Fantasy Rankings & Tiers For Your Week 17 Championship Start/Sit Decisions

Fantasy Rankings & Tiers For Your Week 17 Championship Start/Sit Decisions article feature image
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Getty Images. Pictured: Calvin Ridley, Jonathan Taylor

  • With some teams fighting to keep their seasons alive while others have nothing left to play for, Week 17 can be tricky to navigate.
  • Sean Koerner -- the No. 1 in-season fantasy football ranker in three of the past five seasons -- is here to help.
  • Find his rankings for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and defenses below.

Have a Week 17 fantasy football championship?

To help you make these critical start/sit decisions, I've outlined the latest version of my rankings into tiers so you can better visualize the drop-off in expected production at each position. Note that these are as of Saturday and final inactives could still impact certain players, so be sure to check my updated rankings before making your final decisions.

Fantasy Rankings & Tiers

Jump To
QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF

Quarterbacks

Tier 1

Lamar Jackson (@ CIN)

Tier 2

Deshaun Watson (vs. TEN)

Tier 3

Ryan Tannehill (@ HOU)
Aaron Rodgers (@ CHI)
Russell Wilson (@ SF)
Tom Brady (vs. ATL)
Kirk Cousins (@ DET)

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Tier 4

Jalen Hurts (vs. WAS)
Justin Herbert (@ KC)
Kyler Murray (@ LAR)
Derek Carr (@ DEN)
Philip Rivers (vs. JAX)
Josh Allen (vs. MIA)

Tier 5

Mitchell Trubisky (vs. GB)
Matt Ryan (@ TB)
Matthew Stafford (vs. MIN)
Drew Lock (vs. LV)
Drew Brees (@ CAR)
Andy Dalton (@ NYG)
Baker Mayfield (vs. PIT)

Tier 6

Teddy Bridgewater (vs. NO)
Tua Tagovailoa (@ BUF)
Alex Smith (@ PHI)
C.J. Beathard (vs. SEA)
Chad Henne (vs. LAC)

Tier 7

Daniel Jones (vs. DAL)
Sam Darnold (@ NE)
Cam Newton (vs. NYJ)
John Wolford (vs. ARI)

Tier 8

Mike Glennon (@ IND)

Tier 9

Mason Rudolph (@ CLE)
Brandon Allen (vs. BAL)

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Running Backs

Tier 1

Derrick Henry (@ HOU)

Tier 2

Jonathan Taylor (vs. JAX)

Tier 3

David Montgomery (vs. GB)
Austin Ekeler (@ KC)
Chris Carson (@ SF)

nfl-picks-predictions-bets-chargers-vs-raiders-thursday-night-football-2020
Michael Reaves/Getty Images. Pictured: Austin Ekeler

Tier 4

Nick Chubb (vs. PIT)
Melvin Gordon (vs. LV)
Josh Jacobs (@ DEN)

Tier 5

D'Andre Swift (vs. MIN)
Aaron Jones (@ CHI)
Myles Gaskin (@ BUF)
Jeffery Wilson (vs. SEA)
Ezekiel Elliott (@ NYG)

Tier 6

David Johnson (vs. TEN)

Tier 7

Antonio Gibson (@ PHI)
Ronald Jones II (vs. ATL)
Alexander Mattison (@ DET)
Kenyan Drake (@ LAR)
Rodney Smith (vs. NO)
Ty Montgomery (@ CAR)
J.K. Dobbins (@ CIN)
Ty Johnson (@ NE)

Tier 8

Nyheim Hines (vs. JAX)
Giovani Bernard (vs. BAL)
Boston Scott (vs. WAS)
Wayne Gallman (vs. DAL)
Kareem Hunt (vs. PIT)
Dare Ogunbowale (@ IND)
Sony Michel (vs. NYJ)
Malcolm Brown (vs. ARI)
Darrel Williams (vs. LAC)

Tier 9

J.D. McKissic (@ PHI)
Gus Edwards (@ CIN)

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Tier 10

James Conner (@ CLE)
Devin Singletary (vs. MIA)
Zack Moss (vs. MIA)
Tony Pollard (@ NYG)
James White (vs. NYJ)
Leonard Fournette (vs. ATL)
Lynn Bowden (@ BUF)

Tier 11

Ito Smith (@ TB)
Ameer Abdullah (@ DET)
Josh Adams (@ NE)
Cam Akers (vs. ARI)
Chase Edmonds (@ LAR)
Brian Hill (@ TB)
Jamaal Williams (@ CHI)
Kalen Ballage (@ KC)
Le'Veon Bell (vs. LAC)
Todd Gurley (@ TB)
Samaje Perine (vs. BAL)
Salvon Ahmed (@ BUF)
Devine Ozigbo (@ IND)
Devontae Booker (@ DEN)
Adrian Peterson (vs. MIN)

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Wide Receivers

Tier 1

Davante Adams (@ CHI)

Tier 2

Calvin Ridley (@ TB)

Tier 3

DeAndre Hopkins (@ LAR)
Justin Jefferson (@ DET)
A.J. Brown (@ HOU)
Allen Robinson (vs. GB)
D.K. Metcalf (@ SF)
Adam Thielen (@ DET)

nfl-prop-bets-picks-week-13-2020-1
Abbie Parr/Getty Images. Pictured: Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf

Tier 4

Stefon Diggs (vs. MIA)

Tier 5

Corey Davis (@ HOU)
Mike Evans (vs. ATL)
Brandin Cooks (vs. TEN)

Tier 6

Tyler Lockett (@ SF)
Robert Woods (vs. ARI)
Marvin Jones (vs. MIN)
Curtis Samuel (vs. NO)
Robby Anderson (vs. NO)
Chris Godwin (vs. ATL)
Jarvis Landry (vs. PIT)
Emmanuel Sanders (@ CAR)
D.J. Moore (vs. NO)
Russell Gage (@ TB)
Amari Cooper (@ NYG)
Jamison Crowder (@ NE)
CeeDee Lamb (@ NYG)

Tier 7

T.Y. Hilton (vs. JAX)
Mecole Hardman (vs. LAC)
Antonio Brown (vs. ATL)
Terry McLaurin (@ PHI)
Sterling Shepard (vs. DAL)
Laviska Shenault (@ IND)
Nelson Agholor (@ DEN)
Tim Patrick (vs. LV)
Keke Coutee (vs. TEN)
Marquise Brown (@ CIN)
Tyron Johnson (@ KC)
Mike Williams (@ KC)
Jerry Jeudy (vs. LV)
Michael Gallup (@ NYG)
Diontae Johnson (@ CLE)
DeVante Parker (@ BUF)
Tyler Boyd (vs. BAL)
Tee Higgins (vs. BAL)

Tier 8

Rashard Higgins (vs. PIT)
Jakobi Meyers (vs. NYJ)
Juju Smith-Schuster (@ CLE)
Darius Slayton (vs. DAL)
Keelan Cole (@ IND)
Chad Hansen (vs. TEN)
Marquez Callaway (@ CAR)

Tier 9

Darnell Mooney (vs. GB)
Allen Lazard (@ CHI)
Richie James (vs. SEA)
Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. JAX)
Kendrick Bourne (vs. SEA)
Danny Amendola (vs. MIN)
Chase Claypool (@ CLE)
Jalen Guyton (@ KC)
Chris Conley (@ IND)
Zach Pascal (vs. JAX)
Hunter Renfrow (@ DEN)
Gabriel Davis (vs. MIA)
Denzel Mims (@ NE)
Cam Sims (@ PHI)
Breshad Perriman (@ NE)

nfl-prop-bets-picks-player-props-week-3-2020
Bobby Ellis/Getty Images. Pictured: Zach Pascal

Tier 10

John Brown (vs. MIA)
Jalen Reagor (vs. WAS)
Josh Reynolds (vs. ARI)
A.J. Green (vs. BAL)
Demarcus Robinson (vs. LAC)
Damiere Byrd (vs. NYJ)

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Tight Ends

Tier 1

Darren Waller (@ DEN)

Tier 2

Mark Andrews (@ CIN)

Tier 3

George Kittle (vs. SEA)
Logan Thomas (@ PHI)

Tier 4

Noah Fant (vs. LV)
T.J. Hockenson (vs. MIN)

nfl-odds-picks-predictions-props-how-bet-week-16-2020
AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images. Pictured: Noah Fant

Tier 5

Jared Cook (@ CAR)
Evan Engram (vs. DAL)
Irv Smith Jr. (@ DET)
Robert Tonyan Jr. (@ CHI)
Rob Gronkowski (vs. ATL)
Jonnu Smith (@ HOU)
Hayden Hurst (@ TB)

Tier 6

Mike Gesicki (@ BUF)
Zach Ertz (vs. WAS)
Austin Hooper (vs. PIT)

Tier 7

Dalton Schultz (@ NYG)
Jordan Akins (vs. TEN)
Cole Kmet (vs. GB)
Donald Parham (@ KC)

Tier 8

Tyler Higbee (vs. ARI)
Gerald Everett (vs. ARI)
Travis Kelce (vs. LAC)
Jimmy Graham (vs. GB)
Trey Burton (vs. JAX)
Tyler Eifert (@ IND)
Dan Arnold (@ LAR)
Dawson Knox (vs. MIA)
Drew Sample (vs. BAL)
Jacob Hollister (@ SF)

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KICKERS

Tier 1

Rodrigo Blankenship (vs. JAX)
Sam Sloman (@ HOU)
Justin Tucker (@ CIN)
Ryan Succop (vs. ATL)
Daniel Carlson (@ DEN)
Matt Prater (vs. MIN)
Wil Lutz (@ CAR)
Brandon McManus (vs. LV)
Ka'imi Fairbairn (vs. TEN)

Tier 2

Dan Bailey (@ DET)
Jason Myers (@ SF)
Graham Gano (vs. DAL)
Michael Badgley (@ KC)
Cairo Santos (vs. GB)
Nick Folk (vs. NYJ)
Younghoe Koo (@ TB)
Jason Sanders (@ BUF)
Mason Crosby (@ CHI)
Greg Zuerlein (@ NYG)
Cody Parkey (vs. PIT)
Joey Slye (vs. NO)
Harrison Butker (vs. LAC)
Dustin Hopkins (@ PHI)

week 2-fantasy-kicker-rankings
David Eulitt/Getty Images. Pictured: Harrison Butker

Tier 3

Tyler Bass (vs. MIA)
Tristan Vizcaino (vs. SEA)
Mike Nugent (@ LAR)
Aldrick Rosas (@ IND)
Sam Ficken (@ NE)
Matt Gay (vs. ARI)
Austin Seibert (vs. BAL)
Jake Elliott (vs. WAS)
Matthew Wright (@ CLE)

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DEFENSES

Tier 1

Baltimore Ravens (@ CIN)
Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT)
Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAX)

Tier 2

Seattle Seahawks (@ SF)
New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)
Washington Football Team (@ PHI)
Arizona Cardinals (@ LAR)

Tier 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. ATL)
Los Angeles Chargers (@ KC)
Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
New Orleans Saints (@ CAR)
Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARI)
Miami Dolphins (@ BUF)
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
Dallas Cowboys (@ NYG)
New York Giants (vs. DAL)
Green Bay Packers (@ CHI)

week-5-fantasy-streamers-defense-kicker-qb-te-20202
Rob Leiter/Getty Images. Pictured: DeMarcus Lawrence

Tier 4

Las Vegas Raiders (@ DEN)
New York Jets (@ NE)
Minnesota Vikings (@ DET)
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. LAC)
Tennessee Titans (@ HOU)

Tier 5

San Francisco 49ers (vs. SEA)
Pittsburgh Steelers (@ CLE)
Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
Atlanta Falcons (@ TB)
Carolina Panthers (vs. NO)
Detroit Lions (vs. MIN)

Tier 6

Chicago Bears (vs. GB)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
Jacksonville Jaguars (@ IND)
Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

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About the Author
Sean is The Action Network's Director of Predictive Analytics. He was named the No. 1 fantasy football draft ranker of 2019 by FantasyPros, where he's also finished as the top in-season ranker in three of the past five seasons

Follow Sean Koerner @The_Oddsmaker on Twitter/X.

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