Fantasy Football Week 17 Start Decisions Involving Broncos and Chiefs: Courtland Sutton, RJ Harvey, Travis Kelce and More

Let's take a look at trending fantasy football start/sit decisions involving players from the Chiefs and Broncos game on Christmas.

We did the same for the Cowboys and Commanders game, plus the Lions and Vikings clash. Also be sure to check out a DFS lineup for the three Christmas games.

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

Courtland Sutton Start Decisions

Sutton has turned things up a bit of late, so he's trending up as the season winds down. He's in trending decisions with Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, New England's Stefon Diggs, Arizona's Michael Wilson and Atlanta's Drake London.

With Sutton's recent success, I decided to rank him 11th for week 17 among wide receivers. He has a slightly below-average matchup coming against Kansas City, but I'm not as worried about that after the Chiefs were eliminated. Sutton had 59 yards on four receptions and eight targets in the last matchup, and I expect more from him this time around.

Fantasy owners like Sutton over Evans this week, with both wide receivers starting in 51% of lineups. I have Evans ranked 15th going into a tougher test against Miami. I trust Sutton a bit more in his offense, plus a bit better matchup helps me take Sutton over Evans this week. I'd be fine starting both wide receivers in a good amount of fantasy leagues though.

Sutton is also preferred over Diggs, with both wideouts starting in 53% of leagues. Diggs is ranked 19th heading into a slightly below-average matchup against the Jets. Diggs was good last week, but Sutton has been better for longer, so he gets the nod from me if choosing between the two - I'd start both guys in a bunch of leagues.

Fantasy owners like Wilson over Sutton, with both starting in 70% of leagues. I have Wilson ranked 18th this week heading into a tougher test against Cincinnati. Wilson also has more competition for targets in Arizona, so I like Sutton's outlook more - take him if needing to choose between the two, but also be fine if you are starting both wideouts.

Sutton is preferred over London this week, with both guys starting in 51% of leagues. London ranks 10th for me this week, so I'd take him over Sutton. London has a favorable test against the Rams, so that's part of the reason why he gets the edge. Start both guys if you can though.

RJ Harvey Start Decisions

Harvey is part of trending decisions with Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren, Los Angeles Chargers' Omarion Hampton, Jacksonville's Travis Etienne and Baltimore's Derrick Henry.

I have Harvey ranked 18th for week 17 heading into a tougher test against the Chiefs. Again, I'm not as worried about the matchup now that KC has been eliminated. Harvey had 50 total yards on 14 touches against KC a few weeks ago.

Fantasy owners like Harvey over Warren in week 17, but have both starting in 53% of leagues too. I'm a bit down on Warren this week, but still have him ranked 20th heading into a slightly below-average test against the Browns. I like teammate Kenneth Gainwell over him, but Harvey over Warren - I'd be fine starting both Warren and Harvey in a good amount of leagues.

Hampton is the slight favorite over Harvey, with both rookies starting in 57% of leagues. Hampton ranks 19th for me heading into a tough test against the Texans. It's pretty much a coin flip, but I'd take Harvey over Hampton this week.

Etienne is the preferred starter over Harvey, although 58% of fantasy owners are starting both running backs. Etienne is up at No. 11 for me this week, so I prefer him between the two. Etienne has a slightly below-average matchup, but he's been so good of late that he gets a higher ranking. Start Etienne and Harvey together in a good amount of leagues and feel pretty confident in both backs.

Fantasy owners like Henry over Harvey, while starting both in 66% of leagues. I have Henry up at No. 8 heading into a tougher test against the Packers. With Lamar Jackson either out or banged up, I think Henry powers the offense and puts up good fantasy totals on volume touches. You could still start Harvey, but I like Henry over him by a decent margin this week.

Bo Nix Start Decisions

Nix is another Denver player in some trending decisions. He's up against Detroit's Jared Goff and Arizona's Jacoby Brissett.

I have Nix ranked 15th for week 17 heading into a below-average matchup against Kansas City. He had a nice fantasy showing despite no touchdowns in the first meeting this year - he had 295 passing yards, eight rushing yards and avoided a turnover.

Fantasy owners like Goff over Nix, and I agree. Goff ranks 12th for me heading into a tougher test against the Vikings. Goff had 284 yards and two scores, while avoiding a turnover in the first game, so he and Nix are both set up pretty well in tougher tests. I like the Lions' offense more, so Goff gets the nod over Nix for week 17.

Brissett is a heavy favorite over Nix for week 17. Brissett made my top 10 despite a poor showing in week 16. A great matchup against the Bengals gives him bounceback potential, and I'd try him over Nix in a tougher test this week.

Travis Kelce Start Decisions

Kelce is the lone Chief in a trending decision right now, and he's only in one. He's up against Seattle's AJ Barner.

Kelce ranked 12th for me among tight ends this week after a dud last week. His matchup against the Broncos is an above-average one, and he delivered 91 yards and a score over nine catches and 13 targets in the first clash against Denver. I don't trust many Chiefs this week with Chris Oladokun starting at quarterback.

Fantasy owners are still heavily in favor of Kelce over Barner this week. I have Barner ranked 11th going into an average test against Carolina. It's a close call, but I'd trust the Seattle offense over Kansas City's, so Barner gets the edge here. 

Other Fantasy Options

Oladokun was my last-ranked fantasy quarterback among the starting options this week. He was OK last week in relief of Gardner Minshew, but in a very tough test against Denver, I'm not trusting a third-string quarterback. Him being out there is a detriment to his teammates too.

Isiah Pacheco led the KC backfield last week and actually had a decent PPR showing, but six catches helped his cause there. He could turn in another surprising showing this week, but a very tough test has him ranked 30th among RBs for me.

Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith are just deep-league starting options, but guys to skip in a brutal matchup.

Rashee Rice has been the top fantasy wide receiver for Kansas City, but he looks like he could sit again because of a concussion. I reluctantly ranked him 16th among wide receivers this week, but understand if you want to skip him if he suits up. He still should be starting in deeper leagues, at the very least.

If Rice is out, that gives Xavier Worthy a chance to lead the team. He didn't do much last week, and would only be a standard league flex option if Rice is out. If Rice plays, I'd only want to start Worthy in deeper leagues.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquise Brown are some other wideouts who could factor in, as could tight end Noah Gray. None of them are close to my rankings for either position, and even down Rice, I'd only consider them all in really deep leagues.

Jaleel McLaughlin has been the clear top backup running back in Denver the past two weeks. He has some deep-league appeal, but isn't anything special. The only way he delivers big is if he scores, or Denver routs KC and it leads to McLaughlin getting a ton of touches.

Behind Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey were involved wideouts last week. Tight ends Adam Trautman and Evan Engram played a healthy amount too.

Franklin has some deep-league appeal in my eyes, but I'd skip him in standard leagues. If Bryant plays (he's got a concussion), he's just a deep-league option. Mims is in a similar boat, and Humphrey is a step below him.

The top fantasy TE between Trautman and Engram is a tossup, so each are just deep-league options, and not great ones in a tougher test. 

So for Denver, Nix, Harvey and Sutton are the legit standard league options, while Kansas City's players are all deep-league options in my eyes.