Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Dalvin Cook: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 17

The Week 17 slate begins with an AFC contest featuring the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. Both teams have played elite defense at times this season, so it's an interesting game to navigate for fantasy football. Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, and Dalvin Cook are three players on the start-sit bubble this week.

Flacco has been spectacular throughout his first four starts, Siemian posted a decent showing last week, and Cook could see more touches due to an injury in the Jets' backfield.

Should you start Flacco, Siemian, or Cook in Week 17 on Thursday Night Football? Let's dive in.

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Should I Start Joe Flacco for Fantasy Football?

Believe it or not, Joe Flacco has scored the third-most fantasy points among all quarterbacks since making his season debut in Week 13. He has had more fantasy points than Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Dak Prescott during that stretch -- seriously. He's averaged 21.3 fantasy points per game, but most his of matchups have been favorable for quarterbacks.

On Thursday night, he'll face a Jets' defense that has surrendered the fewest fantasy points per game to signal-callers (13.13). With backups at both tackle spots and Amari Cooper (heel) questionable to play, this feels like a letdown spot for the former Super Bowl MVP.

While it's tough to bench a player that has gotten you this far, he's probably worth avoiding in single-QB leagues. Consider him a midrange or low-end QB2 for Superflex formats.

Should I Start Trevor Siemian for Fantasy Football?

Ultimately, not much needs to be said about Siemian's outlook this week. The Cleveland defense has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs (14.03), and Siemian is a weak fantasy option in most matchups.

Siemian scored just 11.5 fantasy points on a whopping 49 passing attempts last week, and that matchup was against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the most fantasy points to gunslingers in 2023. Avoid Siemian in all leagues if possible.

Should I Start Dalvin Cook for Fantasy Football?

In Week 16, Cook was cut out of the team's offensive game plan. Breece Hall handled 32 touches, while rookie Israel Abanikanda rushed nine times for 43 yards. Abanikanda is questionable to face the Browns due to an ankle injury, but even if he's out, Cook should be avoided in all leagues.

In his first and likely last year with the Jets, Cook has not found the end zone and he has scored fewer than five fantasy points in 14 consecutive games. Even if he was the starter in New York, he'd likely be worth benching in this spot.

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