Tuesday night we got the sad news that NFL legend John Madden passed away at the age of 85. As NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, Madden "was football."
Madden was known as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and a broadcaster who worked for every major network, including CBS (1979-93). He also was the face of the "Madden NFL" video game franchise.
If you started watching the NFL around the time when I did in the mid-80s, Madden felt like a member of your family. Brett Favre said Madden "narrated" his career. Madden also narrated my love for football.
Watching and reading all the tributes about him this week have been amazing and nostalgic, and you can see how many current and former players loved and respected Madden. I'm sure many of you feel the same. There was nothing like hearing him say "boom" after a big hit or play.
I'll be thinking about Madden a lot this weekend as the action unfolds. Hopefully you will as well. Let's hope, for his sake, we get some great games and quality football in the championship week for most Fantasy leagues. And good luck to all of you competing for a title.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
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Start 'Em & Sit 'Em
Start of the Week
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Matthew Stafford might have cost many of you a shot at competing for a Fantasy championship this week. He was bad in the past two games against Seattle and Minnesota, and he comes into Week 17 having combined for just 26 Fantasy points in those two outings.
But if you advanced to the title game in spite of Stafford, you should stick with him against Baltimore. Prior to his past two clunkers, Stafford had scored at least 28 Fantasy points in three games in a row, and he should return to that level this week. He has a tremendous matchup against the Ravens, and I expect Stafford to perform like a top-five Fantasy quarterback once again.
Baltimore is No. 3 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks for the season. The Ravens have allowed Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow to score a combined 75 Fantasy points in the past two games, and Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton, Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz and Derek Carr have all scored at least 20 Fantasy points against Baltimore this season.
Stafford should snap out of his two-game funk, even on the road. He has scored at least 21 Fantasy points in five of eight road games this season, including four games with at least 28 points. I'm counting on Sean McVay to lean on Stafford as the catalyst of the offense against this beat-up Baltimore secondary.
He might have let you down the past two games. But if you're still alive in your Fantasy championship with Stafford then he should do his part to help you win a title with a big game against the Ravens in Week 17.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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Hurts went for 28 Fantasy points against Washington in Week 15, and hopefully he has a similar performance in the rematch. The Football Team defense is reeling after also allowing 39 Fantasy points against Dak Prescott in Week 16, and for the season, Washington gives up an average of 26.7 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
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You shouldn't get carried away with what Burrow did last week against Baltimore with 525 passing yards and four touchdowns because he won't come close to that this week in a tougher matchup with Kansas City. But he does have at least 300 passing yards in three of his past four games, and he should be in a shootout with Patrick Mahomes at home. Burrow also scored at least 22 Fantasy points in five of eight games in Cincinnati this year. The Chiefs also allowed 26 Fantasy points to Justin Herbert in their last road game in Week 15.
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Could this be Wilson's last home game as the starter in Seattle? It's a definite possibility, and I bet he goes out with a quality performance against the Lions. Detroit hasn't allowed a quarterback to score more than 19 Fantasy points in three games in a row, but Wilson has scored at least 20 Fantasy points in four of his past five games, including two in a row at home. He's worth trusting as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Sleepers
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Lance could start this week if Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) can't go, and Lance should be considered a low-end in all leagues with his matchup against Houston. In two extended appearances this season, Lance scored 29 Fantasy points against Seattle in Week 4, as well as 15 Fantasy points at Arizona in Week 6. He's yet to throw for 200 yards in a game, but he did rush for at least 41 yards in each outing. The 49ers will likely run all over the Texans this week, but Lance could have a hand in that. And two of the past three opposing quarterbacks against Houston have scored at least 18 Fantasy points.
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Hill is back in Week 17 after missing Week 16 because he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. I would trust him as a starting Fantasy quarterback again this week against the Panthers. Even though he scored just nine Fantasy points at Tampa Bay in Week 15, he still has at least 22 Fantasy points in five of seven starts going back to last season. His rushing ability should give him a decent floor -- he has at least 33 rushing yards in all three starts this year, including two games with at least 73 yards -- and I doubt he gets shut out of the end zone against Carolina. Only two quarterbacks in the past five games against the Panthers have scored over 20 Fantasy points (Taylor Heinicke in Week 11 and Josh Allen in Week 15), but I'll take my chances with Hill as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Mills is making a strong case to be Houston's starter in 2022, and he scored at least 18 Fantasy points in three games in a row, including 22 points against the Chargers in Week 16. The Stanford product gets to face the 49ers in Week 17, and San Francisco has allowed two of the past four opposing quarterbacks to score at least 20 Fantasy points. In deeper leagues, Mills could be a sneaky starting option, especially if Brandin Cooks (COVID) is healthy for this matchup.
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Sit 'Em
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I expected Tagovailoa to struggle in Week 16 at New Orleans, and he finished with just 11 Fantasy points. He should have another mediocre stat line in Week 17 as well at Tennessee. The Titans have allowed one quarterback to score more than 18 Fantasy points since Week 10, and their past three opposing quarterbacks (Trevor Lawrence, Ben Roethlisberger and Jimmy Garoppolo) have combined for just 25 points. Tagovailoa also has only one game with more than 16 Fantasy points in his past four outings.
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Tannehill only has one game with more than 16 Fantasy points since Week 8, and he's scored 16 points or less in five games in a row. Even with A.J. Brown back last week after missing three games with a chest injury, Tannehill managed just 209 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, along with 22 rushing yards. The Dolphins have also held seven of their past eight opposing quarterbacks to 16 Fantasy points or less, including four in a row. In those four games, Miami has allowed no passing touchdowns with six interceptions.
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Carr is dealing with sore ribs, but he's expected to play in Week 17 at Indianapolis. I still wouldn't trust him aside from two-quarterback and Superflex leagues. He has one game with more than 12 Fantasy points since Week 10, and he's scored 12 points or less in four games in a row against Washington, Kansas City, Cleveland and Denver. Carr also hasn't scored multiple touchdowns in six games in a row. The Colts have allowed Mac Jones and Kyler Murray to score at least 20 Fantasy points in each of the past two games, but prior to that, four quarterbacks in a row scored 18 points or less, including Josh Allen and Tom Brady. I don't expect Carr to play well in this matchup.
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Bust Alert
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Roethlisberger is struggling coming into Week 17 with a combined 19 Fantasy points in his past two games against the Titans and Chiefs. Now, those are brutal matchups, and we'll see if Roethlisberger can improve against Cleveland at home. But the Browns have held four of their past five opposing quarterbacks to 18 Fantasy points or less, and Roethlisberger only had 16 Fantasy points at Cleveland in Week 8. He's also averaging just 14.5 Fantasy points per game in his past five meetings with the Browns going back to 2018.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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Edmonds stepped in for an injured James Conner (heel) in Week 16 against Indianapolis and scored 26 PPR points with 16 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown, along with eight catches for 71 yards on nine targets. If Conner is out again then Edmonds is a must-start running back in all leagues against the Cowboys. There have now been five games since Week 10 where either Conner or Edmonds have been out, and the healthy running back has scored at least 14 PPR points in those outings with an average of 22.2 PPR points per game.
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Jones started for the Buccaneers in Week 16 at Carolina with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) out, and he scored 15 PPR points as the Start of the Week. He had 22 total touches (two catches), and Tampa Bay leaned on him as a workhorse, which should happen again. He has an even better matchup in Week 17 against the Jets, who allow the most Fantasy points to opposing running backs. Five running backs have scored at least 15 PPR points against the Jets in their past four games, including guys like Kenneth Gainwell, Duke Johnson and Dare Ogunbowale. Jones has top-five upside in this matchup.
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We'll see if Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID) returns this week after being out in Week 16 against Buffalo, but Harris was great as the lead running back against the Bills with 18 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns. He's now scored a touchdown and at least 12 PPR points in each of his past three appearances, and I would still start Harris even if Stevenson plays. The Jaguars have allowed a running back to score a touchdown or rush for at least 100 yards in three of their past four games.
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I considered Wilson as the Start of the Week, but there's a chance Elijah Mitchell (knee) could play this week, which makes Wilson somewhat risky. But if Mitchell is out for a fourth game in a row then Wilson could be a top-10 Fantasy running back in all leagues against Houston. He has scored at least 14 PPR points in consecutive games against the Falcons and Titans, and the Texans are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Four running backs in a row have scored at least 17 PPR points against Houston, and San Francisco will probably lean on its ground game even more than usual if Trey Lance starts for Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb).
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Penny was fantastic in Week 16 against Chicago, and he should have another standout performance this week against Detroit. Penny scored 19 PPR points against the Bears, which is the second time in the past three games he reached that total. The Lions have allowed a running back to score or gain at least 100 total yards in six of their past eight games, including six in a row on the road. Penny could be a top-15 running back in all leagues in Week 17.
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Sleepers
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Williams started five games earlier this season when Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) was out with a knee injury, and Williams scored at least 16 PPR points in three of those outings. He should have the opportunity for a quality outing against the Bengals with an increased workload, and he's worth trusting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues. In deeper formats, you can use Derrick Gore also. He has three games this season with at least 11 total touches, and he scored at least 13 PPR points in two of them.
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Miles Sanders (hand) has already been ruled out for Week 17, and Jordan Howard (neck) is dealing with a stinger. If both can't play against Washington then Scott would be considered a quality No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He has four games this season with at least 11 carries, and he either scored a touchdown or had at least 100 total yards in each outing. Philadelphia just played Washington in Week 15, and the combination of Sanders and Howard had 33 carries for 200 yards, along with two catches for 15 yards. Kenneth Gainwell would share touches with Scott, and Gainwell is worth using as a flex option in deeper leagues if Howard is out. Now, if Howard plays, then use him as a low-end running back in most leagues, and Scott would be a useful flex option.
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The Bills still have issues running the ball, but Singletary is starting to deliver as a Fantasy option, which makes him a No. 2 running back in all leagues. He's scored at least 14 PPR points in three games in a row, and he has two touchdowns and two outings with at least five catches over that span. He also has at least 17 total touches in consecutive games, which is the first time that's happened all season. The Falcons are No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Singletary should deliver another quality outing at home this week.
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Pollard is worth using as a flex option against the Cardinals this week. He only had six PPR points in Week 16 against Washington, but he wasn't used much after halftime in the blowout victory. Prior to Week 16, Pollard had scored at least 11 PPR points in three of his past five games, and he should continue to do well in tandem with Ezekiel Elliott. The Cardinals have allowed a running back to score or gain over 100 total yards in five of their past six games.
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Sit 'Em
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Foreman has done a great job in helping Fantasy managers over the past four games. He has either a touchdown or 100 total yards in each of his past four outings, and he scored at least 13 PPR points in two of those games. But he struggled in Week 16 against San Francisco with just nine carries for 17 yards and the touchdown, and he had no targets. Jeremy McNichols and Dontrell Hilliard will share touches with Foreman, and this is a brutal matchup against Miami. The Dolphins haven't allowed a running back to score a touchdown since Week 7, including matchups with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Michael Carter twice. And Barkley in Week 13 is the lone running back with more than nine PPR points against Miami in the past seven games. Foreman is a questionable flex option in this matchup.
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Freeman scored a touchdown last week at Cincinnati but managed just nine PPR points. He's now scored 12 combined PPR points in his past two games against the Packers and Bengals and only has 12 carries for 39 yards and three catches for 5 yards in those two outings. We'll see if Lamar Jackson (ankle) can return this week and help get Freeman back on track, but you can't trust him in Week 17 against the Rams based on his production from the past two games.
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It's a good idea to avoid all the Dolphins running backs in Week 17 since Johnson, Myles Gaskin and Phillip Lindsay are part of a bad committee. In Week 16 at New Orleans, Johnson had 13 carries for 39 yards and no targets. Lindsay had 13 carries for 36 yards and no targets. And Gaskin had three carries for 10 yards, along with one catch for 6 yards on three targets. Johnson and Lindsay both had short-yardage chances near the goal line but failed to convert. And this matchup against the Titans is tough since Tennessee is No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.
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Burkhead was amazing for any Fantasy managers who trusted him in Week 16 against the Chargers. He had 22 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, as well as two catches for no yards on two targets. It's the first time he scored a touchdown since Week 8 and only the third time he's scored double digits in PPR this season. His expected workload at San Francisco makes him a potential flex option in all leagues, and hopefully, he can deliver a quality stat line for the second week in a row. But the problem is the 49ers have allowed one touchdown to a running back in their past three games. I'd be hesitant to trust Burkhead despite his big outing in Week 16.
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I don't want to start Ogunbowale in Week 17 at New England, but he could be a flex option in deeper leagues as the replacement for James Robinson (Achilles). In Week 16 at the Jets, Ogunbowale stepped in when Robinson went down and finished with 17 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 15 yards on four targets. The Patriots have allowed a touchdown to a running back in three of their past four games, and hopefully, the Jaguars lean on Ogunbowale in this matchup for any Fantasy managers in deeper leagues who might have to start him. But it's hard to imagine this Jacksonville offense having much success in New England after the Patriots are coming off a tough loss to Buffalo. Be cautious if you're starting Ogunbowale this week.
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Bust Alert
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Carter was fantastic in Week 16 against Jacksonville with 16 carries for 118 yards, along with two catches for 6 yards on three targets. He looked back to himself after missing three outings with an ankle injury from Weeks 12-14, and it would be great if he has another quality performance in Week 17 against Tampa Bay. But I would only use him as a flex option against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay hasn't allowed a running back to score a touchdown in three games in a row, and the Buccaneers are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs for the season. I have to start Carter in one championship game, and I'm nervous about the matchup with Tampa Bay this week.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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St. Brown has proven to be matchup proof and quarterback proof during his hot streak over the past month, and now we'll see if he can continue to thrive with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) expected to play in Week 17 at Seattle. I'm still starting St. Brown with confidence, and hopefully, Jared Goff (knee) returns as well. In Week 16 with Tim Boyle under center at Atlanta, St. Brown had nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. That's now four games in a row with at least 11 targets, eight catches and 73 yards, and he has three touchdowns over that span. I liked St. Brown a lot coming into the season, and he's played well beyond my expectations during this hot streak. I'm hopeful he keeps it up for at least one more time in Week 17.
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Lockett didn't fare well in Week 16 in his return from a one-game absence on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Against the Bears in the snow, Lockett had just three catches for 30 yards on six targets. That snapped a streak of four games in a row with at least 12 PPR points, including two in a row with at least 19 PPR points, but he should get back on track this week against the Lions. Lockett needs only 5 more receiving yards and one touchdown to set new career single-season highs in both categories, and he should accomplish both in this matchup with Detroit.
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Beckham and Van Jefferson are both in play this week at Baltimore as complementary options for Cooper Kupp. You know Kupp will get his production against this Ravens secondary, but Beckham and Jefferson should also contribute in a big way. In their past five games against Cleveland twice, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Cincinnati, seven receivers have at least 85 receiving yards against the Ravens. Over that span, opposing receivers have 66 catches for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns, and nine receivers have at least 14 PPR points against Baltimore. Beckham has a touchdown in four of his past five games and has scored at least 13 PPR points three times over that span. And Jefferson has scored at least 14 PPR points three times in his past five outings, with three touchdowns over that span as well.
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In two games since DeAndre Hopkins (knee) went on injured reserve, Kirk has 21 targets for 16 catches, 142 yards and a touchdown, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in each outing against Detroit and Indianapolis. He should continue to be the go-to guy for Kyler Murray in Week 17 at Dallas, and the Cardinals will likely be chasing points in this matchup on the road. There have been 12 times this season where the Cowboys faced a receiver with at least eight targets, and 10 times that receiver has scored at least 12 PPR points, including eight times with at least 19 PPR points. Based on the past two games without Hopkins, Kirk should see at least nine targets in this matchup.
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Sleepers
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Lazard scored 13 PPR points in Week 16 against Cleveland, and he's now scored a touchdown in two of his past three games. It could have been three games in a row, but Aaron Rodgers missed Lazard in the end zone in Week 15 at Baltimore. We'll see if Marquez Valdes-Scantling (COVID) can play in Week 17 against Minnesota, but if he's out again then Lazard should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues. With Valdes-Scantling, Lazard is still worth starting in all three-receiver formats against the Vikings, who are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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Davis and Cole Beasley were activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, and we'll see how Buffalo uses all of their receivers behind Stefon Diggs when considering Davis, Beasley, Isaiah McKenzie and Emmanuel Sanders. I'd be surprised if Davis is not back in a prominent role given his performance prior to missing Week 16 at New England, and hopefully, he can pick up where he left off. He scored a touchdown in three games in a row, and he had 15 targets for 10 catches, 128 yards and two touchdowns in his past two outings against Tampa Bay and Carolina. The matchup with the Falcons is great since Atlanta is No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Davis should be considered a borderline starting Fantasy option in all leagues.
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Perriman was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, and he could step into a prominent role for the Buccaneers right away in Week 17. Chris Godwin (ACL) is out, and Mike Evans (hamstring/COVID) is likely going to miss Week 17 as well. With both out in Week 16 at Carolina, the combination of Cyril Grayson, Scott Miller and Tyler Johnson had three catches for 81 yards on four targets opposite Antonio Brown. Perriman could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Jets, and this is a revenge game for him after spending 2020 in New York. The Jets also have allowed three receivers to score at least 14 PPR points against them in their past two games against Miami and Jacksonville.
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Jones has stepped up recently as a nice complementary weapon for the Raiders behind Hunter Renfrow. He has at least seven targets in four of his past five games, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in each of his past two outings against Cleveland and Denver. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1, but he should be considered a low-end No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 17 at the Colts.
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Sit 'Em
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I thought Parker would struggle in Week 16 at New Orleans, but I didn't expect him to go without a catch or target. He should obviously do better than that this week at Tennessee, but I'm not trusting Parker in this matchup. Tua Tagovailoa is locked onto Jaylen Waddle right now, and he's the only offensive player I would use for the Dolphins in any Fantasy leagues in Week 17. Tennessee also has allowed just one touchdown to a receiver in the past three games.
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McLaurin is going to be one of my favorite bounce-back candidates in 2022 when Washington hopefully gets an upgrade at quarterback. But I'm not starting him in Week 17 against the Eagles. McLaurin had two catches for 51 yards on four targets in Week 15 at Philadelphia, and he's now gone five games in a row with nine PPR points or less and has just one game with more than 60 receiving yards since Week 7. With a likely matchup with Darius Slay, McLaurin is even a risky starter in three-receiver leagues.
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Claypool posted another disappointing stat line in Week 16 at Kansas City with four catches for 41 yards on six targets, and he's now scored eight PPR points or less in three of his past four games. He only had four catches for 45 yards on five targets in Week 8 at Cleveland, and Claypool has yet to score a touchdown since Week 5. He's only worth using as a low-end starter in three-receiver leagues in Week 17.
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Aiyuk scored for the second time in his past three games in Week 16 at Tennessee, and he now has at least 12 PPR points in four of his past six outings. But I'm concerned about his production this week if Trey Lance starts for Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb). There could be even more running for the 49ers -- from Lance also -- and fewer targets for Aiyuk, who only has seven in his past two games against the Falcons and Titans. At best, Aiyuk is just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues.
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Bust Alert
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Brown has been disappointing lately, and he's only worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7, and he's been held to 55 receiving yards or less in six games in a row. Now, he does have two games with at least eight catches in his past five outings, which is good in PPR, but we need Brown to make more explosive plays down the field. We'll see what happens if Lamar Jackson (ankle) returns this week, but I'd still be cautious with trusting Brown as a must-start Fantasy option against the Rams.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Tight End
Start 'Em
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I've been wrong on Schultz the past two weeks as a bust alert, so hopefully he stays hot in Week 17 against Arizona. I anticipated Schultz getting less targets with the Cowboys being fully healthy at wide receiver, but he still had eight targets in Week 15 at the Giants and nine targets in Week 16 against Washington. He scored at least 20 PPR points in both outings, and he should continue to do well this week against the Cardinals if Dak Prescott keeps looking for him this much.
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Knox should get back on track this week now that he's not facing the Patriots. While he did score at New England in Week 16, he's been held to nine PPR points or less in three of his past four games, with two of those outings coming against the Patriots. The Falcons have allowed two tight ends to score at least 15 PPR points in their past four games, and Knox has scored at least 14 PPR points in three of five games in Buffalo this year.
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Everett has become a must-start Fantasy tight end in all leagues. He has three touchdowns in his past five games, and he scored at least 10 PPR points in four outings over that span. He should continue to be a solid contributor in Week 17 against the Lions, who have allowed eight tight ends to score at least nine PPR points in their past five games, including three touchdowns.
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Sleepers
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After three down games in place of Darren Waller (knee), Moreau has picked up his production in his past two outings with at least 10 PPR points in each game against the Browns and Broncos. He has a favorable matchup in Week 17 at the Colts, who have allowed seven tight ends to score at least 11 PPR points in their past eight games. Moreau is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues if Waller remains out in Week 17, and Waller was also placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.
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Higbee has been OK in his past two outings with nine PPR points against the Jaguars in Week 13 and the Vikings in Week 16. He missed Week 14 and 15 after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he does have the chance to be a low-end starter in all leagues this week at Baltimore. The Ravens have allowed two touchdowns to tight ends in their past five games, and for the season, Baltimore is No. 5 in most Fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
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Kmet has yet to score a touchdown this season, but maybe it happens this week against the Giants. We'll see who starts at quarterback for Chicago this week, but hopefully Kmet remains a viable target. He has two games with at least 13 PPR points in his past five outings, and the Giants have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in two of their past three games.
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Sit 'Em
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Cook failed to take advantage of Mike Williams and Jalen Guyton being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in Week 16 at Houston when he had just three catches for 44 yards on five targets. He did score a two-point conversion to get him to nine PPR points, but I had higher expectations for him in what should have been a more featured role. He's now scored nine PPR points or less in four games in a row, and this is a tough matchup in Week 17 against Denver. The Broncos have allowed just one tight end to score this season, which was Cook in Week 12, but no tight end has more than 11 PPR points against Denver, including matchups with Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, Dallas Goedert and Schultz. I don't expect Cook to score again in the rematch with the Broncos this week.
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Hooper came off the reserve/COVID-19 list in Week 16 at Green Bay after missing one game and had three catches for 26 yards on five targets. He will likely have another down game in Week 17 at Pittsburgh, and he had just four catches for 26 yards on six targets against the Steelers in Week 8. Pittsburgh has allowed just two touchdowns to tight ends this season, and no tight end has scored more than nine PPR points against the Steelers in their past seven games.
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Bust Alert
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Gesicki hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7 and has gone eight games in a row with 54 receiving yards or less. He does have two games over that span where he scored 10 and 11 PPR points, but that seems to be his ceiling based on his recent level of play. This week, he's taking on a Titans defense that has been great against tight ends all season. Tennessee has allowed just three touchdowns to tight ends, and only Dan Arnold in Week 5 and Travis Kelce in Week 7 have scored more than 10 PPR points against the Titans, including matchups with Knox and George Kittle, who had just two catches for 21 yards on three targets last week.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
DST
Start 'Em
(Bills vs. ATL): The Bills defense could be awesome this week against the Falcons. Atlanta has scored 20 points or less in three of its past four games, and the Falcons have allowed six sacks in the past two outings against the 49ers and Lions. Atlanta also has a four-game streak of losing a fumble coming into Week 17.
Sleepers
- Eagles (at WAS)
- Bears (vs. NYG)
- Saints (vs. CAR)
Sit 'Em
Packers (vs. MIN): The Packers defense was great in Week 16 against Cleveland with five sacks and four interceptions, and Kirk Cousins is always capable of imploding in a prime-time game. But he also handled himself well against Green Bay in Week 11, and Minnesota had no turnovers and gave up just two sacks in that matchup while scoring 34 points. I would consider the Packers DST just a low-end starting option this week in most leagues.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
KICKERS
Start 'Em
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Folk has struggled lately, scoring a combined 14 Fantasy points in his past three games. But he should rebound this week at home against the Jaguars. Four kickers in a row and nine for the season have scored at least eight Fantasy points against Jacksonville, and the Jaguars have allowed 10 kickers to make multiple field goals against them this year.
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Sleepers
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Sit 'Em
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Koo has scored at least 10 Fantasy points in two of his past three games, and he has three games in a row with multiple field goals. But I would plan to sit him this week at Buffalo since the Bills are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers. Only one kicker has scored more than nine Fantasy points against Buffalo since Week 6, and three of the past five opposing kickers against the Bills have had zero made field goals.
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