Fantasy Football Week 17 Wide Receiver Start Decision: Cooper Kupp, Khalil Shakir, Deebo Samuel, Adam Thielen, Jameson Williams and More

We’re a couple games into the week 17 NFL slate already, but several games still remain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Let’s discuss some trending fantasy wideouts from the FantasySP start/sit tool. We’ll discuss Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel Sr., Khalil Shakir, Adam Thielen, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Romeo Doubs, Courtland Sutton, Xavier Legette, Jameson Williams, Jordan Addison, Jayden Reed, Darnell Mooney, Jalen McMillan and Jakobi Meyers.

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Important Numbers

Kupp has been a pretty good weekly PPR option this season, averaging 15.6 points per game. He only scored 5.4 points last week, which followed a goose egg in week 15.

Samuel scored 25.1 PPR points last week, and that bumped his season average up to 10.3. He had scored in single digits in the previous five games coming into week 16.

Shakir is averaging 12.6 points per week, but is coming off a 4.2-point outing. He scored 15.9 and 21.6 in the two weeks before that though.

Thielen is averaging 12.8 points per game in his time on the field this season. He’s scored 10 or more points in four straight games, and is coming off a 15.3-point showing. Thielen is dealing with a hamstring injury, so keep that in mind.

Johnston is at 10.3 PPR points per week on the season. He scored just 4.8 last week, but had 15.5 and 15.8 in the two weeks before that.

McConkey is at 13.9 points per game, and has scored at least 14.3 points in five straight appearances.

Doubs only had four PPR points last week, a disappointment after a 19-point outing in week 15. He’s averaging 9.8 points per week for the season.

Sutton has been a pretty good PPR option all season - he’s averaging 13.5 points. He scored 10 and 12.2 points over the past two weeks, and has been in double figures every game since a zero-point dud back in week 7.

Legette, who is dealing with hip and wrist injuries, is averaging just eight PPR points per game this season. He didn’t play last week, and hasn’t scored in double figures since week 9.

Williams is averaging 13.7 points per contest this season. He scored 26 last week, and has been over 12 in three straight.

Addison is at 14.8 points per game, and has been especially good in the second half of the season. He has 13 or more points in three straight, including a 39.3-point outburst in week 14.

Reed is averaging 12.7 points per game, but has faded in the latter portion of the season. He’s scored 11.1 points in back-to-back games, and those came after a goose egg in week 14.

Mooney is at 12.5 points per game this season. He scored 13.2 points in Michael Penix’s first start last week, a nice bounceback from a goose egg in week 15.

McMillan is at 8.5 points per game after a recent surge. He’s scored 16 or more points in three straight contests.

Meyers is at 13.4 points per contest this season. He only has scored 17 points over the past two games combined, after being between 13-22 points the previous three outings.

Week 17 Matchups 

Kupp plays Saturday against the Cardinals, which is as average a fantasy matchup a wide receiver can have.

Samuel and Williams play on Monday night. Samuel has a very favorable matchup, while Williams has the toughest one possible. Johnston and McConkey play Saturday against the Patriots, who are a slightly below-average test.

Shakir takes on the Jets, which is another very tough matchup on paper. Thielen, Legette and McMillan battle in the same contest. It’s a favorable matchup for Thielen and Legette, and a tougher clash for McMillan.

Doubs, Reed and Addison all play on Sunday afternoon in the same contest. Doubs and Reed have the most favorable matchup in the league, while Addison has one of the toughest ones.

Sutton plays Saturday against the Bengals, who are another slightly below-average clash. Mooney plays Sunday night against the Commanders, who are an average test. Meyers faces the Saints, who are a very favorable matchup.

Projections and Recommended Starters

In the weekly projections, Addison, McConkey, Meyers and Samuel are all up top with 15 PPR points each.

Thielen, Sutton and Williams are all at 14 points. Kupp checks in at 13 points, while Reed and McMillan are at 12 each.

Shakir is set for 11 points, while Doubs, Mooney and Johnston are all at 10. Legette is projected for just eight points.

This is a really tough wideout decision to work through. Any of these players are capable of big games, and some are just as likely to deliver a dud. Here’s what I came up with for week 17 recommended starters.

I’m starting things off with McConkey, which might be a surprise to some. I like him most because he’s delivered the best numbers of late and still has a pretty solid matchup ahead.

I’m going with Sutton next. I would have taken him first if he wasn’t coming off some so-so fantasy outings. He’s still delivered good fantasy totals the past couple games, and I think he has an above-average outing this week.

I’m taking Meyers next. He’s a risky play given his past couple outings, but in a favorable matchup, I’m trusting Meyers to deliver for me this week.

I’d take Addison here. His matchup is very tough, but he’s already had a good fantasy showing against the Packers this season, and has been on a tear of late. He should keep things rolling.

I’m taking Williams next. He’s also got a tough matchup, but I trust the Lions’ offense to still move the ball. Plus, all it takes is one big play for Williams to deliver a good fantasy outing, and I think he gets at least one splash play this week.

I’d take Thielen here if he ends up playing and isn’t limited in any way. He’s been a sneaky good option since returning to the field, and this matchup is right for him to keep posting big numbers.

I’d take a gamble on Reed here. I love this matchup, and think his fantasy ceiling is higher than any of the remaining wideouts. 

I’d take Kupp here. His matchup is pretty average, and he hasn’t been great of late, but he’s also capable of monster showings. If I had Kupp, I’m not sitting him in the most important fantasy week of the season to date.

Give me Samuel next. He’d been struggling, but his outing last week gives me some more hope for this game. The matchup is also one to test out. 

I’d take Doubs next. Christian Watson is banged up, and I expect the Packers to pass a ton in this game, and that works in the favor of Doubs (and Reed). Their floors are pretty low, but the upside in this matchup is something I’m willing to gamble on this week.

I’d take McMillan here. He’s been great of late, and I think he continues to deliver for fantasy owners this week. 

Mooney is the last wideout in this article that I’d really want to play in a standard league. He was solid in Penix’s first start, and I think the matchup is right to deliver a similar fantasy showing this week.

Give me Shakir next, but someone who I’d rather play in a deeper league. Coming off a poor fantasy showing and in a tough matchup, I just have a bad feeling about Shakir this week. 

Johnston has a better matchup, but is on a weaker offense overall, so he falls a spot below Shakir. Another thing working against him is that the Chargers could run the ball a bunch after building a sizable lead.

That leaves Legette for the final spot. He’s got a pretty favorable matchup, but dealing with a couple injuries and not doing much of late as a fantasy asset, I can’t put him over anyone else in this discussion.