Week 17 Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em: Wide Receivers

If you're reading this, congratulations!

With most fantasy football leagues concluding after Week 17, there is no reason for you to be reading this if you weren't playing in your league's Championship Week.

Below you will find some players that could be starts or sits in your league, but my fantasy football rankings will better help you determine if I would start Player X over Player Y.

Week 17 Fantasy Football Start'em

Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers (vs. CHI)

Jennings has performed as a top-24 fantasy receiver and scored in four consecutive games and in six of his past seven. The Bears have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season and the 49ers have a top-five implied total this week. Jennings is a high-end WR2 this week.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals (at CIN)

Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. has returned and Wilson had only three targets in Week 16, but he still managed to finish with 52 yards and a score. Double-digit targets shouldn't be expected any more for Wilson, who has averaged 17.6 fantasy points per game since Week 11, but I'd still trust Wilson over his much more ballyhooed teammate in Week 17.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets (vs. NE)

I admit it would be difficult to trust any Jets player this week, and Mitchell certainly isn't a must-start. That said, he's a widely available waiver wire option (18% rostered in Yahoo!) as a viable WR3 based on his top-36 spot inside my fantasy wide receiver rankings this week. Mitchell has a minimum of six targets (and average of 7.7 per game) over his past six games and he has scored 14-plus fantasy points in two of his past four contests.

Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders (vs. DAL)

Since returning in Week 13, McLaurin has 16 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns over four games. Three of those matchups were against teams that rank among the eight stingiest defenses to opposing wide receivers. This week, McLaurin gets the most generous fantasy defense to the position on Christmas Day. Even if the Commanders are down to their third-string quarterback (Josh Johnson), McLaurin remains a strong play.

Week 17 Fantasy Football Sit'em

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at MIA)

Five weeks into the season, Egbuka seemed like the runaway favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a sure-fire WR1. Only Puka Nacua (588), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (534), and Justin Jefferson (449) had more receiving yards in their first five games this season than Egbuka (445, five TDs), who also trailed only Amon-Ra St. Brown (six) in receiving touchdowns during that span. Over his past six games, however, the rookie has a 44.2% catch rate, 42 or fewer yards in five of those games, and no touchdowns. With the team's receiving corps back at full strength, he set career lows in targets (two) and catches (one) in Week 16.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DEN)

Without Patrick Mahomes or (likely) Gardner Minshew under center, it's nearly impossible to trust any Chiefs pass catcher in Week 17. Chris Oladokun will likely start assuming Minshew is unable to play this week, and Worthy finished with only two catches for 41 yards last week. Given the difficult matchup against an elite Denver Broncos defense, it's better to keep Worthy on your bench.

Continue reading our full Week 17 Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em

San Francisco 49ers 2023 Fantasy Football Projections

Our Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2023 fantasy football projections for the San Francisco 49ers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Brock Purdy	477.8	320.1	3679.1	24.37	11.95	57.4	114.8	1.15	239.12
Sam Darnold	41.5	25.5	305	1.89	1.16	11.5	41.4	0.23	22.96

Brock Purdy: Mr. Irrelevant is the term given to the final pick of each NFL draft, but Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, was anything but irrelevant in his rookie season. From December through his final snap of the playoffs, Purdy completed 151-of-224 pass attempts (67.4%) for 1,877 yards (8.38 Y/A), 16 touchdowns (7.1%) and only three interceptions (1.3%). there appear to be no lingering concerns following his offseason UCL surgery.

Sam Darnold: Excluding a terrible performance (2.8 passer rating) in 2022's season finale with the Panthers, Darnold was playing really well before that last year. In fact, he threw for 1,100 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception with a 105.4 passer rating in his other five games started last season while adding 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Christian McCaffrey	198.9	924.9	6.96	70.2	597.6	3.9	252.51
Elijah Mitchell	142.8	642.6	4	8.8	63.7	0.5	102.03
Kyle Juszczyk	6.4	23	0.22	14	129.5	0.8	28.37
Jordan Mason	33.2	146.1	1	2.9	21.9	0.1	24.85
Tyrion Davis-Price	14	58.8	0.39	2.1	14.7	0.1	11.34

Christian McCaffrey: After two injury-plagued seasons, McCaffrey played a full 17-game slate in 2022 split between the Panthers and 49ers. If there's a concern (albeit only a slight one), it's the potential for the 49ers to scale back CMC's workload to preserve his health for a full season including the playoffs, especially given their talented supporting cast when at full strength.

When healthy, however, few, if any, running backs have a higher floor and ceiling due to his ability as a runner and receiver. From Week 7 (when SF traded for him) through the end of the season, he tied Tennessee's Derrick Henry for the most fantasy points per game (half-PPR). McCaffrey has a minimum of 80 catches in each of his four full seasons, and he's averaged 113.1 yards per scrimmage per game over his career.

Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell won't offer much stand-alone value, but he would have enormous upside if Christian McCaffrey were to miss any time during the 2023 season. While CMC deserves to be considered at pick 1.01 in fantasy drafts, we've seen how productive non-CMC backs (including Mitchell) have been when given the opportunity.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Deebo Samuel	62.4	833.9	5.5	37	236.8	2.22	184.59
Brandon Aiyuk	74.3	958.2	6.3	3.8	30.4	0.23	175.19
Jauan Jennings	28.7	368.5	2.4	0	0	0	65.6
Ray-Ray McCloud	4.8	59.8	0.4	4.1	30.8	0.21	15.12
Danny Gray	3.5	49.8	0.3	1	8	0.05	9.63
Ronnie Bell	3.1	39.8	0.3	0	0	0	7.33

Deebo Samuel: Samuel has missed multiple games in two of the past three seasons, and his physical play style increases his durability risk. Playing in 13 games and describing his own play as "awful" last season, Samuel finished with 56 receptions for 632 yards and two touchdowns and added 42 carries for 232 yards and three touchdowns. At a minimum, a motivated Samuel should be better on a per-touch basis in 2023 than he was last year.

Brandon Aiyuk: Aiyuk had the best season of his young career in 2022 with 78 catches for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs, and he was a top-15 fantasy wide receiver (half-PPR scoring). The only concern with Aiyuk, and other San Francisco skill-position players, is the competition for touches with so many talented pass catchers on the roster.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
George Kittle	57.5	697.2	4.7	0	0	0	126.67
Cameron Latu	9	99.6	0.7	0	0	0	18.66
Ross Dwelley	2.6	29.9	0.2	0	0	0	5.49
Charlie Woerner	1.7	19.9	0.1	0	0	0	3.44

George Kittle: Compared to his elite talent, Kittle is often under-targeted. Even so, he has finished as a top-four fantasy tight end in four of the past five seasons. The exception was when he missed eight games in 2020, but he finished third on a PPG basis that season behind Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. The other concern with Kittle is he has missed multiple games in four consecutive seasons, but he has averaged 70.4/947.8/5.8 per 17 games over the past five years.

More San Francisco 49ers pages:

• San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers 2023 NFL Draft Grades
• San Francisco 49ers Draft History
• San Francisco 49ers NFL Power Rankings Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers Schedule
• San Francisco 49ers Tickets

More of our content:

• 2024 NFL Mock Draft
• 2024 NBA Mock Draft
• Fantasy Football Mock Draft
• Fantasy Football Rankings
• NFL Power Rankings

Check out our mock draft databases:

• NFL Mock Draft Database
• NBA Mock Draft Database
• MLB Mock Draft Database
• NHL Mock Draft Database

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.

San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Football Projections 2022

Our 2022 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2022 fantasy football projections for the San Francisco 49ers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Trey Lance	490.6	311.5	3753.1	21.59	14.23	101.2	526.2	4.05	284.94
Jimmy Garoppolo	42.7	28.7	328.8	2.01	1.13	7.6	10.3	0.19	21.1

Trey Lance: The assumption all offseason and training camp was that Jimmy Garoppolo would play elsewhere in 2022. While the 49ers and Jimmy G. agreed to a restructured contract, he goes into the season as the team's No. 2 behind Lance (and the league's highest-paid backup). If things go right, Lance has enormous upside given his dual-threat skill set. If things don't go as well as expected, however, how long of a leash will Lance get before the team makes a quarterback change?

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Elijah Mitchell	192.2	855.3	5.77	28.1	216.3	1.3	163.63
Jeff Wilson	69	293.3	1.9	13.9	108.2	0.7	62.7
Kyle Juszczyk	14.7	52.9	0.81	24.3	216.3	1.5	52.93
Tyrion Davis-Price	70.8	304.4	1.98	6.6	46.9	0.3	52.11
Jordan Mason	10.1	42.9	0.25	1.2	8.2	0.1	7.81

Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell missed six games as a rookie, but he was the clear lead back when he was on the field. Counting three playoff games, Mitchell had a minimum in 17 carries in 11 of 14 games in 2021. (Mitchell had 68.3% of the non-QB carries in those other three games.) ESPN's Nick Wagoner noted earlier this offseason that the 49ers "injury concerns about Mitchell are real" and he missed the preseason with a hamstring injury.

Jeff Wilson: Given that a different player has led the 49ers in rushing in each of Kyle Shanahan's five seasons as head coach, it's never a bad idea to throw a late-round dart at the team's projected RB2. Perhaps Tyrion Davis-Price, the team's third-round pick, moves up the depth chart, but it was Wilson that started the team's preseason finale with Mitchell sidelined.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Deebo Samuel	72.6	1030.7	5.6	31.6	205.4	1.58	202.99
Brandon Aiyuk	62.9	842.9	4.9	4.6	39.1	0.28	150.73
Jauan Jennings	33.2	422.5	2.6	0	0	0	74.45
Danny Gray	14.5	193.9	1	0	0	0	32.64
Ray-Ray McCloud	3.9	40.8	0.2	1.5	10.9	0.06	8.68

Deebo Samuel: After missing nine games in 2020, Samuel had a breakout campaign (77/1,405/6 receiving and 59/365/8 rushing) in 2021. With a new contract extension in hand, the versatile wideout said he's not opposed to his hybrid "wide back" role. Samuel's physical play style and role puts him at increased risk for injury, but the do-it-all talent is a top-five receiver whenever he's on the field.

Brandon Aiyuk: Aiyuk exceeded 15 receiving yards in only two of his first six games last season and totalled only 9/96/1 receiving during that span. That said, he was much more productive and consistent from Week 8 on, as he closed the season with 47/730/4 over the final 11 games of the season. The upside is there for Aiyuk to vastly outperform his current ADP.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
George Kittle	68.9	849	4.7	2.5	0.2	0.1	148.17
Tyler Kroft	4.4	46.9	0.3	0	0	0	8.69
Charlie Woerner	3.1	32.7	0.2	0	0	0	6.02
Ross Dwelley	2.6	26.5	0.2	0	0	0	5.15

George Kittle: Since his second season (2018), Kittle has averaged a 17-game pace of 95/1,299/6. While he's missed at least two games in three consecutive seasons, he's averaged 86.1, 75.2, 79.3 and 65.0 yards per game over the past four seasons, respectively. Given that he's arguably the most talented all-around tight end in the league, Kittle has had a relatively high share of duds (example: 2/21, 1/29 and 5/10 over the final three weeks, respectively) to go along with some monster outings (9/181/2 and 13/151/1 in back-to-back weeks last year). Despite some week-to-week volatility and shaky durability history, he's a top-five fantasy option, at worst.

More San Francisco 49ers pages:

• San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers NFL Power Rankings Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers Snap Counts
• San Francisco 49ers Franchise Leaders
• San Francisco 49ers Draft History
• San Francisco 49ers Schedule
• San Francisco 49ers Tickets

More of our content:

• 2023 NFL Mock Draft
• Fantasy Football Mock Drafts
• Fantasy Football Rankings
• Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule
• Fantasy Football ADP
• NFL Power Rankings

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.

San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Football Projections 2022

Our 2022 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2022 fantasy football projections for the San Francisco 49ers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Trey Lance	490.6	311.5	3753.1	21.59	14.23	101.2	526.2	4.05	284.94
Nate Sudfeld	42.7	27.3	305.3	1.75	1.07	5.8	14.5	0.12	19.24

Trey Lance: The (continued) assumption is that Jimmy Garoppolo will play elsewhere in 2022, even though he's still on the roster (as of early August), but Lance will be the starter either way. Currently being drafted just outside fantasy's top 12 quarterbacks, Lance offers fantasy managers enormous upside given his dual-threat abilities.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Elijah Mitchell	200.3	891.3	6.01	28	217.1	1.3	168.7
Tyrion Davis-Price	95.8	411.9	2.68	6.9	52.8	0.3	67.8
Kyle Juszczyk	9.6	34.6	0.53	24.2	215.1	1.5	49.25
Jeff Wilson	33.6	142.8	0.92	13.6	103.5	0.7	41.15
Trey Sermon	19.2	79.7	0.48	2	14.2	0.1	13.87

Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell missed six games as a rookie, but he was the clear lead back when he was on the field. Counting three playoff games, Mitchell had a minimum in 17 carries in 11 of 14 games in 2021. (Mitchell had 68.3% of the non-QB carries in those other three games.) While the 49ers used a third-round pick on Tyrion Davis-Price, that says more about the team's view of Trey Sermon, last year's third-round pick, than Mitchell's. Even so, ESPN's Nick Wagoner notes that "injury concerns about Mitchell are real" and "it wouldn't be a surprise" if the team's other backs are "involved early and often."

Tyrion Davis-Price: Given that a different player has led the 49ers in rushing in each of Kyle Shanahan's five seasons as head coach, it's never a bad idea to throw a late-round dart at the team's expected RB2.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Deebo Samuel	72.3	1024.7	5.5	31.6	205.4	1.58	201.64
Brandon Aiyuk	61.7	819.8	4.7	4.6	39.1	0.28	146.62
Jauan Jennings	32.4	411.9	2.6	0	0	0	72.99
Danny Gray	17.8	233.4	1.3	0	0	0	40.04
Ray-Ray McCloud	3.9	40.6	0.2	1.5	10.9	0.06	8.66

Deebo Samuel: After missing nine games in 2020, Samuel had a breakout campaign (77/1,405/6 receiving and 59/365/8 rushing) in 2021. With a new contract extension in hand, the versatile wideout recently said he's not opposed to his hybrid "wide back" role. Samuel's physical play style and role puts him at increased risk for injury, but the do-it-all talent is a top-five receiver whenever he's on the field.

Brandon Aiyuk: Aiyuk exceeded 15 receiving yards in only two of his first six games last season and totalled only 9/96/1 receiving during that span. That said, he was much more productive and consistent from Week 8 on, as he closed the season with 47/730/4 over the final 11 games of the season. The upside is there for Aiyuk to vastly outperform his current ADP.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
George Kittle	67.9	834	4.6	2.5	0.2	0.1	145.57
Charlie Woerner	4.4	50.7	0.3	0	0	0	9.07
Ross Dwelley	3.7	40.6	0.2	0	0	0	7.11

George Kittle: Since his second season (2018), Kittle has averaged a 17-game pace of 95/1,299/6. While he's missed at least two games in three consecutive seasons, he's averaged 86.1, 75.2, 79.3 and 65.0 yards per game over the past four seasons, respectively. Given that he's arguably the most talented all-around tight end in the league, Kittle has had a relatively high share of duds (example: 2/21, 1/29 and 5/10 over the final three weeks, respectively) to go along with some monster outings (9/181/2 and 13/151/1 in back-to-back weeks last year). Despite some week-to-week volatility and shaky durability history, he's still a top-five fantasy option, at worst.

More San Francisco 49ers pages:

• San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers NFL Power Rankings Roundup
• San Francisco 49ers Snap Counts
• San Francisco 49ers Franchise Leaders
• San Francisco 49ers Draft History
• San Francisco 49ers Schedule
• San Francisco 49ers Tickets

More of our content:

• 2023 NFL Mock Draft
• Fantasy Football Mock Drafts
• Fantasy Football Rankings
• Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule
• Fantasy Football ADP
• NFL Power Rankings

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.