Fantasy Football NFL Week 17 2025 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Quarterback

The The 2025 Fantasy Football Championship Game is here finally. Another year of research, stress, bad luck and anxiety comes down to one final week.

Fortunately for fantasy football managers, quarterback is quite affordable, making it easy for many to determine their lineups. Any manager who has made it to the championship game will be tempted to just walk away with the star quarterback who took them to the game, but there are still a few matchups to avoid.

Before the action takes place in NFL Week 17, we’ll go over three of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football to start and three others who will sit once more.

Start: Cowboys KB Dak Prescott (in Washington)

The Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight season, but Dak Prescott was on a roll. Since his two-touchdown mistake against the Denver Broncos in Week 8, Prescott has been seventh best quarterback in fantasy football and showed no signs of slowing down entering Week 17.

Although Prescott is coming off a pair of down games, during which he still averaged 269 passing yards, he is coming off his softest defensive game in a month. Prescott has faced a pair of zone defenses, but will go against the Washington Commanders scheme in Week 17.

The last time he faced man-dominated coverage, Prescott dominated in November with three straight 300-yard rushes. He was the No. 1 quarterback in fantasy football during that frame, and now he carries a Commanders secondary that is depleted without top cornerbacks Marshawn Lattimore and Trey Amos.

Seating: Chargers KB Justin Herbert (vs. Houston)

Any fantasy football manager who leaned on Justin Herbert in Week 15 was paid handsomely with the quarterback’s second 300-yard game of the year. Herbert has benefited from facing an awful Dallas Cowboys pass defense, but he will face much more resistance in Week 17 against the Houston Texans.

The Texans are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Houston has allowed just five quarterbacks to reach 15 fantasy points against them all season, with none reaching 20.

Herbert also threw an interception in four straight games before facing the Cowboys. The Texans boast the second-best turnover margin in the league, averaging 1.7 points per game.

Any manager banking on Herbert in a fantasy football championship against this secondary is praying for a 17-point game at best. That could certainly be enough, but most should have another option with a higher ceiling to feel more secure.

Start: Jaguars KB Trevor Lawrence (in Indianapolis)

Any owner of Trevor Lawrence would have a hard time benching him at this point in what could be the best part of his five-year career. Lawrence enters Week 17 with 1,082 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions, 112 yards and two rushing touchdowns in his last four games.

After two of their best performances of the year, Lawrence and the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars face a tough Indianapolis Colts defense. The Colts have struggled to defend the pass all season — allowing the second-most passes in the league — but have had an even tougher time without star cornerbacks Sosa Gardner and Charvarius Ward.

While Gardner could potentially return from a Week 17 calf injury, the Colts have no reason to rush him back with the playoffs getting further away each week. Even if he plays, Lawrence and the Jaguars are heating up at the right time and just dominated an elite Denver Broncos secondary.

Sitting: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (in Green Bay)

The 2025 season has been the 2025 season for Lamar Jackson, who has barely been usable in fantasy football since Week 11. Entering Week 17, the two-time MVP has just three touchdowns and five interceptions over his last six games, averaging just 10.6 fantasy football points per game.

Jackson is questionable for the upcoming Baltimore Ravens game against the Green Bay Packers, but fans can expect him to play. The Ravens need to win out to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, and Jackson is considered day-to-day right now.

Should he play, it will be difficult for a limited Jackson to end his slump against the Packers, who have thwarted quarterbacks all year and rank just outside the top 10, allowing 15.5 fantasy football points at the position. Green Bay is particularly effective at limiting scrimmage opportunities, allowing the third fewest yards rushing to opposing quarterbacks.

Jackson’s back injury will limit his dribbling, and he is far less dangerous without a threat on the feet. He entered Week 17 with just 15 catches for 251 yards over the past two games and will have another tough day against the Packers.

Start: Bengals KB Joe Burrow (vs. Arizona)

Right after saying he was no longer having fun playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Barrow did a complete 180 with his best performance of the year against the Miami Dolphins. The Bengals could be eliminated from the playoffs, but Burrow made sure everyone knew he was ‘having fun again’ to end a frustrating 2025 campaign.

The fun should continue in Week 17, when the Bengals face another tough defense. Cincinnati has been frustratingly inconsistent, but draws an Arizona Cardinals defense that is dealing with a slew of injuries in its secondary, which has caused it to rank in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed.

More than anything, Barrow struggles when under pressure. His two worst games of the year were against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, who sacked him three times each. Anything can happen against this Bengals offensive line, but the Cardinals’ injury-riddled unit is fourth in sack rate with just 26 sacks in 2025.

The Bengals defense has been better lately, but they still aren’t good enough to destroy the Cardinals. Expect Barrow to turn in another strong performance in what could quickly turn into a shootout in Ohio.

Seated: Lions KB Jared Goff (in Minnesota)

Detroit Lions fans wouldn’t prefer Jared Goff to win the 2025 NFL MVP award to complete his unprecedented career turnaround. Unfortunately, that narrative could face a speed bump in Week 17 when the Lions take on an underrated Minnesota Vikings defense.

The Vikings defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves, especially against quarterbacks. Minnesota allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks all season, with just 12.2 per game.

The Josh Metellus-less Vikings will have their hands full with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but Goff could also fall victim to the Lions’ success. Minnesota has already ruled out JJ McCarthy for the Christmas Game, leaving rookie Max Brosmer undrafted to make his second career start.

The last time Minnesota started Brosmer, it was completely helpless in a 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks defense tormented Brosmer all game long, allowing just 128 passing yards and zero touchdowns from Sam Darnold.

The Lions should advance to Week 17, but Goff won’t be a huge asset in the fantasy football championship game.