For most fantasy football leagues, Week 17 is the end of the line for season-long contests. It’s incredible how fast a football year passes, with heartbreak for many but glory for one. The quarterback player pool is severely diminished late in the season, forcing game managers to ride hot hands rather than rely on favorable matchups.
Starts
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Due to his waiver wire arrival to fantasy teams, Brissett could be on many rosters with another top-tier quarterback, creating a dilemma of who to start. He comes off his worst game in fantasy points (13.65) in four-point passing touchdown formats after a string of nine consecutive starts with between 21.85 and 28.60 fantasy points while averaging 42.9 passes per game. His passing opportunity is a goldmine for his receiving options in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
The Bengals’ defense ranks 31st in defending quarterbacks (360.30 fantasy points). They allow 8.1 yards per pass attempt, with QBs scoring 33 touchdowns (30 passing and three rushing). Cincinnati also has extreme risk vs. tight ends (105/1,362/15 on 148 targets), a win for Trey McBride. Three quarterbacks scored over 30.00 fantasy points.
· Bo Nix (333 combined yards with three touchdowns)
· Caleb Williams (333 combined yards with three touchdowns and a receiving touchdown)
· Josh Allen (339 combined yards with four touchdowns)
Brissett is a coin-flip start with Joe Burrow in Week 17 while ranking first and second in my projections. This game has the highest over/under (52.5) this weekend, painting an impact ceiling for the Cardinals’ passing game. The Bengals have a better chance of scoring on the ground, suggesting Brissett is the winning choice at quarterback over Burrow.
Read More NFL News: Minnesota Vikings Added to Joe Burrow Trade Watch List
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
After a no-show in Week 16 (1.35 fantasy points), Dart is an easy player to fade against the Raiders. He scored over 20.00 fantasy points in eight of his 10 starts, highlighted by three games (32.25, 29.15, and 29.70). His value as a runner has been diminished over his previous three matchups (4/20, 9/63, and 2/7) after setting a high bar in the run game (55/317/7 – 5.8 yards per carry) from Week 4 to Week 10.
The Raiders and Giants are vying for the first overall draft choice in 2026, and Las Vegas appears ready to do its best to ensure it ends this season with two losses, highlighted by placing Brock Bowers on the injured reserve this week. The Raiders are league-average against quarterbacks (301.95 fantasy points). Six QBs have scored over 20.00 fantasy points.
· Justin Herbert (273 combined yards with two touchdowns)
· Marcus Mariota (247 combined yards with two scores)
· Patrick Mahomes (314 combined yards with three touchdowns)
· Trevor Lawrence (244 combined yards with two touchdowns)
· Dak Prescott (268/4)
· Jalen Hurts (214 combined yards with three touchdowns)
Dart looked poised to score over 20.00 fantasy points in Week 17, putting him on a path to be a top 10 quarterback and start vs. the Raiders.
Sits
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
As of Thursday, I have Jackson rated as the starting quarterback for the Ravens in Week 17, but his fantasy luster is all but gone. Over his last seven starts, he has four passing touchdowns and five interceptions, with minimal value in the run game (37/160/1). His completion rate (57.2%) was well below his success in 2023 (67.2%) and 2024 (66.7%).
The Packers rank 11th vs. quarterbacks (280.40 fantasy points) in four-point passing touchdown formats. Their defense takes a pass-rushing hit with Micah Parsons out for the season. Green Bay holds receivers to 6.4 yards per catch, but quarterbacks have 23 passing touchdowns. They’ve faced a league low in rushing attempts (42/179/2) by quarterbacks. Over the past month, the Packers have shown more risk against quarterbacks in three games.
· Jared Goff (280 combined yards with two touchdowns)
· Bo Nix (312 combined yards with four touchdowns)
· Caleb Williams (280 combined yards with two touchdowns)
If Jackson suits up, I can’t trust him, highlighted by his ranking 19th at quarterback by my projections (204 combined yards with 1.5 passing touchdowns and a 25% chance of scoring on the ground.
Here are four other quarterbacks with matchup risk in Week 17:
· Matthew Stafford (16th)
· Justin Herbert (17th)
· Sam Darnold (18th)
· C.J. Stroud (22nd)
There’s no way I would sit Stafford in Week 17, but the Rams’ run game looks poised for more success vs. the Falcons.
Read More NFL News: Minnesota Vikings Added to Joe Burrow Trade Watch List
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