2022 Fantasy Football WR/CB Match-Up Report NFL Week 17: Garrett Wilson has Mike White back
Welcome to the weekly wide receiver/cornerback breakdown for fantasy football Week 17! We will review each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups in the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups to use for DFS purposes. It is fantasy football championship week, so if you are reading this, congrats on making it this far, let’s win it all! This article is also critical for fantasy football DFS players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups. Follow me on Twitter (@fightingchance) as well!
| Left WR vs Right CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DK / FD $ | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| DeAndre Hopkins | ARI | $7700 / $8100 | A.J. Terrell | ATL | Safe |
| Trace McSorley was about as bad as you'd think he was going to be and Hopkins had just one catch for four yards. The only good news here is that he still had a whopping ten targets. The bad news, let me state again, is that he only caught one of those ten targets. The Cardinals have absolutely nothing to play for, so it remains to see what their effort level will be like. However, you can't argue with Hopkins talent and the matchup against the Falcons this week is super tasty. No matter who the quarterback is this week for Arizona it isn't going to be good so Hopkins is not on the DFS radar even with a soft opponent. However, I see no way how you don't give him a start as you play for your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Drake London | ATL | $4900 / $6700 | Marco Wilson | ARI | Safe |
| Despite the Falcons inability to score many points or do much offensively, London continues to be successful. Even with subpar play at quarterback, London still had seven catches for the second straight week and this time for 96 yards against the Ravens. He hasn't scored in four weeks, but the volume is excellent, and London has had 14+ fantasy points in three straight games in PPR scoring. The Cardinals are among the worst pass defenses in football and London is a no brainer in your fantasy championships and in DFS contests for Week 17. | |||||
| Demarcus Robinson | BAL | Levi Wallace | PIT | Moderate | |
| Robinson has been the only reliable receiver for the Ravens, but even he only had one catch for six yards against the Falcons last week. If Lamar Jackson is able to return that could bump up Robinson's value some, but even then he hasn't played in a couple of weeks and he hasn't looked great for most of the year. Robinson had six catches for 52 yards in the first game against the Steelers, but I think that is his ceiling in this one. He is a less than ideal flex play for Week 17 only if Lamar is under center. | |||||
| Stefon Diggs | BUF | Eli Apple | CIN | Safe | |
| I was hoping for a big game out of Diggs against a terrible Bears secondary, but the wind and temperature were not conducive for throwing and Diggs finished with just two catches on two targets for 26 yards in Week 16. The Bills didn't really need to throw much in the game, and they still won fairly easily. They have a huge showdown this week against the Bengals who have allowed the fourth fewest touchdown passes this season, however, I feel like this game is really going to be played in the air as the Bengals are soaring in the passing game right now. Look for Diggs to be the most targeted and productive receiver in the game and to be a league winner in your fantasy championship and an elite option in the Monday Night DFS showdown slate. | |||||
| DJ Moore | CAR | $5700 / $7000 | Carlton Davis | TB | Moderate |
| Sam Darnold has really helped Moore more than Baker Mayfield ever did and he scored for the second straight week after the team's bye. He had five catches for the second straight week and had 83 yards against the Lions. Granted it hasn't been tough matchups the last two weeks against the Steelers and Lions, but it does get much tougher this week against the Buccaneers and Davis. He did have seven catches for 69 yards and a score against them in Week 7 so I would continue to start Moore in your fantasy championship but I can't put him in any DFS lineup with a tougher defense across the field. | |||||
| Dante Pettis | CHI | $3700 / $5200 | Jeff Okudah | DET | Risky |
| The Bears passing game has been pathetic, and they are getting killed with injury. Pettis did have a touchdown last week against the Bills, but he also only had two catches for 11 yards. While the matchup gets much easier this week against the Lions, the Detroit defense has been a little better of late, and none of the Bears receivers are anyone that you can count on for fantasy. Pettis will likely be the most targeted wide receiver, but you'd have to be in a really desperate spot to trust Pettis in your fantasy championship lineups. | |||||
| Ja'Marr Chase | CIN | Tre'Davious White | BUF | Safe | |
| It wasn't the huge game we were hoping for, but Chase still finished with eight catches for 79 yards on 12 targets against the Patriots in Week 16. He didn't score for the first time in three weeks, but he has 40 targets in the last three weeks. Chase is one of the top five receiver in football and you really can't count him out on any week. The Bills secondary hasn't been as great as they are capable of and I still think Chase is a solid GPP play for Monday's DFS showdown and always a no brainer in your season long championship matchup. | |||||
| Amari Cooper | CLE | $5800 / $7100 | Kendall Fuller | WAS | Safe |
| Watson only threw for 135 yards and Cooper had six catches for 72 of those yards. He hasn't scored in five weeks now and this was the first time he topped 60 receiving yards since Week 12. Deshaun Watson has not looked good since his return from suspension, and I don't expect him to look like his 2019 self in the span of a week. Cooper has had solid volume since Week 11 so you'd think he has a solid chance of having a good game in a plus matchup so he is a good start in your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Michael Gallup | DAL | #N/A | Roger McCreary | TEN | Moderate |
| He did score a touchdown, but Gallup hasn't been good in a while. A week after one catch, Gallup did have four grabs on a respectable seven targets, but it was good for just 36 yards against the Eagles in a game Dallas scored 40 points. The touchdown was late, but you can't take it away from him. The matchup gets a lot easier this week against a Titans secondary that has dealt with a bunch of injuries and have allowed the second most passing touchdowns in 2022. The Cowboys are fighting for playoff positioning and will need production from Gallup but he is nothing more than a low end flex play and DFS GPP option for the Thursday night showdown slate. | |||||
| Courtland Sutton | DEN | $5100 / $6800 | Josh Williams | KC | Safe |
| He was back after missing two games with a hamstring injury and Sutton ended with five catches on seven targets for 64 yards. Considering hammies are often reinjured it was good to see Sutton get through the game. He went right back to solid volume with the seven targets and is again a guy that you can trust in your fantasy lineups. He was injured the first time the Broncos faced the Chiefs, but Kansas City has allowed 31 passing touchdowns in 15 games which is the most in the NFL. Sutton is a bit of a risk in your fantasy championship considering how poor the Broncos passing game has been all season long, but he consistently has scored 12-15 fantasy points in PPR leagues all year. He isn't a DFS option, but he can be your WR3 for your fantasy championship. | |||||
| DJ Chark Jr. | DET | $4300 / $6000 | Jaylon Jones | CHI | Safe |
| He has been on a good roll lately and Chark had season highs in Week 16 with four catches for 108 yards against the Panthers. That is now three of the last four where he has had over 90 yards with just one game of 18 yards sandwiched in between. He has just seven targets in the last two weeks but he gets a fantastic and easy matchup against the Bears in Week 17 who have been getting killed through the air most of the season and it is getting worse by the week. Chark didn't play the first game against the Bears and I think he is definitely a low-end WR3 or a solid flex option for Week 17 who should have a solid game. | |||||
| Christian Watson | GB | $5900 / $7600 | Patrick Peterson | LAR | Safe |
| We are going to write this anticipating he will play after suffering a hip injury last week after finishing with six catches for 49 yards against the Dolphins. Watson said he would be all right, and while that is questionable, let's make the assumption he will play because no receiver other than Romeo Doubs would be overly fantasy relevant even if Watson is out. The Vikings secondary is quite beatable and gave up over 330 yards to Daniel Jones last week. Aaron Rodgers has struggled all year but should be able to put up some solid yards in this one. Assuming he plays and isn't a game-time decision, Watson will be a risky, but high-ceiling choice for your fantasy championship round. | |||||
| Brandin Cooks | HOU | $4800 / $6400 | Tyson Campbell | JAC | Moderate |
| He played in his first game since Week 12 and Cooks finished with four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. While that inspires very little confidence, the fact that he had nine targets in his first game in a month was encouraging. The Texans face the Jags in Week 17 who are a pretty pathetic secondary, the only concern is the awful quarterback play the Texans have been getting. Cooks had just four catches for 20 yards against Jacksonville back in Week 5, but he is still someone that I would trust as my WR3 or at worst a flex play for my fantasy championship considering his solid upside if Davis Mills can have an efficient day. | |||||
| Michael Pittman Jr. | IND | $6200 / $7200 | Fabian Moreau | NYG | Moderate |
| What an epic freakin DISASTER the Colts offense has become. Hey, Matt Ryan isn't great, but the guys you keep benching him for are EMBARRASSING! Nick Foles looked like he didn't want to be out there by about five minutes into the game and the offense went nowhere most of the night. Pittman had four catches on seven targets but for only 39 yards. If Foles or Ehlinger are the quarterback, you have to at least consider benching him depending on who your other options are. However, the Giants secondary has been so beat up all year, even one of those two guys might lead a couple of scoring drives. If they put Matt Ryan back, Pittman is a no brainer start. Chances are, you have to put Pittman in your linsups regardless of who is under center because of the matchup and the volume he gets, but certainly check in the FA discord as we get closer to game time to see what your options might be. | |||||
| Zay Jones | JAC | $5000 / $6300 | Steven Nelson | HOU | Moderate |
| The Jones hype train took a sudden derailment as he had just one catch for 14 yards on just four targets last Thursday against the Jets. Now, it wasn't all his fault as Sauce Gardner is one of the best corners in the league, and the weather conditions after the first quarter were not good for throwing the football. The matchup gets easier this week against the Texans, but the Houston secondary isn't as bad as people think, it is the run defense that is terrible. Jones had just three catches for 12 yards against them back in Week 5 and I think you should try to find a better option for your fantasy championships and DFS lineups. | |||||
| Kadarius Toney | KC | $4200 / $5700 | Patrick Surtain | DEN | Risky |
| It was far from awe-inspiring, but Toney did have a touchdown on his sole catch for eight yards in Week 16 against the Seahawks. He was targeted just twice on the game, and this did little to inspire any confidence in him for me down the stretch of the fantasy season. He faces the Broncos who have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league and under 195 pass yards per game. Toney is still working his way back from injury this season and I don't see a scenario where you trust him with any confidence in your fantasy championship in Week 17. | |||||
| Davante Adams | LV | $8500 / $8500 | Charvarious Ward | SF | Safe |
| His volume has remained strong as he has 25 targets in the last three weeks, but Adams has just 43 receiving yards in the last two games after his two catch and 15 yard effort last Saturday night against the Steelers. He has inexplicably disappeared in a number of games this season and now gets perhaps his toughest matchup of the season against the swarming 49ers secondary. Adams is an other worldly talent and is capable of outdoing any coverage. However, with his shortcomings the last two weeks and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback, he suddenly becomes a scary option in your fantasy championship, but you still have to put him in your lineups. | |||||
| Mike Williams | LAC | #N/A | Jalen Ramsey | LAR | Safe |
| The hot streak of Keenan Allen has diminshed the returns on Williams to an extent as he has had two straight weeks of only four catches. The yardage is nice with 143 in the last two games combined, but without scores those have left fantasy players hoping for more. He does have enough of a connection with Justin Herbert that this guy can drop 20 fantasy points on any given week with his eyes closed, it just hasn't been happening consistently. I am in no way saying to bench Williams, but it isn't an easy matchup with Jalen Ramsey still playing hard and that likely keeps him off the DFS radar even though his salary at least on DraftKings is pretty inviting. As you'll see later, I still prefer Keenan Allen at that mid-tier price piont. | |||||
| Van Jefferson | LAR | #N/A | Asante Samuel | LAC | Risky |
| Baker Mayfield has brought the Rams offense some relevance, but they have been running a lot and when they do throw it has been mostly to Tyler Higbee. Jefferson had just three catches for 19 yards on five targets against the Broncos and Jefferson hasn't had more than three catches or 44 yards in any game this season. The Chargers secondary is no thrill, but unless Jefferson is catching a touchdown he isn't going to give you much value, and I don't want to be counting on that for my fantasy championship. | |||||
| Jaylen Waddle | MIA | $7500 / $7700 | Jonathan Jones | NE | Safe |
| If you just look at the boxscore of the last two weeks it looks brilliant for Waddle as he has eight catches for 257 yards and two scores. However, he does have a long touchdown in each of those games that accounted for more than half of his output. Now, Waddle is capable of something like that almost anytime he touches the ball, but continually counting on a big play can be dangerous although the Dolphins have been pulling them all year. Teddy Bridgewater might be the quarterback, but Waddle had a 100-yard game of the two that Bridgewater was under cernter so it isn't like he tanks the offense if he starts. It is a bit of an iffy matchup this week as the weather in Foxboro certainly will be unforgiving, but Waddle had a solid game in Buffalo a couple of weeks ago in brutal conditions. The Pats secondary has been getting beaten like a drum lately and I still love Waddle as a WR2 for your fantasy championship and I'm not saying he should be a high exposure DFS player, but he isn't someone I am avoiding either. | |||||
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | $9500 / $9200 | Jaire Alexander | GB | Safe |
| He is now over 120 catches and over 1700 yards as he had 12 grabs for 133 yards and a score in Week 16 against the feeble Giants secondary. It does not get much more difficult from here as the Vikings will clash with the pillow soft Packers secondary in Week 17 as Minnesota looks to try to get home field advantage. Jefferson had nine catches for 184 yards and two scores back in the season opener against Green Bay but this will be a little different in the frigid temps of Wisconsin in January. However, Jefferson has played in similar conditions and it has never held him back so there is no reason not to trot him out in both your fantasy championship as well as any DFS format for Week 17 against the Packers. | |||||
| Kendrick Bourne | NE | $3500 / $5600 | Xavien Howard | MIA | Risky |
| DeVante Parker hasn't played in a couple of weeks, and Bourne is starting to take advantage of the playing time as he had six catches on nine targets for 100 yards with a score against the Bengals on Saturday. He also had one run over 20 yards as well. That was his first score of the year and the first time he topped 60 receiving yards. He has 11 catches in the last three games, but had none in one of them. He is likely to be among the most targeted receivers on the team this week against the Dolphins, but I don't really see that leading to a lot of fantasy production. The Patriots are far from a high-powered passing game, and although they don't have many solid, healthy options, I probably still would stay away from Bourne in my fantasy championship. | |||||
| Chris Olave | NO | $6100 / $6800 | Darius Slay | PHI | Safe |
| He missed last week with a hamstring injury, and he clearly is not 100 percent as we hit the final two weeks of the season. This is a damn shame, as Olave has had a very exciting, and productive rookie season. However, given the fact that we know he is banged up, and couple that with less than stellarquarterback play and the matchup against one of the toughest secondaries in football means Olave is a no-go in your fantasy championship even though he had a big hand in getting you to the fantasy playoffs. | |||||
| Darius Slayton | NYG | $4900 / $6300 | Stephon Gilmore | IND | Moderate |
| He remains the most consistent receiver on the team and he had four catches for 79 yards on six targets in Week 16 against the Vikings. He now has had six or more targets in five of the last six weeks, but also hasn't scored since Week 10. The Giants passing game still isn't very high powered, and they do spread the ball around to their other lower tier receivers even if Slayton gets solid volume. The Colts allow only just over 200 yards per game through the air and 20 passing touchdowns in 14 games. Slayton is still worth a start as a WR3 in your fantasy championships but is not a great DFS play in Week 17. | |||||
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ | $5500 / $7300 | Tariq Woolen | SEA | Safe |
| If your gifts for whatever holiday you celebrate were kind of lacking, let me give you a great one for those of you with Garrett Wilson on your fantasy teams. Mike White IS BACK!!!!! Just in time for the fantasy championship, Garrett Wilson is relevant again! The Seahawks have gotten better as a defense, and Woolen is really becoming a star that you haven't heard of, but Wilson is ridiculously good and has a great chemistry with White. I do worry about White's health as multiple broken ribs just don't magically heal themselves and one rough hit could have Zach Wilson back in there. However, we have to think positive and look at the success White and Garrett Wilson have had together and we know Garrett is now back in play for DFS games and is a solid WR2 for your fantasy championships. | |||||
| A.J. Brown | PHI | $7900 / $8400 | Marshon Lattimore | NO | Safe |
| Even with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, Brown topped 100 yards for the third time in four weeks with his six catches and 103 yards against the Cowboys on Saturday. He had eight targets and now has 24 in the last two weeks. He did appear to get dinged up at one point after he came down hard on a play, but he continued to play and should be fine. The Saints secondary has been good statistically, but they don't seem to be very good if you watch and Lattimore has been hurt most of the season and could be out for this one too. Minshew is likely to be the quarterback again, but we saw last week that doesn't hurt Brown's stock. He is a must-start in your fantasy championship and a solid DFS option for Week 17 as well. | |||||
| Diontae Johnson | PIT | #N/A | Marlon Humphrey | BAL | Moderate |
| He still hasn't scored a touchdown this season, but his production has been a little better in the last month. Johnson had five catches for 64 yards against the Raiders, although you would have hoped for more considering how bad the Las Vegas secondary is. Johnson continues to be the most reliable receiver, even if he is seemingly incapable of having a big game. He did have a solid six catches for 82 yards three weeks ago against the Ravens, and expecting him to score somewhere in the 12-14 fantasy points in PPR leagues appears to be the most realistic expectation for him on a weekly basis and he is worth a WR3 or flex spot in Week 17. | |||||
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | $6300 / $6600 | Sam Webb | LV | Safe |
| He had his first real strong game since Deebo Samuel went down with five catches for 81 yards against the Commanders in Week 16. You have to take it with a bit of a grain of salt considering how bad the Washington secondary is, but the 49ers get another cupcake matchup as the Raiders secondary might be worse. They are allowing 245 yards per game through the air, and although Brock Purdy seems to love George Kittle, Aiyuk is still getting a decent amount of attention. The 49ers have a lot of mouths to feed, but the Raiders shouldn't offer much resistance and I can see using Aiyuk some in DFS GPPs, but Kittle is the better play. On the flip side, Aiyuk, is a must-start in your fantasy championship. | |||||
| DK Metcalf | SEA | $6900 / $7600 | Sauce Gardner | NYJ | Safe |
| Without Tyler Lockett, Metcalf had a pretty good day with seven catches for 81 yards against the Chiefs as the Seahawks season seems to be fading away a bit. However, that is two straight games with seven catches but hasn't scored in either contest. He has had eight or more targets in six straight weeks though, and continues to be Geno Smith's top target. The matchup gets much tougher this week against the Jets and Sauce Gardner who has quickly turned into an elite corner. I don't think that he is so good that I don't trust Metcalf in my fantasy championship, but you do have to keep expectations in check for this one. I would consider Metcalf out of my DFS discussion though in this matchup but in those weekly leagues you gotta plug him in. | |||||
| Mike Evans | TB | $6500 / $7500 | C.J. Henderson | CAR | Moderate |
| Let's just be honest with ourselves. Tom Brady can't throw the ball more than 20 yards down the field at most, and he can't throw it accurately more than ten yards down the field. Maybe. Evans has been the largest loser with Brady's decline this season and he had just three catches for 29 yards on eight targets and more than once when he threw to Evans on Christmas night I wondered who Brady was throwing to when it was intended for Evans. It has been kind of pathetic to watch. The Panthers secondary is actually better than you think, although Evans did have one of his best games against them back in October when he racked up nine catches for 96 yards. As we sit getting ready for Week 17, Evans hasn't found the end zone since Week 4. If you are somehow in the fantasy championship with Evans on your roster you have to throw him out there and hope the rest of your roster picks you up one more time or that we get a New Year's miracle and Evans has a big game. Good luck! | |||||
| Treylon Burks | TEN | Trevon Diggs | DAL | Risky | |
| This offense is going to go nowhere this year with Malik Willis at quarterback as he is not quite ready to run an NFL offense. Burks did have a 15 yard rush but he was only targeted twice and didn't catch either. The Titans aren't likely to throw a ton next week against Dallas, nor have much success doing it. Sadly, Burks looks to be a desperation flex play against a strong Dallas defense. | |||||
| Terry McLaurin | WAS | $6100 / $7400 | Denzel Ward | CLE | Safe |
| He had a third straight week with 70 receiving yards, although most of McLaurin's damage came on one big 51-yard catch as he finished with 77 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 against a strong 49ers secondary. I don't see the quarterback for this one being a big factor as McLaurin did have several solid games with Carson Wentz at quarterback before he went out. Wentz did like Curtis Samuel a lot, but McLaurin did average six targets a game in Wentz six starts. The Browns have allowed 19 pass touchdowns in 15 games, but I still don't see a way that you dont' start McLaurin in your fantasy championship when he has nearly 1,100 yards on the season. I don't see a big game afoot where you would want him in a DFS lineup, but in your season long leagues he certainly is a starter. | |||||
| Right WR vs Left CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DraftKings/FanDuel | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| Marquise Brown | ARI | $5500 / $6900 | Darren Hall | ATL | Moderate |
| He was questionable heading into last week but did play fully and had three catches for 57 yards on six targets against the Bucs. He hasn't been overly productive since he and DeAndre Hopkins have been healthy and the 57 yards were his most since Week 6. The Falcons have allowed the sixth most passing touchdowns in the league this season, but Brown has four or fewer catches in the last three games and I don't see him getting an uptick in production enough worth being anything more than a low end flex for your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Olamide Zaccheaus | ATL | $3400 / $5400 | Antonio Hamilton | ARI | Risky |
| Desmond Ridder at least threw to wide receivers more and the volume Zaccheaus saw was encouraging. He had seven targets, but they were good for just four catches and 18 yards. He had 91 yards in Week 12 against Washington, but that was the only game that he topped 40 receiving yards since Week 6 and again it was against Washington. Zaccheaus will remain irrelevant in fantasy even with a really nice matchup against the Cardinals. | |||||
| Sammy Watkins | BAL | Cam Sutton | PIT | Risky | |
| It really doesn't matter who the quarterback is for the Ravens this week, the receiving corps is so beat up and the offense really is just running based unless your name is Mark Andrews. Hell even Andrews has been disappointing. Watkins had one catch in his first game for the Ravens, and I don't expect him to do much more in game two even if the Steelers secondary isn't that great. He should not be considered for any fantasy format for Week 17. | |||||
| Gabe Davis | BUF | Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN | Moderate | |
| He continues to see decent volume and Davis had six targets for the second straight week and now has 23 in the last four weeks but he hasn't had one of those boom weeks in quite a while. He did score in Week 16, but that was his first since Week 13. The Bills passing game hasn't quite been the same since Josh Allen hurt his elbow, but it is still better than 75% of passing offenses in the league. It will be a great matchup against the Bengals, and Cincinnati is one of the better secondaries in the league. You can start Davis and hope for one of those huge games in your flex spot, but honestly even though he scored last week I still think you probably have a more reliable option on your roster. | |||||
| Terrace Marshall Jr. | CAR | $3600 / $5600 | Sean Murphy-Bunting | TB | Risky |
| He did have 50+ receiving yards for the second straight game in Week 16, but Marshall has just six targets in the last two combined, and those were against poor defenses. Tampa has allowed among the most passing touchdowns, but under 200 yards through the air. He has a big upside, but he hasn't been given enough volume to warrant fantasy consideration. Marshall had two catches for 31 yards the first time against the Bucs and I don't believe that he is a viable fantasy option for Week 17. | |||||
| Byron Pringle | CHI | $3500 / $5400 | Jerry Jacobs | DET | Risky |
| He has scored twice in the last four games, but Pringle hasn't had more than two targets in any game this season. The Lions secondary is beatable and Pringle did have some success in Kansas City, but it is really hard to put the trust in him for your fantasy championship. He might be the Bears receiver that I would trust the most as a DFS GPP dart throw, but even that is a bit of a stretch. | |||||
| Tee Higgins | CIN | Dane Jackson | BUF | Safe | |
| It was the huge game we waited a month from Higgins after he failed to play more than one snap just two weeks ago. He had eight catches on nine targets for 128 yards and a score against a soft Patriots defense. He is apparently fully healthy and is back to being the dynamic weapon that we knew he could be. He goes into a huge Monday night game against the Bills where we know both teams are going to throw a lot and the Bengals pass game is firiing on all cylinders. Higgins is an elite option in your fantasy championship and in the Monday night DFS showdown slate. | |||||
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | CLE | $4700 / $6500 | Christian Holmes | WAS | Safe |
| The conditions last week were terrible and Peoples-Jones finished with just one catch for two yards on five targets in a game that wasn't exactly conducive to throwing the ball. Deshaun Watson still wasn't very good, although we have to give him somewhat of a pass with the cold and wind. The Commanders secondary is really bad though, but again it is the winter so conditions in Washington might not be great. He might be a decent DFS GPP option as a guy who had a touchdown one week and a 100-yard game the week before. It is a bit of reach but Peoples-Jones could be a long shot flex play and DFS GPP dart throw. | |||||
| Noah Brown | DAL | Terrance Mitchell | TEN | Moderate | |
| He came crashing back to Earth after two straight great games and Brown had just one catch for five yards on two targets against the Eagles. When the Cowboys are fully healthy, he is an incredibly risky play especially against a good defense. The good news is that they don't play a good defense this week against the Titans who are swiss cheese against the pass but Brown is still a tough choice. He could be a DFS GPP on the Thursday night showdown slate if you are trying to differentiate yourself in a single game slate as a potentially dynamic option against a weak defense. | |||||
| Freddie Swain | DEN | $3000 / $4600 | Trent McDuffie | KC | Risky |
| The Broncos are really thin at receiver and the passing game hasn't been very good anyway. Swain has just one catch in each of the last two weeks, and even in a plus matchup against the Chiefs there is not even a reason to consider using Swain for any fantasy lineup for Week 17. | |||||
| Josh Reynolds | DET | $3700 / $5400 | Lamar Jackson | CHI | Risky |
| The Lions can put up some points, but the passing game has been limited to St. Brown, Chark, the running backs and some tight end work. Reynolds had just two catches for 31 yards on four targets in Week 16 and he hasn't been a factor in quite a while. The Bears secondary isn't great at all, but I don't think that the offense is high powered enough that Reynolds is a fantasy factor. I would leave him on the bench or waiver wire for your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Romeo Doubs | GB | $4700 / $5900 | Cameron Dantzler | MIN | Moderate |
| With Christian Watson missing the second half you would have thought that Doubs would have been good for more than three catches and 36 yards, but it was Allen Lazard who was more involved and had 11 targets. Doubs is still a receiver that Aaron Rodgers has shown great trust in, and should be a bigger factor down the stretch, especially if Christian Watson is limited in this game. The Vikings have allowed 21 passing touchdowns which is middle of the road in the NFL, but they give up over 280 yards per game through the air which is among the league's worst. The Packers should have success moving the ball, and I have no issue with you using Doubs as your flex in your fantasy championship. | |||||
| Chris Moore | HOU | $4200 / $5600 | Darious Williams | JAC | Moderate |
| He was a fantasy darling for a very short period of time, but with Brandin Cooks coming back what little relevance Moore had is officially evaporated. He had just two catches for 25 yards in Week 16 and was not availlable the first time Houston played Jacksonville. He wasn't overly fantasy relevant even when the team was incredibly short handed and now with at least one more guy healthy it is all but over for him. Even in a soft matchup, Moore is a very ill advised flex play for your fantasy championship | |||||
| Alec Pierce | IND | $3900 / $5700 | Nick McCloud | NYG | Moderate |
| What started out so promising has collapsed in a flaming heap as Pierce's rookie season has been derailed by the Colts inability to find a functional quarterback. Not even a really good one, just a standing, breathing man who can read a defense and throw a ball. Pierce did have three catches on Monday night, but they were good for just 26 yards and he also has three games in the last six where he was catchless. Even against a beat up Giants secondary there is no way that you can trust Pierce with your fantasy championship on the line. | |||||
| Marvin Jones Jr. | JAC | $3600 / $5200 | Tavierre Thomas | HOU | Risky |
| You can blame the weather if you want, but Jones hasn't topped 25 receiving yards since before the team's Week 11 bye and finished with just 15 yards on three catches last Thursday. Sadly, those three catches were tied for his most since Week 9. Jones hasn't been a factor all season, and he won't be in Week 17 either. | |||||
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC | $4100 / $5500 | Damarri Mathis | DEN | Risky |
| Always a boom or bust candidate, Valdes-Scantling laid the ultimate bust in Week 16 as he had no catches on two targets against the improving Seahawks defense. He has scored just once since Week 11 and he had just one catch on three targets three weeks ago the first time the Chiefs and Broncos squared off. Denver has one of the best secondaries in the league and there is no way that you should trust this guy in DFS lineups or in your season long fantasy championships. | |||||
| Mack Hollins | LV | $4200 / $5600 | Deommodore Lenoir | SF | Risky |
| He did have a touchdown in Week 15, but Hollins has been a low impact fantasy player for the last month or so and it hit rock bottom with just one catch for seven yards in Week 16. He has scored just once and hasn't topped 40 receiving yards in the last four weeks. The Raiders are now fully healthy as far as receiving options are concerned and with Darren Waller getting the most attention and Hunter Renfrow scoring last week, there isn't a lot leftover. Hollins had some good weeks this year, but especially with the quarterback change he is a definite sit. | |||||
| Joshua Palmer | LAC | #N/A | Troy Hill | LAR | Moderate |
| He has the capability of going off in a game as Palmer is a very exciting young receiver, but as long as Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are healthy, he is nearly impossible to trust for fantasy purposes as there just aren't enough balls to go around after the two receivers, tight end, and Ekeler all get theirs. Palmer had just two catches for 16 yards on Monday night, and while the Rams are in disarray with injuries, their secondary is still playing fairly strong. I love Palmer next year if he can find more opportunity, but for Week 17 and your fantasy championship you have to look in another direction. | |||||
| Tutu Atwell | LAR | #N/A | Michael Davis | LAC | Risky |
| I've been saying that Atwell could be something for fantasy if the Rams could scheme some plays to get him the ball in space, but that hasn't been happening. He had just two catches for 14 yards on only two targets in Week 16 and hasn't made an impact at all this season and there's no reason to think that Week 17 will be any different. Keep him on fantasy waiver wires in your fantasy championships. | |||||
| Trent Sherfield | MIA | $3200 / $5100 | Jack Jones | NE | Risky |
| A week after a game where he had no catches, Sherfield followed it up with just two grabs for 25 yards. That is not six catches in the last five games and if you take away the 75-yard touchdown against the 49ers broken coverage on that play, he has 65 yards over that span. Hell, keep the big catch in there and he still only has 140 yards in five games. The Patriots secondary kind of stinks but Sherfield is still nowhere near being a fantasy asset for Week 17. | |||||
| Adam Thielen | MIN | $5200 / $6300 | Rasul Douglas | GB | Moderate |
| Fantasy football is a fickle bitch. Thielen had scored in three of the last four weeks, but in a pillow soft matchup against the Giants he finished with just one catch for six yards. He had just three catches for 36 yards against these same Packers in Week 1 this season, but that was a long time ago. Thielen is like a good friend that you can tell stuff to but evenually need to cut off. He is a less than ideal flex play at best for Week 17 in Green Bay. | |||||
| Tyquan Thornton | NE | $3000 / $5200 | Keion Crossen | MIA | Risky |
| I really had higher hopes for Thornton when he returned from injury, but it just hasn't happened for him. He has just 15 targets in the last four weeks and has had just a single catch in each of the last two games and has just 29 total yards in those two. There remains no reason to have Thornton on any sort of fantasy roster that isn't a dynasty league. | |||||
| Rashid Shaheed | NO | $4000 / $5600 | James Bradberry | PHI | Moderate |
| His big play streak came to a close even though he was in essence the team's number one receiver in Week 16, but it was brutally cold and windy in Cleveland which didn't lead to much passing or scoring in that one. Considering all of that, Shaheed's line of four catches for 41 yards really wasn't that bad. This is a really tough one against the Eagles secondary, although the Cowboys had much success throwing the ball last week. The Saints quarterback and passing game are nowhere near as good, but Shaheed might be able to make a big play or two. He is a bit of a long shot but not quite what I would call a desperation play in your flex or DFS GPPs for Week 17. | |||||
| Isaiah Hodgins | NYG | $4500 / $6200 | Isaiah Rodgers | IND | Moderate |
| He is a bit of a risk as a lot of his value is tied to touchdowns, but he has also found the end zone in three of the last four weeks. He also had season highs in Week 16 with eight catches for 89 yards on 11 targets. He had just 20 targets in the four previous games, so that kind of volume might not be something you think will continue. The Colts are a pretty solid secondary and Rodgers allows just 7.4 yards per catch. If you are dealing with injuries, Hodgins could be a desperate flex play or a really cheap DFS GPP option for Week 17 as a way to pay up for studs at other positions. | |||||
| Corey Davis | NYJ | $3700 / $5500 | Michael Jackson | SEA | Moderate |
| What an epic disaster this offense is! Davis made his return from injury last Thursday night, but it wasn't a good one as he had two catches for 14 yards. The only good part is the seven targets, but this offense can't move the ball. The good news is we have the (hopefully) triumphant return of Mike White this week, although I find it hard to believe that he is 100 percent from multiple rib fractures just a couple of weeks ago. Davis has had a few good games this season so isn't the worst choice for a flex spot in your fantasy championship, but the Seahawks secondary isn't terrible so you would be best served to look in another direction. | |||||
| DeVonta Smith | PHI | $7100 / $7800 | Paulson Adebo | NO | Safe |
| The Eagles pass game is firing on all cylinders lately, and even performed well with Gardner Minshew at quarterback. Smith had eight catches for 113 yards which was his third straight triple digit effort. He also had two touchdowns in the game against Dallas and that is four in the last four weeks for him. Minshew doesn't hurt his stock at all and the Saints secondary isn't great. Smith will continue to be an elite option for your fantasy championship matchup and remains in play for your DFS lineups for Week 17. | |||||
| George Pickens | PIT | Marcus Peters | BAL | Moderate | |
| He is the guy on the team that could have a big game, the problem he has been inconsistent throughout the season. However, he has hit a pretty decent stride lately. Pickens had five catches for 57 yards and a score in Week 16 against the Raiders and now has 50+ receiving yards in five of the last six games. The problem comes in that sixth game he had just one catch for two yards and Pickens does come with the risk of a big bust at the wrong time. However, he did have three catches for 78 yards against the Ravens just three weeks ago, and I think you can easily roll with the rookie in your fantasy championship if he's been in your lineup a lot this season. | |||||
| Jauan Jennings | SF | $3600 / $5500 | Nate Hobbs | LV | Risky |
| The 49ers are winning a lot of games handily lately, and that has led to not a ton of passing in the second half of games. Rookie Brock Purdy has also really latched on to George Kittle, which has stymied the possible value of any other receiver becoming fantasy relevant while Deebo Samuel remains out. Jennings had just two catches on three targets for 21 yards against Washington and he has just eight catches in the last four weeks combined. This one should be another easy one for the 49ers and Jennings should remain on fantasy waiver wires. | |||||
| Marquise Goodwin | SEA | $4400 / $5400 | D.J. Reed | NYJ | Risky |
| He has had a couple of good games here and there during the season when Tyler Lockett was healthy so it seemed to make sense that he could make some noise last week with Lockett out. Goodwin is not 100 percent though and he was catchless on four targets against a weak Kansas City secondary. He now draws a much tougher matchup against the Jets who have allowed the second fewest passing touchdowns in the league and surrender under 200 passing yards per game through the air. Even if Tyler Lockett doesn't return, I wouldn't trust Goodwin in any fantasy format for Week 17. | |||||
| Russell Gage | TB | $3800 / $5900 | Keith Taylor | CAR | Risky |
| He did get dinged up late in the game, but he has been so far and away better than Julio Jones has been at any point this season, I am going to list Gage here. He had five catches for 65 yards, but failed to score to keep his two week touchdown streak alive. The Panthers allow just under 220 yards per game through the air, and Tom Brady looks pathetic every week until the fourth quarter. Although Gage has been seeing an uptick in volume lately, he still isn't a reliable option for your fantasy championship and is a seriously risky dart throw for DFS contests. | |||||
| Robert Woods | TEN | Kelvin Joseph | DAL | Risky | |
| Shockingly, he had one of his best games in the last month. The sad part about that is he had four catches for just 30 yards. He did catch all of his targets, but Malik Willis is not going to run an offense that is going to make any receiver fantasy relevant, and Woods has been a colossal disappointment up to this point anyway. If he is still on your roster you can drop him if there is anything on the waiver wire that might help you this week. | |||||
| Jahan Dotson | WAS | $4600 / $6100 | Martin Emerson | CLE | Moderate |
| The kid now has a touchdown in three straight games and seven on the season despite playing just ten games. Dotson has also watched his usage increase dramatically lately as he has 24 targets in the last three weeks after having 26 in his previous seven games. He had a lot of success with Carson Wentz early on before getting injured, so I don't think the quarterback matters here. Emerson has allowed four touchdowns this season and Dotson's stock arrow is pointing way up. This might not be the prettiest game of the year but I still have no trouble putting Dotson in my flex spot for Week 17 and hope his touchdown streak continues. | |||||
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 17.
| Slot WR vs Slot CB | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Team | DraftKings/FanDuel | Cornerback | Opp | Matchup |
| Tyreek Hill | MIA | $8900 / $9000 | Myles Bryant | NE | Safe |
| The game went sideways for the Dolphins after halftime as Tua kept throwing to the wrong team, but Hill still had another big game with four catches on six targets for 103 yards on Christmas against the Packers. That broke a three game touchdown streak, butt his guy is nearly flipping unstoppable. He has only had three games all season long under 69 yards and has scored seven times. He gets the Patriots on Sunday whose secondary has been hot garbage for much of the second half of the season, and just gave up a huge first half to Joe Burrow last week. Hill had eight catches for 94 yards against them in the season opener and I'd be shocked if he didn't go over 100 yards in this one. He is an elite option for your fantasy championship (duh!) and for Week 17 DFS contests both cash and GPPs. He was great in two games with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, so even if the quarterback changes, my thoughts on him do not. | |||||
| CeeDee Lamb | DAL | #N/A | Amani Hooker | TEN | Safe |
| It was a monster game for Lamb as he had ten catches for 120 yards on 11 targets with two touchdowns against the Eagles. That was an amazing performance against one of the best secondaries in football. They had no answer for him and he was making plays consistently throughout the game. He now has back-to-back 120 yard games and three 100-yard games in the last five. The matchup almost couldn't be juicier for your fantasy championship as Lamb faces the Titans whose secondary is riddled with injuries and have allowed nearly 280 yards per game through the air and the second most passing touchdowns in the league. Lamb is a no brainer for your fantasy championship and a possible captain choice for the Thursday night DFS showdown slate. | |||||
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | $7800 / $8200 | Kyler Gordon | CHI | Safe |
| He hasn't scored in three weeks, but St. Brown had seven catches for 76 yards for the second consecutive week and the third time in six games. In Week 14 he had 68 receiving yards and that is his lowest total of yards since Week 9. He is averaging nearly 11 targets a game over the last five and there's no reason to think that won't continue. The Bears secondary is an absolute trainwreck and St. Brown had ten catches for 119 yards against them back in Week 10 and that was in Chicago. I think St. Brown is going to go bonkers in this one and he is a guy you want in your fantasy championship and DFS lineups. | |||||
| Chris Godwin | TB | $6800 / $7600 | Jeremy Chinn | CAR | Safe |
| He continues to be the most targeted wide receiver, and that is largely due to the fact that he is more of a short yardage receiver, and Brady can't throw the ball anymore. Godwin had eight catches for the second straight week and the third time in four games, but they were good for only 63 yards. He has had double digit targets in three of the last five and hasn't had fewer than eight targets since Week 5. There is no doubt that Godwin will be highly used, it is just a matter of how much he is able to accumulate in the stats category. He had seven catches for 43 yards the first time the Bucs and Panthers met, and I think he can top those numbers. He is probably not going to be worth his DFS salary unless he can find the end zone and he only has three touchdowns all season. Godwin is still a must though in your fantasy championship lineups if you are in PPR scoring based on the volume alone. | |||||
| Keenan Allen | LAC | #N/A | Cobie Durant | LAR | Safe |
| He has been on fire the last month, and I see no reason why it won't continue. Allen had 11 catches for 104 yards on Monday night and could have had a touchdown if he stayed in bounds. That is the only drawback to Allen is the lack of scores, but he has 37 catches in the last four weeks and has been over 85 receiving yards in all four. Durant hasn't been a terrible corner since being put in the slot, but he has allowed two touchdowns in the five games since he started playing more. He has also allowed five of the last six targets at him to be caught. Let's ride the Allen wave to your fantasy championship and I really like him in both cash and GPP lineups for DFS in Week 17 as well! | |||||
| Christian Kirk | JAC | $6000 / $6900 | Desmond King | HOU | Safe |
| Unlike earlier when I didn't blame the weather for how bad Marvin Jones stunk, I will give Kirk a pass and say the rain and wind did him no favors Thursday night when he finished with just three catches and 22 yards. Kirk has had under 50 receiving yards in three of the last five games now, and I have to admit that I am a little concerned. However, his upside is pretty big and it is hard to sit him in your fantasy championship when he has been good most of the year even if he hasn't scored since Week 9. The Texans secondary is no pushover and Kirk had just one catch for 11 yards against them in Week 5, but Desmond King has allowed a 75 percent catch rate all season so I am not going to give up on Kirk for Week 17 in my fantasy finals. | |||||
| Jakobi Meyers | NE | $5000 / $6700 | Kader Kohou | MIA | Moderate |
| He was questionable coming into the game, but Meyers not only played but had a strong game with six catches for 83 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. He has averaged six targets over his last three games, but the Patriots passing game is middle of the road at best. Mac Jones is holding them back, but still has a good game here and there. Meyers had four catches for 55 yards against Miami in the season opener but I do think he will outdo that this week. He won't be a DFS options, but Meyers is still worthy of a flex spot or low end WR3 for your Week 17 fantasy championships. | |||||
| Jerry Jeudy | DEN | $6400 / $7000 | L'Jarius Sneed | KC | Safe |
| He has been on a tear of late and Jeudy continued his fantasy success with six catches for 117 yards on Christmas Day against the Rams. He has averaged nine targets a game over the last three, and his production continued even with Courtland Sutton returning. This week the Broncos will face the Chiefs who was the team that allowed Jeudy to have eight catches for 73 yards and three touchdowns. Despite terrible quarterback play, Jeudy is finishing the season very strong and should kill it again in Week 17 and is a great option in your fantasy championship and DFS lineups. | |||||
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC | $5600 / $6800 | K'Wuan Williams | DEN | Moderate |
| The Chiefs passing game wasn't its usual dominant self and Smith-Schuster came up pretty small in Week 16 with just three catches for 27 yards on only four targets. Smith-Schuster seems to either get double digit targets or four or less in the last two months of the year. The Chiefs are just going through the motions these last two weeks, but they do still have the same record as the Bills as they fight for the top seed. The Broncos secondary is getting a little leaky down the stretch and Juju had nine catches for 74 yards and a touchodwn against them just three weeks ago. He does come with a bit of a risk, but the recent success he had against them and the fact that the Broncos have nothing to play for and just had their doors blown off by the Rams last week tells me that Smith-Schuster is a nice, safe pick for your Week 17 fantasy championships. | |||||
| Curtis Samuel | WAS | $4400 / $5900 | Greg Newsome | CLE | Moderate |
| I have often written about a change in quarterback having a vast impact on a player's fantasy outlook. That is front and center with Curtis Samuel and Carson Wentz. The often exciting slot receiver has been next to nothing since Taylor Heinicke was implemented as the starter, but as soon as Wentz subbed in for him, Samuel was catching a touchdown ane being more involved. This isn't a great matchup against the Browns, but with Wentz as the quarterback for the Commanders, Samuel immediately becomes fantasy relevant again, and is worth a flex spot in your fantasy championship and could be a very productive, cheap dart throw in DFS contests for Week 17. | |||||
Elite
Justin Jefferson vs. Jaire Alexander
He has been on a ridiculous tear with double digit catches in three straight and 100+ yards in four of the last five. The Packers pass defense doesn’t look terribly statistically, but they gave up over 300 yards to Ryan Tannehill, 254 yards to Justin Fields, and huge games to Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. Jefferson had nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Green Bay and while that is a lot to expect I totally expect him to go triple digits in yardage again and find the end zone for the ninth time this season.
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Kyler Gordon
He is going to go over 100 catches on the season this week, and St. Brown hasn’t had fewer than eight targets since Week 7 and he left that game early. His yardage has been down a bit of late and he hasn’t scored in three weeks, but he gets the ultimate holiday gift in a matchup against the terrible Chicago secondary. Weather can’t be a factor this week either as this game is in Detroit in a dome. The Lions are still on the edge of the playoffs and need this game and it is also the highest point total on the board this week. D.J. Chark has been solid of late, but St. Brown is still the pillar of this offense and could easily top 20 fantasy points this weekend.
Affordable
Jerry Jeudy vs. L’Jarious Sneed
Courtland Sutton might not have played three weeks ago when Jeudy went bananas with eight catches and three touchdowns against these Chiefs, but the production was still great Sunday against the Rams with over 100 yards and ten targets. The Chiefs have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league (31) by five over any other team, so even the trainwreck Broncos should be able to score and maybe losing Nathaniel Hackett will somehow help. Jeudy is too cheaply priced for this matchup.
He is scorching hot and while the Rams secondary has played pretty well lately, they haven’t exactly been facing top tier competition. Ever since returning from injury, Allen has gone over 85 receiving yards in five of the six and I don’t expect Jalen Ramsey to spend too much time in the slot as he hasn’t lately. Allen’s recent run can’t be ignored and is another guy I am not sure how he isn’t priced higher.
Bargain Bin
Garrett Wilson vs. Tariq Woolen
Three words for you. Mike f’n White! The three games that White was at quarterback Wilson accumulated 19 catches for 335 yards and two scores. It isn’t the easiest matchup against the Seahawks, but Seattle is still not a defense to fear. I believe in Mike White and I know he likes Wilson so fire this one up and a salary that was determined before the sites knew who was starting for the Jets.
He is the only freaking guy on the team to throw to and he has averaged nearly 11 targets and has had 20 catches in the last three and hasn’t been under 70 receiving yards. The Cardinals allow the second most passing touchdowns in the league and nearly 240 yards per game through the air. It is a soft matchup that even Desmond Ridder can have some success against as he will continue to pepper his number one (and only) target.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.