Although most fantasy football championships wrapped up in Week 16, there are some leagues who have their championship game in the last weekend of the NFL regular season. For those managers with a championship on the line, our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings help you sort the must starts and sleepers from those WR busts.
What to keep in mind heading into Week 17 and searching for the best fantasy football wide receiver
Playing fantasy football in Week 17 is like Russian Roulette. Although some teams are battling hard for a place in the playoffs, other teams are done for the year. Players and teams may be the ultimate competitors, but there is no denying that Week 17 can sometimes bring about events we wouldn’t normally see in the regular season.
The injury report will be particularly important this week. Alongside our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings, it is a vital tool to use when setting your fantasy lineup. A player who might have fought through a twinge or a knock in the heart of October might rest up in Week 17. Especially if they already have an eye on free agency.
There were a number of players who missed Week 16 who aren’t included in these Week 17 WR rankings as it seems unlikely they will play again this year. Julio Jones and Kenny Golladay are prime examples. At the time of writing, Jarvis Landry was subject to close contact regulations. It’s important to keep an eye on that developing situation as both Landry and teammate Rashard Higgins feature in our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings.
A.J. Brown tops the tops 5 fantasy WR rankings
1) A.J. Brown, TEN @ HOU
2) Tyreek Hill, KC vs LAC
3) Mike Evans, TB vs ATL
4) Adam Thielen, MIN @ DET
5) Davante Adams, GB @ CHI
At a quick glance, Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown doesn’t have WR1 written all over him. He ranks 32nd in receptions this season, 19th in receiving yards, and 17th in total points. However, he ranks fifth in touchdowns, and he has a favorable matchup with the Houston Texans in which to add to that.
Brown already has 22.8 fantasy points in PPR leagues against the Houston Texans as a result of his Week 6 exploits. Brown secured five receptions for 58 yards and crucially two touchdowns. The Houston defense has allowed the eight most points to the wide receiver position, allowing 25.8 points per game.
We’re used to seeing Tyreek Hill as one of the top fantasy football wide receivers, and Week 17 sees him continue his place in our fantasy WR rankings. The NFL leader in points and touchdowns will be a high fantasy scorer, irrelevant of opponent. The same can be said for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams.
Mike Evans and Adam Thielen enjoy prime matchups to end the season
Week 16 was extremely kind to Mike Evans, and it wasn’t too bad for Adam Thielen either. Evans carved up the Detroit Lions defense to the tune of 40.1 points in PPR leagues. Thielen put together 23.7 points in defeat to the New Orleans Saints. Both figure to be top fantasy wide receivers again in Week 17.
This week, Thielen gets his turn to feast on a Lions defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Meanwhile, Evans faces an Atlanta Falcons defense that is averaging 28.4 points allowed, the second-most in the NFL.
Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already secured a playoff spot, and the Minnesota Vikings don’t really have anything but pride to play for, both players should earn their high position in our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings.
Stefon Diggs rounds out the tier 1 fantasy WR rankings
6) Stefon Diggs, BUF vs MIA
7) Calvin Ridley, ATL @ TB
8) Marvin Jones Jr., DET vs MIN
9) Justin Jefferson, MIN @ DET
10) D.K. Metcalf, SEA @ SF
Stefon Diggs has consistently been one of the top fantasy football wide receivers this season. Using Phillip Caldwell’s Fantasy Football Consistency Score metric, Diggs sits third in the 2020 season with a score of 7.1. Although he faces a tough Miami Dolphins defense in the regular season finale, he still features highly in our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings.
Diggs is averaging 19.5 fantasy points per game, the same as the next man in our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings. Calvin Ridley may not receive the same acclaim as some of the top fantasy football wide receivers, but he has been a valuable weapon for Matt Ryan in the Atlanta Falcons offense. With injuries and age decline creeping in, Ridley will be a must-start fantasy wide receiver for years to come.
NFC North rivalry helps complete the top 10 fantasy WR rankings
Two of the worst defenses in the NFL go to battle in Week 17 and don’t just take my word for it. Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was scathing in his criticism of his own unit after the Week 16 defeat to the New Orleans Saints. The Detroit Lions defense didn’t do much better in trying to contain the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although the Vikings target Adam Thielen more in the red zone, that hasn’t stopped Justin Jefferson developing into a must-start fantasy WR receiver in his rookie year. The former LSU pass catcher has the fifth most total fantasy points in 2020, with well over 1000 receiving yards. It may seem ludicrous to have two Vikings receivers near the top of our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings, but there should be plenty of points to go around this week.
Although Marvin Jones Jr. scored a modest 13.3 points against Minnesota last time out, he is a receiver on form. Without Kenny Golladay, he has become the main focus of the Lions offense. As a result, Jones Jr. has two 20+ fantasy games in the last three weeks. That includes against a Chicago Bears defense that has been resilient against the position this season.
Tier 2: Fantasy WR rankings for Week 17
- Brandon Aiyuk, SF
- Keenan Allen, LAC
- DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
- Allen Robinson II, CHI
- Corey Davis, TEN
- Michael Pittman Jr., IND
- Tyler Lockett, SEA
- Amari Cooper, DAL
- Chris Godwin, TB
- Brandin Cooks, HOU
Tier 3: Fantasy WR rankings for Week 17
- Darius Slayton, NYG
- D.J. Moore, CAR
- Chase Claypool, PIT
- Terry McLaurin, WAS
- Robert Woods, LAR
- Robbie Anderson, CAR
- Jarvis Landry, CLE
- Nelson Agholor, LV
- Cole Beasley, BUF
- Jacobi Meyers, NE
Tier 4: Fantasy WR rankings for Week 17
- Sterling Shepherd, NYG
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT
- Tee Higgins, CIN
- Marquise Brown, BAL
- Tim Patrick, DEN
- Curtis Samuel, CAR
- Jamison Crowder, NYJ
- Cooper Kupp, LAR
- Antonio Brown, TB
- CeeDee Lamb, DAL
Tier 5: Fantasy WR rankings for Week 17
- Emmanuel Sanders, NO
- D.J. Chark Jr., JAX
- T.Y. Hilton, IND
- Kendrick Bourne, SF
- DeVante Parker, MIA
- Chad Hansen, HOU
- Russel Gage, ATL
- Allen Lazard, GB
- Jerry Jeudy, DEN
- Jalen Reagor, PHI
Tier 6: Fantasy WR rankings for Week 17
- Christian Kirk, ARI
- Denzel Mims, NYJ
- Rashard Higgins, CLE
- Diontae Johnson, PIT
- Sammy Watkins, KC
- Mike Williams, LAC
- Keelan Cole Sr., JAX
- Darnell Mooney, CHI
- Damiere Byrd, NE
- Danny Amendola, DET