Week 17 Fantasy Football Matchups We Love: The Fantasy Matchmaker

December 30, 2023

The best Week 17 fantasy football matchups, predictions from Joey Pollizze. Strong start/sit matchups that he loves for fantasy football lineups and DFS plays.

The final fantasy football week of the season is here. Most leagues will have their fantasy championship in Week 17 and a winner will be crowned after Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. It's going to be a stressful week for most, but this article can be a big help for all your start and sit decisions. 

The fantasy matchmaker will go through which players have the best and worst matchups in Week 17. Last week, players like Breece Hall, Ezekiel Elliott, and Calvin Ridley all made the love list and winded up carrying fantasy managers in the semifinals in Week 16.

This week, there will be a ton more players that make this list. So, let's dive in and see which players land below in the biggest week of the fantasy season. 

Week 17: Quarterback Matchups We Love

Brock Purdy- San Francisco 49ers

Opponent: @WSH

Opponent Rank vs. QB: 32nd

After last week's performance, many fantasy managers were likely eliminated due to Brock Purdy's four-interception game. But if you survived, you should be starting him in every format against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are allowing the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, and Purdy will be looking to bounce back in a big way in Week 17. 

The Commanders held Trevor Siemian in check last week, allowing just 217 pass yards and one touchdown. But before Week 16, they allowed multiple touchdown passes in 10 of the past 11 games, including three-plus touchdowns in four of those contests. Washington's secondary has also allowed five quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards during that span. Purdy will be in store for a big game this weekend. 

Kyler Murray- Arizona Cardinals

Opponent: @PHI

Opponent Rank vs. QB: 31st

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray continues to have a safe floor in fantasy. He has scored over 19 fantasy points in four of six games this season. But the ceiling might not be there for Murray this year. The former Pro Bowl quarterback has zero games over 23 fantasy points in 2023. 

However, if there ever was a game for Murray to reach 25 fantasy points, it would be in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. They have improved in that category over the past two weeks, but they also faced Drew Lock and Tommy Devito/Tyrod Taylor during that span.

Prior to Week 15, though, they gave up 300-plus pass yards in four of six games from Week 8 to Week 14 and at least two passing touchdowns in all six of those contests. Murray has a nice floor and a high ceiling in this matchup against the Eagles' secondary in Week 17. 

Week 17: Quarterback Matchups to Avoid

Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins

Opponent: @BAL

Opponent Rank vs. QB: 3rd

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has really fallen off in recent weeks in fantasy. Over the past five games, Tagovailoa has averaged just 13.4 fantasy points per game while failing to score over 20 fantasy points in all five contests. Now, he'll get a Baltimore Ravens defense that allows the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year. 

Just last week, this Ravens' defense made Brock Purdy throw a career-high four interceptions while finishing with just 6.4 fantasy points. Baltimore's secondary is no joke, and they continue to play at an elite level. They have allowed just one quarterback (Matthew Stafford) to throw for multiple touchdown passes in a game since Week 9. That makes Tagovailoa a strong sit candidate in Week 17. 

Week 17: Running Back Matchups We Love

D'Andre Swift - Philadelphia Eagles

Opponent: ARI

Opponent Rank vs. RB: 32nd

Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift is coming off a strong performance where rushed 20 times for 92 yards and one touchdown. The 20 carries were his most since Week 2, and his 92 rush yards were his most since Week 3. Now, Swift will get an Arizona Cardinals defense that has struggled to contain the run this season. 

The Cardinals have allowed the most fantasy points per game to running backs in 2023 at 26.6 half-PPR points. That Arizona run defense has also given up 110-plus rush yards in six straight games dating back to Week 10. During that stretch, opposing running backs are averaging 5.3 yards per carry with five rushing touchdowns. Swift has a great matchup this upcoming week. 

Josh Jacobs/Zamir White- Las Vegas Raiders

Opponent: @IND

Opponent Rank vs. RB: 30th

It remains to be seen if Josh Jacobs (quad) will be ready to play in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts. He did not practice again on Wednesday and remains day-to-day with that quad issue. But if he doesn't play, running back Zamir White is a great start with a plus matchup.

The Colts have allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season and just gave up 167 rush yards on 5.96 yards per carry in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons. That now marks five of the past six contests that Indianapolis has allowed over 100 rush yards in a game. Whether Jacobs is good to go or not, whoever starts for the Raiders' backfield in Week 17 will be a solid start. 

Week 17: Running Back Matchups to Avoid

Tony Pollard- Dallas Cowboys

Opponent: DET

Opponent Rank vs. RB: 1st

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard has been one of the biggest busts this season. He is averaging just 13.3 fantasy points per game and is coming off a season-low 5.3 fantasy points in Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins. Facing the Detroit Lions defense in Week 17 does not help his case either.

The Lions have given up the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season at just 14.4 half-PPR points per game. Detroit has also held opposing teams to under 100 rush yards in 14 of 15 games in 2023, including under 70 rush yards in five straight contests. Pollard has a tough matchup ahead on Saturday night in Week 17. 

Week 17: Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Rashee Rice- Kansas City Chiefs

Opponent: CIN

Opponent Rank vs. WR: 24th

Kansas City wide receiver Rashee Rice has really come onto the scene quickly in his rookie season. Rice has totaled at least six catches and 55 yards in five straight games while seeing at least nine targets in every contest during that span. He should have another big game on the horizon, facing a Cincinnati Bengals secondary that has struggled over the past couple of weeks. 

The Bengals have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wideouts this season and have given up at least 190 receiving yards to wide receivers in three of the past four games. They have also let up four combined touchdowns to this position group in the last two games. So, Rice should be able to take advantage of this secondary. 

Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel - San Francisco 49ers

Opponent: @WSH

Opponent Rank vs. WR: 31st

Like their quarterback, San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both make the love list this week against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wideouts this season and don't have a corner who will be able to guard both Aiyuk and Samuel. 

This Washington secondary did a nice job against the Jets' wideouts in Week 16. But from Week 12 to Week 15 (three games), they gave up a combined 40 catches for 675 yards and seven touchdowns to wide receivers. With San Francisco coming to town now, both wideouts should be in for a monster day. 

Week 17: Wide Receiver Matchups to Avoid

DJ Moore - Chicago Bears

Opponent: ATL

Opponent Rank vs. WR: 2nd

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore has struggled in recent weeks, scoring less than 10 PPR fantasy points in back-to-back games. Unfortunately, that could continue in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. Moore will likely draw the shadow of cornerback A.J. Terrell in this contest, which does not bode well for the Bears' wideout. The Falcons have also allowed less than 100 total receiving yards in three straight games. 

Week 17: Tight End Matchups We Love

Darren Waller - New York Giants

Opponent: LAR

Opponent Rank vs. TE: 29th

The Los Angeles Rams have had a hard time containing tight ends this season, and assuming New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is fully healthy, he should be in for a great game. The Rams have given up at least five catches and 60-plus receiving yards to opposing tight ends in four of the past five contests.

The Rams' defense has also allowed three touchdowns over those past five games. With Tyrod Taylor back under center for the Giants this weekend, that should help Waller's volume in Week 17. 

Week 17: Tight End Matchups to Avoid

Hunter Henry- New England Patriots

Opponent: @BUF

Opponent Rank vs. TE: 6th

Fantasy managers might be willing to play New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry in Week 17 if he is active. Henry didn't play last week due to a knee issue, but was a limited participant in Wednesday's team practice. That puts Henry on pace to play in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. 

Before his injury, Henry put together back-to-back TE4 fantasy finishes in Week 14 and Week 15. During those weeks, Henry caught three combined touchdowns to go with 10 catches for 106 yards. However, the Bills have been great against opposing tight ends this season, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position this season. That makes the Patriots' playmaker a risky start in the fantasy football championship. 

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