Fantasy WR PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at wide receiver in fantasy football

By now, you're tired of hearing about the latest player who has been placed on the reserve/COVID list, but unfortunately, we can't ignore it, as fantasy football owners and need to be prepared for all scenarios. Our Week 17 fantasy WR PPR rankings aim to help you decide who to start at wide receiver, as well as get an understanding of deeper parts of the rankings. We could see several key wideouts out of action without warning, so the potential sleepers lower down the list are as important as ever.

Justin Jefferson (@ Packers), Diontae Johnson (vs. Browns), and Keenan Allen (vs. Broncos) face some of the toughest WRs matchups, but especially in PPR leagues, the upside is too high to bench them, as any of them can have monster days without explosive plays. Adam Thielen (@ Packers) and Chase Claypool (vs. Browns) are tougher calls, but especially in PPR, Claypool is a low-floor play and best suited for benches. (Update: Thielen is out.)

WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

In the middle of our rankings, some of the best matchups go to Robby Anderson (@ Saints), Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. Vikings), Van Jefferson (@ Ravens), Isaiah McKenzie, Cole Beasley, and Emmanuel Sanders (vs. Falcons), and Christian Kirk (@ Cowboys). All of these guys are usually boom-or-bust type fantasy asserts, but with strong matchups, they can be seriously considered in PPR leagues. There are also guys, such as Jamison Crowder/Braxton Berrios (vs. Buccaneers), Kadarius Toney (@ Bears), Nico Collins (@ 49ers), and Darnell Mooney (vs. Giants), who are in bad offenses, but they are always capable of producing with enough volume in favorable matchups like those. (Update: Toney and Crowder are out.)

WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

You can also take a leap of faith with former studs A.J. Green (@ Cowboys), Allen Robinson (vs. Giants), Kenny Golladay @ Bears), and Julio Jones (vs. Dolphins), but we know they don't have the safest floors. All but Robinson have had at least one 100-yard game this year, though, and they are in some of the most favorable matchups. Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne (vs. Jaguars) find themselves in a good matchup, too, but the Pats' passing offense has no real floor and New England could opt to simply run the ball all day. Meyers still has enough PPR upside to be considered a "safe" flex.

WEEK 17 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

On the other side of the matchups, Marquise Brown (@ Rams), Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. Raiders), and Jerry Jeudy (@ Chargers) were once considered to have high ceilings, but it tough matchups this week, that doesn't feel like the case. (Update: Jeudy is out.)

MORE WEEK 17 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder

Borderline starters like Josh Reynolds (@ Seahawks), Russell Gage (@ Bills), and Rashod Bateman (@ Rams) have virtually no floor, so they're unlikely to deliver solid fantasy days in tough matchups like those, though Gage always has some potential in PPR leagues. (Update: Reynolds is out.)

WEEK 17 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

So, there you have it. This will be the last week of fantasy football for the overwhelming majority of people, so just get your start-or-sit decisions right one more time and earn those bragging right as the champion of your league.

UPDATE: NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports the NFL informed clubs that unvaccinated players who tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days are eligible to play on Sunday under the new protocols provided their symptoms have improved. That said, Mike Williams (vs. Broncos) and Gabriel Davis (vs. Falcons) could play this week, after initially having no shot at clearing protocols.

Note: We'll be updating these WR PPR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.​ For individual analysis of key WRs, click here.

Fantasy WR PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start at wide receiver

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring