Fantasy Football Week 17 Start Decisions Involving Cowboys and Commanders: Javonte Williams, Dak Prescott, Terry McLaurin and More

The 17th week of the NFL season opens with a trio of Christmas games. Let's start breaking down the teams playing by going over Cowboys and Commanders.

That's the first game of the day. Check back for stories on Lions and Vikings, plus Broncos and Chiefs. We will start by going over players in trending decisions, then go over the rest of the fantasy football options from each game.

Also be sure to check out the DFS lineup I put together for Christmas!

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Running Back Start Decisions

Dallas' Javonte Williams is part of trending decisions with Pittsburgh's Kenneth Gainwell, Jacksonville's Travis Etienne, New England's Rhamondre Stevenson and Denver's RJ Harvey. Washington's Chris Rodriguez is in a trending decision with Tennessee's Tony Pollard.

Williams made my top-30 fantasy running back list for week 17, coming in 12th overall. He has a good matchup against the Commanders.

Williams has been a limited participant in practice, so his status will need to be watched. Malik Davis would take over as RB1 if Williams cannot go, and he'd end up ranking in the 20s.

Fantasy owners are taking Williams over Gainwell, but starting both running backs in 41% of leagues. If Williams is cleared to play and has no limitations, I agree, as I have Gainwell ranked 13th. I'd be trying to start both of those backs if I could.

Fantasy owners like Williams over Etienne barely, but are starting both guys in 62% of leagues. Etienne ranks 11th for me, so I'd rather start him over Williams, even though the matchup favors Williams. I'd try to start both those running backs as well.

Williams is the heavy favorite over Stevenson, with fantasy owners starting back RBs 25% of the time. Stevenson could start for the injured TreVeyon Henderson in week 17, but we likely won't know Henderson's status until Williams has played. I have Stevenson (or Henderson) ranked 17th this week, so I'm taking Williams if he's cleared to play.

Fantasy owners like Williams over Harvey as well, with both backs starting in 56% of leagues. Harvey ranks 18th for me despite a tougher test against the Chiefs, so I like Williams more. I'd be fine starting both backs in week 17.

Fantasy owners prefer Pollard over Rodriguez, while starting both just 10% of the time. Rodriguez was ranked 29th for me heading into a favorable test against the Cowboys, while I ranked Tyjae Spears, not Pollard, for the Titans. 

I like Spears over Rodriguez, so if you believe in Pollard over Spears, I could understand taking Pollard over Rodriguez. 

Dak Prescott Start Decisions

Prescott is part of trending decisions with Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford, New England's Drake Maye and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow.

Prescott has a great matchup against the Commanders, but I ranked him eighth overall among the starting quarterbacks for week 17. With Dallas eliminated, I didn't want to put all my eggs in the Prescott basket, because you never know how a game might unfold.

Fantasy owners are taking Prescott over Stafford this week. I get why, but I disagree, as I have Stafford ranked fifth going into an average matchup against Atlanta. LA has something to play for, so I'm trusting Stafford over Prescott.

Fantasy owners like Maye over Prescott. I have Maye ranked first going into a nice matchup against the Jets, so I agree with the majority this week. I think Maye is going to go off and pad his stats in a lopsided win, so give me Maye over Prescott.

Fantasy owners are taking Prescott over Burrow. Burrow has a pretty average matchup against Arizona, so I get wanting Prescott over him, but I have Burrow ranked sixth coming off a great showing last week. I have Burrow slightly over Prescott, although it's close to being a coin flip.

Terry McLaurin Start Decisions

McLaurin is part of trending decisions with Indianapolis' Alec Pierce and Carolina's Tetairoa McMillan.

I ranked McLaurin 22nd among fantasy wide receivers going into week 17. He has an elite matchup against the Cowboys, but with either Marcus Mariota or Josh Johnson starting, I'm down a bit on the Washington pass catchers.

Fantasy owners like McLaurin over Pierce, and it's not all that close - only 12% of owners are starting both guys. Pierce, or any Indy wideout for that matter, missed my top-30 rankings - it's hard to trust them with Philip Rivers at QB, even though Rivers looked decent in week 16. Give me McLaurin over Pierce this week.

Owners like McMillan over McLaurin, but barely. Both wideouts are starting in 43% of leagues. McMillan ranked 20th for me going into a tough test against Seattle. The matchups make this decision a close one, but I prefer McMillan, and would be fine starting both in a lot of leagues.

Jake Ferguson Start Decisions

Ferguson is part of two trending decisions, one with Houston's Dalton Schultz and another with Jacksonville's Brenton Strange.

Ferguson was my No. 6 tight end this week as he heads into a favorable test against the Commanders, who he starred against earlier this season. 

Fantasy owners like Schultz over Ferguson this week, with both tight ends starting in 20% of leagues. Schultz ranked 13th for me going into a tougher test, and the matchups are why I'm taking Ferguson over Schultz this week - it's fairly close still, despite the difference in the rankings.

Owners like Ferguson over Strange, and are starting both guys in 23% of leagues. I have Strange ranked 10th this week going into a pretty favorable matchup against Indy. I still like Ferguson in a similarly good matchup, but it's close between the two, and I wouldn't mind starting each tight end in a decent amount of leagues.

Other Fantasy Options

Washington is likely to start Johnson, as Mariota hasn't practiced this week with right hand and quad injuries. I had Mariota ranked 21st, while Johnson would be the third-to-last fantasy QB among all starters.

The matchup is elite, but neither quarterback instills much confidence. Mariota is quite a bit higher as he's started and played a ton this season. Johnson dips way down with sparse playing time this year.

We discussed Williams at length, and Davis if Williams cannot go. Davis popped up on the injury report on Tuesday, so it could leave things to Jaydon Blue and fullback Hunter Luepke if both backs cannot go. Hopefully Williams can go, and if not him, then Davis plays, because this matchup is too good to have to rely on a third- or fourth-string RB in.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols are other backfield options for the Commanders. Last week, JCM had eight touches, while McNichols had three. 

In a good matchup, all the Washington backs have some fantasy upside, especially with the QB situation they have. I like Rodriguez as the best option, and the guy to try in standard leagues. Croskey-Merritt is a deep-league option, while McNichols is more a desperation play in the deepest of leagues.

Outside McLaurin in Washington, Deebo Samuel Sr. is the other decent fantasy asset among the team's pass catchers. Treylon Burks and Ben Sinnott have deep, deep league appeal.

Samuel just missed my top-30 fantasy wideout list, so while he's a standard league option in an elite matchup, I like him better in deeper leagues.

Burks has done just enough to get some attention in really deep fantasy setups. In a great matchup, maybe he could provide a handful of points. The same could be said for Sinnott, who hasn't produced much, so he's a super risky option.

Dallas is powered by the CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens wide receiver combo. Lamb ranked fifth for me this week, while Pickens was ninth - start them in all fantasy leagues, no matter what, especially in a favorable matchup.

Ryan Flournoy, Jonathan Mingo and KaVontae Turpin are super risky starting options in really deep leagues. I'd take them in that order, but even in a great matchup, would not be thrilled to have to start them in a huge fantasy week.