Your fantasy football championship destination lies just up ahead. Troy Taormina / Getty Images
You made it this far, so congratulations. Hopefully, you’re not playing for third place like me … after I started with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, then, lost! Thank you, Josh Jacobs, Breece Hall, Drake London and another Lamar Jackson injury. Ahh, fantasy loves misery, or something like that. It’s Christmas week, so in addition to Week 17 rankings, important notes and injuries, and potential movement, we have the fun Christmas ranks. Because there are so many, we slimmed them down into tables you can expand … or keep scrolling past if you don’t care about the best Christmas movies … or songs … or worst songs, etc. Let’s get those fantasy football championships locked down for another present “under the tree.”
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings Notes, Starts, Sits
Running Backs
- Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, MIN: Jones is in the rankings, but Mason is not. Regardless of RB health, there’s risk of a stagnant offense with Max Brosmer at QB. If Jones and Mason are out, Zavier Scott would be a risky, volume-reliant, RB3/4 similar to Audric Estime last week.
- Alvin Kamara, NO: Not in the ranks, as it sounds like the Saints aren’t pushing for him anyway. But if Kamara plays, Audric Estime would be even further off the radar, and more importantly, Taysom Hill would get dinged (see below).
- Dylan Sampson, CLE: In the ranks. If Sampson doesn’t return, Raheim Sanders would rank slightly lower than Sampson’s spot due to lesser receiving upside, particularly in this matchup.
- Jaylen Warren, PIT: In the rankings. He played through the injury last week already, but if Warren is out, Kenneth Gainwell would be pushing RB1 status.
- Josh Jacobs, GB: Not in the rankings, and if he plays, Jacobs would be a fringe RB1. He’s been an RB1 in most games even while hurt, so it’s your choice on taking the gamble of a re-injury (if you survived it happening in Week 16).
- Kimani Vidal, LAC: Out of the rankings. If he surprisingly plays, Omarion Hampton would fall behind Rhamondre Stevenson with no TreVeyon Henderson, and speaking of …
- TreVeyon Henderson, NE: Not in the ranks because of a concussion. If he plays, Henderson is a high-end RB2 and Stevenson is back to risky a Flex.
- Woody Marks, HOU: In the ranks because he sounded close last week. If out again, Jawhar Jordan would offer upside to chase as an RB3.
Wide Receivers
- Davante Adams, LAR: Not in the ranks, but an easy WR1 if he plays. The issue is having to wait. Konata Mumpfield is behind several decent fliers, and while Terrance Ferguson would be a nice tight end flier without Adams, it’s your call if you want to play that game.
- DK Metcalf, PIT: Not in, given the suspension. He’d be the only Steelers wideout worth the championship start if his appeal gets him on the field.
- Kayshon Boutte, NE: Not in the rankings because of a concussion, like Henderson. If he does play, it essentially makes him and Mack Hollins extreme gambles.
- Luther Burden and Rome Odunze, CHI: Burden is in the rankings, but Odunze isn’t. If both suit up, we’re back to the cluster of frustration with DJ Moore (given recent success and no injury issue) as the top option, then Odunze and Burden. If Odunze goes and Burden doesn’t, you can start Odunze. And if both are out, Olamide Zaccheaus is a better flier than last week, given the matchup.
- Pat Bryant, DEN: Not in the rankings, so while Sean Payton is rotating wideouts, Troy Franklin is a fine WR4 flier. If Bryant plays, though, Franklin would slide back near WR5 territory.
- Rashee Rice, KC: Still dealing with the concussion, so not in the rankings. If Rice plays, he’s the only Chiefs wideout I’d risk, but no more than a WR2/3.
- Ricky Pearsall, SF: Not in the ranks and there are a few moving parts with George Kittle, too (below). If Pearsall plays, he’s a WR3, but there’s obvious risk of him exiting early … again.
Tight Ends
- George Kittle, SF: In the ranks, but if out, Jake Tonges is a fine high-upside gamble with even more potential if Pearsall sits again.
- Taysom Hill, NO: If Kamara plays, Hill goes from a boom/bust lottery ticket to a failed scratcher tossed in the trash.
- Tyler Warren, IND: There are five tight ends with 20+ targets the past three weeks. Warren (eight) is the only one without at least 17 receptions.
Quarterbacks
- Jordan Love, GB: In the ranks, but he sounds iffy. With no Love, there is no Christmas … err … no one I’d risk outside of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, and merely as WR4s.
- Marcus Mariota, WAS: Not in the rankings. If he plays, Mariota would be a mid-QB2 given the matchup, with Terry McLaurin moving into the top end of WR2s and Deebo Samuel getting a half-tier boost.
- Philip Rivers, IND: In the rankings, but there is talk that the Colts could evaluate Riley Leonard now that they’re virtually eliminated. Leonard starting would add risk to Josh Downs, especially given the uncertainty of Leonard’s play and rapport among the receivers.
Weather to Watch
- ARI at CIN: Cold and rain — nothing severe or worrisome, yet
- NE at NYJ: Chance for heavy rain as of today
- PHI at BUF: Estimated 70% chance of mix/snow all day
- PIT at CLE: Cold and rain with snow possible — nothing overly worrisome, yet
#CheckTheLink-age
Week 17 Waiver Wire
Weeks 17 SOS Ranks
Fantasy 101 (weather, start/sit, trading, more)
🎙️All In Speed Run Podcast🎙️
Fun With Ranks
It’s Christmas time! And I’m gathering — and updating — all the Christmases of lists from past years into one huge Christmas.
All In Speed Run Podcast
(Hey, listen! 🧚 it’s mine 👀)
Apple
Spotify
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).
- ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
- Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.
Week 17 Fantasy Football Projections
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR
Projections Download Link
