Every week, Justin Boone profiles some underrated fantasy football players for you to consider starting the week, as well as potential busts you might want to keep on the bench.
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For the rest of the lineup decisions, consult his Week 17 Rankings.
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start
Brock Purdy, quarterback, 49ers
vs. bears
We begin the fantasy playoffs and I recommend the 49ers passing attack, there’s no reason to avoid them at this point.
Over the past two weeks, Purdy has passed for 590 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 55 yards.
Even with George Kittle’s status up in the air, the Niners have enough skill position talent for this offense to stay humming against a Bears defense that allowed the quarterback the 12th-most fantasy points.
The Purdy party continues all the way to the fantasy championship.
Other QBs to start:
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Bengals’ Jacoby Brissett – After nine straight QB1 fantasy games, Brissett finally suffered a down game in Week 16. Luckily, he got into a really good bounce position against the Bengals defense, which is the sixth-easiest matchup for a pass rusher.
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Caleb Williams(49ers) – If 44-year-old Philip Rivers can throw for 277 yards and two touchdowns against a Niners defense, what can a dynamic young passer like Williams do?
Jaylen Warren/Kenneth Gamwell, running back, Steelers
on the browns
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Both Steelers teams are quality starters in fantasy tournaments, as they have been for weeks.
Warren has reached the end zone five times in the last five games, including a stunning 151-yard, two-score drive last week.
Meanwhile, Gamwell has become a key cog in the passing attack, recording at least five catches in five of the past six games. He also had 125 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games.
Their opponents are no longer an issue this week, as Cleveland’s once-proud defense has collapsed in the second half of the season. The Browns have had seven consecutive starting running backs rush for at least 70 yards and a touchdown, and five of them have topped 100 yards.
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With DK Metcalf suspended, the Steelers will need to rely more heavily on their backfield duo, so feel free to start them as a fantasy RB2 with upside.
Other RBs that need to be started:
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Omarion Hampton vs. Texans – Hampton is coming off a 95-yard, one-touchdown performance and will likely be alone in the backfield as Kimani Vidal deals with a neck injury. As good as the Texans defense has been this year, they’ve also had five straight starting running backs give up at least 90 yards or a touchdown.
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Lamond Stevenson of Jets – TreVeyon Henderson is trying to get through a concussion regimen, so his status needs to be considered here. The Jets are a great matchup, though, and they’ve allowed the second-highest fantasy points to RBs, including 14 touchdowns in the last six games. If Henderson is out, Stevenson will be the high-end RB2, and if the rookie comes on, Stevenson can still start as a borderline low-end RB2.
Ja’an Jennings, WR, 49ers
vs. bears
Jennings ranks 34th among WRs in points per game this season, but he has been on a tear lately, scoring seven touchdowns in his past seven games.
Kittle is limited or likely to miss this game with an ankle injury, which will only make Jennings more valuable in fantasy due to increased game volume.
On top of that, Jennings had a battle with a Bears defense that allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Chicago has allowed some big numbers to the position recently, such as Romeo Doubs’ 5-84-1, Christian Watson’s 4-89-2, and AJ Brown’s 10-132-2 last month.
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You can confidently look to Jennings as a fantasy WR2 with upside this week.
Other WRs to start:
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DJ Moore on the 49ers – Moore has been on a hot streak of late, benefiting from injuries to Roman Odunze and Luther Burden III. Burden will likely return in this game, but I’m sticking with Moore as the fantasy WR2 this week because he’s had two straight top-seven fantasy WR results. The way to attack the 49ers is through the air, and Moore will be a big part of Chicago’s success in Week 17.
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Jakobi Meyers with Colts – Don’t let a quiet game against a tough Broncos defense fool you, Meyers remains Jacksonville’s most valuable fantasy receiver. Before last week, he had gained at least 71 yards or a touchdown in four straight games.
Juwan Johnson, TE, Saints
on the titans
With injuries to his receiving corps, Johnson’s goals have increased again, and he completed 8 of 9 passes for 89 yards last week.
Now, he’s got a Titans defense that’s been more generous to tight ends lately, allowing 8-88-1 to Kittle in Week 15, 8-114-1 to Harold Fanning Jr. in Week 14, and 3-45-1 to Brenton Strange in Week 13.
Johnson is expected to be busy in this game and put in a strong fantasy performance as TE1.
Other TEs that need to be started:
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Colston Loveland(49ers) – Loveland doesn’t have the easiest job schedule, but he remains productive while displaying elite skills. Now, he’s playing his best matchup in a while against a 49ers defense that’s allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to a TE.
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Taysom Hill of Team Tyson – Hill has been the ultimate boom or bust tight end. Last week, we finally saw the team give him enough passing volume, resulting in 42 yards rushing, 36 yards receiving and a 38-yard touchdown pass. We’re not sure if Hill will be a focal point of the Saints’ game plan again, but it makes sense given the injuries in their backfield. Fantasy managers who need a home run at tight end should strongly consider Hill as a fringe TE1 come championship week.
sit
Justin Herbert, quarterback, Chargers
vs. texans
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Herbert had a great game, passing for 200 yards, two passing touchdowns, 42 rushing yards, and a touchdown.
However, he did it against the Cowboys, the fantasy quarterback’s easiest opponent. Now, he must try to replicate that feat against the Texans, who may be the worst opponent at his position.
Houston has allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and has terrorized passers with its pass rush all season. That’s not a good sign for a Chargers offensive line that has been decimated by injuries this season.
Herbert is talented enough to make plays even when the odds are stacked against him, but he will be under a lot of pressure from the defense in this game, which lowers his fantasy ceiling.
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Even after his stellar performance in Week 16, Herbert is just the QB2 anchor this time around and not someone you should be relying on to help you win a fantasy championship.
Other quarterbacks who could sit:
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CJ Stroud on Chargers – On the other side of this game is Stroud, who will have to contend with a Chargers defense that is the second-toughest opponent for a fantasy quarterback. This game is one of the lower predicted point totals this week at 39.5 points, and there’s a reason for that.
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Bryce Young vs. Seahawks – You probably wouldn’t consider Young starting outside of Superflex or two-QB leagues, but with three games on Christmas Day, there aren’t many options to choose from for this final “sit” recommendation. Just know that the Seahawks are the ninth-toughest opponent at quarterback. Young hasn’t done enough to give fantasy managers hope that he can beat such a tough opponent.
Rico Dowdle, running back, Panthers
vs seahawks
Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard have become accustomed to split backfields, which lowers the fantasy ceiling for both ball carriers.
Neither back has topped 55 yards in any game over the past two weeks, and achieving that feat against Seattle will be challenging.
This was Dowdell’s most difficult matchup in a while, and the Seahawks defense allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.
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A split backfield and tough opponents are not the chips you want when competing for a fantasy championship.
This week, Dowdle will be a TD or bust RB3.
Other RBs sit:
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Brees Hall vs. Patriots – Hall has averaged less than 50 yards per game over the past three games and likely lacks motivation to push for more on a non-playoff team with free agency looming. The Patriots are 13.5-point favorites in this game and key running back Milton Williams could return.
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woody marquez in blitzkrieg – Marks returns from a week off just in time for a challenging game against a Chargers defense that gave up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. It would also be wise for the Texans not to overload Marks in his first game since his ankle injury.
Khalil Shakir, wide receiver, Bills
vs eagles
Shakir has scored double-digit fantasy points just twice in his past 11 games and hasn’t reached that mark in more than a month.
The Eagles defense allowed the third-fewest points to opposing receivers, but they weren’t in a good position to chase Shakir’s big game.
Weather may also limit the passing attack in this game, with rain and wind expected.
Shakir is more of a bye week replacement option than someone you want to trust in a fantasy tournament.
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Other WR agents:
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Quentin Johnston vs. Texans – This week’s argument against Johnston is similar to the one I wrote about Justin Herbert . Johnston had 104 yards and a score against a weak Dallas defense last week, and now he must face a Texans team that is the second-toughest team against a wide receiver corps. Houston also excels at shutting down wide receivers.
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Emeka Egbuka with Dolphins – Egbuka has scored less than nine points in nine of his last 10 games. If you have the guts to play him this week, I wish you good luck, but I can’t prove it.
Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
on the packers
Andrews has been held to 21 yards or fewer in four of his last five games. The veteran has also only had more than 50 yards receiving once this season.
Meanwhile, the Packers defense has held just one tight end to 50 yards since Week 2.
With Lamar Jackson listed as questionable, the likelihood of Andrews scoring a touchdown also diminishes.
There’s no reason why Andrews should be anywhere near your lineup this week. As a borderline low-end TE2, he’s well off the fantasy radar.
Other TEs that need to be attended:
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Dalton Kinkaid vs Eagles – Kincaid hasn’t been very productive as of late while trying to overcome injuries. A matchup that’s least generous to a fantasy tight end against an Eagles defense makes him a dangerous TD or bust low-end TE2 streamer.
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Oronde Gadsden II vs. Texans – Gadsden hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points in over two months and has a tough game against the Texans this week.