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Who should I start or sit for fantasy football in Week 17 of the 2024 season? Andrew's potential fantasy football busts and duds to avoid for Week 17 lineups.
Welcome back RotoBallers to our Week 17 fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint in championship week. What if I told you that all the work, research, and lineup-tinkering you've done may not mean anything in Week 17? What if it comes down to the weather?
There's a handful of games that could see rain. Some are forecasted to get heavy rain. The weather won't be mentioned in this article, however fantasy managers must check our Week 17 fantasy football weather report and forecasts before kickoffs. It could turn lineup locks into potential busts.
Below are my 10 fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint, for Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season. Hopefully, this will help you set winning fantasy lineups this week. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.
Rico Dowdle (RB, DAL) at Philadelphia
At the beginning of the season, the top of Dallas' running back depth chart was a mess. The Cowboys experimented with Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn, and even Dalvin Cook before fully handing the reins to Rico Dowdle. With CeeDee Lamb sitting the rest of the season, the 26-year-old is now the star of the show (even if Elliott poaches goal-line touchdowns).
zeke punches it in 🥊
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/55p4AdCE6W— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 23, 2024
That's not a good thing. While Dowdle is markedly better than Elliott and Cook, he's not an upper-echelon running back in the NFL. There aren't any other threats on the Cowboys' offense. The Eagles can focus more on stopping the run.
And that's something they already do very well. The Eagles surrender the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Dowdle scored 8.6 PPR points at home against Philadelphia in Week 10.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday)
Here we are again: Rhamondre Stevenson is at risk of getting benched in Week 17.
Heading into Week 5, head coach Jerod Mayo announced that Stevenson would not be the starter because of fumbling issues. Sure enough, Antonio Gibson played New England's first series. Stevenson still led the team in touches and scored on the team's second drive.
Stevenson hasn't learned his lesson. He's fumbled three times in his last five games, losing one last Sunday against the Bills. In actuality, he was responsible for two lost fumbles. He dropped a swing pass that led to a Buffalo defensive touchdown. Officially, the fumble was credited to Drake Maye.
Watch out Rhamondre Stevenson managers 👀 pic.twitter.com/AitJt22PZz
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 23, 2024
Mayo hinted that Gibson could start against the Chargers on Saturday. Whether that's true or not, Stevenson won't be entirely phased out of the offense. However, with potentially limited touches against a solid Los Angeles defense, fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere.
Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR) at Tampa Bay
UPDATE: Chuba was been placed on IR by the Panthers on Saturday morning, he will not be suiting up for the Panthers in Week 17.
Let's bring the heat right away. It's extremely difficult to sit Chuba Hubbard, especially since Carolina's top running back had 30 opportunities against the Cardinals last week. However, Vita Vea and the Tampa Bay run defense is a brick wall right now.
Here's how running backs have fared against the Buccaneers since their bye in Week 11:
| RB vs. TB | Rush Yards | PPR Points |
| Tyrone Tracy Jr. | 42 | 9 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 43 | 2.3 |
| Sincere McCormick | 78 | 10.9 |
| Gus Edwards | 23 | 2.3 |
| Rico Dowdle | 23 | 8.1 |
It's not exactly the who's who of elite running backs, but Hubbard and Edwards more than doubled their rushing yards in the following game. Dowdle set career-high marks in each of the three games before facing Tampa Bay. And (as you can see), just one of those backs reached double-digit PPR points.
Hubbard can volume his way to a respectable finish if the Panthers defense can get off the field. Tampa Bay ran for 236 yards against Carolina's Swiss cheese defense a few weeks ago and dominated time of possession (39 to 27 minutes). That led to Hubbard's lowest opportunity total since Week 1.
DeVonta Smith (WR, PHI) vs. Dallas
DeVonta Smith's Week 17 outlook depends entirely on Jalen Hurts' (concussion) health. Kenny Pickett had one thought and one thought only in relief duty a week ago: Target A.J. Brown.
Philadelphia's alpha wide receiver earned 15 targets against Washington, easily a season-high mark. Brown secured just over half of them. It's a reminder of Pickett's poor accuracy and decision-making.
One thing that stands out re-watching Kenny Pickett is his ball placement is not great. This pass is behind AJ Brown, who is wide open. This needs to be a completion. pic.twitter.com/Oqv09wO016
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 23, 2024
The entire Philadelphia offense gets a big downgrade with the former Steeler under center. There is too much downside as the Eagles lean on Brown and Saquon Barkley. Smith did get eight targets from Pickett last week. If he gets that amount again, I'd be shocked to see him secure six of them.
Jerry Jeudy (WR, CLE) vs. Miami
Cleveland offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey told reporters that the team is preparing for Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) to start in Week 17. That sound you heard was Jerry Jeudy's fantasy managers weeping over what could have been.
In 18 Thompson-Robinson-led drives (across parts of three games), Jeudy has totaled nine targets and four catches for 33 yards. Remember, the former Bronco had three triple-digit receiving finishes with Jameis Winston under center.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson has 697 yards on 180 career pass attempts.
That 3.9 YPA is worst in NFL history (min. 170 attempts). Next closest is Kim McQuilken at 4.2.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) December 26, 2024
The matchup against Cincinnati last week favored Jeudy and the Cleveland offense. The Dolphins allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Sorry, Jerry Jeudy. We'll remember you fondly.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, ARI) at Los Angeles Rams (Saturday)
Several factors go into determining how a player might perform. One of which is the previous stat lines against a particular defense. Marvin Harrison Jr. enjoyed his best game as a professional in Week 2 against this Los Angeles Rams secondary (four catches, 130 yards, and two touchdowns).
Don't let that stat line fool you. For starters, one of his scores came on busted coverage. While nowhere near dominant, the Rams have improved against fantasy football wide receivers.
Another major factor is play in the immediate past. Outside of the matchup against Minnesota (the worst defense against receivers this season), the first-round pick is averaging 3.25 receptions, 41.75 yards, and zero touchdowns on a sub-50% catch rate since Thanksgiving.
All eight of Marvin Harrison Jr.'s targets against the Panthers: pic.twitter.com/dxfkrJvScK
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) December 24, 2024
Harrison has a long way to go before living up to his draft capital (and hype).
Jameson Williams (WR, DET) at San Francisco
Given how disappointing the season turned out, it may be surprising to learn that the San Francisco 49ers are the best defense against fantasy football wide receivers this season. There are no weaknesses in the secondary. It's a strong unit against slot and wide receivers.
San Francisco has failed against the run. The 49ers give up 121 rushing yards per game. That number is only 183 through the air.
Although he's more well-rounded than his first two seasons, Williams' deep ball is still his bread and butter. The 49ers have surrendered the fewest completions of 20+ yards and just four completions of 40+ yards (tied for third-fewest).
Williams makes sense if you're a fantasy manager who started Joe Mixon, Isiah Pacheco, or Zay Flowers on Wednesday and faces a large deficit. The odds, however, point to Williams having a mediocre game rather than a boom. Someone with a safer floor should be a better play.
Jake Ferguson (TE, DAL) at Philadelphia
Full disclosure, Jake Ferguson was placed in this column before the CeeDee Lamb news came out. It may not make any difference.
CeeDee Lamb's 2024 season is over.
Statement from the Cowboys: "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as "Out" for the remaining two games of the season."
Lamb… pic.twitter.com/OixRQJq9cg
— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbFOX4) December 26, 2024
Lamb has been on and off the field as he managed the shoulder injury that ultimately ended his season. Ferguson's involvement hasn't changed. He scored 10 PPR points a week ago against one of the worst defenses against tight ends. He was even worse in better matchups. His ceiling is so low.
Now, Ferguson gets one of the toughest matchups. The Eagles are the fourth-best defense against the position. Ferguson caught four passes for 24 yards (and lost a fumble) against Philadelphia earlier this season.
Ferguson may get more plays designed for him with Lamb sidelined, but the offense will be noticeably worse and the Eagles can focus more on defending him.
Brenton Strange (TE, JAX) vs. Tennessee
Was Brenton Strange's Week 16 disappointment a product of Las Vegas game-planning for the 2023 second-round pick? Or was it because the Raiders couldn't cover Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington?
BRIAN THOMAS JR.!
📺: #JAXvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Plt8MEmW32— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Regardless, Strange is volatile as a starter. He's scored at least nine PPR points in four of Evan Engram's six missed games. He's totaled 9.1 points in the other two.
Opposing teams have difficulty throwing in the middle of the Titans defense. Not only does Tennessee allow the fifth-fewest points to tight ends, but the unit also holds slot receivers to fewer than nine points per game.
The Jacksonville passing offense isn't strong to begin with. Thomas is the only Jaguar who should be in your starting lineups for championship weekend.
Kyler Murray (QB, ARI) at Los Angeles Rams (Saturday)
It's easy to sit here and call Kyler Murray a bust this week, given he's scored fewer than 20 points more than he's gone over that mark. But he just went over 20 last week, so let's chat about him.
The Arizona Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention thanks to the overtime loss to Carolina and the rushing attack is banged up (James Conner and Trey Benson are both questionable). Conner has helped the offense move down the field. Murray's play has held them back a bit.
Murray ran last week (63 yards and a touchdown), something that has been inconsistent about this season. With nothing to play for, why risk injury scrambling?
Outside of the shootout against Buffalo, the Rams defense has been solid against quarterbacks recently. Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy (rain), and Aaron Rodgers were held to fewer than 16 points.
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