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, along with start/sit advice for Week 17.
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Fantasy Football Week 17 Start/Sit Advice
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?
DJ Chark Jr. (WR – CAR)
“Last week, DJ Chark Jr. was the WR4, scoring 24.8 half-point PPR fantasy points in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. The veteran led the team in receptions (six), targets (eight), receiving yards (98), touchdowns (two), air yards share (40.6%), yards per route run (3.16), and target per route run rate (26%) per Fantasy Points Data. This week, he faces a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has surrendered 30.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the eighth-most in the NFL. Last week, the Jaguars gave up double-digit fantasy points to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Don’t be surprised if Chark has a second consecutive big fantasy performance.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU)
“Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there is optimism that C.J. Stroud will start in week 17. If that’s the case, then everyone in the Texans’ passing game gets a major boost, including Dalton Schultz. In addition, the Titans’ defense is pretty beat up, and has struggled with their pass defense all season. The name of this week’s sleeper is Dalton, but the bad jokes are all Mark Ringo haha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“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 in the last two weeks, he’s seen just two 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 have him as my No. 9 fantasy tight end.”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)
Gerald Everett (TE – LAC)
“Gerald Everett has three straight games with at least eight targets and five receptions. The yardage totals aren’t there (39, 41, 42), but all we can ask for a TE2 is to receive consistent opportunities. Easton Stick has a strong arm, and I expect the Chargers’ offense to play spoiler to the Broncos in Week 17.”
– Matt De Lima (The Game Day)
Marvin Mims (WR – DEN)
“Marvin Mims got more looks last week after Courtland Sutton left because of a concussion. Mims had 63 yards, his highest total since Week 3. Mims might be set up for more playing time this week with Sutton up in the air to play. If that happens, Mims might be worth a shot as a flex play. Mims has a great matchup against the Chargers, a team that allows the third most fantasy points to receivers and ranks 30th overall against the pass.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
“Courtland Sutton is in a prime spot in week 17 to be a league winner. As inconsistent as the Denver offense has been this season, Sutton’s production has remained the one constant. He has had double-digit fantasy points in all but two games, and even with Denver starting Jarrett Stidham at quarterback in Week 17, he remains one of the safest receivers in the game. Add in a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, who are the 3rd-easiest for opposing wide receivers, and you get the makings of a smash spot for Sutton. The Chargers are allowing 33.3 fantasy points per game to the position and are giving up points to receivers by the boatload. Fire up Sutton with confidence in your fantasy championship games.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI)
“Kenneth Gainwell took on a presence against the Giants on Christmas and had the look of a player on the move for the playoffs. There’s fantasy momentum here as well. The Cardinals allow the most fantasy points to running backs in 2023, so the matchup adds a plus to his latent value heading into Week 17.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)
“With all of the injuries in the Packers WR room at the moment, Dontayvion Wicks has had his number called. Over the last 5 games, Wicks has posted three top-36 finishes, including a score last week against Carolina. Wicks and the Packers face the Vikings this week in a warm, climate-controlled dome in Minneapolis. I love the play here if you are facing some WR issues for championship week, granted the floor is very low, but his ceiling is huge. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Jayden Reed (WR – GB)
“WR Jayden Reed returned to practice Wednesday, a good sign that the Packers will get their versatile weapon back in the lineup. “Bird” gets a good matchup vs a Vikings defense that is middle of the pack vs opposing WRs. This game should have a good scoring environment, in the dome, one of the faster-paced games, all that should help the rookie standout WR return to low-end WR2/high-end WR3 status for the week.”
– Justin Jaksa (Fantasy Follow)
Zamir White (RB – LV)
“Zamir White has looked like the running back of the future for the Las Vegas Raiders the last few weeks in relief of Josh Jacobs. In week 16 he dominated the Kansas City Chiefs for 145 yards on the ground! If Josh Jacobs sits again, he will be in line to be the workhorse back for the Raiders in a matchup against the Colts. (Do note that it is the fantasy playoffs, so don’t try to get cute and let him cost you the championship; only use him if Jacobs is 100% not playing. If Jacobs plays, White is probably a fringe flex.)”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
“Jameson Williams has received 13 targets in the last two weeks as he’s finally closer to playing starter snaps. In the fantasy championship, he faces a Cowboys side that has conceded the fourth-most points to out-wide receivers since Week 11. He’s a high-upside option that also carries plenty of risk.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Darren Waller (TE – LV)
“Tyrod Taylor was just named the starting Quarterback for the New York Giants for Week 17. Darren Waller has two of his four best fantasy performances with Taylor at Quarterback. The Giants also face the LA Rams, who allow the 3rd most fantasy points to TEs on the season. Yes, Waller has burned fantasy managers and has been a league loser up until this point, but if there was ever a week to start Waller– this is it.”
– Bradley Stalder (Player Profiler)
“Darren Waller is the ECR TE13 (flex 110) in a great matchup this week. Actually, “great” might be an understatement, as the Rams allow the seventh-most yards and second-most touchdowns to the position. Waller is finally healthy and now has Tyrod Taylor under center. Let’s flashback to Charles Clay, and his brief fantasy relevance as Tyrod’s top target. This team lacks receiving options and will likely be playing from behind all game. Tyrod has looked functional all year and will lead Waller to a top-six finish this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
P.J. Locke (S – DEN)
“P.J Locke. If you need a Defensive back, a low-key move almost any league could make happened during this Holiday season- S for the Broncos, Kareem Jackson was waived. This leaves P.J Locke in for an amazing opportunity,”
– Steve Hungarter (Fantasy Six Pack)
Q: Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG)
“Saquon Barkley had a top-10 performance in Week 16, totaling 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion accounted for nearly half his fantasy production. More importantly, he has averaged only 3.8 yards per touch over the past four games. Unfortunately, Barkley faces a Los Angeles Rams defense that has shut down opposing running backs lately in the fantasy football championship game. The Rams have held running backs to 48 rushing yards and nine fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, surrendering zero rushing touchdowns. It might be hard to sit Barkley, but it’s the right move to make.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)
“For as bad as the Chiefs’ played last week, remember it was their offense that struggled, not their defense. The thought of having to rely on Joe Mixon, on the road, in Kansas City, without Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, doesn’t exactly make Mr. Miyagi Ringo confident things will turn out well. Remember Danielson, not just wax on, wax off, but also Mixon Mix-off. This week I think it’s best to Mix-off. Don’t forget to breathe, very important haha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Mike Evans (WR – TB)
“Mike Evans has been remarkably productive with a perceived quarterback downgrade from Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield this season. But the veteran receiver has also suffered a long history of underwhelming performances against his Week 17 opponent and division rival Saints. Evans has averaged just 3.2 catches, 49 yards, and 0.28 touchdowns per game against the Saints, all bottom three among the opponents he’s faced four or more times in his career. Perhaps Marshon Lattimore‘s expected absence will make the difference. But I’m officially nervous.”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE)
“The Amari Cooper lightning in a bottle game has come and gone, and I’m not betting on a second strike. Inside this season’s vacuum, the Browns are hot, and Joe Flacco is playing great. However, I don’t make a habit of counting on the self-professed elite. Cooper faces the Jets’ pass defense in Week 17, and they’ve been lights out all season, so I’ll take the Under on Cooper having a big game.”
– Matt De Lima (The Game Day)
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)
“Tony Pollard has been a disappointment this season. He still ranks 13th overall in fantasy running back scoring but has produced some really bad games along the way. He has two straight games with fewer than eight fantasy points and has fewer than double-digit fantasy points seven times. You just expect better out of such a high draft pick. Pollard might have another down game this week against the Lions, a team that allows the fewest fantasy points to running backs and ranks fourth overall against the run.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
“Tony Pollard hasn’t had a single big game in 2023 and only two top-ten finishes in fantasy. He plays the Lions, who allow the fewest yards to running backs. It’s not likely he’ll suddenly break out. There’s no trending for it to emerge.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
“As one of the strongest Tony Pollard apologists entering 2023, this hurts my heart. Pollard has looked like a shell of himself for the majority of the season, has cracked more than 100 total yards once since Week 6, and hasn’t scored more than 8 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks. Now, he faces a Detroit Lions team that allows the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Disappointment is in the cards for Week 17. ”
– Bradley Stalder (Player Profiler)
DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
“DJ Moore has been a model of consistency this season, so it’s a shame that a lingering ankle injury has sapped his explosiveness when fantasy managers need him the most. After three consecutive 20+ point performances from Week 11 to 14, he has gone on to post back-to-back single-digit outings. In Week 16, Moore saw his snap share (74%), targets (6), and yards per catch (6.0) all fall to season lows in his worst performance of the season. It’s terrible timing for managers who rode him into the playoffs, but it appears that this ankle injury is going to make him a must-avoid when you need him the most.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)
“You are probably not benching him in your season-long Fantasy Championship games, but Bears WR DJ Moore is not setup for a ceiling game this week vs the Falcons defense. He could see some of CB AJ Terrel (PFF Grade 76.4) and ATL has been one of the stingier matchups for opposing WRs. This game profiles to be one of the slower-paced games of the week, and the Bears also have the league’s second lowest pass percentage and pass rate over expected (47.6%). QB Justin Fields (198.5 yard passing prop) will look to primarily attack the Falcons his legs, and this game has one of the lowest O/U of the week at 38.0; this one could be a running, ball control, grind-it-out affair.”
– Justin Jaksa (Fantasy Follow)
“DJ Moore has been very quiet the last two weeks and now faces one of the league’s toughest passing defenses in Atlanta. He’s very hard to trust in your fantasy finals, though admittedly, it’s hard to sit him as well.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Travis Kelce (TE – KC)
“Sorry to all of the Swifties out there, but what has happened in Kansas City this year? A once dynamic offense has now been reduced to rubble. Travis Kelce hasn’t finished as a top-24 TE in his last two games and hasn’t scored since Week 11. You must play Kelce this week if you are somehow in a championship with him, but have we seen the best of Kelce, and is it behind him? There is no doubt, though, that headed into next year, there is simply no shot you can call him the uncontested TE1 in fantasy.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Travis Etienne (RB – JAC)
“Travis Etienne started the season looking like he was the next star running back, and from Weeks 5-8, he looked the part! Then, the season happened. Since the Week 9 bye, Etienne has not gone over 56 yards rushing and only has two games over 50 yards! The only bonus is that he is averaging four receptions/game during that time. This week he will play the lowly Panthers, who have nothing to play for other than spoiler, which is totally possible against the struggling Jaguars.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
James Cook (RB – BUF)
“James Cook has been one of the best fantasy breakouts this season. Last week was his worst weekly finish, and he still sits as the RB10 in Half-PPR. Despite the Patriots being a complete disaster, they have allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards and second-lowest yards per carry on the season. In a tight game last week against a beatable defense, Leonard Fournette had his most snaps as a Bill, along with a goal-line carry. There is a chance that this game is tighter than it should be, and Cook is heavily involved in the passing game. I doubt that will happen, moving my ranking well below the current ECR RB7.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
Derwin James (S – LAC)
“Derwin James. Maybe I am overreacting, but this happened during the holiday season too. Due to the firing of the head coach, the interim moved James in to play slot corner, and he logged just 75% of snaps. Keep an eye on this activity; hopefully, this will not be the new scheme.”
– Steve Hungarter (Fantasy Six Pack)
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