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Week 17 Quarterback Preview: Caleb Williams’ Risk Profile for Week 17 Lineups
Top Fantasy QBs for Week 17
Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 17 QB Rankings.
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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
QB1 on
Philly has proved capable of providing a difficult QB-scoring matchup. But they've also faced limited players/offenses in recent weeks: Commanders (with Marcus Mariota leaving early), Raiders (with Kenny Pickett), Chargers, Bears. The Week 12 visit to Dallas just before that stretch found Dak Prescott topping 30 fantasy points against the Eagles, the largest score they've allowed to the position all season. There's downside risk to Allen, especially with a foot issue limiting his practice reps this week. But there's also plenty of risk to betting against Allen, especially with his team still alive for the division title.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
QB2 on
Burrow went off for 309-4 last week vs. Miami, giving him 22+ fantasy points in three of his past four outings. Now he draws an Arizona pass defense that could be without top DB Budda Baker (concussion).
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
QB3 on
Maye hasn't reached the top 6 in weekly scoring since Week 8. But he hasn't finished lower than QB15 since and ranked top-12 in five of his past six games.
4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
QB4 on
(Played on Thursday)
5. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
QB5 on
Last week looked like it should have been a challenging spot for Lawrence (at Denver), but he racked up QB2-overall numbers. That marked five straight top-12 finishes and his second straight top-2. Lawrence certainly belongs in your lineup against a Colts D that just allowed 48 points to the Niners.
6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy
QB6 on
Brock Purdy
QB6 on
Purdy dominated the Colts last week. He went 25/34 for 295 yards and 5 TDs through the air. He had a late INT, but it didn’t hinder Purdy’s day. The one downside this week is that TE George Kittle could sit out. Still, Purdy tears up two-deep defenses like the Bears, so it remains a strong fantasy spot.
7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
QB7 on
No Davante Adams? Tough Seahawks defense? Windy conditions? Didn't matter. Stafford exploded for a huge 457-yard, three-TD outing last week. He's now tossed multiple scores in nine straight games. Even with Adams out again this week, Stafford is a strong fantasy start against a slumping Falcons defense that ranks 21st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs over the last five weeks.
8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
QB8 on
Hurts has delivered two straight weeks of efficient production -- 75.6% completions, 8.0 yards per attempt, 11.1% TD rate -- with good rushing numbers as well. He gets a challenge from a Buffalo D that's been ninth-toughest on QB scoring for the year. Hurts remains a solid play, but the downside risk pushes him lower in QB1 territory.
9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
QB9 on
Williams went 19/34 for 250 yards and 2 TDs last week, with most of that coming toward the end of the game. He also added 30 rushing yards. Williams’ volatility makes him tough to trust, but he continues adding rushing to bump his fantasy points. WR Luther Burden could return and help Williams’ fantasy potential as well. Add in shootout potential, and the second-year pro ranks as a low-end QB1.
10. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett
QB10 on
Jacoby Brissett
QB10 on
Brissett’s streak of nine-straight top-12 fantasy finishes ended last week vs. Atlanta. The good news? He draws a nice matchup this Sunday vs. the Bengals, one that has the Cardinals implied for a decent 22.5 points as 7.5-point underdogs.
11. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB11 on
The Dolphins have allowed at least 18 fantasy points to opposing QBs in all but one game. (The lone exception came against Brady Cook and the Jets.) Mayfield has struggled in the second half of the season, hitting 18 fantasy points in only three of his past nine games. But with Tampa Bay's pass catchers healthy, Mayfield will garner a look as a fringe QB1.
12. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
QB12 on
(Played on Thursday)
13. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
QB13 on
Shough has finished as a top-19 fantasy QB in six straight games, with three top-13 finishes. He's in a nice spot this weekend against a Titans defense that's much tougher against the run than the pass. Tennessee ranks 25th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs on the season -- and 29th over the last five weeks. Expect another voluminous and productive outing from Shough on Sunday.
14. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
(Played on Thursday
15. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
QB15 on
Dart crashed last week against a surging Minnesota defense, but this week's matchup versus the Raiders looks more favorable. Las Vegas has allowed the 13th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to QBs. Before last week, Dart averaged 211 passing yards per game in his previous 8 starts, with 43.2 yards per game on the ground. The Raiders allow 209.7 passing yards per game, so 210 passing yards and 30-plus rushing yards is reasonable. Dart is a mid-range QB2 with top-12 upside thanks to his rushing ability.
16. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
QB16 on
Darnold has multiple TD strikes in 5 of his 7 road games this season, but travels to Carolina to face a Panthers' defense that has played well. Carolina has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to QBs, including just 18 TD passes allowed. However, 12 of the 18 have come in Carolina, so Darnold should be considered a mid-range QB2 with decent TD potential.
17. Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers
QB17 on
Willis is squarely on the superflex radar if he starts Saturday night's game vs. the Ravens. He played well in relief of QB Jordan Love (concussion) last weekend, completing 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and a TD. He picked up another 44 yards on 10 carries. Willis also impressed in two starts last year, totaling 324 yards and two TDs passing and 114 yards and a score on the ground. He finished those weeks QB22 and QB6 in fantasy points.
18. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
QB18 on
Stroud managed just 187 yards and a TD on 35 pass attempts against the weak Raiders defense. That marked his third finish of QB18 or worse in four games since returning from injury. Stroud's a poor play this week against a Chargers D that's been fourth-toughest on QB scoring.
19. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert
QB19 on
Justin Herbert
QB19 on
Herbert might be tough to sit off a top-5 fantasy score against Dallas. But this week's matchup looks near-opposite. Whereas the Cowboys have allowed the league's most QB fantasy points, Houston's been stingy. The Texans have yielded a mere 17 passes across 15 games, while snagging 16 INTs.
20. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
QB20 on
Cousins has played reasonably well the past two weeks and turned in QB4 and QB9 fantasy finishes. There's some shootout potential in Monday night's home game against a slumping Rams defense that ranks 23rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs over the last five weeks. Cousins makes sense in superflex lineups, but we still wouldn't want to trust the 37-year-old as a QB1.
21. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
QB21 on
This is a below-average matchup for Young and the Panthers. Seattle has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to QBs. In seven road games, the Seahawks have surrendered just 8 total TD passes. Meanwhile, Young has thrown for under 200 yards in 11 of his 14 starts. Carolina's implied total of 17.5 points is the fourth-lowest for Week 17 and indicates another low-ceiling game for Young. He's a QB2 with limited upside.
22. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens
QB22 on
Huntley has averaged 7.6 carries for 39.4 yards and 0.31 TDs across 13 full NFL games, putting him on the superflex radar. Just don't expect much in the way of passing. He's averaged 171 yards and 0.6 TDs through the air in those 13 games. Saturday night brings a tough spot in Green Bay against the Packers' 11th-ranked QB defense.
23. Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts
QB23 on
Rivers catapulted to a QB13 finish in his second game back, thanks largely to a bad San Francisco defense. Now comes a Jacksonville D that ranks eighth in total defensive DVOA and ninth against the pass.
24. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
QB24 on
Rodgers has been surprisingly consistent lately. He has 15+ fantasy points in each of the last three weeks. The Steelers offense is heating up, but without DK Metcalf this week, it will be tough to trust Rodgers. He went 21/30 for 235 and 2 TDs in Week 6 against the Browns, finishing as QB16. The Browns have only allowed two top-12 QB scoring weeks this year, so Rodgers is a QB2 only for Superflex leagues.
25. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
QB25 on
Ward is putting together a promising finish to his rookie season. He's tossed two scores in three straight games, has set season highs in adjusted yards per attempt in two straight, and posted season highs in completion rate and yards per attempt last week. He's still finished just QB19, QB23, and QB14 in fantasy points the last three weeks, though, and remains a low-end QB2 against an underrated Saints defense.
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