Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29, 2024, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Network: FOX
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Aidan O’Connell: Sit, QB2
O’Connell played well last week against a weak Jaguars defense and is in another good spot for Week 17 against the Saints. The lack of passing TDs is concerning, but the Saints’ secondary has been terrible since losing Marcus Lattimore.
O’Connell is a player I wouldn’t hesitate to start in Superflex or two QB leagues (especially over almost all skill players), but there are some other viable streaming names that I would likely rank in front of him for regular redraft leagues.
Running Back
Alexander Mattison: FLEX Option, RB3
Ameer Abdulla: FLEX Option, RB3
I am not a huge Mattison fan, but he is likely going to get a decent amount of work again in Week 17. He took 12 carries, including one near the goal line that resulted in a TD against the Jaguars. He was also a decent part of the passing game, catching four passes for 29 yards.
If this was a tougher matchup, then sure, you could avoid Mattison. However, in deeper PPR leagues that have a flex spot, he does provide you with a nice floor, thanks to his receiving work. I’d rather not have to start Mattison, but he’s likely not going to land you a goose egg, which gives him some sort of value.
On the other hand, Ameer Abdullah has some higher FLEX viability due to his passing game work. His floor is higher than Mattison’s due to the better pass-catching chops, and he could be a decent plug-and-play if you’re in a deeper league that starts multiple FLEX players.
Wide Receiver
Jakobi Meyers: Start WR2
Tre Tucker: FLEX Option, WR4
Meyers had a down week in a spot where most people were expecting him to perform. I wouldn’t be too worried about it, personally, as the Jaguars were allowing the Raiders to move the ball with their RBs a ton and also gave up some big plays to Brock Bowers.
The Saints have a poor secondary without a number-one corner who has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points and fourth-most receiving yards to opposing WRs this season. Meyers is a clear WR2/3 for me in Week 17 unless you have some ridiculously deep roster with three other studs at WR.
Tre Tucker may also be viable for those in deeper leagues needing a boom-bust type of Hail Mary option at flex. He has had a couple of big games with O’Connell at QB and, like Meyers, has an A+ matchup.
Tight End
Brock Bowers: Start, TE1
What do we say about Brock Bowers at this point? He likely carried many of your fantasy teams to the point in the season, so there is no way you’re sitting him now. He’s gone for 99 yards and 140 yards in his last two starts with AOC at QB.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Spencer Rattler: Sit
The Saints QB room is a huge stay away for fantasy. Rattler has some upside, thanks to his rushing ability, but he could also get pulled at any time in this game. There are better streaming options.
Running Back
Kendre Miller: FLEX Option, RB3
Jordan Mims: FLEX Option, RB4
I’m going to assume the Saints will do the correct/smart thing and sit Alvin Kamara for the rest of the season. If they do, this will be a great spot for Kendre Miller to potentially go off. He’s run extremely well in limited and part-time work and should see a ton of field against a Raiders defense that doesn’t have a great defensive line and has given up its fair share of rushing TDs this season.
It should be noted that this judgment was made before last night’s Monday Night Football game, and Miller did disappoint and ceded a fair amount of work to Jordan Mims in the second half. Some of this could have been due to the blowout, but Mims did see more receiving work and was overall more efficient than Miller. Kendre clocks in as closer to a middling FLEX option, while I wouldn’t take a chance on Mims this week.
Wide Receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: FLEX Option, WR4
The Saints receiver room is one to avoid unless necessary. Even in a dome in a good matchup, we have no idea where the ball is going, week-to-week.
The one exception is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who continues to lead the Saints WRs in snaps played every week and does have big play ability. MVS is also chasing some contract incentives, so don’t be shocked if whoever is starting at QB in this game for New Orleans sends a couple of deep balls his way.
I wouldn’t feel great about starting him, but if you got racked with injuries after Week 16 and are still playing for something, the fact he is in a dome and playing a weaker defense gives him good boom-or-bust appeal for flex spots.
Tight End
Juwan Johnson: Streaming Option, TE2
Johnson’s targets in this offense have been highly variable all season. He has 50+ and a TD upside but is also at risk of just being frozen out of the passing game altogether.
He’s like a weaker version of MVS in many ways, which makes him an avoid for me unless the waiver wire just doesn’t have any better options.
No mention of how yall feel with Hollywood Brown? He looked decent last week with limited reps even