Heading into Sunday’s action, several notable quarterbacks, including Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson, and Colt McCoy, are dealing with injuries that could keep them out for Week 17. Knowing the latest updates is key before locking in crucial start ’em, sit ’em decisions ahead of fantasy championships.
Below, we’ll give you the latest news on these QBs and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 17 fantasy landscape.
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WEEK 17 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Jalen Hurts update, Week 17 fantasy outlook
Hurts (right shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday ahead of Philadelphia’s game against the Saints. Earlier this week, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that he wouldn’t rule out Hurts from possibly playing in Week 17, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
With Hurts not practicing to start the week, owners should be preparing themselves for the young quarterback to be out for the second-straight game. If Hurts is ruled out, Gardner Minshew steps back into the starter role and is one of the better streaming options at QB in Week 17. Last week against Dallas, Minshew completed 24-of-40 passes for 355 yards, three total touchdowns (one rushing), and two interceptions. Minshew would be facing a Saints’ defense that’s slightly above average against quarterbacks this season, but they’re not as good as Dallas was. It’s not a great matchup, but Minshew should play well given what we saw him do against the Cowboys. At the very least, he doesn’t significantly hurt the values of Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Tua Tagovailoa injury update, Week 17 fantasy outlook
Tagovailoa (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday after it was confirmed that he suffered a concussion in last week’s game against the Packers. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that backup QB Teddy Bridgewater is in line to start Sunday against the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
With Tagovailoa suffering his second “confirmed” concussion this season, it would be surprising to see him playing Sunday. McDaniel said that the young quarterback is day-to-day, but it seems that Bridgewater will start in a crucial game for the Dolphins’ playoff hopes. The veteran quarterback will be going up against a Patriots’ defense that has allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to QBs this season. The last time we saw Bridgewater on the field, he completed 23-of-34 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions against the Vikings in Week 6, but in this matchup, he’s not a great fantasy option. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are still in play because of their explosive run-after-the-catch ability.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Lamar Jackson injury update, Week 17 fantasy outlook
Jackson (knee) missed his 10th-straight practice on Wednesday, according to Jonas Shaffer of Baltimore Sun. The star quarterback has missed the past three games with a sprained PCL that he suffered in Week 13 against the Broncos.
If Jackson is out for Sunday night’s game against the Steelers, Tyler Huntley will be back under center for the Ravens. Huntley and the Ravens’ offense have struggled to score points over the past four games, but they’ve found a way to go 3-1. In Huntley’s first meeting against the Steelers in Week 14, he only had 119 total yards of offense after exiting the game with a head injury. However, we should expect a better performance from the scrappy backup quarterback on Sunday night as the Steelers’ defense allows the 12th-most fantasy points to QBs this season. Still, Huntley would only be an option in the deepest of leagues, and his presence doesn’t figure to help Mark Andrews or Demarcus Robinson, who are both on the start ’em, sit ’em bubble this week.
WEEK 17 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Colt McCoy injury update, Week 17 fantasy outlook
McCoy (concussion) cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Wednesday and is expected to start against the Falcons, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The veteran quarterback did not play in last week’s game against the Buccaneers after initially suffering the head injury in Week 15.
With McCoy set to play, we should see DeAndre Hopkins be a factor in Sunday’s game after he was held to one reception (10 targets) for four yards in last week’s defeat to the Buccaneers. The veteran signal-caller does not have a high ceiling but has a favorable matchup against a Falcons’ defense that allows the 10th-most fantasy points to QBs this season. Consider him a deep sleeper if you’re in a bind at QB.
