Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 17 Matchups to Consider
We finally made it to the week every fantasy football manager sets out to get to – CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK! All of the draft planning, waiver wire additions, trades negotiated, and lineups set come down to Week 17’s matchup for a chance at eternal glory in your fantasy league!
For the last time in the 2025 season, let’s walk through a handful of matchups at each position that are worth considering before locking in at your title shot!
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts
QB - PHI
After all of the chaos of his season, Jalen Hurts is still likely on the rosters for many teams playing for a championship this weekend. Hurts hasn’t been the elite fantasy QB from the past, but he’s still been very good most weeks throughout the year. Currently, Hurts is the QB8 on the season, and that includes a few real stinker games, mainly the 0.4 fantasy points he scored in Week 14. While Hurts is still likely to break 10+ rushing TDs yet again, he’s currently only scored eight TDs on the ground and is set to put together his worst rushing season as the starter for the Eagles by nearly 200 rushing yards. It’s that baseline that has made Hurts such a fantasy cheat code in the past, but it has been aided by already throwing for a career-high in passing TDs.
If Hurts is going to be a difference-maker in Championship Week, he’s got an interesting matchup to do so against the Bills. Buffalo’s defense has been one of the best against the pass this season, allowing the fewest passing yards in the league and just 17 passing TDs, which is tied for 4th-fewest. For fantasy, the Bills have been a really tough matchup to pry a strong fantasy QB performance out of. Over their last six games, Buffalo has only allowed two top-10 QB finishes. Maybe more importantly, the Bills have only allowed an opposing QB to score 20+ points three times all season, though two of those times came in two of their last three games. Two of those three 20+ fantasy scoring QBs have scored rushing TDs, so if Hurts is going to be effective for fantasy managers, he’s going to have to put in some of that old school running game to bring home titles.
Caleb Williams
QB - CHI
The sophomore jump for Caleb Williams has been quite the journey to see for fantasy managers. Williams is currently the QB11 on the season after quite the disappointing rookie campaign. Getting some Ben Johnson pixie dust has greatly improved the Bears’ offense overall and allowed Williams to be a more efficient QB overall. A main contributor to Williams’ success has been just staying upright, taking 45 sacks fewer through 16 games than he did as a rookie. While the season as a whole has been better for Williams, he’s struggled down the stretch of the year, finishing as a top-12 QB just once in his last four games.
If Williams is going to be a QB that helps take fantasy managers to the promised land, he’s got a decent matchup to do so against the 49ers. San Francisco has been an improving defense throughout the year that has been much better down the stretch of the season. The 49ers defense hasn’t allowed an opposing QB to score 20+ fantasy points in a game since Week 11, which ended a four-game streak of them allowing 25+ fantasy points to the position. Williams is a bit of a wildcard for fantasy managers in such an important week and is running into a pretty hot defense, so it’s likely fantasy managers can find a better option this week.
Running Backs
RJ Harvey
RB - DEN
It’s been a real difference-making back stretch of the season from RJ Harvey in the Broncos offense. Over the last month, Harvey has finished as a top-12 RB in three of his last four games and has scored five TDs over that stretch. While he was splitting reps with JK Dobbins, the name of the game for Harvey was efficiency, seeing just about eight opportunities per game. Since Week 12 though, Harvey has been a staple in the Broncos’ offense, getting 17 opportunities per game and averaging 15 fantasy points per game.
Usually, getting a big matchup against the Chiefs in such an important week would give fantasy managers pause, but this is a different situation. Kansas City has really been a solid defense against the run this year, allowing the 4th-fewest rushing TDs in the league. Over the last month, though, things have really changed for this Chiefs defense. In their last four games, Kansas City has allowed four top-24 RBs, including two just last week to the lowly Titans offense. Harvey’s massive opportunity should give him everything he needs to bring a big fantasy day against a team with nothing to play for.
Bucky Irving
RB - TB
The return to the field started hot for Bucky Irving, but he hasn’t been the late-season savior that fantasy managers were hoping for in his last two games. Over the last two weeks, Irving has combined for just 14.7 fantasy points, which is less than what he scored in the individual games for his first two weeks back. What’s frustrating for fantasy managers has to be that Irving’s entire fantasy day could have been salvaged by getting into the end zone, but it’s been Sean Tucker who has gotten those carries over the last two weeks, out-pacing Bucky by three carries inside the red zone over that stretch.
If there is a cure for a rough fantasy stretch by an RB, getting to take on the Dolphins could be a pretty good one. Miami’s defense has allowed the 7th-most rushing yards in the league and the third-most carries over 40+ yards. For fantasy, the Dolphins have allowed a top-12 RB in each of their last two games, though that comes on the heels of not allowing a top-24 RB finish in the four games prior. It may be tough to feel like fantasy managers can trust Bucky in such an important week, but this is the kind of matchup that can create fantasy greatness.
Jaylen Warren
RB - PIT
Finally getting a full season of opportunity has provided great fantasy fruit for Jaylen Warren in 2025. Warren has been one of the most consistent fantasy RBs in the league, finishing as a top-24 RB in 10 of his 14 games played. What’s more impressive is that Warren is currently the RB17 on the year and is just playing 53% of the snaps for the Steelers offense. It’s been the 16 opportunities per game that Warren has averaged that have made him the perfect RB2 with upside for any fantasy roster.
A matchup against a scary Cleveland defense could dampen fantasy managers’ expectations in such an important week. The Browns are allowing just four yards per carry on the season, which is tied for the fourth-lowest in the league. The first half of the season, Cleveland’s defense didn’t give up much to fantasy RBs, but since Week 10, this defense has allowed 20+ fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs in each game. For fantasy, the Browns have been a must-target team during that stretch. Cleveland has allowed a top-12 RB in each of their last seven games, four of which were RB6 or better. If there’s any doubt about finishing off this great season with Warren in your lineup, there shouldn’t be.
Wide Receivers
Deebo Samuel Sr.
WR - WAS
The change of scenery for Deebo Samuel hasn’t really paid off down the stretch of the year. Samuel started the year red hot, finishing as a top-24 in four of his first five games. Since then, though, Samuel has hit that mark just once, though he’s scored 10+ fantasy points twice. Part of Samuel’s issue has been a lack of getting into the end zone for the Commanders. In the five weeks that Deebo has been a top-24 WR, he’s gotten into the end zone four of those, so he’s been very TD dependent for fantasy relevance.
If there’s a team to bet on a WR getting into the end zone against, a matchup against the Cowboys is a good one. It’s been well-documented that the juicy matchup that Dallas has been this season for fantasy WRs, but let’s remind ourselves one last time. The Cowboys have allowed the most passing yards and TDs in the league this season, and also lead the league plays of 40+ yards they’ve given up through the air. For fantasy, Dallas has allowed a top-24 WR in each of their last eight games. Oddly enough, the last game the Cowboys didn’t allow a top-24 WR was their first matchup against the Commanders, but neither Deebo nor Terry McLaurin played in that game. Week 17 gives Deebo a real chance for redemption and could be a sneaky FLEX play.
Jayden Reed
WR - GB
Fantasy managers who held onto hope they’d be getting some classic Jayden Reed on the back-end of the fantasy season may end up disappointed. Reed has been back from injury for the Packers’ last three games, but hasn’t scored more than eight fantasy points in any of those games. What’s encouraging for Reed is he’s been on the field for 64% of snaps over the last two weeks, which is a normal allotment for how he’s traditionally been used. What may be impeding Reed’s higher-end outcomes for fantasy are the numerous offensive weapons that the Packers offense has to choose from. To further complicate things, there’s uncertainty at QB for Green Bay this week with both Jordan Love and Malik Willis’ status up in the air.
What’s unfortunate for Reed is the matchup this week against the Ravens is really one worth targeting if we were more certain about who’s going to be under center. Baltimore’s defense has allowed the 7th-most passing yards this season, though of the 14 teams that have allowed at least 3500 passing yards, they’ve allowed the fewest TDs with just 21. The Ravens have allowed a top-15 WR in each of their last five games, including three-straight WR7 finishes or better. While the matchup looks juicy, it’s really tough to see a pathway for Reed being a WR that needs to be in championship lineups.
Jauan Jennings
WR - SF
Maybe one of the most underrated WRs down the stretch of the fantasy season has been Jauan Jennings. Since Week 9, Jennings has been one of the most consistent WRs for fantasy lineups, finishing as a top-24 WR six times and averaging 13 fantasy points per game. Possibly the only gripe about what Jennings has been doing is that he could be a bit TD dependent, catching a TD in each game he’s hit that top-24 mark and failing to get into the end zone in the lone time he’s missed it. What’s encouraging about that TD trend continuing is the six red zone targets Jennings has seen over his last two games, catching a pair of TDs in the process.
If Jennings is going to keep the hot streak alive, a matchup against the Bears gives him a solid opportunity to do so. Chicago’s defense has allowed the 5th-most passing TDs in the league, though they also lead the league in INTs. Over their last five games, the Bears have allowed four top-24 WR finishes, two of which were WR6 or better. With the second-highest expected point total of the week, there should be plenty of opportunity for Jennings to produce for fantasy lineups and should play a role in winning some titles this weekend.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson
TE - NO
It’s really been a “hot-and-cold” season for Juwan Johnson in the Saints’offense. After starting the year with TE4 and TE3 finishes, Johnson has struggled to find consistent success and has given fantasy managers whiplash. Since rookie QB Tyler Shough took over as starter in Week 9, Johnson has averaged 2.1 more fantasy points per game than in his first eight games. The biggest gripe for fantasy managers with Johnson has been his lack of TD scoring, something he’s only done three times this season, though with his consistent work in the passing game, he’s been the TE8 or better each week he’s gotten into the end zone.
If there’s a chance that Johnson can be a contributor in Championship Week, he’s got a decent matchup against the Titans to do so. Tennessee’s defense has allowed 8 yards per pass attempt this season, which is the 4th-highest in the league. When it comes to defending TEs, though, the Titans have really been a team to target over the last month. In their last four games, Tennessee has allowed a top-6 TE finish three times, though they only gave up 1.1 total fantasy points to Chiefs TEs just last week. While Johnson may not be an obvious choice that fantasy managers have relied on this season, there’s real potential this week for him to matter for fantasy.
Brenton Strange
TE - JAX
Since his return from injury, Brenton Strange has really brought a solid fantasy TE option to the table for fantasy managers. Strange returned to the Jaguars lineup in Week 12 and has been a top-10 TE in three of five weeks, averaging 8.7 fantasy points during that stretch. Over the last three weeks, Strange has been a consistent target in the red zone for Trevor Lawrence, with seven total targets coming his way and his first TD inside the 20 on the season just last week.
A matchup against the Colts in Week 17 should put Strange on the radar for fantasy managers needing production at TE. Indianapolis has allowed the 3rd-most passing yards in the league this season and is the 4th-best matchup for fantasy TEs. The Colts are coming off a Monday night loss where they gave up the TE1 finish on the week to George Kittle, but prior to that, they had actually tightened up against TEs. Kittle’s 21-point performance in Week 16 was the first top-10 TE finish the Colts had allowed since Week 9. Despite not performing just three weeks ago against the Colts, there’s a chance a hangover from allowing such a big TE week could carry over into Championship Week and put Strange as a dart throw in the TE spot.