Week 17 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em RB analysis from FlurrySports includes the likes of Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots.
As one final hurdle to clear for the season, the fantasy football Gods threw us some curveballs at the running back position this week. We have new injuries for both backfields and offensive lines, as well as some very interesting matchups on the schedule. Now is not the time to drop the ball, so let’s sort through the crap and help you set the best lineup possible!
In this weekly Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em article, we will be talking about the RB2/Flex grey area, where you may have some tough decisions that will need to be made. I am not here to tell you to start Travis Etienne or Jonathan Taylor. Yes, they should be in your lineup, but that would be such a lazy article. Instead, we will dive into that grey area and discuss the player you may truly have questions about!
Now, labeling a player as a “sit” does not mean they are a must-sit player. As always, check out my weekly fantasy football rankings here. You can also become a member to join a group chat with me and other members where all fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em questions are welcomed!
Quarterbacks — Week 17 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Wide Receivers — Week 17 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Tight Ends — Week 17 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em: Week 17 RBs
Start: Rhamondre Stevenson Fantasy Outlook at Jets
Zach Brunner’s Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings
We will kick off our final RB Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em of the season with the dreaded New England Patriots backfield. However, this time around, we have some clarity. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson suffered a concussion last week, and it’s clear the NFL is treating concussions as a multi-week injury this season. So, Rhamondre Stevenson’s fantasy outlook is high, given he should be a bell-cow back against the New York Jets.
Not only are the Jets bad, but they seem to have given up as well. While the Jets have allowed 4.4 yards per carry this season, they have been worse following the trade of Quinnen Williams. They have also allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to RBs this season, which again may be a bit low considering their defensive talent following their midseason trades.
Aside from the overall talent matchup, the game script projects great for a run-heavy script as well. The Patriots are 13.5-point favorites, and it makes sense for them to keep the clock moving and get out of this game without a serious injury. In other words, Rhamondre Stevenson could see an efficient 20+ touches, which would be a championship-winning start for you in Week 17.
Start: Kenneth Gainwell Fantasy Outlook at Browns
The Steelers’ offensive line is banged up, and Myles Garrett is looking to set the all-time sack record. While he likely will get it in this game, Aaron Rodgers will do his best not to let this happen. The best way to do that is to run the ball and get passes out quickly. That’s part of the reason why Gainwell’s usage is so high, with the Steelers passing the ball quickly, and obviously, long-developing routes aren’t seeing targets when that happens.
With the Browns allowing just 4.0 yards per carry this season (tied for fifth in the NFL), Pittsburgh’s running game may not be very efficient. Look for them to pass it to their RBs in space, using this concept as an extended handoff. This also gets Kenneth Gainwell fantasy owners extra points in reception-premium leagues!
Use FastDraft Promo Code FLURRY For $50!
Your fantasy football season doesn’t need to end this week! Download the FastDraft app for the fastest fantasy drafts on the market! Currently, FastDraft has two exciting best ball drafts available:
- Playoff Super Slam — Select 6 Flex players for a $10K NFL Playoffs best ball tournament!
- Origins — Draft 6 rookies in this way-too-early $10K fantasy best ball tournament for next season!
Download the FastDraft app and enter promo code FLURRY when creating your account to receive a $50 deposit match. Along with these exciting best ball contests, FastDraft also has weekly NFL DFS contests. Since this is a new app, your chances of winning can be much higher if you jump in today (just use our code… love you).
Sit: Breece Hall Fantasy Outlook vs Patriots
Breece Hall fantasy owners know what pain and heartbreak feel like. There is no doubt that he is one of the most talented players at his position, but he has been unstartable over the past three weeks. This New York Jets team is unbelievably incompetent, and there is no reason to believe that changes against the New England Patriots.
Hall is seeing a nice workload, but it hasn’t mattered. He has 48 total looks (carries + targets) over the past three games, which have turned into 143 total yards. Breece Hall has found the end zone in just three games all season long. As for the matchup, it’s terrible. The Patriots have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season. Hall was the PPR RB33 in his matchup against the Patriots earlier this season, and it may be optimistic for him to even finish that high in this game.
Sit: Rico Dowdle Fantasy Outlook vs Seahawks
It has been quite the season to be a Rico Dowdle fantasy football owner. He went from being non-existent to being the hottest fantasy RB in the NFL for several weeks. Water has found its level now, making him more of a Flex play down the stretch. Unfortunately, a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks means he is likely better left on your bench.
Seattle is leading the league in fewest yards per carry allowed, at just 3.7. This has helped them allow the third-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season. It will be tough for Carolina to have much offensive success in this game, especially on the ground.
Become a Member, Win Your Fantasy League!
Want to win your fantasy league? Of course you do. To give yourself an edge, you should get our fantasy football membership! For just one coffee per month, you can get access to a group chat with one of the industry’s most accurate fantasy football experts, Zach Brunner, along with other members. Ask or answer fantasy questions, or just talk ball!
Additionally, members get access to league-winning stats and data, updated weekly throughout the season. This includes consistency rankings, playoff strength of schedule breakdown, opportunity index, trade value, and much more! If you suggest something you want to see in the membership, we will try to deliver that to make this the most valuable fantasy football membership out there… and it’s only $5!
Simply, check out Buy Me A Coffee to not only support FlurrySports, but also to help you win!
Follow us on all of our social channels! Check out our Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok for more great FlurrySports content.
