Updated: Week 17 fantasy football projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

Matt Lutovsky

Updated: Week 17 fantasy football projections, rankings from Draft Sharks image

With fantasy football championships on the line, having a reliable set of weekly fantasy projections and rankings is more important than ever. After all, the more expert analysis, opinions, and stats you can take in, the better it will make your Week 17 start 'em, sit 'em choices. 

To prove we truly believe in the "more is better" approach to fantasy football research, we’re happy to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning weekly rankings and projections. We'll also highlight players at each position who stand out in our rankings compared to theirs so you get multiple perspectives on a few of the biggest start-or-sit headaches. To see Draft Sharks' exclusive Week 17 3D floor-to-ceiling projections, become a Draft Sharks member today at the link below!

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Week 17 Fantasy Football Projections, Rankings from Draft Sharks

Week 17 fantasy QB projections, rankings

Spotlight Player: Aaron Rodgers, Packers vs. Vikings (SN Ranking: 7 | DS Ranking: 13)

Rodgers continues to ho-hum along, tossing for around 230 yards and a TD each week. That's been enough to get the Packers' wins, but it hasn't helped fantasy owners. This week should be different, as Minnesota allows the most passing yards and fifth-most fantasy points to QBs. Even with Christian Watson (hip) banged up, we think Rodgers should be able to slice up the Vikings for a patented 250-yard, multi-TD effort. Draft Sharks is looking at his full body of work from the season and concluding he's still mostly a mediocre option.

SN's WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Week 17 fantasy RB projections, rankings

Spotlight Player: Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Seahawks (SN PPR Ranking: 16 | DS Ranking: 28)

Knight was a major disappointment last Thursday in wet and windy conditions, but we think he'll bounce back in a big way this week. Mike White will be back under center, and the Seahawks allow the second-most fantasy points to RBs. Knight still led all Jets' backs in carries and snaps last week, so if New York can get off to a better start this time around, Knight should be just fine. Draft Sharks is clearly looking at the evidence of two bad games in a row and being cautious with the rookie, which makes sense.

Spotlight Player: Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Broncos (SN PPR Ranking: 30 | DS Ranking: 20)

We have a tough time imagining Denver being as bad this week as it was in Week 16. As such, we're being cautious with Pacheco, who continues to lose snaps to Jerick McKinnon. Denver still sports a solid run defense, so if Pacheco doesn't score, he's likely to be no more than a mid-tier flex. He always has big upside in Kansas City's high-powered offense, but we don't view him as a no-doubt RB2 as Draft Sharks does.

SN's WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Week 17 fantasy WR projections, rankings

Spotlight Player: George Pickens, Steelers @ Ravens (SN PPR Ranking: 33 | DS Ranking: 49)

Pickens posted at least five targets and 52 yards for the second-straight game last week, hauling in his third touchdown of the season in the process. It's clear he's still a key cog in Pittsburgh's offense, and while that doesn't always result in big points, we like what we've seen from the playmaking rookie. Baltimore allows the 10th-most fantasy points to WRs, and Pickens popped for 78 yards on just three catches when these teams met in Week 14. Draft Sharks sees him as more of a boom-or-bust flex, but we like his odds a little more this week.

Spotlight Player: Darius Slayton, Giants vs. Colts (SN PPR Ranking: 51 | DS Ranking: 43)

UPDATE: Draft Sharks dropped Slayton several spots throughout the week.

Slayton (6) was third among Giants' WRs in targets last week, as both Richie James (12) and Isaiah Hodgins (11) nearly doubled him up. He still managed 79 yards, but it's clear Slayton can no longer be considered the "undisputed No. 1 receiver." In a tough matchup against a Colts' defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to WRs, we don't think Slayton should be considered anything more than a boom-or-bust flex.

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Week 17 fantasy TE projections, rankings

Spotlight Player: Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Jets (SN PPR Ranking: 18 | DS Ranking: 13)

Fant has scored in three of his past four games, and at TE, that's usually enough to make you a safe starter. But Fant's TD outburst has come with just 86 total yards, and he had two or fewer catches in two of those four games. He's far from a sure thing, especially against the Jets' fifth-ranked pass defense. New York is only mediocre against TEs, but Fant is below mediocre if he doesn't score, which we're not counting on.

Week 17 fantasy defense projections, rankings

Spotlight Player: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Panthers (SN Ranking: 5 | DS Ranking: 12)

Every week, we expect Sam Darnold and the Panthers to turn it over and allow a bunch of sacks; and, so far, they've come through with a fairly clean game. Well, we're going back to the well one more time. Tampa is coming off a three-takeaway performance, and in a huge divisional game at home, we're expecting the Bucs to come out strong, shut down Carolina's running game, and pressure Darnold into some mistakes.

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.