For many, Week 17 signals the end of the fantasy football season. After weeks of navigating bye weeks and injuries, slow stretches from players, and managing the waiver wire, we have finally made it to the championship game.
Fantasy managers who are playing for a championship are now in a place where they have nothing to lose and the upside is king. One of the few places where untapped fantasy potential can be found is in the D/ST position for fantasy football. While most of the top defenses are already gone, an edge can always be found pivoting to a better matchup given how much we know about the teams in the NFL today.
One defense worth monitoring in Week 17 is the New York Jets. Should fantasy managers consider starting the Jets DST in Week 17? Find your answer below.
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Should I Start the Jets D/ST in Week 17 Fantasy Football?
The Jets' defense has played at a high level all season. Top-five pick Sauce Gardner is the betting leader for Defensive Rookie of the Year and has functioned as a shutdown cornerback. Quinnen Williams has emerged as one of the best defensive linemen in the league, racking up 46 pressures and 13.0 sacks. From a fantasy perspective, the Jets rank as DST7 in fantasy points per game (7.3).
This week, the Jets will face off against a Seattle Seahawks offense that has come down to Earth in recent weeks. From Weeks 4 to 9, Seattle scored at least 30 points on four different occasions. However, since Week 10 (six games), they’ve been held to under 20 points three different times.
New York’s calling card this season has been interior pressure, but the Seahawks will likely be without starting right tackle Abraham Lucas in this game, giving the Jets' pass rush some leverage from the edge. There will be plenty of opportunities for the Jets to generate pressure to stifle Seattle’s big-play passing attack.
In Week 17, the Jets figure to be a top-10 DST. If you have them, you start them thanks to their ability to shut down the outside with Sauce Gardner and the sack upside against a mediocre Seattle offensive line.
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