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Welcome back, RotoBallers, to my Week 17 Lineup Spotlights - Key Starters and Tough Calls for fantasy football. Every week, I zoom in on some of my favored players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These picks are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings.
I 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 or adding them. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.
When considering each player for your lineup, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.
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Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 17
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
You might be slightly hesitant to start White because he is mostly unproven. However, what we saw from the second-year RB last week was not an illusion or fluke. He blends pretty good size with some speed and will be the lead RB again for a Raiders team that is playing hard under Antonio Pierce. White busted out to rush for 145 yards on 22 carries against the Chiefs last week, and he now gets a good draw for fantasy championship week against the Indianapolis Colts.
Throughout the season, I recommended White as one of the better fantasy insurance types behind a top starting RB. Given the opportunity to see an increased workload, I believed he would challenge defenses with his blend of bulk and acceleration. So with Josh Jacobs listed as doubtful, I expect him to build on last week’s impressive outing against a Colts defense that ranks 28th in rushing yards and next to last in rushing TDs (15) allowed to RBs. Indianapolis has also allowed the most rushing yards to RBs over the past four weeks.
#Raiders coach Antonio Pierce on Zamir White:
“He’s earned reps, right. He’s earned playing time. That’s not gonna change if [Josh Jacobs] is there or not”
Pierce has been bang on with his usage/workload coachspeak during his tenure as interim head coach
We expect some… pic.twitter.com/MWh9W5em8d
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) December 29, 2023
Although he is not the receiving threat that Jacobs is, I have White ranked as a back-end RB1 for Week 17. It is not crazy at all to start him over RBs such as Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, and Derrick Henry.
Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville RB has a seemingly favorable matchup on the surface and the potential to see a heavy workload in Week 17. But his recent production has been disappointing, and the outlook for TD opportunities does decrease with Trevor Lawrence ruled out for Week 17. Etienne has not finished as a top 15 PPR back in five of his last seven games.
It is obviously very possible that with C.J. Beathard at QB, the Jaguars might lean more on Etienne as a runner. Carolina ranks 28th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs on the season. But over the past four weeks, the Panthers rank 11th in FPPG allowed to RBs, and the Jaguars rank 29th in offensive line run blocking grade on Pro Football Focus for Week 17. The matchup may be more neutral than outright exploitable, but you can start Etienne as a back-half fantasy RB2 for volume and adequate production.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
We have seen both the statistical ceiling and floors for Chandler in the last two games. In Week 15, the Minnesota RB rushed for 132 yards on 22 attempts against the Bengals. In Week 16, the stifling Detroit Lions held Chandler to 17 rushing yards on eight attempts. This week, he faces a Green Bay run defense that ranks 26th in rushing yards allowed to RBs. But Minnesota is also turning to rookie Jaren Hall at QB as its starter for Week 17.
We cannot always assume that a backup QB that we have not seen much of before will certainly have a bad game. How Hall will fare is heavily unpredictable, yet we will have to project that Chandler should see a healthy amount of carries, and will be utilized to ease pressure on Hall. Chandler has also rushed for TDs in two consecutive games, and the Packers have allowed 30-plus points in their past two games, which included a matchup with the usually weak Carolina offense.
The Vikings should be able to operate at a respectable level on offense because of the matchup against a defense that has been struggling recently, while also still having Justin Jefferson as a major weapon to help move the ball. Even with another QB change for the Vikings, I expect at least adequate fantasy production from Chandler this week. After seeing his best and worst possible outputs over the last two weeks, I project we get a performance that is satisfying, but not outstanding for an RB2 play. I have Chandler ranked just outside the top 20 at RB for Week 17.
Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
The return of C.J. Stroud obviously resurrects the Houston offense and helps the outlook of their lead RB. When Singletary faced the Titans in Week 15, he totaled 170 yards from scrimmage, his highest total of the season. The former Bill rushed for 121 yards as Houston beat Tennessee without its star rookie QB.
Over the past four weeks, Tennessee has ranked 21st in rushing yards allowed to RBs. The Titans defense has been battered by key injuries, including the loss of top DT Jeffery Simmons. Seattle did not expose Tennessee’s defense enough last week, but I believe the Texans will be able to do so with Stroud back in action. Singletary will provide the needed offensive balance as a runner to complement his QB and should see a few TD opportunities, too. I like the former Bill as a quality lower-end RB2/flex play for Week 17.
Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 17
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Many fantasy leaguers were knocked out of their playoffs last week as Diggs delivered another dud of a performance. Yet some have survived to still make it to their fantasy football championship game and are wondering whether to take one more major chance that the longtime fantasy standout can recapture his best form in the most important week of the year. Recent trends suggest another disappointing outing, but the old cliched “squeaky wheel” angle does apply here.
Under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the Buffalo offense has certainly become less reliant on pure passing, as Josh Allen has season lows of 15 and 21 attempts in his last two games. Diggs’ statistical decline range dates back further, though, as he has failed to register double-figure PPR point totals in five of his last six games. He has one TD reception in his last six games.
Here’s why Stefon Diggs’ production has fallen off after a white-hot start pic.twitter.com/XH8CyvUd1c
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) December 30, 2023
We apparently cannot view Diggs as a fantasy WR1 anymore heading into your championship game. But he did catch six passes for 58 yards and a TD in his first meeting with the Patriots this season, and there is a good chance that Allen and the Buffalo staff want to get Diggs back into the main flow of the offense as the postseason approaches. New England ranks 20th in FPPG allowed to WRs, so there is hope for Diggs to possibly replicate his totals from the first matchup of the year while coming through with a quality fantasy WR2 performance.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf is the obvious alpha WR for the Seahawks, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to ascend. If you are looking for a solid floor this week at a WR3/flex spot, go with Lockett. As I noted here in my Week 17 fantasy football guide on Seahawks.com, Lockett has a top WR/CB matchup grade against the Pittsburgh CBs on PFF for Week 17. He has been targeted a total of 20 times in the past two games, with two 80-plus yard outings during that span. The Seahawks need to win to keep their grip on an NFC playoff berth, and Lockett will be a key target for Geno Smith throughout the day.
Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeleres Rams
He has recently emerged as a viable WR3 for the Rams, catching TD passes in four consecutive games. Mostly regarded as irrelevant in fantasy football through the first seven years of his NFL career, Robinson is now getting serious consideration as a fantasy starter from many players in their championship week. He is coming off his best outing of the season, with six receptions for 82 yards and a TD.
Robinson also has a top 5 WR/CB matchup grade against the Giants CBs on PFF for Week 17. So he does have the fantasy look of an ideal streamer. I do rank him as a back-half fantasy WR3. That means while I would not start him over a more proven option in many cases, I recommend Robinson over shaky guys you just cannot trust in a fantasy Super Bowl matchup. I endorse starting him over WRs such as Drake London and Terry McLaurin.
We do have to remember, though, that Robinson is still a third receiver for Matthew Stafford and a fourth option overall in the Los Angeles offense, so I would not start him over WRs such as Chris Godwin or Jayden Reed.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Those who are looking for an upside play at WR should consider Shaheed in a good matchup. Tampa Bay has allowed the most receiving yards to WRs this season, and the Saints need a win against a top rival to keep their NFC playoff hopes alive. Shaheed is averaging 15.6 yards per reception this season, and with Chris Olave commanding much defensive attention, Shaheed may have chances to beat coverage downfield for some big plays.
Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 17
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
You can come up with a few reasons to sit Tagovailoa in your fantasy championship game. The two most prominent ones are the matchup and injuries. Baltimore ranks first in FPPG allowed to QBs and just embarrassed the QB of the best offense in the NFC. Jaylen Waddle is out for this week and Tagovailoa has been dealing with thumb and quadriceps issues, although he is still expected to start.
Those concerns are legitimate, of course, and add to fantasy anxiety about the Miami QB for Week 17. Yet in his favor, he still has the unstoppable Tyreek Hill, who is off the injury report, and after reviewing the film of last week’s Baltimore performance, Miami may be well prepared to handle the matchup as best it can.
The Dolphins always have upside to overcome a tough draw, but I project Tagovailoa to provide respectable numbers as a ceiling. So he is not ranked in my top 12 QBs for Week 17, and is ranked just behind Geno Smith and Jordan Love, who I see as safer options for decent totals.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
If you exclude the game Clayton Tune started against the Browns, Trey McBride has averaged 7.7 receptions per game with no fewer than 5 in any game since Zach Ertz went down.
You are starting him this week if you have him.
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) December 28, 2023
Once again, McBride is my No. 1 overall TE. Yes, in Week 17, I recommend starting him over anyone else you may have rostered at that position. Since Week 8, McBride is tied for the most FPPG at his position, having averaged 15.8 during that span. He is a strong start that must be locked in against Philadelphia’s 27th-ranked pass defense.
Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.
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