Week 17 Injury Update, Start ‘Em/Sit ‘Em Advice, Point Projections and More

The Los Angeles Rams will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and going forward, especially regarding WR Cooper Kupp.

Does Cooper Kupp play in Week 17?

Kupp is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.

We will continue to monitor the Rams’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.

Should you start or sit Cooper Kupp in week 17?

The Jets are a top-10 defense in pass rush, and that was the driving factor behind fading Cooper Kupp in Week 16:

Kupp’s yards per route when his QB is pressured by season:

• 2021: 2.58 meters
• 2022: 2.05
• 2023: 1.80 (Nacua: 1.64)
• 2024: 0.72 (Nacua: 3.00)

It worked out, and while I think Kupp’s best days are behind him, the non-press numbers are very serviceable, and that’s the version we should get this week. For the season, the Cardinals rank 25th in pressure rate, and assuming they’re reading this, why wouldn’t they? They may try to correct it by increasing aggression.

It doesn’t scare me.

Arizona ranks No. 27 in pressure rate when he blows this season, which leaves Matthew Stafford in a spot where he can pick this secondary apart for most of 60 minutes. None of my concerns about Kupp apply to this matchup, and I have him locked in as a top-20 asset, checking in ahead of budding stars like Malik Nabers and Garrett Wilson.

Looking for starting/his advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 17 Fantasy Start-Sit Advisory cheat sheet for every fantasy-eligible player in every game.

Cooper Kupp’s Week 17 Fantasy Points Projection

As of Saturday, Kupp is projected to score 15.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 5.6 receptions for 63.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.

Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.

PFN insight into the Cardinals’ defense

The Arizona Cardinals’ run-defense issues haven’t garnered as much attention as their pass-defense woes. After all, success in the passing game tends to correlate more strongly with wins and losses, and Arizona still ranks last in passing success rate.

However, Sunday’s loss to the Panthers provided a harsh reminder that this is also the 28th-ranked unit in success rate.

Arizona allowed Chuba Hubbard and Bryce Young to rip off long runs, resulting in -0.22 EPA per. allowed rush. It was the Cardinals’ second-worst performance in a game all season, trailing only the Week 4 loss to Washington.

The Cardinals took a step forward in 2024, but the end will feel like a disappointment after Arizona was the clear midseason favorite to claim the NFC West. The lack of defensive talent beyond Budda Baker was a familiar roster flaw heading into the season, and one that will require a serious effort of offseason resources to correct by 2025.

For more insight into every other team’s defense, go to our PFN Defence+ Metric Analysis.

Cooper Kupp’s Fantasy Ranking

Our weekly consensus PPR rankings are below – both positional and overall. They were last updated at 3:45 PM ET Saturday, December 28th. If you’re in a Superflex league, be sure to check out our weekly consensus Superflex rankings.

Week 17 WR PPR Rankings

1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN (vs. DEN)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. ARI)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | IT (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (relative to GB)
5) Mike Evans | TB (vs. CAR)
6) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. BAL)
7) Terry McLaurin | VAR (vs. ATL)
8) Davante Adams | NEW (at BUF)
9) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
10) AJ Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
11) T-shirt Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
12) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
13) Courtland Sutton | THE (by CIN)
14) Load McConkey | LAC (at NE)
15) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
16) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
17) Malik Naber’s | NEW (vs. IN)
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
19) Garrett Wilson | NEW (at BUF)
20) Juan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
21) Zay Flowers | BALL (at HOU)
22) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NE)
25) Jordan Addison | MIN (relative to GB)
26) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
27) George Pickens | PIT (vs. KC)
28) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
29) Adam Thielen | CAR (in TB)
30) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. NEW)
31) Jameson Williams | IT (at SF)
32) Josh Downs | IN (at NYG)
33) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. DET)
34) Jayden Reed | GB (at MIN)
35) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. DAL)
36) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at PIT)
37) Xavier Worthy | KC (at PIT)
38) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (by LAR)
39) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. CAR)
40) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at CLE)
41) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at WAS)
42) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs. MIA)
43) Hollywood Brown | KC (at PIT)
44) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. SEA)
45) Romeo Doubs | GB (at MIN)
46) Michael Pittman Jr. | IN (at NYG)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. NEW)
48) Rashod Bateman | BALL (at HOU)
49) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
50) Jalen Coker | CAR (in TB)
51) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. LAC)
52) Xavier Legette | CAR (in TB)
53) Wan’Dale Robinson | NEW (vs. IN)
54) Christian Watson | GB (at MIN)
55) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at JAX)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (vs. MIA)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. NEW)
58) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. KC)
59) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at NE)
60) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. BAL)
61) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. TEN)
62) Tim Patrick | IT (at SF)
63) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at WAS)
64) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. BAL)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. NEW)
66) David Moore | CAR (in TB)
67) Devaughn Vele | THE (by CIN)
68) Michael Wilson | ARI (by LAR)
69) Three Tucker | LV (at NE)
70) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. LAC)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. KC)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | THE (by CIN)
73) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. DEN)
74) Olamide Zaccheau’s | VAR (vs. ATL)
75) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. LAC)
76) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at PHI)
77) Malik Washington | MIA (at CLE)
78) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at PHI)
79) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at CHI)
80) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. ARI)
81) Adonai Mitchell | IN (at NYG)
82) Alec Pierce | IN (at NYG)
83) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
84) Allen Lazard | NEW (at BUF)
85) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. KC)
86) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
87) Darius Slayton | NEW (vs. IN)
88) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
89) Jamison Crowder | VAR (vs. ATL)
90) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
91) Troy Franklin | THE (by CIN)
92) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
93) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. NEW)
94) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
95) Jalen Nailor | MIN (relative to GB)
96) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at PIT)
97) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs. MIA)
98) Justin Watson | KC (at PIT)
99) Devin Duvernay | JAX (vs. TEN)
100) Greg Dortch | ARI (by LAR)
101) Dante Pettis | CHI (vs. SEA)
102) Lil’Jordan Humphrey | THE (by CIN)
103) Curtis Samuel | BUF (vs. NEW)
104) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. DAL)
105) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
106) Tylan Wallace | BALL (at HOU)
107) DJ Chark | LAC (at NE)
108) River Cracraft | MIA (at CLE)
109) Luke McCaffrey | VAR (vs. ATL)
110) Jalin Hyatt | NEW (vs. IN)
111) Ja’Lynn Polk | NE (vs. LAC)

Cardinals at Rams Trends and Insights

Arizona Cardinals

Team: Arizona is 4-15 and has been outscored by 152 points (492-340) in their last 19 road games.

QB: Kyler Murray hasn’t had more touchdown passes than interceptions in a game since he did it against the Jets in Week 10 (Arizona has lost four of five games during that stretch).

Crime: James Conner has consecutive games with a 40+ yard carry – he had such a run in his career with the Cardinals earlier (794 rushing attempts).

Defense: The Cardinals allowed the Panthers to average 3.0 points per game. drive Sunday – Arizona falls to 1-6 this season when allowing at least 2.0 points per game. driving.

Fantasy: Conner is the first RB age 29 or older with 100 rushing yards, a rushing TD and 25 receiving yards in consecutive games since Latavius ​​Murray (2019) – he joined that list in the first half last week against the Panthers .

Bet: Since the start of 2022, the overs are 4-0 when the Cardinals play on extended rest (1-0 this season: 28-27 win over the Dolphins with a game that ended with a total of 46.5 points).

Los Angeles Rams

Team: The Rams have won eight of 10 games after a 1-4 start, but have only outscored their opponents by 27 points during that run (235-20)

QB: Matthew Stafford has thrown a touchdown pass on 46 attempts over his last two games (one TD every 11.7 attempts over his previous four games).

Crime: Los Angeles has won four straight games, but they’ve been on thin ice over their last two, converting just two of their eight red zone drives into TDs.

Defense: Opponents have converted just eight of 18 red zone trips into touchdowns against the Rams over their past six games.

Fantasy: Kyren Williams has a league-high 15 games with 20+ carries since the start of last season.

Bet: The Rams have covered seven consecutive short rest games (average coverage margin: 11.4 PPG).