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You are reading this for one of two reasons: Either A) you set up your league wrong and have a Week 17 fantasy football final, or B) you have a serious DFS addiction and should seek help (1-800-GAMBLER). I say this because trying to make heads or tails of which teams will be resting which players is akin to playing Russian Roulette with a .44 Magnum revolver. In any event, I will attempt to make this incredibly cloudy picture clear for the final time this season. It has been a pleasure sharing this article with you all each week, good luck with your teams going forward.
| Off | Left WR | Def | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Larry Fitzgerald | LA | E.J. Gaines | The Cardinals may be out of it, but Fitz has a receptions title to chase in what may end up being his final season. Expect him to see ample targets on Sunday in hopes of wrestling the crown away from the likely resting Antonio Brown. Brown has 106 catches to Fitz's 102. Expect that Fitzgerald will finish with anywhere above five catches in the season finale. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | NO | Sterling Moore | Jones may be playing this week, but considering his recent run of bad health and that the Falcons have a playoff run to worry about, I would expect that Jones takes it easy once again this week. His numbers last week were 4 rec for 70 yds. Those seem to be reasonable expectations for the Falcons Week 17 finale against the Saints on Sunday. |
| BAL | Steve Smith Sr. | CIN | Adam Jones | This is going to be Steve Smith's last career game. Considering that and the fact that the Ravens are already out of the playoff picture, don't be surprised if this game quickly becomes about his swan song. An extra motivated Steve Smith could spell trouble for Pacman Jones on Sunday. |
| BUF | Sammy Watkins | NYJ | Buster Skrine | While the Bills are out of it and have no playoff motivations to rest starters, the belief is that they will be taking it easy on their starters anyway, in hopes of finding what they have on the rest of their roster. Considering Watkins' extensive injury history, it is totally plausible that he would be benched for a large majority of the game, as the Bills interm coaching staff wants to get a look at the roster beyond their stars. Even against a weak Jets secondary, Watkins is a risky start in Week 17. |
| CAR | Kelvin Benjamin | TB | Brent Grimes | Despite neither team having much to play for, all reports are that Kelvin Benjamin is personally motivated to finish the season in the strongest of fashions. He had one of his better games of the season last week against Atlanta in a loss and is reportedly looking to build off of his own momentum. Brent Grimes has had a great season, but if Benjamin can play up to his physical potential, there isn't a CB in the league that can stop him. |
| CHI | Alshon Jeffery | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | Jeffery just took care of business against one of the league's best CB's in Josh Norman last week, so I see no reason that he can't do the same this week against Xavier Rhodes, who has been slumping after an excellent first 12 games to the season. |
| CIN | Tyler Boyd | BAL | Jimmy Smith | Boyd had been doing a good job in the absence of A.J. Green, however he has really slowed down over the last two weeks. He's not a fantasy option for Week 17. |
| CLE | Corey Coleman | PIT | Ross Cockrell | Starting Coleman is not the best idea considering the Browns current quarterback situation. Continue to pass on him as the season comes to a close. |
| DAL | Dez Bryant | PHI | Nolan Carroll | Dez had his best game of the season in Week 16, however the belief is now that he will be rested for the Cowboys season finale against the Eagles. That makes his backup Bryce Butler – who caught a touchdown last week – a legitimate DFS option on the cheap. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | OAK | Sean Smith | Thomas had one of his worst games of the season last week and while the Broncos have little left to play for, he at least will have a good matchup against the Raiders this upcoming Sunday. He should be considered just as he always is each week. |
| DET | Golden Tate | GB | Quinten Rollins | Unlike most of the games this week, Packers vs. Lions actually matters and will be played for the division title on Sunday night. Both teams will have all hands on deck, which should spell success for Golden Tate. |
| GB | Jordy Nelson | DET | Nevin Lawson | The Lions very well may not have Darius Slay – their best defensive player – on hand for their Week 17 matchup with the Packers, so that should really open things up for Jordy Nelson – the NFL's touchdown receptions leader. He is considered my top fantasy WR play this week. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | TEN | Jason McCourty | With the awful quarterbacking that Texans have seen this season, Hopkins never really had a chance. He will be taking on arguably the league's worst pass defense in Week 17, but it likely won't matter. Leave Hopkins on the bench here. |
| IND | Donte Moncrief | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | Ramsey is the frontrunner for the defensive rookie of the year award and is currently in the midst of his best stretch of the season considering he has intercepted passes in each of the last two games. Moncrief has little chance against him here. |
| JAX | Allen Robinson | IND | Vontae Davis | Davis has been a scrub all season long, however so has Robinson. In a toilet matchup, I suspect that Robinson will prevail, so consider him a solid value play in Week 17. |
| KC | Jeremy Maclin | SD | Casey Hayward | It's been a nightmarish 2016 for Maclin and It is not going to improve in Week 17. The Chiefs seem to have found an offensive identity without him, so consider Maclin merely a role player going forward. |
| LA | Kenny Britt | ARI | Marcus Cooper | Britt struggled mightily last week against an awful defense and I would have to assume that he will struggle once again this week considering he will be taking on arguably the best secondary in the league in the Cardinals. He's a player to be skipped this week if possible. |
| MIA | DeVante Parker | NE | Logan Ryan | Parker was great last week and should find some success once again this week against the Pats weaker of two outside corners. Having said this, New England is not a team to be taken lightly this week because they still need to win to lock up home field advantage throughout. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | CHI | Bryce Callahan | It doesn’t feel so long ago that Diggs was considered one of the next emerging receivers in the league, but in reality, that was over four months ago now. Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play have slowed him down, but all things considered, he still has a shot at 1,000 yards if he has a good game in Week 17. He should be extra motivated against the Bears in this season finale. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | MIA | Xavien Howard | Hogan is more of a crapshoot than well, a crapshoot. His big games are unpredictable, while fantasy duds are his status quo. Continue benching him in this season finale. |
| NO | Michael Thomas | ATL | Jalen Collins | The rookie Thomas sits just 19 yards shy of 1,000 while Drew Brees sits just 142 yards shy of 5,000. Both will be looking to hit those milestones, so expect them to foster an early connection in this game. Beyond that, Collins should be no match for the physically imposing Michael Thomas, so consider him a good fantasy start this week. |
| NYG | Odell Beckham | WAS | Josh Norman | This matchup is always worth the price of admission, so get your popcorn ready. Beckham always has the potential to break one for a touchdown, however historically Norman has locked him up. It's a matchup I love to watch but will stay away from in fantasy. |
| NYJ | Brandon Marshall | BUF | Ronald Darby | 2016 is going to finish up as one of Marshall's worst career seasons, and none of it will have to do with injury, as he has played in every game. He has been an unreliable fantasy option all season long, so I see no reason why that narrative would change in Week 17. |
| OAK | Michael Crabtree | DEN | Chris Harris | Harris is an excellent corner and typically locks up anyone across from him. Crabtree should struggle here in a tough matchup and with an inexperienced quarterback throwing him the football. |
| PHI | Jordan Matthews | DAL | Anthony Brown | There is a chance that Matthews doesn’t even play this week, however if he does, he should see ample targets just as he did last time he played Dallas (11 catches). Keep an eye on the injury reports, as if he plays, he will be considered a top PPR option. |
| PIT | Antonio Brown | CLE | Jamar Taylor | Brown is likely going to be sat this week, as the Steelers playoff position is locked in. Eli Rogers in turn becomes the Steelers wide receiver to start this week. |
| SD | Travis Benjamin | KC | Phillip Gaines | Benjamin is a talent, but is not a player to be trusted in fantasy leagues because of the inconsistent nature of his production. Feel free to pass on him here in Week 17. |
| SF | Aaron Burbridge | SEA | DeShawn Shead | Burbridge has started a majority of the 49ers games this season and yet still only has six catches on the year. That is despicable. If you even considered starting him, you should have your internet capabilities revoked. |
| SEA | Doug Baldwin | SF | Keith Reaser | Baldwin decimated a good Cardinals secondary last week and should only see increased work going forward with the loss of Tyler Lockett for the season (playoffs included). As for this week however, it is unclear if the Seahawks are going to rest anyone. If they were, it would make sense to rest someone like Baldwin considering their lack of depth at the receiver position. While he may have a great game against a weak 49ers defense, I can't bank on the fact that he won't be rested in Weeek 17 here. I will be passing on Baldwin for that reason. |
| TB | Adam Humphries | CAR | Daryl Worley | Since Thanksgiving, Humphries hasn't caught more than two passes in any game. That is not production that I will put my trust in for Week 17. |
| TEN | Rishard Matthews | HOU | Johnathan Joseph | While he may not always get the high reception and yards numbers, Matthews has a keen sense of getting into the end zone. He has scored eight times this season and has a chance to do so once again this week against the Texans. Basically his fantasy upside is tied to the touchdown. |
| WAS | Pierre Garcon | NYG | Janoris Jenkins | While it appears that Jenkins is healthy enough to play this week, it would make sense for the Giants to hold him out of their meaningless Week 17 game in hopes of getting him up to 100-percent for the playoffs. If he doesn’t play, Garçon's chances of success increase tenfold this week. |
| Off | Right WR | Def | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | J.J. Nelson | LA | Trumaine Johnson | Nelson has scored in four straight games and had his best game of the season last week against a good Seattle defense. Taking on another good defense in Los Angeles shouldn't slow his roll. Consider Nelson an excellent cheaper option for Week 17. |
| ATL | Mohamed Sanu | NO | B.W. Webb | Sanu has been nothing more than a complimentary receiver this season. If you think that is enough to get you a fantasy win, then so be it. Otherwise, pass on the 27-year old. |
| BAL | Mike Wallace | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Wallace is very close to 1,000 yards, so expect extra motivation out of him in an otherwise meaningless season finale against the Bengals. |
| BUF | Robert Woods | NYJ | Darrelle Revis | Woods has experience playing with E.J. Manuel, however has never shown any reason to be trusted as a fantasy starter. Feel free to pass on him this coming Sunday. |
| CAR | Ted Ginn Jr. | TB | Vernon Hargreaves | Ginn continued to get open this past Sunday, however Cam Newton continued to struggle with accuracy and progressions. Starting him is not an awful choice this weekend, however trusting Cam is getting harder and harder. |
| CHI | Cameron Meredith | MIN | Terence Newman | Meredith has had himself a monster last three weeks and while Alshon Jeffery is back and the number one receiver once again, I actually feel that his presence has helped Meredith get better matchups. Against a suddenly struggling Vikings defense, expect Meredith to be an excellent play this week. He's looking to build off of back-to-back games of nine or more catches and 100 or more yards. |
| CIN | Brandon LaFell | BAL | Shareece Wright | LaFell has stepped up nicely in the absence of A.J. Green to the point that he became the number one passing option in the offense as opposed to expected rookie Tyler Boyd. This past week was his best game of the season as he hauled in 6 rec for 130 yds and a touchdown. Expecting the same would be a bit cavalier, however the Bengals don't have much else in the receiving department. Expect LaFell to see ample targets on Sunday. |
| CLE | Terrelle Pryor | PIT | William Gay | Pryor is so close to 1,000 receiving yards that he can taste it. Expect him to go all out in the Browns season finale, as reaching that milestone would be an epic accomplishment for a guy who was a career quarterback until this past spring. |
| DAL | Terrance Williams | PHI | Leodis McKelvin | In a week that Dez Bryant is expected to be limited, starting Williams may be a shrewd move. However this play could backfire, as the Cowboys may end up resting Williams as well considering his weekly starter status. |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | OAK | David Amerson | Sanders was largely untargeted and ineffective last week, however his matchup is much better this week. In any event, I cannot vouch for him considering the current state of the Broncos quarterback position. He's a risky play with considerable reward. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | GB | Damarious Randall | Jones has disappeared since the first few weeks of the season. I see no reason that that would change in the final week of the season here. |
| GB | Randall Cobb | DET | Darius Slay | Everyone knows that Cobb is so 2000-and-late and that the Packers WR2 to own is DeVante Adams. As for the Lions, they are expected to be without Darius Slay, which could spell some serious troubles for their defense against this red-hot Packers offense. |
| HOU | Will Fuller | TEN | Brice McCain | Fuller holds no value until he can get a quarterback that can throw him the ball. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | JAX | Davon House | Hilton is looking to win the receiving title, however he will not be able to do that if he doesn’t separate himself this week from Odell Beckham who is right on his heels. I suspect that Andrew Luck will look his way often this Sunday. |
| JAX | Marqise Lee | IND | Rashaan Melvin | Lee has actually put together himself a nice bounce-back season after a disappointing first two. He has a nice matchup here and should be considered a solid flex option for Week 17. |
| KC | Chris Conley | SD | Craig Mager | Conley is a non-entity in all formats this week, just as he has been all season long. |
| LA | Tavon Austin | ARI | Patrick Peterson | Austin is talented, but the Rams just don't do enough to get the ball in his hands. Continue to pass on him this week. |
| MIA | Kenny Stills | NE | Malcolm Butler | While his production hasn't been incredible, Still has still managed to score in three straight games. Something has to be said for that. He should be a flex option in Week 17. |
| MIN | Charles Johnson | CHI | Tracy Porter | Johnson's sesaon is still nowhere near as good as Julio Jones' Week 4. That should tell you all you need to know about his fantasy prospects for Week 17. |
| NE | Malcolm Mitchell | MIA | Byron Maxwell | Mitchell is in danger of missing this game, which would spell an increased workload for newly acquired Michael Floyd. I wouldn't want to trust a wideout only in his second game with a team, so I will be punting on this matchup this week. |
| NO | Brandin Cooks | ATL | Robert Alford | Cooks has been strong closing out 2016 and I expect that he will continue to be in Week 17 against a banged up Atlanta secondary. |
| NYG | Sterling Shepard | WAS | Bashaud Breeland | Shepard has caught six touchdowns in his last eight games, and while the Giants have little left to play for, I could still easily see him scoring again in Week 17. His production remains tied to touchdowns only however. |
| NYJ | Quincy Enunwa | BUF | Stephon Gilmore | Enunwa has done very little since his breakout game in Week 12, and while he is a talented player, I don't suspect that his fortunes will change in Week 17. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | DEN | Aqib Talib | Cooper has been mediocre at best in the second half this season and should continue to struggle against the league's best secondary on Sunday afternoon. Oh and did I mention that his quarterback will be Matt McGloin? |
| PHI | Nelson Agholor | DAL | Brandon Carr | Agholor – while he did get into the end zone last week – has been disappointing all season long. He should be passed on in Week 17 in all formats. |
| PIT | Darrius Heyward-Bey | CLE | Joe Haden | DHB returned last week to zero catches, and while that was disappointing, he should rebound this week as he will be one of the few viable receiving targets in this Steelers resting offense. Heyward-Bey should be considered the Steelers WR2 behind Eli Rogers, as Antonio Brown and Sammie Coates will be resting. |
| SD | Dontrelle Inman | KC | Marcus Peters | Inman struggled against the Browns last week and doesn't have the best prospects this week against Marcus Peters who held him to 1 rec for 6 yds in their first meeting this season. |
| SF | Rod Streater | SEA | Richard Sherman | Streater has caught touchdowns in consecutive games and appears to be the Niners only viable receiving option at the moment. There is something to be said for that in fantasy. It won't be easy however, as Richard Sherman will look to lock him up on Sunday. |
| SEA | Jermaine Kearse | SF | Tramaine Brock | It is plausible that Kearse's workload increases with the injury to Tyler Lockett, however I still am not the biggest fan of his talent. He can be started in deeper formats, but I doubt it will amount to much. |
| TB | Mike Evans | CAR | James Bradberry | Some season-long benchmarks that Evans will be shooting for in this matchup: 100 rec, 1,300 yds, 15 TD's. He should be targeted often in this matchup. |
| TEN | Tajae Sharpe | HOU | Kareem Jackson | Sharpe is not a fantasy option worth starting. Look elsewhere for produtction. |
| WAS | DeSean Jackson | NYG | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | D-Jax has topped 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games. Consider him a full go against the Giants on Sunday, as he looks to improve his free agency status and the Redskins chances of making the playoffs. |
Nostra-Dom-Us Predicts
ELITE
Jordy Nelson ($8,100 on DraftKings) vs. TBD (Lions)
Nelson is leading the league in touchdown receptions and has been on absolute fire of late. He and Aaron Rodgers have rarely played better football together and to top it all off, they desperately need this win in order to capture the division title. They have all of the motivation they need to take it to a Lions team that was just crucified by Dallas last week and may be without their top corner and overall defensive player in Darius Slay. Slay just so happens to be the guy who would typically matchup with Nelson… A lot of things are working in Nelson’s favor here, which is not something that most of the “elite” receivers can say this week.
AFFORDABLE
DeSean Jackson ($5,600 on DraftKings) vs. TBD (Giants)
Word has it that Janoris Jenkins may not play because he is not 100-percent and the Giants are already locked into their playoff position. If that is the case, Jackson will have a good chance to top 100 yards receiving for the fifth time in the last six games. He’s been red-hot and the Redskins are in a do-or-die playoff scenario. Jackson will be needed desperately and should produce.
BARGAIN
Eli Rogers ($4,000 on DraftKings) vs. CLE Slot Coverage
With Antonio Brown set to rest in the season finale, Rogers becomes the Steelers de facto WR1 when they take on a historically bad defense in the Browns. Even without that set of circumstances, he comes into Week 17 on the heels of consecutive stat lines of (5 rec, 75 yds, 1 TD; 4 rec, 84 yds). I like his skill-set a lot and he should only be featured more this week without the presence of Brown and Sammie Coates. He should be considered a bargain at $4,000 this week.
FLEX FLYER
Brice Butler ($3,700 on DraftKings) vs. Nolan Carroll
Butler caught his second touchdown of the season last week and is expected to do the heavy lifting at the Left WR position for Dallas this week with Dez Bryant set to rest for most of the game. While he is far from a sure thing, it should be noted that he and Mark Sanchez likely have worked in tandem often together during practice, so once the starters are benched, there is a chance that Butler becomes the number one wideout in the game. There is potential for Butler to have over one half of WR1 potential, which is too good to pass up at only $3,700.