Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 17 (2023)

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Welcome to Fantasy In Frames’ Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 17 (2023)!

Here we go! Last week for most leagues. Below are my start and sit suggestions for Week 17. Read over this, set your lineups, and keep your fingers crossed for the title. Good luck! 

Start QB

1. Matthew Stafford (@NY Giants)

• PFF QB1 since Week 12, leads the league w/14 TDs, and Top5 in most major QB statistics.
• Currently 6th in the NFC Playoff picture with the season finale against the 49ers. Rams NEED this game.

3. CJ Stroud (vs. Tennessee)

• Prior to concussion against Jets, finished no less than QB15 since Wk9 including finishes of QB1, QB4 and QB9.
• Must-win game at home against the Titans who rank Bottom5 in Pass Coverage.

Sit

1. Trevor Lawrence (vs. Carolina)

• Top 5 for most INT and Sacks since Week 14 and only putting up 15.5 FPTS/G.
• Panthers have been surprisingly good against the Pass in the same span, allowing only 156 yards/game.

2. Jordan Love (@ Minnesota)

• Injuries at WR may leave Romeo Doubs and Tucker Kraft as the primary passing options.
• 2^nd team receivers against PFF 7^th best Coverage unit is not a recipe for success.

3. Jake Browning (@Kansas City)

• Terrible performance last week against Steelers w/half of his fantasy production coming from one 80yd fluke TD to Tee Higgins.
• Chiefs giving up 2^nd fewest Pass Yds at home, plus weather is projected 10-15mph wind and freezing temperatures.

Start RB

1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Bengals)

• Likely the lead back with Pacheco unlikely to play and McKinnon on IR. 
• Bengals giving up 130+ scrimmage YDS/G plus 3TDs to RBs the past two weeks. T CEH will eat.  

2. D’Andre Swift (vs. Cardinals)
   • Eagles Pass Play % has dropped to 50-50 over the past three weeks. In that same span, Cardinals are giving up an astounding 174 Rush YDS/G.
   • Currently holding the #2 pick in the 2024 draft, how bad do the Cardinals want this win? Game script should be in Swift’s favor.

3. Devin Singletary (vs. Titans)
   • Gashed the Titans just two weeks ago for 162yds from scrimmage and a RB8 finish.
   • No reason to expect different against one of the worst Run Defenses in the league and the likely return of CJ Stroud. 

Sit

1. Derrick Henry (@ Houston)

• Houston is only allowing 66 Rush Yds/G since Week 14 and held Henry to 10 TOTAL yds the last time they met.
• Tajae Spears continues to get work and will be more involved if Stroud comes back slinging

2. Gus Edwards (vs. Miami)

• Out-touched by Lamar over the past four games even with Keaton Mitchell on IR. The push for league MVP is on!
• Miami allowing less than 68yds per attempt the last three weeks plus Tua has been one of the best deep ball passers during that span. Game script doesn’t favor Gus the Bus.

3. Breece Hall (@ Cleveland)

• Hall owners are in the championship because Jets played the Commanders last week. Browns are a much better defense overall and against the run.
• Joe Flacco is throwing the ball 44x a game regardless of game script. Jets will be forced to keep-up.

Start WR

1. Romeo Doubs (@ Minnesota)

• De-facto WR1 with Watson, Wicks and Reed unlikely to suit-up.
• Vikings’ league-worst Pass Rush should mean more splash plays and slot opportunities. 

2. KJ Osborn (vs. Detroit)

• Took advantage of injuries to Hockensen (IR) and Addison last week and should continue to do so.
• Not exactly sure the Packers would suspend Jaire Alexander for the coin incident while they’re still in the hunt, but this weakens a Coverage unit that is already bottom-tier.

3.  Demarcus Robinson (@NY Giants)

• Know what you’re thinking. Four TDs the last four weeks on your bench, and he’ll bust when you start him. Risky play but 6 TGTS/G in this offense is great Flex upside.
• Giants’ Pass-Rush that is bottom-tier on the season and has diminished the past three weeks to one of the league’s worst. Stafford will have all day to pick apar the secondary. 

Sit

1. DK Metcalf (vs. Steelers)

• Out-targeted (11) by Tyler Lockett (26) AND JSN (18) the past 3wks making DK touchdown-dependent
• Facing a Top10 Steelers defense including one of the best Pass Rush with Watt and Highsmith

2. Deandre Hopkins (@ Houston)

• PFF 5^th worst WR the past two weeks (min. 11 TGT) and has been trending this way since Week 9.
• Nine TGTs against Houston two weeks ago but only 2 RECs for 21yds. Texans will deny the Revenge Game at all costs.

3. Terry Mclaurin (vs. San Francisco)

• 2023 All-Bust Team candidate… Mclaurin has two Top15 finishes this season including WR51 last week against the Jets.
• Jacoby Brissett starting does provide hope, but not much against arguably #1 Defense in the league in the 49ers. 

Start TE

1. Gerald Everett (@ Denver)

• Top5 TE in TGTs and RECs the past two weeks since Easton Stick took over. TD-upside if they can get to the Red Zone.
• Game script much more favorable now that Russ is shut down for the season and the tank is on.

2. Tucker Kraft (@ Minnesota)

• One of more consistent TE options since Week12 finishing Top20 including two Top10 outings.
• 15.1 Yds/Rec on four Reception/Game will improve with injuries to Watson, Wicks and Jayden Reed. 

3. Juwon Johnson (@ Tampa Bay)

• Top10 finishes the past two weeks including 2TDs coincides with Derek Carr’s hot streak over the same period. 
• Facing a must-win division game against the Bucs who give a league-worst 264 Pass Yds/Game and are particularly vulnerable TEs.

Sit

1. Dalton Kincaid/Dawson Knox (vs New England)

• Combined neither has scored a TD since Week 10 or finished higher than TE25.
• Things worsen against the Patriots who allow the 2^nd fewest FPTS/G to Tight Ends.

2. Pat Freiermuth (@ Seattle Seahawks)

• Another All-Bust Team candidate, Freiermuth wasn’t even targeted last week and has only had one game this season with more than three receptions.
• Seahawks are middle-of-the-pack defending against the TE position but solid overall in Pass Rush and Coverage.

3. Sam LaPorta (@ Dallas Cowboys)

• You’re not actually benching LaPorta, but increased TGTS to St. Brown, Gibbs and even Jameson Williams has led to a few recent busts.
• Tough match-up against the Cowboys who allow the 3^rd fewest FPTS/G (7.7) to TEs

Start DEF  

1. Buffalo Bills (vs New England)

• Patriots average the fewest PPG in the league and only 14PPG on the road while the Bills allow the 2^nd fewest at home (13.9).
• Bills have nine Sacks the past three games and have scored no less that seven FPTS including games against Chiefs and Cowboys.

2. Houston Texans (vs. Tennessee)

• Titans mustered just 204 Total Yds and allowed 7sacks and one INT during their last meeting.
• Return of CJ Stroud should force the Titans to pass more, which they are bottom tier in every statistical category.

3. Carolina Panthers (@ Jacksonville)

• Jaguars averaging a league-worst (by far) 3.3 Giveaways per Game
• Trevor Lawrence may not play, but even if he does, he’s thrown 5INTs, been sacked 8x, and has fumbled 4x (three for loss). 

Sit DEF

1. New Orleans Saints (@ Tampa Bay)

• Great against terrible teams (Panthers/Giants), terrible against great teams (Lions/Rams) since Week 11.
• Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are on absolute fire last three weeks putting up 31PPG. 

2. New York Jets (@ Cleveland)

• Browns have been one of the top teams in passing yards and PPG since Flacco took over since Week 13.
• Trevor Simien against one of the league’s Pass Rush means more turnovers, less time of possession and more scoring opportunities for Cleveland.

3. Green Packers (@ Minnesota)

• Zero interceptions and averaging just 3.7 FPTS/G over the past three weeks. Plus, no Jaire Alexander this week.
• Vikings O-line ranked #1 in Pass Blocking and #9 in Run Blocking.