Ten Things We Learned for Week 17 (Fantasy Football)
This week, it’s for all the marbles. Fantasy football championships are in our grasp and it’s up to us to seize the moment. It’s been 16 weeks of ebbs and flows, of jaw-dropping plays and flinch-inducing injuries. Throughout the journey we’ve learned new things every week, about us, about our fantasy teams, and about this game we love to play. With one week left to go, it’s time to put all our hard work to the ultimate test. Stay in the know with help from our injury expert Matthew Betz. Take one last long look at the waiver wire for any hidden gems. And if you have to stream to reach the dream, we’re here to help. As we look forward to Week 17, let’s take one more glance to see what we can learn from last week’s slate of games and how it can help us in the finale.
1. Trust Flacco in the Finals?
Have yourself a comeback, Joe Flacco. Just over a month ago, the 38-year-old Super Bowl-winning QB was sitting on his couch. Now he’s leading the Cleveland Browns to a playoff berth and fantasy managers to championships. Over the last four games, Flacco is the QB3, and he finished as the QB1 last week. But here’s the rub, Flacco and the Browns played the Rams, Jaguars, Bears, and Texans in that stretch. They face the Jets this week, the number one defense against quarterbacks and wide receivers, on a short schedule on Thursday night. That’s a terrifying proposition and one I’d rather not have to face. If you’ve been riding Flacco’s hot hand, I think you thank him for his contributions to your team the last month and go in a different direction. If you can’t, at least you know he’ll likely throw the ball 40-plus times.
2. Dig Your Heels in on Diggs
The Bills have won four of their last five games, but it’s not because their superstar WR has been putting up elite numbers. He hasn’t even been putting up moderate numbers. In fact, it’s fair to say Stefon Diggs has been a detriment to fantasy teams over the last month. But it’s too late to give up on him now. If you’ve made it this far with him on your roster, you should put your trust in him one last time. The Bills take on the Patriots, a good matchup for wideouts, and he’s had historically good production against them. In seven games against the Patriots (as a member of the Bills), Diggs has accumulated 46 receptions for 627 yards and seven touchdowns. Earlier this season he had six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown against them. It’s been tough sledding of late, but all that matters is this week. All will be forgiven if he helps you earn that coveted trophy.
3. Not So Slim Pickens
My bad y’all, my bad. Last week I said I would bench George Pickens, and I did just that in my home league. Thankfully I was still able to advance without his week-winning performance, and I hope you did to. But what do we make of his prospects this week? The Steelers face the Seahawks, who aren’t particularly stout against the pass. Rookie sensation Devon Witherspoon will probably be back for Seattle, which could spell some problems for Pittsburgh’s air attack, but I just can’t miss out on another boom performance from Pickens. It would be too painful to see that massive amount of points on the bench two weeks in a row. The Steelers are sticking with Mason Rudolph at quarterback, and his connection with Pickens in just one game looked better than it had with Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky. I’m in on Pickens with the title on the line.
4. Fields is on Fire
As much as it pains me to say this because I’m personally going up against him this week, there are just a handful of quarterbacks I’d start ahead of Justin Fields this week. Fields is the QB6 over the last three weeks, and that’s even with a dud sandwiched in between two monster performances. Going up against Papa Josh last week, Andy tried to come up with scenarios in which Fields could have a bad game. Andy won the battle of good vs. evil, but it was in no part thanks to Fields. Even with less-than-stellar passing numbers, Fields still ran for 97 yards and a touchdown, the fantasy cheat code for quarterbacks. The Bears have played better as of late, winning four of their last six games, and I think Fields is trying to put on a show with an unknown offseason looming. The matchup against Atlanta isn’t great by any stretch, but I’m still starting him over any QB not named Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson.
5. White Could Help Win a Title
With Josh Jacobs out the last two weeks, Zamir White has filled in admirably, scoring 30.5 fantasy points total in half-point PPR formats. Against the Chiefs in Week 16, White carried the ball a whopping 22 times for 145 yards, as the Raiders continued to pound the ball. If White is available, he needs to be picked up and started if Jacobs remains out next week. The Raiders play the Colts, a slam-dunk matchup for RBs. We say it all the time, but every year a player comes out of nowhere to help win fantasy titles. White’s already helped managers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and he can be the closer in the finals.
6. WR Injuries Open the Door for Streaming Options
Unfortunately in Week 16, we saw several key wide receivers get injured. As of now, I think it’s fair to say that Jaylen Waddle will miss this week’s game due to a high ankle sprain. Courtland Sutton could be out with a concussion and Jordan Addison could be out with an ankle sprain. D.J. Moore got hurt in Week 16 as did Dontayvion Wicks. Keenan Allen has already missed the last two weeks and there is no reason for the Chargers to rush him back with the postseason out of the picture. You could very well be missing all of these wide receivers for the fantasy finish. If you need a spot start, consider the players who will be filling in if those listed above were to miss time. Take a look at Cedrick Wilson, K.J. Osborn, or Joshua Palmer. Chicago could be without both Moore and Cole Kmet this week. Darnell Mooney has been bad this year and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, but to use reverse psychology, maybe he’s due? He could be in play if both Moore and Kmet are out. And keep an eye on the Packers’ situation with Wicks Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. There are points to be had in Green Bay, and they’ll likely fall into the hands of whoever is healthy enough to play.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
7. Don’t Lose Faith in Purdy
Before Monday’s debacle against Baltimore, Brock Purdy had thrown 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions for 3,795 yards and was the favorite to win MVP. After Monday, he still has 29 touchdowns to his record but now has 11 interceptions on the books and could very well have lost out on the MVP award. I think he comes out on a mission next week and the matchup against Washington is delectable. Purdy has been one of the best values in fantasy this season and if you were able to get past last week’s disaster, I think he’ll make up for it this week. Start the second-year QB with confidence in the fantasy championship round.
8. The Raiders’ Defense is in Play
Do you know who the number one defense has been over the last three weeks? If you couldn’t tell from the header, it’s the Las Vegas Raiders. In Week 16, the Raiders’ defense turned the Chiefs over three times, sacked Patrick Mahomes four times, and scored two defensive touchdowns. This unit had an even bigger game the week before against the Chargers with five turnovers and another two defensive touchdowns. This week the Raiders play the Colts, who gave up six sacks and an interception to the Falcons last week. Despite the terrific numbers, there is a good chance this unit is still on waivers. If your opponents hoarded defenses for the postseason and you need a pivot option, the Raiders have been scorching hot.
9. Etienne’s Struggles Should End This Week
It’s been a bad stretch for Travis Etienne. He’s still the RB4 on the season because of a blazing hot start littered with touchdowns, but since Week 10 he’s struggled mightily and is the RB24 in that stretch. He ran the ball six times for 12 yards against Tampa Bay on Sunday, his worst outing of the year. But lucky for him, nothing cures an ailment like playing the Carolina Panthers. Etienne should flourish against one of the worst run defenses in the league and should continue to tack on points through the receiving game. Etienne certainly helped fantasy teams to a hot start to the season, so playoff teams who have been able to work through the bad stretch should reap the rewards of a prime matchup.
10. Based on ADP, Mike Evans is the Steal of the Draft
Mike Evans was the WR32 drafted off the board in the 2023 fantasy football drafts. He was being selected in the seventh, sometimes eighth round. Most of the fantasy football community got this one wrong, but our very own Andy Holloway was right on target. One of Andy’s My Guys, Evans already has 1,163 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns with two games left to go. He’s now put up 10 straight seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards and could very well break his receiving touchdown record of 14 he set in 2021. The veteran wideout is the WR3 in fantasy and has only had three games this year where he’s scored single-digit points. Evans crushed the Jaguars last week with 86 yards and two touchdowns. With division implications on the line, Tampa Bay and New Orleans are in for a battle this week, and Evans will be in line for another big game.