NFL Power Rankings Week 17
The fantasy football championships are upon us, meaning Week 17 is finally here! Each week during the 2023 NFL season, we’ve conducted power rankings to assess the landscape of the league, diving into key talking points for each of the 32 NFL franchises. As a bonus, we’ve also spent time analyzing one fantasy-relevant prospect from each team, good or bad, giving readers as much actionable information as possible to maximize points in their fantasy lineups.
This is the final edition of the recurring NFL power rankings series, so hopefully you’ve followed along all season to stack wins and secure fantasy football championship trophies, prizes, and most importantly, bragging rights entering this offseason. The NFL has been filled with a ton of parity this year, as each team has experienced its share of ups and downs.
NFL fantasy analyst Matt MacKay is back one last time to share his Week 17 NFL power rankings, valuing each team 1-32, best to worst, while also giving context for one relevant fantasy football player on each team. Half-PPR scoring is the default scoring format used in this article.
Best of luck in your fantasy football championships this week! Happy New Year!
1. Baltimore Ravens 📈
Baltimore silenced all of its critics with a resounding 33-19 road win over San Francisco in prime time during Week 16. Now, quarterback Lamar Jackson is the NFL MVP betting favorite, leading the Ravens to a 12-3 record ahead of a huge matchup against Miami in Week 17.
WR Zay Flowers – Rookie wideout Zay Flowers has begun to heat up down the stretch, logging 17 or more points in three of his past four games. He’ll get another top-15 matchup against Miami’s secondary in Week 17, just make sure to monitor his calf injury, otherwise, he’s a solid WR2 with WR1 upside.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Yes, it was a bad loss, but San Francisco is still a dominant team that has a lot of impressive wins under their belt, sitting at No. 1 in the NFC. Quarterback Brock Purdy has a great bounce-back spot on the road against Washington in Week 17.
TE George Kittle – It’s been feast or famine for George Kittle at times this season, but lately, he’s scoring over 15 fantasy points per game. As long as Kittle continues earning an ADOT over 11.3 yards per target, he’s a top-five tight end against Washington in Week 17.
3. Detroit Lions
Detroit clinched a playoff berth and an NFC North division title with a win over Minnesota on the road in Week 16. This marks the first time in 30 years the Lions have achieved this feat. Next up, a challenging road trip to face the Dallas Cowboys, with Detroit still maintaining a small chance of locking up the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win.
RB David Montgomery – As talented as David Montgomery is, his skillset pales in comparison to rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery still has RB2 appeal against a porous Dallas run defense, but he’ll need to convert at the goal-line to return RB2 value in Week 17, otherwise, he’s merely an RB3 due to a small role in the Lions’ passing attack.
4. Cleveland Browns 🚀
Cleveland’s decision to sign veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has proven to be the biggest in-season signing of the year. Cleveland just clinched a playoff berth and is currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC, one game behind Baltimore, despite dealing with a ton of injuries.
RB Jerome Ford – Jerome Ford has benefitted greatly from Flacco’s strong arm and presence under center, as it allows the rushing attack to open up. Ford netted 25.1 points against the Jets in Week 17, scoring two receiving touchdowns, while handling 12-15 touches per game, remaining the primary running back over Kareem Hunt. Hopefully, you started Ford in your championship lineups.
5. Miami Dolphins 📈
After being critiqued for lacking any signature wins over talented opponents, Miami went out and narrowly beat Dallas 22-20. Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa garner a lot of attention, but running back Raheem Mostert has been a touchdown machine, operating well within the Dolphins’ West Coast zone blocking scheme.
WR Jaylen Waddle – Jaylen Waddle has been tough to manage in fantasy football this season. He’s coming off of 5.7 points against Dallas, but in Week 15, he popped for 24.2 points, his highest mark of the season. Due to his instability, plus facing a stingy Ravens’ secondary on the road in Week 17, Waddle is a volatile fringe WR2.
6. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has turned their season around with new OC Joe Brady emphasizing running the football. Whether it’s with James Cook or Josh Allen, the Bills’ offense is now balanced and has good offensive and defensive line units to compete with any team in the league. Sitting in the No. 6 seed in the AFC, Buffalo will try to avoid losing against New England for a second time in Week 17.
TE Dalton Kincaid – After ripping off 11-15 fantasy points in four straight weeks, we’ve seen rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid settle into a much more conservative role within the offense. He’s likely a bench candidate in Week 17 against the Patriots, who are the third toughest fantasy matchup for tight ends.
7. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is not the same team on the road compared to when they play at home, so hosting Detroit in Week 17 is a must-win. The Cowboys occupy the No. 5 seed in the NFC, but they’d prefer to host a Wild Card game instead of travel on the road, so expect Dallas to be aggressive with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb early in this game.
WR Brandin Cooks – Dallas WR2 Brandin Cooks has cooled off lately, falling below 10 points in three straight games. Expect his role to be bigger against a porous Detroit secondary in Week 17, making Cooks a mid-range WR2 with WR1 upside if he delivers another ceiling performance at home.
8. Los Angeles Rams 🚀
Head coach Sean McVay and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford have flipped the Rams’ trajectory since their Week 10 Bye. Los Angeles has won five of its last six, losing to Baltimore on the road in overtime. Otherwise, this team is a serious dark horse in the NFC, with a soft matchup against the Giants in Week 17.
WR Demarcus Robinson – During the Rams’ winning streak, wideout Demarcus Robinson has emerged as one of Stafford’s favorite targets. Robinson has scored a touchdown in four consecutive games, finishing with 12-17 fantasy points in each outing. Treat Robinson as a low-end WR2 in a balanced Rams offense against the Giants.
9. Philadelphia Eagles 📉
Yes, the Eagles ended their losing slump in Week 16, but their fans were still booing them as a result of a narrow win over the New York Giants. The offense looks stale and the defense has huge issues defending the pass, so despite being 11-4 and No. 2 in the NFC, Philadelphia doesn’t seem like a valid contender in the playoffs.
RB D’Andre Swift – Jalen Hurts’ usage at the goal-line has severely diminished D’Andre Swift’s ceiling in the Eagles’ offense. However, he still gets touches in the red zone, finally converting one for a touchdown in Week 16 to end his four-game touchdown drought. Swift’s volatility in the passing attack makes him a mid-range RB2 in most matchups, but against Arizona, who rank as the top fantasy matchup for running backs, Swift is a fringe RB1 in Week 17.
10. Kansas City Chiefs 📉
Kansas City is another perennial contender that looks out of sorts right now. Whether it’s the lackluster wide receiving corps, a more mediocre version of Travis Kelce, or miscues, the Chiefs aren’t looking like a Super Bowl-bound team. A Week 17 matchup against the Bengals will be big for their seeding in the AFC, as Kansas City currently sits at No. 3.
RB Isiah Pacheco – The most reliable player in Kansas City’s offense, when healthy, has been running back Isiah Pacheco. He didn’t capitalize against a soft Raiders run defense in Week 16, but the Bengals’ run defense is just as poor, so Pacheco needs to be inserted into lineups as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After looking like another lost season in Tampa Bay, quarterback Baker Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to an 8-7 record, sitting atop the NFC South entering a big Week 17 divisional contest against the Saints. Tampa Bay has won four in a row, scoring 29 or more points in three consecutive matchups.
WR Chris Godwin – Wideout Chris Godwin has been outshined by Mike Evans, but he’s earning 10-12 targets in three straight games. Godwin hasn’t scored since Week 8, but he is earning enough volume to sustain WR2 production. Godwin is a mid-range WR2 against the Saints’ injury-riddled secondary in Week 17.
12. Seattle Seahawks 📈
Never count out the Seattle Seahawks. Clinching playoff berths is simply what they do under head coach Pete Carroll. Two last-minute drives to beat Philadelphia and Tennessee in back-to-back weeks, with Drew Lock and Geno Smith both accomplishing this feat, the Seahawks have a huge home game against Pittsburgh to remain in the NFC playoff picture in Week 17.
RB Kenneth Walker III – Kenneth Walker is handling 16-19 carries in each of his last two games, which bodes well for his outlook against the Steelers run defense. Pittsburgh is 16th against fantasy running backs, so expect Walker to record RB2 numbers due to volume alone for the second game in five weeks during Week 17.
13. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is finally out of the concussion protocol and it couldn’t come at a better time for Houston. The Texans are in a three-way divisional tie in the AFC South, with a matchup against the Titans in Week 17. They are the No. 8 seed, first team out in the AFC, so hosting the Titans at home is a must-win scenario.
WR Nico Collins – Stroud’s arrival has boosted Nico Collins’ appeal in fantasy. Add to this a rash of injuries to the Texans’ wide receiving corps, plus a favorable matchup against the Titans’ leaky secondary, and Collins becomes a high-end WR2 in Week 17.
14. Las Vegas Raiders
Head coach Antonio Pierce appears to have dramatically shifted the locker room culture of the Raiders in a positive direction. Las Vegas is 2-1 in its last three games, hanging 63 points on the Chargers, white beating Kansas City with two defensive touchdowns in Week 16. A win gives the Raiders a 30 percent chance to make the AFC playoffs if they can beat the Colts in Week 17.
WR Davante Adams – Surprisingly, the Colts’ pass defense is a tough matchup in fantasy. This could lead to a heavy dose of runs for the Raiders, who didn’t even complete a pass in their win against Kansas City after the first quarter. Adams is a WR3 with mere WR2 upside in Week 17 playing within an offense that prefers to play smash-mouth football.
15. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta has had a disappointing season but they are still in the NFC playoff hunt on the outside looking in ahead of a Week 17 road contest against Chicago. Head coach Arthur Smith is playing for his job, so there’s a lot of pressure against an underrated Bears defense.
WR Drake London – Second-year wideout Drake London has struggled lately, falling below six fantasy points in three of his past four games played. Yes, he did pop for 24.2 points against the Buccaneers in Week 14, but that was with 10-172 on 11 targets. He’s only seen seven total targets in two games since Week 14, so London is a WR3 with WR2 upside against the Bears’ top-12 pass defense.
16. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are onto rookie quarterback Jarren Hall, their fourth signal-caller of the season, following volatile quarterback play from Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs. The Vikings are very much alive in the NFC playoffs with a win over division rival Green Bay at home in Week 17, so expect this game to be hyper-competitive with both teams battling for a playoff berth.
WR Justin Jefferson – Star wideout Justin Jefferson balled out with 23.1 points against Detroit, so expect him to maintain a similar workload with Hall under center. Green Bay is missing key cogs in its secondary, with a bad run defense, so this could be another smash game for Jefferson, who missed out on the first matchup against the Packers.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville’s late-season slump is derailing their playoff hopes. Trevor Lawrence is battling through injuries and the running game is virtually non-existent. A home game against Carolina is a good spot to end the Jaguars’ four-game losing skid.
RB Travis Etienne Jr. – As mentioned, the Jaguars’ rushing attack has been anemic. Travis Etienne has logged under eight fantasy points in back-to-back weeks, with his role as a pass-catcher being the only saving grace. Etienne gets a great spot against Carolina’s bottom-five run defense in Week 17, so he can be started as an RB2.
18. Green Bay Packers
A near-disastrous loss to Carolina exposed a lot of Green Bay’s flaws. Jordan Love has played well in spots, but the Packers’ run defense is a major liability entering Week 17 against Ty Chandler and the Minnesota Vikings.
WR Jayden Reed – Rookie wideout Jayden Reed’s versatile skill set and usage as a ball carrier have kept him producing WR2 numbers in fantasy football. Reed is a low-end WR2 in a top-eight fantasy wideout matchup against Minnesota in Week 17.
19. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are a strange team to analyze. They have alternated wins and losses for four weeks, losing ugly 29-10 on the road against Atlanta in Week 16. Indianapolis returns home to face a stingy Raiders defense in Week 17, however, the Colts haven’t lost at home since Week 8. They occupy the No. 7 seed in the AFC and need to win against Las Vegas to remain in contention.
WR Michael Pittman Jr. – After missing last week due to a concussion, Michael Pittman Jr. is set to return against the Raiders in Week 17. He has been red-hot for most of the season with Gardner Minshew, logging 15-22 points in three of his past four games, so insert Pittman is a high-end WR2.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph and George Pickens put on a clinic against Cincinnati in Week 16, sparking hope in Pittsburgh once again. Now, there’s a quarterback controversy between Rudolph and Kenny Pickett, so it’ll be interesting to watch how that unfolds during a Week 17 road game in Seattle.
WR George Pickens – Arguably the most volatile player in fantasy football, second-year wideout George Pickens showcased his ceiling in Week 16, scoring a season-high 33.5 fantasy points. Pickens went 4-195-2 on six targets, so don’t expect this to occur again facing Seattle, despite a top-12 fantasy matchup for wideouts. Pickens is a fringe WR2 this week.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
An ugly 34-11 road loss to Pittsburgh ended the momentum Cincinnati had generated with backup quarterback Jake Browning. The Bengals hit the road to face Kansas City in Week 17. Another loss would make Cincinnati a serious longshot to make the playoffs, so they should be properly motivated against a struggling Chiefs team.
RB Joe Mixon – Joe Mixon cooled off in Week 16 against the Steelers with eight fantasy points on 13 touches. Expect a more heavy workload against a vulnerable Chiefs run defense in Week 17, making Mixon a solid RB2 with RB1 upside if he scores.
22. New Orleans Saints
The Derek Carr contract is looking like a failure, but the Saints are still alive in the NFC playoff picture. New Orleans travels to Tampa Bay and will drop to a less than one percent chance of making the playoffs with another loss.
RB Alvin Kamara – Saints’ running back Alvin Kamara has been force-fed all season, earning four to eight targets in nearly every single game. If Kamara can find space against a vulnerable Tampa Bay pass defense, he should produce RB2 numbers, as he did with a 14.9-point outing against the Buccaneers back in Week 4.
23. Denver Broncos 📉
Controversy is brewing in Denver with the latest benching of Russell Wilson. The Broncos have lost three of their last four games outright, scoring less than 25 points in all of these matchups. The brief honeymoon period with head coach Sean Payton and Wilson appears to be over, so don’t expect much from the Broncos even in a plus-matchup against the Chargers in Week 17.
RB Javonte Williams – Javonte Williams is earning double-digit carries in every game since Week 4, so he’s the most reliable weapon in the Broncos’ offense. He’s also scored twice in two of the past three weeks, raising his ceiling, but an offense turning to Jarrett Stidham could result in Williams getting even more touches, elevating him into a high-end RB2 value against the Chargers’ ninth-worst run defense.
24. Chicago Bears
The Bears face a crossroads after winning three of their last four games to improve to 6-9 under Justin Fields. High draft capital means Chicago could move off of Fields in the draft, however, his high-caliber play could make management reconsider.
QB Justin Fields – In fantasy football, Fields has been dynamic, logging 24 points in two of his past three games. The Bears’ QB1 has at least 58 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown during these two recent performances, while also throwing for at least 170 yards and a touchdown. His mobility and role as a ball carrier keep Fields in QB1 territory despite a tough matchup against Atlanta in Week 17.
25. New York Giants
Tyrod Taylor nearly pulled off the outright win over the Eagles’ defense in Week 16, giving the Giants a bit of momentum following the benching of Tommy Devito. At 5-10, the Giants’ season is over, hosting the Rams in Week 17. Expect New York to keep fighting under head coach Brian Daboll to attempt playing spoiler for the Rams’ playoff aspirations.
WR Darius Slayton – We watched wideout Darius Slayton secure a 69-yard touchdown reception against Philadelphia to wind up with 16.5 fantasy points last week. Now, he gets a tougher matchup against the Rams’ secondary. However, if he earns an ADOT over 10 yards again, Slayton could pop for high-end WR3 production. He’s an intriguing, yet risky, FLEX prospect in fantasy lineups in Week 17.
26. Tennessee Titans
Credit to the Titans, who stay competing in every game, regardless of their opponent or their inability to advance to the playoffs. Will Levis has shown encouraging signs, while DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry remain the best assets on offense.
RB Derrick Henry – Henry is on a tear, recording 17-24 fantasy points in three of his past four games. Handling 16-21 carries helps, but he’s had a nose for the end zone, scoring seven rushing touchdowns in his last five contests. Houston’s run defense is historically a great matchup for Henry, who didn’t meet expectations the first matchup a couple of weeks ago, so keep him plugged in as a sure-fire RB1 in Week 17.
27. New York Jets
The Jets’ carousel of quarterbacks has deflated the team’s outlook, despite rostering a good defense and a great running back. It’s officially Aaron Rodgers or bust once again for New York this offseason.
RB Breece Hall – The Jets’ lackluster weapons on offense has led to Breece Hall absorbing the majority of touches. Hall has logged 37 and 23 fantasy points in back-to-back games, giving fantasy managers big ceiling performances to close out the fantasy playoffs.
28. New England Patriots
Bill Belichick is reportedly on the chopping block in New England after a four-win season. The Patriots have won two of their past three games though, despite missing most of their offensive weapons, relying on quarterback Bailey Zappe, Ezekiel Elliot, and a stout defense to grind out these victories.
RB Ezekiel Elliot – The injury to Rhamondre Stevenson has elevated Elliot into an every-down role for the Patriots. He’s earned 11-22 carries in four straight games, scoring 16.5 and 23.5 fantasy points against Denver and Pittsburgh since Week 14. Buffalo’s run defense is almost a top-12 matchup, so Elliot is in play as an RB2.
29. Los Angeles Chargers
After getting routed and embarrassed by Las Vegas in Week 15, leading to the firing of former head coach Brandon Staley, the Chargers nearly pulled off the upset over Buffalo in Week 16. Expect a more competitive outing against a Denver team that just handled Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago.
WR Joshua Palmer – A depleted wide receiving corps, plus a return from I.R., has Joshua Palmer in line for a nice workload against Denver’s defense in Week 17. Palmer had 19.3 points against the Raiders in Week 15, before a modest 7.2 fantasy points against the Bills in Week 16, so he’s likely going to finish somewhere in between for a fringe WR2 performance in Week 17.
30. Carolina Panthers
Credit to Carolina for overcoming adversity and fighting all season. The Panthers beat Atlanta in Week 15 and nearly pulled off another upset over the Packers in Week 16, scoring 30 points for the first time all season against Green Bay. A road trip against the struggling Jaguars could wind up giving the Panthers their third win of the season.
RB Chuba Hubbard – Chuba Hubbard has been the biggest piece to Carolina’s offense succeeding lately, churning out 16-25 carries in five consecutive games. He’s outperformed Mile Sanders and has logged double-digit fantasy points since Week 12. He’s a fringe RB2 with low-end RB1 upside against a Jaguars defense that has surrendered explosive plays down the stretch.
31. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona could easily have a few more wins on their record, despite glaring weaknesses on defense and a run-centric offense. Former Eagles’ DC Jonathan Gannon, now, the current head coach for the Cardinals, could wind up playing spoiler against Philadelphia during their Week 17 matchup.
TE Trey McBride – Kyler Murray’s preferred target, second-year tight end Trey McBride, has been a target hog in the Cardinals’ offense. He has seen eight to 11 targets since Murray’s return, securing six to ten receptions in four consecutive contests. McBride is a must-start top-five tight end against a struggling Eagles’ pass defense in Week 17, ranked as the 10th-best matchup for fantasy tight ends.
32. Washington Commanders
Washington has a six-game losing slump intact entering Week 17, with Jacoby Brissett stepping in under center for Sam Howell, whose struggles and miscues have increased down the stretch. The Commanders have lost in a variety of ways, but their inability to stop an opposing offense, plus the lack of pass protection, drops them down to 32 as the worst overall team in the league.
RB Antonio Gibson – Chris Rodriguez Jr. heading to I.R., plus Brian Robinson continuing to nurse an injury, means Antonio Gibson could have a monster workload against San Francisco in Week 17. Yes, the 49ers are a tough matchup for running backs, but they’ve allowed more production lately, plus Gibson has recorded three to five receptions in six of his last seven games. With negative game script in play, Gibson should see 10-15 touches at least, likely scoring in garbage time to wind up with fringe RB2 production.
