The fantasy football championship is here. These decisions quite literally might be the difference between hoisting that trophy or watching someone else do it at your expense. Let’s take a look at our RB start/sit Week 17 plays. Before setting your lineups, check out our complete Week 17 fantasy football PPR rankings.
Week 17 Fantasy Football RB Start ’ems
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
If you’ve been searching for fantasy points from Brian Robinson, they haven’t really come. But the volume is there.
Robinson is averaging 18.1 carries per game since Week 9. While his snap share remains below 50%, he’s the clear lead back. Most importantly, he’s used near the goal line.
MORE: Tyler Allgeier Waiver Wire Week 17
The goal-line work hasn’t mattered recently, as the Commanders haven’t scored many touchdowns. That should change this week against a Browns defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs.
Cleveland allows a whopping 5.2 yards per carry, third most in the league. Only the Bears and Texans have allowed more rushing touchdowns. Robinson is a great bet to find the end zone this week. Start him.
Zonovan Knight, New York Jets (at SEA)
If you picked up Zonovan Knight ahead of Week 13 and started him for two weeks, you probably made the playoffs. If you kept starting him, you probably aren’t playing anymore.
For those of you who somehow made it through these past two down weeks, Bam is back on the menu.
Despite his horrific production, Knight remains the Jets’ lead back. The increased usage for Ty Johnson last week was tied to Chris Streveler. Knight’s two awful games were also tied to Zach Wilson. Yet, with Mike White, he was an RB2.
The Jets’ savior is back this week. That not only increases the overall potency of New York’s offense, but it raises Knight’s floor. With White, Knight averaged four targets per game compared to just one with Wilson.
Additionally, the matchup couldn’t be much better. The Seahawks allow the second-most fantasy points per game to RBs. They also struggle to defend pass-catching backs. Of their receiving yards allowed, 19.4% have gone to running backs.
It definitely takes some gumption to start Knight this week after what he’s done. But I still believe in him and think he bounces back in a big way in a plum matchup. This feels like a nice spot to take his rushing yards higher on Underdog Fantasy. I’m in.
Week 17 Fantasy Football RB Sit ’ems
Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos (at KC)
On the other hand, Latavius Murray was in a smash spot last week and completely flopped. It wasn’t entirely his fault, as the Broncos got run out of the building, essentially taking the run off the table early. Russell Wilson just couldn’t stop giving the ball to the other team.
When these two teams met in Week 14, Murray was the clear lead back, playing over 50% of the snaps. However, he turned that into just 32 yards on eight carries, while adding three receptions for -1 yard.
This week, Denver travels to Kansas City in a game that probably won’t be close. There’s also the added uncertainty of how a new interim head coach will handle this backfield. Murray is not the future of this team, and there’s not much reason to feed him 15+ touches. They very well might anyway, but there’s more ambiguity than there was the past couple of weeks.
The Chiefs constantly forcing opponents into negative game script also contributes to why they allow just 0.4 rushing touchdowns per game. Murray seems like a poor bet to score this week, which lowers his ceiling considerably. He hasn’t scored higher than 10.8 fantasy points in games without a touchdown. Fade the Broncos this week.
Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins (at NE)
I’m not going to lie. I really liked Raheem Mostert last week in a great matchup against the Packers. It didn’t work out. The return of Jeff Wilson Jr. mattered far more than I anticipated. Wilson played 60% of the snaps, 8% more than Mostert. And he got the goal-line carries, punching in a short touchdown.
Unfortunately, neither was particularly useful for fantasy, as they cannibalized each other.
If last week was a dream spot, this week is a nightmare. The uncertain split that has flip-flopped all season renders both difficult to trust. As if that isn’t reason enough to fade them, the Patriots allow the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa Injury Update
Not that you needed more fuel against Mostert and Wilson, but the Dolphins will almost certainly be without Tua Tagovailoa. Teddy Bridgewater is competent, but this offense will suffer overall.
I’m expecting a pass-heavy game plan regardless of who starts at quarterback, and ineffective running when they do hand it off. All of the evidence suggests the Dolphins’ dynamic duo will struggle this week.