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.
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.
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
