Week 17. Championship Week. Congratulations if you are reading his column because it likely means that your team is in the finals of your IDP league(s). Omicron continues to hit NFL rosters hard, necessitating the need for sit/start recommendations even with the byes weeks all wrapped up. As we have done all season, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others, who may have good matchups or a strong showing last week, who are better left on benches with everything on the line. Let’s dig in. 

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Start em

C.J. Mosley (LB – NYJ)
Mosley has been excellent lately and is worth a look as an LB1 option for Week 17. He is the LB1 overall since Week 13 and is the LB4 in fantasy points per game over that same time span. He has been viewed as more of a lower-end LB2 for much of the season but deserves a long look over almost any other linebacker due to his scorching hot recent play. It took him a while to get back to the form that made him the highest-paid off-ball linebacker when he signed his contract, but he is there now and should be treated as an elite fantasy option for championship week and beyond. Start Mosley at all costs for Week 17.

Rashan Gary (DE/LB – GB)
Rashan Gary was excellent in Week 16, recording three solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. He is now up to five sacks in his last six games and will likely be staring down Sean Mannion under center for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He was actually slotted to be in the sit portion of this column earlier this week, but with news breaking that Kirki Cousins has been ruled out due to landing on the reserve/COVID list, Gary is now one of the starts of the week. He is still a much easier play on platforms where he has DL/DE eligibility but is still someone fantasy managers should look to start on providers where he is labeled as an LB only. Minnesota allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing edge rushers with Cousins in the lineup, with Mannion under center, the entire Packers defense should have a field day. 

Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB – HOU)
Finally off the reserve/COVID list, Kamu needs to be inserted back into lineups immediately. KGH has been an LB1 option when healthy, and that does not change for championship week. He is the LB1 in fantasy points per game since Week 13 and has a plus matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. We still do not have a firm idea of who will be starting for the 49ers this weekend, but San Francisco surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the linebacker position with Jimmy G under center and could be even more generous if Trey Lance gets the start. Start Kamu everywhere as an LB1 for Week 17. 

Christian Kirksey (LB – HOU)
As with teammate Kamu Grugier-Hill above, Christian Kirksey has been activated from the reserve/COVID list after missing two games and needs to be plugged back into lineups for championship week. Kirksey is a rock-solid LB2 option that those who may be down a Shaq Thompson or Haason Reddick should strongly consider. He is an LB2 option regardless of who else is on your roster and deserves a long hard look against a San Francisco 49ers team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the linebacker position. Fire Kirksey up as an LB2 for Week 17.

Jevon Holland (DB – MIA)
Jevon Holland appears set to play an expanded role in Week 17 due to fellow safety Brandon Jones being a late addition to the reserve/COVID list. Jones had been going off and would have made this column if he was healthy, but with his status remaining uncertain due to his late addition to the list, Holland, who has been excellent this season in his own right, becomes a must-start. While Jones would have been recommended as a DB1 option, Holland remains more of a DB2 option but one with DB1 upside. His conditioning should be back to normal with an extra week to recover, and he should also get more pass rush opportunities with Jones sidelined. Don’t sleep on Holland as a DB1 option for Week 17. 

Sit em

Alex Highsmith (LB – PIT)
Alex Highsmith was rolling in Week 16, tallying two solos, four assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. He has a plus matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 but is not a recommended start. Highsmith has flashed at times this season, but the outside linebacker has been too inconsistent. There is no point in chasing sacks from someone who has just four all season and who just recorded his first sack since Week 11. Outside of the deepest of leagues, Highsmith should be left on benches despite his strong Week 16 and plus Week 17 matchup. 

George Odum (S – IND)
Odum went bonkers in Week 16, recording eight solos, one assist, and one pass defended. He may have been scooped up off the waiver wire by those looking for some safety help but is not a suggested start for Week 17. The eight solos marked the first time all season he recorded more than five, and the pass defended was just his second all season. In fact, Odum had recorded just seven combined solos tackles in the three weeks prior. Week 17 is not the time to be chasing stats from inconsistent players. Look elsewhere with your league championship on the line. 

Richie Grant (S – ATL)
Richie Grant has been flashing lately. He racked up four solos, two assists, and one pass defended in Week 16. He was added to the reserve/COVID list earlier this week, and while he could be cleared to play on Sunday, he has not been consistent enough to trust even if fellow safety Jaylinn Hawkins (who was added to the reserve/COVID list a day later and is unlikely to be cleared in time) cannot go. The only ones who should be even considering him for this weekend are dynasty managers who have and will continue to burn a roster spot on the talented rookie safety. Redraft managers should look elsewhere regardless of the statuses of Grant and Hawkins. 

Zach Cunningham (LB – TEN)
Zach Cunningham has been an impact addition for the Tennessee Titans. He is a ferocious tackler and is providing some much-needed cover for the Titans linebacking corps. However, he has yet to translate his starts into starter-worthy IDP production. Cunningham has played 70 percent of the snaps over the last two weeks but has not topped four solos in any of those contests. His peripheral contributions have been non-existent aside from a tackle for loss in Week 16, making him someone to leave on benches or the wire for Week 17. 

Matt Judon (DE/LB – NE)
Matt Judon has been excellent this season. He sits at a career-high 12.5 sacks and has been a DL1/LB2 option for most of the season. However, he has quieted down a bit lately, making him a risky start despite a plus matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Judon has just one sack since Week 13, making him way too risky to warrant a start on providers like Yahoo, where he only has LB eligibility. He is worth a look in deeper leagues on providers where he has DE/DL eligibility, but it is worth noting that his 7.2 fantasy points per game since Week 13 are less than players like E.J. Speed, Harrison Phillips, Jordan Phillips, Vita Vea, and Neville Gallimore. Keep the talented pass rusher benched for championship week. 

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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.