Fantasy Football Week 17 Busts? Players Who May Disappoint: Daniel Jones, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Adam Thielen

December 31, 2022

Who should I start or sit for fantasy football Week 17 of the 2022 season? Tommy Adamopoulos identifies potential fantasy football busts and duds to avoid.

Welcome to Week 17 RotoBallers! The season flew by, as we already head into the fantasy championship this week. It is now more crucial than ever to make the optimal lineup decisions,  as we look to secure a win in the Fantasy Football Super Bowl.

Heading into this week of action, this is what we have waited all year for. Fantasy managers have worked all year for this moment, as we look to keep their dreams of winning a fantasy championship alive with a solid performance in Week 17.

Here are some players I think will be in for a challenging game this week and could disappoint their fantasy managers. However, there could be some managers out there who aren't in any position to bench these players given that we must deal with injuries to notable players. Here are some players that fantasy managers need to temper their expectations for.

Should I Bench Daniel Jones In Week 17?

Jones is coming off a 334-yard performance against the Vikings, as the dual-threat continued his solid campaign in Week 16. He’ll look to help clinch a spot in the playoffs against the Colts in Week 17, who have allowed the third-fewest passing yards this season.

With so many good quarterbacks injured, Jones is still very much in play as a QB1 option this week, but fantasy managers should be aware of the potential he has to disappoint in this one. The Giants figure to be playing with the lead, which calls for a heavy dose of stud running back Saquon Barkley, especially considering the Colts haven't been all that great against running backs lately.

Jones can be considered a QB1 option given the production he can add with his legs, but we have seen his passing numbers be pretty underwhelming in some of the Giants' wins this year. Passing yard totals of 71, 217, 173, 197, and 160 have limited his production, so it is almost sure that Jones will need to produce with his legs to have a good fantasy day.

This may be risky to rely on considering how good Barkley has looked of late, as well as the fact that the Giants may want to protect their quarterback as they inch closer to a playoff appearance.

Should I Bench Josh Jacobs In Week 17?

Although Jacobs has been brilliant all season long, his being a potential bust shouldn't come as much of a surprise in this matchup. The Raiders are facing the best defense in the league and have benched Derek Carr for this matchup with the 49ers.

The game script, matchup, and nothing to play for make Jacobs seem likely to give fantasy managers a dud performance after bringing them to the championship as one of the biggest draft-day steals. We've seen him slow down the past two weeks, as he hasn't found the end zone and is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry.

The 49ers have allowed a league-low 976 yards and just 3.4 yards per carry this season, so he will likely need to either find the end zone or have the astronomical volume to make up for the lack of efficiency.

Jacobs is in a contract year, and the fact that there is nothing to play for at this stage in the Raiders’ season could mean we could see a somewhat dialed-back workload for the NFL's rushing leader. Fantasy managers don't need to bench him, but don't expect what we have gotten used to seeing from the former Alabama collegiate star.

.@Raiders RB Josh Jacobs does not hold back after Saturdays loss pic.twitter.com/pwXyHMmsin

— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) December 25, 2022

Should I Bench Najee Harris In Week 17?

Harris has started to turn his season around to a certain extent, but he has remained inefficient running in the Steelers' abysmal offense. The sophomore will take on the strong run defense of the Ravens on Sunday night, as they have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards and just 3.8 yards per carry.

In their first meeting this season, Harris was saved by a touchdown as he managed just 12 carries for 33 yards. Fantasy managers should expect much of the same, as an inefficient runner and one of the strongest run defenses is a horrible mix for fantasy purposes.

He’ll need a touchdown to salvage this, which makes him a very risky play considering he has just six rushing touchdowns all season. Fantasy managers don't need to sit him considering he will get a big workload, which makes him a much better bet to score, but we should treat him as more of a mid-range RB2 option.

Should I Bench D.K. Metcalf In Week 17?

Metcalf will be introduced to one of the league’s rising stars in Sauce Gardner in Week 17, as the struggling Seahawks and Jets will face off. Metcalf has caught 14 passes in his last two games, but that could change against one of the best corners in the league.

DK Metcalf loves the dynamic of the cornerbacks this weekend.

The stories of Tariq and Sauce Gardner and the matchup with a former teammate in DJ Reed.#Seahawks pic.twitter.com/wjRqKtWdq8

— Niko Tamurian (@NikoTamurian) December 28, 2022

The Jets secondary as a whole has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards this season, so Metcalf isn't necessarily in the clear if Gardner is to play some snaps against Tyler Lockett this week. His prominent role in the offense all season long makes him a must-start option on a weekly basis, but fantasy managers should still beware of his outlook in this one.

We have seen games where he doesn't necessarily have his best stuff going, as there have been five different occasions where Metcalf has been held under 40 receiving yards. Fantasy managers can treat him as a WR1 option, but they shouldn't expect a nuclear performance in the fantasy finals.

Should I Bench Adam Thielen In Week 17?

Thielen’s fantasy value has taken a hit since the arrival of T.J. Hockenson, as it is pretty clear he has become the third-best pass-catcher in the Minnesota offense after the trade deadline. The veteran has seen just nine targets total in the past two games, and is coming off a one-catch performance in a game that Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards.

Thielen finished with just six yards in Week 16, as Justin Jefferson and Hockenson stole the show in the win over the Giants. Thielen will face a solid Packers secondary on the road at Lambeau Field in Week 17, so there isn't much appeal in starting him this week considering the way he has been trending.

He caught three passes for 36 yards in their first meeting all the way back in Week 1, and that was when he was the clear No. 2 option in the passing game. Considering the Packers have been abysmal against the run, Dalvin Cook should have a hefty workload in this one, which makes me think there won’t be enough to go around for Thielen.

Jefferson is chasing the NFL single-season receiving yards record, so it is all but guaranteed that he will continue to dominate the targets in the Minnesota passing game. Thielen will likely need to find the end zone to secure a solid day of fantasy production, so fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for a FLEX option this week.

Should I Bench Hayden Hurst In Week 17?

Hurst is likely to return from injury this week against the Bills, but he doesn't seem like all that intriguing of a fantasy option in what could be a high-scoring affair between two of the best teams in the league. Hurst hasn't played since Week 13 when he exited against the Chiefs early, so he could get off to a slow start after being on the shelf for a while.

The Bills have allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to tight ends this season, which is a recipe for a disaster considering Hurst could be on a snap count in his first game from injury on Monday night.

Considering Hurst plays in a high-powered passing attack, fantasy managers may be interested in slotting him in their lineup considering how shallow the position is for fantasy this season. Still, he figures to be at best the fourth option in the passing game and has just two touchdowns all season, so we can’t exactly rely on a score to offset any lack of volume.

No tight ends should be considered “must-sit” options considering almost all of them are a dart-throw on a weekly basis, but any fantasy managers starting Hurst during championship weekend are taking a pretty big risk.

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