Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Week 17: Wide Receivers - Fades, Sleepers, Matchups, DFS Bargains

Antonio Brown looks to continue his fantasy football success in Week 17 vs. the Jets.

Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Jonathan Taylor, Davante Adams, or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.

Week 17 PPR Rankings: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | FLEX | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES (D/ST)

Week 17 Start ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Antonio Brown at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Buccaneers leaned on Brown last week in Carolina, as he saw 15 targets and scored 20.1 fantasy points with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans both out of action. With Evans now on the COVID-19 list, I’d consider Brown a nice option when the Buccaneers face the Jets. While their defense has been tough on opposing wideouts, Brown is matchup proof while the target volume is high.

Week 17 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES

Start ‘Em

Amon-Ra St. Brown at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): St. Brown has been a real fantasy stud lately, scoring a combined 89.6 fantasy points in his last four games. In that time, he ranks third in fantasy points among wideouts, behind only Cooper Kupp, Tee Higgins and Justin Jefferson. This week, he should remain in fantasy lineups, as the Seahawks have allowed six touchdowns and the fifth-most points to slot receivers.

DeVonta Smith at Football Team (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Smith busted out of a recent funk with 19 fantasy points in a win over the Giants. That’s more points than he had scored in his previous three games combined! I’d keep him in fantasy lineups in championship week, as Smith faces a Washington defense that’s allowed an average of 170.7 yards and the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in their last seven games.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Odell Beckham Jr. at Ravens (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Beckham Jr. has become a far more reliable option in fantasy land as a member of the Rams, scoring double-digit points in four of his last five games. He’s also scored a touchdown in three of his last four. OBJ should be in the flex conversation this week, as he’ll face a Ravens defense that’s allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers lined out wide since Week 9.

Christian Kirk at Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Kirk has become the new top option in the Cardinals pass attack, seeing a combined 27 targets in his last three games while putting up 47.8 fantasy points. This week's matchup against the Cowboys isn't favorable on paper, but it could be a high-scoring affair in what will be an important NFC battle. I'd consider Kirk a nice flex option in PPR formats in fantasy championship week.

More Starts

• Brandin Cooks at 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Tyler Lockett vs. Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Amari Cooper vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains

• Amon-Ra St. Brown at Seahawks ($6,000)
• Odell Beckham Jr. at Ravens ($5,700)
• Jakobi Meyers vs. Jaguars ($5,100)

Week 17 Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

Marquise Brown vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Brown has been a viable option in PPR leagues, but lately, he's struggled in standard formats. In fact, he’s failed to post more than 55 yards in a game since Week 10 and hasn’t scored a single touchdown in each of his last seven straight games. The Rams haven’t allowed a receiver lined out wide to score a touchdown since Week 9, so Brown could be in for a very mediocre contest.

Sit ‘Em

Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox): McLaurin has seen his totals drop in the last five weeks, as he’s failed to score more than 9.1 fantasy points in a game during that time. That includes a Week 14 matchup against shutdown CB Darius Slay and the Eagles when he was held to a mere four targets and 7.1 fantasy points. Washington’s quarterbacks have played poorly in that time too, so McLaurin is a real risk this week.

DeVante Parker at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Parker was a massive dud in the stat sheets last week, posting zero fantasy points in a win over the Saints. Jaylen Waddle has become the clear No. 1 option in Miami's pass attack, making Parker a tough sell for managers especially in championship week. I'd keep Parker on the sidelines against the Titans, who have allowed one touchdown to enemy receivers in the last three weeks.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Claypool vs. Browns (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Claypool saw his snaps and targets rise last week, but he still scored just 8.1 fantasy points in a blowout loss to the Chiefs. I’d keep him on the sidelines this week if possible, as he’ll face a Browns defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers since Week 9. What’s more, just one receiver lined out wide has found the end zone in that time.

Brandon Aiyuk vs. Texans (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Aiyuk has been difficult to trust in fantasy land this season, alternating good and bad stat lines over the last month. He should be considered no more than a risk-reward flex option this week, as he’ll face a Texans defense that’s allowed just four touchdown catches to receivers lined out wide since Week 9. While Deebo Samuel remains a must-start, Aiyuk is far less reliable.

More Sits

• Kenny Golladay at Bears (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Courtland Sutton at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Marvin Jones Jr. at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades

• Ja’Marr Chase vs. Chiefs ($7,600)
• Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles ($6,200)
• Brandin Aiyuk vs. Texans ($5,900)

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!