4 Must Start Wide Receivers: Fantasy Football Week 17 (2024)
Looking for must start wide receivers ahead of Week 17 of your fantasy football season? We’ve identified four must start wide receivers who are primed for big performances. Whether it’s a favorable matchup or an opportunity for targets, these must start wide receivers will give your roster the edge it needs to dominate your league’s postseason. Don’t miss out on these key players for a fantasy football Week 17 victory.
Must Start Wide Receivers in Fantasy Football Week 17
Each week there are wide receivers that emerge as difference makers for your fantasy football team. Choosing the correct players at this volatile position on a weekly basis is a necessary skill on the path to a fantasy football championship. These wide receivers highlighted below have a combination of positive matchups and game scripts, opportunities for targets, and the skill to help you win your Week 16 matchup. Continue reading to check out my four must-start wide receivers for Week 17.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
After a combined five catches in his past two games, Tyreek Hill will look to step up in his Week 17 matchup. The former Chief has continued to see excellent target volume with seven or more in four straight games, finding the end zone in three of those four matchups.
Following last week’s matchup against a San Francisco 49ers team that ranks top five against the wide receiver position, Hill’s Week 17 opponent is the Cleveland Browns, who rank bottom five against wide receivers. In addition to being bottom five in total points allowed to wide receivers, the Browns have been the worst team in the league when adjusted for competition according to our free fantasy football tool, the D-PAC Score. The Browns haven’t improved as the season has gone on, holding in the bottom five against the position over the past four weeks.
Regardless of fellow receiver Jaylen Waddle’s status, I’m firing up Hill as a low-end WR1 this week. Hill is a must start wide receiver in Week 17 with his heavy volume, elite matchup, and ability to find the end zone.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals offense has been on fire this season, leading the league in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns. This bodes well for Tee Higgins to keep up his success, which has seen him finish as a top 17 WR in fantasy for four of the past five weeks. The Clemson product has a 24.7% target share across his ten games played, only slightly trailing star WR Ja’Marr Chase.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals host the Denver Broncos this week in a must-win game for the team. The Broncos have been the sixth-hardest matchup for wide receivers this season, but have been the third-easiest matchup over the past four weeks. With star cornerback Patrick Surtain II across from Chase, look for Higgins to exploit a defense that’s been allowing fantasy points of late. In a game with the second highest over/under on the week, according to DraftKings, look for both teams to put points on the board.
The pending free agent receiver is a must-start despite a matchup that looks tough on paper in Week 17. Higgins ranks as a high-end WR2 for me this week and should be in all fantasy lineups assuming the potential rain in Cincinnati doesn’t impact the game.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley has been inconsistent this season on a Titans offense that’s sixth worst in yards per game. With Mason Rudolph taking over at quarterback, the veteran should see elite target volume from a more consistent passer. Ridley has averaged over nine targets per game in Rudolph’s four starts this season and a target share of 25.5% during those weeks.
In Week 17, the Titans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the second most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Ridley saw 12 targets against the Jaguars earlier this season. However, he was unproductive as quarterback Will Levis struggled mightily.
Ridley ranks as a low-end WR2 for me this week with his elite volume and big play ability, such as last week’s 38-yard touchdown, offsetting the Titan’s offensive limitations. The former Jaguar is a must start wide receiver in Week 17 in a revenge game against his old team.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
If you’re feeling lucky this week, this is the play for you. Jayden Reed has only six top-24 finishes in his 15 games this season. However, he has a WR1 and WR2 overall weekly finish mixed in. This boom or bust nature is largely driven by a lack of volume. Notably, the Michigan State product has more than six targets only once this season.
Reed excelled against the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season with a WR2 overall finish. He was dominating as fellow wide receiver Christian Watson left with an ankle injury after playing only nine snaps. Watson is looking questionable (at best) to play in this Week 17 rematch against the Vikings, leaving more opportunities for Reed. The Vikings have been a top-five matchup for wide receivers on the season and over the past four weeks, in part due to their excellent run defense (2nd in NFL in rush defense).
Reed ranks as a high-end WR3 for me this week, well above his current WR36 consensus ranking on FantasyPros. The second-year pro is a must wide receiver in Week 17 with his elite matchup, talent, and game script with Watson’s injury and the Vikings strong run defense.
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