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

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, January 2nd at 1:00 PM ET

Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

Betting Odds: BUF -14.5,  44.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Matt Ryan (Sit, QB2)

Matt Ryan‘s fantasy year has been a bit of a disappointment, currently the QB17, a big drop from the QB12 in 2020. What’s more, Ryan has just a single weekly QB1 fantasy performance since Week 10. The Falcons are in the lower third in the league, scoring just 18.5 points per game, and that amount of scoring isn’t high enough to support a weekly fantasy starting quarterback. Ryan is a solid mid-range QB in leagues where you can start two but look for a better option if you need a streamer in a single QB league.

Running Backs

Cordarrelle Patterson (Start, Low-end Flex), Mike Davis (Sit)

These last two weeks have been quiet for Cordarrelle Patterson, and I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to bench Patterson after two let-down games in the fantasy playoffs. Part of his struggles are simply play volume. Last week Patterson only received seven carries, and the Falcons as a team threw the ball just 24 times (Patterson saw two targets). The team lacks playmakers, and Patterson is sure to be a focal point of the attack but Buffalo will be ready for him and it could be another long day for Cordarrell. Still, the Falcons will keep him involved and he is a decent flex play.

Mike Davis also received seven carries last week but only managed 28 yards. Davis has just three weekly RB2 finishes this season and is a backup without a ton of opportunity. He should not be in your lineups this week.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Russell Gage (Start, Flex), Kyle Pitts (Start, TE1)

As the season has progressed, and injuries and issues have depleted the Falcons passing attack, Russell Gage has emerged as a preferred target in Atlanta. Gage has seen at least 23% of the team’s targets in each of the last four weeks. Two of those weeks he has scored 23 or more fantasy points. The Falcons passing attack has become concentrated between Gage and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts. Gage is a player that you can take a shot on, and hope for a big game in garbage time. As for Pitts, the young star has been as good as advertised but struggled to find the end-zone. Last week Haden Hurst caught a red-zone touchdown but it was one of just two catches. Pitts has just one touchdown on the year but that hasn’t stopped him from three straight TE1 performances. Last week the Pro Bowl tight end had his third 100-yard game of the season. Pitts is a must-start this week.

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

Josh Allen (Start, QB1)

Josh Allen has been a one-man wrecking crew these last few weeks. The overall QB1 in fantasy, Allen had his fifth game of 32+ fantasy points last week, dominating the Patriots with several of his weapons missing the game. It doesn’t really even matter at this point. Allen should continue his hot streak to close out the fantasy season, and another 30+ outing is well within sight.

Running Backs

Devin Singletary (Start, Flex), Zack Moss (Sit)

If only the Bills would commit to the running game, Devin Singletary could be a huge fantasy asset. The Bills have a low-volume running attack, with Singletary the clear lead-back but still seeing just a typical shared backfield amount of opportunities. This week Singletary should again see the majority of touches, and last week he saw more carries inside the 10-yard line than he had in several weeks. As the season winds down, perhaps the team will lean on Devin a bit more and that is worth a flex start this week.

Despite being active last week Zack Moss took just three carries and earned a single target. While Moss did also see a carry inside the ten, he looks to be a true backup and a bench option in fantasy.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Stefon Diggs (Start, WR2), Gabriel Davis (Start, Low-end Flex), Cole Beasley (Sit), Emmanuel Sanders (Sit), Dawson Knox (Start, TE1)

Stefon Diggs had a nice game last week, with several of his teammates out of the lineup. Diggs also caught a touchdown for the second straight week but still failed to hit the century yardage mark. Diggs has not gone over 100-yards since Week 10 but the target volume and peripherals remain strong. He is a solid WR2 option this week, with a big chance to find the end-zone.

Both Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis are off of the Covid-IR and are expected to play. Davis is a big-play option but has failed to find consistency. However, Davis has scored 10+ points in four of his last six starts. The safer option is Beasley if you just look at the number of targets each is receiving. However, Beasley has not been productive, scoring 10 or more fantasy points just twice since Week 9. If you are desperate for a starter, both are decent options but Davis has the larger upside.

Emmanuel Sanders has not scored more than 10 points in a single week since Week 9, clearly fading after a hot start. With several Bills expected back this week, a Sanders breakout is hard to see.

-Marc Salazar (@oldsnake77)