Fantasy Football Matchups We Love - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 17 (2025)

December 24, 2025

Quincy's top fantasy football matchups for Week 17 of 2025. His favorite start 'em, sit 'em picks and predictions -- strong start/sit matchups that he loves.

Welcome to fantasy football championship week. Most leagues will end in Week 17, meaning that all the fantasy glory, or punishment, will finally come to a head in Week 16. Everything is on the table. It is on you as the fantasy manager to roll out your best possible lineup. All the research, headaches, and miracles come down to this week.

Week 17 brings a plethora of fun matchups for fantasy football managers. In a week that holds quite a few playoff implications, there could be a lot of fantasy fun to go around. With a variety of injuries in the league right now, several secondary players are in great spots to succeed for your fantasy team.

Championship week is what fantasy managers live for, and it is finally here. Let's have some fun with this week's column and dive into the best and worst matchups. RotoBaller is here to propel you to a championship. Let's go!

Quarterback Matchups We Love

Jacoby Brissett - Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: at CIN
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 26th

Many fantasy managers had been riding the wave of Jacoby Brissett until a rough outing in Week 16. If you managed to sneak through Round 2 of the playoffs with Brissett as your quarterback, be prepared for a solid outing in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have been a better defense of late, but they are still leaky to opposing offenses.

Cincinnati is coming off a solid defensive outing against rookie Quinn Ewers, but Ewers was relatively successful, save for a couple of bad interceptions. Brissett has been great as the Cardinals' quarterback this season. The Falcons' defense gave him issues in Week 16, but look for a bounce-back this week. This game could end up being a shootout.

Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars
Opponent: at IND
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 18th

Trevor Lawrence is officially on an unstoppable tear. He just lit up an impenetrable Broncos defense to the tune of 31.16 fantasy points in Week 16. Lawrence's talent is finally clicking, and he will get a chance to continue to display that talent in Week 17 against a Colts defense that is on its heels.

Foot on the gas.@swaggy_t1 | #JAXvsDEN on FOXpic.twitter.com/6DwCqPrt8B

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 21, 2025

Indianapolis was just run over by the 49ers in Week 16. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tossed five touchdowns, and the Colts' defense had no answers for the 49ers' offensive scheme. Look for Lawrence to exploit those same deficiencies in Week 17. Lawrence could be the key to a fantasy football championship for many fantasy managers.

Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations

C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
Opponent: at LAC
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 3rd

C.J. Stroud is entering what could be a slugfest in Week 17. The Chargers and Texans both boast incredibly talented defenses that should do well to stymie the opposing passing offenses. While Stroud has been a viable fantasy option lately, Week 17 is unlikely to be one of those weeks.

Los Angeles is allowing just 13.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Additionally, the Chargers are allowing just a 60.7% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks. While both teams have solid offenses, this game seems more likely to come down to who makes the fewest mistakes. Do not expect fireworks from this matchup.

Running Back Matchups We Love

Tyrone Tracy Jr. - New York Giants
Opponent: at LV
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 24th

Tyrone Tracy opened the Giants' Week 16 matchup with the Vikings on a tear. Tracy was slowed down as the game progressed, but he continues to run well amidst average offensive play from the Giants overall. Tracy should find plenty of lanes to exploit in Week 16 against a Raiders defense allowing 4.03 yards per carry to opposing running backs.

This game will be a matchup between two of the worst teams in the league at present. However, it could be a shoot-out given the poor play of both defenses. Look for Tracy to run efficiently on the ground, catch a few passes, and secure a couple of opportunities in the passing game. He is a low-end RB2 with upside for a high-end RB2 finish this week.

Kenneth Walker III - Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: at CAR
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 25th

After a couple of down weeks, Kenneth Walker III was able to exploit a typically stingy Rams' rushing defense in Week 16. His explosiveness was apparent, and it should be on full display once again in Week 17 against the Panthers. Carolina has done well to slow down opposing passing offenses, but its rushing defense remains one of the worst in the league.

ALL EYES ON HIM. 55 yards to the house @Kenneth_Walker9 🗣️

📺: @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/I5qAjTWtfi

— x - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 19, 2025

Walker's volume is unlikely to increase. We know that he will hover around 12 to 15 touches in each game. However, he should be able to do a lot with those touches in Week 17. Carolina's 4.76 yards per carry allowed to opposing running backs is good for 27th in the league. As such, Walker has as good a chance as ever at breaking off a big run and finding the end zone once again.

Running Back Matchup to Temper Expectations

Breece Hall - New York Jets
Opponent: NE
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 7th

The Jets' offense is broken, and Breece Hall is suffering as a result. Hall's luck is unlikely to improve in Week 17 against a rock-solid Patriots rushing defense. Hall has failed to surpass 8.30 fantasy points in a game since Week 13. His rushing volume has been solid, but his efficiency has been bad due to the Jets' offensive woes. Additionally, Hall is not making up for that efficiency in the passing game.

This game profiles to be over before it even starts. Hall may have several opportunities for check-downs if the Jets are trailing, but he is difficult to trust in this matchup. If you are playing in a fantasy championship, odds are that you did not ride Hall to get there. It would be best to look at other options this week.

Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Jauan Jennings - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: CHI
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 24th

Jauan Jennings has come alive as the 49ers' No. 1 wide receiver in recent weeks. He has scored in four straight games and six of the last eight. The 49ers' offense is humming right now. Their scheme cannot be stopped. Jennings should find plenty of room to operate against a Bears defense that has allowed a whopping 20 reception touchdowns to opposing wide receivers.

JJ making it look easy 😮‍💨

📺: ESPN
NFL+// https://t.co/Zkva0Y3j2j pic.twitter.com/6nvOmge0Pu

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 23, 2025

Further boosting Jennings' value this week is the uncertain status of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end George Kittle. If either, or both, of those players were to miss Week 17, Jennings would receive a smattering of targets. He is an absolute league winner in a game that could be another potential shootout.

Stefon Diggs - New England Patriots
Opponent: at NYJ
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 16th

Stefon Diggs came alive in a big way in Week 16. He secured nine of 10 targets for 138 yards. Diggs should be busy on Sunday against a Jets team that seems to have given up defensively. New York just allowed Saints wide receiver Chris Olave to catch 10 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns this past week.

The one factor that could work against Diggs in Week 17 is the potential for New England to jump out to a large lead and coast the rest of the way. Still, Diggs should earn plenty of targets, and his potential to find the end zone is high. He should be a WR2 for championship weekend.

Wide Receiver Matchup to Temper Expectations

Ladd McConkey - Los Angeles Chargers
Opponent: HOU
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 2nd

Ladd McConkey came back alive in Week 16, but he will run into the no-fly zone that is the Houston Texans in Week 17. This game seems poised to be a low-scoring affair between two very talented defenses. McConkey's day in Week 16 was salvaged by a touchdown, but he has still not returned to the great production we were enjoying earlier this season.

Slot receivers are often relatively immune to poor matchups, but the Texans have so much talent everywhere that McConkey is likely to feel the sting of cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and co. Proceed with caution in your championship matchup.

Tight End Matchup We Love

Harold Fannin Jr. - Cleveland Browns
Opponent: PIT
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 30th

Harold Fannin Jr. is in a nice position to succeed in Week 17. He had a great day against a tough Bills defense in Week 16, and he should follow that up with a great game against the Steelers in Week 17. Pittsburgh is allowing 17.1 PPR fantasy points to the tight end position in 2025. With Fannin standing relatively alone in the tight end room, he has a chance to exceed that average.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has focused on Fannin throughout his short career as a starter. Look for Fannin to earn plenty of targets and have a chance to find the end zone. This is not the Steelers defense that we once all feared. Fire up Fannin with confidence in Week 17.

Tight End Matchup to Temper Expectations

Kyle Pitts Sr. - Atlanta Falcons
Opponent: LAR
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 14th

Kyle Pitts has come alive in recent weeks with Kirk Cousins under center. In fact, Pitts has likely earned himself a big contract this offseason with the way he has played recently. His uptick in production has also coincided with the absence of wide receiver Drake London. Unfortunately, Week 17 will bring a serious challenge for Pitts.

Pitts' recent stretch of great games has come in some of the best tight end matchups. However, the Rams' defense should harass Cousins all day and make it difficult for him to distribute the ball. The Falcons do not seem like a team that is going to score a lot of points this week, making Pitts a riskier play.

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