The New York Giants will face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding QB Drew Lock.
Is Drew Lock Playing in Week 17?
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 29
Lock is active and starting today
Lock returned to the starting lineup after a one-week absence but evidently hurt his shoulder. He underwent an MRI on Monday. It appears the results were good, as head coach Brian Daboll announced Lock would start this week. He was listed as limited on Wednesday’s estimated practice report but upgraded to full on Thursday and Friday.
We’ll continue to monitor the Giants’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Drew Lock in Week 17?
A heel injury kept Drew Lock out of Week 15’s loss to the Ravens, and there was the thought that it may end his season. Well, it didn’t, but that doesn’t make him a name you have to track in any capacity.
For our purposes, the season is, and has been, over. In his five appearances this season, Lock has completed just 51.1% of his passes, and over the past four seasons, he has more interceptions (24) than touchdown passes (22).
I probably didn’t tell you anything you didn’t know there, so I’ll share with you that Lock is another one of those go-by-my-middle-name guys. So, go ahead and break that out at your family gatherings this week. Impress with your array of random knowledge. Drew Lock’s first name is … Paul.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 17 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Drew Lock’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 17
As of Sunday morning, Lock is projected to score 7.7 fantasy points in Week 17. This includes 116.1 passing yards, 0.5 passing touchdowns, and 0.5 interceptions. It also includes 1.5 rushing attempts for 8.1 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Colts' Defense
After starting strong against the Mason Rudolph-led Titans, the Colts' defense nearly collapsed to turn a blowout win into a game where Tennessee had possession of the ball down one score (albeit with only three seconds remaining).
The end result was a 69.5 (D+) grade, Indy's third-worst of the season. The Colts have had problems generating pressure all year, averaging the third-lowest non-blitz pressure rate of any defense (24.8%).
That remained true against one of the league's worst lines, as Indy had just a single sack and generated its fifth-lowest non-blitz pressure rate of the year (20.6%).
Indianapolis' defense has seen little improvement over the last three seasons since Shane Steichen became head coach and is actually marginally worse this year than over the last two combined. Gus Bradley's second season as defensive coordinator hasn't brought meaningful improvement, which could result in a change if Indianapolis misses the playoffs.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Drew Lock’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:25 AM ET on Sunday, December 29. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 17 QB PPR Rankings
1) Josh Allen | BUF (vs. NYJ)
2) Lamar Jackson | BAL (at HOU)
3) Joe Burrow | CIN (vs. DEN)
4) Jayden Daniels | WAS (vs. ATL)
5) Baker Mayfield | TB (vs. CAR)
6) Sam Darnold | MIN (vs. GB)
7) Kyler Murray | ARI (at LAR)
8) Jordan Love | GB (at MIN)
9) Bo Nix | DEN (at CIN)
10) Jared Goff | DET (at SF)
11) Brock Purdy | SF (vs. DET)
12) Tua Tagovailoa | MIA (at CLE)
13) Matthew Stafford | LAR (vs. ARI)
14) C.J. Stroud | HOU (vs. BAL)
15) Justin Herbert | LAC (at NE)
16) Patrick Mahomes | KC (at PIT)
17) Caleb Williams | CHI (vs. SEA)
18) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ (at BUF)
19) Geno Smith | SEA (at CHI)
20) Bryce Young | CAR (at TB)
21) Cooper Rush | DAL (at PHI)
22) Joe Flacco | IND (at NYG)
23) Russell Wilson | PIT (vs. KC)
24) Michael Penix Jr. | ATL (at WAS)
25) Drake Maye | NE (vs. LAC)
26) Aidan O'Connell | LV (at NO)
27) Tyler Huntley | MIA (at CLE)
28) Mac Jones | JAX (vs. TEN)
29) Kenny Pickett | PHI (vs. DAL)
30) Mason Rudolph | TEN (at JAX)
31) Drew Lock | NYG (vs. IND)
32) Spencer Rattler | NO (vs. LV)
33) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (vs. MIA)
Colts at Giants Trends and Insights
Indianapolis Colts
Team: On Sunday, the Colts became the third team in the 2000s to score 38+ points without throwing 15 passes (and the first to do so when not facing a member of the Manning family).
QB: Anthony Richardson had more rush attempts than completions against the Titans and has a rushing score in three straight games (he has yet to throw for a touchdown in three consecutive appearances during his career).
Offense: Indianapolis picked up 53.3% of their third downs on Sunday (eight-of-15), matching their highest rate of the season (also: Week 4 vs. Steelers)
Defense: Opponents have converted all five of their red zone trips against the Colts into touchdowns over the past two weeks—only twice in the first 14 weeks did they allow a 100% conversion rate.
Fantasy: Get your AFC South running back exposure in August and watch it pay off in the biggest moments. Since 2017, four times has a player run for 210+ yards in a December game:
- Derrick Henry (2018) vs. Jaguars
- Derrick Henry (2019) at Texans
- Derrick Henry (2020) at Jaguars
- Jonathan Taylor (Sunday) vs. Titans
Betting: The Colts have failed to cover four straight December road games (three of those four carrying a failure to cover by at least 13 points).
New York Giants
Team: The Giants have matched the franchise record with 13 losses (also: 2017 and 2021). On the bright side, their last playoff appearance came in 2022, following a 13-loss campaign.
QB: Drew Lock has completed over 20 passes in all three of his starts this season, but none of them have gained more than 23 yards, and he has more interceptions than touchdown passes in each of those contests.
Offense: New York has picked up 13-of-52 third downs over their past four games (25%).
Defense: Opponents have picked up 17-of-25 third downs against the Giants over the past two weeks.
Fantasy: The Giants, as a team, have 1,603 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 369 carries – Saquon Barkley has turned his 314 carries into 1,838 yards and 13 scores this season.
Betting: Unders are 12-4 in New York’s past 16 home games (they are 1-5 ATS in their past six such games).