Our Week 17 fantasy busts list is here to help, highlighting potential stumbling blocks such as Najee Harris, Tyler Lockett, and others who could jeopardize your chances of winning it all. Avoid our Week 17 bust picks to win your fantasy league.
The high-risk “starts” for Week 17 of Fantasy Football: Najee Harris, Tyler Higbee and more
Running Backs
- Najee Harris, Steelers @ Ravens (Sloan Piva)
In recent weeks, Harris has demonstrated a respectable floor, but in the weak Steelers offense, his upside is still constrained and TD-dependent. The Ravens have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, and at one point between Weeks 8 and 14, they gave up just 53.1 ground yards per game. Pivot if you can.
- D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Buccaneers (Matt Lutovsky)
Foreman gets a lot of carries and usually has success when the Panthers are winning. When Carolina is losing, or even in a close game, Foreman disappears (28 carries, 56 yards in the last three losses).
This NFC South slugfest is expected to be close, and with Tampa allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, there’s no reason to risk Foreman outside of deep leagues.
- Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys at Titans (Vinnie Iyer)
He’s been living off touchdowns lately, and I doubt he’ll get one against a tough power run defense on the road, even if Tony Pollard (thigh) is out.
Wide Receivers
- Darius Slayton, Giants vs. Colts (Lutovsky)
Richie James (12) and Isaiah Hodgins (11) both had more targets than Slayton (6) last week, which bodes ill for a matchup against a Colts defense that allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Perhaps one of these three will have a good game.
- Tyler Lockett and Marquise Goodwin, Seahawks vs. Jets (Piva)
At this point, you have to avoid the Jets’ secondary. Sauce Gardner, the frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year, has this unit playing inspired football, and we’ve seen stud receivers walk away from games against Gang Green in various states of shock.
You can’t trust either wideout in your championship matchup with Lockett nursing a broken finger and Goodwin aggravating his wrist injury Sunday (while laying a goose egg).
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs vs. Broncos (Iyer)
The Broncos’ secondary remains strong, and the Chiefs are comfortable throwing to running backs and tight ends.
Quarterbacks
- Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Jets (Lutovsky)
Smith has only thrown for two touchdowns in the last two games, and while some of that can be attributed to the inclement weather last week, it’s still disappointing that he couldn’t get more done against Kansas City’s porous pass defense.
We don’t expect much from Smith in his revenge game against New York’s fifth-ranked pass defense, even if Tyler Lockett (finger) returns this week.
- Tom Brady, Buccaneers vs. Panthers (Piva)
I initially listed Derek Carr as my bust, but Josh McDaniels and company obviously agreed because the Raiders benched him on Wednesday. As a result, I’ll go with Brady, who has largely disappointed us as a fantasy asset this season.
The former GOAT has averaged 15.7 fantasy points per week, surpassing 18 points only three times and maintaining a per-week ranking of QB16. Woof! Carolina has been surprisingly good at containing quarterbacks this season, holding TB to 12 points in their last meeting in Week 7. You might want to think about other options.
- Deshaun Watson, Browns at Commanders (Iyer)
Although it appears to be a rebound spot, this game is expected to be a defensive grind as both teams go run-heavy.
Tight ends
- Darren Waller, Raiders vs. 49ers (Lutovsky)
Waller has been solid in his two games since returning from a hamstring injury (seven catches, eight targets, 106 yards, touchdown), but not spectacular. Only four teams allow fewer fantasy points to tight ends than San Francisco, so Waller is hard to get excited about this week.
- Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Eagles (Piva)
This season, Johnson has been a touchdown machine, but he can go silent against strong defenses. Despite a tough Week 16 loss to Dallas, Philadelphia has looked like one of the stronger units all season.
- Tyler Higbee, Rams at Chargers (Iyer)
The Chargers’ defense is playing well in coverage overall, so Higbee’s magic will wear off here.
Defenses
- Miami Dolphins at Patriots (Iyer)
It’s tempting, but they’re having trouble overall, particularly against the pass, and this one is on the road.
- Buffalo Bills @ Bengals (Lutovsky)
The Bengals had some turnover issues last week against the Patriots, but they’re still below average in terms of fantasy points allowed to D/STs. Buffalo has had its own issues recently, with only four takeaways in the last four games. The Bills typically have a good floor, but their ceiling is much lower this week.
- Green Bay Packers vs. Vikings (Piva)
The Packers’ defense has been excellent at times this season, but Minnesota is a different animal, with stud playmakers at QB, RB, WR, and TE. Expect a high-scoring game and a low-scoring defensive performance from the Packers.
