Which under-the-radar players might be able to give your fantasy team a lift? Which chalky players might not be as safe as they seem?
Our featured analysts name some potential sleepers and underachievers for Week 17.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Q. Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start and why do you think he has upside this week?
Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ)
“With Mike White back under center, Elijah Moore returns to fantasy relevance. The Seahawks’ defense has really fallen apart of late, and Moore brings 6/60 upside with TD equity. He’s not as safe as some WRs like Jahan Dotson, but Moore is certainly in the flex conversation in Week 17.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
“The Jets play the Seahawks this week, and Elijah Moore will once again have Mike White at quarterback, which markedly improves the odds of Jets players being fantasy relevant. Moore has averaged 79% of snaps in the last three games and now faces a Seahawks defense that struggles against WR2s, ranking 32nd in DVOA against the position. Before Week 16’s weather-affected game with the Jaguars Moore had averaged 7.6 targets per game over his previous three games and went over 50 yards in two of those games. The Seahawks’ defense is fading lately and has allowed the eighth-highest yards per reception since Week 11 (12.0).”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
“This isn’t very far outside the top 100, but I’m intrigued by Chuba Hubbard (No. 101 overall). The Panthers have been extraordinarily run-heavy since Sam Darnold took over at quarterback, running on 63.2% of their offensive snaps in those four games. Hubbard has been splitting snaps nearly 50/50 with D’Onta Foreman during that stretch, and as ground-based as the Carolina offense has been, I think Foreman and Hubbard are both viable flex plays this week. The matchup against the Buccaneers isn’t a great one, but the Tampa run defense isn’t as fearsome as it’s been in recent years, and the Bucs could be without run-stuffing DT Vita Vea, who missed their Week 16 game with a calf injury.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Greg Dortch (WR – ARI)
“WR Greg Dortch ran more routes (79% vs. 73%) and played more snaps than Marquise Brown, who entered Sunday night with a groin injury. The Cardinals’ slot WR delivered another big game with 10 grabs for 98 yards on 11 targets. He led Arizona with a 26% target share and 29% target rate per route run. In Dortch’s last three games as a full-time player, he has commanded at least 10 targets. The last time played a full game with Colt McCoy at quarterback, he finished with nine catches for 103 yards on 10 targets. He’s got a plus matchup in Week 17 vs. the Falcons. Atlanta’s slot cornerback Isaiah Oliver has been targeted on 20% of his routes covered this season (4th-most among slot CBs).”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
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Q. Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Mike Evans (WR – TB)
“It’s good ole Mike Evans for me again. With Jaycee Horn on the other side of Evans, and the ineptitude of the Bucs’ offense, Mike Evans is absolutely sit-worthy in Week 17. I don’t care that he’s a Hall of fame caliber WR, the Tampa offense lacks the execution skills to make him a fantasy asset.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
“The Steelers play the Ravens in a game that will determine whether it’s possible for Mike Tomlin to continue never having had a losing record. The Ravens’ run defense has been fantastic since Roquan Smith joined the team in Week 9, allowing a league-leading 3.2 yards per carry and a single rushing touchdown. Harris has improved in recent weeks, looking more like the player we saw in 2021, but he doesn’t feel trustworthy when fantasy championships are on the line.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
Josh Jacobs (RB – LV)
“The 49ers’ run defense is no joke. During San Francisco’s current eight-game winning streak, no team has run for more than 79 yards against the Niners. They haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown over their last five games, and no running back has produced 60 or more rushing yards against the 49ers this season. As terrific as Josh Jacobs has been, I’m not enthusiastic about his outlook for fantasy championship week.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI)
“Since Week 11 – when star cornerback A.J. Terrell returned to the starting lineup – the Falcons have allowed the fewest passing yards per game to QBs (150) and the fewest receiving yards per game to WRs at just 79 total yards. They also rank No. 1 in the NFL in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to WRs (17.9), specifically out wide, where WRs have scored just 4.1 fantasy points per game to perimeter WRs. DeAndre Hopkins runs 70% of his routes from the boundary, so he’s likely in for another subpar outing a week removed from an abysmal 10-target 1-catch game on Sunday night football even with Colt McCoy back under center in Week 17.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
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