Sure Thing - Players you must start on your team

Brandon Marshall - vs Minnesota

StingRay:

(A) Marshall will have a big game against this secondary since you can't run on Minnesota.

Braylon Edwards - vs. San Francisco

Smokin' Joe:

(A) Edwards is the 3rd ranked fantasy receiver and should be started again this week.

Torry Holt - at Arizona

StingRay:

(A) Holt was pretty upset about not getting the ball last week so I have a feeling that the Rams will throw him the ball at least 10 times this week.

Randy Moss - at New York Giants

CrunchTime:

(A-) He's a stud with a purpose this week, and there just aren't many of those to be found in week 17. Start him with glee.

Strong Starter - Players you should give strong consideration to starting

Anquan Boldin - vs St.Louis

StingRay:

(B+) Boldin appears to be healthy. Last week he had a monster game catching 13 passes for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Dwayne Bowe - at New York Jets

StingRay:

(C+) Bowe caught 8 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown last week.

Andre Johnson - vs. Jacksonville

Smokin' Joe:

(B) Johnson posts very good numbers whenever he is in the lineup.

Kevin Curtis / Reggie Brown - vs. Buffalo

Smokin' Joe:

(B) I like both Curtis and Brown this week at home vs. the Bills. They should be considered solid number 2 receivers.

Roddy White - vs. Seattle

CrunchTime:

(B) Four out of the past five games White has been a great start. Look for him to have another solid outing again this week as he continues a somewhat surprising season. After all, he's the #14 fantasy receiver right now.

Steve Smith - at Tampa Bay

CrunchTime:

(B) Smith has resurfaced just in time for needy fantasy owners. With all the tough starting decisions this week it's nice to see Smith find some chemistry with Moore and provide a scoring threat. Look for him to have more solid yardage and a potential score.

TJ Houshmandzadeh - at Miami

CrunchTime:

(B) After a white hot start to the season he's cooled off somewhat, but has managed to remain a top-5 receiver despite the struggles of Palmer. He's a good option this week and a good bet for a score against a Miami team that has trouble surrendering passing touchdowns.

Wes Welker - at New York Giants

CrunchTime:

(B) His production has cooled off somewhat over the past few weeks, but he's still a reliable option for week 17. He'll see at least 3 quarters and is due for a trip to the end zone.

Chad Johnson - at Miami

CrunchTime:

(B-) He's really just a #2 fantasy receiver this season. He's had two absurd outings that inflate his numbers, but he should only be counted on to have solid yardage and an occasional score.

Darrell Jackson - at Cleveland

Smokin' Joe:

(B-) Everyone throws and scores on the Browns.

Jerrico Cotchery - vs Kansas City

StingRay:

(B-) He had 8 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown last week.

Gut Check - Players you should only consider starting if you don't have a better option

Amani Toomer - vs. New England

CrunchTime:

(C+) Toomer was the only decent producer last week and is an interesting gamble this week. I think Plaxico will have a diminished role to try and rest him for the playoffs and Toomer will likely see a decent amount of action as a result. The thing that keeps him from being a quality option is the lack of any other receiving targets to distract the New England defense.

Antwaan Randle El - vs. Dallas

CrunchTime:

(C+) With Collins behind center and the hamstring injury now behind him it looks like he could start producing more. Dallas is normally a tough match up but it's unlikely they'll be running their first team the entire game. Look for another solid outing from Randle El. I'd rank him higher but he's just burned owners too many times this season to be really trusted.

Derrick Mason - vs. Pittsburgh

Smokin' Joe:

(C+) Mason only had 4 catches for 19 yards before he caught a 79 yard touchdown from Troy Smith last week.

Larry Fitzgerald - vs St.Louis

StingRay:

(C+) Fitzgerald caught 6 passes for 72 yards last week.

Santana Moss - vs. Dallas

CrunchTime:

(C+) It's sad that this is note-worthy, but Moss posted two straight games with over 70 yards receiving, AND he actually scored his second TD of the year. I actually think he'll do well this week as they try and make the playoffs, but given his shoddy production this year that feeling is still not enough to make him a Strong Start.

Calvin Johnson - at Green Bay

Smokin' Joe:

(C) Johnson only caught 2 passes for 47 yards last week. The Packers only allow 207 yards passing per game so do not expect big numbers?

Isaac Bruce - at Arizona

StingRay:

(C) Bruce had one of his best games last week catching 7 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Lee Evans - at Philadelphia

Smokin' Joe:

(C) Evans has 3 touchdowns in the last 3 weeks but only a total of 9 catches for 158 yards over the same three games.

Marques Colston - at Chicago

Smokin' Joe:

(C) Colston was spitting up blood last week so he couldn't finish the game. He will play this week but I am not convinced they will play him full time.

Terry Glenn - at Washington

CrunchTime:

(C) It's good to see him back on the field, but it's unreasonable to expect great things right out of the gate. That said, we know he has solid ability and will be looking to knock the rust off.

Bernard Berrian - vs. New Orleans

Smokin' Joe:

(C-) Berrian has only caught 3 passes for 37 yards since Orton has taken over at quarterback.

Donte Stallworth - at New York Giants

CrunchTime:

(C-) He's been unable to produce consistently down the stretch and is a gamble as a result. He's shown that he has the ability to take any play the distance, the problem is he doesn't get involved in too many plays. He only has 3 receptions in the last 3 weeks.

Joey Galloway - vs. Carolina

CrunchTime:

(C-) All signs point to him seeing very limited time this week. He's a unlikely source of fantasy production as a result.

Marvin Harrison - vs. Tennessee

CrunchTime:

(C-) It's unclear as to whether he'll play or not, but if he does he may see more action than he might otherwise as they try and establish a sense of timing heading into the playoffs.

Plaxico Burress - vs. New England

CrunchTime:

(C-) While Coughlin has been somewhat coy about his approach to this week's game, I can't imagine that they'll play Burress much, if at all, given that he hasn't been able to practice all season long.

Reggie Wayne - vs. Tennessee

CrunchTime:

(C-) His position in the top-5 fantasy receivers is well earned, but completely useless this week as he's likely to sit most of the game. There's a chance he may punch one in on the first series, but that's not a lot of upside for the risk.

Seattle Receivers - at Atlanta

CrunchTime:

(C-) Between all the talk of sitting players there's really no insight into who's going to get the snaps this weekend. It looks like the starters will definitely get some time though so that probably means about a half of play for anyone on this list.

Shaun McDonald - at Green Bay

Smokin' Joe:

(C-) McDonald has been surprisingly consistent so last week's 26 yard performance was a bit surprising. He will do better this week but the Packers are 12th against the pass so it will not be a big outing.

Forget About It - Players you shouldn't even think about starting

Brad Smith - vs Kansas City

StingRay:

(D+) Smith only caught 5 passes for 45 yards last week.

Chris Chambers - at Oakland

StingRay:

(D+) Chambers did catch a touchdown last week but Oakland is decent against the pass. The Raiders struggle against the run so I expect it to be the an LT show on Sunday.

Hines Ward / Santonio Holmes - at Baltimore

Smokin' Joe:

(D+) The Steelers have nothing to play for and Roethlisberger is going to miss the game. I would not start any Steelers.

Patrick Crayton - at Washington

CrunchTime:

(D+) Apparently Crayton's high enough on their depth chart to be on the list of players that might be rested. That's not a good sign for a guy whose numbers have been mediocre with him playing the full game.

Tennessee Receivers - at Indianapolis

CrunchTime:

(D+) The Tennessee passing attack just isn't anything to rely on in the fantasy playoffs. They are too inconsistent, which is why there aren't any receivers from this squad anywhere near the top of the rankings.

Donald Driver / Greg Jennings - vs. Detroit

Smokin' Joe:

(D) The Packer starters are only expected to play the first half. You should look elsewhere.

Muhsin Muhammad - vs. New Orleans

Smokin' Joe:

(D) Muhammad missed parts of practice and didn't even catch a ball last week from Orton. Start someone else.

Reggie Williams - at Houston

Smokin' Joe:

(D) The Jaguars have nothing to gain this week so leave them all on the bench.

Miami Receivers - vs. Cincinnati

CrunchTime:

(D-) There isn't a single one of these guys in the top-60.

Jerry Porter / Ronald Curry - vs San Diego

StingRay:

(F) The two combined for 4 receptions for 45 yards last week and rookie QB JaMarcus Russell will get the start.

Vikings Receivers - at Denver

StingRay:

(F) Did you see how horrible Tarvaris Jackson was the other night? Now his receivers have to face Champ Bailey and Dre Bly.

Vincent Jackson - at Oakland

StingRay:

(F) Jackson has been a huge disappointment this season so don't expect much from him this week.