It’s Fantasy Championships week, folks! Let’s put together these fantastic lineups and win a championship! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst games in any given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week I will look at quarterbacks who might exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent.

For your final roster decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also make sure to subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and I as we break down all things fantasy football five days a week!

All positions: QB | R.B. | W.R. | YOU | Ks and DST

1. Ka’imi Fairbairn vs. Ravens (Wednesday)
2. Chase McLaughlin vs. Panthers
3. Brandon Aubrey to the Eagles
4. Chris Boswell vs. Chiefs (Wednesday)
5. Cameron Dicker at Patriots (Saturday)
6. Jake Bates at 49ers (Monday)
7. Tyler Bass vs. the Jets
8. Wil Lutz to Bengals (Saturday)
9. Justin Tucker to Texans (Wednesday)
10. Jason Myers at Bears (Thursday)

Complete Kicker Rankings for Week 17

Start of the week

Chase McLaughlin vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): McLaughlin has scored 15 or more points in two of his last four games, including 15 points against this week’s opponent, the Panthers, in Week 13. Carolina has allowed at least eight fantasy points to kickers 10 times, including nine who scored at least 12 points and five with 14 points or more.

Start them

Jake Bates at 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Bates has scored a modest 14 points combined in his last two games, but I’d stick with him in what is a positive matchup against the 49ers. Over the past eight weeks, their defense has allowed the sixth-most points per game to kickers, giving up an average of 9.6 fantasy points. Bates should be a top-10 option.

Tyler Bass vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Bass has scored a total of 22 fantasy points in his last two games, and a matchup against the AFC East rival Jets makes him a good option. The Men in Green have allowed the second-most points per game to kickers since Week 9 (10.6 PPG), and four have scored at least 10 points against them since Week 11.

Kickers with good matches

Session of the week

Jason Sanders at Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Sanders came out last week against the 49ers, scoring a game-high 21 fantasy points. That kind of stat line makes it tough to get into championship week, but the Browns have only allowed 6.3 points per game to the kicker position at home. Rain showers could also fall in the region on Sunday.

Sit them down

Harrison Butker at Steelers (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix): Butker has been inconsistent this season, scoring in single digits in four of his last eight games while averaging a modest 8.4 points overall. I’d keep him out against the Steelers, who have allowed just eight field goals and an average of 5.8 points per game to kickers on their field in 2024.

Matt Gay at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Gay’s departure didn’t make Fantasy managers happy, as he failed to score more than eight points in four straight games and five of his last six. That trend is likely to continue against the Giants, who have allowed just six field goals and the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing kickers at MetLife Stadium.

Kickers with bad matches

1. Dolphins defense at Browns
2. Bills defense against the Jets
3. Colts defense at Giants
4. Defense of the Commanders against the Falcons
5. Chiefs defense at Texans (Wednesday)
6. Chargers defense against the Patriots (Saturday)
7. Seahawks defense vs. Bears (Thursday)
8. Eagles defense against the Cowboys
9. Vikings defense against the Packers
10. Saints defense against Raiders

Complete Week 17 Defense Rankings

Start of the week

Dolphins defense vs. Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Fantasy managers looking to run a DST this week should look no further than the Dolphins. Defenses have feasted on the Browns’ offense in terms of fantasy points, as Cleveland has committed 21 giveaways and allowed 26 sacks over the past eight weeks. Miami is also on the waiver wire in the leagues.

Start them

Colts defense vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Giants offense is a mess, as we saw last week when the Falcons beat them for 25 fantasy points. New York has averaged just 14 points and 279.3 yards per game since Week 9, and its line has given up 12 sacks in that span. You can probably also find Indianapolis on the wire.

Chargers defense vs. Patriots (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network): The Chargers defense hasn’t looked great lately, but a matchup against the Patriots makes this a streamable game in Week 17. The Patriots have committed 13 giveaways over the past eight weeks, and enemy defenses have averaging the fifth most fantasy points against New England in 2024.

Defenses with good matches

Session of the week

Jets defense at Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Jets defense is a shell of its former self compared to last season, and a matchup in Buffalo won’t help them turn things around. While the Men in Green kept Matthew Stafford in check last week, Josh Allen will look to bounce back from a poor stat line in Week 16, and the Jets will undoubtedly be his victims.

Sit them down

49ers defense vs. Lions (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Niners’ defense has been less productive this season, sacking the quarterback just 15 times since Week 9. That’s tied for eighth-most in that span. San Francisco has also forced a league-low two outs since Week 9, and the Lions’ offense has been one of the most explosive in the NFL in 2024.

Falcons defense at Commanders (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): The Falcons defense, listed as a starter last week, scored 25 fantasy points in a win over the Giants. Unfortunately, this week’s game against the Commanders takes out this unit. Defenses averaged just 4.5 fantasy per game against Jayden Daniels and his offense.

Defenses with bad matchups