Quarterback rankings for Week 17 fantasy football

Friday injury report

Alex Smith will likely start this week against the Eagles, who have a poor secondary and multiple players out.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been placed on the COVID-19 list and is out. Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter no matter what this week.

Kyler Murray is ready to go against the Rams.

Matthew Stafford is questionable, but looks like he will try to go in the finale.

Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes will rest, while Jared Goff is out, giving Mason Rudolph, Chad Henne and John Wolford the starts.

Out: Ben Roethlisberger (rest), Jared Goff (right thumb)
Doubtful: N/A
Questionable: Alex Smith (calf), Matthew Stafford (right thumb, rib, ankle)

Wednesday Injury Report

Jared Goff won’t play this week with his thumb injury. John Wolford will start.

Matthew Stafford wants to play, but the team will likely sit him with his multiple injuries. That would push Chase Daniel to start.

Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones are set to play in must-win games.

Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes won’t play this week. Mason Rudolph and Chad Henne will finish out the regular season.

DNP: Jared Goff (right thumb), Tom Brady (not injury related), Philip Rivers (toe), Matthew Stafford (right thumb, rib, ankle), Ben Roethlisberger (not injury related), Alex Smith (calf)
Limited: Jake Fromm (not injury related)
Full: Kyler Murray (lower leg), Daniel Jones (hamstring)

Week 17 is usually a good time to limit your DFS and fantasy endeavors, as so many teams are usually resting players. But this season we have more teams with skin in the game than usual. The caveats this season are the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs have nothing to play for and the Steelers and Bills can only move between the No. 2 and 3 seeds. Mike Tomlin has already said that Ben Roethlisberger isn’t playing, which could make it less likely the Bills starters play a full game.

Patrick Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger and Josh Allen should be off-limits this week in fantasy.

Here are the teams who need wins to give them a shot of making the playoffs or the NFC No. 1 seed/bye or a game against the NFC East winner: Cowboys, Giants, Browns, Dolphins, Ravens, Cardinals, Rams, Colts, Titans, Bears, Buccaneers, Saints, Seahawks, Packers and Washington.

Injury news

Alex Smith was close to returning last week, so he has a good chance of returning this week against the Eagles.

Jared Goff is out. John Wolford will start against the Cardinals in a must-win game.

Kyler Murray has a leg injury, but they are hopeful he will play against the Rams.

Notable backups

Chad Henne and Mason Rudolph have some fantasy appeal, as they should get a full game. Matt Barkley will likely see work, but we’d need confirmation that Josh Allen won’t play a half of football.

Streaming options

Philip Rivers, Colts

Rivers is in a must-win situation and gets the lowly Jaguars to pick on. Much will depend on how many short touchdowns the Colts score on the ground versus the air, but there should be ample opportunity.

Andy Dalton, Cowboys

Dalton has now thrown nine touchdowns to two interceptions over his last four games and last had his best game of the season with 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The winner of their matchup with the Giants this week has a shot at the playoffs, so both teams will play all out.