The Fantasy Footballers’ Rankings Audit & Podcast Highlights for Week 17
Happy New Year, #FootClan! It’s championship time!
Against all odds, we’ve finally made it to the end of the Fantasy Football season! Though most redraft leagues have already awarded their #FootClanTitles, there are still some that play until Week 17, where starters are benched and chaos reigns supreme.
If you’re one of those unfortunate souls… don’t fret! The Footballers have got your back as they cover an exciting new slate of games in Week 17 of the National Football League!
As a reminder, this article is a weekly installment where I’ll review the Fantasy Footballers’ player rankings and highlight a few specific players per position that deserve extra attention. I’ll also recap important moments from the past week’s Fantasy Footballers’ podcast episodes with links to each episode provided. So be on the lookout every week for this series!
Also, please keep in mind that the Footballers’ rankings are constantly being updated whenever any breaking news is released. So always refer to their rankings page or click on a specific player below to see their latest rankings!
That said… let’s dig in!
Quarterback Rankings
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (@ DET)
| Kirk Cousins (as of 01/02/2021) | |
| Andy: | #7 |
| Jason: | #4 |
| Mike: | #5 |
| Consensus: | #6 |
Don’t look now, but Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is the overall QB11 on the season. Since Week 10, he’s averaged 300.7 all-purpose yards and 2.4 TDs per game, making him the QB6 in that timespan. Needless to say, “Captain Kirk” is getting it done. This week, he’ll get to put on a show at Ford Field against a laughably inept Lions defense that just allowed Tom Brady to pass for 348 yards and four TDs… IN THE FIRST HALF. With stud RB Dalvin Cook out this week following the unexpectedly tragic loss of his father, Cousins will lean on his passing game. It helps to have wideouts Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson as your primary targets, as well as the surging TE Irv Smith Jr. The sky’s the limit for Cousins, who is Jason’s choice for QB Streamer. You like that?
Kirk Cousins threw it right between his arms 🔥 @KirkCousins8 @Vikings
📺 #MINvsCHI on ESPN pic.twitter.com/GlxcVVtflc
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 17, 2020
Running Back Rankings
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (vs JAX)
| Jonathan Taylor (as of 01/02/2021) | |
| Andy: | #1 |
| Jason: | #3 |
| Mike: | #1 |
| Consensus: | #1 |
Welcome to the throne, Jonathan Taylor! It took some time, but the Wisconsin product has been scorching hot since December as he’s finally being utilized as the lead back most fantasy managers drafted him to be. He now gets to end the fantasy season as the gang’s consensus No. 1 RB.
There was no way Jonathan Taylor was going to let three defenders get in between him and the end zone 😤 @JayT23 @Colts
📺 #INDvsPIT on CBS pic.twitter.com/EXlRCGkFxn
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 27, 2020
Taylor is gifted a juicy matchup at home against the Jaguars, who’ve been hemorrhaging points to opposing RBs all season. This is the same Jaguars defense that just gave up 121 total yards and a TD to David Montgomery. While there’s always a risk that Nyheim Hines or backup QB Jacoby Brissett will vulture a red zone TD or three, Taylor should continue seeing enough usage to secure a safe floor with big play upside.
Wide Receiver Rankings
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills (vs MIA)
| Stefon Diggs (as of 01/02/2021) | |
| Andy: | #5 |
| Jason: | #13 |
| Mike: | #21 |
| Consensus: | #11 |
Start your studs… no matter what? Hard to say when your stud could be benched at any moment if his team builds up a commanding lead OR if the Browns beat the Steelers. Either scenario would secure the Bills as the No. 2 seed. But it’s this uncertainty that makes the electrifying Stefon Diggs — who’s the overall WR3 on the season and the league’s leader in receptions and receiving yards — an uncertain play in Week 17. Even the ‘Ballers are split as Diggs has one of the most disparate rankings this week. If it were clear that he was playing the entire game, then he’d be an obvious must-start. But the risk that head coach Sean McDermott rests his starters is too great to ignore. Start Diggs at your own discretion, just be aware that he could leave the game before he’s able to produce.
Tight End Rankings
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (vs SEA)
| George Kittle (as of 01/02/2021) | |
| Andy: | #3 |
| Jason: | #2 |
| Mike: | #3 |
| Consensus: | #3 |
If you’ve held onto 49ers fan-favorite George Kittle through his various injuries this year, then congratulations! You now have your elite TE back. In his return to action last week against the Cardinals surprisingly stout defense vs TEs, Kittle caught four of five targets for 92 yards. Not the greatest numbers, sure, but it becomes more impressive when considering that he accomplished this in only 50% of snaps.
And if you don't know, now you know. @gkittle46 is back 🃏#SFvsAZ: https://t.co/EkXl0Ka68Q pic.twitter.com/EMCYrDrD8Z
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 26, 2020
Now that he’s fully warmed up and ready to go, Kittle will look to remind fantasy managers why he deserved to be drafted in the first two rounds as he battles the Seahawks. He will be peppered with targets as the team’s offensive backbone and could easily take one to the house. Start him in your championship lineups and enjoy the fireworks.
Biggest Takeaways from the Week 17 Podcasts
Monday (Week 16 Studs & Stinkers + #FootClanTitles)
Our beloved Footballers jumpstart this episode by sharing their favorite Monday Punday submissions at 07:00. Next is a fantasy-focused recap of all last week’s games on the Weekly Rewind at 10:20. The ‘Ballers then discuss all their Fantasy Studmuffins at 21:25, before commiserating on the Stinkers of the Week at 41:10.
Tuesday (Bad Beats, Game Respect Game, Megalabowl WINNER (+ Week 17 Waivers))
The gang kicks off Tuesday’s show with a Monday Night Football Recap at 01:40, focusing on league winners Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Next up is the News & Notes at 12:30. We then come to the meat & taters of the episode: the Week 17 Waivers at 22:05. Next up are the gang’s favorite DST Streamers (Vikings, Titans, Cowboys, Giants) at 39:25 and QB Streamers (Kirk Cousins, Philip Rivers, Ryan Tannehill) at 41:15. The ‘Ballers answer some Mailbag questions at 44:20 to wrap up the episode.
Wednesday (Buy or Sell + Mailbag Hodgepodge, Reverse Haircut)
Our fearless crew begins this episode with a thorough discussion of a Quick Question regarding 2021 Dynasty draft timing at 05:00. Next is the Buy or Sell segment at 09:35, debating hot-topic players like Jalen Hurts, Kenyan Drake, and Corey Davis. They move onto the News & Notes at 17:20, before concluding with a hefty Mailbag segment at 25:50.
Thursday (New Year’s Eve MEGAshow + Week 17 Matchups, Motivation Levels)
We kickstart this MEGAshow with a fun look at the crew’s New Year Resolutions at 03:30. That’s followed by the Taking It Up To 100 segment at 06:30, where the crew plants their flags on Sterling Shepard, Tyron Johnson, and Ty Johnson. That’s followed by the News & Notes at 10:40, then an in-depth look on the upcoming Week 17 slate in the Fantasy Forecast at 20:00. We then get to everyone’s favorite — the ‘Ballers’ Starts of the Week — at 41:45! And don’t forget the Big Shimmy’s Iron-Clad Locked and Loaded 100% Guaranteed Boom-Boom Kicker of the Week at 50:15! But wait, there’s more! The second half of the Fantasy Forecast is discussed at 51:00. This mega episode is capped off with the Prop It Like It’s Hot segment at 01:25:30.
Have a great weekend FootClan and let’s crush all our matchups! If you haven’t done so yet, make sure you check out the awesome Week 17 DFS Podcast by Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) and Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT). And as always, remember to tune in Sunday for Mike’s live stream where he provides last-minute updates to help you make those crucial roster decisions!