Fantasy Football Daily Fantasy

Print

Week 17 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preview

Top Fantasy QBs for Week 17

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

1 p.m. ET Saturday

Justin Herbert, Chargers

The Chargers hit the weekend implied for a solid 23.25 points. Herbert draws a Patriots pass defense that’s supplied a neutral matchup over the past five weeks.

Drake Maye, Patriots

Posting useful rushing numbers, Maye's hit 21 fantasy points in four of his past five contests. The Chargers pass defense has regressed in recent weeks, but note that they’ve faced a tough slate that includes Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, and Bo Nix. Maye remains a viable deep-league option.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

4:30 p.m. ET Saturday

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Burrow hit 250+ passing yards and 3+ TDs in seven straight games setting an NFL record. Every season it seems that he and Ja’Marr Chase help carry managers to fantasy championships, and this year may be no different. The Broncos pass defense has taken a hit lately giving up above 8.5 yards per attempt to Justin Herbert, Jameis Winston and Lamar Jackson. Lock Burrow in as a top-five option this week.

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix came out hot last week -- then cooled down in the second half. Still, he had a borderline QB1 performance. Now he gets a Bengals team that is bottom six against opposing fantasy QBs. He has a nice floor with his rushing and brings QB1 potential this week.

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

8:10 p.m. ET Saturday

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Murray didn’t play especially well against the Panthers last week but wound up with his best fantasy score since Week 10. That’s what the rushing upside provides. And Murray will probably need to do even more this week if James Conner’s out. The Rams also arrive as 6.5-point favorites. If the game plays out that way, we’d expect a further boost to Arizona passing volume. Josh Allen’s the only QB among the past five Rams opponents to account for more than 1 TD, so don’t get too excited about Murray’s upside. But he’s in a fine spot for low-QB1 use.

Matthew Stafford, Rams

Stafford has gone quiet the past two weeks in suboptimal passing conditions. He threw for just 160 yards in a rainy win at San Francisco and then attempted only 19 passes in a frigid victory at the Jets. Expect more offense this week back in L.A., in a game tied for the week’s fifth-highest Vegas over/under. Stafford threw for just 216 yards and no TDs in a lopsided Week 2 loss at Arizona. But he didn’t have Puka Nacua for that game and lost Cooper Kupp early. Stafford had thrown 2+ TD passes in four straight games before these past two weeks. He still carries a low floor, especially in a matchup that finds his team favored by 6.5. A lopsided Rams win would probably mean more rushing volume. But Stafford’s a decent option with upside.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen, Bills

The Bills went run-heavy in their first meeting with the Jets (-7.1% pass rate over expected), resulting in only 25 pass attempts from Allen. They've registered a positive PROE in every game since, other than the snow game vs. San Francisco. Allen's volume in Sunday's rematch probably hinges on whether the Jets can keep the game competitive. Buffalo is currently favored by 8.5 points. CBs Sauce Gardner (hamstring) and Michael Carter (back) both look iffy for this one.

Aaron Rodgers, Jets

Rodgers is dealing with a minor MCL injury but is on track to play vs. the Bills this weekend. He figures to have pass volume on his side with the Jets 8.5-point underdogs. Buffalo has struggled against the pass lately, ranking 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs over the last five weeks. But they'll get CB Rasul Douglas back this weekend, and potentially safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. Rodgers ultimately is not a recommended QB1 play this week.

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Mason Rudolph, Titans

Rudolph has finished QB20, QB13, QB15, QB14, and QB19 in his five full games this season. Next up is the Jaguars' 32nd-ranked QB defense. Rudolph is a stretch in 1-QB leagues, but he's a viable starter in 2-QB and superflex formats.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

Anthony Richardson, Colts

Richardson only had 11 passing attempts last week but still was a QB1. His rushing usage and ability to score TDs on the ground has made him a spike player upon return from his benching. This is a good spot for him against the Giants, where the Colts should have a lead. Richardson is a locked in QB1 with upside.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield kept rolling last week and has now finished as a top-7 fantasy QB in four of his last five games. The one exception was the Week 13 meeting with the Panthers. Tampa Bay's RBs did most of the damage in that one. There's some risk of a similar runout this weekend, but we'd bet on Baker delivering a solid fantasy outing. Carolina ranks 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.

Bryce Young, Panthers

Young has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in three of his last five games. One of those (QB7) came in the first meeting vs. the Buccaneers. Sunday's rematch has a nice 48.5-point implied total, although the Panthers are implied for only 20.25. Young ultimately isn't a recommended QB1 but is in play in 2-QB and Superflex leagues.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Tua's been held to 411 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 INTs over the past two weeks. He's remained uninvolved as a rusher. Treat him as a QB2 for a road matchup with Cleveland – especially if WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) remains out.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Love, Packers

Despite a 34-0 blowout win in Week 16, Love somehow tied for his most passing attempts (28) since Week 9. Green Bay might be forced to throw a bit more than they like vs. the Vikings, but Love might play without WR Christian Watson (knee).

Sam Darnold, Vikings

Darnold's breakout year continued last week at Seattle (246-3-0). Now he gets a Green Bay defense that he tallied 275-3-1 against back in Week 4.

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Daniels just delivered the week’s top QB score against one of the league’s toughest matchups for QB scoring. That doesn’t make him a lock for big points in a more favorable matchup this week. But no one beats him on ceiling.

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons

HC Raheem Morris said he was pleased with Penix’s debut. But we go just 202 passing yards and 0 TDs against a bad Giants defense. Penix is likely to do a bit more fantasy wise this week, but he remains largely an unknown entity and thus tough to bet your fantasy lineup on.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy, 49ers

Since his injury, Purdy has two QB1 performances and two QB3 performances. He has been boom-or-bust as the offense has gone, but it feels like the passing game was getting right last week against the Dolphins. In a game where the 49ers may have to match points, Purdy is a QB1 this week. 

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff has been on fire with three straight top six QB performances over the past three weeks. He also has done it against tough defenses in the Packers, Bills and Bears. Now in primetime, Goff will be expected to lead the offense past the 49ers who have been leaky through the air lately as a middle of the pack defense. Lock Goff in as a QB1.

Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15 years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). His work has been featured on The Mercury News, Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.