Week 17 Fantasy Football 2021/2022 Season

Week 17 marks the final week in fantasy football this year for many leagues. In the new 18 week NFL season this is used as the championship week in most cases. It makes for the most important week for those who will be in the championship or consolation game for a third place finish to end the year with some potential prize money.

To get ready for the final fantasy football week of the season let’s take a look at those top pick ups for the last games, who to sit and start, and compare some players on your rosters to see who is the best to play in week 17.

RB’s for Week 17

Looking at running backs to take you to a fantasy championship, it includes a couple unlikely names this late in the season.

Rex Burkhead

The first is Rex Burkhead who would have been a great play last week and was a waiver wire favorite as well. He is under 15% owned on most sites but put in one of the best fantasy running back performances last week with 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Burkhead is a pretty clear lead back for the Houston Texans now as he has gotten 11, 16, and then 22 carries in the last three weeks. He will find himself in a tougher matchup in week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers but should still be a viable RB2.

Dare Ogunbowale will replace James Robinson

Another option is Dare Ogunbowale who will replace James Robinson after a torn achilles. The Jaguars will likely go to him and he should be in line for all the carries with Carlos Hyde out also. Every snap but one at running back went to Ogunbowale after Robinson went out last week.

Boston Scott

The final option is Boston Scott if it is announced Miles Sanders is out for the Eagles with a hurt hand that is likely broken. Scott would be a great option as he will get the most carries in Philadelphia in a strong run offense especially if Jordan Howard is still limited.

He should have the best matchup out of the three mentioned against the Washington Football Team in week 17 and with this being the last week, that is all that matters.

WR’s for Week 17

Isaiah Mackenzie

The wide receiver pickups on the waiver wire are a little more slim. One breakout receiver due to some injuries last week was Isaiah Mackenzie for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had two of their top receivers out for week 16 in Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis so someone needed to step up.

A lot of people thought it would be Emmanuel Sanders but Mackenzie was the one as he managed 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. In week 17 Beasley and Davis are likely out again which makes Mackenzie a possible league winning option for the final week.

Miles Sanders

This is also a great matchup for the Bills against the Atlanta Falcons who seem to hang around with teams but give up a lot of yards in the passing game for a great fantasy matchup.

Don’t count out Sanders though as a good pickup as he could be the one who has a big game here at wide receiver along with Diggs. Sanders is also becoming more available on the waiver wire.

Another side receiver is one who has turned from a boom or bust deep touchdown threat to a consistent high floor wide receiver that still has high upside with that big touchdown threat. The last three weeks for the Panthers wide receiver have been good for him with 12, eight, and 10 targets. With that volume of targets it is pretty easy for him to hit value and then have that upside to take your lineup to the next level.

QB’s for Week 17

When looking for a quarterback pick up in week 17 you are going to be looking for a plug and play quarterback for this week because this is it for the season.

Cam Newton

The one that could surpass your current starting quarterback is Cam Newton. Newton has yet to win a game in his return to the Panthers but has been decent fantasy wise due to his rushing ability. Even though his passing yardage high is only 189 in four starts this year he has run for five touchdowns and has a high of 71 rushing yards in a game.

In the last three weeks he has run for 42 yard or more each game. After two tough matchups in a row against the Bills and then the Bucs he gets a good matchup against the Saints finally. If he is named the starter it could be a good place for him where he gets the most fantasy points he has had in a game this season.

TE’s for Week 17

It is always really hard to find a plug and play tight end for a week. If you are looking for a good tight end to play from the waiver wire at this point you likely aren’t in the fantasy league championship. If you somehow are a touchdown from them should be enough to get the job done. At that point you are basically just throwing a dart at anyone.

CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conlkin, and Cole Kmet

The best tight end options for week 17 to play off the waiver wire look like CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conlkin, or Cole Kmet. Those three combined haven’t had a touchdown since week 11 and Kmet hasn’t had one at all this year.

The best bet for a touchdown and big game in week 17 should be Uzomah however, as he could be in a shootout as the Bengals take on the Chiefs in what could be a shootout.

Running Backs to Start in Week 17

Damien Harris

One of the best running backs to start for week 17 who was back in the lineup for the New England Patriots last week is Damien Harris. Harris has been a beast anytime he is on the field and last week he was just that after missing the team’s last matchup.

He managed over 100 yards and three touchdowns. This week the Patriots have a great matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Harris should be able to absolutely dominate the game again.

Jeff Wilson

Another running back to start in week 17 is Jeff Wilson from the San Francisco 49ers. Wilson is now coming off of back to back games with a touchdown and is even in a tougher matchup when the 49ers were not able to produce much offense Wilson still was a good fantasy play.

Now he finds himself in a great matchup against the Houston Texans and the 49ers would feature him early and often. Houston is one of the worst teams against the run and the 49ers are one of the best running teams in the league.

Running Backs to Sit in Week 17

A running back to sit is one who was one of the best all around fantasy players earlier in the season. That is Cordarelle Patterson for the Atlanta Falcons.

Patterson has now had two weeks in a row with less than 20 rushing yards and finds himself in a tough matchup again this week against the Buffalo Bills. He may be shut down again and even Mike Davis has been taking carries away from him at this point.

Wide Receivers to Start in Week 17

Jaylen Waddle

Looking for some top wide receivers to start in week 17 Jaylen Waddle is at the top of the list. He has been an absolute target monster for the Miami Dolphins when he is in the lineup. In his last three games played he has had over 10 targets in each game and converted those for at least nine catches in each of those games.

Week 17 is a tough matchup for the Dolphins but they have been rolling with seven straight wins and will need to continue to throw against this Titans team who has been solid as of late.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Amon-Ra St. Brown for the Detroit Lions keeps getting it done week after week and looks like another good wide receiver to start this week. He now has four straight weeks with 11 targets or more in each game with three touchdowns in that span and three games with 86 or more receiving yards.

The Lions have finally developed a good passing attack late in the seasons and Brown has been at the head of it.

Wide Receivers to Sit in Week 17

Terry Mclaurin may sadly be a player you want to sit in week 17. He looked like one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and for fantasy early in the year but he has struggled along with the Washington Football Team lately.

He hasn’t scored a touchdown or had over 51 yards receiving since week 11 and hasn’t been making explosive plays in the offense like earlier.

Quarter Backs to Start in Week 17

Kyler Murray

A quarterback to start in week 17 even with his recent struggles is Kyler Murray. He hasn’t had over 257 yards his last two games or more than one passing touchdown in his last three games but finds himself in a good matchup here.

The Cardinals also are fighting to get back into the lead spot for the division and will need to do so in possibly a shootout against the Dallas Cowboys. Kyler has stepped it up with his running too recently with three games of 59 or more rushing yards in his last four games.

Quarter Backs to Sit in Week 17

A quarterback to sit is Matt Ryan. Ryan has not had big games recently and you will need it from your quarterback in week 17. He also has one of the toughest matchups on the week against the Buffalo Bills.

Tight Ends to Start in Week 17

Dawson Knox

Dawson Knox is a tight end to play in week 17. Knox has not had many big yardage games recently but has been a solid touchdown target every week. He now has nine touchdowns on the season and against the Atlanta Falcons should see even more opportunities with Beasley and Davis out again this week.

Tight Ends to Sit in Week 17

Tyler Higbee has been a disappointment this year and can’t be started in week 17. Apart from week one, Higbee hasn’t had over 51 yards in a game and only has three touchdowns on the year. The Rams also have been run first which hasn’t helped Higbee.

Comparison of the players for Week 17

RB’s Comparison for Week 17

Devin Singletary has come out of nowhere to be the lead back for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills desperately needed a running back to step up and Devin Singletary has for them. Running backs for the Bills were not getting many carries and especially consistently until the last few weeks.

He now has back to back weeks with touchdowns and had 22 carries for 86 yards in week 15. Week 16 he also saw a good amount of carries with 12 and can be a solid RB2 against the Falcons in week 17.

Devin Singletary or AJ Dillon

Devin Singletary looks like a better play in week 17 than AJ Dillon who has seen his carries go down since Aaron Jones is back getting the bulk of the carries. Dillon was a good fantasy back but now has back to back games with less than 10 carries.

Singletary vs Darrell Williams

With that few touches Singletary looks better in week 17. Darrell Williams looks like a better play than Singletary though in week 17. Williams will be the lead back for the Kansas City Chiefs this week and they have been running the ball a lot more this season and as of late.

Rashad Pennys should be a better play than Ezekiel Elliott

Rashad Penny is back as a good play after one off week he was back with another 130+ yard game. This week he will get the Detroit Lions and should be a better play than Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliiot was back as a good fantasy play with two touchdowns last week but only had nine carries. Penny should see more carries and produce more than Elliot can in week 17.

Ronald Jones better play than Penny

Ronald Jones is now the No. 1 back for the Buccaneers and should be a good play again this week. With 20 carries last week and a matchup against the Jets this week, he looks like a better play than Penny.

WR’s Comparison for Week 17

DK Metcalf could be a better play than Russell Gage

DK Metcalf has not had more than 60 yards receiving in a game since week seven but finally got a touchdown last week for the first time since week eight. This week he will get to play the Detroit Lions and the Seahawks have nothing to lose with being out of the playoffs now.

Metcalf will be out to prove he is still one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and has a good matchup to do so this week. He looks like he could be a better play than Russell Gage from the Falcons as Metcalf has higher touchdown upside due to their matchups.

The Falcons and Gage have to play the Bills while the Seahawks and Metcalf gets to play the Lions where they should have three or four touchdowns.

Christian Kirk or Metcalf

Christian Kirk looks like a better play than Metcalf due to him being the No. 1 option for the Cardinals now with Hokpins out. He has nine and 12 targets in the last two weeks and has been a solid producer for them the last three weeks. He has even more potential to score a touchdown than Metcalf this week as well.

Marquise Brown vs Odell Beckham Jr.

Marquise Brown has not had a big play in a while but now has been a high floor player. Still he looks like a better play than Odell Beckham Jr. as he sees a ton of targets for the Ravens. Tyler Boyd may be the third option for the Bengals but is still a better play than Brown in week 17.

That game has huge potential against the Chiefs to be a shootout where Boyd has another big game. He has been good for one of those every couple weeks and this week is lining up to be a big game for him.

QB’s Comparison for Week 17

Jalen Hurts

At quarterback Jalen Hurts could be a good one to start in week 17. He gets a great matchup against the Washington Football Team who have given up a ton to fantasy players the last half of the season. Hurts may run all over them this week and he has been a decent fantasy play the last few weeks after a great start to the year.

Joe Burrow vs Hurts

Joe Burrow had a monster game last week with 525 yards passing and four touchdowns against the Ravens. The Bengals are rolling and as mentioned earlier in this the Bengals and Chiefs game has huge potential to be another shootout game like the Bengals had last week.

This makes Burrow a better play than Hurts in week 17. Hurts should have an open playbook to get a win against Washington this week that makes him a better play than Tom Brady. 

Tom Brady

Brady and the Buccaneers have a set playoff spot and may be up big against the New York Jets. This could cause them to sit Brady at some point as early as the third quarter which could limit his fantasy value in week 17. Hurts should also run more this week and be better than Brady for fantasy owners.

TE’s Comparison for Week 17

Kyle Pitts

Looking at tight ends for week 17 there are not a ton of great options. One however, is rookie Kyle Pitts who had one of his best games of his career last week.

The Atlanta Falcons are desperate for playmakers and Pitts showed up big with 102 yards last week. He has a tough matchup in week 17 against the Buffalo Bills but he still looks better than a lot of other options.

Dallas Goedert

Dallas Goedert has become one of the best fantasy tight ends now with Zach Ertz out of Philadelphia and the Eagles have made him their No. 1 option now. After two 100+ yard games he had a bust game last week. Expect a big bounce back game for him in week 17.

Zach Ertz

Speaking of Zach Ertz, he has not been able to take the lead in Arizona for the Cardinals. He has one really good game but hasn’t had a standout game since. Pitts has the potential to have another big game here for the Falcons while the Cardinals spread the ball around more that leaves Ertz with an average performance in week 17.