Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 17

If you are still reading my Start and Sit column in Week 17, then I hope you are alive for your fantasy championships. And I hope my start/sit calls can help you make the difficult lineup decisions to carry you across the finish line. Good luck!

The positional rankings and projected fantasy point totals rely on half-PPR scoring. The listed start/sit calls assume a 12-team league with 2 running back, 3 wide receiver, 1 tight end, and 1 flex starting lineup spots. If your league is different, I recommend you start my higher ranked players over my lower ranked players.

You can find my weekly rankings and those of other FTN writers here.

Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 17

Quarterbacks

6. C.J. Stroud, HST vs. TEN: 34.5-284-1.48-0.41 and 2.1-8-0.12 = 18.0
7. Justin Fields, CHI vs. ATL: 30.7-205-1.45-0.89 and 7.7-43-0.19 = 17.6
8. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA at BLT: 33.1-282-1.69-0.66 and 1.4-2-0.05 = 17.2
9. Kyler Murray, ARZ at PHI: 36.2-231-1.30-0.72 and 4.6-25-0.28 = 17.2

10. Brock Purdy, SF at WAS

27.8-271-1.61-0.72 and 2.0-7-0.09 = 17.1

If Brock Purdy’s four-interception meltdown against the Ravens revealed an extreme sensitivity to matchups, then fantasy players should have few concerns for Purdy in Washington in Week 17. The Ravens and Commanders are on the opposite ends of the spectrum with the No. 1 and No. 32 pass defenses by DVOA. You can start Purdy with confidence this week.

11. Jordan Love, GB at MIN

34.2-239-1.78-0.72 and 2.1-12-0.10 = 17.0

Jordan Love enjoyed his own schedule benefit with a Panthers matchup in Week 16. But don’t dismiss his three-touchdown outburst as entirely a product of his opponent. Love has 96 red zone pass attempts this season, third most at his position behind just Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. He has run less than I expected, but Love has a firm grasp of a back-end QB1 ranking nevertheless.

12. Matthew Stafford, LA at NYG

35.2-264-1.69-0.67 and 1.2-4-0.05 = 16.6

Matthew Stafford averaged 262 passing yards and 1.0 passing touchdowns in his first eight games this season, and he’s averaged 278 passing yards and 2.8 passing touchdowns in his last five games. Is the latter split who Stafford truly is now with better health and better skill-player health? Maybe. But where Stafford was very unlucky with a 4.95 expected touchdown shortfall in the former split, he’s been a bit lucky with a 1.67 expected touchdown surplus in the latter split. I would start the veteran in Week 17. But I see Stafford as more of a back-end QB1 than the top-five fantasy quarterback he has been for the last month-plus.

13. Trevor Lawrence, JAX vs. CAR

35.8-257-1.33-0.82 and 3.2-16-0.15 = 16.4

Trevor Lawrence left Week 16 early with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, and I think that presents a narrative of a slump that I don’t personally believe. Lawrence underwhelmed with 264 yards and one touchdown in Week 15, but that was against the aforementioned No. 1 Ravens pass defense. In his four starts before that, Lawrence averaged 285 passing yards and 3.0 total touchdowns per game. If the Jaguars star is healthy enough to play in Week 17, then I would be fine starting him in fantasy.

14. Joe Flacco, CLV vs. NYJ

40.0-289-1.76-1.24 and 1.4-1-0.03 = 16.4

We saw what can happen on a Joe Flacco heater when he carried a fourth-seed Ravens team to a Super Bowl title in 2012. And I won’t dismiss the possibility that Flacco could do the same for fantasy players on their hopeful championship runs this year. But the veteran quarterback has thrown 44, 45, 44, and 42 pass attempts in his four Browns starts. And typically even Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert can’t sustain an average of 40-plus pass attempts in a season. I am projecting Flacco for 40.0 pass attempts in Week 17, 1.6 more than any other quarterback. And I’m as worried that he could crater in the wrong sort of game script as I am that he has found the role and team to suit his gunslinger skillset that he’s always wanted.

15. Baker Mayfield, TB vs. NO

32.7-235-1.70-0.52 and 2.3-6-0.09 = 16.3

Baker Mayfield may have stunted on my take to bench him in Week 16 with 283 passing yards and two touchdowns. But he accomplished that on 35 pass attempts, five more than he had in any of his previous four weeks. I’ll try to refine my language since last time. Mayfield is the No. 15 quarterback in fantasy points per game this season. And while that modest average may owe more to a lack of passing volume than to a lack of passing efficiency, the implication is the same. You shouldn’t start Mayfield in your fantasy championships.

16. Jacoby Brissett, WAS vs. SF: 32.5-232-1.46-0.55 and 2.7-14-0.14 = 16.2
17. Jake Browning, CIN at KC: 34.6-287-1.32-1.04 and 2.1-9-0.11 = 16.1
18. Geno Smith, SEA vs. PIT: 34.3-246-1.44-0.72 and 1.8-6-0.05 = 15.0
19. Jared Goff, DET at DAL: 35.0-259-1.31-0.67 and 1.5-1-0.07 = 14.8
20. Nick Mullens, MIN vs. GB: 34.2-289-1.37-1.40 and 1.8-3-0.05 = 14.8
21. Derek Carr, NO at TB: 34.9-244-1.43-0.59 and 1.6-2-0.02 = 14.7
22. Gardner Minshew, IND vs. LV: 35.8-238-1.25-0.75 and 2.2-6-0.16 = 14.6

Running Backs

20. Austin Ekeler, LAC at DEN: 11.9-44-0.52 and 4.9-3.3-28-0.14 = 12.8
21. Aaron Jones, GB at MIN: 12.8-57-0.37 and 4.4-3.1-23-0.16 = 12.8
22. Isiah Pacheco, KC vs. CIN: 13.1-56-0.49 and 3.8-3.3-20-0.09 = 12.8
23. Devin Singletary, HST vs. TEN: 15.7-68-0.44 and 3.1-2.4-17-0.07 = 12.7
24. De’Von Achane, MIA at BLT: 8.6-62-0.34 and 4.0-2.9-22-0.13 = 12.7
25. D’Andre Swift, PHI vs. ARZ: 14.9-68-0.46 and 2.6-2.1-12-0.07 = 12.3
26. Chuba Hubbard, CAR at JAX: 17.0-64-0.49 and 2.5-2.2-14-0.04 = 12.1
27. Josh Jacobs, LV at IND: 17.3-60-0.52 and 2.6-1.8-14-0.05 = 11.6
28. Ty Chandler, MIN vs. GB: 15.0-65-0.41 and 2.4-1.9-13-0.05 = 11.4
29. Brian Robinson, WAS vs. SF: 14.1-59-0.40 and 1.9-1.5-15-0.06 = 10.9
30. Jaylen Warren, PIT at SEA: 9.1-48-0.20 and 4.9-3.9-25-0.06 = 10.8
31. Gus Edwards, BLT vs. MIA: 12.4-50-0.67 and 1.0-0.8-8-0.02 = 10.3

32. Javonte Williams, DEN vs. LAC

13.3-48-0.31 and 3.5-2.8-14-0.11 = 10.1

Javonte Williams scored his first two rushing touchdowns of the season the last three weeks. But the third-year back has a modest six carries inside the 5-yard line this season and is the only back with fewer than 10 such carries on his 39 or more red zone carries this year. At least with Russell Wilson at quarterback, the Broncos have passed near the end zone. And that makes Williams more of a flex option than borderline RB2 until or unless we see something different with Jarrett Stidham under center.

33. Jerome Ford, CLV vs. NYJ

12.1-48-0.23 and 4.0-2.8-17-0.11 = 9.9

Week 16 touchdown aside, Jerome Ford has been a bit of a victim of the Joe Flacco passing renaissance. But the flip side of my expected Flacco pass attempts regression is positive rushing attempt regression for Ford and company. I am projecting the lead Browns back for 12.1 carries in Week 17, up from his 11.0 average over the last four weeks. And coupled with his top 25 target share of 10% this season, that makes Ford a compelling flex option.

34. Najee Harris, PIT at SEA

13.2-52-0.34 and 2.1-1.6-10-0.05 = 9.4

Najee Harris has played season-low 34% and 44% snap shares the last two weeks and not seen a target for just the second and third times all season. But the lead Steelers back has maintained his traditional early-down role and paced the backfield with 31 carries and 5 red zone carries the last two weeks, both top 20 at his position. With new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner, Harris may be a poor man’s Gus Edwards. But his rushing volume and touchdown potential continue to make him a fantasy flex starter.

35. Tyjae Spears, TEN at HST

6.7-31-0.14 and 5.1-3.8-27-0.09 = 9.0

That’s more like it. Tyjae Spears made me sad when he saw just one target in Week 15 when I had just called him the poor man’s Jahmyr Gibbs to Derrick Henry’s David Montgomery. But then the versatile Titans rookie rebounded with six targets in Week 16. And now Spears has averaged 10.3 carries and 5.3 targets per game over the last month. He needs some amount of PPR to be viable. But even in half-PPR, I see Spears as a back-end flex starter.

36. Justice Hill, BLT vs. MIA

8.6-37-0.28 and 2.2-1.8-11-0.04 = 7.6

Justice Hill was the major beneficiary of his teammate Keaton Mitchell’s season-ending injury, jumping from a typical 26-28% snap share over his previous five games to a 62% snap share in Week 16. But Mitchell was more valuable in real than in fantasy football, and I expect Hill to be as well. Gus Edwards has outcarried Hill 20-4 inside the 5-yard line this season and should continue to take the majority of the team’s rushing touchdowns. And since Lamar Jackson seldom throws to his backs, Hill’s 10 or so touches are likely to be relatively empty fantasy calories.

37. Kareem Hunt, CLV vs. NYJ

9.4-30-0.42 and 1.7-1.3-8-0.04 = 7.2

Kareem Hunt has the opposite problem of his division rival Justice Hill. Hunt has outcarried lead Browns back Jerome Ford 30-14 in the red zone and 11-3 inside the 5-yard line since the former reached his current full workload in Week 6 and is a decent bet to score a touchdown. But Hunt flirted with too few snaps to play in fantasy with his typical 32-37% snap share even before the team’s quarterback change. And now that Joe Flacco is flinging the ball everywhere except behind him, Hunt has to stretch to hit even 10 touches per week. I would bench Hunt in fantasy in Week 17.

38. Samaje Perine, DEN vs. LAC

3.1-14-0.08 and 3.5-3.2-29-0.08 = 6.8

I think it’s fair to say that Sean Payton has not been a fan of Russell Wilson’s attempted rebound season. But I suspect even Payton wouldn’t dispute that the veteran quarterback had bounced back with his legs, returning to the 80-carry, 300-rushing-yard standard that he last met in 2020. Jarrett Stidham is a bit of an unknown. But he seems likely to run less than his predecessor, and that offers Samaje Perine or maybe Jaleel McLaughlin some hope of a revived fantasy relevance. I would bench the veteran receiving back in fantasy championships. But Perine may have a place in some DFS lineups this week.

39. Roschon Johnson, CHI vs. ATL

5.3-24-0.14 and 3.3-2.7-17-0.07 = 6.7

I assume D’Onta Foreman will play in Week 17 after he missed last Sunday’s game for personal reasons. He returned to practice on Wednesday. But even if Foreman remained out, Roschon Johnson would be a difficult player to trust in fantasy. Justin Fields ranks second among quarterbacks with his 31% carry share this season. And Foreman and Khalil Herbert have both outcarried their rookie teammate with 17 and 12 red zone carries versus 8 this season. Johnson earns the bulk of his fantasy value as a receiver, and that isn’t enough to clear the flex starter benchmark.

40. Antonio Gibson, WAS vs. SF

3.7-15-0.10 and 3.6-3.0-24-0.11 = 6.7

Antonio Gibson was a nominal starter the last two weeks with Brian Robinson out injured. But the veteran running back played a similar role with 44-45% snap shares, 13 combined carries, and in yielding a pair of touchdowns to his rookie teammate Chris Rodriguez. Gibson has reached 50% of snaps just three times this season. You could maybe consider him with full PPR scoring. But in half-PPR with Robinson presumedly likely to play after a Wednesday return to practice, Gibson is a definite Week 17 sit.

41. Tyler Allgeier, ATL at CHI: 9.6-35-0.25 and 1.1-0.8-6-0.02 = 6.2
42. D’Onta Foreman, CHI vs. ATL: 8.3-34-0.27 and 1.2-0.9-6-0.03 = 6.2
43. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. CIN: 4.8-18-0.13 and 2.4-1.9-18-0.10 = 5.9
44. AJ Dillon, GB at MIN: 7.6-26-0.24 and 1.5-1.2-10-0.03 = 5.8
45. Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN vs. LAC: 3.9-20-0.09 and 2.7-2.2-12-0.08 = 5.3
46. Zack Moss, IND vs. LV: 5.8-25-0.19 and 1.5-1.1-8-0.04 = 5.2
47. Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. ARZ: 4.8-20-0.18 and 2.0-1.6-11-0.04 = 5.2
48. Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL at CHI: 4.9-21-0.15 and 2.0-1.5-10-0.07 = 5.1
49. Chase Brown, CIN at KC: 5.2-22-0.13 and 1.5-1.3-11-0.04 = 5.0
50. Zach Charbonnet, SEA vs. PIT: 4.5-19-0.14 and 1.8-1.4-9-0.03 = 4.5
51. Rico Dowdle, DAL vs. DET: 5.8-23-0.18 and 1.1-0.8-5-0.03 = 4.5
52. Leonard Fournette, BUF vs. NE: 4.9-19-0.18 and 1.0-0.9-6-0.03 = 4.1
53. Jamaal Williams, NO at TB: 5.5-20-0.20 and 1.0-0.8-5-0.02 = 4.1
54. Khalil Herbert, CHI vs. ATL: 5.4-25-0.11 and 1.0-0.7-5-0.03 = 4.1
55. Miles Sanders, CAR at JAX: 5.7-20-0.14 and 1.5-1.0-6-0.02 = 4.1
56. Dameon Pierce, HST vs. TEN: 5.6-17-0.17 and 1.0-0.8-5-0.02 = 3.8
57. Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. GB: 4.7-18-0.12 and 1.1-0.7-5-0.05 = 3.7

Wide Receivers

23. Garrett Wilson, NYJ at CLV: 9.9-5.7-62-0.34 = 11.1
24. Adam Thielen, CAR at JAX: 7.9-5.9-60-0.34 = 11.0
25. Nico Collins, HST vs. TEN: 6.1-4.3-67-0.35 = 10.9
26. Chris Godwin, TB vs. NO: 8.2-5.1-62-0.28 = 10.6
27. Jordan Addison, MIN vs. GB: 6.4-4.2-56-0.45 = 10.4
28. Tee Higgins, CIN at KC: 7.4-4.1-61-0.37 = 10.4
29. Drake London, ATL at CHI: 6.9-4.7-61-0.29 = 10.2
30. George Pickens, PIT at SEA: 6.5-3.8-66-0.26 = 10.1
31. Zay Flowers, BLT vs. MIA: 7.2-5.1-52-0.32 = 9.8

32. Jayden Reed, GB at MIN

6.4-4.2-47-0.37 = 9.7

Unlike his outside receiver teammates Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed has played the majority of his snaps from the slot this season. But that has not prevented the rookie from seeing touchdown opportunities. In fact, Reed is tied with Doubs with 17 red zone targets this season, which is also tied for 13th among all receivers. If he’s healthy enough to play in Week 17, then you should return Reed to your fantasy lineups.

33. Joshua Palmer, LAC at DEN

6.4-4.1-58-0.28 = 9.5

New quarterback starter Easton Stick may have skewed the Chargers offense more toward the run than his predecessor Justin Herbert. But de facto No. 1 receiver Joshua Palmer has a 19% target share the last two weeks that is top 40 at his position, and that spurs his flex starter status even on 33.0 projected Stick pass attempts.

34. Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. PIT

7.1-4.8-51-0.31 = 9.4

With a flurry of 20 targets the last two weeks, Tyler Lockett has passed DK Metcalf with 113 targets to 105 this season. Another six or seven years of this and I may finally learn to rank the two veteran Seahawks receivers similarly for fantasy.

35. Jakobi Meyers, LV at IND

6.2-4.2-47-0.35 = 9.1

With Aidan O’Connell at quarterback, Jakobi Meyers hasn’t come close to the 10-target standard he set four times with Jimmy Garoppolo or Brian Hoyer starting in the first half of the season. But Meyers’ 5, 2 and 5 targets from Weeks 9, 10 and 16 look better by rate since O’Connell threw unsustainably low totals of 25, 27 and 21 passes those weeks. I am projecting Meyers for a 20.5% target share that is tied for 34th among receivers in Week 17. And with any kind of passing volume, that should make Meyers a fantasy flex starter.

36. Gabe Davis, BUF vs. NE

5.4-3.1-51-0.37 = 8.9

Gabe Davis had already traditionally been the most boom-or-bust receiver in football. I should have known that his back-to-back shutouts in Weeks 14 and 15 meant his bookends would be bigger booms than usual. In net, Davis is and probably always has been a back-end flex starter. But his mix of top five projected yards and touchdowns per target and a projected target share outside the top 50 among receivers is a vexing one for fantasy players. I prefer to play him in DFS than in season-long fantasy.

37. Demario Douglas, NE at BUF

6.9-4.5-53-0.19 = 8.8

A two-week absence for a concussion disrupted the narrative. But rookie Demario Douglas looks like the new No. 1 Patriots receiver with a 23% target share that is tied for 24th at the position since Week 7. That may mean less with Bailey Zappe at quarterback than it would with his opponent Josh Allen, for example. But I still see Douglas as a back-end flex starter in Week 17.

38. Noah Brown, HST vs. TEN

5.7-3.5-54-0.24 = 8.6

Noah Brown fell below the flex starter benchmark after a subtle cut of his projected target share from Week 16 to 17. But Brown has a decent chance to produce more with C.J. Stroud back at quarterback than he did with Case Keenum and Davis Mills under center the last two weeks. And behind a number of flex options like Brian Robinson, Jordan Addison and Jayden Reed who are questionable to play, I suspect Brown will find his way to flex starter status by kickoff Sunday.

39. Demarcus Robinson, LA at NYG

5.5-3.6-45-0.34 = 8.4

Demarcus Robinson’s now-four-week fantasy outburst looks far more sustainable than I would have guessed. The journeyman receiver has played 95% and 93% snap shares the last two weeks and has supported his four touchdown catches with seven end zone targets, second most in that time span and tied for 28th at his position and just two fewer than his teammate Puka Nacua has for the entire season. But Robinson is still the third receiver on his team, and I fear that his fantasy value could slip when Matthew Stafford suffers some touchdown regression. I don’t hate a Robinson play in Week 17. But I rank him on the wrong side of the flex starter benchmark.

40. Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. SF

6.6-3.9-50-0.23 = 8.3

The Commanders’ switch from Sam Howell to Jacoby Brissett at quarterback could be good news for Terry McLaurin. The No. 1 receiver has seen an unexpectedly even target share split with his teammates Jahan Dotson and especially Curtis Samuel this year, and that has rendered him a flex rather than WR2 fantasy option for much of the year. But McLaurin did likely benefit from Howell’s now-silver-medal 557 pass attempts this season. And based on his starter turns in Indianapolis, Miami and Cleveland, I am projecting Brissett for a modest 32.5 pass attempts this week. It may be moot at this time in the calendar. But I would wait to see Brissett start a week before I trusted any of his receivers for fantasy.

41. Romeo Doubs, GB at MIN

5.9-3.7-43-0.37 = 8.3

Romeo Doubs’ Week 16 touchdown was his first in six weeks. But the sophomore receiver is tied for 13th at his position with 17 red zone targets this season. He’s a reasonable touchdown bet if Christian Watson misses another week — and even if Jayden Reed doesn’t. But Doubs just misses my flex starter benchmark with an 18.0% projected target share that is 48th highest among wide receivers.

42. Curtis Samuel, WAS vs. SF: 5.7-3.9-39-0.28 = 8.2
43. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA vs. PIT: 6.3-4.3-45-0.26 = 8.2
44. Jerry Jeudy, DEN vs. LAC: 5.8-3.7-49-0.23 = 8.1
45. Diontae Johnson, PIT at SEA: 6.8-3.8-45-0.28 = 8.1
46. Josh Downs, IND vs. LV: 6.3-4.3-46-0.21 = 8.0
47. Brandin Cooks, DAL vs. DET: 5.1-3.4-43-0.30 = 7.9
48. Zay Jones, JAX vs. CAR: 6.8-3.8-40-0.30 = 7.7
49. Tyler Boyd, CIN at KC: 6.1-4.2-42-0.22 = 7.7
50. Rashid Shaheed, NO at TB: 4.8-2.9-45-0.21 = 7.4
51. K.J. Osborn, MIN vs. GB: 5.1-3.3-38-0.26 = 7.1
52. Odell Beckham, BLT vs. MIA: 5.0-2.7-40-0.25 = 6.9
53. Elijah Moore, CLV vs. NYJ: 6.3-3.5-38-0.21 = 6.9
54. Marquise Brown, ARZ at PHI: 6.5-3.3-37-0.24 = 6.8

Tight Ends

6. Jake Ferguson, DAL vs. DET: 6.8-4.6-50-0.43 = 9.9
7. Evan Engram, JAX vs. CAR: 8.1-6.4-54-0.21 = 9.9
8. Cole Kmet, CHI vs. ATL: 6.0-4.8-47-0.35 = 9.2

9. Dalton Schultz, HST vs. TEN

5.6-3.8-42-0.34 = 8.1

Dalton Schultz has seen plenty of targets with Case Keenum and Davis Mills at quarterback the last two weeks. But he’s lost some major touchdown potential without C.J. Stroud under center. Prior to Week 15, Schultz saw 17 targets thrown into the red zone and 8 targets thrown into the end zone in 11 games. But the last two weeks, he’s seen just 2 targets within the red zone and 1 within the end zone. I like Schultz’s touchdown chances with Stroud poised to return this week and would start him as a back-end TE1 in fantasy.

10. Dallas Goedert, PHI vs. ARZ

6.1-4.4-45-0.21 = 7.9

Dallas Goedert has returned to his pre-injury standard with 84-85% snap shares and nine targets each of the last two weeks. But even that healthy Goedert misses his previous top-five fantasy standard in the current Eagles offense. The veteran tight end has a modest nine red zone and three end zone targets this season and is barely unlucky with two touchdowns versus 2.24 expected touchdowns this season. Jalen Hurts takes so many of the team’s touchdown opportunities with scrambles and tush pushes that Goedert is left with a dramatically lesser touchdown projection than his contemporaries like Jake Ferguson and Cole Kmet. I would start him in fantasy this week, but Goedert is a definitive back-end TE1.

11. Isaiah Likely, BLT vs. MIA

5.2-3.7-45-0.26 = 7.9

He may not be Mark Andrews. But Isaiah Likely has mirrored his predecessor with 73-79% snap shares the last four games with Andrews out injured. He has scored twice. And he has demonstrated a starter’s skill set with a variety of big plays. Tight end becomes dim after the top 10-12 names. So why not start Likely in your fantasy playoffs?

12. Dalton Kincaid, BUF vs. NE

5.9-4.8-39-0.25 = 7.8

It’s possible that Dalton Kincaid owes much of his meager production the last two weeks — four targets, one catch and 7 yards — to a pair of run-friendly Bills gamescripts. But Kincaid has a marked split between his 21% target share with Dawson Knox out from Weeks 8 to 12 and his 14% share with Knox active the rest of the season. I am projecting Kincaid for an 18% target share that is 13th highest at the position in Week 17. And he needs that bit of optimism to clear the TE1 benchmark.

13. Kyle Pitts, ATL at CHI

5.9-3.6-46-0.22 = 7.8

Kyle Pitts has touchdowns in two of his last three weeks. That puts him at six touchdowns in three professional seasons and just three behind Lions rookie Sam LaPorta in his career. Hang the banner, Arthur Smith.

14. Gerald Everett, LAC at DEN

5.4-4.1-35-0.30 = 7.3

It isn’t the flashiest of interim coach Giff Smith’s Chargers changes. But Smith did make No. 2 tight end and frequent touchdown vulture Donald Parham a healthy scratch in Week 16. Gerald Everett has had a quiet season overall. But he now has eight targets in three consecutive weeks, and I am projecting him for a 17.5% target share that just misses the TE1 standard. You can start him in a pinch in your fantasy championships.

15. Darren Waller, NYG vs. LA

5.5-3.7-41-0.20 = 7.2

Darren Waller made another stride in his return from a two-month hamstring injury with a jump from a 42% snap share to 63% in Week 16. But the veteran tight end has a modest six catches and 72 yards his last two weeks. And that is too little to spur me to start a player with what I perceive to be a massive re-injury risk in my fantasy playoffs.

16. Hunter Henry, NE at BUF

5.0-3.5-35-0.30 = 7.0

Hunter Henry missed Week 16 with a knee injury and is far from a lock to play in Week 17. But prior to that injury, Henry had produced 50 or more receiving yards in three of his previous four weeks and scored a couple of touchdowns. If he can return in Week 17, then I would return him to a top-end TE2 ranking.

17. Taysom Hill, NO at TB

1.7-1.3-12-0.09 = 6.9

I can never seem to align my Taysom Hill start/sit call with his rushing touchdown schedule. And since his just three carries for 3 yards the last two weeks have dropped to a mid-tier TE2 ranking, I have little doubt Hill will run for a pair of bunny touchdowns in Week 17. Throw him in some DFS lineups and thank me later.

18. Jonnu Smith, ATL at CHI: 4.5-3.4-40-0.19 = 6.8
19. Tyler Conklin, NYJ at CLV: 5.6-3.8-40-0.15 = 6.8
20. Tucker Kraft, GB at MIN: 4.8-3.3-37-0.23 = 6.8
21. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN at HST: 5.1-3.5-33-0.17 = 6.1
22. Pat Freiermuth, PIT at SEA: 4.7-3.1-30-0.22 = 5.9
23. Tanner Hudson, CIN at KC: 3.8-3.1-29-0.14 = 5.2
24. Cade Otton, TB vs. NO: 3.6-2.7-26-0.21 = 5.2
25. Logan Thomas, WAS vs. SF: 3.9-2.8-25-0.21 = 5.2
26. Michael Mayer, LV at IND: 3.6-2.4-27-0.19 = 5.1
27. Tommy Tremble, CAR at JAX: 3.5-2.5-23-0.22 = 4.8
28. Juwan Johnson, NO at TB: 3.8-2.3-23-0.22 = 4.8
29. Tyler Higbee, LA at NYG: 3.8-2.5-26-0.15 = 4.7
30. Durham Smythe, MIA at BLT: 3.2-2.5-25-0.13 = 4.5
31. Noah Fant, SEA vs. PIT: 2.8-2.1-24-0.10 = 4.0
32. Dawson Knox, BUF vs. NE: 2.8-1.9-18-0.17 = 3.7
33. Kylen Granson, IND vs. LV: 2.9-1.8-20-0.10 = 3.5
34. Josh Oliver, MIN vs. GB: 2.3-1.8-16-0.14 = 3.4
35. Johnny Mundt, MIN vs. GB: 2.4-1.8-17-0.11 = 3.3