Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 17 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Upside Plays Tyjae Spears, Jauan Jennings, Jameson Williams

December 28, 2024

Scott Engel delivers fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 16 (2024). He features key NFL players to start when you are dealing with close Week 17 fantasy football lineup decisions.

Welcome RotoBallers, to fantasy football championship weekend and our Week 17 article focusing on key starters and tough lineup calls. Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights are a prime weekly feature on RotoBaller.com for the 2024 fantasy football season. He centers on players to pick as starters when you are dealing with tight decisions.

The lineup picks included here are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and access his player rankings in all formats, and you can consider opting into a multi-sport package for the entire new year.

When considering the players included in this rundown for lineups, also check our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other starting choices. The skill position analysis is tied to Scott’s Week 17 PPR rankings.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 17

Update: I am always looking to improve the Lineup Rankings, and have started to progressively incorporate more research into the process. Vegas odds are now strongly considered along with more data from other sources. The rankings are now optimized for even better possible results for the fantasy playoffs.

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Must-Start: The Tampa Bay RB is one of the more productive timeshare RBs right now, and he can help you win a fantasy championship this week. White is up to nine TDs from scrimmage and caught seven passes last week. The Panthers have been the best fantasy matchup throughout the season for RBs. Lock White in as a mid-range fantasy RB2.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

Upside Pick: There aren’t many pure upside plays at RB outside of the obvious starters in good spots. But Spears may be the home run swing to take against Jacksonville. Tony Pollard has officially been ruled out, and Spears can score from anywhere on the field when he touches the ball, as evidenced by his three scrimmage TDs in the past two weeks.

Jacksonville allows the second-most FFPG to RBs. Spears is versatile (six receptions for 87 yards in Week 15) and potentially explosive, and he is ranked just outside of my top 20 RBs this week.

Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders

Limited Upside Flex: If you need an RB3/flex type who has a lower floor but could outproduce another RB outside the top 20, you can consider Abdullah. He caught 12 passes on 13 targets in the last two games and registered scrimmage TDs in both outings. He might not carry the ball much, yet will get enough touches for 12 to 15 PPR points.

New Orleans ranks 28^th in FFPG allowed to RBs.

NFL Week 17 – More Fantasy Football RB Insights

• The Falcons have allowed only four rushing TDs to RBs. Weather conditions could force the Commanders to lean on their running game, though, so I will still bet on a TD run from Brian Robinson Jr. as Washington looks to wrap up a playoff berth. Start him as an RB2.
• Weather may be an issue in the Jets-Bills game. Breece Hall should at least be started as an RB2. The Jets may ride with him a lot and Buffalo ranks 30^th in FFPG allowed to RBs.
• Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne are RB3 plays with TD potential. The Titans allowed an NFL-high seven rushing TDs to RBs over the past four weeks. I would play Bigsby for more TD promise, as he is the more physical of the two and a preferred goal-line option.
• Kendre Miller was totally ineffective last week. A matchup with the Raiders (19^th in FFPG allowed to RBs) presents better chances to produce decent yardage, and he could be a surprise performer for respectable production. Play him over RBs who are not expected to get frequent touches if your lineup is thin at the position.
• Pin Rico Dowdle to the bench. The Cowboys lost CeeDee Lamb and Dowdle gets a tough draw against the Eagles, who rank second in FFPG allowed to RBs. Stuffing the run and forcing Cooper Rush to struggle in adverse passing situations will be easy for the Eagles.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 17

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Upside Play: We have seen Jennings’ potential to deliver big games this season, and the injury-riddled Lions defense ranks 29^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. The 49ers offense will rise again this week as San Francisco aims to score a feel-good win over the NFC’s top seed.

Jennings is a top-20 WR for this week. Detroit will be focused on also containing George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, which will only help Jennings coverage-wise.

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

Upside Play: San Francisco ranks first in FFPG allowed to WRs. I am still recommending Williams as a WR3 starter. Expect a high-scoring game between Detroit and San Francisco, and the unstoppable Lions offense will continue to roll. Williams is an upside lineup option if you need one at WR or flex.

Jameson Williams generating 150 yards on six touches vs the Bears. The Lions just continue to evolve his use

His ability to catch in traffic, route running, & movement in space have drastically improved. Not just a vertical threat pic.twitter.com/NEXKuLEzTy

— Football Digest (@FoootballDigest) December 22, 2024

The defense does not always win the matchup. Williams has certainly been unreliable this season.  He is coming off a 143-yard game, though, and the Detroit offense will still put a heavy collective foot on the gas as it tries to hold onto the top playoff seed in the NFC.

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

Recommended FLEX: The Packers are still competing for playoff seeding, and the Vikings allow the most FFPG to WRs. Reed has been a frustrating fantasy performer this season, but he will be a key playmaker for the Packers in a marquee matchup. I rank him as a top-25 fantasy WR for Week 17.

NFL Week 17 – More Fantasy Football WR Insights

• Malik Nabers is expected to play, and if there are no reports of limited snaps, I am not going to sit him in most cases. He has been too statistically dependable this season.
• Calvin Ridley caught a 38-yard TD pass last week and gets a good draw against the Jaguars. Check the weather near game time for Ridley’s matchup, and if it is not prohibitive, start him for quality totals as a WR3. The former Jacksonville WR has already stated publicly he is looking to perform well in a “revenge” game.
• DeVonta Smith would be a top 15 guy for me this week at WR if Jalen Hurts was playing against Dallas, but with Kenny Pickett at QB, he is ranked just outside of the top 30 WRs.

Quarterbacks – Fantasy Football Week 17

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Top 10 QB Starter: The San Francisco-Detroit matchup has the highest Over/Under total of the week, at 50 points. Purdy passed for 300-plus yards and two TDs in two of his last three games. Over the last four weeks, the Lions allowed the most FFPG to QBs.

The Niners cannot rely on their running game. Purdy is ranked as QB7, behind only Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, and Jayden Daniels, heading into the weekend slate.

NFL Week 17 – More Fantasy Football QB Insights: Go with Goff in any tight lineup calls as he will flourish in the projected high-scoring affair on Monday Night. … Weather might hold down Daniels’ passing numbers to a degree, but he still has the rushing promise and cannot be benched.

Tight End - – Fantasy Football Week 17

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

Prime TE Starter: The Tennessee TE is ranked as a top 6 TE for Week 17. He put himself on the fantasy map over the last two games with Mason Rudolph taking over at QB for Tennessee. Okonkwo caught 17 of 21 targets in Weeks 16 and 17.

Chigoziem Okonkwo's route rate rose from 53% in Week 15 to 81% in Week 16.

That's his highest rate of the season and way above his usual involvement in the offense.

(Source: @FantasyPtsData) pic.twitter.com/6bU73KZgJG

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) December 23, 2024

The Jaguars rank 24^th in receptions allowed to TEs over the past four weeks. Going into the weekend, I only have Brock Bowers, Kittle, Trey McBride, Jonnu Smith, and Sam LaPorta ranked ahead of Okonkwo at TE.

More Fantasy Football Analysis