Championship week is upon us, and Belly up is here to get you some juicy matchups for the week. This is the time to pull out all the stops and make the right moves to ensure your team is going to be “the Champ”. The Belly Up starts and sits article is here to help you obtain your crown and gain the bragging right for an entire year. We need to be smart this week, as Covid and injuries have done a number on some rosters, so it’s imperative to have the best guys in the game. These are the best guys I came up with to start and sit for week 17; enjoy!

Quarterbacks

Starts

Trey Lance vs Houston Texans

Trey Lance could legit develop into a Josh Allen clone for fantasy football
pic.twitter.com/mQhZHjF6k6

— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) August 29, 2021

I know what you are thinking. Are you mad? Starting a rookie quarterback in the championship game? All I can say is if you got to this point on the back of a Derek Carr or a Matt Ryan-Esque quarterback. Then going out to grab a rookie mobile QB who has put up 28, and 15 point performances are far from the worst idea. A couple of quick notes, this Texans team has given up the most rushing yards this year (1,823) and the most rushing TD (5) to the QB. I don’t know what to expect entirely. I know if you’re in a situation where you need a lot of upside potential, Lance can bring it. My prediction is he ranks as a QB1 today.

Andy Dalton vs New York Giants

Over the past three weeks, the Giants have allowed 691 yards and six touchdowns through the air to quarterbacks. Look for this to continue with Dalton, as his lone 300-yard game came against an equally bad Lions team this year. If the “Red Rifle” can pull off mistake-free football, then he’ll have an opportunity to be a top-12 QB this week. Against the Giants, who have allowed the sixth most TDs (26) and eleventh most fantasy points (17.2) to quarterbacks.

Sits

Matt Ryan vs Buffalo Bills

Ryan has been a shell of his former self and is getting a bad matchup this week. The Bills have given up the fewest yards (2,763), TDs (11), and fantasy points/game (11.6). Ryan has been mediocre and shouldn’t be trusted going into your big game. I’m not expecting this game to be his fifth 300 yard game of the season, so you can comfortably sit him.

Derek Carr vs Indianapolis Colts

Carr, without a deep threat has been very mediocre. Since Thanksgiving, Carr has been averaging 237 yards per game and has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions in that span. He’s not someone you can trust in your championship game. If you have him, then sit him.

Running Backs

Starts

Boston Scott vs Washington Football Team

Scott comes into this week in an excellent spot to start and breakout in your championship. Miles Sanders is out this week, and Jordan Howard is dealing with a shoulder injury. The last time the Eagles and Football team met, Sanders went for 131 yards. This makes Sanders a must-start in my mind and someone who could put you over in your big title game. Look for Scott to be an RB2 this week.

Elijah Mitchell vs Houston Texans

Elijah Mitchell szn is back on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/evSwIkAPfK

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 25, 2021

A backup for the Chargers, Justin Jackson put up 162 scrimmage yards and two rushing TDs. Insert Mitchell, who is coming off a concussion and knee injury combo. If there’s ever a matchup for Mitchell to come back and breakout, then it’s the Texans. This team allows the most rushing yards (1,823), second-most TDs (18). Look for Mitchell to be back to his RB2 form in this game.

Sits

Rex Burkhead vs San Francisco 49ers

Burkhead had the best game of his season, and maybe even his career, Going for 149 yards and two touchdowns against the LA Chargers. This week he won’t have so much success against the 49ers. The Niners have allowed the ninth fewest yards (1,178) and TDs (13). Burkhead may have gotten you to the title game, but he won’t be the guy to win you the title.

Dare Ogunbowale vs New England Patriots

This is tricky, as Ogunbowale is now the lead back in Jacksonville. This is a good prospect for someone looking to replace RBs on Covid or injured. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s a good band-aid to cover up your roster. Last week he had 57 yards and a touchdown, but that was the Jets. This week the Patriots offer a stout challenge. They have given up the fewest TDs (5) to running backs. The only way I see Ogunbowale having a good game is if he can get a TD in this game, and I’m not banking on it.

Wide Receiver

Starts

Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Seattle Seahawks

AMON RA ST BROWN🔥💪🏻

Lions might’ve got something in this guys👀#NFL #AZvsDET #OnePride pic.twitter.com/FVtGFY7gAn

— Immaculate Sports (@ImmacSports) December 19, 2021

St. Brown has come on strong in the past four weeks, getting targeted 46 times in that span. To put it into perspective St. Brown has 36 of his 74 receptions in the past four weeks. This game seems like a good matchup to continue his double-digit target streak. Look for St. Brown to be a solid WR3 with WR2 potential.

Brandin Cooks vs San Francisco 49ers

Cooks has been an outstanding receiver for both the Texans and fantasy football managers. Before his absence in Week 16, Cooks was rolling off back-to-back 100-yard games. This week he gets the 49ers secondary, who is atrocious in cover 1, allowing 145 yards on 11 catches to AJ Brown last week. If this game stays close, it’ll be because Cooks goes off. He should be a WR2 with WR1 potential.

Sits

DK Metcalf vs Detroit Lions

Metcalf has been pretty damn bad for fantasy football since Week 10. Last week he caught his first TD since Week 10. Metcalf also only has two games since Week 10 with 50+ yards. For me, it’s not about the football player; it’s the team using him and his inability to live up to the stock you put into him. The Lions is a juicy matchup, but it could also be a trap game, as the Seahawks may just run the ball and let Russell Wilson throw the ball when needed.

KJ Osborn vs Green Bay Packers

Osborn has been targeted 26 times, catching 15 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games. This week is interesting as both Adam Thielen and Kirk Cousins will be out in Week 17. So with Sean Mannion playing this week, I don’t have the confidence in Osborn in the Championship week.

Tight Ends

Starts

Dalton Schultz vs Arizona Cardinal

Dalton Schultz is gonna get the bag this off-season 💰 pic.twitter.com/Ufm9cX5jcd

— Alfredo Brown (@AlfredoBrownGM) December 27, 2021

Schultz has become one of Dak Prescott‘s favorite targets in the past couple of weeks, garnering 17 targets and two touchdowns in the past two weeks. While the Cardinals have been good against the tight end position this year, I think the weapons on Dallas will overwhelm this Cardinal defense. This should open up the middle for Schultz to work against linebackers. Schultz is someone you want in your lineup on championship weekend.

Sits

Mike Gesicki vs Tennessee Titans

Gesicki takes on the Titans this week, a team that has given up the third-fewest yards (517) and TDs (3). The Titans have done an excellent job taking away some of the better tight ends out of the game. Look for this to be a tough matchup for the inconsistent tight end.

Conclusion

This is the biggest week of fantasy football, and Belly Up is here to ensure you get the correct information on who to start and who to sit. We hope that the list we’ve given you continues to make your roster decisions easier and help propel you to your championships. Have a good weekend guys, enjoy Week 17 football and let’s get that CHAMPIONSHIP, everyone.

If you liked the article and wanted more content, you can find me at www.bellyupfantasysports.com. You can also find me on Twitter @Semtexmex93.