Fantasy Football Week 17 Expert Picks: Ashton Jeanty, Puka Nacua, and More

Welcome to fantasy football championship week! You might still have one week remaining if your league goes into Week 18, but most leagues end in the penultimate week because players will sit out the final game if their team is either locked into playoff position or already eliminated from postseason contention.

With so much on the line this week, every decision has extra stress and importance attached. Luckily, the experts at FantasySP are here to help. Morgan Rode and Daniel Hepner answered five fantasy football questions heading into the weekend of Week 17 of the NFL season.

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Which quarterback is better left on fantasy benches this week?

Morgan: Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Stroud have been a bit more popular fantasy assets over the past couple weeks, but tough matchups should keep them on the bench in most standard leagues. Rodgers has a tougher test against Cleveland, while Stroud has a tough battle coming against the Chargers. I'd take Rodgers over Stroud this week because of his consistent play of late.

Daniel: Speaking of that Houston/Los Angeles game, Justin Herbert has maybe the toughest QB matchup of the week against the Texans, making him a better player to leave on the bench if you have any option at all. On Sunday, Bryce Young is a low-level fantasy player who isn't often in lineups anyway, but his brutal matchup against the Seahawks leaves a basement-level floor for the Carolina's passer.

Is there a running back who could help carry fantasy teams to championship glory this week?

Morgan: Ashton Jeanty could deliver big again and help fantasy owners win it all. He's coming off a monster game and has a great matchup against the Giants. Jeanty is a top-10 fantasy back for me this week and could push for the RB1 spot.

Daniel: Jeanty is the player I immediately thought of when writing this question; the Giants have allowed more yards per rush attempt than any other team and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Just to give you another name, Michael Carter from the Cardinals is set to lead the backfield against Cincinnati, who has given up the third-most yards per rush attempt and the most fantasy points to RBs. Carter is a strong streaming option.

Give us a wide receiver who might let owners down in Week 17.

Morgan: Both Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson could struggle in a tough matchup against the Bengals this week. It's about the only matchup that Cincinnati doesn't struggle mightily in, so the running game and tight ends might lead the charge, leaving Wilson and Harrison as middling-or-worse fantasy assets.

Daniel: Every Buffalo receiver should be on the must-sit list. No pass-catcher for the Bills has really been strong all year, and this week, they face the Eagles, who have allowed the third-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, and even tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox should all be left on the bench.

How about a tight end with a great matchup who should be in lineups?

Morgan: I'm going to trust the numbers and say that Brenton Strange delivers for the Jaguars in a great matchup against the Colts. He was underwhelming in this matchup a couple weeks ago, but I see Strange posting a big fantasy score in Week 17.

Daniel: Harold Fannin has moved himself into fantasy starter position, and he will easily be drafted among the top 10 tight ends next year as long as he's healthy. This week, he faces the Steelers, who are in the middle in yards per pass attempt allowed but have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Look for Fannin to lead Cleveland's offense in this one.

Who is going to be the fantasy MVP of championship week?

Morgan: Give me Puka Nacua. He has been a fantasy stud all season and is coming off a monster showing. He could post another historic fantasy score in an above-average test against Atlanta, especially with Davante Adams likely out again.

Daniel: I have been saying recently that the matchup for tight ends against the Cincinnati Bengals might be better than any other matchup for any other position right now in fantasy football. The Bengals have given up the third-most yards per pass attempt and by far the most fantasy points to tight ends. WIth Trey McBride coming to town, this could be an all-time performance. It's not a stretch to expect at least 100 yards and a touchdown from the top TE in fantasy this season.