Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em Sit 'Em Playoffs Flex picks feat. Deebo Samuel, Ameer Abdullah and more

Fantasy football championship week is upon us. Congratulations to those who made it this far. Navigating the minefield that is the regular season and playoffs takes a lot of skill and without question some luck. If you’re playing this weekend, let’s get the right players in your lineup to crown ourselves champions!

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Fantasy Football Week 17 Start 'Em Sit 'Em Playoffs picks

Start 'em:

Ameer Abdullah (RB, LV) - It’s championship week so let’s dig deep. I’m going to a game that shouldn’t even be watched by inmates on death row. That’s right, it’s Raiders vs Saints. Last week, I correctly buried Kendre Miller because he’s a limited back on a terrible team. This week, I’m promoting another back on a bad team, but with one caveat: Ameer Abdullah can catch the football. If you’re going to be on a horrible squad like the Raiders, be useful in all phases of the game.

Abdullah has 19 PPR points in back-to-back weeks thanks to touchdowns as a receiver and one on a 7-yard run last week. Now, here’s the rub: he’s not going to get a lot of work on the ground. Abdullah is making his hay as a receiver with 12 receptions for over 100 yards combined in the two games since Sincere McCormick went down. I understand that the Raiders could win this game, which, for their sake, I hope they don’t. But I’m actually in on both backs here. I like Alexander Mattison as a 10-point PPR guy as well.

Deebo Samuel (WR, SF) - A week ago, we wrote off Deebo Samuel as old, fat, and slow. I’m here to tell you he still might be all of those things, but I’m playing him in a massive spot against the Lions. Thanks to Detroit’s potent offense, they see tons of second-half pass attempts. Monday night will be no different. As the 49ers struggle to find anyone healthy enough to take snaps at running back, they’ve turned back to Deebo, who gave them 25 yards on five attempts last week. He also appeared as a threat in the passing game; who knew, right? Nine targets turned into a 7-96-1 day.

I think he comes through again for fantasy, as the Lions allow the fourth most points to opposing WRs. Chicago threw all day on the Lions in the second half; expect more of the same from Deebo in your title matchup.

Indianapolis Colts DST - What can we say about their Week 17 opponent, the New York Giants? An offense that has failed to score 23 points in any game this season enters the game after throwing a pair of pick-sixes a week ago. Drew Lock is a complete disaster, so you must target the Colts defense. Add Indy even if you don’t plan to start them. Block your opponent from using them against you. Four of the last five DSTs to play against New York have scored double-digit points.

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys - Source: Imagn

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Sit’em:

Rico Dowdle (RB, DAL) - Say it ain’t so, Uncle Ricoyear-long bit promoting Rico Dowdle comes to an end this week as he’ll face the stout front of the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s been a great run for our favorite Tupperware selling running back though. He’s 25th in total points at the RB position - which is amazing considering where you drafted him. Dowdle’s run to the fantasy playoffs may have saved some of your seasons. Three straight weeks over 100 yards from Weeks 13-15 propelled him from JAG status to barely mid. Ya know what, I’ll take that. But not this week. Philly allows the second-fewest fantasy points to the RB position.

Over their last two, the Birds haven’t allowed a lead back to crack eight fantasy points. Dowdle rushed for 53 yards last these two teams hooked up. Unless he throws a football over them mountains in some sort of halfback option pass, it’s going to be a long day for Dowdle.

Jalen McMillan (WR, TB) - From a 10th-year breakout with Adbdullah to a rookie finding his footing late in his first campaign, I’m loving what I’m seeing from the Bucs' Jalen McMillian. Entrenched as the #2 option for Tampa, we’ve seen major growth for the third round pick out of Washington. With four scores in his last three games, McMillan has become a late season savior for WR needy teams. Beginning in Week 14, we’ve seen Tampa funnel targets away from Cade Otton and to our boy Jalen. Games of 7/6/7 targets have created opportunities that turned into three consecutive games over 15 fantasy points.

This Sunday he’ll face the Panthers - sounds like fun right? Well, I’m here to tell ya the Panthers secondary is no joke. With two high-end corners and the fact you can run for days on them, Carolina allows the 10th fewest points to the WR position. Mike Evans did get them for 118 and a score back in Week 13 but he’s a future Hall of Famer. McMillan in the same game went 2-25. I’m pulling back McMillan Sunday but I love where this kid is headed and curious if he can take the leap into the full on Chris Godwin role next year.