Fantasy Championships Are Here!
This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Josh Allen, Puka Nacua, or Christian McCaffrey. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Start 'em Brock Purdy (SF, QB)Brock Purdy heads into Week 17 riding perhaps the best game of his career after a 295-yard, five-touchdown performance (and one interception) in a blowout of Indianapolis. Though he's missed eight games this season, Purdy has been effective when healthy, totaling 17 TDs and eight INTs across seven outings, and has posted at least 32.2 fantasy points in his last two starts. The Bears present a mixed matchup - they lead the league with 21 interceptions but have also surrendered 28 passing TDs - leaving Purdy with clear upside even if tight end George Kittle (ankle) is limited or sidelined. Given recent trends and the matchup, Purdy projects as a top-five fantasy option for Week 17.
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11th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Caleb Williams (CHI, QB)Caleb Williams was 19-of-34 for 250 yards with two TDs and no interceptions, plus three rushes for 30 yards, in the Bears' 22-16 OT win over Green Bay, and he's tossed multiple TDs in four of the last five games. He's entering a favorable Week 17 matchup in San Francisco - a defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing TDs (27) and ranks 11th in QB fantasy points allowed - and sits about 600 yards shy of what would be the first 4,000-yard season by a Bears quarterback. Though he hasn't hit 300 passing yards this year, Williams has produced at least 22.9 fantasy points in three of his last five contests, including consecutive games, so I view him as a top-10 fantasy QB moving forward.
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11th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Omarion Hampton (LAC, RB)Omarion Hampton took on a season-high workload in Week 16 (17 touches) and converted it into 95 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown, positioning him as the Chargers' primary back down the stretch. With Kimani Vidal dealing with a neck issue, Hampton could see even more snaps in Week 17; he's been effective when healthy in 2025, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 84.6 scrimmage yards in eight games. His strong showing against Dallas (16 carries for 85 yards and a TD, plus a 10-yard catch) and recent PPR production make him an appealing No. 2 fantasy option, especially facing a Texans unit that's been generous to opposing running backs.
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13th Fewest Pts to RB
Start 'em RJ Harvey (DEN, RB)RJ Harvey pushed his touchdown streak to four games in Week 16 and has totaled 348 scrimmage yards and five rushing scores over that stretch. While his 4.0 yards per carry is modest, his heavy red-zone role and a long TD last week have him in position to lead Denver's backfield in 2026. He draws an injury-affected Chiefs run defense in Week 17 - a unit that has given up big games recently (Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears combined for 154 rushing yards and a score last week) - so even if Jaleel McLaughlin eats into touches, Harvey projects as Denver's RB1 with strong fantasy upside after posting at least 21.2 PPR in three of his last four outings.
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5th Fewest Pts to RB
Start 'em D.J. Moore (CHI, WR)With Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden (ankle) sidelined, DJ Moore delivered his best outing of the season in Week 16's overtime win over Green Bay, hauling in five catches on seven targets for 97 yards and a touchdown while functioning as Chicago's de facto WR1. He's posted at least 21.9 PPR points in two straight games (three of his last five), and if Odunze or Burden remain out for Week 17 in San Francisco - a team that has allowed 184 catches to wideouts this year (eighth-most) - Moore should again be Caleb Williams' primary target and is a viable start in all formats.
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14th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Stefon Diggs (NE, WR)Stefon Diggs is a boom-or-bust play for Week 17 after bursting for 9 catches and 138 yards on 10 targets in Week 16 following three quiet games. He remains New England's primary target and could thrive against a Jets secondary that has allowed 300+ passing yards in back-to-back weeks - especially if Kayshon Boutte (head) or Demario Douglas (hamstring) miss the game. Diggs also had 9 catches for 105 yards on 11 targets in Week 11 versus New York, is four receptions away from a $500,000 incentive, and needs 131 yards to trigger another $500,000 bonus for a 1,000-yard season. Overall, he's a high-upside, low-floor WR3/flex who can be used as a No. 2 fantasy receiver.
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13th Fewest Pts to WR
Start 'em Hunter Henry (NE, TE)Hunter Henry remains a boom-or-bust play for New England in Week 17 against the Jets. He drew seven targets in Week 16 and finished with six catches for 35 yards and a touchdown - his sixth score of the season, the most since 2021 - but has exceeded 45 receiving yards only twice in his last five games, so he generally needs a score to pay off in fantasy. New York has been vulnerable to tight ends (allowing roughly 14.2 PPR points per game, 12th-most), and Henry could see an uptick in looks if Kayshon Boutte (head) and Demario Douglas (hamstring) are sidelined; Boutte already missed Wednesday's practice. Given his recent scoring consistency (three of four games with at least 11.3 PPR) and the Jets' TE struggles, he's a reasonable top-10 fantasy tight end this week.
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12th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Harold Fannin (CLE, TE)Harold Fannin has built on an encouraging rookie year, turning in a two-touchdown outing in Week 16 at Buffalo and finishing that game with four catches on six targets for 34 yards (plus a rushing score). In Shedeur Sanders' five starts he's eclipsed 50 yards only once but has found the end zone four times and recorded at least four receptions in four of those games, making him a dependable fantasy option. His momentum - four straight games of at least 11.3 PPR points and three receiving TDs in that span - pairs well with a favorable Week 17 draw: Pittsburgh ranks near the bottom against opposing tight ends (about 13.9 fantasy points allowed per game), David Njoku's status is uncertain, and Fannin carries top-five upside in most formats.
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3rd Most Pts to TE
Start 'em New England Patriots (NE, DEF)Since taking over for Tyrod Taylor in Week 14, Brady Cook has been sacked 17 times and thrown six interceptions across three starts while the Jets have tallied just 36 points; with that exposure, the Patriots' defense should feast which is why the industry is projecting New England's DST as a top-five fantasy option in every league.
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4th Most Pts to DEF
Start 'em Evan McPherson (CIN, K)Although McPherson has seen very few field-goal attempts - one or fewer in each of Cincinnati's last three games - he hasn't missed a kick since Week 9 and has been productive with Joe Burrow back (seven FGs and 12 PATs over the past four games, including six PATs and a FG in Week 16). He draws a favorable Week 17 matchup against an Arizona defense allowing 27.6 points per game and ranking second in fantasy points allowed to kickers (six of the last seven opponents recorded multiple FGs and PATs), giving him top-five upside, albeit with some risk due to his recent low volume.
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2nd Most Pts to K
Sit 'em C.J. Stroud (HOU, QB)C.J. Stroud has averaged just 219 passing yards over 12 starts and faces a tough Week 17 matchup against a Chargers unit giving up under 200 passing yards per game and - uniquely - more interceptions (17) than passing touchdowns allowed (14). He has topped 250 yards only three times this year and has been erratic recently (13.5 fantasy points in Week 16 after a 29.4-point outing in Week 15, his only game above 14.6 in the last four). Los Angeles ranks third in fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, and only four QBs all season have reached 20 fantasy points against them, so Stroud is a shaky option in single-QB formats and is best reserved for superflex or two-QB leagues.
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2nd Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Aaron Rodgers (PIT, QB)Aaron Rodgers has rediscovered some rhythm - three straight games of at least 220 passing yards and five total touchdowns with no turnovers - which makes him a viable option in Superflex or 2-QB formats. However, Week 17 at Cleveland is a tough draw: the Browns rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks (13.8) and Pittsburgh may run more with DK Metcalf suspended. The Steelers' three-game win streak is encouraging, but Rodgers should be limited to Superflex/2-QB lineups and avoided in single-QB leagues, as he's unlikely to be one of the few signal-callers to crack 20 fantasy points against Cleveland this season.
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6th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Woody Marks (HOU, RB)Woody Marks missed Houston's Week 16 game with an ankle injury after serving as the team's lead back, and while he's expected to be available for Week 17 at the Chargers his role is uncertain - Jawhar Jordan has emerged and veteran Nick Chubb could factor in. Los Angeles is stout against rushers (about 85 rushing yards allowed per game and a top-five defense vs. fantasy RBs), which combined with Marks' modest fantasy production recently (just one outing above 7.9 PPR despite heavy usage) makes him a risky start. If he plays, Marks is only a viable flex option in most leagues.
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6th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Breece Hall (NYJ, RB)Breece Hall should see plenty of touches in Week 17, but his efficiency has dipped - he hasn't averaged better than 3.6 yards per carry since Week 11 (ironically versus New England). The Patriots have been brutal on running backs this year, allowing roughly 3.9 yards per carry, just seven rushing TDs and about 19.4 PPR points per game to the position, so Hall looks like a flex option more than an RB2. His production has also fallen off since Tyrod Taylor's groin injury, with just 18.3 PPR in the three games with Brady Cook, one TD in six outings, and four of his last six games at 8.4 PPR or fewer - plenty of opportunity, but few big-play chances.
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8th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Emeka Egbuka (TB, WR)Heading into Week 17 at Miami, rookie Emeka Egbuka needs a bounce-back after a stretch of modest games - he led Tampa Bay with a single 40‑yard catch in Week 16 but has been held to 42 yards or fewer in five of six contests and has topped 64 yards just once in his last nine outings. OC Josh Grizzard says he wants to get Egbuka involved early, yet since Mike Evans returned the rookie has just five catches for 104 yards on nine targets and hasn't scored since Week 10, producing 10.4 PPR points or less in six straight games. Facing a Dolphins pass defense that's middle‑of‑the‑pack (No. 8) in fantasy points allowed to receivers, Egbuka is best used only in deeper, three‑WR formats.
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8th Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI, WR)Marvin Harrison could see his role increase in Week 17 at Cincinnati after returning from a two-game absence with a heel issue, but the Cardinals eased him back in - he played a season-low 29 snaps (about a 51% offensive share) and finished with one catch for 14 yards while dropping a potential TD. Although he avoided a setback, the Bengals present a tough matchup (just eight receiving TDs allowed to wideouts this year and a top-5 defense vs. fantasy WRs), and Michael Wilson has been outplaying Harrison; Wilson looks like the safer Week 17 WR2, with Harrison better suited to three-WR lineups.
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4th Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Dalton Kincaid (BUF, TE)Dalton Kincaid has been a disappointment in Buffalo's weak passing offense, failing to catch his lone Week 16 target and totaling 41 yards or less in five of his last six games. A nagging knee issue and competition from Dawson Knox have limited his role, and while Buffalo's receiver situation could produce a sudden uptick in targets, the Week 17 matchup with Philadelphia - which has been stingy to opposing tight ends - makes a breakout unlikely. Kincaid is a risky start and best left for deeper leagues unless you have no better options.
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2nd Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Oronde Gadsden (LAC, TE)Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden has failed to regain his early-season form, producing minimal targets and catches since the Chargers' Week 12 bye and extending a touchdown drought that now stretches several games. His route volume has dipped as the offense prioritizes protecting Justin Herbert amid offensive-line issues, and defenses aren't giving the young pass-catcher easy looks. Gadsden has just 12 catches for 166 yards over his last six games, posted only one catch in Week 16, and hit 6.1 PPR points or fewer in five of those outings; his only notable outing came in Week 15 when Quentin Johnston was sidelined. With Johnston healthy and Houston ranked respectably against tight ends, Gadsden is unreliable and best avoided in most lineups for Week 17.
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11th Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Buffalo Bills (BUF, DEF)The Bills' defense was strong in Week 16 at Cleveland - three sacks, two interceptions and only 20 points allowed - but Week 17 against Philadelphia is a much tougher assignment. Jalen Hurts has been hit with just six sacks over his last seven games, the Eagles have had multiple turnovers in only four games this season, and they've scored 60 points in their last two outings versus the Raiders and Commanders. With that profile, Buffalo's DST is a risky fantasy start for most lineups in Week 17.
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13th Fewest Pts to DEF
Sit 'em Jake Elliott (PHI, K)Jake Elliott has been shaky lately - he missed both field-goal tries in the 29-18 win at Washington (though he made all three PATs) and has struggled across his last several outings, converting just 71.0% of his kicks this year with multiple missed attempts in recent games. That ongoing inconsistency, combined with a Week 17 matchup against a Bills unit that ranks middle of the pack in scoring allowed but is stingy versus kickers, makes Elliott a risky fantasy option most weeks.
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8th Fewest Pts to K
