The 2021 fantasy football playoffs conclude this week. It’s time to secure those championships. Making correct lineup decisions is literally make or break as we enter the final week of the fantasy season. Let’s take a look at the top start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 17.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 17: Quarterbacks
As the fantasy football playoffs reach their conclusion, which quarterbacks are starts and sits in Week 17?
Start ‘Em | Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
Let’s address the elephant in the room right out of the gate. This is not a good matchup for Taysom Hill. The Panthers allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, Hill is not your standard fantasy quarterback.
Outside of Hill’s start two weeks ago against the Bucs, he’s finished as a QB1 in every game he’s started. That game against Tampa Bay was also very strange game, with the Saints winning 9-0 and neither team scoring a touchdown.
This week, New Orleans is looking to get back on track. They never had a chance last Monday night against the Dolphins after being forced to start Ian Book.
In addition to being stout against the pass, the Panthers allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. This is just a very respectable defense. If a defense is good against both the run and the pass, I favor the passing game. Expect Hill to run a bunch this week. He’s had 11 carries in each of his three starts and averages 69 rushing yards per game. Start Hill.
Sit ‘Em | Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (@ DAL)
I don’t think anyone is sitting Kyler Murray in fantasy championships. However, this is not a great matchup for the struggling Murray to break out of his funk.
The Cowboys allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Just as concerning is their propensity for forcing turnovers. Dallas has 25 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries this season. Micah Parsons is a top Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And Murray hasn’t been playing well.
Over his last three games, Murray has thrown for just 2 touchdowns and rushed for none. He has more interceptions (3) during that span, and the Cardinals have lost all three contests.
Murray has a relatively safe floor because of his rushing, but long gone is the quarterback that put up 30 fantasy points in the early weeks of the season. Murray is still a QB1 simply relative to the other options, but he’s not a strong start this week.
Running Backs
The running back position can be quite matchup-dependent. Which running backs should fantasy managers start, and who is better left on the bench this week?
Start ‘Em | Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs. ATL)
It took nearly two full seasons, but we have a victor in the battle for the Bills’ backfield. It’s Devin Singletary. Over his past three games, he’s played 68%, 93%, and 82% of the offensive snaps. This is his backfield now.
This week, the Bills get a Falcons defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs. Buffalo should have their way with Atlanta. I expect at least 4 touchdowns. Singletary has scored in each of his past two games and is a good bet to find the end zone once again. Additionally, he’s also seen 6 targets or more in two of his last three contests. Fire up Singletary as a strong RB2.
Sit ‘Em | Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons (@ BUF)
For the sit, we go to the other side of this game. Cordarrelle Patterson remains the single most valuable waiver wire add of the season. However, his run appears to be over.
Patterson has completely flopped in the fantasy playoffs. If you made it to your championship with him, kudos — but don’t start him this week.
Patterson has put up PPR fantasy point totals of 8.3 and 4.3 the past two weeks. Last week, he found the end zone and still couldn’t even get to 10 fantasy points.
The Bills allow the 11th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Atlanta has struggled offensively as of late, and Patterson’s passing game usage is completely gone. He’s averaging just 3.2 targets per game over his last six contests. Patterson was once a no-brainer must-start. This week, you should sit him.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 17: Wide Receivers
Fantasy managers often struggle with which player to insert into that final WR3 or flex spot. Hopefully, these start ’em and sit ’em plays will help.
Start ‘Em | DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers (@ NO)
Fantasy managers might be discouraged about DJ Moore’s recent performance, but the peripherals are excellent. Moore is averaging 10.8 targets per game over his last four outings.
This week, he gets Sam Darnold back. While Darnold is certainly no savior, Moore has been better with Darnold than without him. This season, Moore averages 13 PPR fantasy points per game without Darnold. With Darnold, he averages 15.5.
The Saints are also a pass-funnel defense. They allow the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs but the seventh-most to wide receivers. The way to beat New Orleans is through the air.
I expect the Panthers to be completely stymied attempting to run the ball and be forced to go pass-heavy. Moore is Carolina’s WR1 and Darnold’s favorite target. Another heavy target share is in order, and the Saints have a beatable secondary. Start Moore.
Sit ‘Em | Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens (@ LAR)
I understand rankings are relative. But every week, I see Marquise Brown ranked as a top-24 wide receiver. Why? He’s finished as a PPR WR2 or better just once since Week 9.
Here are Brown’s weekly finishes since Week 10: WR40, WR27, WR34, WR52, WR17, WR50. His 14.3 PPR fantasy points in Week 15 represented his best performance during that span. Brown hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 7.
This week, the Ravens get a Rams defense allowing the 14th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Not a terrible matchup, but not a great one either. The Ravens are also likely starting Tyler Huntley once again. While Huntley has acquitted himself well, he’s not Lamar Jackson. And even when Jackson was out there, Brown’s production was the same.
The Ravens are dead team walking. They still have playoff hopes, but this is a team that’s just taken hit after hit from injury and COVID-19. I don’t have high expectations for their offense against the Rams. Brown will likely see a lot of Jalen Ramsey, who hasn’t been burned deep once all season. You can sit Brown this week.
Tight Ends
The tight end position is a disaster in fantasy football. With seldom few reliable options, can we find start ’em-worthy TEs?
Start ‘Em | Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders (@ IND)
Darren Waller hasn’t played since Thanksgiving and is now on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Foster Moreau has been an adequate replacement, but he hasn’t really splashed like he did that first time he filled in for Waller in Week 7. This week against the Colts is a perfect time for Moreau to have a big game.
The Colts allow the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. Moreau is coming off back-to-back games of 65+ receiving yards. He’s been useful the past two weeks, finishing as the TE9 and TE7 — and that’s without scoring. This week, I think he finds the end zone and is a top-five tight end. Start The Island of Foster Moreau this week.