Wide receiver is often called fantasy football's "deepest position," but owners aren't looking for depth when it comes to their championship lineup -- they just want maximum points. Of course, with injuries and bad matchups rearing their ugly head for several key wideouts, you might have to dig deep for your WR3 or flex, creating start 'em, sit 'em headaches you had no intention of dealing with. Our Week 17 fantasy WR PPR rankings are here to help, providing a little relief during this hectic time.
As we said, injuries are going to be the biggest obstacle toward teams filling out their WR spots with nothing but stars. Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder), Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder), Keenan Allen (heel), Jaylen Waddle (ankle), and Courtland Sutton (concussion), aren't sure things to suit up, and a few other high-ceiling options (Christian Watson, Jordan Addison, Marquise Brown) could also be out, forcing you to your bench or the waiver wire.
Whatever your situation, we're here for you, so let's get to it and break down our Week 17 WR rankings.
Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 17?
Even in a tough matchup, Tyreek Hill (vs. Ravens in Week 17) is atop our rankings this week. Considering he posted over 100 yards and a TD against the Jets, who allow the fewest fantasy points to WRs, we think he can do damage against a Ravens' defense that had trouble with Brandon Aiyuk last week. CeeDee Lamb (vs. Lions), Justin Jefferson (vs. Packers), Chris Olave (@ Buccaneers), and Brandon Aiyuk (@ Commanders) round out our top five thanks to their frequent targets and top-eight matchups.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Puka Nacua (@ Rams), Mike Evans (vs. Saints), Deebo Samuel (@ Commanders), Cooper Kupp (@ Giants), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (@ Cowboys) make up the bottom-half of the top 10, but the must-starts extend down to about No. 26 or 27.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 17?
While these guys don't qualify as "pickups" in most leagues, Noah Brown (vs. Titans), George Pickens (@ Seahawks), Jerry Jeudy (vs. Chargers), and any of Green Bay's top-three receivers (if they play), Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed (@ Vikings), are worth using in 12-team leagues. All face defenses that entered last week in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to WRs, so their floors and ceilings are higher this week. That's especially true for Jeudy, who might see more targets with Courtland Sutton (concussion) dinged up.
Likewise, Rashid Shaheed and Michael Thomas if he plays (@ Buccaneers), Demarcus Robinson (@ Giants), DJ Chark (@ Jaguars), Dontayvion Wicks or Bo Melton (@ Vikings), Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson (vs. Rams), Brandon Johnson and Marvin Mims Jr. (vs. Chargers) and Greg Dortch (@ Eagles) all make for solid plug-and-plays in favorable matchups. Wicks, who's dealing with a chest injury, or Melton would only be in play if one of Reed (toe) or Watson (hamstring) is out for Green Bay, while Dortch likely needs Hollywood Brown (heel) to be out again for Arizona.
K.J. Osborn (vs. Packers) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (@ Ravens) are also in play with Jordan Addison (ankle) and Jaylen Waddle (ankle) hurting. They don't have the best matchups, but they should see more targets and have plenty of big-play potential.
WEEK 17 DFS:
Main slate DK/FD lineups | DET-DAL lineup | Best values
Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 17?
You can't really sit Calvin Ridley (vs. Panthers), Garrett Wilson (@ Browns), and Amari Cooper (vs. Jets) because of their roles as WR1s on their respective teams, but all have brutal matchups this week against top-three WR defenses. Terry McLaurin's matchup against the 49ers isn't quite as bad on paper, but it's still tough given Washington's offensive issues.
Guys like Elijah Moore (vs. Jets), Zay Jones (vs. Panthers) if he plays, Demario Douglas (Bills), Tyler Boyd (@ Chiefs), Josh Palmer (@ Broncos), and Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds (@ Cowboys) are typically on the start-sit bubble most weeks, but they're mostly off-limits this week because of tough matchups. Palmer and Boyd have a little more PPR upside if Keenan Allen (heel) and Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) remain out, but neither has a particularly high ceiling.
WEEK 17 FANTASY ADVICE:
Start 'em, sit 'em | Sleepers | Busts | Projections
What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 17?
Keenan Allen (heel), Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder), Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder), Christian Watson (hamstring), Jayden Reed (toe), Zay Jones (hamstring), Marquise Brown (heel), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) sat out last week's games. None are sure things to suit up, but Pittman Jr., Reed, and Jones were at least "questionable" before being ruled out, so they likely have better chances of playing than the others.
As we mentioned earlier, Michael Thomas (knee) was eligible to return last week but failed to practice, so we're not overly optimistic that he'll be back this week either. If he is, he's a worthwhile flex in a highly favorable matchup against Tampa, but don't bank on him being out there.
Jaylen Waddle (ankle), Courtland Sutton (concussion), Jordan Addison (ankle), and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) all exited last week's games early, and are questionable, at best, to suit up this weekend. Waddle is the most likely to miss time, but all will have to be monitored in practice.
As usual, we'll update these WR PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy WR PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at wide receiver
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
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 Puka Nacua, Rams @ Giants
7 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Saints
8 Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Commanders
9 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Giants
10 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Cowboys
11 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Raiders
12 Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Chiefs
13 A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Cardinals
14 DJ Moore, Bears vs. Falcons
15 Nico Collins, Texans vs. Titans
16 DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Steelers
17 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Cardinals
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 Calvin Ridley, Jaguars vs. Panthers
25 Diontae Johnson, Steelers @ Seahawks
26 Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Jaguars
27 Zay Flowers, Ravens vs. Dolphins
28 Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Chargers
29 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Saints
30 Noah Brown, Texans vs. Titans
31 Garrett Wilson, Jets @ Browns
32 Drake London, Falcons @ Bears
33 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Steelers
34 DJ Chark, Panthers @ Jaguars
35 Brandin Cooks, Cowboys vs. Lions
36 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. 49ers
37 Jakobi Meyers, Raiders @ Colts
38 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Vikings
39 Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Packers
40 Demarcus Robinson, Rams @ Giants
41 Rashid Shaheed, Saints @ Buccaneers
42 Demario Douglas, Patriots @ Bills
43 Darius Slayton, Giants vs. Rams
44 Jayden Reed, Packers @ Panthers
45 Elijah Moore, Browns vs. Jets
46 Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens vs. Dolphins
47 Josh Downs, Colts vs. Raiders
48 Greg Dortch, Cardinals @ Eagles
49 Quentin Johnston, Chargers @ Broncos
50 Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins @ Ravens
51 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks vs. Steelers
52 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. 49ers
53 Gabe Davis, Bills vs. Patriots
54 Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants vs. Rams
55 Robert Woods, Texans vs. Titans
56 Brandon Johnson, Broncos vs. Chargers
57 Bo Melton, Packers @ Vikings
58 Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Chiefs
59 K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Packers
60 Rondale Moore, Cardinals @ Eagles
61 DeVante Parker, Patriots @ Bills
62 Jonathan Mingo, Panthers @ Jaguars
63 Treylon Burks, Titans @ Texans
64 Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. 49ers
65 Jalen Guyton, Chargers @ Broncos
66 Jameson Williams, Lions @ Cowboys
67 Justin Watson, Chiefs vs. Bengals
68 Trey Palmer, Buccaneers vs. Saints
69 Braxton Berrios, Dolphins @ Ravens
70 Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Raiders
71 Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Broncos vs. Chargers
72 Michael Wilson, Cardinals @ Eagles
73 Michael Gallup, Cowboys vs. Lions
74 Josh Reynolds, Lions @ Cowboys
75 Isaiah Hodgins, Giants vs. Rams
76 Derius Davis, Chargers @ Broncos
77 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Bengals
78 Parker Washington, Jaguars vs. Panthers
79 Elijah Cooks, Jaguars vs. Panthers
80 Cedric Tillman, Browns vs. Jets
81 Khalil Shakir, Bills vs. Patriots
82 Chris Moore, Titans @ Texans
83 Tyler Scott, Bears vs. Falcons
84 Tutu Atwell, Rams @ Giants
85 Keith Kirkwood, Saints @ Buccaneers
86 Rashod Bateman, Ravens vs. Dolphins
87 Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Colts
88 Xavier Gipson, Jets @ Browns
89 Tre Tucker, Raiders @ Colts
90 Jalin Hyatt, Giants vs. Rams
