This is the final article for me for the 2024 fantasy football season. Starts and sits have done us well and have also backfired this season. That is life. One of my articles amassed over 10,000 views, for which I am grateful. Helping people is what life is all about, and I hope to have helped tons of fantasy players win match-ups and playoff games this season.
Starts and sits last week saw terrible reads by me for quarterback sits that featured Jayden Daniels and Jared Goff. That was a big miss on my part. Quarterback starts saw Caleb Williams and the man he grew up watching, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers did not perform well, but Williams finished as a QB1 and went another week with zero interceptions. Our running back sits were a success as D’Andre Swift and Brian Robinson finished as RB3s or worse. The running back starts were great with the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee running backs. Ammer Abdullah saw double-digit points once again, and Tyjae Spears saw his second consecutive RB1 finish.
Week 17 Quarterback Starts
Bo Nix vs. Cincinatti Bengals
Bo Nix has not had a QB1 finish since Week 12. The good thing is he faces the Cincinnati Bengals, who are allowing the sixth most fantasy ppg to quarterbacks and the fifth most touchdowns to the position. With a high-powered offense like the Bengals, Nix, and the Broncos need to put up at least 24 points to get the win. I believe Nix is in a perfect spot to finish the fantasy season strong with a top-12 finish.
Bryce Young @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryce Young got benched, spoke to Rod Wave, and found himself. Young has had two QB1 finishes in the past month. In Week 16, Young finished as the QB2 and showed off his rushing skills with a touchdown and 68 yards. He gets to face a Buccaneers team that has allowed 24 touchdowns and the second most fantasy ppg to quarterbacks this season. Young is a product of being patient and not giving up on people. Bryce Young will end the season strong and have his third QB1 finish in the last five weeks. Young is my most confident quarterback play in starts and sits for the finale.
Quarterback Sits
Geno Smith @ Chicago Bears
Geno Smith is inconsistent. He makes countless boneheaded mistakes yet will pass for 300 yards and a few touchdowns. That does not happen in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. Jared Goff and the elite Lions’ offense were able to dominate the Bears defense. I do not think Smith and the Seahawks will be able to do the same. Overall, the Bears are allowing the third-fewest fantasy ppg to quarterbacks, making Geno Smith a sit in starts and sits to end the season.
Week 17 Running Back Starts
Tyjae Spears @ Jacksonville Jaguars
As stated earlier, Tyjae Spears has had two consecutive RB1 weeks with two touchdowns in each of the past two games. Although Tony Pollard is active, Spears has had the hot hand with touchdowns. I believe the trend will continue in Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Spears seems like he is a “league winner,” with 20 points in each of the last two games. The Jaguars are allowing over 27 fantasy ppg to running backs, which is second most, as well as 19 total touchdowns. Spears finds the end zone again in Week 17 and finishes as a top-15 running back.
Ameer Abdullah @ New Orleans Saints
Just like Tyjae Spears, Ameer Abdullah has also had two consecutive RB1 finishes. Abdullah has been fantastic because of his pass-catching ability. The Saints have allowed 60 receptions to running backs this season, so Abdullah should be busy in Week 17. Add on that the Saints have allowed 16 touchdowns to running backs, and Abdullah has a shot at having three consecutive double-digit fantasy games to end the season. Alexander Mattison also found the end zone, but it was not efficient. My bet on which Raider running back has a great week is Ameer Abdullah.
Running Back Sits
Rico Dowdle @ Philadelphia Eagles
Rico Dowdle had three consecutive games over 100 rushing yards until the Buccaneers stopped him last week. It seems Dowdle has sizzled out, and it gets no easier as he now faces the Eagles run defense. The Eagles are allowing the second-fewest fantasy ppg to running backs and only five total touchdowns. The last time Dowdle faced the Eagles he had 53 rushing yards and finished as the RB29.
Chuba Hubbard @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chuba Hubbard has been the best pick-up this season. He was either undrafted or drafted in the late rounds of fantasy football drafts. Hubbard has been nothing but fantastic this season. Hubbard has had eight RB1 finishes and is currently the RB12 in total points. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, have been one of the better defenses in stopping the run the past month. Tampa has allowed just 10.45 fantasy ppg, which is the least in that period. They have also allowed just one touchdown as well. Hubbard has been a hero this season but finds himself on the bench in the finale of starts and sits.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!