Sit/Start 2023 Week 17: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 31st, 1:00 PM ET

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston Texas

Betting Odds: HOU -3.5, 42.5 total via PFF.com

Network: FOX

Writer: Dustin Ludke (TheDunit13 on Twitter)

Tennessee Titans

Quarterback

Will Levis (Sit, QB2) Ryan Tannehill (Sit)

The Tennessee Titans’ passing game has been in shambles lately. One example: zero passing touchdowns over the past two games. They were forced to switch back to veteran Ryan Tannehill after Will Levis suffered an ankle injury. Whoever is under center in Week 17 will be facing the Houston Texans who are giving up the 11th most points to quarterbacks. It’s seemingly a good matchup, but it should merely elevate the no-scoring Titans passing offense to a low-scoring one. I wouldn’t trust either this week. Sit both.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry (Start, RB2), Tyjae Spears (Start, Flex)

The Tyjae Spears takeover in Tennessee might have to wait a little longer. Derrick Henry put up a vintage performance this past week, rushing the ball 19 times for 88 yards and a score. He was outsnapped by Spears but saw ten more carries. The Texans are giving up the 11th fewest points to running backs but are dealing with some injuries to their defensive front. The Titans just played Houston two weeks ago and neither running back was spectacular. Henry will benefit more from either a less than 100 percent Levis or an immobile Tannehill. He should still get close to 15 carries (if not more) and serve as a solid RB2. Spears is an interesting play; if he can continue his trend of seeing five or more targets in this game, he might be worth a flex play. I’m willing to roll him out if needed.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

DeAndre Hopkins (Start, Flex), Treylon Burks (Sit), Chigoziem Okonkwo (Start, TE2)

Part of what has stymied the passing game is the lack of big play receivers outside of DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has done his best but is often getting bracket coverage. He will see a ton of Derek Stingley, Jr. Rated as the 5th best corner by PFF.com, Stingley held Hopkins to just one reception on three targets in their Week 15 matchup. I worry that something similar is in store this week. I’m not sitting Hopkins but I don’t expect him to be more than a flex play this week.

All of the other wide receivers for the Titans lack enough talent and opportunity to become startable. None of them move around enough in formation nor are they fast enough to beat coverage deep. Considering the Texans also have some of the best corners and safeties in the league I’m sitting every one of them, including 2022 Round 1 selection Treylon Burks.

Chigoziem Okonkwo hasn’t been the breakout star we were hoping for this offseason but he has had a decent stretch as of late. “Chig” has seen six or more targets in three of the past four games, and the Texans are giving up the 7th most points to tight ends. Chig is an interesting option this week who should serve as a solid TE2 with TE1 upside.

Houston Texans

Quarterbacks

C. J. Stroud (Start, QB2)

There is hope that C.J. Stroud can return this week after missing the past two weeks with a concussion. He missed the last meeting with the divisional rival Titans, so having him back would be a boost. The Titans are middle-of-the-road in terms of points surrendered to the quarterback position so I like Stroud to have a bounce-back game and finish as a solid QB2 with upside for more. If he can’t go, I expect Davis Mills to get the start. He was decent in relief last week and has put up a few games in his short career in which he looked the part of an NFL starter. If it is Mills, he should probably be sat unless you are desperate.

Running Backs

Dameon Pierce (Sit), Devin Singletary (Start RB2) 

Remember when so many in the fantasy football community were in love with Dameon Pierce? Buying t-shirts and talking about him on every podcast? Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Pierce has exceeded a 25 percent snap share only once in the past five games. He lost his lead role to Devin Singletary, which is saying a lot since Singletary hasn’t been that great historically. He is averaging 4.29 yards per carry but hasn’t looked as good on film as he has in the box score. However, Singletary’s play has been more impressive of late: he has only three touchdowns on the year but they have come in the past seven games. The Titans are a middling defense in terms of points surrendered to the running back position, and in their last meeting, Singletary compiled 121 yards on 26 carries. Singletary is a fine play this week as a solid RB2.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Nico Collins (Start, WR3), Noah Brown (Start, Flex)  Dalton Schultz (Sit, TE2)

The Texans have exceeded expectations this season while turning once disappointing wide receivers into fantasy gold. Nico Collins is at the top of that list. After suffering injuries the past two seasons, he has come back this year with a vengeance. He has only played 13 games so far this season but has seven touchdowns and already topped 1,000 yards. He didn’t play in the Week 15 matchup, but this time around should see coverage from the Titans’ top corner. Roger McCreary rates as the 33rd-best cornerback in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s not a great matchup for Collins who has looked QB-proof, to his credit. In the previous matchup, the Texans were able to move their wide receivers around and get them into more favorable matchups, and the same should happen again this time around. I expect Collins to be a solid WR3.

The star of the last meeting between these two teams was Noah Brown. He saw 11 targets and caught eight of them for 82 yards and a score. He will benefit from Collins being back on the field this week and getting a better matchup. Brown should see a lot of Tre Avery, who rates as the 114th-best corner, so he should get his normal target share and be a solid Flex player. Robert Woods is the other receiver playing the majority of the snaps but isn’t getting enough volume to be fantasy-relevant.

Dalton Schultz has been a great asset for the Texans this season as well as for fantasy managers. This week, I worry about him going up against a Titans defense that is giving up the 2nd fewest points to tight ends. Given the matchup, he’s a risky TE2 play.