Week 17 Injury Update, Start/Sid advice, projections and more

The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Dallas Cowboys 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 DeVonta Smith.

Check out the FREE Start/Sit Optimizer from Pro Football Network to make sure you're making the right decisions for your fantasy lineup each week!
Check out the FREE Start/Sit Optimizer from Pro Football Network to make sure you’re making the right decisions for your fantasy lineup each week!

Will DeVonta Smith play in Week 17?

The Eagles released several veterans on Wednesday. Smith was listed as DNP with rest and a back injury, but the rest designation carries the day here. Smith is fine, as evidenced by his return to full practice Thursday.

We will continue to monitor the Eagles’ 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 DeVonta Smith in Week 17?

Smith went from GOAT to GOAT in a hurry last week after he dropped a pass that likely would have kept the Eagles in a great spot to compete for the NFC’s one seed and ultimately resulted in a soul-crushing loss to the Commanders.

That series of events hurt Philadelphia fans in a significant way, but the game as a whole was fine for up-and-coming fantasy managers. Smith has managed a dozen expected PPR points in three straight games (he didn’t have such a performance in his previous six) and has 6+ catches or a touchdown in five of his last seven.

The interesting part of Smith’s profile is that what we perceived as his greatest skill has been removed from his role. Over the last four games, his aDOT has been at just 6.7 yards, essentially half of where it was in the previous three games (13.3).

Over time, that has resulted in an increase in efficiency (85% catch rate over the last two weeks, and that includes the bad drop last week that he catches at least 95% of the time) and could very well be the norm for the rest of the regular season season as the Eagles try to figure out how to best maximize their weapons.

Smith was held to just two catches in the Week 10 meeting with the Cowboys, but I’m comfortable projecting him to double or triple that output given his new targeting diet. This season, the Cowboys are the worst team in the league in completion percentage and yards per carry. try the short passes. Philadelphia fans aren’t usually ones to forgive and forget, but I think Smith can work his way back into good graces with a big Week 17.

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.

DeVonta Smith’s Week 17 Fantasy Points Projection

As of Sunday morning, Smith is projected to score 12.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.4 receptions for 58.1 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.

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

PFN Insight on the Cowboys’ Defense

After a series of positive performances, the Cowboys’ defense crashed again in a tough test against the Buccaneers’ offense. Dallas recorded a grade of 66.7 (D), its lowest since Week 6.

Each of the Cowboys’ four lowest marks have come at home this season, a continuation of the team’s nagging problems at AT&T Stadium. For the season, Dallas has the worst Defense+ rating at home, but the seventh best on the road.

The Cowboys have typically generated solid pressure with Micah Parsons available, but Sunday bucked that trend. Dallas generated its second-lowest non-blitz pressure rate of the season (14.7%), which contributed to a tie for its second-worst third-down conversion rate allowed (50%).

The unit will be nowhere near the heights of the Dan Quinn era. After being a top-five unit in each of the last three years, the drop to the bottom 10 is a massive drop and shows the value Quinn brought to the franchise.

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

DeVonta Smith’s Fantasy Ranking

Our weekly consensus PPR rankings are below – both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:25 a.m. ET Sunday, December 29. 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)

Cowboys at Eagles Trends and Insights

Dallas Cowboys

Team: The Cowboys are 10-3 in their last 13 regular season games played on or after Nov. 19 (9-10 otherwise).

QB: The Cooper Rush experience may not be perfect, but the numbers don’t lie — in 2024, the split by starting QB:

  • Win%: Rush (57.1%), Dak Prescott (37.5%)
  • Non-TO%: Rush (87.8%), Prescott (85.1%)
  • Red Zone TD%: Rush (55%), Prescott (45.5%)

Crime: Dallas has scored on at least half of their drives in consecutive games after having such a feat in years past.

Defense: Opponents have scored a touchdown against Dallas on 26-of-29 goal-to-go drives this season and are a perfect 13-of-13 since Week 9 in such situations.

Fantasy: Brandon Aubrey has made more 55+ yard field goals this season (six) than the Cowboys have had 55+ yard games during the regular season since the start of 2023 (five).

Bet: Over tickets have cashed in four of Dallas’ last five road coverages

Philadelphia Eagles

Team: Can they get lucky win #13 this week? This franchise has hit that total three times, winning the NFC each time (2004, 2017 and 2022)

QB: Philadelphia’s one-seed shots took a huge hit on Sunday — none of the three-favorite QBs in the NFC have a bigger drop in QB+ from home to road than Jalen Hurts.

Crime: Philadelphia was just three-of-16 on third down against Washington (18.8%), their second-worst rate of the season.

Defense: The Eagles forced turnovers on 38.5% of Commander drives last week and found a way to lose. In their first seven games this season with a double-digit forced turnover percentage, Philadelphia was 7-0 and had outscored their opponents by 93 points.

Fantasy: Saquon Barkley ran for 109 yards in the first quarter against the Commanders on Sunday, his most in a first quarter since 2011. Who did he sack? Saquon Barkley in 2019 – vs. Commanders – December 22 (2019).

Bet: Overs are 8-3 in Philadelphia’s last 11 home division games.