year. Consider him exactly that--a fringe starter at a position where you might not have a safer option.

Peyton Barber / Ronald Jones II (RB, TB)

Ronald Jones went for 109 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches last week, so naturally Peyton Barber will be the guy out of Tampa Bay's backfield to end the season. Sarcasm aside, the Falcons aren't begging to be exploited as a fantasy matchup for running backs. They're holding RBs to just 4.08 yards per carry and have given up just eight rushing touchdowns. There's also not a ton of PPR appeal here, whether in the matchup at hand or in the profiles of Jones and Barber. In any case, common sense and recent (meaning literally only last week) history tell us to believe in Jones as a volume-based, low-end flex play with minimal and touchdown-dependent upside. Barber comes in as an extremely risky option who has totaled just 30 yards on his last 15 carries.

 

 

Matchups Analysis - 4:00 PM ET Games

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Matchups We Love:

Carson Wentz (QB, PHI)

With their backs up against the wall, Carson Wentz has saved some of his best football for the last few weeks of the year. Wentz has thrown for 305 yards per game over his past four contests and has featured a completion percentage of 69.3%. The Giants enter the week ranked inside the bottom-five in points given up to the position - making Wentz a QB1 option on the day.

Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI)

It is worth keeping a close eye on Zach Ertz's health as Week 17 approaches. I assume we see him suit up in a game where the Eagles must-win, but the biggest beneficiary might be Dallas Goedert. Carson Wentz is running out of passing options, which is evident by his 24 targets over the past three weeks, and the injury to Ertz should open up plenty more.

Matchups We Hate:

Jordan Howard (RB, PHI)

See post on Miles Sanders.

Kaden Smith (TE, NYG)

Kaden Smith's six catches, 35 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16 might have been good enough to win a lot of fantasy owners their league. However, if you are looking for an encore performance, you might want to look elsewhere. The Eagles have given up under 10 points a game to TEs in PPR leagues - ranking them third-best in the NFL.

Other Matchups:

Daniel Jones (QB, NYG)

There was no such thing as ring rust for Daniel Jones last Sunday. The rookie threw a season-high five touchdowns against the Washington Redskins, adding 352 yards through the air. Unfortunately, things won't be as easy for him in Week 17, as the Eagles are in a spot where they control their own destiny to win the NFC East. While I do realize you are going to want to roll Jones out after his stellar performance, I still have a difficult time viewing him as a QB1 against an Eagles secondary that has ranked seventh in the NFL in success rate against the pass since Week 11.

Saquon Barkley (RB, NYG)

If you were lucky enough to make the playoffs, Saquon Barkley has handsomely rewarded you with two consecutive PPR showings of 30-plus points. However, a showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles won't be as generous, as their defense has only allowed 40% of rushing plays to grade successfully since Week 10 - the best percentage in the NFL. You aren't benching Barkley if you own him, but I would lower his ceiling ever so slightly.

Miles Sanders (RB, PHI)

Not too many players have done more to increase their 2020 draft stock than Miles Sanders has done in recent weeks. The likely return of Jordan Howard does dampen Sanders' upside a bit, but his work through the air should be enough to reward owners with RB2 numbers on the day. As for Jordan Howard, not only will there be some rust after missing the previous six games, but the Giants have been exponentially better against backs than wide receivers in 2019. It is probably wise to avoid starting Howard during the last week of your season.

Greg Ward Jr. (WR, PHI)

The virtual decay of the Eagles' wideouts has left Greg Ward as the last man standing. With 11 catches, 132 yards and one touchdown over his previous two contests, Ward carries WR3/flex potential against a Giants Defense that is ranked inside the bottom-five in points surrendered to the position.

Golden Tate / Sterling Shepard / Darius Slayton (WR, NYG)

The return of Daniel Jones helped both Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard to combust in Week 16. With that being said, a matchup against the Eagles' stingy secondary won't be as easy of a task, and there doesn't seem to be enough volume to go around for all three members of the team. I'd rank Tate as a WR3/flex, Shepard slightly below that and Slayton as nothing more than a bench option. Shepard has the highest ceiling, but his usage on the outside carries a lot more volatility than Tate's secured role as the teams' slot wideout.

Kaden Smith (TE, NYG)

Kaden Smith's six catches, 35 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16 might have been good enough to win a lot of fantasy owners their league. However, if you are looking for an encore performance, you might want to look elsewhere. The Eagles have given up under 10 points a game to TEs in PPR leagues - ranking them third-best in the NFL.

Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)

A broken rib is not fun for anyone, especially a football player that needs to move around and be able to take hits. I'm not too worried about Zach Ertz's availability since the Eagles can't afford to lose this contest, but there is a slight downgrade that needs to be had when it comes to his overall ranking. There are only a handful of TEs I would consider over Ertz in Week 17, but you will need to keep a close eye on what the team is saying as the week goes on.

***UPDATE: Zach Ertz has officially been ruled out for Week 17.

 

Tennesse Titans at Houston Texans

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Deshaun Watson (QB, HOU)

This is one of those dreaded spots of playing into Week 17 in your fantasy league. It obviously is disastrous when you own a player such as Lamar Jackson and he gets ruled out before the contest, but at least you know going into things that you won't have him come Sunday. The situation around Deshaun Watson this week isn't quite as crystal clear. Head coach Bill O'Brien has been adamant that he will be playing his starters and treating this as a must-win game, but if the Kansas City Chiefs win early in the morning, the Texans no longer have anything worth playing and will be locked into the fourth spot. I do worry that Watson may get a condensed workload if there does end up being no added bonus for winning, so you should proceed with caution.

***UPDATE: Watson is expected to backup A.J. McCarron this week and rest for the playoffs.

Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN)

Win and you are in. That is the spot the Tennessee Titans find themselves in on Sunday. Ryan Tannehill has been a fantasy savior down the stretch of the season for owners and should be treated as a QB1 once again.

Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)

All reports have Derrick Henry returning to his usual workhorse role on Sunday after missing last week's contest because of a hamstring injury. It is worth noting that the Texans have been solid against the run since Week 10, ranking 10th in success rate against rushes, but the inability to defend anyone through the air should open up the potential for Henry to find the endzone in short-yardage situations. Assuming Henry plays, Dion Lewis can be dropped back to the waiver wire.

Carlos Hyde / Duke Johnson (RB, HOU)

I hate trying to anticipate how the Texans are going to treat the game on Sunday. It feels like it could be a potential mess for fantasy purposes if Bill O'Brien decides to give his players limited roles, but the matchup against the Titans is an encouraging one if it truly is all systems go. Carlos Hyde dismantled the Titans in Week 15, rushing for 104 yards and a score, and I would consider him a worthy flex option on the day. As for Duke Johnson, four total touches were all he was able to accumulate when these two teams met two weeks ago, but there is an opening for him to find success. The Titans have allowed 97 receptions to backs - the third-highest total in the league, and there is a possibility for Johnson to be given a larger share of the offense in the final week.

Kenny Stills / Deandre Carter / Keke Coutee (WR, HOU)

With Will Fuller doubtful for Week 17, Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter and Keke Coutee could all see more action on the day. Consider Stills a volatile flex option and Carter and Coutee more as deep fliers.

***UPDATE: Will Fuller has officially been declared inactive for Week 17.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU)

DeAndre Hopkins receives just a slight demotion from the love column because of the uncertainty around his playing time. Still, though, you are playing Hopkins and hoping for the best.

***UPDATE: Hopkins is expected to see limited snaps, if any, along with other starters so they can rest for the playoffs.

A.J. Brown (WR, TEN)

Though A.J. Brown's volume remains inconsistent, the rookie has evolved into the leading receiver on the team and will look to cap off a strong close to the regular season. Brown torched the Texans for eight catches, 114 yards and a score in Week 15 and will be counted on to try and keep their playoff hopes alive on Sunday. Consider him a WR2 with upside.

Corey Davis / Tajae Sharpe / Adam Humphries (WR, TEN)

The Titans have some wide receiver issues going into Week 17. Corey Davis is still in the concussion protocol, and an ankle injury has kept Adam Humphries sidelined for the last three weeks. Tajae Sharpe made the most of his opportunity last weekend, catching five passes for 69 yards and two scores and could be thrust back into a prominent role if Davis and Humphries are unable to go.

Jonnu Smith (TE, TEN)

If you are looking for some streaming potential, look no further than Jonnu Smith. The third-year pass-catcher has provided three straight weeks of double-digit PPR production and could be in store for an enhanced role if WRs Corey Davis and Adam Humphries are unable to go on Sunday.

Jordan Akins / Darren Fells (TE, HOU)

Both men share a respectable amount of snaps weekly, but it has been difficult to find any consistency for either. Consider Darren Fells a touchdown-dependant TE2, as where Jordan Akins is best left on your waiver wire.

 

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

Matchups We Love:

Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)

Ignore Ezekiel Elliott's 13-carry effort last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. Elliott was still able to produce nearly 16 PPR points on the day because of his usage through the air, but the upside is there in Week 17 for the bruising back to be the top option at his position against a Redskins Defense that ranks in the bottom-10 in both success rate and points given up.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Case Keenum (QB, WSH)

Case Keenum being under center for Washington gives all his playmakers a slight boost. Sadly, that doesn't necessarily amount to much safety for the 31-year-old gunslinger. Keenum has had his moments this season of finding success, but I find it difficult to trust him on the road against a Cowboys squad that is in a must-win situation.

Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)

Dak Prescott's shoulder injury will limit his availability during practice this week, but there is no concern when it comes to him suiting up. On paper, the matchup is a good one against a Redskins secondary that ranks in the bottom half in success rate and explosive plays allowed, but aside from Ezekiel Elliott, it is tough to trust any Cowboys player right now. You are going to see Prescott's ranking all over the map depending on who you ask, but I lean towards him being more of a backend QB1 than a potential top-five player that some are touting him to be in Week 17.

Adrian Peterson (RB, WSH)

Washington is featuring Adrian Peterson quite a bit with Derrius Guice out, giving him at least 17 touches in three straight contests. The increased workload has resulted in touchdowns in each of those games, although it must be mentioned that Peterson's productivity has taken a massive hit with his heightened workload. Dallas has been susceptible both through the air and on the ground, but a negative game script could point against the veteran back if the team falls behind early.

Chris Thompson (RB, WSH)

Chris Thompson probably isn't someone who will win you your matchup in Week 17, but deep-league participants could do a lot worse if they have been struggling to find a second back for their squad. The Redskins will most likely be playing from behind, which gives Thompson a higher floor in PPR leagues.

Amari Cooper (WR, DAL)

Amari Cooper's rollercoaster 2019 campaign continued in Week 16, catching just four of his 12 targets for 24 yards. The poor showing marks the fourth time in the last six games that he has been held to single-digit PPR points, but a showdown against the Washington Redskins might be what he needs to get back on track. The Cowboys might be trending in the wrong direction, but Cooper is too good to bench against a mediocre secondary.

Michael Gallup / Randall Cobb (WR, DAL)

As erratic as Amari Cooper has been, Michael Gallup has contributed similar irregularity, but without the same upside. In Week 16, Gallup put together a productive game of five catches on 11 targets for 98 yards and could be in store for another busy contest on Sunday. As for Randall Cobb, there just isn't enough upside present to warrant fantasy consideration in most settings.

Terry McLaurin / Kelvin Harmon / Steven Sims Jr. (WR, WSH)

Terry McLaurin was not present during team stretches on Thursday because of a concussion he suffered late against the New York Giants. The rookie will look to get back on the field to close his first-year campaign off strong but should be considered 50/50 at this moment to be active. Kelvin Harmon has seen the majority of the snaps alongside McLaurin in recent weeks and would get a boost if his fellow rookie is ruled inactive, but it has been Steven Sims Jr. that has been Washington's second-best wideout since Week 15. If you are looking to take a gamble at your flex spot, you could do a lot worse than Sims.

***UPDATE: Terry McLaurin has officially been ruled out for Week 17.

Jason Witten (TE, DAL)

Jason Witten has been touchdown-dependent this year, only reaching double-digit points in two games where he failed to score a touchdown. There is still enough volume available to consider him as a low-end TE1, but his ceiling is definitely capped.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Devlin Hodges (QB, PIT)

Devlin Hodges totaled just 84 yards on 17 attempts in Week 16, throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Steelers need to win and have the Titans lose if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, but head coach Mike Tomlin's idea for finding success will come from a rugged defense and hard-nosed running style. Hodges just doesn't have a long enough leash available to reach any sort of a ceiling. He should be avoided in all leagues if possible.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT)

JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of my favorite buy-low options in dynasty leagues, but 2019 can be chalked up as a lost cause for the explosive wideout. Smith-Schuster was only able to catch a quarter of his targets in his first game after missing a month and wasn't on the same page with either Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges. There are brighter times ahead, but I'd avoid starting him outside the deepest of leagues.

All Ravens Wideouts (WR, BAL)

As I will mention below for Robert Griffin, I am not selling off the idea of him being able to produce respectable numbers. My bigger issue comes down to the fact that I am not sure how serious the team is going to take the game with nothing on the line. Wide receiver Marquise Brown probably won't get a full allotment of snaps, Miles Boykin hasn't been steady enough this year to trust and Willie Snead and Seth Roberts will have undefined roles for the contest. Someone might emerge from the group, but good luck figuring who.

Mark Andrews (TE BAL)

I can't imagine we see Mark Andrews actually suit up for the game, but he hasn't been officially ruled out at the time of writing this. This is a spot where he won't get many snaps regardless, so you should look elsewhere for an alternative choice.

Other Matchups:

Robert Griffin (QB, BAL)

I'm not necessarily clamoring at the idea of starting Robert Griffin, but I am also not entirely dismissing it. A matchup against the Steelers isn't the ideal spot for the former Heisman Trophy winner to showcase his talent, but this is as good of an opportunity as he is going to get to show franchises that he still has a little left in the tank. I'm not sure if he accomplishes that exact feat, but you could do worse for your second QB in two-QB leagues.

James Conner / Benny Snell Jr. / Jaylen Samuels (RB, PIT)

If you have managed to stay alive in a league where you drafted James Conner, congratulations on your stellar managerial skills. Conner has been in-and-out of the lineup throughout the season and looks to be on the wrong side of questionable for Sunday. The prudent move is to pick up Benny Snell Jr. if he was dropped to your waiver wire, but there is far less upside to be had in full PPR settings. Jaylen Samuels would also see an increased role if Conner is indeed unable to go on Sunday, but his change-of-pace nature makes him extremely difficult to trust when the Steelers are trying to limit Devlin Hodges' pass attempts.

***UPDATE: James Conner has officially been ruled out for Week 17.

Gus Edwards / Justice Hill (RB, BAL)

With Mark Ingram ruled out for Week 17, Justice Hill finally gets a chance to be what every fantasy expert predicted during the preseason. Hill showed flashes of his explosive nature in Week 16, rushing three times for 19 yards while adding a touchdown, three receptions and 32 yards through the air. Gus Edwards and Hill should split the load on Sunday, in what is a meaningless game for the Ravens, but the increased usage rates do place both men inside the RB3 range.

James Washington / Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT)

While James Washington dropped to fourth on the team in routes run in Week 16, he was still able to receive eight targets on the day. Head coach Mike Tomlin is going to try to get into the playoffs on the ground, making both Washington and Diontae Johnson nothing more than dart throws for owners that need a shot in the dark.

Hayden Hurst / Nick Boyle (TE BAL)

I wouldn't be surprised to see Robert Griffin use his TEs often in Week 17. Nick Boyle is a better blocker of the two, while Hurst could see an increased usage through the air. I'd prefer Hurst of the two because I think he has a better pass-catching acumen and wouldn't be shocked if he puts up backend TE1 numbers if Andrews gets ruled out.

Vance McDonald (TE PIT)

Targets usually haven't been the issue for Vance McDonald. The TE was thrown to six times in Week 16 but continued his miserable stretch of football by only catching three of his looks for nine yards. The Steelers have lost all their big-play ability, so you shouldn't count on McDonald miraculously finding his groove now.

 

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Matchups We Love:

Marlon Mack (RB, IND)

Marlon Mack became just the fifth player in Colts history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season at age 23 or younger after tallying 95 yards on 16 attempts in Week 16. Jacksonville has given up the most points to back this season, which includes the second-most yards per carry. Start Mack as an RB1.

Leonard Fournette (RB, JAX)

A career-best 76 receptions have negated the face that Leonard Fournette has only scored three total touchdowns in 2019. It remains to be seen if the former LSU back will be able to add to that total in Week 17, but with the way the Colts are willing to blitz and attack while on defense, Fournette should be in store for a handful of dump-offs that could go for big yardage.

Matchups We Hate:

Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)

Two return touchdowns bolstered Nyheim Hines' fantasy total in Week 16. Unfortunately for him, the game script could point in the wrong direction on Sunday, as the Colts are likely to take a methodical ground-and-pound approach against a weak Jaguars front four.

Other Matchups:

Jacoby Brissett (QB, IND)

While the Jacksonville Jaguars Defense has evaporated in recent weeks, Jacoby Brissett hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire himself. Brissett threw for under 200 yards for the fourth time in his previous six games and has failed to eclipse a 52.9% completion rate in his past three games. Even if the matchup looks good on paper, it is nearly impossible to justify Brissett as a top-15 option on the board.

Gardner Minshew (QB, JAX)

The Indianapolis Colts feature one of the most aggressive defenses in terms of blitzes and pressure, which could prove to be an issue for Gardner Minshew. The rookie adds enough with his legs that QB2 numbers should still be accessible, but his ceiling is capped if he continues to have trouble with his progressions.

T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND)

There is a chance that we won't see T.Y. Hilton suit up this week with the Indianapolis Colts out of contention. I'd lean towards him playing and trying to close his 2019 on a positive note, but he makes for a boom-or-bust selection, even against a vulnerable Jaguars secondary. I lean towards him ending the year strongly, but there is some risk involved.

Marcus Johnson / Zach Pascal (WR, IND)

I don't have much interest in starting either Marcus Johnson or Zach Pascal if T.Y. Hilton plays on Sunday. The Colts are built to run the football, and trusting secondary options isn't an ideal gameplan to try and take home your title. Give each a boost if Hilton can't go, but count me out if Hilton is active.

D.J. Chark Jr. (WR, JAX)

DJ Chark's two catches for 18 yards showed that he wasn't fully healthy when he took the field in Week 16. With that idea in mind, Chark becomes a risky proposition in Week 17 if he attempts to gut out another performance. I'm not sure why the Jaguars would risk the health of one of their best offensive playmakers in a game that doesn't matter, but it seems as if he is trending towards being on the field Sunday.

Dede Westbrook / Chris Conley / Keelan Cole (WR, JAX)

It has been a disappointing season for Dede Westbrook, who probably lost a lot of his appeal and upside once Nick Foles got injured during the first game of the year. We have seen flashes from Westbrook even with Gardner Minshew under center, but injuries have helped to ravage a portion of the year. The Jaguars have lost their ability to create dynamic throws, ranking just 28th in explosive passing plays since Week 10, which limits the upside for any pass-catcher on the team. If DJ Chark plays, Keelan Cole can be demoted back to the waiver wire. But even Westbrook and Conley are shaping up to be less than stellar options on the day.

Jack Doyle (TE, IND)

The removal of Eric Ebron from the offense hasn't done much for Jack Doyle in terms of consistency. Well, maybe that isn't factually correct since Doyle has netted exactly two catches in three straight contests, but the point remains that the potential and upside that some fantasy managers thought they had after he recorded six catches, 73 yards and a score during Week 13 appears to be gone. There is some streaming potential for TE desperate managers against a vulnerable Jaguars defense, but Doyle's floor makes him a risky bet.

 

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Derek Carr (QB, OAK)

The Oakland Raiders needed nine things to break their way in Weeks 16 and 17 if they wanted to make the playoffs and were able to have five of those situations occur last Sunday. It is still a longshot that Derek Carr and company will find their way into the postseason, but if they want any chance of making it, they will need to go into Denver and hold serve. Denver's stout pass defense and home-field advantage should keep Carr at bay, making the QB better left on your bench.

Royce Freeman (RB, DEN)

Ignore Royce Freeman's short touchdown in Week 16. The second-year back has only eclipsed 10 total touches once in his past seven games and has taken a backseat to Phillip Lindsay.

Tyrell Williams (WR, OAK)

Tyrell Williams provided one of his best games in recent weeks last Sunday, bringing in four receptions for 82 yards. Unfortunately for Williams, big plays will be hard to come by against a stout Broncos secondary that has allowed the seventh-fewest explosive passes in the NFL.

Other Matchups:

Drew Lock (QB, DEN)

Drew Lock tied Ken Karcher for the second-most passing touchdowns (6) through his first four games with the Broncos, trailing only Jay Cutler (8). The Raiders are still technically alive for the playoffs, but it shouldn't hurt Lock's overall prognosis. Oakland has allowed the second-most points-per-drive this season, making Lock a streamable QB2.

Deandre Washington / Josh Jacobs (RB, OAK)

The matchup isn't great against the Denver Broncos, but DeAndre Washington has inherited Josh Jacobs' role if the rookie is unable to be active on Sunday, which is good enough to place him as an RB2 from sheer volume alone. A career-high 25 touches in Week 16 saw Washington deliver 106 scrimmage yards, and if you have both men on your team, you should be able to play the wait-and-see approach.

***UPDATE: Josh Jacobs is doubtful to play on Sunday. Prepare accordingly, especially if you roster DeAndre Washington.

Phillip Lindsay (RB, DEN)

Phillip Lindsay ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries during Sunday's 27-17 win against the Lions. If we exclude his poor Week 15 showing of just seven touches, Lindsay has seen at least 14 touches in every game since Week 11, which includes exceeding 20+ touches twice, The Raiders have been solid against the run in 2019, but there is enough volume to warrant RB2 consideration.

Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)

Courtland Sutton's breakout campaign has fizzled in recent weeks, but the young wideout has still caught at least four passes in six of his past seven games. The Raiders currently rank 27th in success rate, providing Sutton an opportunity to end his season with a bang.

Daesean Hamilton / Tim Patrick  (WR, DEN)

I expected more out of DaeSean Hamilton this season, but it took until Week 16 to finally score double-digit points. There is always a chance that he will continue to build off of his performance against the Detroit Lions, but I wouldn't risk it with my fantasy title on the line. A similar sentiment could also be said about Tim Patrick, who has been solid in recent weeks but has failed to provide a real boom performance. There are safer and better options that can be found.

Hunter Renfrow (WR, OAK)

I wouldn't call Hunter Renfrow's explosion in Week 16 an outlier performance, but I do believe it will be difficult to duplicate on Sunday. Renfrow has a chance to be a nice sleeper candidate in 2020, but try to avoid chasing another duplicate performance against the Broncos.

Darren Waller (TE, OAK)

I've discussed this narrative many times during the article, but Darren Waller is a different player when Hunter Renfrow is on and off the field. We saw Renfrow return in Week 16, which plummetted Waller down to just four receptions for 37 yards. Waller's target share drops nearly in half when Renfrow is on the field, so you might want to temper expectations somewhat.

Noah Fant (TE, DEN)

It has been a mixed bag from Noah Fant week-to-week. The Raiders have given up the ninth-most points to the position this year, so there is a case to be made that we see Fant bounce back during the final game of his rookie year.

 

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

Matchups We Love:

Kenyan Drake (RB, ARI)

After providing totals of 46 carries, 303 yards and six touchdowns during his past two games, Kenyan Drake has earned his spot on your starting roster in Week 17.

Matchups We Hate:

David Johnson (RB, ARI)

Assuming you are still alive to win your championship in Week 17, this probably doesn't need to be said. However, I will say it anyway. DO NOT PLAY DAVID JOHNSON THIS WEEK! Johnson's fantasy nightmare will finally come to an end on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see what will happen next for him during the offseason.

Gerald Everett (TE, LAR)

See post on Tyler Higbee

Other Matchups:

Jared Goff (QB, LAR)

I'd tread lightly when it comes to Jared Goff in Week 17. Head coach Sean McVay has already stated that a handful of the starters will not participate in the contest since the team has nothing to play for, and it has even been mentioned that Goff could forfeit some work to Blake Bortles and John Wolford. The uncertainty makes this an issue, even if the matchup should present an all in spot.

Kyler Murray / Brett Hundley (QB, ARI)

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that the team will "be smart" when determining if Murray can/should play in their regular-season finale but also noted that "if Murray is healthy enough to suit up Sunday against the Rams, he will." Early indications would point towards the rookie being active on Sunday after getting in a limited practice on Wednesday, so I feel safe in saying that Murray should be considered a mid-to-back end QB1 against a Rams squad that won't be playing all their starters.

Todd Gurley / Malcolm Brown (RB, LAR)

Hopefully this situation gets some clarity before Sunday, but I would not be shocked if we see Todd Gurley either ruled out or given barely any workload in Week 17. The Rams have nothing to play for on Sunday and have limited his touches throughout the year. I'd add Malcolm Brown to my roster just incase news comes out before the games that Gurley will indeed be sitting, but Brown still makes for an intriguing dart throw in deeper leagues because of the uncertain nature of Gurley's touches.

Christian Kirk / Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)

Keep a close eye on Kyler Murray's status as we approach Sunday. If Brett Hundley ends up being the QB that takes the snaps for the Cardinals, both Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald would need to be downgraded in all rankings. Both are flex options in what could be Fitzgerald's last game, but there is risk involved if Murray isn't the QB under center.

Brandin Cooks / Cooper Kupp / Robert Woods / Josh Reynolds (WR, LAR)

I've mentioned this a zillion times while discussing the players on the Rams, but there is a potential headache looming with who head coach Sean McVay will actually play on Sunday. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are too good to remove from your roster if you don't hear anything before the game, and even Brandin Cooks is interesting if you think he is capable of ending his season pointing in the right direction. Keep a close eye on what McVay says as the game approaches and be ready to adjust on the fly if you are forced to make a move.

Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)

The safest option on the Rams might be Tyler Higbee. The breakout TE took his opportunity while Gerald Everett was out of the lineup and ran with it, contributing massive performances in each of his last four games while serving as the teams' top tight end. Everett returned to the roster in Week 16 but was forced to take a backseat to Higbee. There's no reason to think Los Angeles will rush Everett into a bigger role for the final game of the season, so fire Higbee up as a starter in all formats.

 

Matchups Analysis - Sunday Night Football, 8:20 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Matchups We Love:

George Kittle (TE, SF)

This doesn't need much explaining. If you are still playing in Week 17 and have Kittle on your roster, you already know what to do. But just in case you need any extra reassurance, the Seahawks have given up the third-most points to the position this year.

Matchups We Hate:

Matt Breida (RB, SF)

Perhaps Matt Breida returns to his early-season role on Sunday, but he can't be trusted anywhere near your lineup after being demoted to special teams duty in Week 16.

Marshawn Lynch / Robert Turbin (RB, SEA)

With your fantasy title on the line, do you really want to risk starting either Marshawn Lynch or Robert Turbin with all the question marks that surround them? Lynch might be given more of a workload than I am projecting, but I still think it is preposterous to risk your season on someone who might not be in game shape.

Other Matchups:

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF)

Las Vegas has this game projected to score enough points (47) that I am willing to give Jimmy Garopplo slightly more leverage than usual. If you are in a two-QB setting, I think you are looking at one of the better QB2s, but I'd prefer to leave him on the bench in standard settings.

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)

With the entire backfield injured heading into the final week of the season, head coach Pete Carroll may decide to let Russell Wilson attempt to carry the team on his back during the final game of the regular season. Both teams have a ton to play for, which means we know Wilson will be attempting to provide his best Houdini impersonation, but it has been an erratic ride for fantasy owners of his since Week 9. I am okay with the idea of treating him as a QB1, but there is some risk involved.

Raheem Mostert (RB, SF)

Make that five straight games that Raheem Mostert has found the endzone and posted a double-digit PPR output after rushing 11 times for 53 yards and a score against the Los Angeles Rams last Saturday. Mostert is enjoying his role atop the depth chart at running back for the 49ers and will look to keep his streak going in a crucial Week 17 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. Consider Mostert an RB2/flex.

Tevin Coleman (RB, SF)

Tevin Coleman has fallen behind Raheem Mostert in the 49ers' backfield, recording only 17 rushing attempts over the past four games. That makes him an impossible start, although I wouldn't completely discredit his likelihood of garnering a few more touches on the day.

Travis Homer (RB, SEA)

How the mighty have fallen for the Seattle Seahawks. With a stable of young and explosive backs like Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise, the team has been relegated to Travis Homer being the last man standing with all the injuries they have endured. The biggest thing going for Homer is that he is the only back in football shape, so if you want to view him as a backend RB2, I wouldn't argue against it. Still, though, there is a risk that we see Homer fall flat on his face in the same manner that Mike Boone did on Monday night for the Minnesota Vikings.

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)

There haven't been too many players more volatile than Tyler Lockett in 2019, but with the division and potential number one seed on the line against the San Francisco 49ers, Lockett is going to show up, right? I lean towards yes given the fact that the 49ers have struggled against WRs as of late and because Russell Wilson is going to have to be more aggressive through the air with his RB core hurt. I have Lockett as a backend WR2, but there is some risk involved.

D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA)

D.K. Metcalf has struggled down the stretch of the season, hauling in just two passes during his last two games, but there are reasons to be encouraged entering Week 17. Metcalf contributed six catches for 70 yards the first time these two teams met, and he should see an enhanced amount of targets with the Seahawks struggling to find healthy backs. Metcalf has WR3/flex appeal on the day.

Emmanuel Sanders / Kendrick Bourne / Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)

The 49ers' passing game has faltered a bit as of late, leaving little consistency from Emmanuel Sanders, Kendrick Bourne and Deebo Samuel. Despite the irregular nature, you should view Sanders as a potential flex, while Deebo Samuel will need to be monitored to see if he can overcome a shoulder injury that has limited him in practice. If he plays, there is some boom-or-bust flex appeal, but it makes things slightly more difficult since this is the final game of the week. I don't think it hurts to pick up Kendrick Bourne as an insurance policy so you aren't left stranded last minute.

Jacob Hollister (TE, SEA)

We are still waiting for targets to turn into scoring chances for Jacob Hollister. The tight end has received 43 pass attempts in his last seven games but doesn't have a score to show for it during his past five contests. Aggressiveness and opportunity should be present with Russell Wilson being asked to lead Seattle with virtually no running game, so there is streaming appeal available.

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