Fantasy Football Week 17 Start Decisions Involving Texans and Chargers: Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Dalton Schultz and More

The pre-Sunday games in week 17 are mostly duds, but a really intriguing one is the AFC clash between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers. Let's look over the top fantasy football options and some trending decisions for players in that contest.

Check back in a bit, as I'll do the same thing for the second Saturday game - the Packers against the Ravens. Also be sure to check out my DFS lineup for Saturday's games.

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

Quarterbacks and Trending Start Decisions

Justin Herbert will lead the Chargers, while C.J. Stroud guides the Texans.

Herbert has the toughest fantasy test a quarterback could have against the Texans. Stroud's matchup against the Chargers isn't much better. 

Despite a tougher test, I still had Herbert ranked 11th among the starting QBs around the league for week 17. Him going off in week 16 definitely helped his cause.

Stroud ranked 22nd for me this week. He just has been too inconsistent to trust in a very tough matchup, so I only like him in deeper leagues.

Herbert is in trending start decisions, while Stroud isn't. Herbert is up against Arizona's Jacoby Brissett and Seattle's Sam Darnold.

Fantasy owners like Brissett over Herbert, but it's very close. I agree, as I ranked Brissett 10th, so just a spot above Herbert. Brissett's high-end matchup against the Bengals is the difference.

Fantasy owners are taking Darnold over Herbert as well. That one I disagree with, as I ranked Darnold 14th going into a tougher test against Carolina. Herbert is the better fantasy asset, so he gets the nod as both guys have tougher tests ahead.

Running Backs and Trending Start Decisions

Woody Marks is the lead back for the Texans now. Nick Chubb is the top backup. Those two will soak up most of the touches as long as there's no injuries and it's a pretty close game.

Omarion Hampton leads the LA backfield now, with help from Kimani Vidal. The backup is dealing with an injury and is questionable to play. If Vidal is out, Hassan Haskins looks like the best bet to soak up the backup touches in the backfield.

In my week 17 fantasy running back rankings, I had Hampton at No. 19. I skipped Marks this week.

The Chargers are a very tough test, which played a big role in not ranking Marks in my top 30. He was also dealing with an injury, but has been cleared from that.

The Texans are a tough test too, but are a slightly more favorable matchup for Hampton and company.

Marks is in a trending decision with Chicago's Kyle Monangai. I didn't rank Monangai this week either.

Fantasy owners like Marks over Monangai, and I'd agree with Marks as his team's RB1 and Monangai being RB2 for the Bears. Monangai has a better matchup, which is what makes it a close decision. I like both better in deeper leagues though.

Hampton is in trending decisions with Green Bay's Emanuel Wilson, Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell and Baltimore's Derrick Henry.

Hampton is the heavy favorite over Wilson. Josh Jacobs has been cleared for the Packers, so Wilson is the Packers' RB2. I'd also take Hampton over Wilson, but think Wilson could surprise again this week. Hampton is the standard league option, while Wilson is just a deep-league starting option.

Fantasy owners like Hampton over Warren barely, but have both starting in 52% of leagues. Warren is ranked 20th for me this week, so I agree with taking Hampton over Warren, but would be happy to start both backs in most fantasy setups.

Fantasy owners like Hampton over Gainwell, while starting both in 50% of leagues. I have Gainwell over Warren this week, as he ranks 13th on my RB list. I'd be happy to start both backs in week 17 though.

Henry is the favorite over Hampton, while both are starting 75% of the time. Even in a tough matchup, I have Henry ranked eighth this week, so I'm easily taking him over Hampton. Both are fine starting options in a lot of leagues though.

Chubb and Vidal are just deep-league options in the tougher matchups, and more flex-level options this week as a result. If Vidal is out, I'd skip Haskins in almost all leagues.

Wide Receivers and Trending Start Decisions

Nico Collins is the go-to wideout in Houston. Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson have been the next-most involved wideouts of late.

Los Angeles has Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen powering things, with Tre' Harris helping out too.

The matchup for the Chargers' wide receivers is almost as tough as it gets. The Chargers' defense will be a similarly tough matchup for the Houston wideouts.

Collins is my favorite wide receiver from this game, ranking eighth among wide receivers for me in week 17. McConkey is the only other one ranked in my top 30, coming in 25th. 

McConkey is in trending decisions with Jacksonville's Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers and Chicago's Luther Burden, while Johnston is in a decision with Washington as well. 

Fantasy owners like McConkey over Washington by a lot, and are starting both wideouts 22% of the time. I debated having Washington in my top-30 rankings thanks to a great matchup against the Colts, but ended up skipping him in the end. I feel safer in McConkey, even going into his very tough test.

Owners are split on starting Meyers or McConkey, while starting both 41% of the time. Meyers is ranked 24th for me, so that favorable matchup was the difference between these two wideouts.

McConkey is the heavy favorite over Burden, while fantasy owners are starting both wideouts 18% of the time. Burden did not make my top-30 rankings despite going into an average matchup against the 49ers. Burden being injured last week makes him a far more risky play this coming week, so give me McConkey despite a tougher test.

Johnston is preferred over Washington, with both starting just 5% of the time. I didn't rank either, but both were close. I'd use the matchup to break a close decision, so Washington is who I'd prefer this coming week.

Collins is a fantasy starter for all leagues, even in a tougher test and coming off a “down” showing. All the other Texans are deep-league options only because of the tough matchup. After McConkey, every other Charger is also just a deep-league starting option.

I'd rank the other wideouts as follows: Johnston, Higgins, Allen, Kirk, Harris, Hutchinson.

Tight Ends and Trending Start Decisions

Dalton Schultz is the top tight end for the Texans. Cade Stover has three targets in two straight games, so he's worth mentioning, even though he'd be a super risky option in even deep, deep fantasy leagues.

Oronde Gadsden is the top tight end for the Chargers. Will Dissly had three targets last week, so he's another worth mentioning, but isn't a very good starting option.

The Chargers' defense is the tougher fantasy test, while the Texans' defense is also pretty tough on tight ends.

I included Schultz in my week 17 tight end rankings, while skipping Gadsden. Schultz ranked 13th. 

Schultz has been the better fantasy asset of late, and has less competition for targets. Adding in a tough test for an inconsistent rookie tight end, I decided to skip Gadsden this week. 

Schultz is part of trending decisions with Jacksonville's Brenton Strange and New England's Hunter Henry.

Fantasy owners have Strange over Schultz, while starting both tight ends 14% of the time. I'd agree, as I ranked Strange ninth heading into a pretty favorable matchup against Indy.

Schultz is preferred over Henry, with both starting in 8% of leagues. Henry ranked eighth for me this week, so he gets the nod over Schultz. An average fantasy test against the Jets is why I like Henry over Schultz.