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Welcome to the Week 17 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from AllSportsPeople.
"The Decider" is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 -- a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:
- There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they're active. Those are the "regular starts."
- For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are "stronger starts," while the recommended sits are "weaker starts."
- We're also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.
Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, "The Decider" also includes some DFS picks for different styles of daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on "the field" for your critical Week 17 game with tips on starts and sits this week.
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Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Must-start Week 17 QBs
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at BUF)
- Josh Allen, Bills (vs. PHI)
- Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. ARI)
- Drake Maye, Patriots (vs. NYJ)
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at WAS)
- Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (at CIN)
- Jaxson Dart, Giants (at LV)
- Matthew Stafford, Rams (at ATL)
Strong Week 17 QB starts
9. Brock Purdy, 49ers (vs. CHI): Purdy is on fire after ripping the Colts to shreds on Monday night and he'll come back home to roast the Bears, too.
10. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (at MIA): Mayfield needs a get-well game overall and the running game will facilitate that on the road.
11. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (at IND): There's no way you can sit him in the championship with the kind of heater he's on over the past month-plus.
12. Caleb Williams, Bears (at SF): Purdy and the Niners will force him into plenty of effective passing volume on Sunday night.
13. Tyler Shough, Saints (at TEN): Shough is getting better every week under Kellen Moore and the matchups also are aligning with giving him more productive confidence.
14. Geno Smith, Raiders (vs. NYG): This might feel weird to put him up this high but he should need to throw a ton opposite Dart in a sneaky but sloppy high-scoring game.
DFS QB Week 17 pick
- Jaxson Dart, Giants (at LV, $5,400 on DraftKings, $7,100 on FanDuel): Dart was headed to bad things against the Vikings' defense last week and now gets out of the MetLife elements to deliver his running and passing rookie fun again.
Fantasy Football Week 17 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker Week 17 QB plays
15. Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. HOU): He might be still seeing ghosts from Christmas past given how the Texans ripped him in last year's playoffs.
16. C.J. Stroud, Texans (at LAC): The Chargers were rather good in containing Prescott on the road and Stroud is meh in tougher matchups.
17. Jared Goff, Lions (at MIN): Goff can't get it done one-dimensionally against a tough pass defense on the road.
18. Bo Nix, Broncos (at KC): Nix should have limited volume in a low-scoring game where a fourth-quarter comeback will not be required.
19. Sam Darnold, Seahawks (at CAR): The Seahawks should be relentless running the ball in this revenge game to attack the Panthers' big weakness on the road, playing off the defense.
20. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (at CLE): He probably will be Myles Garrett's record-breaking sack victim even in a run-heavy game plan.
🗒️ BEST PICKUPS: Week 17 Waiver Wire
Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em: Running backs
Must-start Week 17 RBs
- Saquon Barkley, Eagles (at BUF)
- Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. CHI)
- James Cook, Bills (vs. PHI)
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. LAR)
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at MIN)
- Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. ARI)
- Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (at MIA)
- Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. JAX)
- Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. ATL)
- De'Von Achane, Dolphins (vs. TB)
- Jaylen Warren, Steelers (at CLE)
- Javonte Williams, Cowboys (at WAS)
- Travis Etienne Jr. Jaguars (at IND)
- Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. NYG)
- Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. GB)
- Josh Jacobs, Packers (if he plays, at BAL)
- TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (if he plays, vs. NYJ)
- Woody Marks, Texans (if he plays, at LAC)
- D'Andre Swift, Bears (at SF)
- Breece Hall, Jets (vs. NE)
- Tony Pollard, Titans (vs. NO)
Strong RB Week 17 plays
22. Michael Carter, Cardinals (at CIN): Get Carter into lineups as the volume lead against a bad Bengals run defense.
23. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers (at CLE): Gainwell is living up to his last name game and the Steelers should lean plenty on the backs with no DK Metcalf.
24. Kenneth Walker III and 25. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (at CAR): The Panthers are still weak against the run and this duo should be busy for a run-heavy team.
26. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (at LV): Tracy should be busy as the Giants go back to another great matchup for run and pass.
27. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (at NYJ): He's an even better smash play if Henderson can't go but he still have some good cleanup FLEX appeal.
28. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (vs. DAL): "Bill" should find the end zone and get like 50 yards with it.
DFS RB Week 17 Picks
- Jaylen Warren, Steelers (at CLE, $6,600 on DraftKings, $7,400 on FanDuel): Warren is on a heater again in a lead role and the Browns are wilting against the run late.
- Tony Pollard, Titans (vs. NO, $5,500 on DraftKings, $6,100 on FanDuel): Pollard is coming alive with Cam Ward providing some real offensive flash and it happens again here this time with a TD.
Fantasy Football Week 17 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker RB Week 17 plays
29. Omarion Hampton, Chargers (vs. HOU): He was limited in a great matchup in a blowout last week so we're down on his expectations against the much better defense from Texas.
30. RJ Harvey, Broncos (at KC): The Chiefs contained him well the first time and he won't get that TD to deliver as a RB2.
31. Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. SEA): You can't trust the situational split in a bad matchup.
32. David Montgomery, Lions (at MIN): The Vikings have been tough vs. The inside run and the Lions went into the tank on the ground.
33. Kyle Monangai, Bears (at SF): The Niners are still tough against the run so don't start two backs against them.
34. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (vs. PIT): He feel off a cliff quickly as their feature back and a lot of disappointment of late says you can't feel good here.
35. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. DEN): This also goes for Kareem Hunt as the running game will disappear in a negative game script.
36. Jordan Mason, Vikings (vs. DET): The Vikings need to draft a true reliable feature back and they won't follow the Steelers' committee rushing success.
👮 PROTECT YOUR BACKFIELD: RB handcuff rankings and depth charts
Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
Must-start Week 17 WRs
- Puka Nacua, Rams (at ATL)
- Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. ARI)
- Nico Collins, Texans (at LAC)
- CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (at WAS)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at CAR)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at MIN)
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at MIA)
- George Pickens, Cowboys (at WAS)
- Chris Olave, Saints (at TEN)
- Michael Wilson, Cardinals (at CIN)
- Davante Adams, Rams (if he returns. At ATL)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. ARI)
- Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at NYJ)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (at BUF)
- Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars (at IND)
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. TB)
- Jameson Williams, Lions (at MIN)
- Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. DAL)
- Ladd McConkey, Chargers (vs. HOU)
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. DET)
- D.J. Moore, Bears (at SF)
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. SEA)
- Jauan Jennings, 49ers (vs. CHI)
- Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at KC)
- Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (at IND)
- Deebo Samuel, Commanders (vs. DAL)
Strong WR Week 17 starts
27. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at BUF): Take a shot on him because Hurts should downfield a few times.
28. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. GB): He's actually been viable with either QB with more upside with the tight ends disappearing.
29. Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (at LV): He should find himself open often for a nice volume game on intermediate passes.
30. Jayden Reed, Packers (vs. BAL): The Willis-Reed connection seems to be the best since the Knicks' heyday.
31. Alec Pierce, Colts (vs. JAX): He seems like the guy again with Josh Downs being the No. 2 with the massive QB change.
32. Rashee Rice, Chiefs (if he returns. Vs. DEN): Let's see about clearing concussion protocol for Thursday night, but it's so hard to sit their best receiver regardless of the bad QB situation.
DFS WR Week 17 picks
- Chris Olave, Saints (at TEN, $7,200 on DraftKings, $8,100 on FanDuel): Olave has been feeling it with a chucking Shough of late and the Titans cannot cover him.
- Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at NYJ, $5,800 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel): Diggs got going again last week in a pristine matchup with the Ravens and the Jets offer no resistance.
- Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars (at IND, $5,300 on DraftKings, $6,800 on FanDuel): Meyers will be the key go-to guy and carve up the Colts with his sharp route-running often.
Fantasy Football Week 17 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker Week 17 WR plays
33. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. JAX): Whether it's Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers, Pittman is being overlooked for other Indy receivers.
34. Troy Franklin, Broncos (at KC): He has been a solid No. 2 but not feeling it here.
35. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at MIA): Between Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, it's hard to piecemeal another good play away from Evans.
36. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (vs. HOU): The Texans' pass rush and coverage says no deep balls.
37. Adonai Mitchell, Jets (vs. NE): We're out trying to force a Jets receiver this late.
38. Khalil Shakir, Bills (vs. PHI): Cooper DeJean says de-no.
↕️ Fantasy Rankings for Week 17
Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em: Tight ends
Must-start Week 17 TEs
- Trey McBride, Cardinals (at CIN)
- Brock Bowers, Raiders (vs. NYG)
- George Kittle, 49ers (vs. CHI)
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. DEN)
- Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (at WAS)
- Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. JAX)
- Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (vs. PIT)
- Taysom Hill, Saints (at TEN)
Stronger Week 17 TE starts
9. Theo Johnson, Giants (at LV): He's feeling it with Dart against easier pass defenses and this matchup in Vegas qualifies as such.
10. Brenton Strange, Jaguars (at IND): He came through with nice score in Denver and Indy stinks more vs. The tight end.
11. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. LAR): He cooled off a little with Cousins last week but still scored and has a nice floor on MNF.
12. Dalton Schultz, Texans (at LAC): You can go there because he's been so locked in with C.J. Stroud.
13. Colston Loveland, Bears (at SF): The 49ers do have some voids in this coverage minus Fred Warner and the wide receiver injuries help Loveland.
14. Juwan Johnson, Saints (at TEN): You can deploy two tight ends from this team given he's more of the No. 2 wideout to boost Olave.
15. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. DET): Revenge game says he can keep working well with another inexperienced QB.
DFS TE Week 17 pick
- Trey McBride, Cardinals (at CIN, $7,500 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel): McBride had a shocking 4 for 27 clunker to stop his dominant run against the Falcons but now the best young tight end overall gets the best matchup overall for tight ends in 2025. Take it and run.
Fantasy Football Week 17 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker TE Week 17 starts
16. Darren Waller, Dolphins (vs. TB): He's too old for this with a rookie QB.
17. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers (vs. HOU): Can't really feel like extending much vs. This defense.
18. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at BUF): He's hot but the Bills are a classic tight end eraser.
19. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (vs. PHI): It's tough to also use this position well on the Eagles.
20. Mark Andrews and 21. Isaiah Likely, Ravens (at GB): It's really hard to know what happened here and to the entire offense with either QB.
22. Colby Parkinson, Rams (at ATL): So much for expanding his role, they just involved more people without Adams last week.
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Fantasy Football Week 17: Defense/special teams best starts
- New England Patriots (at NYJ)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE)
- Denver Broncos (at KC)
- Detroit Lions (at MIN)
- Houston Texans (at LAC)
- Seattle Seahawks (at CAR)
- Los Angeles Rams (at ATL)
- New York Giants (at LV)
- New Orleans Saints (at TEN)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)
- Green Bay Packers (vs. BAL)
- Dallas Cowboys (at WAS)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA)
- Cincinnati Bengals (vs. ARI)
DFS Week 17 D/ST pick
- New York Giants (at LV, $2,900 on DraftKings, $3,700 on FanDuel): The Giants have some good pass rushers and the Raiders have been given to teams of late and there can be some mistakes and sacks to go with Smith's volume production.
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