Fantasy Football Week 17: Start ’em, Sit ’em
It’s championship week. If you’ve listened to me at all – and I mean maybe you started one player I told you to start in week 8 – and now you’re in your fantasy football championship, I have one thing to say: you’re welcome.
Week 16 opened doors for a lot of teams, in one way or another. The Titans losing to the Texans left the AFC South pretty open for the Jaguars to steal, the Rams’ battering of the Broncos gave Baker Mayfield a solid shot at being the answer at QB long-term in LA, and the Chargers’ win over the Colts presented Justin Herbert’s first playoff berth.
Looking to the penultimate week of the regular season, let’s explore who should be starting as a.) playoff hopes still remain for plenty of teams, and b.) you aim to get out to a strong start against your opponent.
Ian’s Record: 87-45
Start ’em
Aaron Rodgers (QB, Packers) vs. Vikings
After beating the Dolphins on Christmas day, the Packers are ready to run the table.
At 7-8, the Packers’ path to the playoffs involves winning out (Vikings, Lions) as well as the Commanders losing once (either to the Browns or the Cowboys) or the Giants losing out (to the Colts and the Eagles).
In this upcoming shootout with Kirk Cousins, look for Rodgers to rise to the occasion and keep the story alive. Because that’s what he does.
Cam Akers (RB, Rams) vs. Chargers
It took him awhile, but Cam Akers finally showed up last week against Denver, posting 23 attempts for 118 yards and three scores. Against the Denver Broncos.
If Sean McVay is as smart as everyone knows he is, he will feed Akers for a second straight week against a much weaker Chargers run defense. On the season, in addition to their terrible yards per attempt, they hold a -15.29 expected points added against the run, 30th in the league. Cha-ching.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, Lions) vs. Bears
Similar to the Packers, the Lions are also alive in the NFC playoff race. Their path involves winning out (Bears, Packers), the Commanders losing once (see above), and the Seahawks losing once (Jets, Rams).
St. Brown has been a reliable starter all season, and he should especially continue this week as the Lions hope to run the table alongside the Packers. He went off against Chicago in their first meeting, and the Bears have been generous to wide receivers in the past six weeks.
Evan Engram (TE, Jaguars) vs. Texans
Since the Jags have caught fire, Engram has as well. He has at least 14 fantasy points in each of the past four weeks, including 113 yards on seven receptions last week (16.2 yards per reception).
The Texans have surrendered the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends in the past eight weeks. While this game doesn’t affect their chances of winning the south, look for the Jags to make a statement ahead of their week 18 matchup with the Titans – backed by Trevor Lawrence and Evan Engram.
Sit ’em
Carson Wentz (QB, Commanders) vs. Browns
Wentz has a few red flags surrounding him this week. One, the weather in D.C. is not looking great. Two, Wentz has not started a game for the Commanders since week 6. And three, the Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in the last ten weeks.
Put all those flags together, this looks like a low scoring game in the rain with two solid pass defenses going against each other.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Cowboys) vs. Titans
For a long stretch of the season, Elliott has been getting by as a fantasy starter because of his scoring. He’s scored at least one touchdown in each of his last eight games.
Meanwhile, the Titans have only allowed five rushing touchdowns this season. Take the touchdowns out of every one of Elliott’s games, he serves no purpose in starting lineups. That will be the case this week.
Joshua Palmer (WR, Chargers) vs. Rams
Palmer rode the bumpy road of Keenan Allen’s and Mike Williams’ injuries for a good portion of this season, at times looking like he could be the next one up for the Chargers.
However, now that both Allen and Williams are back and healthy, Palmer’s fantasy relevance has seen a steep drop off. It’s a simple and unfortunate reason to take him out of your lineups, but that’s the harsh reality.
David Njoku (TE, Browns) vs. Commanders
The Browns played the Saints last week, who on the season have surrendered the fewest fantasy points to tight ends. A reasonable excuse for a tough outing (two receptions for 14 yards), or maybe it was hypothermia.
This week the Browns play the Commanders, who on the season have surrendered the fifth fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Better for Njoku, but not really. Prior to allowing two scores for George Kittle last week, the Commanders have only given up three touchdowns to tight ends – and Deshaun Watson’s play thus far has been really skeptical. Pass.
BYES: NONE
