IDP Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 17

The multitude of things that can change or go wrong late in the NFL season is often overlooked, especially in fantasy projections. By Week 14 or 15, we have the majority of a season under our belts, so we get cocky about our projections and what teams are. However, this past weekend we saw what weather can do to well settled rankings. We also saw what happens when a team like Denver truly bottoms out, a superstar (Micah Parsons) is repeatedly neutralized, and small injuries on truly bad teams cost you multiple starters.

The most problematic issue that playoff bound fantasy managers must address is the loss of players on uncompetitive teams. Most NFL players develop nagging issues throughout the season, and most will play through those problems as long as they have something to play for. However, small injuries are magnified when they occur on doomed teams. What might be a two-week sprain, or a contusion most would play through, can often relegate a player to the season ending IR if their team is out of contention.

Sadly, this inevitable trend can turn into a fantasy playoff killer more often than we like to admit. The choice to sit starters will not only take players away from you, but they can sway previously good or bad matchups for your players and opponents. The only way to combat this issue is to keep a vigilant eye on the injury report and waivers. Remember that defenders’ health is extremely underreported compared to their offensive counterparts, and it’s on you to follow those reports up until game time.

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Top Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Gamble(s) of the Week: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles

The Saints should be without both of their starting guards this weekend, which is great news for Cox. The former Pro Bowler has been cold as of late, racking up zero fantasy points in a prime matchup with the Bears and just two points against the Cowboys. A Saints team with issues on the interior could be the cure, though. New Orleans should be playing from behind, and Philly’s defensive interior should be able to tee off regularly as a result.

DL Fold(s) of the Week: Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

For starters, Hendrickson is dealing with injuries that are sapping his productivity. In his past four games, Hendrickson has totaled just three tackles and four quarterback hits while notching zero other statistics. That's very poor production from a formerly steady fantasy performer.

Now Hendrickson faces the Bills, who rank eighth best in Adjusted Sack Rate. While you’d think Josh Allen would be easier to take down since injuring his elbow, that hasn’t been the case. Since that injury, Allen has taken just 2.2 sacks per game. Altogether, the Bills remain a tougher-than-usual matchup for opposing pass rushers… especially when that pass rusher is dealing with injuries and a slump.

Top Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Gamble(s) of the Week: Luke Masterson, LB, Las Vegas Raiders

With Denzel Perryman out for the rest of this regular season, Luke Masterson should step in as Las Vegas’ leading tackler. This is a role Masterson excelled in against Pittsburgh last weekend. It is a role that should offer a solid floor against the 49ers, too.

Since Brock Purdy took over as starter, the top opposing tackler against the 49ers has routinely put-up solid fantasy numbers. In four of Purdy’s five games, his offense has supplied at least eight tackles to their opponent's top tackler. Jerome Baker notched 11 total tackles and a half-sack against these 49ers, and Jordyn Brooks was on pace for double-digit tackles before missing most of the fourth quarter due to injury. This is a decent matchup to stream Masterson.

LB Fold(s) of the Week: Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers

This is another instance where the depth at LB, especially with no byes and limited injuries, forces us to fold on a player we traditionally like. Luvu's skillset just doesn't mesh with what the Buccaneers do. Each time Luvu has excelled in fantasy, it’s been against run-oriented offenses who ran at him. The Bucs are anything but.

Tampa Bay offers the least run-oriented offense in the NFL and the hardest passer to take down. While Tampa throws plenty of screens and tight end targets that can keep LBs fed, Luvu isn't great in coverage, which is why his pass rush usage has escalated of late. Luvu shouldn’t be expected to supplement his stats with a sack either, as Tom Brady continues to toss risky throws in order to avoid sacks. That’s a good thing for Carolina’s secondary, but bad for those in the box.

Top Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Gamble(s) of the Week: Marcus Jones, New England Patriots

A few weeks back, I was asked whether to start Marcus Jones in IDP. The answer was an easy "no" since, at that point, Jones hadn't played 50% or more of New England's defensive snaps in any game. While I coveted Jones in the NFL Draft as an undersized playmaker with some of the best ball skills of any corner in the Draft, the Patriots weren't using him much, and when they did, he was in the slot.

Fast forward three weeks and a lot has changed. Jones remains an uber-talented athlete and instinctive cover man, but now New England is using him on the outside and playing him on over 80% of their defensive snaps for three straight weeks. He's rewarded them with 23 tackles and a couple of INTs during that span. Plus, he's still seeing usage on offense, which is a plus. This week, he should do well against a pass-heavy Dolphins offense, even if Tua is out.

DB Fold(s) of the Week: Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions

There is a universe where Okudah shows us up and makes us look bad for this call. However, we have to fade him in your most important fantasy week. Dan Campbell just benched him for most of the second half against Carolina, and while Campbell tried to neutralize the impact of that move, saying Okudah will rebound, it’s still concerning. Any time a starter is benched for poor play, it’s tough to completely trust his volume going into the next week.

What makes matters worse for Okudah is he will match up against a Bears offense that is dead last in pass attempts per game and lacks even a true #2 wide receiver on their roster. While Justin Fields could throw more to compensate for an injured foot in this one, the Bears should remain low-volume and conservative in their play. They are a team surely looking to preserve their star QB for next year. For that reason, Okudah is a big play-dependent option in your fantasy championship.

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