Start or sit? Week 17: Joe Mixon, Rachaad White, Tyrone Tracy Jr.

This is it – championship week. There is only one unwrapped present under your fantasy Christmas tree. And you want to know if that lump at the bottom of your stocking (which you hung by the chimney with care) is fantasy gold — or fantasy fun. Let’s see what Joe Mixon, Rachaad White and Tyrone Tracy Jr. plan to bring you, hoping your fantasy championship will be there soon.

Week 17 Start-Sid decisions

RB Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

All Joe Mixon wants for Christmas is to avoid another hip-drop tackle. Mixon suffered his first of the season in Week 2 and sat out the next three games recovering. Then, from Weeks 7-13, Mixon went on a tear. In the seven games, he was the overall RB2, with five 100-yard games and nine total touchdowns, averaging 24 touches/game. After his Week 14 bye, Mixon returned against Miami and was treated to an extra hip-drop tackle in the second quarter, courtesy of Jordyn Brooks. Mixon’s snap numbers are down 25 percent in the two games since.

The 10-5 Baltimore Ravens come to NRG Stadium in Week 17 and bring their seventh stingiest defense vs. running backs with him. Both teams have already secured a place in the playoffs. Houston has secured a first-round bye.

Baltimore is one four point favorite heading into a game expected to have 47 total points. The Ravens have more to play for as they are tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North and are on the short end of the tiebreaker.

Mixon isn’t likely to return to a full workload this week as he’s still recovering from his Week 15 ankle injury and the Texans already know they’re in the playoffs. Expect modest production for the third straight week, but still enough to keep him in your lineups as a flex play.

Bottom line: slightly mottled Fantasy gold (Start)

RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

‘Tis the season for a Christmas party in the Tampa Bay hinterland. Rachaad White and Bucky Irving look to resume their Week 13 streak of lighting up the Carolina Panthers’ league-worst run defense (where they combined for 36 carries, 228 yards and 1 rushing touchdown).

Sure, Irving has been the more productive back in four of the past five games, but White has averaged 14 touches/game over that span and has put up mid-RB2 PPR numbers.

Carolina is 1-5 in road games, out of playoff consideration and travels to Raymond James Stadium in sticky Tampa (83 percent humidity) for a Sunday outdoor contest that has a forecast 40 percent chance of rain at game time.

Tampa is one eight point favorite in one of the highest-anticipated game totals in Week 17, which should allow Carolina to cement its grip on last place vs. the race.

Irving has had ongoing issues with his hip and back, so there’s a solid incentive for the Bucs to give White an RB3-sized piece of the ground attack pie.

Bottom line: Fantasy gold (Start)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

The good news is that rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. has seen 70 percent of the running back snaps over the past four weeks, put up RB2 numbers in three of those weeks and sits solidly atop the Giants’ backfield depth chart. The bad news is that he aggravated an ankle injury during last week’s blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, will have to go with a new quarterback in Week 17 (Tommy DeVito), will be playing outdoors at MetLife Stadium in 40-degree temperatures with 70 degrees. percent chance of rain, and the Giants are unlikely to spoil their perfect 0-8 home record this week versus the Indianapolis Colts.

The Giants are on a ten game losing streak. They are the only franchise with fewer than three wins on the season. The overall no. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft is clearly in their sights. Vegas favors the Colts by more than a touchdown in the fourth-lowest combined scoring matchup in Week 17 (40.5). There aren’t many expected fantasy points in the forecast, and there’s reasonable uncertainty as to whether Tracy will even be on the field enough to collect them.

Bottom line: Fantasy coal (Sit)

Final thoughts

As we get closer to game time, be sure to check out the latest Week 17 rankings from Footballguy’s team of experts to see where Joe Mixon and the others are expected to perform. These rankings can be customized to your league’s roster and scoring settings.

Listen to Al Davis. He is rooting for you: “Just win, honey!”

And may all your fantasy futures be bright.

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