Injuries have continued to wreak havoc around the NFL in recent weeks. The quarterback position has been notably affected, with Jordan Love and Lamar Jackson the latest to leave their games and not return due to injury.
Those two are far from the only fantasy playmakers to suffer key injuries in Week 17. Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a nasty, season-ending leg injury against the Buffalo Bills while his college teammate, TreVeyon Henderson, went down with a head injury on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Baltimore Ravens.
Fantasy managers lucky enough to survive that slew of injuries will be searching for quality streamers who could replace any injured players who are unable to suit up in Week 17. Luckily, there are a handful of quality injury replacements who can lead teams to fantasy championships.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 17 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.
Fantasy football players to start in Week 17
Quarterbacks
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Miami Dolphins)
Mayfield has only thrown one passing touchdown in five of his last six games, but his matchup against Miami is a prime bounce-back spot. The Dolphins have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season and have allowed an average of 251.5 passing yards and three passing touchdowns over the past two weeks.
- Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (at Tennessee Titans)
Shough has quietly posted at least 17 fantasy points in four consecutive games and is coming off a career-high 308 passing yards and 49 passing attempts against the Jets. The Louisville product figures to get similar volume against the Titans, as the Saints have lost their top-three running backs to injuries this season. That – plus the Titans allowing the eighth-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season – makes Shough a worthwhile flier for those dealing with injuries at the position.
Running backs
- Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (at New York Jets)
The Patriots lost star rookie TreVeyon Henderson to a head injury during their ‘Sunday Night Football’ win over the Ravens. It isn’t yet clear whether he will play in Week 17, but if he doesn’t, Stevenson would be in line for a huge workload. He ranks second on the team behind Henderson in all major rushing stats while the only other running back on the 53-man roster, D’Ernest Johnson, has just four carries this season. The Jets have surrendered a league-high 23 total touchdowns to running backs, so Stevenson will have a chance to pop off either way in this favorable matchup.
- Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Carter served as Arizona’s lead back against the Falcons. He was solid in his role, turning 11 carries into 65 yards in the team’s 26-19 loss. Now, Carter gets to face a Bengals defense that has allowed a league-high 1,924 rushing yards to running backs. Feel free to back him as a high-volume flex option with upside.
Wide receivers
- Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
The Commanders may be down to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson as their starter for Christmas against the Cowboys. So what? Dallas has surrendered a league-high 2,614 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns to wideouts this season. Expect the Commanders to scheme up some early touches for Samuel while trying to allow the catch-and-run threat to break loose against a leaky defense.
- Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Indianapolis Colts)
Washington just racked up 145 yards on six catches against a stalwart Broncos defense. He also led the team with 10 targets and is playing alongside a red-hot Trevor Lawrence. Washington is worth considering as a boom-or-bust flex against a Colts secondary that is dealing with injuries to its top two cornerbacks (Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward).
Tight end
- Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers are one of two NFL teams to allow at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns to tight ends this season. Fannin has scored touchdowns in three of his last four games and can be trusted to produce again in this favorable matchup.
Defense/special teams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Miami Dolphins)
The Buccaneers have an appetizing matchup against Quinn Ewers, who threw two interceptions in his first NFL start against the Bengals. Tampa Bay should be able to force Ewers into more turnovers while the team’s solid run defense should be able to slow De’Von Achane down better than most.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 17
Quarterbacks
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)
Herbert enjoyed a stellar outing against the Cowboys in Week 16, throwing for 300 yards and totaling three touchdowns in a 17-point Chargers win. Trusting him in Week 17 carries risk, however, as he is facing a Texans defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season and ranks No. 1 in defensive EPA per play this season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Herbert has just eight total touchdowns over his last six games anyway, so it’s best to look elsewhere for a quarterback play this week.
- Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (at Carolina Panthers)
Darnold may pique the interest of fantasy managers as they deal with injuries at the quarterback position, but the 28-year-old has been hit or miss lately. He has posted zero total touchdowns in three of his last six games and will face a Panthers defense that has only surrendered 18 passing touchdowns to QBs this season, good for eighth-fewest in the league. Steer clear of Darnold in what could be a lower-scoring defensive battle in Charlotte.
Running backs
- Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)
Pacheco posted a season-high 75 scrimmage yards against the Titans in Week 16, but he seems unlikely to repeat that production in Week 17. The Broncos have allowed a league-low 42 receptions to running backs this season and most of Pacheco’s production (six catches, 41 yards) was through the air last week.
- Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Dowdle is back to splitting touches with Chuba Hubbard and has averaged just 62.5 scrimmage yards over his last four games. He might still be a fine flex play, but expect a lower ceiling for the breakout star against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the second-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season.
Wide receivers
- Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Shakir has averaged just three catches for 30 yards over his last four games while the Eagles have allowed just six receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season. It’s hard to recommend backing him in this matchup.
- Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Cincinnati Bengals)
In the four games Marvin Harrison Jr. has missed, Wilson is averaging 10.25 catches for 124.75 yards with three touchdowns. In the 11 games the duo has played together, Wilson is averaging just 2.9 catches for 29 yards with two touchdowns. Harrison is expected to play against the Bengals – who have allowed the sixth-fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season – so Wilson should probably be benched.
Tight end
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)
The Chiefs are going to start either Chris Oladokun or Shane Buechele at quarterback in Week 17 after losing Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew to season-ending injuries in consecutive weeks. That will make it hard for Kelce to be a legitimate fantasy asset against a tough Broncos defense.
Defense/special teams
- New Orleans Saints (at Tennessee Titans)
The Saints have played better on defense of late, so some fantasy managers may view them as an appealing play against the Titans. That said, Cam Ward has improved in recent weeks, throwing multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games while taking just three sacks during that span. This could end up being a surprisingly high-scoring matchup, so it’s best to steer clear of both defenses.
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