Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

2023-12-30
12 min read
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With fantasy football championships on the line, you want high-ceiling players in your lineup. Perhaps no position features more players who fit the "boom-or-bust" label than wide receiver, meaning the wideouts you start could make or break your hopes of taking home a title. Our Week 17 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues are here to help you make the right start 'em, sit 'em decisions. 

Of course, injuries remain an issue at this position, as several top players, including Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder), Keenan Allen (heel), Christian Watson (hamstring), Michael Pittman Jr. ( shoulder), Jaylen Waddle (ankle), and Courtland Sutton (concussion), are up in the air for Week 17 (more on them later). The good news is there are always decent replacement options, even if they fit that all-or-nothing mold we talked about earlier.

With all that in mind, let's get to it and break down our Week 17 WR rankings.

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Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 17?

Tyreek Hill (vs. Ravens in Week 17) remains atop our list despite a tough matchup. He's simply proven to be matchup-proof time and time again, and he should only see more targets with Jaylen Waddle (ankle) dinged up. He's followed by CeeDee Lamb (vs. Lions), Justin Jefferson (vs. Packers), Chris Olave (@ Buccaneers), and Brandon Aiyuk (@ Commanders). All four have above-average matchups, with Lamb, Olave, and Aiyuk checking in with top-eight WR matchups.

WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Deebo Samuel (@ Commanders), Puka Nacua (@ Giants), Mike Evans (vs. Saints), A.J. Brown (vs. Cardinals), and Cooper Kupp (@ Giants) round out our top 10, but there are plenty of must-starts extend all the way to No. 25 or so.

WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 17?

Noah Brown (vs. Titans), Brandin Cooks (vs. Lions), George Pickens (@ Seahawks), Jerry Jeudy (vs. Chargers), and whoever plays of Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Christian Watson (@ Vikings) aren't available on most 12-team waiver wires, but they're also far from must-starts. However, this week, all have matchups against defenses that entered last week in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to WRs, giving all higher floors and ceilings. Jeudy could see more targets with Courtland Sutton (concussion) dinged up, making him especially interesting.

Similarly, Rashid Shaheed (@ Buccaneers), Dontayvion Wicks or Bo Melton (@ Vikings), Darius Slayton (vs. Rams), Greg Dortch (@ Eagles), DJ Chark (@ Jaguars), Robert Woods (vs. Titans), Brandon Johnson and Marvin Mims Jr. (vs. Chargers), and the red-hot Demarcus Robinson (@ Giants) are all in play as boom-or-bust streamers in highly favorable matchups. You can also consider K.J. Osborn (vs. Packers) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (@ Ravens) with Jordan Addison (ankle) and Jaylen Waddle (ankle) both hurting.

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WEEK 17 FANTASY ADVICE:
Start 'em, sit 'em | Sleepers | Busts | Projections

Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 17?

Calvin Ridley (vs. Panthers) is tough to sit thanks to his status as Jacksonville's unquestioned WR1, but a matchup against Carolina's top-ranked pass defense awaits, clouding his outlook. We still view him as a WR3 in most formats, but temper your expectations. The same goes for Amari Cooper (vs. Jets), Garrett Wilson (@ Browns), and Terry McLaurin (vs. 49ers), but Cooper is almost impossible to sit after his massive Week 16.

Going deeper, weekly start-sit bubble guys like Elijah Moore (vs. Jets), Zay Jones (vs. Panthers) if he plays, Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds (@ Cowboys), Tyler Boyd (@ Chiefs), Josh Palmer (@ Broncos), and Demario Douglas (@ Bills) are much tougher to trust this week thanks to bottom-10 WR matchups. Boyd and Palmer could see enough targets to have decent floors in PPR leagues if Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) and Keenan Allen (heel) remain out, but overall, there's no need to risk starting these guys with championships on the line.

WEEK 17 DFS:
Main slate DK/FD lineups | DET-DAL lineup | Best values

What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 17?

Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder), Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder), Keenan Allen (heel), Marquise Brown (heel), Christian Watson (hamstring), Zay Jones (hamstring), Jayden Reed (toe), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) all missed last week's games. It's tough to count on any for Week 17, though Pittman Jr., Jones, and Reed were at least "questionable" ahead of Sunday, so fantasy owners will have to monitor the practice reports closely.

Michael Thomas (knee) has missed the past five games but is eligible to come off the IR at any time. Considering he didn't even practice last week, he'll likely have an uphill battle to return against the Buccaneers, but if he does, he has flex value given the favorable matchup. 

Jordan Addison (ankle), Jaylen Waddle (ankle), Courtland Sutton (concussion), and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) all exited their Week 16 games early. Waddle is the least likely to play, but they all are questionable, at best, to get back on the field.

As usual, we'll update these standard WR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy WR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at wide receiver

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Ravens
2    CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Lions
3    Justin Jefferson, Vikings vs. Packers
4    Chris Olave, Saints @ Buccaneers
5    Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Commanders
6    Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Commanders
7    Puka Nacua, Rams @ Giants
8    Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Saints
9    A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Cardinals
10    Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Giants
11    Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Cowboys
12    Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Chiefs
13    DJ Moore, Bears vs. Falcons
14    DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Steelers
15    Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Raiders
16    DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Cardinals
17    Nico Collins, Texans vs. Titans
18    DeAndre Hopkins, Titans @ Texans
19    Stefon Diggs, Bills vs. Patriots
20    Davante Adams, Raiders @ Colts
21    Tee Higgins, Bengals @ Chiefs
22    Rashee Rice, Chiefs vs. Bengals
23    George Pickens, Steelers @ Seahawks
24    Diontae Johnson, Steelers @ Seahawks
25    Calvin Ridley, Jaguars vs. Panthers
26    Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Jaguars
27    Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Chargers
28    Zay Flowers, Ravens vs. Dolphins
29    Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Saints
30    Noah Brown, Texans vs. Titans
31    Drake London, Falcons @ Bears
32    Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Steelers
33    Garrett Wilson, Jets @ Browns
34    Brandin Cooks, Cowboys vs. Lions
35    DJ Chark, Panthers @ Jaguars
36    Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. 49ers
37    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders @ Colts
38    Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Packers
39    Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Vikings
40    Demarcus Robinson, Rams @ Giants
41    Rashid Shaheed, Saints @ Buccaneers
42    Darius Slayton, Giants vs. Rams
43    Jayden Reed, Packers @ Panthers
44    Elijah Moore, Browns vs. Jets
45    Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens vs. Dolphins
46    Greg Dortch, Cardinals @ Eagles
47    Demario Douglas, Patriots @ Bills
48    Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins @ Ravens
49    Quentin Johnston, Chargers @ Broncos
50    Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks vs. Steelers
51    Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. 49ers
52    Josh Downs, Colts vs. Raiders
53    Gabe Davis, Bills vs. Patriots
54    Brandon Johnson, Broncos vs. Chargers
55    Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants vs. Rams
56    Bo Melton, Packers @ Vikings
57    Robert Woods, Texans vs. Titans
58    Rondale Moore, Cardinals @ Eagles
59    Jonathan Mingo, Panthers @ Jaguars
60    K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Packers
61    Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Chiefs
62    Treylon Burks, Titans @ Texans
63    Jalen Guyton, Chargers @ Broncos
64    DeVante Parker, Patriots @ Bills
65    Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. 49ers
66    Justin Watson, Chiefs vs. Bengals
67    Jameson Williams, Lions @ Cowboys
68    Trey Palmer, Buccaneers vs. Saints
69    Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Broncos vs. Chargers
70    Michael Wilson, Cardinals @ Eagles
71    Michael Gallup, Cowboys vs. Lions
72    Braxton Berrios, Dolphins @ Ravens
73    Josh Reynolds, Lions @ Cowboys
74    Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Raiders
75    Isaiah Hodgins, Giants vs. Rams
76    Cedric Tillman, Browns vs. Jets
77    Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Bengals
78    Derius Davis, Chargers @ Broncos
79    Parker Washington, Jaguars vs. Panthers
80    Elijah Cooks, Jaguars vs. Panthers
81    Chris Moore, Titans @ Texans
82    Tyler Scott, Bears vs. Falcons
83    Khalil Shakir, Bills vs. Patriots
84    Tutu Atwell, Rams @ Giants
85    Keith Kirkwood, Saints @ Buccaneers
86    Rashod Bateman, Ravens vs. Dolphins
87    Xavier Gipson, Jets @ Browns
88    Tre Tucker, Raiders @ Colts
89    Jalin Hyatt, Giants vs. Rams
90    Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Colts