Here we are, friends! Championship week is upon us! In the words of Europe, it’s the “Final Countdown.” (If you don’t automatically hear BA-DA-DA-DAAAA DA-DA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAA in your head as soon as that phrase is mentioned, then we are not the same!)
I’m not going to lie; Week 16 was a kick to the nether regions for the start-sit article! The thing that is super tricky about articles like this late in the year is that it is late in the year! We have watched these players and teams all season, and the EXPERT rankers over at FantasyPros are no schmucks!
Top that off with the classic fantasy football randomness you get this time of year, and it is tough on the start-sit streets! (who had Diggs, Adams, AND Hopkins all being busts on their week 16 bingo card?!)
Let’s hit a sad recap before we dive into a hopeful Week 17!
Hits
Leonard Fournette, RB TBB
Lombardi Lenny was a smashing success and finished as the RB3 on the week. The big DAWG did everything you could wish (except score touchdowns) for the semi-final week. He led Rachaad White with 60%-36% of snaps and contributed 20 rush attempts and ten targets to the fantasy bonanza. I think you can safely lock him in for championship week if you have him.
Jamaal Williams, RB DET
Sadly, Williams continued to be an extremely touchdown-dependent boom-bust sort of flex play who didn’t score a touchdown. Williams’s output, as well as usage, was disappointing and flat-out alarming for any who were relying on him. He only received seven rush attempts and managed a pitiful eleven yards with them. He only played 24% of the snaps and received only two targets. I don’t see how you can plug him in with any real confidence in Week 17.
Misses
Marquise Goodwin, WR SEA
This was a tough one. Goodwin was a little banged up heading into the match and re-aggravated the injury in the game. However, he managed 51% of the snaps and did nothing with them. He had four targets and failed to haul in a single one. This was a juicy matchup, and the chance was there, but he failed to capitalize.
KJ Osborn, WR MIN
I did mention he was a boom-bust option heading into last week. Sadly, it was much more a bust than a boom for the WR3 on my beloved Minnesota Vikings. The week after setting a career-high on targets, he only managed three receptions on four targets for 69 yards. Usually, that is NOICE, but not in this case. This has quite literally been the story of Osborn’s year. You cannot rely on him, and then he pulls out a massive game that makes you pull your hair out once in a while!
Jakobi Meyers, WR NEP
Meyers was the icing on the pain cake for Week 16 regarding my suggestions. The matchup wasn’t great, he hadn’t played great in a while, and he was banged up. I almost felt a little guilty writing him up as a sit. Of course, he comes out, smashes, and finishes as WR10 on the week; it was that week for me.
I also wrote up Raheem Mostert, but I mentioned he would be a nice sit if Jeff Wilson Jr. sat out as he was trending towards missing the game. Unfortunately, Wilson suited up, and the backfield became very much muddled.
After a truly awful Week 16, my year-long tally sits at 45-26. I have fallen to a 63% hit rate on the year. Sadly, the 70+% hit rate is a dream that will not be realized this season! I will not allow that disappointment to cause me to back down, however. Let’s end this season with a bang and go big for the finale!!!
As a reminder, I am choosing wide receivers outside the top 36 and running backs outside the top 24 based on this week’s FantasyPros Expert Consensus Ranks. The setting is full PPR.
In the words of the legendary poet, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends”!
Week 17
D’Onta Foreman CAR RB31 FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank ⬆️
The week after I mentioned that Foreman SZN might be over, the man posts an RB6 performance. I am a sucker for an underdog story, so I am right back on board the Foreman SZN hype train. I’ve said it before, and I will repeat it, this time of the year, it is hard to sit any running back you expect to get north of 20 touches in a game.
The Bucs aren’t as scary of a defense as we think they are in our heads. Over the last four weeks, they have given up the 11th most fantasy points to the running back position. Carolina has made it clear they plan to “establish the run,” It is a divisional game where the division is still (surprisingly) up for grabs. Let’s “take it to the limit, one more time,” as the Eagles would say.
DJ Chark Jr. DET WR36 FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank ⬆️
An old saying says, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” I’d say the same for flexing Chark at this point of the season! This week’s matchup is at home for the playoff-hopeful Lions and boasts the highest over/under of the week at 52.
Chark has been a solid option for Goff since his return from injury. In fact, from Weeks 12-16, he has been the WR24 in PPR leagues. Chicago is a pretty middle-of-the-road defense against the pass, but they are out of playoff contention, and I have a feeling Dan Campbell will find a way to get his Lions purring for this one.
Christian Watson GB WR63 FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank ⬆️
Watson was one of my favorite rookie wide receivers coming out this year. It devastated me that the Vikings traded with the Packers and allowed them to draft this young stud. He has had his fair share of injury issues this season and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup. If he is well enough to go, I will play him. He is one of those guys that can make it all worth it in one play.
Sadly, the Vikings have been the second most generous defense to fantasy wide receivers over the last four weeks as well. When it is championship week, I am all about going for broke and shooting for ceiling outcomes when possible. It is hard to argue many ceilings will be much higher this weekend than Watson against the Vikings if he plays.
Isaiah Hodgins NYG WR40 FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank ⬆️
Hodgins has been going seriously under the radar lately. He is certainly not someone you think of when you wonder who are the hot names to flex late in the season potentially. I am not sure you would believe me if I told you that over the last four weeks, Hodgins has been the WR12 in PPR leagues….but it’s true!!!
The Giants are still battling for a potential playoff spot, and the Colts are falling apart rapidly. Over the last four weeks, the Indy defense has been a top-10 option for fantasy wide receivers. If you are in a deeper league, I don’t see how you can afford to NOT flex Isaiah this week.
Zonovan Knight NYJ RB27 FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank ⬆️
Last week was bad for the Jets, like BAD bad. I’m not saying it was ALL Zach Wilson’s fault, but I’m not NOT saying it, either. The good news is that Mike White is back this week! Knight has been a significantly better option when White is under center (just as most of the other Jets have been as well).
The even better news is the Jets get to take on the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are giving up the fifth most points to fantasy running backs over the last four weeks, so it is a beautiful spot for a rebound for Mr. Knight.
Conclusion
There you have it, friends! The final flex-y article of the season! It has been a blast traveling this season with you, and thank you to everyone who has read even one of the articles. I hope you make the right start-sit decisions this week and get those sweet, sweet trophies and the all-important bragging rights for the season.
If you want to chat fantasy football, you can always find me on Twitter @FFEvanlution. You can also check out my year-round dynasty fantasy football podcast Dynasty Debates (@DynastyDebates) on all major podcast listening platforms!
Have a wonderful Week 17, and a Happy New Year!!!
