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Week 17 Rankings & Matchups Analysis (Standard & PPR)

What's up RotoBallers. Week 16 is complete and we hope you managed to secure a win and make it into the championships (or win them if your leagues are over). For those who are still playing, today we are bringing you our Week 17 fantasy football playoff championship rankings to help prepare you for your Week 17 playoff matchups.

Below you will find both PPR rankings and standard league rankings for Week 17, brought to you by Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades) and Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik). Lead fantasy football columnist Edward Gorelik also highlights some rankings analysis for the Week 17 playoffs, broken out by position, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 17.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

Rankings are subject to change leading up to the games, but the analysis written might not.

 

Week 17 Fantasy Football Championship Rankings



powered by FantasyPros

 

Week 17 Quarterback (QB) Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Week 17 is going to be a hard mess for many, many positions and guessing which teams will sit and won't sit players is going to be difficult. Expect the rankings to change heavily as news comes out this week.

Ben Roethlisberger is going to have a lot to play for in week 17. After giving away a potential playoff berth by losing against the Ravens, the Steelers are going to come out strong against the Browns and are the few teams not expected to pull off the pedal until the final moments of the game. He'll be the #1 QB going into this week.

Those wondering if Tom Brady has something left to play for should know that the Patriots still need to win to hold the #1 seed in the AFC. You can start him safely, as the Patriots will always play for the #1 AFC seed.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has enjoyed a lot of success this year but most of it has come at home games. On the road, Fitzpatrick has been less than spectacular and his history against Rex Ryan's defenses isn't fantastic. He's still a low end QB1 because of his floor, but there may be better options available.

One of those guys might be Brock Osweiler. The game against the Bengals might have not shown a great player but the Bengals are also one of the leagues best defenses. Osweiler will be going up against San Diego at home, who's the complete opposite of the Bengals in terms of roster talent. An easy matchup with a potential #1 seed to play for will lead to them playing hard this weekend and could end with Osweiler as a QB1.

 

Week 17 Running Back (RB) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Tim Hightower is one of those players where I'm almost 100% sure that he will be playing the entire game. With the Saints having no real investment on him and him trying to prove that he's worth signing after this year as a FA, expect him to run all over a horrific Atlanta Falcons defense.

Matt Forte might see his stock drop heavily as the week goes on. He's facing a Detroit Lions run defense that's shut down many backs this season while also dealing with a back injury that took him out of last weeks game early. With the Bears ready to cut ties with Forte, some added reps to the young Langford might be in line in week 17.

At this point, Bilal Powell is outplaying Chris Ivory. That's just what it is. Ivory hasn't been nearly as effective since the halfway point of the year and he's lost too many touches to Powell to grind out the volume of yards he needs. Powell operates as the main weapon in the passing game amongst the RBs and even with such a low volume he continues to put up points every week. Ivory falls into the low end of the RB2s while Powell has become a mid-range RB2.

 

Week 17 Wide Receiver (WR) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Odell Beckham is a player many will be wondering whether he plays the full game or not. Coughlin just doesn't seem in any way the type to give himself a loss, and Beckham will be out there playing harder than ever to release whatever frustration he has over his suspension.

Darrelle Revis was once an impenetrable wall amongst CBs. That hasn't been the case this year, he's given up plenty of yards and space to WRs, even if the stats don't show it. Rex Ryan is going to do everything he can to play spoiler against the Jets, and that's going to involve a lot of deep passing to Sammy Watkins. If at least one of those hit, it's a likely 40 yards touchdown and I'm expecting there to be a few of them.

When can you trust Amari Cooper? When can't you? Against the Chiefs, you probably can. The Chiefs have been one of the leagues worst WR defenses all year long, especially when it comes to opposing WR1s. They're allowing nearly 100 yards on average to them. Don't let the Chargers game make you bench him, Cooper was dealing with an injury that kept him sidelined for a large portion of the game along with one of the leagues top corners in Jason Verrett. Despite being out of the playoffs, this cast of players is too young to realistically be sat.

Deep in the sleepers for this week is Brice Butler. The Cowboys have given up on Dez Bryant for the year and are definitely going to be checking their youth for talent. Butler, in his limited play time, has been effective and doing some good around the field. Butler even led the Cowboys in receiving yards last week with 74. That's not too bad.

 

Week 17 Tight End (TE) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Zach Miller gets work. That's all that seems to matter for the non-elite tight ends. Miller has had only two games since week 9 without either a touchdown or 60 yards and with Alshon Jeffery placed on IR, Miller was featured heavily against the Bucs. Detroit is amongst the leagues worst TE defenses and Cutler should be feeding his only reliable target heavily this week.

Antonio Gates should be bouncing back this week against the Broncos who allow, on average, 60 yards to opposing tight ends. With so few other options to throw to and the Denver best defenders all playing as outside corners, expect Gates along with Woodhead to be fed often. They probably have more value in PPR than standard this week though because the Denver defense has been pretty good at suffocating teams like this.

Kyle Rudolph has finally been reinserted into the passing game and since week 11 he's only put up 2 dud performances. The Packers have been average this year against TEs and if the trend continues, Rudolph should be a startable TE this weekend.

 

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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

LaMelo Ball

Not Expected to Play on Sunday
Trevor Lawrence

Dealing with Illness, Still Expected to Start Against Raiders
Aaron Rodgers

Dealing with Hand Injury During Warmups, Likely Fine for Week 9
Terry McLaurin

Could be Out Until After the Week 12 Bye
Ed Oliver

Could Return for the Playoffs
Brock Purdy

Ruled Out Again in Week 9
Trey Hendrickson

Logan Wilson Inactive for Week 9
Dalton Schultz

Officially Active for Week 9 Against Broncos
Isiah Pacheco

Expected to Return After the Chiefs' Bye Week
Austin Cindric

is A Driver to Avoid for Phoenix DFS Lineups
Joe Flacco

Will Play in Week 9 Against Bears
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Named World Series MVP
Alex Bowman

Could Alex Bowman be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Phoenix?
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Committed to Mike McDaniel for the Foreseeable Future
Noah Gragson

Should DFS Players Roster Noah Gragson At Phoenix?
Erik Jones

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering for DFS at Phoenix?
Breece Hall

Unlikely to be Traded
Connor McDavid

Records Three Assists in Saturday's Win
Michael McDowell

an Easy Recommendation for DFS at Phoenix
Vladimir Tarasenko

Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Effort
Nick Suzuki

Collects Two More Apples
Timothy Liljegren

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Nick Cousins

Injured on Saturday
Sam LaPorta

Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta Approaching Contract Extension Territory
Christopher Tanev

Leaves on Stretcher Saturday
Jauan Jennings

Several Teams Interested in Trading for Jauan Jennings
Calvin Ridley

Emerging as a Potential Trade Target
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Don't Intend to Trade Trey Hendrickson
Kevon Looney

Questionable Versus OKC
Chase Briscoe

Probably Won't Win the Title
Joey Logano

Could Play Spoiler in Championship Battle at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Seeking to End Winless Drought, but Probably Won't Have the Speed
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looks to Protect Top-10 Points Finish at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Hasn't Been Fast at Phoenix With RFK Racing
Daniel Suarez

With Nothing at Stake, Expect Little From Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well, but Will Probably Finish Worse Than he Starts
Chris Buescher

Ryan Preece has a Shot to Overtake Chris Buescher as RFK Racing's Lead Driver
Austin Dillon

Looks to Avoid Finishing Last in NASCAR Playoffs
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Might be a Worthy DFS Option
Cooper Kupp

Not Expected to Play Vs. Washington
Alvin Kamara

Saints Expect Alvin Kamara to Play Vs. Rams
Travis Hunter

Optimism Surrounding Travis Hunter's Knee Injury
Jakob Poeltl

to Remain Sidelined Sunday
Jakobi Meyers

Raiders "Set a High Price" on Jakobi Meyers
Walker Kessler

Out on Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Trey Benson

Moving Closer Toward a Return
Dillon Brooks

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Jalen Green

Unavailable Against Spurs
Norman Powell

Questionable to Suit Up Against Lakers
Jaylen Waddle

Miami "Highly Unlikely" to Trade Jaylen Waddle
Jeremy Sochan

Remains Absent Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Still Out Sunday
Daniel Gafford

Makes Season Debut With Minutes Restriction
D'Angelo Russell

Cleared to Play Saturday
Deandre Ayton

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Paul George

Unavailable Sunday
Joel Embiid

to Sit Out Sunday's Action
Sam Merrill

May Skip Another Contest Sunday
Jarrett Allen

Questionable for Sunday
Darius Garland

to Remain Out Sunday
Donovan Mitchell

Could Miss Another Game Sunday
Chet Holmgren

Not Ready to Return Sunday
Trae Young

to Be Re-Evaluated in Four Weeks
Connor Brown

Won't Play on Saturday
Dylan Strome

Ready to Return Saturday
Sean Couturier

Out on Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Set to Return Saturday
Warren Foegele

Kings Place Warren Foegele on Injured Reserve
TOR

Chris Tanev Cleared for Action
William Nylander

Remains Out Saturday
Shohei Ohtani

to Start Game 7 of World Series
Alejandro Kirk

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alejandro Kirk's Hand
Alejandro Kirk

Goes for X-Rays After Being Hit on the Hand
Mackenzie Blackwood

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Ryan Reaves

Remains Under Evaluation
Trevor Moore

Expected to Return Saturday
Zach Benson

Placed on Injured Reserve
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Friday
Jacob Markstrom

Devils Sign Jacob Markstrom to Two-Year Extension
Connor Brown

Considered Questionable for Saturday
Gleyber Torres

Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Dylan Strome

Remains Out Friday
Bo Bichette

Not Expecting to Need Offseason Knee Surgery
George Springer

Back in Leadoff Spot for Game 6 of World Series
David Onama

Set For UFC Vegas 110 Main Event
Steve Garcia

Returns At UFC Vegas 110
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Set For Co-Main Event
Ante Delija

In Search For His Second UFC Win
Themba Gorimbo

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 110
Jeremiah Wells

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Arizona State Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out for the Season
Isaac Dulgarian

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Frunza

Looks For His First UFC Win
Charles Radtke

Looks To Bounce Back
Allan Nascimento

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 110 Main Card
Cody Durden

In Dire Need Of Victory
George Springer

"Strong Possibility" That George Springer Returns in Game 6 of World Series
Bryce Miller

Not Expected to Need Elbow Surgery
Washington Nationals

Nationals Finalizing a Deal to Hire Blake Butera as Next Manager
CFB

Arch Manning Listed as Questionable for Vanderbilt Matchup
CFB

Arion Carter Listed as Questionable Ahead of Oklahoma Matchup
Minnesota Twins

Twins Name Derek Shelton as Their New Manager
CFB

Jordyn Tyson Questionable for Iowa State Matchup with Hamstring Injury
George Springer

Not in the Lineup for Game 4 of World Series
George Springer

Pulled Early in Game 3 With Side Injury
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Finalizing Deal to Hire Craig Albernaz as the Next Manager
William Byron

Dominates at Martinsville and Advances to the Championship Round
Kyle Larson

Advances to the Championship Round After Top-Five Finish
Ryan Blaney

Falls Short of the Victory and Title Contention at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

Eliminated From 2025 Title Contention Despite Strong Martinsville Run
CFB

Behren Morton Will Start Against Kansas State
CFB

Lane Kiffin Says Money Won't Impact his Decision-Making

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