Many leagues have closed up shop for the season but many fantasy football degenerates like myself refuse to allow an entire week of football go unfantasized. If you’re in a league that plays through week 17, and you own Matt Stafford, Nick Foles, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Drew Brees, or, of course, Peyton Manning, half your work is already done. All six of those quarterbacks are all high level fantasy passers with optimal defensive matchups.
If Kyle Orton starts, he has a great matchup against an Eagles defense that has allowed 15+ fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in six of their last seven games in and 14+ to every single quarterback they’ve faced except Eli Manning in Week 8. Even whilst routing the Bears last week, they ceded 237 total yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion to Jay Cutler, good for 15.4 fantasy points. Orton could be a good value play in DFS leagues and 2-QB leagues.
Terrelle Pryor is another quarterback who should garner a look this week as he’ll face a Broncos defense that has allowed at least one passing touchdown in nine straight games while intercepting just six passes. Pryor put up 281 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, and a touchdown the last time he faced Peyton’s Broncos.
Jay Cutler is a must-play against a Packers defense that has allowed 20+ fantasy points to opposing passers in three of their last four games. The last time the Bears faced the Pack, Josh McCown put up 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers is back for the matchup against Cutler’s Bears and is back to must-start status. Ryan Tannehill looks like a good bet against a shoddy Jets secondary, Ben Roethlisberger looks good against a Browns team that just allowed a QB1 day to Geno Smith, and Phil Rivers faces a Chiefs defense that allowed him to pass for 392 yards and three scores in their last meeting in week 12.
On the unfavorable side, definitely stay away from Kellen Clemens, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Mike Glennon, Geno Smith, Case Keenum, and Joe Flacco this week.
Let’s take a look at all of this week’s fantasy football quarterback matchups.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable
|
Rank |
AVG |
Defense |
Week 17 Opponents |
|
1 |
10.96 | Seahawks | Kellen Clemens |
|
2 |
12.91 | Panthers | Matt Ryan |
|
3 |
13.83 | 49ers | Carson Palmer |
|
4 |
14.21 | Saints | Mike Glennon |
|
5 |
14.59 | Dolphins | Geno Smith |
|
6 |
14.69 | Titans | Case Keenum (Q), Matt Schaub |
|
7 |
15.27 | Bengals | Joe Flacco |
|
8 |
15.74 | Bills | Tom Brady |
|
9 |
15.88 | Ravens | Andy Dalton |
|
10 |
15.89 | Bears | Aaron Rodgers |
|
11 |
16.09 | Rams | Russell Wilson |
|
12 |
16.16 | Steelers | Jason Campbell |
|
13 |
16.68 | Colts | Chad Henne |
|
14 |
16.77 | Lions | Matt Cassel |
|
15 |
16.93 | Chiefs | Philip Rivers |
|
16 |
17.06 | Giants | Kirk Cousins |
|
17 |
17.15 | Texans | Ryan Fitzpatrick |
|
18 |
17.19 | Cardinals | Colin Kaepernick |
|
19 |
17.81 | Jets | Ryan Tannehill |
|
20 |
18.28 | Patriots | EJ Manuel (Q), Thad Lewis |
|
21 |
18.31 | Browns | Ben Roethlisberger |
|
22 |
18.42 | Chargers | Alex Smith, Chase Daniel |
|
23 |
18.47 | Redskins | Eli Manning |
|
24 |
18.53 | Packers | Jay Cutler |
|
25 |
18.68 | Buccaneers | Drew Brees |
|
26 |
18.71 | Broncos | Terrelle Pryor |
|
27 |
19.39 | Raiders | Peyton Manning |
|
28 |
19.51 | Eagles | Kyle Orton, Tony Romo (Q) |
|
29 |
19.72 | Falcons | Cam Newton |
|
30 |
19.89 | Jaguars | Andrew Luck |
|
31 |
22.39 | Cowboys | Nick Foles |
|
32 |
23.44 | Vikings | Matthew Stafford |
*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
