Daniel Portillo – host of Another Damn (Fantasy) Podcast – is here to give you the players with the most – and least – favorable fantasy football matchups for week 17 to help you lock in that championship for glory and ultimate bragging rights!
Quarterbacks
Starts
Justin Fields put up his best second fantasy football performance of the year in week ten when the Bears faced the Detroit Lions. A game in which he happened to score four total TDs and accumulate 314 total yards with 147 of those coming on the ground. He is a must-start in Detroit’s domed stadium this week.
I almost put Russell Wilson here, but with the complete disaster going on in Denver, I am pivoting to Tom Brady this week. I know, Brady has been a nightmare to start this year, but the Buccaneers have a lot to play for this week. It is winner take all against the Panthers and they will be missing their best corner, Jaycee Horn.
Sits
Geno Smith has been nothing short of impressive this year. He has taken a huge step forward with this Seahawks squad and I cannot say enough good things about him. However, his matchup this week is not what we would call “fantasy football friendly.” Smith faces a tough Jets team that is hungry to get back into the playoffs. I expect this to turn into a defensive battle.
Deshaun Watson has been a total disappointment for pretty much the past two years, but that has definitely continued since he returned from suspension. With the Browns officially eliminated from the playoffs and facing a tough Washington defense, I would just hit the reset button on Watson and wait until 2023 for any results.
Running Backs
Starts
The Houston Texans will play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend. That means Travis Etienne Jr. needs to be in your lineup. Jacksonville lost to Houston earlier in the season, however, Etienne put up over 100 scrimmage yards and that was with James Robinson still on the team. This time around will be much different.
Rhamondre Stevenson has had a rough couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, despite the questionable game-ending play against the Raiders, he led your fantasy football team in points and catapulted you into the playoffs. But last week? He likely ended your season with a poor performance and a lost fumble inside the ten-yard line. That changes this week with a major bounce-back performance against the wet paper defense that is the Miami Dolphins.
Sits
Josh Jacobs is an unfortunate passenger on a sinking ship. The Raiders, while still alive in the playoff hunt, are essentially calling it off with the benching of Derek Carr. Add in the fact that they are facing San Francisco and you have all the evidence you need to bench Jacobs this week.
Devin Singletary had himself a great week last week, but a game against the Cincinnati Bengals front seven is not something I would want for my championship matchup. Look at some other options this week.
Wide Receivers
Starts
Jerry Jeudy balled out in his last meeting with Kansas City. Three TDs and over 100 yards is every fantasy football manager’s dream, especially in a championship game. Lock in Russell Wilson’s favorite target as a bonafide flex play and a high upside WR2.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is facing one of the worst overall defensive units in the NFL, the Chicago Bears. There is a reason the sportsbooks have this total over 50 points. I am expecting a shootout and St. Brown will benefit immensely from it.
Sits
The Las Vegas Raiders have made the decision to shut Derek Carr down for the year and have allowed him to step away from the team during these final weeks. Davante Adams voiced his displeasure with this via Instagram and in an interview. With the Raiders essentially throwing in the towel, it does not seem like a great idea to keep Adams in the lineup. But that is only if he did not cost you a trip to the championship last week.
Christian Watson of the Gren Bay Packers was one of the hottest fantasy football wide receivers at one point. However, the injury bug hit him again in his game against Miami and it leaves his status in doubt heading into the weekend. While he is officially listed as Questionable, I would stay away and plan for contingencies now.
Tight Ends
Starts
Cole Kmet is a must start this week. Like Justin Fields, Kmet had one of his beest stat lines against the Lons earlier in the season. At tight end, this is about as sur as it gets outside of Kelce, Andrews, and Hockenson this week.
Dalton Schultz needs to be in the lineup this week. The Cowboys are going up against a Titans defense that is sitting multiple starters in preparation for week 18. I expect this high-powered Dallas offense to throttle the Titans.
Sits
I am just going to stay true to the theme and sit the last viable Raider that I can. This time, it is Darren Waller. It is just too bad that he had to work his tail off to get off of IR only to see the team throw in the towel with two weeks left. For the last time, do not let any Raiders cost you a championship.
Watson has been bad and David Njoku has certainly been paying for it. In his last thre games he has 12 catches for just 111 yards and a TD, with 59 of those yards an the lone touchdow coming three weeks ago. The Browns face a tough Commanders unit that has a lot to play for. I am out on Njoku this week.
Team Defense
Starts
Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos this week. Just a few days removed from firing Nathaniel Hackett, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding this team and what they will be doing the final two weeks. In their first matchup, the Chiefs sacked Wilson six times and had a defensive TD on a tipped pass. This week they get to do that in Arrowhead.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing in a game that has littl meaning in terms of playoff scearios. However, the Jags defense has been on the come up the last few weeks and are taking on the weakest team in the NFL. This is truly a no-brainer.
Sits
The Buffalo Bills face the third seed in the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals. Their defense has been top ten in fantasy terms, but I do not like their matchup against a Bengals offense that has not lost since Halloween and averaged nearly 30 points per game. Go stream an options that won’t result in a negative point total.
The LA Bowl! The Los Angeles Rams and their neighbors, the Chargers, face off in SoFi Stadium this Sunday. While the Chargers have not been out of this world on offense, I still do not like the challege they pose for the Rams defensive unit. Lock in another defense this week.
More Fantasy Football Content
In the meantime check out Dan and his co-host, Trevor Steinbacher, on Another Damn (Fantasy) Podcast every Wednesday, live at 8:15 PM Central Time on YouTube, or Thursday mornings on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Best of luck in week 16!
