Welcome to Week 17 of the 2022 season, and the latest in our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is the finals of the fantasy playoffs for most of us, as such these decisions are now in the make or break realm.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Jared Goff v CHI
The Lions and Bears are my preferred matchup this week. Both defenses are poor and both offenses are trending upward. Jared Goff gets the 24th ranked Bears defense with the Lions season hanging in the balance, look for the Lions to pull out all the stops and score at will as they fight for their playoff lives.
Justin Fields v DET
On the other side of the field, we have Justin Fields. Despite Fields dealing with a combination of injuries that saw him put up a dud in week 16 I am going right back to him here this week. The Lions are the best matchup for fantasy quarterbacks averaging 22.96 points per game against. Fields and the Bears should show out to keep up with the high flying Lions passing attack and likely will do everything they can to play spoiler.
Aaron Rodgers v MIN
Recommending Rodgers feels gross on a good week but coming off of a week 16 dud it makes me nauseous. Having said that Rodgers always seems to show up when the chips are down and the Packers have turned things around just in time to make a run at a playoff spot. Look for Rodgers to turn back the hands of time and regain his old form in a matchup with a Vikings pass defense that hasn’t stopped anyone in months.
Sit’Em
Andy Dalton v PHI
If you started Andy Dalton you’ve likely have already been eliminated from your fantasy playoffs, but in the event you have a super flex team that survived in spite of Dalton this would be the week to sit him. The Saints are banged up and not playing for anything while the Eagles elite defense looks to rebound from a tough lose and clinch the number one seed. Bench The Red Rifle and stream anyone else.
Justin Herbert v LAR
The Chargers have locked up a playoff spot and may not play their starters a full game, add that in with an inconsistent offense and Herbert is someone I would look to sit against a Rams defense that somehow managed to dominate the Broncos last week. There’s simply little upside in playing Herbert in this matchup and he figures to be a mid range QB2.
Start ‘Em
Saquon Barkley v IND
Saquon Barkley looked like his former self last week as he carried many teams into the fantasy championship, including me. This week he gets a matchup with the 27th ranked Colts run defense, a team that looks totally lost. This game shouldn’t be particularly close and Barkley should run all over the Colts and carry managers to a title in week 17.
James Conner v ATL
Since getting healthy Conner has been the definition of reliable. His reward for that consistency is a matchup with the Falcons brutal run defense in the fantasy championship. Start Conner in your title game and bank on an easy 20 point week from Conner who is likely not even your teams RB1.
Brian Robinson v CLE
Antonio Gibson has been on the injury report all week before a matchup with a Browns run defense that is 29th in the league and gives up yards to running backs by the truckload, enter Brian Robinson who could see the Commanders backfield to himself. This scenario appears for Robinson at the perfect time for his fantasy managers as you likely weren’t counting on him this week and he will become a pleasant surprise in your flex or RB2 spot.
Sit ‘Em
Josh Jacobs v SF
Not only do the Raiders get a matchup with the best run defense in the league, the 49ers but they get to face them with Jarett Stidham making his first ever NFL start at quarterback. Many teams have been carried this year but Jacobs’ surprising production but he is going to let you down this week as the Raiders may not even sniff the endzone this week. If Jacobs doesn’t break off a long touchdown run he is going to crush your lineup.
D’Onta Foreman v TB
Foreman has been one of the easier running backs to project this year. If he has a favorable matchup, he goes off but if he has a tough matchup he puts up low single digit point totals. This week against the 6th ranked Buccaneers run defense he will be putting up the latter, combined with Chuba Hubbard stealing carries, Foreman will be a running back to avoid at all costs.
Start ’em
Chris Godwin v CAR
Despite how inept the Buccaneers offense has looked at times Chris Godwin has been surprisingly reliable since his return from injury. The Bucs face the 26th ranked Panthers pass defense in week 17 in a must win game to advance to the playoffs. Start Godwin with confidence as a low end WR1.
Christian Watson v MIN
I’m going to continue to have faith that Aaron Rodgers will show up one last time in a big game for the Packers and if he does it will likely be in unison with Watson. Watson seems to have become Rodgers’ most reliable pass catcher and this week they square off against the Minnesota Vikings, a team that gives up 30 points to basically every team they play. Start Watson and hope he has another multi touchdown game in store.
Greg Dortch v ATL
My second targeted member of the Cardinals offense should tell you how bad the Falcons are on defense. Dortch isn’t the big name receiver on the team and in fact is the WR3 but with the limited Trace McSorley at quarterback, Dortch figures to be fed dump off pass after dump off pass and should find his way into a productive day. I’m not suggesting starting him as your WR1 but he can be flexed comfortably in a pinch.
Sit ’em
Christian Kirk v HOU
The Jaguars have been on fire lately, but with no motivation this week before a must win week 17 showdown against the Titans I’m expecting a lackluster performance from them. Christian Kirk has seen his production taper off with the rise of Zay Jones and I don’t want to start a player whose role is decreasing in a game in which he may not play a full allotment of snaps. Sit him.
Terry McLaurin v CLE
Lately Jahan Dotson has emerged as a bonafide receiving threat for the Commanders and in combination with the change at quarterback to Carson Wentz I would like to steer clear of McLaurin wherever possible. Add in a matchup with a Cleveland defense that most teams run all over and I’m expecting most of the Commanders fantasy production to come from Brian Robinson. Sit McLaurin if you can, but temper your expectations if you can’t.
Start ‘Em
George Kittle v LV
If you roster George Kittle I likely don’t have to tell you to start him but, start George Kittle. Kittle faces a Raiders defense that ranks 23rd against tight ends and with the chaos going on in Vegas the 49ers figure to manhandle the Raiders in week 17. Start Kittle as a top 3 tight end this week.
Cole Kmet v DET
I’m expecting a big day from Justin Fields against the atrocious Lions pass defense and since the receiving options on this team are non existed I anticipate much of the production going to Cole Kmet. I know Kmet has been a bust and likely has disappointed you repeatedly this season but against Detroit he can be streamed as a TE1 this week.
Tyler Conklin v SEA
Mike White will start once against for the jets with Zach Wilson banished to the bench. The Jets offense functions much better with White and Conklin figures to benefit from this increased efficiency in a matchup with the 31st ranked Seahawks defense. The Seahawks have been one of the two defenses I have targeted as often as I can with my tight ends and this week is not different. Conklin will have a safe floor against Seattle and with some touchdown luck could be in store for a huge week.
Sit ’em
Darren Waller v SF
Once again we avoid the Raiders. A matchup with the 49ers defense with a quarterback making his first NFL start…. I’ll pass. This game will be ugly for the Raiders and I’m sitting everyone in this game wearing black and silver.
Juwan Johnson v PHI
As the Saints playoff hopes have faded, so has the once consistent production of Juwan Johnson. Johnson saw his touchdown streak come to an end last week and will try to bounce back against a stingy Eagles defense. Spoiler Alert! He isn’t bouncing back this week. Sit Juwan with confidence.
Start ‘Em
New York Giants v IND
Nick Foles. The Christmas gift that keeps on giving. Last week he blessed the Chargers DST with their best week of the season and in week 17 he will heal all that ails the Giants defense. Foles is a turnover machine and with Jonathan Taylor done for the season there is no chance the Giants finish outside the top 3 defenses in week 17.
Los Angeles Chargers v LAR
I have been touting the Chargers DST playoff schedule for weeks, last week we seen it come to fruition against the Colts, this week they get a matchup with a Rams team decimated by injuries. The Rams have scared off some managers after they lit up the Broncos defense in week 16 but I think that just goes to show you how pathetic the Broncos are as a franchise. Start the Chargers once again and watch them carry you through week 17 with ease.
Sit ‘Em
Las Vegas Raiders v SF
The Raiders offense is going to be terrible, which means the Raiders defense is going to spend a ton of time on the field. Add in a matchup with the 49ers and this one figures to get out of hand. Not that anyone playing in week 17 is starting the Raiders, but if you were considering it… please seek immediate psychiatric help.
Cincinnati Bengals v BUF
A decimated secondary on a bad defense facing off against one of the best offenses in the league as they gear up for a lengthy playoff run, hard pass! The Bengals may be able to outscore the Bills and win this showdown, but it will not be a 7-6 final. Look for both teams to score early and often. Sit the Bengals, heck…. sit the Bills D/ST as well.
Start ‘Em
Younghoe Koo v ARI
This time of year I like to target kickers who are playing indoors, so in week 17 why not start one playing indoors against the team ranked 27th against kickers in the Cardinals. Koo has been an elite kicker all season and this week is another chance to trust him and ride him to the end.
Robbie Gould v LV
Another indoor game, another matchup against a team that hemorrhages points to kickers. Gould gets to face a dumpster fire of a Raiders team that is 24th against kickers this season. The 49ers are going to score at will, so let’s ride with their kicker and see how big his day gets.
Sit ‘Em
Evan McPherson v BUF
Conversely to the above kickers, McPherson gets to play in cold outdoor weather against a terrible matchup in the Bills. This game will be a shootout and it’s unlikely that either coach will settle for field goals realizing that it will take touchdowns to win this game. Sit Evan for someone with a better situation in week 17.
Michael Badgley v CHI
The Lions season is riding on this week 17 matchup with the Bears, and while the Bears are not an imposing matchup and this game will be played indoors I as a childhood Lions fan just expect the Lions to miss the kicks when they really matter. It pains me to say this but I anticipate an appearance of the Same Old Lions in week 17 and think Badgley’s string of good games comes to an end with a game losing miss, possibly a double doink miss to sent long standing Lions fans off the deep end.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 17 of the 2022 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
