Fantasy Football NFL Week 17 Target Report: Championship Pass Catchers
It’s here, ladies and gentlemen. If you’re lucky, it’s championship week. For the rest of folks out there, we’re clinging to fantasy football via DFS or playoff contests. No matter where you stand, this report will help you chase your fantasy football dreams.
This week we’re going to focus on the players you can trust for fantasy championships. But we’ll also mention guys who might be on the DFS radar, even if you can’t trust them in traditional leagues. There should be a little something for everyone!
2024 Fantasy Football NFL Week 17 Target Report Preview
Why do we do this? Well, historically incredibly rare for a team to have three players all get 100+ targets. It’s happened only once over the last three years and less than 3% of the time over the last five years.
More teams will have ZERO players get 100+ targets than have three. And, last year, every top 24 WR except one got 100+ targets (and that was Deebo Samuel who scored 5 rushing touchdowns). That’s why the NFL Fantasy Football Week 16 Target Report is so important.
In the chart below you will see our PROJECTION for what we believe will happen. That projection is a mix of what we are seeing on the field, who is actually healthy, and what we predict for the rest of the season.
Naturally, that is going to change from week to week and it’s important to check the notes section at the bottom as to why. Our 2024 NFL Fantasy Football Week 16 Target Report has a note for every single team. So, let’s take a look!
Fantasy Football Target Chart 2024 NFL Week 17
125+ Pace | SE = Split End |
100+ Pace | FL = Flanker |
Possible 100+ Pace | SL = Slot |
Unlikely 100+ Pace | FS = Field Stretcher |
Well below 100+ Pace | TE = Tight End |
RB = Running Back |
Fantasy Football Week 17 Target Report Advice & Takeaways
NOTE: If a team moved from where they were in the Week 16 NFL target report, they will be denoted with ***
Clear Top Two
Arizona Cardinals
- Trey McBride
- Marvin Harrison Jr
- Trey McBride already has 100+ targets while Marvin Harrison has 98. I know we focus on targets here, but fingers crossed that James Conner can go this week. For DFS options, they moved Michael Wilson to more of a slot role following the bye in an attempt to get him more involved. It hasn’t really paid off yet but at least he plays a lot of snaps.
Atlanta Falcons
- Drake London
- Darnell Mooney
- Drake London has 120 targets; Darnell Mooney has 96 despite injuries. Drake London has been limited in practice so far - if he can’t go, that would elevate Khadarel Hodge on the outside and possible provide more targets to Ray-Ray McCloud and Kyle Pitts.
Baltimore Ravens
- Zay Flowers
- Mark Andrews
- We mentioned early on that Mark Andrews could struggle early in his recovery from Tightrope surgery. Tony Pollard and Darnell Mooney did last year with Pollard stating he “didn’t feel right” until Week 11 or so. Since Week 11 of this year, Mark Andrews has scored in every single game - 5 straight. It’s Flowers and Andrews with Bateman as a DFS upside play.
Chicago Bears
- DJ Moore
- Keenan Allen
- If Rome Odunze can get 6 targets in the final game of the season, this will be the rare team that has three players all getting 100+ targets per PFF. Still, it’s Moore and Allen for fantasy football purposes. Cole Kmet has not been trustworthy.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Tee Higgins
- As always, what happens here boils down to whether Tee Higgins can play. His practice schedule is mysterious as always but he was able to suit up last week. If he is out, Andrei Iosivas and Mike Gesicki will be back on the streaming/DFS radar.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Brock Bowers
- Jakobi Meyers
- Bowers already has 125+ targets and Meyers has 100+ so these guys are dialed in. If you needed a dart throw after them it would be Tre Tucker who at least plays a lot decent snap share.
Los Angeles Rams
- Puka Nacua
- Cooper Kupp
- We aren’t going to remove Cooper Kupp from this section over a couple bad games, one of which was in a rainstorm. Puka Nacua is obviously the better play right now, but Cooper Kupp is still capable of great things.
New York Giants***
- Malik Nabers
- Wan’Dale Robinson
- Malik Nabers is closing in on 100 catches on the season. But Wan’Dale Robinson quietly has 123 targets including 32 over his last three games. He’s definitely more of a PPR only play but targets are targets.
Philadelphia Eagles
- AJ Brown
- DeVonta Smith
- Business as usual here. AJ Brown is must-start. DeVonta Smith is likely in your lineup too unless it’s a shallow league. With Dallas Goedert out, Grant Calcatera is a DFS desperation play at best but he’s not even that cheap.
San Francisco 49ers
- George Kittle
- Jauan Jennings
- They have been trying to get Deebo Samuel going after five straight duds. Last week he was a lot more involved which is promising if you still need to use him. Kittle is locked in, and Jennings remains a more trustworthy option that Deebo, however.
Seattle Seahawks
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- DK Metcalf
- Tyler Lockett has been invisible for most of the year which has allowed JSN to ascended. He and Metcalf are the only two Seahawks pass-catchers you can lead on and even Metcalf hasn’t been super consistent. Noah Fant is deep down the pecking order.
Tennessee Titans***
- Calvin Ridley
- Chig Okonkwo
- Do we think Chig Okonkwo is a stud? No. Is this a guy you can utilize in a pinch given the recent QB changes? Possibly. Mason Rudolph has been LOCKED IN on the tight end, so he has 21 targets over the last two games. These plays can make or break you fantasy championship, but the trend is at least there if you need a spot start.
High Consolidation
Cleveland Browns
- David Njoku
- Jerry Jeudy
- Cedric Tillman
- Elijah Moore
- With Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the helm, it’s hard to trust any of the wide receivers. David Njoku was targetted heavily but he picked up a knee injury. It would be in your best interest to avoid the Browns pass-catchers where possible.
Miami Dolphins
- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- De’Vone Achane
- Jonnu Smith
- Tyreek and Waddle are both nicked up to some degree, but you are at least likely starting Tyreek Hill where you have him. Same for Jonnu Smith who has become East Coast George Kittle in this offense. Jaylen Waddle is the one operating on the fringe where he’s not super sexy in either redraft or DFS given his injuries and generally low ceiling.
Minnesota Vikings
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- T.J. Hockenson
- Last week, out of 42 possible routes, Justin Jefferson (42) and Jordan Addison (41) played virtually the whole game. T.J. Hockenson however only ran 30. The reality though is how many options do you really have a tight end right now? Check out weekly rankings to see how many options are ahead of Hock but it’s not that many.
New York Jets
- Davante Adams
- Garrett Wilson
- Breece Hall
- No real change here. Davante Adams has been a fantasy playof hero so far. While Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are likely in your lineup, if your team is still alive. No one else is worth a look.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers***
- Mike Evans
- Jalen McMillan
- Jalen McMillan is getting the snaps (83% last week), getting the targets (20 over the last three games), and he’s scoring touchdowns (three over the last four weeks). What more can we really ask for at this stage? Baker is playing well and Cade Otton wasn’t really involved as much even before he got hurt. Payne Durham is on the DFS dart throw radar if Otton is out again.
One Stud, Then Uncertainty
Carolina Panthers
- Adam Thielen
- Since returning, Adam Thielen has consistently been getting it done. He’s a guy you can trust in real leagues. Guys like Jalen Coker and David Moore are DFS plays as long as Xavier Legette is out, but he could return this week.
Denver Broncos
- Courtland Sutton
- It’s Courtland Sutton and then no one for pass-catchers. Guys like DeVaughn Vele or Lucas Krull could be dart throws on a limited Saturday slate but even then, it’s dicey.
Detroit Lions
- Amon Ra St. Brown
- The Lions have spread the ball out more this year than in past as the offense has been much more balanced. That leaves Amon Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs as “must start” players. The reality right now is that you’re also starting Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta in most cases as there is simply a lack of high-end options out there. But their floor is not nearly as safe, as we’ve seen.
Houston Texans
- Nico Collins
- This team is in turmoil here heading into the playoffs. No Stefon Diggs. Now no Tank Dell. Dell could even miss all of 2025. Dalton Schultz will see an expanded role. John Metchie looks like the next man up for now followed by Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson.
Indianapolis Colts
- Michael Pittman
- Alec Pierce is set to return this week which should put Adonai Mitchell on the backburner. For your actual lineups its Michael Pittman and maybe Josh Downs in full PPR. Pierce is a DFS boom/bust field stretcher.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Brian Thomas Jr
- We mentioned last week that we weren’t 100% comfortable elevating Brenton Strange. Did we expect him to get benched down the stretch though? No. If you survived that game you might have to roll with him again but just be weary. Brian Thomas Jr on the other hand is a star. Parker Washington plays a ton of snaps - 94% last week - but hasn’t done much with them.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Travis Kelce
- Xavier Worthy
- Perhaps too little, too late to move Worthy up here but he’s been the most consistent wide receiver for the Chiefs by far. It doesn’t feel like it but Kelce is on pace for 135+ targets on the year. DeAndre Hopkins is being used sparingly - not sure if that will change in the NFL playoffs or if he’s just a part time player now.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Ladd McConkey
- Despite Will Dissly having a stretch of usefulness, no one really separated themselves for the Chargers outside of Ladd McConkey. Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer are capable of big games which keeps them on the DFS radar, but the floor is lava for these guys.
New England Patriots
- Hunter Henry
- After a down week with only four targets, Hunter Henry returned to his ways of getting 8+ targets. That’s now four of the last five games. He remains a decent option, especially in PPR. Kayshon Boutte plays a lot of snaps and DeMario Douglas has guaranteed targets, but neither is really a reliable play. Especially against a tough defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- George Pickens
- George Pickens is a guy you can utilize whenever healthy while Pat Freiermuth is a fringe option at best. Arthur Smith’s offense has not been inspiring as of late.
Washington Commanders***
- Terry McLaurin
- This puts us in a tough spot. Because Zach Ertz was fairly reliable for awhile there. And he played his typical big snap share after returning from the concussion. But he also only caught one pass. McLaurin is a guy you can utilize but I’d only use Ertz if you have to.
Too Many Mouths To Feed?
Buffalo Bills
- Khalil Shakir
- Amari Cooper
- Dalton Kincaid
- Keon Coleman
- James Cook
- We never quite elevated Shakir despite him being on a 100 target pace. His aDot has been so low that his production was very target-dependent. Josh Allen actually admitted that, with their destiny out of their hands, they have been careful not to “show too much”. That worries me that the Bills will continue to spread the ball around and do the bare minimum. Shaki is a PPR option and Dalton Kincaid has quietly been getting 6+ targets in every game since Week 5 besides the one he got injured in. But the upside is not super high.
Green Bay Packers
- Jayden Reed
- Romeo Doubs
- Christian Watson
- Tucker Kraft
- Josh Jacobs
- Dontayvion Wicks
- Luke Musgrave (OUT)
- This is now an 11 win team where no player has more than 70 targets. Josh Jacobs has been carrying this team and, with players getting healthy, they are spreading the ball around. Romeo Doubs, when healthy, has led in snaps, routes, targets, touchdowns etc. so he’s your best bet. Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft have upside, but the floor is not safe. It’s not safe for any of them.
Wide Open
Dallas Cowboys
- We actually deleted this category a couple of weeks back as things were sorted out. But, with CeeDee Lamb shut down for the season, things are back to being wide open again. Brandin Cooks will have one outside spot while Jake Ferguson should get looks from his TE role. Jalen Brooks and Jalen Tolbert are both nursing injuries which could lead guys like Kavontae Turpin and Ryan Flournoy to get some extra snaps. Really hard to trust anyone here.
New Orleans Saints
- There’s really no reason to send Alvin Kamara out there. And that doesn’t leave a lot of promising options with Derek Carr, Chirs Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Taysom Hill, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling hurt as well. If you want to go garbage bin shopping for DFS, Kendre Miller, Kevin Austin, and Juwan Johnson at least play decent snap shares.