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Scott Engel features fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 17 (2025). He focuses on key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 17 fantasy football lineup decisions.
Welcome to RotoBaller’s Key Starters and Tough Calls article for Week 17 of the 2025 season. It's fantasy football championship week in most leagues, and Scott Engel's Week 17 Lineup Spotlights focus on notable players to start or sit when you are faced with tough lineup calls.
The fantasy football players featured in this Week 17 rundown are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the 2025 RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. The skill position analysis from Scott is based on his Week 17 premium PPR rankings.
To make the best Week 17 lineup decisions, consult this analysis, the RotoBaller staff fantasy football rankings, and the free Who Should I Start tool for comparing up to four players. We help you make the best-informed decisions to win it all in Week 17.
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Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 17
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are very thin at wide receiver this week heading into their game against the Browns. DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III are both out, leaving Aaron Rodgers to depend on Adam Thielen, who is well past his best days, the always unreliable Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and the totally unproven Roman Wilson.
Pittsburgh may have to rely more on its running backs and tight ends this week. Such a scenario means a potentially heavier load for Gainwell and Jaylen Warren, the team’s best two offensive players outside of the suspended Metcalf.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME KG 😱 @KENNETHGAINWEL
📺: #PITvsDET on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/tIObyBYuvZ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 21, 2025
Gainwell was always a super-sub for the Eagles until he hooked up with the Steelers this season. Now he is an even more important part of his team’s offense, often operating in a timeshare with Warren. Overall, Gainwell has proven to be versatile and efficient.
Overall, Warren has eight TDs from scrimmage, and Gainwell has seven, but Gainwell has 83 fewer rushing attempts than Warren. Gainwell also has the clear lead in receptions, 62 to 35. Gainwell has started to take on a larger half of the timeshare recently, and he actually leads the Steelers in receptions.
Cleveland ranks 18th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. Gainwell has a neutral matchup against the Browns and the potential for a very busy day as a pass-catcher. You should strongly consider starting him as an RB2 or flex option if you need a streamer for the championship game.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I was very high on Irving entering the season, targeting him as a true breakout candidate. James Cook and Irving are two of my favorite RBs to watch. I enjoy how the second-year Buccaneer makes defenders miss, uses nifty cutback moves, and can accelerate and take off once he reaches the second level of defenders.
But missed playing time curtailed Irving’s promise, and while fantasy players patiently waited for his recent return, he has not provided the late-season boost that was hoped for. In four games since returning to action, he has rushed for one TD and not more than 75 yards in a game. Irving has caught eight passes in his last four games and had no receptions last week.
Published reports have indicated that the Buccaneers might create more receiving opportunities for Rachaad White. Sean Tucker has also emerged as the goal-line vulture for the Buccaneers, rushing for TDs in three consecutive games. Irving is still getting the highest snap share of the three, but his opportunities as a TD and pass-catching option are being stolen away.
You obviously cannot count on Irving for heavier volume in Week 17, as the Buccaneers seem to be leaning towards utilizing a true committee approach at RB. But as Tampa Bay tries to stay alive in the NFC South race, their RBs get a good draw against Miami, a defense that ranks 23rd in FFPG allowed to RBs.
Because of the matchup and the must-win scenario for the Buccaneers, Irving can at least post adequate totals this week. But sharing touches with two other RBs caps his upside regardless of the opponent. I am viewing Irving as a back-half fantasy RB2 this week and would even consider starting an alternative like Gainwell over him.
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
Through Week 9, Dowdle looked like he was going to be a league-winning fantasy asset and one of the best value plays of the season. But his production has significantly fallen off in recent weeks, and while the surprising Panthers are going to give the NFC’s top seed a good fight this week, the matchup against the Seahawks elicits more pessimism.
In his last six games, Dowdle has not finished better than fantasy RB15, while not rushing for 60 yards in any outing. He has not reached the 10-point mark in two of his last three games. Seattle ranks first among NFC teams in rushing yards allowed to RBs.
The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 24 consecutive games, another stat that points to possibly benching Dowdle in Fantasy Football Super Bowl week. His snap counts have started to slip recently, as he has not played above 60 percent of the snaps in his last three games. The matchup is unfavorable, and he cannot be relied on for volume.
Dowdle has not logged 10 carries in two of his past four games. Forget what he did during the first half of the season and go with the other option in any close lineup calls.
RBs that I would start over Dowdle this week include Tony Pollard, Michael Carter, Blake Corum, and Kyle Monangai.
Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 17
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Coming into a major Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears, the 49ers’ offense has been looking great, yet is also dealing with its own injury concerns in the passing game. Both George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall are uncertain for Week 17, and Jennings may have to play a prime role for the Niners this week.
The Niners have a path to possibly winning the NFC West and potentially the top playoff seed in the conference if they win both of their final two games. Brock Purdy looked ultra-sharp in the Week 16 win over Indianapolis. Jennings contributed to San Francisco’s 48-point outburst with five receptions for 71 yards and a TD.
Purdy to Jennings for six to open the 2nd half
SFvsIND on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/RA0hBq9bmv— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2025
Even if Kittle and/or Pearsall are available this week, Jennings will continue to be a top target for Purdy in important situations. The San Francisco WR has caught five TD passes over his past four games and continues to be a dependable option in his fifth NFL season. Jennings has consistently produced as both a starter and reserve WR since 2021.
Chicago has allowed 30 TD receptions to WRs, second-most in the league. Start Jennings as a quality WR2/3 option in Week 17.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
Diggs is coming off his second-best game of the season (nine receptions, 138 yards, 22.8 PPR points). The Patriots are also trying to work through injury issues at WR while facing the lowly Jets, who simply are not going to field a squad that will offer much resistance.
Last week, Diggs was targeted 10 times, and the Patriots are another team that is dealing with impactful injuries at WR. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins have already been ruled out for the game against the Jets. DeMario Douglas is listed as questionable. Diggs should be targeted frequently again this week.
The Jets have allowed five receiving TDs to WRs in the last four weeks. While players will usually not care about next season’s draft picks, New York’s decision-makers are aiming to put the worst possible product on the field in the name of “tanking”. Diggs can roll up good numbers very quickly this week.
Diggs can post a strong fantasy stat line without being featured for an entire game. If the Patriots blow out the Jets, Diggs will play a significant part in making the game one-sided. He is a very good WR3 play for Fantasy Super Bowl week.
These are some WRs I would bench in favor of Diggs this week: Tetairoa McMillan, Jaylen Waddle, Ladd McConkey, and Brian Thomas Jr.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
If you need an upside play heading into Sunday’s games, you may be considering Pierce. In Week 16, the Colts’ top downfield threat finished as the fantasy WR5 while posting his best numbers in any game this season. He caught all four of his targets for 86 yards and two TDs, finishing with 24.6 points.
In his second emergency start for the Colts, the reborn Philip Rivers showed more of a willingness to challenge the defense, and averaged 7.9 yards per attempt, compared to 4.4 yards per attempt in his season debut. The Jaguars rank 20th in FFPG allowed to WRs, and Rivers may have to throw often to keep pace with the Jacksonville offense this week.
Pierce has not been targeted more than five times in a game in his last six outings. He is a total boom/bust option for Week 17, and should ideally only be started if you are far behind heading into Sunday’s action. Pierce has a low floor and should potentially not be used if the score is tighter entering Sunday’s games.
Quarterback And Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 17
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Brissett was highly recommended as a starter in Week 16, and fizzled out for the first time in 10 games. He passed for 203 yards with one TD and one interception against Atlanta, totaling 11.6 points, his lowest total as a starter for the Cardinals this season. A nine-game streak of finishes as a QB1 came to an end.
Fortunately, Brissett is in a good rebound spot this week and should at least be considered as a top-10 starter. He faces Cincinnati’s 29th-ranked pass defense. We may see a shootout between the Cardinals and the Bengals. Arizona has no real running game to lean on, and Brissett has attempted 40-plus passes in six of his last seven games.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Hill has always tantalized fantasy players with his massive potential in any given week, but he is also a source of frustration as a prime boom-or-bust type. It always seems that he will either totally explode or completely go silent statistically in any given week.
He continues to be eligible at TE in many formats and presents so much promise at a position where so many other players cannot be relied on. Last week, Hill rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries, caught four passes for 36 yards, and threw a 38-yard TD pass. No other player offers as much potentially dynamic all-around production as Hill when he is used more often by the Saints.
With injuries having trimmed the available options at RB and WR for New Orleans, Hill has a good chance to see a healthy amount of touches against Tennessee in Week 17. You might get consecutive quality performances out of Hill, which is rare. He can elevate his numbers mainly as a rusher. The Titans have allowed 19 rushing TDs, which is tied for the third-most in the NFL.
Hill deserves fantasy TE1 consideration for Week 17. Last week, he finished as fantasy TE8. It would not be surprising to see him finish as a top 3 to 5 fantasy TE this week.
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