Congratulations if you’re looking for start/sit advice in Week 17! You’re probably fighting for the championship, and our Featured Pros are here to help with their last Sleepers and Duds article for the season. Good luck!

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Week 17 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice

Sleepers

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?

John Metchie III (WR – HOU)

“One of my favorite deep WR plays this week is John Metchie III (ECR 177) for the Houston Texans. Obviously, the Tank Dell injury has opened up some opportunities in this WR room, and the Texans have signed Diontae Johnson for help, but I think it’s too quick of a turnaround to expect him to make an impact this week. Baltimore has been vulnerable to opposing WRs this year, currently ranking 24th in Points Allowed Above Expectation, and not to mention we’ve already seen Metchie step up once this year when called upon in week 10. If you’re desperate on the wire this week and need a plug-and-play option, Metchie should be a decent bet.”
– Andrew Mott (Big Dogs Gotta Eat)

Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)

“The Minnesota Vikings have allowed several receivers to pop off all season. Over their last five games, Minnesota has allowed WRs to collect 83 receptions for 1,006 yards and six touchdowns. Although Green Bay Packers wideout Christian Watson is nursing an injury, he’s worth consideration if he plays on Sunday, and if he is out, I’d recommend Dontayvion Wicks.”
– Matt De Lima (DraftKings)

“There are several players outside the top 100 flex rankings who are quality starts this week, but my favorite is Dontayvion Wicks. The Packers lost Christian Watson in Week 16 to a knee injury, and on a short week, he seems unlikely to go, making Wicks a full-time player. While maybe he’s disappointed in what some projected in 2024, Wicks has continued to flash upside and chemistry with Jordan Love. He’s one of Love’s favorite end zone targets, and in a game where running may be a challenge, Wicks may well pop off and lead managers smart enough to start him to a title this week.”
– Justin Frye (Pro Football Network)

Tim Patrick (WR – DET)

“Tim Patrick of the Detroit Lions has three touchdowns in his past three games and appears to be locked in as the WR3 on this high-flying offense. The role of WR3 may not be covered in traditional crimes, but we have seen with teams like the Cincinnati Bengals in the past that some teams score so much that everyone gets in on the action. Patrick has been a solid backup plan when teams have opted to double-team star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, making Patrick a solid play in your flex spot. He doesn’t have league-winning upside, but he should post double-digit fantasy points against a San Franciso squad that is a shell of its former self.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)

Zach Ertz (TE – WAS)

“I’ll take Zach Ertz in a friendly matchup at home against a struggling Atlanta defense. With Michael Penix continuing to rookie out there, it’s also turned the Falcons into a one-dimensional offense, meaning this could devolve into a lower-scoring affair than perhaps even Vegas is anticipating. With the passing game on both sides in need of stability, Ertz has been the clear-cut #2 target for Jayden Daniels when healthy. In a game the Commanders should control, I think Ertz sees a ton of usage once again in this one.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

Audric Estime (RB – DEN)

“The Broncos have a favorable matchup against the Bengals’ defense this week, and Audric Estime has a good shot of finding the end zone. Provided that the Broncos don’t fall behind early, there should be a good game script for Estime and his fellow RBs as well – trying to keep prolific Bengals’ gunslinger Joe Burrow on the sideline as much as possible.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)

Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

“The Carolina Panthers want to establish Chuba Hubbard and their ground game every week, but you may want to reconsider one of the biggest breakouts of this 2024 NFL season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have only allowed running backs to rush for 240 yards and two touchdowns in their previous five games. In fact, in Week 13, Hubbard was limited to 43 yards on 12 carries.”
– Matt De Lima (DraftKings)

“Let’s talk about how Chuba Hubbard is going to struggle in Week 17. We can start by looking back just a couple of weeks ago to when Hubbard went 12 carries for 43 yards, lost a fumble, and wasn’t targeted for a measly 2.3 PPR fantasy points. The Panthers are likely to be trailing against Tampa, who’s already a pass-funnel defense. If Hubbard doesn’t get it done for you through the air, he’s not getting it done at all. On the season, Hubbard has just one game exceeding 17 receiving yards. There are better options for managers on such a vital week.”
– Justin Frye (Pro Football Network)

Gus Edwards (RB – LAC)

“Gus Edwards checks in as 38th overall in flex rankings after an RB13 finish in Week 16, and the problem is that the Los Angeles Chargers can’t run the ball to save their lives. Add in the potential return of JK Dobbins to the lineup and Kimani Vidal lingering behind him and it makes it incredibly difficult to trust Edwards with a fantasy championship on the line. Edwards has also popped up on the injury report this week and has been limited by an ankle injury. This all adds up to Edwards being an extremely risky start for the fantasy finals.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)

Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)

“It’s Malik Nabers. It’s not his fault, and he’s largely been quarterback-proof… except he can’t catch what isn’t placed in his zip code. With literally nothing left on O for the Giants, Nabers sees a ton of coverage his way, while Wan’Dale Robinson and Tyrone Tracy have been picking up the scraps in a mostly anemic passing game. Nabers will see plenty of targets and catch his fair share, but since his return from injury in Week 7, Nabers has finished as a top 24 WR just once in half PPR. Ranked as the half PPR as WR17 this week and the 34th overall player, he’s bound to disappoint yet again against a better Indy secondary of late.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)

“Tony Pollard: With the Titans turning their focus to 2025, the team will likely continue to give the younger Tyjae Spears more touches. Spears outtouched Pollard last week against the Colts by a margin of 13 to 10, and with just two games left in their season, it makes sense for the Titans to learn more about Spears’ ability to take on a heightened role for 2025. You should fade Tony Pollard.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)

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