We’re heading into Week 17 in the National Football League, and it’s a holiday week. We get the rare Wednesday games due to the Christmas holiday, so we’re getting this content out there earlier than usual.
If you’re still trying alive in your fantasy playoffs, good luck this weekend. We hope you’re able to raise the fantasy trophy and talk that smack to your buddies, co-workers, family, etc. It’s always nice to see the hard work from a season-long league pay off.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 17:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals: The rookie got off to a terrible start this season, committing plenty of miscues. However, Nix has emerged as a solid low-end QB1 in most fantasy leagues, and he is going to give people a chance to win a championship. Nix has two or more touchdown strikes in five of the past six outings, and 263 or more passing yards in four of the previous five contests. Look for big things from Nix to WR Courtland Sutton, and perhaps a sneaky-good day from TE Adam Trautman.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens: Stroud has taken a step back in some metrics as he has been just a little less accurate, while committing many more miscues. His QB rating is down from 100.8 last season to 87.7 in 2024. However, he is still putting up huge numbers, and that should continue against a leaky Ravens pass defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Stroud will be without WR Tank Dell due to a gruesome knee injury, but he still has plenty of high-impact options in the passing game.
Sit ‘Em
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers: The good news is that Darnold and the Vikings are at home for this NFC North showdown, but the bad news is that Packers are tough against the pass. Green Bay also comes in brimming with confidence after pitching a shutout against the beleaguered New Orleans Saints on MNF in Week 16. The Packers have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing signal callers in 2024.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears: Smith and the Seahawks fly into the Windy City looking to stay on track for a NFC West title. It’s a quick turnaround, and that’s good for Smith as he had an interception on his final throw in Week 16. Smith has a cadre of impressive receivers, but he will have his hands full with the short week, while facing a tough opponent. Chicago yields the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing field generals.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: The rookie Irving has a pair of 100-yard games in his first NFL season. One of those outings came two weeks ago in an unfavorable matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, surprising everyone. The other time he hit triple digits was Week 13 in Carolina when Irving rolled for a career-high 152 rushing yards and 185 total scrimmage yards while scoring on the ground. Lock him in. But White also has upside here. While he’s more of a sleeper than a must-start option, the versatile back racked up 76 rushing yards on just 11 carries in the earlier meeting and is a viable flex if you’re in a bind.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars: Pollard tailed off in Indianapolis last week, posting just 35 rushing yards on eight totes while adding a pair of receptions. It was a huge disappointment, but don’t fret if you have stock in T.P. He has three 100-yard games this season, and one of those came three weeks ago in Nashville against the Jaguars in the first meeting. While RB Tyjae Spears surprised with two rushing scores last Sunday in a high-scoring game, don’t expect him to carve into Pollard’s role that much again.
Sit ‘Em
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles: Dowdle set a career-high in rushing yards on Thanksgiving, he set a new high the following week on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he did it again in Week 15 at Carolina with 149 yards on 25 attempts. In Week 16, Dowdle took a giant step back as he was bottled up for 23 yards on 13 attempts, or 1.8 yards per carry. A crash back to Earth was inevitable, but he really landed hard. It isn’t likely to be much better in Week 17 as the Eagles allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tailbacks.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Harris is about to put a lump of coal in the stocking of fantasy managers trusting him on Christmas Day against the Chiefs. Kansas City is allowed just 91.4 rushing yards per game this season, and it has allowed the least amount of fantasy points to opponent tailbacks. In fact, Kansas City has allowed just 946 rushing yards, one of just two teams (Ravens) allowing less than 1,000 rushing yards to this point.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens: As mentioned above, Baltimore has a very leaky pass defense. Expect the Ravens to elect to double Collins. With Tank Dell out of the picture and Stefon Diggs long gone, Baltimore will challenge the likes of John Metchie (shoulder) and Robert Woods to beat them. Collins should still be able to excel, however, as Baltimore allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Even though most owners aren’t sitting Collins regardless of the situation, don’t be tempted to based on the name value of the Ravens. He should bounce back after last week’s pedestrian effort.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns: At the beginning of the season this would seem rather obvious. However, Hill has been anything but an obvious start most weeks, posting just a single 100-yard game in the past 14 games since opening strong in Week 1. The good news is that Hill has scored in three of the past four outings and five of the past seven games, clearly thankful QB Tua Tagovailoa has been able to stay healthy after a turnstile at quarterback in Tua’s absence. Hill was drafted as a WR1 in all fantasy leagues, but that hasn’t really been the case. He has a chance to make up for it in Cleveland, but beware of potential rain and wind in the forecast.
Sit ‘Em
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins: Jeudy scorched his former team, the Denver Broncos, back in Week 13 on Monday Night Football. With three 100-yard performances in a five-game span, Jeudy quickly emerged as an every-week fantasy starter, flirting with low-end WR1 status. Last week, the Browns elected to start QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson rather than veteran Jameis Winston, and all of the wind was taken out of Jeudy’s fantasy sails. He had just two grabs for 20 yards on three targets, anf he has nowhere near the familiarity he did with Winston.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans: Thomas has back-to-back 100-yard games, and he has scored three times in the past two outings. He has managed eight or more receptions in three in a row, too. However, the Titans have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Thomas shouldn’t be benched completely, but expect a big slide from his previous two games.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Freiermuth sounds like some sort of a bread or dessert you might eat from Eastern Europe on the Christmas holiday. Fantasy managers are hoping he’ll slice up the Kansas City for big-time fantasy points on Christmas Day. The Chiefs allow the third-most fantasy points to opponents tight ends, with 94 receptions, 1,090 yards and five touchdowns. Look for the “‘Muth” to get loose.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns: Last week we suggested Smith as a sit option, and he turned in his worst game in a month, though it was still somewhat useful. This week, despite some rain in the area, the Miami passing attack should be alive and well against the skidding Browns. Cleveland allows the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, giving up 715 yards and four scores to the position. He has five scores in the past six games, and six or more catches in five of the past six outings. Smith is looking to add to those numbers in a big way Sunday in the late window.
Sit ‘Em
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions: Okay, you’re not going to bench Kittle, but you’ll want to bump him down your rankings slightly as he faces a rough matchup. In fact, this Monday night battle is bad news for tight ends on both sides. The Lions allow the fewest fantasy points to tight ends, while giving up just 528 receiving yards and three touchdowns to the position.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers: Like Kittle, LaPorta shouldn’t be benched completely, but prepare for a mediocre stat line. The 49ers allow the third-fewest fantasy points to the opposition, giving up just 559 receiving yards and three touchdowns to the position this season. Unlike Kittle above, LaPorta hasn’t had nearly the same type of explosive lines, certainly not like he did last season. While he had his first 100-yard game in the marquee battle with the Buffalo Bills in Week 14, he has 48 or fewer receiving yards in nine of his 14 games this season and TDs have kept him afloat lately.
