5 Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 17 (2024) – Sneaky Starts
Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 17 brings another round of lineup challenges and opportunities to find under-the-radar gems. One of the most frustrating parts of fantasy football is setting the right lineup and watching a player you almost started put up big points on your bench. Especially in the fantasy football championship. Today, we’ll take a look at 5 fantasy football sleepers and sneaky starts for Week 17.
Starting your superstar players every week, regardless of the matchup, is an easy call. However, what about the rest of your roster? Let’s get right into the picks.
Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 17
Arguably, the most frustrating part of fantasy football is setting your lineup each week. Everyone hates seeing a player you almost started go off on your bench, leading to your opponent taunting you all weekend.
Starting your superstar players every week, regardless of the matchup, is an easy call. However, what about the rest of your roster?
Let’s look at five undervalued fantasy football start options for Week 17.
Bryce Young (QB – CAR) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Young was arguably the worst quarterback in fantasy football over the first half of this season. The former Alabama star has been productive since the Week 11 bye. He has averaged 225.8 passing yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 18.4 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 23.6 or more twice. Last week, the second-year pro had 158 passing yards, two touchdowns, 68 rushing yards, a rushing score, and 27.1 fantasy points.
More importantly, Young was outstanding against the Buccaneers, totaling 298 passing yards, a touchdown, a rushing score, and 23.6 fantasy points in the Week 13 matchup. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has surrendered 20.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-most in the NFL. They have allowed opposing quarterbacks to score 23 or more fantasy points in nearly half of their games. Expect Young to have another strong fantasy performance against the division rivals.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
While Spears is the RB43 for the year, averaging 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, the former Tulane star has been unstartable most weeks. He has missed four games with multiple injuries. However, the second-year pro has been the RB5 over the past two weeks, averaging 22.2 fantasy points per game, totaling 20 or more in each outing. Spears has been a scoring machine over the past two weeks, recording two touchdowns in both contests.
Furthermore, he has been a forcing in the passing game, totaling nine receptions for 126 receiving yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks, leading the Titans in targets with 11. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have surrendered 24.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-most in the NFL. Jacksonville has given up at least 100 rushing yards or two touchdowns to opposing running backs in seven of their past eight games.
Adam Thielen (WR – CAR) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The veteran missed seven games earlier this season with a severe hamstring injury. However, Thielen has been the WR18 since the Week 11 bye, averaging 12.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he has been a go-to target for Bryce Young. Thielen has averaged 6.8 receptions on 8.5 targets for 73.8 receiving yards and 13.8 fantasy points per game over the past four weeks, totaling 12.8 or more in all but one outing.
When these two teams faced off in Week 13, the veteran was unstoppable. Thielen had eight receptions on 10 targets for 99 receiving yards and a touchdown, totaling a season-high 19.9 fantasy points, leading the Panthers in every receiving category. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have surrendered 29.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 10th-most in the NFL. They have given up 31.9 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in 40% of their matchups.
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Unfortunately, Ridley has had a disappointing first season in Tennessee, ranking as the WR28 for the year, averaging 9.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the veteran wide receiver is coming off a solid performance in Week 16 with Mason Rudolph under center. He had three receptions on five targets for 78 receiving yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts, finishing the game with 15.3 fantasy points.
Meanwhile, Ridley had 12 targets and 9.4 fantasy points in the Week 14 matchup against the Jaguars. He led the team in target share (37.5%), seeing eight more looks than any other Titan. More importantly, Jacksonville has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (30.5). They have given up over 250 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 51 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past five contests.
Jonnu Smith (TE – MIA) vs. Cleveland Browns
While many expected Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle to be the highest-score Miami Dolphins pass catcher this season, Smith has that honor entering Week 17. The veteran tight end is the TE3 for the year, averaging 10.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has six receiving touchdowns, the most on the team and the fourth-most in the NFL among tight ends behind Mark Andrews (10), George Kittle (eight), and Tucker Kraft (seven).
More importantly, Smith has been the TE1 over the past six weeks, averaging 7.2 receptions on 8.5 targets for 75.8 receiving yards and 16.2 fantasy points per game, totaling five touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Browns have surrendered 10.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the eighth-most in the NFL. They have given up 6.3 receptions for 60.7 receiving yards and 17 fantasy points per game to tight ends since their Week 10 bye.
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