Scott Engel is in his 11th season as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 10-time nominee, including being a finalist for the 2020 FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year Award, which he won previously. Scott was the No. 1 fantasy football draft accuracy ranker at tight end and No. 6 at running back on fantasypros.com in 2021. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis at The Game Day including additional lineup and roster tips for fantasy football Week 16.
As the Seahawks head into a major showdown with the New York Jets in Week 17, fantasy football players are getting ready for their most important game of the year. In most fantasy leagues, Week 17 features the championship game, and the pressure to make the correct decisions is higher than ever. Winning a fantasy Super Bowl title can be a memorable achievement that lasts forever in your mind, as it certifies that you outmaneuvered your friends, co-workers or family members for a championship and bragging rights.
Advancing to the fantasy football Super Bowl itself is not an easy feat, either. To get there, you had to overcome several significant challenges including injuries and bye weeks while riding a rollercoaster of player trends. While on the verge of winning it all, do not put extra pressure on yourself to make the right lineup calls. By this point, it is apparent which players will be most likely to help make that final push to win the league trophy. We also increase the chances of enjoying fantasy Super Bowl glory with a rundown of several players that can be key performers in your championship week.
Analysis leans to Point Per Reception (PPR) formats
Fantasy Football Super Bowl Guide: Start 'Em
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker III: He had a big second half at Kansas City, with 91 yards on 17 carries. The momentum can carry into this week's matchup with the Jets for a good outing. New York does not have a pure shutdown defense against the run, ranking 13th in rushing yards allowed to RBs. Walker will be a very important part of the game plan this week, and with long runs of 15-plus yards in each of his last three games, he is a threat to take off for a big gain at any time. Walker had a 33-yard reception in his last home game vs. the 49ers, who rank No. 1 in FFPG allowed to RBs. He is a quality fantasy RB2 start in Week 17.
Cam Akers: Akers has been recapturing his best form recently, and he has a very favorable matchup in Week 17. Last week against Denver, Akers rushed for a season-high 118 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and he had the first three-TD game of his career. He has rushed for six TDs in his last four games. The Chargers have allowed the second-most rushing yards to RBs this season and they have allowed 12 rushing TDs to the position, which is tied for fourth-most in the NFL.
David Montgomery: After Carolina rushed for a franchise record 320 yards against Detroit last week, Chicago will surely intend to take a similar approach against the Panthers this week. The Bears also have the very dangerous element of an RPO attack with Justin Fields further keeping the Panthers defense off balance. Montgomery has been running hard this season and he has totaled 80-plus scrimmage yards in four of his past five games. He has three TDs from scrimmage in his last three games.
Tyler Allgeier: The Falcons rookie is coming on strong late in the NFL regular season and just in time for a fantasy football championship push. In Week 15, Allgeier rushed for 139 yards on 17 carries and a TD in the best performance of his career so far. In Week 16, he rushed for 74 yards on 18 carries against Baltimore's third-ranked run defense and added 43 yards on four-receptions. Allgeier is emerging as a physical and decisive runner with some potential versatility. This week, he faces the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most FFPG to RBs over the past four weeks.
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams: Las Vegas will be going with Jarrett Stidham against the NFL's best defense this week, as the Raiders take on the 49ers. But even though Stidham is making his first career start, getting the ball to Adams will be his top priority. The 49ers rank 28th in FFPG allowed to WRs even though the defense is very formidable overall. Adams can still be started with fantasy WR2/3 expectations.
Jerry Jeudy: The Denver WR has been climbing in production recently, with 149 total receiving yards in his previous two games before finishing with a season-high 117 yards in Week 16. Jeudy has 21 receptions on 27 targets in his last three games. He had a season-high 10 targets in Week 16. This week, Jeudy faces the Chiefs. He had three TD receptions vs. Kansas City on Dec. 11, and the Chiefs have allowed an AFC-high 19 TD receptions to WRs. The Chiefs rank 27th in FFPG allowed to WRs, and Jeudy is a must-start fantasy WR3 this week.
Drake London: He is getting a lot of additional work since Desmond Ridder was elevated to the starting lineup. London has 14 receptions on 20 targets over his past two games. The rookie had a career-high 96 receiving yards last week. The Arizona defense will spend a lot of time on the field and London will stack up some quality PPR totals again.
Allen Lazard: If you are digging deeper for a Week 17 WR fill-in or flex play, going with a guy who faces the Vikings' 31st-ranked pass defense is a move to consider. The Vikings have allowed the most FFPG to WRs in 2022, and pass-catchers can exceed their usual production when facing Minnesota. Lazard was targeted 11 times last week against Miami, and he had a 42-yard reception. In his last meeting with the Vikings, Lazard had six receptions for 72 yards and a TD.
Quarterbacks And Tight Ends
Jared Goff: The Detroit QB is a strong streaming option when he plays at home. Goff has passed for 20 of his 26 TD passes in home games this season. He also averages 277.1 passing yards per game at home. Chicago has allowed the second-most FFPG to QBs over the past four weeks.
Daniel Jones: If you have made it to your fantasy championship game while streaming QBs. Jones may have helped to get you there. He has finished as a fantasy QB1 in three of his past four games. Last week, Jones reminded us that he can air it out when needed, as he passed for 334 yards. Jones is a proven dual threat who faces a Colts defense that ranks 22nd in FFPG allowed to QBs over the past four weeks. He is a quality option for a solid statistical floor in Week 17.
Noah Fant: Fant has emerged as a regular streaming option at TE for fantasy players during their postseason runs, as he has caught three TD passes in his last four games. While another visit to the end zone is certainly possible for Fant this week, he also has some promise to post satisfactory yardage totals, too. The Jets rank 28th in receiving yards allowed to TEs this season.Will Dissly was placed on IR this week with a knee injury, which could create more opportunities for Fant to deliver key receptions.
Cole Kmet: Kmet has been targeted 24 times in his last four games. The Lions have allowed 10 TD receptions to TEs, tied for the most in the league. In his first meeting with Detroit this season, Kmet had 74 receiving yards and two TDs.
For more fantasy football analysis from Scott Engel, visit The Game Day for his weekly sleepers and additional waiver recommendations.
