Fantasy Football Week 17 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has only two weeks left. Bye weeks are over and a majority of leagues are in their fantasy championship. This time of year COVID-19 is running rampant which makes it important to have backup options on your fantasy roster. On top of that injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Fantasy Football Week 17 wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 category.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR9 Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans has been considered week to week with a hamstring injury. He was also placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If Evans does not play then Antonio Brown would move up to WR10 between Keenan Allen and Diontae Johnson. Following Brown on the depth chart should be Breshad Perriman, Tyler Johnson, Cyril Grayson, and Scotty Miller. It is hard to trust any of them without knowing what their defined roles will be with Evans out of the lineup.

New England Patriots Wide Receivers: WR33 Jakobi Meyers & WR74 Nelson Agholor

Jakobi Meyers was limited in practice Wednesday because of a thigh injury. Nelson Agholor missed last week’s game because of a concussion. If both are out for this week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars then Kendrick Bourne would move up to WR35 between K.J. Osborn and Gabriel Davis. N’Keal Harry would move up to WR66 between T.Y. Hilton and Marvin Jones Jr.

If Meyers is out and Agholor plays then Kendrick Bourne moves up to WR36 between Elijah Moore and Terry McLaurin. Nelson Agholor would move to WR66 between T.Y. Hilton and Marvin Jones Jr. Then N’Keal Harry would join the list at WR76 between Tim Patrick and Antoine Wesley.

If Meyers plays and Agholor is inactive then Meyers will retain his ranking. Nelson Agholor would move to WR66 between T.Y. Hilton and Marin Jones Jr. Then N’Keal Harry would join the list at WR76 between Tim Patrick and Antoine Wesley.

New York Jets Wide Receivers: WR36 Elijah Moore & WR55 Jamison Crowder

Elijah Moore is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and Injured Reserve for a quad injury. Jamison Crowder missed last week’s game with a calf injury. According to Robert Saleh, both have a 50-50 shot of playing this weekend. But if both don’t play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers then Braxton Berrios would move up to WR45 between Josh Reynolds and Jalen Guyton. Keelan Cole would join the list at WR53 between Byron Pringle and Kenny Golladay.

If Moore is inactive while Crowder plays this weekend then Crowder’s ranking does not change. Braxton Berrios would move up to WR64 between Emmanuel Sanders and T.Y. Hilton. Keelan Cole would join the list at WR76 between Tim Patrick and Antoine Wesley.

If Moore plays and Crowder is inactive this weekend then Moore’s ranking does not change. Braxton Berrios would move up to WR64 between Emmanuel Sanders and T.Y. Hilton. Keelan Cole would join the list at WR76 between Tim Patrick and Antoine Wesley.

WR40 Kadarius Toney, New York Giants

Kadarius Toney missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury. This is another injury to the long list of injuries Toney has had to deal with this season. It is unclear if this will hold him out for this week’s game against the Chicago Bears. If Toney doesn’t play Kenny Golladay retains his ranking and Darius Slayton would join the list at WR67 between Marvin Jones Jr. and Courtland Sutton.

WR46 Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions

Josh Reynolds was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he isn’t activated in time for Detroit’s game against the Seattle Seahawks then Kalif Raymond moves up to WR62 between Nico Collins and Allen Robinson.

WR52 Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans

Julio Jones was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he is inactive for this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins then Chester Rodgers would join the list at WR69 between Deonte Harris and Laviska Shenault Jr.

WR68 Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals

Rondale Moore missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. He also missed practice Wednesday because of his ankle injury. If Moore does not play then Antoine Wesley would move up to WR72 between Tre’Quan Smith and Kalif Raymond.

New Orleans Saints Wide Receivers: WR69 Deonte Harris & WR72 Tre’Quan Smith

Deonte Harris has returned from his suspension but he is still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Tre’Quan Smith missed practice Wednesday with a chest injury. If both are out this week Lil’Jordan Humphrey joins the list at WR72 between Braxton Berrios and Kalif Raymond.

If Deonte Harris is out this week and Tre’Quan Smith plays then Smith will jump up to Harris’ WR72 slot.

If Deonte Harris plays this week and Tre’Quan Smith doesn’t play this week and Deonte Harris does there is a limited impact on the Saints wide receiver rankings.

WR70 Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Lavisha Shenault Jr. was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week against the New England Patriots then Tavon Austin would move up to WR68 between Courtland Sutton and Rondale Moore.

WR75 Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos

Tim Patrick was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week against the Los Angeles Chargers then Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton will retain their rankings. Kendall Hinton would be the next man up in the Broncos’ receiver group.

WR79 Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders

Bryan Edwards was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week against Indianapolis Colts then DeSean Jackson or Tyron Johnson would step up to play opposite Zay Jones.