Welcome to Week 17 of the 2023 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is where all the hard work is done as we prepare for another week of hard-hitting action and paper championships.
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. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Brock Purdy, 49ers v WSH (1)
Purdy is coming off the worst game of his career. A 5 interception outing against the Baltimore Ravens in which he looked awful. This week he will look to get back on track in a matchup with the Washington Commanders. Washington is the easiest matchup for quarterbacks as they allow 21.0 fantasy points per game to the position.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals v PHI (2)
Murray has looked good at times in his return from injury and in Week 17 he gets a prime meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles who have struggled to defend the pass. The Eagles are tied for the easiest matchup for quarterbacks and are allowing 21.0 fantasy points per game to the position.
Russell Wilson, Broncos v LAC (4)
Wilson has consistently been a high-end QB2 in a bounce-back season of sorts. He has managed to produce solid results but his blow up spots have been hard to predict. This week he gets a potential blowup spot against the Los Angeles Chargers who rank as the 4th easiest matchup for quarterbacks. The Chargers are allowing 20.0 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and should allow Russ to sneak into the top 12 quarterbacks.
Sit ‘Em
Joe Flacco, Browns v NYJ (32)
Flacco has been on fire as of late, so sitting him in your fantasy title game may seem counterintuitive. This one is about avoiding a terrible matchup. The Jets are the worst matchup for opposing quarterbacks and are limiting the position to 13.1 fantasy points per game
Sam Howell, Commanders v SF (27)
Howell has been awful over the last month and has found himself benched at halftime in three consecutive games. This week his situation is going to get worse as he faces the San Francisco 49ers who are the 5th worst matchup for quarterbacks. The 49ers are allowing only 14.9 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and will likely be the 4th straight game in which Sam Howell doesn’t finish the game.
Geno Smith, Seahawks v PIT (23)
Smith has battled injury over the past month and has had a tough go. This week his situation will be made worse in a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers who are the 10th worst matchup for opposing quarterbacks. Pittsburgh is limiting the position to only 15.5 fantasy points per game and will limit Smith’s upside in championship week.
Start ‘Em
D’Andre Swift, Eagles v ARI (1)
Swift was good in Week 16 but once again found himself losing out on goal line work to Jalen hurts and The Tush Push. He sees a consistent amount of volume and is more than talented enough to be relied on, but Hurts constantly limits his upside. However, in a matchup with the Arizona Cardinals the Eagles may limit the wear and tear the choose to put on their star quarterback instead opting to run the ball with Swift. The Cardinals are the easiest matchup for running backs and are allowing 26.6 fantasy points per game.
Austin Ekeler, Chargers v DEN (2)
Ekeler has not been his usual self this season and his elite fantasy performances have been few and far between. This week he goes up against the Denver Broncos who are the 2nd best matchup for running backs. Denver is allowing 26.0 fantasy points per game to the position and should allow Ekeler to return to his league-winning ways in the week you need him most.
Travis Etienne, Jaguars v CAR (4)
Etienne was on fire earlier in the season but has slowed significantly over the past month. The Jaguars have dealt with a long list of injuries on offence and have been inconsistent during that period. This week they face the Panthers who are the 4th easiest matchup for running backs. Carolina is allowing 23.4 fantasy points per game to the position and Etienne should see a heavy workload in this one.
Sit ‘Em
Tony Pollard, Cowboys v DET (32)
Pollard has feasted on easy matchups this season and has struggled in tough ones. This week he faces the Detroit Lions who are the worst matchup for opposing running backs. The Lions are allowing only 14.4 fantasy points per game to the position and are sure to limit Pollard’s production in the title game.
Saquon Barkley, Giants v LAR (31)
Barkley had his best game of the season in Week 16, unfortunately it was against a far easier matchup than he faces this week. Barkley will go up against the Los Angeles Rams who are the 2nd toughest matchup for running backs. The Rams are allowing only 14.6 fantasy points per game to the position and will prove a much taller task than last week.
James Conner, Cardinals, v PHI (29)
Conner has been consistent in his production when healthy but has seen his ceiling limited by a total lack of role in the passing game. This deficiency, combined with a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles will prove a bad combination in Week 17. The Eagles rank as the 4th hardest matchup for running backs and are limiting them to only 15.1 fantasy points per game.
Start ’em
Deebo Samuel, 49ers v WSH (2)
Samuel has quietly taken back his role as the WR1 in San Francisco and has shown consistent upside in the process. This week he faces the Washington Commanders whoa re the 2nd easiest matchup for receivers. The Commanders are allowing a whopping 35.3 fantasy points per game to the position and will one again allow Deebo a prime spot to produce.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos v LAC (3)
Sutton has been the most consistent part of the inconsistent Denver offence this season. Even when Denver has struggled, he has found a way to give you a decent day for fantasy. In Week 17 he will face the Los Angeles Chargers who rank as the 2nd easiest matchup for receiver. The Chargers are allowing 33.3 fantasy points per game and should make Sutton a must-start in the fantasy Super Bowl.
Chris Olave, Saints v TB (4)
Olave has produced when healthy despite the Saint’s struggles at quarterback. Olave will face off against the Tampa bay Buccaneers who struggle to stop teams through the air and rank as the 4th best matchup for receivers. Tampa Bay is allowing 32.3 fantasy points per game and is a great situation for Olave to exploit.
Sit ’em
Amari Cooper, Browns v NYJ (32)
Cooper is coming off a record day in the Cleveland lineup. A performance that saw him carry many fantasy teams into the championship game. After carrying his teams to the promise land, he is set up to disappoint them when he gets there as he faces a new York Jets squad that is the worst matchup for opposing wide receivers. The Jets are holding the position to only 17.4 fantasy points per game and will make a repeat performance nearly impossible.
DJ Moore, Bears v ATL (31)
Moore has been one of the only two useful pass-catchers in the Chicago offence. This week he gets a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons who rank as the 2nd toughest matchup for receivers. The Falcons are allowing 22.0 fantasy points per game to the position and are going to make things tough for Moore.
Garrett Wilson, Jets v CLE (30)
Wilson has been almost quarterback proof this season. Unfortunately in addition to a third string quarterback he will also be facing the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 who are the 3rd worst matchup for receivers. The Browns are allowing 22.1 fantasy points per game tot he position and are a tough spot for Wilson.
Start ‘Em
Gerald Everett, Chargers v KC (1)
Everett has been as inconsistent as they come and is very touchdown dependent in his production. This week he gets a prime spot against the Kansas City Chiefs whoa re the easiest matchup for tight ends. The Chiefs are allowing 13.6 fantasy point per game and should allow Everett to produce as one of the few healthy weapons left in Los Angeles.
Kyle Pitts, Falcons v CHI (3)
Pitts came back to life in Week 16 and will look to continue his resurgence in Week 17. This week he goes up against the Chicago Bears who are the 3rd easiest matchup for tight ends. Chicago is allowing 11.7 fantasy points per game to the position and should make Pitts a top 10 tight end once again this week.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans v HOU (6)
Okonkwo finally found a way to produce after a disappointing season. In Week 17 he will face a Texans squad that is the 6th easiest matchup for the position. Houston is allowing 11.4 fantasy points per game to the position and will make Okonkwo a solid spot starter for fantasy.
Sit ’em
Dalton Schultz, Texans v TEN (32)
Schultz has excellent last week in a juicy matchup. This week the matchup is nowhere near as juicy as he faces the Tennessee Titans who rank as the toughest matchup for tight ends. The Titans are holding opposing tight ends to 6.6 fantasy points per game to the position.
Dalton Kincaid, Bills v NE (31)
Kincaid has surprisingly seen his role dry up since the return of Dawson Knox and have been unplayable in that time frame. This week he faces the New England Patriots who are the 2nd worst matchup for opposing tight ends. The patriots are allowing 7.4 fantasy points per game to the position and will make Kincaid an must-avoid in your title game.
Tyler Higbee, Rams v NYG (27)
Higbee has been as inconsistent as ever in 2023. This week he figures to continue that trend in a matchup with the New York Giants who are the 5th worst matchup for opposing tight ends. The Giants are allowing 8.3 fantasy points per game to the position and are going to limit Higbee’s ceiling when you need him most.
Well, that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 17 of the 2023 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: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
