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Mike Fanelli gives his fantasy football bold predictions for Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season. Should you start or sit Bryce Young, Tyjae Spears, Adam Thielen?
Week 17 is here, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Bryce Young, Tyjae Spears, Adam Thielen, Calvin Ridley, and Jonnu Smith.
Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely outcomes, they are things I believe could happen this week.
Let’s look at my five bold predictions for Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season.
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Bryce Young…
Finishes the week as a top-12 quarterback
Young was arguably the worst quarterback in fantasy football over the first half this year. The second-year pro got benched after two awful performances to start the season, totaling 11.6 fantasy points, zero passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, he has played well lately.
The former Alabama star has been productive since the Carolina Panthers’ Week 11 bye. Young has averaged 225.8 passing yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 18.4 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 23.6 or more twice, including last week in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Last week, the second-year quarterback had 158 passing yards, two touchdowns, 68 rushing yards, a rushing score, and 27.1 fantasy points. He set season highs in rushing yards and fantasy points in the win. More importantly, Young was outstanding in his previous matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13.
Bryce Young scores on a 23-yard run!
📺: #AZvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/DH5yk10PPf— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Tampa Bay gave up 298 passing yards, a touchdown, a rushing score, and 23.6 fantasy points to Young in Week 13 matchup. Furthermore, the Buccaneers have surrendered 20.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-most in the NFL. They have allowed opposing quarterbacks to score 23 or more fantasy points in nearly half of their games.
Tyjae Spears…
Has his third consecutive top-10 finish
Spears has had a frustrating season. The former Tulane star is the RB43 for the year, averaging 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, he has missed four games with multiple injuries. However, Spears has been on fire lately.
The second-year pro has been the RB5 over the past two weeks, averaging 22.2 fantasy points per game, totaling 20 or more in each outing. Spears has been a scoring machine, recording two touchdowns in both contests. He has 14 rushing attempts for 32 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
More importantly, Spears has been a force in the passing game, totaling nine receptions for 126 receiving yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks. The second-year pro has led the Tennessee Titans in targets over the past two weeks with 11. Furthermore, he has played 21 more snaps than Tony Pollard in the past two games, including 13 more last week.
Meanwhile, Spears has an excellent matchup on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have surrendered 24.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-most in the NFL. The Jaguars have given up at least 100 rushing yards or two touchdowns to opposing running backs in seven of their past eight games.
Adam Thielen…
Is a top-15 wide receiver against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The veteran wide receiver missed seven games earlier this season with a severe hamstring injury. However, Thielen has been on fire since returning to the lineup. He is the WR18 since the Carolina Panthers’ Week 11 bye, averaging 12.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Furthermore, the veteran wide receiver has been a go-to target for Bryce Young. He has averaged 6.8 receptions on 8.5 targets for 73.8 receiving yards and 13.8 fantasy points per game over the past four weeks, totaling 12.8 or more in all but one contest, including last week in the upset win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Meanwhile, Thielen faces the Buccaneers on Sunday. The veteran had eight receptions on 10 targets for 99 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Week 13 matchup against the division rivals, totaling a season-high 19.9 fantasy points. He led the team in every receiving category in the near-upset victory.
BRYCE YOUNG TO ADAM THIELEN FOR THE LEAD WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT!
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/D35oRtmD8I— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
More importantly, Tampa Bay has surrendered 29.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 10th-most in the NFL. They have given up 31.9 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in 40% of the games, including three of their past four contests.
Calvin Ridley…
Scores over 17 fantasy points against his former team
Unfortunately, the Tennessee Titans have lost nine of their 11 games since the Week 5 bye, including four consecutive outings by an average of 11.3 points per contest. Ridley has had a disappointing first season with the team, ranking as the WR28 for the year, averaging 9.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
However, the veteran wide receiver is coming off a solid performance in Week 16 with Mason Rudolph under center. He had three receptions on five targets for 78 receiving yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts, totaling 15.3 fantasy points. More importantly, Ridley has a fantasy-friendly matchup against his former team.
The last time he faced the Jacksonville Jaguars was in Week 14. Ridley had seven receptions on 12 targets for 59 receiving yards and 9.4 fantasy points. The veteran had a 37.5% target share in that game, seeing eight more targets than any other Titan. Unfortunately, that was with Will Levis under center.
Ridley should play better, with Rudolph starting again this week. The Jaguars have surrendered 30.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fifth-most in the NFL. They have given up over 250 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 51 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past five matchups.
Jonnu Smith…
Ends Week 17 as the overall TE1
While many expect Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle to be the highest-score Miami Dolphins pass catcher this season, Smith has that honor entering Week 17. The veteran tight end has had an outstanding year, posting career highs in receptions (76), targets (95), and receiving yards (802), leading the team in receptions.
Smith is the TE3 for the season, averaging 10.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has six receiving touchdowns, the most on the team and the fourth-most in the NFL among tight ends behind Mark Andrews (10), George Kittle (eight), and Tucker Kraft (seven).
Jonnu Smith's BIG 33-yard reception set up the TD 💪
📺: #MIAvsLAR on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/e7kGtQhYS5— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2024
More importantly, the veteran has been on fire lately. Smith is the TE1 over the past six weeks, averaging 7.2 receptions on 8.5 targets for 75.8 receiving yards and 16.2 fantasy points per game, totaling five touchdowns. He has scored 11.9 or more in all but one game, including 15.3 or more in 66.7% of those six contests.
Meanwhile, Smith faces the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Browns have surrendered 10.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the eighth-most in the NFL. They have given up 6.3 receptions for 60.7 receiving yards and 17 fantasy points per game to tight ends since their Week 10 bye.
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