Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Advice on Fantasy Football Stars to Play or Bench

We're two games into Week 17, which is championship week in many season-long fantasy leagues. The action got underway with Wednesday's Christmas doubleheader, and the remaining 14 games will be spread over four days.

The Seattle Seahawks will visit the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, and fans will get a trio of games on Saturday. Make sure to adjust your lineups accordingly.

It's the most important week of the year for most fantasy managers still alive in the postseason. Making the right lineup calls will be critical, and, unfortunately, not every decision will be an easy one.

Here, you'll find a look at some of the toughest remaining matchups of Week 17, along with start-sit advice based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

On Sunday, fans will be treated to a pivotal NFC North showdown between the Green Bay Packers. While only the Vikings are still alive for the division title, both teams are playoff-bound and jockeying for postseason positioning.

They're also bitter rivals, which will make for an intense and electrifying contest.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been a fantasy star this season and has likely carried many managers deep into the playoffs. However, the Vikings defense has been a problem for opposing running backs.

Only the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have surrendered fewer fantasy points to the RB position in 2024.

Jacobs' physical running style and receiving ability, however, should allow him to deliver. He had a modest 78 scrimmage yards in the first meeting with Minnesota, but he snagged four passes, which put him into double-digit fantasy point territory.

Managers should expect a similar PPR floor in the rematch, with a big play or a touchdown potentially getting Jacobs into top-15 territory.

We're less inclined to trust Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle this week. While the breakout fantasy starter has probably propelled a few managers into the playoffs as a waiver-wire pickup, his ceiling is far lower than Jacobs'.

Dodwl has thrived against bad run defenses, topping 100 yards in three of his last four games. However, he's a boom-or-bust option that could bust against Philadelphia—which has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, Dowdle did catch three passes but also finished with just 51 yards. He isn't a high-priority red-zone threat in the mold of Jacobs either, which adds to his Week 17 risk factor.

Jacobs has found the end zone in six straight games and six times in his last four. Dowdle, meanwhile, has just one touchdown in his past seven outings.

Dallas will likely look to throw for a touchdown if and when it reaches scoring position, as the Eagles have allowed only nine rushing touchdowns this season, fourth-fewest in the NFL. Dowdle is simply too risky to trust in a championship matchup.

We backed Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown last week, despite a matchup with a difficult Chicago Bears defense. He finished with a solid six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

We'll trust St. Brown again this week, though he faces another talented secondary. The San Francisco 49ers have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

St. Brown is simply too important to Detroit's offense to have a low-volume outing. He's had no fewer than six targets or five receptions over his past eight games. He'll remain a high-priority player with David Montgomery injured and the Lions likely to lean on the pass a bit more than usual.

Detroit will do whatever it takes to win, even against a banged-up and out-manned 49ers team. The Lions have already earned 13 victories but have their sights set on securing the No. 1 seed.

"At some point, we're going to be able to look back and say, 'Man, we just got 13 wins. Franchise record," head coach Dan Campbell said, per the Detroit Free Press. "...Not yet. Because you know what we've gotta do next week? We gotta win."

St. Brown should provide a double-digit floor once again.

Fantasy managers were probably thrilled when wide receiver Amari Cooper was traded from the struggling Cleveland Browns to the surging Buffalo Bills ahead of the deadline. In theory, leaving Cleveland to serve as one of Josh Allen's top targets should have boosted Cooper's fantasy stock significantly.

Unfortunately, things haven't played out that way.

The Bills don't exactly have a top receiver, because coordinator Joe Brady's offense focuses on simply getting the ball to the open target or the hot hand. That has rarely been Cooper. In seven games since his arrival, the 30-year-old has caught just 17 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown.

Cooper had just one 10-yard reception over his last two weeks. He did have a six-catch, 95-yard outing against the Los Angeles Rams a few weeks ago, but there's been too much inconsistency to bet on Cooper this week.

It doesn't help that Buffalo will battle the rival New York Jets on Sunday. New York has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers.

*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros