Fantasy Football: Week 17 Top-125 Flex Rankings

If you need some FLEX help in your Championship, we've got you covered

If you're still reading this newsletter in Week 17, I assume you made it to your Fantasy championship -- either that, or you're just a really big fan of my writing. Either congrats on your Fantasy Football success or, thanks, Mom. 

A whole offseason of planning and a season of strategizing has led us here. Myself, I'm still alive and playing for a championship in three of my 14 leagues, including two where I'm gunning for a repeat championship. I'll be a nervous wreck all day Sunday, as I'm sure many of you will be, but until then, I'm going to make sure you've got everything you need to lock in a winning lineup.

Come on, one more week. Let's go get that win. Send your questions my way at Chris.Towers@ViacomCBS.com -- tomorrow's newsletter will feature answers to some of your biggest questions heading into the playoffs. We'll have all of our typical weekly preview content for you all week long right here, and then next week we'll start to turn our attention to 2023 -- though we'll still have some rankings for you Week 18 championship game folks.

For now, here's what we've got coming up today: 

• ➕Top Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets
• 📈Week 17 Rankings First Look📉

📈Week 17 Rankings📉

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 02: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USATSI

Here are my initial rankings for Week 17 at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end. And those will be updated throughout the week, so make sure you keep them handy for when you're setting your lineups. These are all for PPR leagues:

Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes vs. DEN
2. Josh Allen @CIN
3. Trevor Lawrence @HOU
4. Joe Burrow vs. BUF
5. Justin Fields @DET
6. Justin Herbert vs. LAR
7. Kirk Cousins @GB
8. Gardner Minshew vs. NO
9. Dak Prescott @TEN
10. Tom Brady vs. CAR
11. Aaron Rodgers vs. MIN
12. Geno Smith vs. NYJ
13. Jared Goff vs. CHI
14. Daniel Jones vs. IND
15. Mike White @SEA
16. Deshaun Watson @WAS
17. Brock Purdy @LV
18. Teddy Bridgewater @NE
19. Carson Wentz vs. CLE
20. Kenny Pickett @BAL
21. Russell Wilson @KC
22. Baker Mayfield @LAC
23. Colt McCoy @ATL
24. Mac Jones vs. MIA
25. Tyler Huntley vs. PIT
26. Nick Foles @NYG
27. Andy Dalton @PHI
28. Davis Mills vs. JAX
29. Jarrett Stidham vs. SF
30. Desmond RIdder vs. ARI
31. Sam Darnold @TB
32. Josh Dobbs vs. DAL

Running backs

1. Austin Ekeler vs. LAR
2. Christian McCaffrey @LV
3. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. MIA
4. Saquon Barkley vs. IND
5. Josh Jacobs vs. SF
6. Dalvin Cook @GB
7. James Conner @ATL
8. Travis Etienne @HOU
9. Alvin Kamara @PHI
10. Joe Mixon vs. BUF
11. Nick Chubb @WAS
12. David Montgomery @DET
13. Najee Harris @BAL
14. Kenneth Walker vs. NYJ
15. Leonard Fournette vs. CAR
16. Aaron Jones vs. MIN
17. AJ Dillon vs. MIN
18. Ezekiel Elliott @TEN
19. Tyler Allgeier vs. ARI
20. Miles Sanders vs. NO
21. Jerick McKinnon vs. DEN
22. D'Andre Swift vs. CHI
23. Cam Akers @LAC
24. J.K. Dobbins vs. PIT
25. Devin Singletary @CIN
26. D'Onta Foreman @TB
27. Brian Robinson Jr. vs. CLE
28. Rachaad White vs. CAR
29. Isiah Pacheco vs. DEN
30. Latavius Murray @KC
31. Zonovan Knight @SEA
32. Zack Moss @NYG
33. Hassan Haskins vs. DAL
34. Deon Jackson @NYG
35. Raheem Mostert @NE
36. Malik Davis @TEN
37. Michael Carter @SEA
38. Cordarrelle Patterson vs. ARI
39. Chuba Hubbard @TB
40. Jeff Wilson @NE
41. Gus Edwards vs. PIT
42. Antonio Gibson vs. CLE
43. Jamaal Williams vs. CHI
44. James Cook @CIN
45. Royce Freeman vs. JAX
46. Boston Scott vs. NO
47. Julius Chestnut vs. DAL
48. Dare Ogunbowale @LV
49. Samaje Perine vs. BUF
50. Khalil Herbert @DET
51. Kareem Hunt @WAS
52. Joshua Kelley vs. LAR
53. Jordan Mason @LV
54. Kyren Williams @LAC
55. Alexander Mattison @GB
56. Rex Burkhead vs. JAX
57. Justin Jackson vs. CHI
58. Jamycal Hasty @HOU
59. Nyheim Hines @CIN
60. Matt Breida vs. IND

Wide receivers

1. Justin Jefferson @GB
2. Ja'Marr Chase vs. BUF
3. Tyreek Hill @NE
4. Stefon Diggs @CIN
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. CHI
6. A.J. Brown vs. NO
7. Chris Godwin vs. CAR
8. Keenan Allen vs. LAR
9. Tee Higgins vs. BUF
10. DK Metcalf vs. NYJ
11. CeeDee Lamb @TEN
12. DeAndre Hopkins @ATL
13. Jaylen Waddle @NE
14. Garrett Wilson @SEA
15. DeVonta Smith vs. NO
16. Davante Adams vs. SF
17. Mike Williams vs. LAR
18. Mike Evans vs. CAR
19. Jerry Jeudy @KC
20. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DEN
21. Christian Kirk @HOU
22. Terry McLaurin vs. CLE
23. Zay Jones @HOU
24. Christian Watson vs. MIN
25. Courtland Sutton @KC
26. Chris Olave @PHI
27. Drake London vs. ARI
28. Diontae Johnson @BAL
29. D.J. Chark vs. CHI
30. Amari Cooper @WAS
31. Brandon Aiyuk @LV
32. Brandin Cooks vs. JAX
33. D.J. Moore @TB
34. Michael Pittman @NYG
35. Jakobi Meyers vs. MIA
36. Darius Slayton vs. IND
37. Donovan Peoples-Jones @WAS
38. Adam Thielen @GB
39. Greg Dortch @ATL
40. Allen Lazard vs. MIN
41. Jahan Dotson vs. CLE
42. Gabe Davis @CIN
43. Romeo Doubs vs. MIN
44. Curtis Samuel vs. CLE
45. Isaiah Hodgins vs. IND
46. Josh Palmer vs. LAR
47. Michael Gallup @TEN
48. Chris Moore vs. JAX
49. KJ Osborn @GB
50. Elijah Moore @SEA
51. Corey Davis @SEA
52. Marquise Brown @ATL
53. Tyler Boyd vs. BUF
54. Richie James vs. IND
55. Mack Hollins vs. SF
56. George Pickens @BAL
57. Rashid Shaheed @PHI
58. Parris Campbell @NYG
59. DeMarcus Robinson vs. PIT
60. Hunter Renfrow vs. SF

Tight ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. DEN
2. TJ Hockenson @GB
3. Mark Andrews vs. PIT
4. George Kittle @LV
5. Dallas Goedert vs. NO
6. Evan Engram @HOU
7. Dalton Schultz @TEN
8. Tyler Higbee @LAC
9. Gerald Everett vs. LAR
10. Cole Kmet @DET
11. David Njoku @WAS
12. Darren Waller vs. SF
13. Pat Freiermuth @BAL
14. Dawson Knox @CIN
15. Juwan Johnson @PHI
16. Taysom Hill @PHI
17. Jelani Woods @NYG
18. Noah Fant vs. NYJ
19. Daniel Bellinger vs. IND
20. Tyler Conklin @SEA
21. Robert Tonyan vs. MIN
22. Greg Dulcich @KC
23. Cameron Brate vs. CAR
24. Trey McBride @ATL

Top-125 Flex Rankings

1. Justin Jefferson @GB
2. Austin Ekeler vs. LAR
3. Christian McCaffrey @LV
4. Ja'Marr Chase vs. BUF
5. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. MIA
6. Tyreek Hill @NE
7. Saquon Barkley vs. IND
8. Stefon Diggs @CIN
9. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. CHI
10. Travis Kelce vs. DEN
11. Josh Jacobs vs. SF
12. Dalvin Cook @GB
13. A.J. Brown vs. NO
14. James Conner @ATL
15. Travis Etienne @HOU
16. Chris Godwin vs. CAR
17. Keenan Allen vs. LAR
18. Alvin Kamara @PHI
19. Tee Higgins vs. BUF
20. Joe Mixon vs. BUF
21. Nick Chubb @WAS
22. DK Metcalf vs. NYJ
23. David Montgomery @DET
24. CeeDee Lamb @TEN
25. Najee Harris @BAL
26. Kenneth Walker vs. NYJ
27. DeAndre Hopkins @ATL
28. Jaylen Waddle @NE
29. Leonard Fournette vs. CAR
30. Garrett Wilson @SEA
31. DeVonta Smith vs. NO
32. Aaron Jones vs. MIN
33. Davante Adams vs. SF
34. AJ Dillon vs. MIN
35. Ezekiel Elliott @TEN
36. Tyler Allgeier vs. ARI
37. Mike Williams vs. LAR
38. Miles Sanders vs. NO
39. Mike Evans vs. CAR
40. Jerry Jeudy @KC
41. TJ Hockenson @GB
42. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DEN
43. Christian Kirk @HOU
44. Jerick McKinnon vs. DEN
45. D'Andre Swift vs. CHI
46. Terry McLaurin vs. CLE
47. Cam Akers @LAC
48. J.K. Dobbins vs. PIT
49. Zay Jones @HOU
50. Christian Watson vs. MIN
51. Courtland Sutton @KC
52. Chris Olave @PHI
53. Devin Singletary @CIN
54. Drake London vs. ARI
55. Diontae Johnson @BAL
56. D'Onta Foreman @TB
57. D.J. Chark vs. CHI
58. Amari Cooper @WAS
59. Brandon Aiyuk @LV
60. Mark Andrews vs. PIT
61. Brandin Cooks vs. JAX
62. D.J. Moore @TB
63. Michael Pittman @NYG
64. Brian Robinson Jr. vs. CLE
65. George Kittle @LV
66. Jakobi Meyers vs. MIA
67. Dallas Goedert vs. NO
68. Darius Slayton vs. IND
69. Donovan Peoples-Jones @WAS
70. Evan Engram @HOU
71. Adam Thielen @GB
72. Rachaad White vs. CAR
73. Isiah Pacheco vs. DEN
74. Greg Dortch @ATL
75. Latavius Murray @KC
76. Zonovan Knight @SEA
77. Allen Lazard vs. MIN
78. Zack Moss @NYG
79. Dalton Schultz @TEN
80. Gabe Davis @CIN
81. Hassan Haskins vs. DAL
82. Romeo Doubs vs. MIN
83. Curtis Samuel vs. CLE
84. Tyler Higbee @LAC
85. Deon Jackson @NYG
86. Gerald Everett vs. LAR
87. Isaiah Hodgins vs. IND
88. Raheem Mostert @NE
89. Josh Palmer vs. LAR
90. Michael Gallup @TEN
91. Chris Moore vs. JAX
92. Cole Kmet @DET
93. Malik Davis @TEN
94. Michael Carter @SEA
95. KJ Osborn @GB
96. David Njoku @WAS
97. Cordarrelle Patterson vs. ARI
98. Chuba Hubbard @TB
99. Darren Waller vs. SF
100. Jeff Wilson @NE
101. Pat Freiermuth @BAL
102. Elijah Moore @SEA
103. Corey Davis @SEA
104. Marquise Brown @ATL
105. Gus Edwards vs. PIT
106. Tyler Boyd vs. BUF
107. Richie James vs. IND
108. Antonio Gibson vs. CLE
109. Mack Hollins vs. SF
110. Jamaal Williams vs. CHI
111. George Pickens @BAL
112. Rashid Shaheed @PHI
113. Parris Campbell @NYG
114. Dawson Knox @CIN
115. Juwan Johnson @PHI
116. James Cook @CIN
117. DeMarcus Robinson vs. PIT
118. Jahan Dotson vs. CLE
119. Taysom Hill @PHI
120. Jelani Woods @NYG
121. Hunter Renfrow vs. SF
122. Royce Freeman vs. JAX
123. Noah Fant vs. NYJ
124. Marvin Jones @HOU
125. Kendrick Bourne vs. MIA

➕Top Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets

Oct 2, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. USA TODAY Sports

If you're looking to make pickups on waivers in Week 17, make sure they're going to fill a hole in your lineup -- nothing else matters at this point. Here are Jamey Eisenberg's top targets on waivers for Week 17:

Jamey Eisenberg's top targets

1. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (67%) -- Allgeier has looked pretty solid for most of his rookie season, and that's held true deep into the schedule with a bigger workload over the past few weeks. He has 213 yards on 35 carries over the past two weeks, and even earned five targets in Week 16, which could help him unlock some solid upside with Desmond Ridder in at QB. Allgeier gets the Cardinals in Week 17, and he's a top-24 RB in my rankings below. 
2. Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams (67%) -- Higbee had a monster Week 16, catching nine passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns against a Broncos defense that had previously been one of the toughest in the league. It's tough to trust that Higbee will do that again, seeing as he had just eight catches for 52 yards over his previous four games, but if you need a TE streamer, there aren't many (any?) who have shown as much as Higbee. 
3. Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders (45%) -- Injuries derailed what could have been a very strong rookie season for Dotson, but he's making up for lost time of late, with 15 catches for 235 yards and three touchdowns over his past three games. He's proven to be a viable big-play threat for the Commanders and has been solid in the red zone, and might actually benefit if Carson Wentz starts -- Wentz has been less likely to lock onto Terry McLaurin than Taylor Heinicke this season. 
4. Mike White, QB, Jets (45%) -- White has been cleared to return to the starting lineup for the Jets, who are fighting for their playoff lives against the Seahawks this week. Seattle allows the 11th-most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and White has attempted 129 passes in his three starts, so there's real upside here if he can keep the mistakes to a minimum. 
5. Gardner Minshew, QB, Jaguars (43%) -- Of course, if Minshew starts for the Eagles this week, I'd rather use him than White, even with a tougher matchup against the Saints on the way. I would only prioritize White because we just don't know if Jalen Hurts is going to be good to go this week or not -- if he doesn't play, Minshew is a top-10 QB for me.