Start/Sit Chart - Week 17 Fantasy Football Matchups for Christmas Day Football

December 24, 2025

Fantasy football starts/sits for Christmas Day, expert advice for all Christmas Thursday Week 17 matchups. Our start em, sit em picks for Xavier Worthy, Courtland Sutton, Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., more.

Welcome to our start/sit chart for the Christmas Day slate of Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. Below you will find our start/sit matchups chart for all players on the slate from the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs.

In addition to our start/sit recommendation and matchup ratings for each player, you can also read the fantasy football outlooks for key players like Terry McLaurin, Javonte Williams, Deebo Samuel Sr., David Montgomery, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, RJ Harvey, Travis Kelce, and Xavier Worthy. Which Cowboys, Commanders, Lions, Vikings, Broncos, and Chiefs players should you start or sit in Week 17?

Make sure to set your winning lineups for Week 17, whether you're setting season-long or DFS lineups. We will have our fantasy football start/sit matchup charts available all season long -- focusing on who to start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench -- so be sure to check back. Good luck in Week 17, RotoBallers!

Dallas Cowboys Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Javonte Williams, RB, Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (neck) was upgraded to a full practice on Wednesday and has been removed from the team's final Week 17 injury report, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Williams will be active for the Christmas Day divisional matchup on Thursday against the Washington Commanders.

The 25-year-old suffered a neck injury in Week 15 but managed to play through it in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, handling 11 touches for 43 total yards while playing 57% of the offensive snaps. Malik Davis has seen a larger role the last two games with Williams banged up, but he should continue to operate as the RB2 in Week 17 on Christmas Day. Williams should be viewed as on the RB1/2 borderline for fantasy managers with league championship trophies on the line this week.

Ryan Flournoy, WR, Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy (knee) is questionable for the team's Week 17 Christmas Day matchup with the Commanders after missing the last two practices of the week. Flournoy was limited with a knee issue to begin the shortened week before logging DNPs on Tuesday and Wednesday. The second-year wideout has seen increased usage over the past few weeks, including a career best nine catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in a Week 14 loss to the Lions.

Against a Commanders defense that has struggled to defend the pass all year, Flournoy could have made for a sneaky flex play in Championship weekend, but with a knee issue now threatening his availability, fantasy managers thankfully have plenty of time to pivot away from the potential Thursday start.

Washington Commanders Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Update - Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been ruled out with an illness. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is now a viable FLEX play in deeper leagues.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, Commanders

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has been held under 50 yards in three straight games and hasn't found the end zone since Week 11. Samuel has exceeded 50 receiving yards only twice over the past nine games. The former San Francisco 49er draws a potential get-right spot on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled to defend the pass.

Dallas has allowed the most passing yards per game and the most PPR points per game to wide receivers this season. Washington's pass-catchers could take a hit for fantasy with quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play after missing consecutive practices to begin the week, opening the door for journeyman Josh Johnson to make his first start since 2021. Samuel currently ranks as RotoBaller's WR29 in PPR leagues in Week 17.

Josh Johnson, QB, Commanders

Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson will make the start on Christmas Day on Thursday versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Jeff Driskel will serve as the backup with Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) unable to play following his injury on Saturday night in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Normal starter Jayden Daniels (elbow) has already been shut down for the rest of the year. This will be Johnson's first NFL start since Week 17 of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

The 39-year-old journeyman went 5-for-9 passing for 43 yards and an ugly interception in Week 16 after taking over for the injured Mariota. The matchup this week against Dallas' porous defense is friendly, but Johnson still won't be much more than a desperation QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues with everything on the line in championship matchups.

Detroit Lions Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

David Montgomery, RB, Lions

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (illness) is considered questionable to play in Thursday's Christmas Day game versus the division-rival Minnesota Vikings due to an illness, according to the team's official website. Montgomery was added to the Week 17 injury report after not practicing on Tuesday while feeling under the weather. The 28-year-old returned to a limited practice on Wednesday, though, and he should be active for a must-win game on the road in Minnesota.

If for some reason Monty still isn't feeling well on Thursday, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors would split RB2 duties for the Lions behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery has been the clear RB2 this year behind Gibbs, giving him touchdown-dependent RB3/flex value most weeks. He does have eight rushing TDs on the year in 15 games, but Montgomery hasn't had double-digit carries in a game since Nov. 9.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day, although he is expected to play, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. In a must-win game for Detroit, it looks like St. Brown will tough it out and play on Christmas Day for Detroit. The 26-year-old pass-catcher is a must-start in all fantasy football leagues anytime he's active, although he could carry more risk this week if he's less than 100 percent on Thursday.

In the first game against the Vikings on Nov. 2, St. Brown had a very productive outing, catching nine of his 13 targets for 97 yards. If St. Brown doesn't see the field as much as usual against Minnesota on a short week, both rookie Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond could have bigger secondary roles in Week 17.

Minnesota Vikings Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

For fantasy managers weighing whether to start Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day, the better question is how much they trust an offense led by an undrafted rookie quarterback. Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy (hand) will miss his seventh game of the season, and backup Carson Wentz (shoulder) is out for the year, leaving rookie Max Brosmer to take the reins. To say Brosmer's first start went poorly would be putting it mildly: he threw four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and Jefferson finished with a paltry two catches for four yards.

The superstar has routinely torched the Lions in his career, gaining more than 1,200 receiving yards and scoring five touchdowns in 11 games against them. Detroit ranks dead last in the NFL in air yards allowed, so the matchup is a good one for Jefferson, albeit with the significant risk of relying upon Brosmer. The offense likely will run through running back Aaron Jones Sr. and Jefferson, the latter of whom should be considered a high-risk WR2.

Max Brosmer, QB, Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer will start for the team in a Christmas Day meeting with the Detroit Lions, but the chance to play doesn't mean fantasy managers should go anywhere near this matchup. Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy (hand) will miss another game, while backup Carson Wentz (shoulder) is already out for the year, thrusting the undrafted rookie into the spotlight. Brosmer's first and only start in the NFL so far was a total disaster: he threw no touchdowns and four interceptions in a loss at Seattle, the first of which was a wild, ill-advised heave while being sacked that the Seahawks returned for a game-changing touchdown.

Brosmer played admirably after McCarthy departed last week, and the Lions have allowed more air yards than any team in the NFL, which gives some hope. Even so, the odds are stacked against Brosmer, who has played only out of desperation and is facing a short week to boot. Fantasy managers still playing this weekend almost certainly can find a higher-rated option.

Denver Broncos Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been putting up solid numbers since the Week 12 bye and will look to continue that streak while traveling to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Sutton has now posted two consecutive WR1 consensus weeks, combining for 199 receiving yards on 13 catches and two touchdowns in that span.

While the Kansas City Chiefs are typically a stingy defense to face, the narrative has shifted for the Chiefs after losing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. Coming off another solid performance in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sutton should maintain his momentum against the Chiefs as RotoBaller ranks him at WR17 overall for Week 17.

RJ Harvey, RB, Broncos

Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey gets to travel and face the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas in Week 17. Since the Week 12 bye, Harvey has produced RB1 consensus numbers in all but one game, averaging 17.25 touches for 87 yards and 1.25 touchdowns per game in that four-week stretch. Profiling as a potential league winner on the season, Harvey will look to carry the momentum from his Week 16 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which he had 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches.

With RotoBaller ranking Harvey as the RB14 overall for Week 17, he should be relied upon as a high-end RB2 with upside.

Kansas City Chiefs Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could be heavily involved on Christmas Day against the Denver Broncos. Kelce caught one pass for six yards on four targets in Week 16, giving fantasy managers one of his most disappointing performances of the season. With the Chiefs already eliminated from playoff contention, there is little left to play for except legacy. The 36-year-old tight end has not explicitly stated that this is his last season with the team, but there has been speculation that he could hang it up after this year.

If Kelce does plan to retire this offseason, Christmas Day at Arrowhead could be Kelce's last home game of his career. Given the inexperience of Chris Oladokun at quarterback, Kelce could operate close to the line of scrimmage and act as a release valve for the QB. Kelce will also have to deal with one of the best defenses in the league, the Denver Broncos. Despite giving up the fifth-fewest points per game this season, the Broncos defense has been relatively soft against tight ends. Kelce is ranked TE18 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE2 option for fantasy managers this Thursday.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will now be the unquestioned WR1 for the team moving forward. The Chiefs placed Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton on IR on Wednesday morning, opening the door for Worthy to step into a more prominent role. Worthy led the wide receivers in receiving yards last week, catching two passes for 41 yards on three targets. Despite being the lead receiver, Worthy will have to deal with downgraded quarterback play and a difficult matchup in Week 17. Chris Oladokun is now the Chiefs starting quarterback, and they face the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day.

Oladokun has 16 passing attempts in his career, and the Broncos defense has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Worthy's role in the offense could potentially be valuable, but he has a lot working against him this week. Worthy is ranked WR56 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR ranking, making him a desperation flex option this week.

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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 17 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Terry McLaurin, Javonte Williams, Deebo Samuel Sr., David Montgomery, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, RJ Harvey, Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 12.

Week 17 Player Decisions. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.

Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.

Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, we've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!

How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.

Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.

Popular Week 17 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 17 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.

Popular Week 17 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons

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