Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Outlook

As we approach Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season, few managers are still afloat in season-long fantasy leagues. Those still playing in Week 17 are most likely playing in championship games—or they've given up on season-long play and transitioned to daily fantasy sports (DFS).

Making the wrong lineup decisions this week will prove costly, and there is plenty to unpack as the week approaches. Some teams may start considering resting starters, either in preparation for the postseason or because they've already been eliminated. Others are dealing with key injuries.

Here, we'll dive into all of the latest information and examine the latest points-per-reception (PPR) rankings for Week 17. We'll also check in on a few potential waiver-wire targets for the key offensive spots: quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

3. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

8. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

9. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

10. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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On the injury front, the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens have been without Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, respectively.

Hurts (shoulder) may try to play in Week 17, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. However, the Eagles have a solid backup in Gardner Minshew II and are one win away from clinching the NFC's No. 1 seed.

We feel a little more confident about Jackson playing in Week 17. Baltimore needs to win out to have a shot at the AFC North crown, and there's a 50-50 chance that Jackson plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.

"There's actually a chance he'll play this week. As explained on Sunday's Football Night in America, it's right around 50-50 that he'll play against the Steelers," Florio wrote.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa landed in concussion protocol on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

On the waiver-wire front, Brock Purdy remains a top quarterback to target. The San Francisco 49ers signal-caller has thrown two touchdowns in each of his last four games. He'll also face a Las Vegas Raiders team that has allowed an average of 19.2 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Purdy is rostered in 37 percent of Yahoo leagues and 29 percent of ESPN leagues.

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49eers

2. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

3. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

6. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

7. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

8. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

9. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

10. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

11. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams

12. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

13. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

14. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

15. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

16. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

17. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

18. Zonovan Knight, New York Jets

19. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

20. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

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Managers who used a first-round pick on Christian McCaffrey are sitting pretty in championship week. McCaffrey has reemerged as a top producer in San Francisco, and the 49ers are determined to keep winning through the final two weeks.

"Even if the Eagles and Vikings win out and we're still the three seed, I want to win all three games because then we're hot going into the playoffs," 49ers tight end George Kittle said before Saturday's game against the Washington Commanders, per The Athletic's David Lombardi.

The Raiders have allowed an average of 23.1 fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2022.

Managers looking for a fill-in should target Atlanta Falcons rookie Tyler Allgeier. The BYU product has been fantastic over the last couple of weeks, racking up 139 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 15 and 117 scrimmage yards with four receptions on Saturday.

Allgeier should see a heavy workload against the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed an average of 23.5 fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. He's rostered in 49 percent of Yahoo leagues and 39 percent of ESPN leagues.

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

4. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

5. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

6. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

8. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

9. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

11. Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders

12. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

13. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

14. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

15. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

16. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

17. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

18. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

19. Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

20. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

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It's hard to bet against top receivers like Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs and Ja'Marr Chase. However, it's worth noting that only Chase has a favorable matchup in Week 17.

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed an average of 28.3 fantasy points to opposing receivers. The Bengals and Green Bay Packers have both allowed fewer than 27 fantasy points to opposing WRs on average.

The best matchup of the week belongs to Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb, who is coming off a 10-catch, 120-yard, two-touchdown game. Dallas will visit the Tennessee Titans, who have surrendered an average of 33.8 fantasy points to opposing receivers.

No team has allowed more fantasy points to the position than Tennessee.

For some reason, Commanders receiver Jahan Dotson remains available in most leagues. That should change immediately. Dotson has caught 15 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns over his last three games.

Dotson is rostered in only 23 percent of Yahoo leagues and 30 percent of ESPN leagues.

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Cheifs

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

4. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

5. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

6. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys

7. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos

10. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

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The usual suspects reside at the top of our tight-end rankings, namely Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Mark Andrews. If they're on your roster, start them in Week 17.

It's worth noting, too, that Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (shoulder) returned to action on Saturday. He had three catches for 67 yards and should remain a viable start regardless of who the Eagles have under center this week.

Just keep in mind that the New Orleans Saints have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Managers seeking a replacement should check out New York Jets pass-catcher Tyler Conklin. While Conklin doesn't regularly put up huge fantasy numbers, he is coming off of a four-catch, 34-yard outing. He also has the spiciest matchup of the week.

The Jets will visit the Seattle Seahawks, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing TEs in 2022.

Conklin is rostered in 27 percent of Yahoo leagues and 36 percent of ESPN leagues.

Kicker

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

2. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills

3. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Riley Patterson, Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons

6. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers

8. Matt Gay, Los Angeles Rams

9. Chase McLaughlin, Indianapolis Colts

10. Graham Gano, New York Giants

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Defense/Special Teams

1. Philadelphia Eagles

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Baltimore Ravens

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6. New York Giants

7. Los Angeles Chargers

8. Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Cleveland Browns

10. Washington Commanders

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*Fantasy roster and scoring information via FantasyPros.