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Every week, I share some of my favored players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These choices are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2022 fantasy football championship week.
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We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls, and guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting them. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings. When considering each player for your lineup, check my rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!Scott Engel was the No. 2 overall fantasy football accuracy ranker on fantasypros.com in Week 9. He finished as the No. 8 ranker for QBs and No. 3 for defenses in Week 13.
Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 17
Tyler Allgeier
The Falcons RB had 117 scrimmage yards (74 rushing vs. Baltimore’s third-ranked rush defense, 43 receiving) in Week 16 and he is aiming for his third game in a row with 100+ scrimmage yards. Allgeier has four games with 100+ scrimmage yards, tied for second-most among rookies. He ranks second among rookies in rushing yards (817) and is fourth in scrimmage yards (944).
Allgeier had what may be looked back on as a breakthrough game in Week 15, as he had 139 rushing yards against the Saints. What has impressed me the most over the past two games is his increased physicality and determination as a runner. He is willing to grind for extra yardage while consistently fighting defenders.
The Cardinals have allowed the second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs over the past four weeks. I am ranking Allgeier as a high-end fantasy RB2 for Week 17.
Zonovan Knight
This can be a rebound week for Knight, as his best games have come when Mike White started at QB for the Jets. In those three games, Knight has averaged 76.6 rushing yards. When White has been at QB for New York this season, the running game has opened up more and the Jets have displayed better offensive balance.
Knight had 75+ scrimmage yards in each of his first two career road games. The Jets’ coaching staff has talked about re-establishing the running game as a priority for Week 17. Seattle has consistently ranked at the bottom of the NFC in rushing defense, so Knight can be used as a potentially productive flex option this week.
Leonard Fournette
He had nine catches and a season-high 162 scrimmage yards (career-high 90 receiving, 72 rushing) in Week 16. Fournette has 1,140 scrimmage yards in 2022, his fourth-career season with 1,100+ scrimmage yards. He ranks third among RBs with 68 receptions this season. Fournette has three rushing TDs in four career games vs. Carolina.
This week, Fournette revealed that he has been playing through a Lisfranc injury, and that may scare some fantasy players away from starting him in their championship games. But he still performed well enough last week while playing through the issue, so he does present the potential for respectable production along with some risk.
Fournette played on 58 and 60 percent of the snaps in his last two games. I would still consider him a decent flex play in a decisive divisional matchup for Tampa Bay against Carolina. But if you have a tight lineup decision involving Fournette, you can sit him based on the injury revelation.
James Cook
The Buffalo rookie had a career-best 108 scrimmage yards (99 rushing) and a rushing TD last week. Cook is aiming for his third game in a row overall with a TD and his third in a row on the road with 100+ scrimmage yards. His late-season role in the Buffalo offense is increasing, as Cook has played on over 40 percent of the snaps in three of his past four games.
If you have a deeper lineup decision involving Cook, consider that the Bills-Bengals game has the second-highest Vegas total on the board this week, at 49.5 points. You should get involved in that game through Cook, as he has TD, rushing, and reception promise.
Cook can be useful as a flex play in a championship week for fantasy players who have a tough decision to make from among less comfortable lineup choices.
Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 17
Davante Adams
Despite Derek Carr’s recent struggles, Adams still ranks as a top-five fantasy WR overall this season, Yes, the Raiders are turning to a QB making his first career start this week, against San Francisco’s top-ranked defense. The assumption is usually that the backup QB will always be a downgrade, but Jarrett Stidham knows to get the ball to his best playmaker.
Adams is tied for the NFL lead with 12 receiving TDs this season and he ranks fifth in the league with 1,290 receiving yards. The 49ers actually rank 28th in FFPG allowed to WRs, so the one part of their defense that may yield some yardage is the secondary.
You should still start Adams, but lower your expectations and view him as more of a fantasy WR2/3 type this week. He can provide adequate fantasy production that will complement your other top starters.
Tyler Lockett
After missing one game last week, Lockett is expected to return to play against the Jets in a must-win game for the Seahawks. He was out at Kansas City because he underwent hand surgery, but Lockett was able to practice in full late in the week and there are no reported issues with his abilities to catch the football. The matchup against the New York secondary could be the bigger concern.
Tyler Lockett fully participated in practice today, has caught passes and even punts out of a JUGS machine this week, one week after surgery to fix a broken hand. Signs are he, Kenneth Walker are playing Sunday for Seahawks vs Jets. pic.twitter.com/THO3kt8Kba
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 30, 2022
Lockett has receiving TDs in three of his last four games at home. He is the only player in the NFL with 8+ receiving TDs in each of the past five seasons. The Seahawks clearly missed him as an essential offensive playmaker last week. The Jets’ CBs present a stiff challenge for Lockett and DK Metcalf. But Seattle must get the ball to Lockett on some key downs to have a chance to win this week.
I would not recommend benching Lockett. Do not expect an upside performance, but you can get double figures in PPR points at minimum from him this week.
Drake London
Here is another Falcons rookie that can help you win a fantasy title this week with a solid statistical day. London has been seeing significant volume since Desmond Ridder took over at QB for Atlanta. London has 14 receptions on 20 targets in his last two games.
London will continue to see a heavy number of targets, as Ridder has no other dependable pass-catchers in the Atlanta passing game right now. He led the Falcons with seven receptions and 96 receiving yards last week. He is aiming for his fourth game in a row with 6+ catches and 70+ receiving yards.
London ranks third among rookies with 61 receptions. He is a quality WR play for at least respectable fantasy production this week.
Isaiah Hodgins
In Week 16 at Minnesota, Hodgins had career highs in catches (eight) and receiving yards (89) and he notched his third receiving TD of the season. All of his TD receptions have come in the last four games. He is aiming for his third game in a row at home with a TD catch.
The Vikings, who have allowed the most FFPG to WRs this season, can always make pass-catchers perform above expectations. Hodgins, though, has another good matchup this week to make him worthy of deeper lineup consideration. The Colts have allowed the most FFPG to WRs over the past four weeks.
Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 17
Gardner Minshew
Minshew passed for 355 yards, and he had three TDs (two passing, one rushing) in his first start of the season in Week 16. It was his sixth career game with 300+ passing yards. Minshew has passed for 2+ TDs in three starts for the Eagles over the past two seasons.
The Saints have the No. 2 pass defense in the NFL, but their defense will spend a lot of time on the field this week and Minshew will post quality fantasy totals for those who start him.
Noah Fant
Fant has caught TD passes in three of his past four games. He will likely see a healthy amount of targets this week with Metcalf and Lockett battling the Jets CBs and Will Dissly (knee) on IR. New York ranks 28th in receiving yardage allowed to TEs. Fant is a viable streaming option for your championship matchup.
Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.
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