Here are some players rising up and falling in the rankings.
Risers
QB Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston was locked into lineups as a QB1 for several weeks before a stretch of difficult opponents with the Saints, Ravens and Cowboys. He had three touchdowns and two interceptions in those games and had 213 passing yards or fewer in two of the three games. He moved the ball well against the Cowboys last week with 336 yards. Winston ends the season with a good matchup against the Falcons, who allow the fourth-most Fantasy points to quarterbacks. In Week 6, Winston had 395 passing yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
WR Robby Anderson, New York Jets
Anderson was a player to lock in last week in most lineups and especially DFS at his cheap price. Anderson struggled early in the season and had an injury, but he’s been helping Fantasy teams in a big way the last few games. Anderson has at least seven targets in four consecutive years. Anderson has become the favorite target of Sam Darnold. Anderson had a season-high 13 targets against the Packers last week and had nine catches for 140 yards with a touchdown. Anderson has scored in three straight games and has at least 17 points in PPR formats in three straight games.
RB Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers
With several teams going to rest players with nothing to play for, Williams will be a RB1 in Week 17. Williams is going to get the bulk of the touches in the backfield with Aaron Jones out for the season. Williams played 86 snaps in the overtime win against the Jets and had 15 carries for 95 yards with a touchdown and six catches for 61 yards on nine targets.
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Fallers
WR Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams went away from their three-wide sets in Week 16 more than usual. Reynolds played 35 snaps and was targeted twice for 44 yards. The tight ends were on the field more than most games this season. Gerald Everett played 51 snaps and had five catches for 28 yards on six targets and Tyler Higbee played 50 snaps and had a 16-yard catch. It worked as the team won and ran the football a lot. It makes Reynolds a Week 17 risk.
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Elliott shouldn’t be playing in Week 17. The Cowboys have locked up the No. 4 seed in the NFC and have nothing to play for against the Giants. This is one of the best examples as to why most leagues don’t use Week 17. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says anyone who is healthy and ready to play will go in Week 17. The last time the Cowboys were in a similar situation, Elliott dressed and didn’t play. Elliott has been banged up at times, so they could use that as a reason to sit him. Elliott has 381 touches on the season. Even if Elliott plays, don’t expect him to be in the game long.
QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Mayfield has played well and is coming off a good game against the Bengals, but it’s a stark contrast to playing the Ravens in Week 17. Mayfield passed for 342 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Ravens in Week 5 and both teams are different now. The Ravens clinch the division with a win and have a lot to play for. The Ravens defense dominated the Chargers offense last week. The Ravens haven’t allowed a passing touchdown the last two games and allowed only four over the last five games. They have limited quarterbacks to 211 passing yards or fewer in four of the last five games.
Other fallers to sell/avoid: James White, Adrian Peterson, Dion Lewis, Jarvis Landry, Rob Gronkowski, Mark Ingram
