Week 17 Starts/Sits Guide
- Faraz Siddiqi
- Dec 26, 2025
- 5 min read
With championships on the line, this is not the week to overthink things — but it is the week to be intentional. Matchups, recent usage trends, and game environments matter more than ever. Below is a position-by-position breakdown of who to trust, who to treat cautiously, and who to keep on the bench.
Quarterbacks
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Jacoby Brissett @ Cincinnati
Last week was a disappointment, but it’s one worth throwing out. Prior to that game, Brissett rattled off nine straight QB1 finishes, and nothing about this matchup suggests another letdown. Cincinnati is allowing the 5th-most passing yards, is tied for the 3rd-most passing touchdowns, and gives up the 5th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Add in the highest game total of the week and a tight spread, and Brissett gets another green light in what could turn into a meaningless—but fantasy-friendly—shootout.
Trevor Lawrence @ Indianapolis
It’s starting to look real. Lawrence has now finished as a QB1 in seven of his last eight games, including back-to-back Top-2 finishes. Doing it against Tennessee and Indy is one thing, but going into Denver and throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns was the statement performance. He’s locked in, the offense is humming, and the Colts are giving up the 3rd-most passing yards on the season. You don’t bench a quarterback playing this well.
Brock Purdy vs Chicago
Post-bye Purdy looks like vintage Purdy. Over the last two games, he’s thrown for nearly 600 yards and eight touchdowns, finishing as the QB3 and QB1. Chicago has been vulnerable through the air, tied for the 3rd-most passing TDs allowed, and this sets up as another spot where Purdy can keep stacking fantasy points.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Tyler Shough @ Tennessee (Desperate)
Shough hasn’t shown much ceiling, but the floor has been quietly stable. He hasn’t finished outside the Top-20 over his last five games, and the Titans have been one of the best recent matchups, allowing the 2nd-most fantasy points to QBs over the last four weeks. Tennessee also plays two-high safety at one of the highest rates in the league — a coverage Shough has historically performed better against. He’s a viable QB2 if you’re scraping.
Caleb Williams @ San Francisco (Desperate)
The 49ers’ defensive numbers have improved recently, but context matters. That stretch came against Bryce Young, Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Philip Rivers. Before that, San Francisco was giving up the 2nd-most fantasy points to QBs over a four-week span. With one of the highest implied totals of the week and a tight spread, there’s sneaky upside if this turns into a back-and-forth game.
Justin Herbert vs Houston (Temper Expectations)
Last week’s QB4 finish was nice, but it came against Dallas. Before that, Herbert finished QB20, QB17, and QB27. Now he draws a Houston defense that allows the fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. If you have an alternative, this is a good week to use it.
Running Backs
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Ashton Jeanty vs NYG
Tank Bowl or not, volume and efficiency win. Jeanty just ran for 188 yards in a tough matchup and now gets a Giants defense allowing the 3rd-most fantasy points, 2nd-most rushing yards, and most yards per carry to running backs. It’s not pretty football — but it’s very playable fantasy football.
Rhamondre Stevenson @ NYJ
This is entirely dependent on TreVeyon Henderson’s status. If Henderson is out, Stevenson becomes a high-end RB2 in a matchup where the Jets are allowing the 2nd-most fantasy points to RBs over the last four weeks and averaging one rushing TD allowed per game. If Henderson plays, Stevenson is more of an upside flex.
Omarion Hampton vs Houston
If Kimani Vidal is out, Hampton becomes a volume bet worth making. A 20+ touch workload with increased receiving involvement outweighs the matchup concerns, making him a solid RB2 based purely on opportunity.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Michael Carter @ Cincinnati (Desperate)
Carter didn’t have the backfield to himself last week, splitting work with Emari Demercado and Corey Kiner. Still, this matchup is too good to ignore. Cincinnati games are turning into track meets, and if Carter leads the backfield again, he has flex value with upside in a high-total environment.
Dylan Sampson vs Pittsburgh (Desperate)
If he’s active, Sampson has real upside. He’s one of the most heavily targeted RBs in football on a per-snap basis and has cleared 50 receiving yards in two of his last three games played. Pittsburgh has allowed the 8th-most RB receptions and 11th-most receiving yards to the position, making Sampson a high-risk, high-reward PPR option.
Wide Receivers
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Jakobi Meyers @ Indianapolis
Since becoming a full-time player, Meyers has commanded a 25% target share and produced as a Top-20 fantasy wideout. The Colts are allowing the 4th-most fantasy points to perimeter WRs, and with Trevor Lawrence playing at a high level, this is a strong WR2 spot.
Christian Watson vs Baltimore
Baltimore’s defensive tendencies play directly into Watson’s strengths. Against single-high safety looks — which the Ravens deploy at a top-three rate — Watson sees a higher target share and better efficiency. Even if Jordan Love doesn’t play, Watson’s upside keeps him firmly in play.
Stefon Diggs @ NYJ
If Kayshon Boutte sits, Diggs becomes a must-start. When Boutte missed earlier this season, Diggs posted a 30% target share and a Top-10 finish. That type of role is impossible to leave on the bench.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
DJ Moore & Luther Burden vs San Francisco (Desperate)
If Rome Odunze is out and Burden returns, both receivers settle in as WR3 plays. The matchup isn’t scary, the game environment is excellent, and San Francisco has allowed the 2nd-most fantasy points to slot receivers, giving Burden a slight edge between the two.
🔴 Red Light 🔴
Khalil Shakir vs Philadelphia
Shakir’s recent target growth hasn’t translated into production, and now he draws the league’s toughest WR matchup. Philadelphia allows the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to WRs overall and is especially dominant in the slot. This is a spot to sit him.
Tight Ends
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Brenton Strange @ Indianapolis
Since returning in Week 12, Strange has averaged an 18% target share, posting either 90+ yards or a touchdown in three of five games. The Colts are a dream matchup for tight ends, allowing the 2nd-most receiving yards and 5th-most fantasy points to the position. He checks in as a Top-10 TE this week.
Juwan Johnson @ Tennessee
With Tyler Shough under center, Johnson has quietly re-emerged, commanding an 18% target share as the team’s No. 2 option. Tennessee has allowed the 8th-most fantasy points to tight ends over the last four weeks, giving Johnson fringe TE1 appeal in championship week.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Colston Loveland @ San Francisco (Desperate)
Loveland hasn’t taken over a full-time role, but he’s earned a 17%+ target share in five straight games. With Rome Odunze out and a high-total game environment, he’s a reasonable desperation tight end play if you’re chasing volume.
