As we head into the championship round of the fantasy football playoffs, making WR start ’em or sit ’em decisions for Week 17 becomes even more critical as teams attempt to survive. With not all matchups being equal, here are our top wide receiver start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 17 of fantasy football.
Week 17 Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers
The fantasy playoffs are here. Let’s get into this week’s start ’em and sit ’em plays at the wide receiver position. Which wide receivers are starts heading into Week 17?
Start ‘Em | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (@ SEA)
I mean, come on, we all knew this was coming from me this week. After talking him up in the spring and summer, closing out the fantasy season by starting Amon-Ra St. Brown just feels right. And I have a good reason because he is on fire like you would only see in NFL Blitz.
In Week 16, St. Brown had 9 receptions on 11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons while also adding 19 yards on 2 carries. In his last four weeks, he’s hauled in 35 of 46 targets for 340 yards and 3 TDs and has seen 11 or more targets in every game. He has also scored 23+ fantasy points in three of the last four, with his only contest below that total coming in Week 15 (15.3 PPR points). I’m once again firing up St. Brown as a WR2 for the fantasy championships.
Start ‘Em | DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (@ WFT)
DeVonta Smith finally got back into the scoring column last week against the Giants and had his first double-digit fantasy game since Week 10. In fact, his 19 PPR points were more than his last three games combined. Smith’s 7 targets were his most since Week 7 (9 vs. LV), and he hauled in 5 receptions for 80 yards with his score.
The Eagles have turned into a run-first team, but with Miles Sanders out (hand) and Jordan Howard questionable (neck), we could see a few more targets to WRs, as we did last week. Add in the favorable matchup against Washington and their fifth-worst defense vs. WRs over the last four games (41.88 ppg), and Smith should once again be startable in Week 17 as a high-end WR3.
Start ‘Em | Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders (@ IND)
Since Week 12, Zay Jones is No. 17 in the NFL targets among WRs with 36. He’s managed at least 7 targets in four of those five games. Last week against the Broncos, Jones had 6 receptions for 50 yards. He has 5+ receptions in four of his last five and has three games of 50 yards or more.
With 17 targets in his last two games, it’s hard not to notice his increased role and value in the Raiders’ passing game. He is certainly not a must-start, but as a deeper WR4, Jones has flex appeal in Week 17.
Week 17 Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers
Sometimes, wide receivers have a problematic matchup. Or maybe it comes down to inconsistent play, which forces them to remain on your bench. Whatever the reason, these WRs should be left off your starting roster in Week 17.
Sit ‘Em | Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team (@ PHI)
I cannot believe this one. Terry McLaurin had legitimate top-10 upside heading into the season, but with championships on the line, I can not recommend starting him. Granted, anytime McLaurin is on the field, he is likely the most talented player out there. That makes it hard to bench him, but his team is letting him down.
Over his last four games, McLaurin has 8 receptions and 113 yards combined. He has over 60 yards or a TD just once since Week 7. When these teams last faced off in Week 15, McLaurin caught 2 passes for 15 yards. Add in a matchup against Darius Slay, and McLaurin is not someone I can start with fantasy championships on the line.
Sit ‘Em | Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CLE)
Again, another WR who came into the season but has done nothing but disappoint. Against the Chiefs last week, Chase Claypool caught 4 of 6 targets for 41 yards, and he’s now scored 8 PPR points or less in three of his past four games.
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He is as boom-or-bust as it gets. Add in his drop-off from 11 touchdowns in 2020 to only 1 this season, and he is the WR38 on the year. But ask fantasy managers who have Claypool, and they likely would have said he is even lower than that. Add in Ben Roethlisberger’s final home game and his struggles in the first three quarters, and Claypool is a WR4 for Week 17.
Sit ‘Em | Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (@ CHI)
In his last three games, Kenny Golladay has seen 8 targets in every contest. However, he has finished as the WR80, WR42, and WR75. He has not had over 50 yards or had double-digit points since Week 4.
Granted, there is a thing for being the only guy. Kadarius Toney (shoulder) has not practiced this week, Darius Slayton is on the reserve/COVID-19, and Sterling Shepard is on IR. It’s Golladay’s show, but whether it is Jake Fromm or Mike Glennon under center against the Bears, I can’t find a way to have him in my starting fantasy roster.
