Week 17 injury update, start/sit advice, predictions and more

The Kansas City Chiefs face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineup this week and going forward, especially regarding WR JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Will JuJu Smith-Schuster play in Week 17?

Smith-Schuster is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks he is on track to play on Christmas.

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

Should you start or trade JuJu Smith-Shuster in Week 17?

Smith-Schuster was unable to score goals in an offense that had every reason to look his way if he was seen as a viable piece. The Chiefs continue to chug along, and with Hollywood Brown proving he’s fully prepared in his season debut last week, Smith-Schuster is as clear-cut as it gets at this time of year.

The veteran receiver has been on the field regularly in this offense, and it hasn’t meant anything to us since the Week 5 game against the Saints that caught our eye (7-130-0). Since then, he’s only caught seven passes on 128 routes – he’s a UFA player this offseason and it’s hard to imagine him ending up at a spot I have even the slightest interest in.

Looking for starting/sitting tips for other players in your lineup? Read our cheat sheet of Week 17 fantasy starting sit advice for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s fantasy point projection in Week 17

As of Thursday, Smith-Schuster is projected to average 5.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2.4 receptions for 26.1 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.

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

PFN insight into the Steelers defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers posted their third-worst Defense+ grade of the season (72.1, C-) in their Week 16 loss to the Ravens. Baltimore averaged 6.7 yards per game, the highest output of any offense against Pittsburgh’s defense all season.

The Steelers’ pass defense had one of its worst games of the season, which is perhaps unsurprising given the injuries in the secondary. They also had the second-lowest success rate in pass defense this year (44%) and the third-lowest EPA per dropback average (-0.25). This was despite the Ravens only completing one pass and gaining more than 20 yards in Week 16.

On the bright side, the pass rush looked like a true classic, producing a season-high 50% with no blitz pressure. Pittsburgh ranks 11th in this category, about the same place as last season (12th). The difference is that they still rank 17th in layoff rate, which would be their lowest ranking since 2014.

For more insight into all other team defenses, check out our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s fantasy rankings

Below are our weekly consensus PPR rankings – both position-wise and overall. They were last updated on Wednesday, December 25th at 3:45 a.m. ET. If you play 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 | DET (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (compared to GB)
5) Mike Evans | TB (compared to CAR)
6) Nico Collins | HOU (vs BAL)
7) AJ Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
8) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at PHI)
9) Terry McLaurin | WHAT (vs. ATL)
10) Davante Adams | NYJ (at BUF)
11) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
12) Tea Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
13) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at CIN)
15) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at NE)
16) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
17) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
18) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs IND)
19) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
20) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at BUF)
21) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
22) Zay Flowers | BAL (at HOU)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NE)
25) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
26) Jordan Addison | MIN (compared to GB)
27) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
28) George Pickens | PIT (against KC)
29) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
30) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. DAL)
31) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs NYJ)
32) Adam Thielen | CAR (at TB)
33) Jameson Williams | DET (at SF)
34) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. DET)
35) Jayden Reed | GB (at MIN)
36) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at PIT)
37) Xavier Worthy | KC (at PIT)
38) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at LAR)
39) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at CLE)
40) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at WAS)
41) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs MIA)
42) Josh Downs | IND (at NYG)
43) Jalen McMillan | TB (compared to CAR)
44) Hollywood Brown | KC (at PIT)
45) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. SEA)
46) Romeo Doubs | GB (at MIN)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs NYJ)
48) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NYG)
49) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at HOU)
50) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
51) Jalen Coker | CAR (at TB)
52) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs LAC)
53) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (vs IND)
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 NYJ)
58) Calvin Austin III | PIT (against KC)
59) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at NE)
60) Robert Woods | HOU (vs BAL)
61) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. TEN)
62) Tim Patrick | DET (at SF)
63) Ray Ray McCloud III | ATL (at WAS)
64) John Metchie III | HOU (vs BAL)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs NYJ)
66) David Moore | CAR (at TB)
67) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at CIN)
68) Michael Wilson | ARI (at LAR)
69) Tre Tucker | LV (at NE)
70) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs LAC)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (against KC)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at CIN)
73) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. DEN)
74) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs LAC)
75) Malik Washington | MIA (at CLE)
76) Olamide Zacchaeus | WHAT (vs. ATL)
77) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at PHI)
78) Sterling Shepard | TB (compared to CAR)
79) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at CHI)
80) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. ARI)
81) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at NYG)
82) Dyami Brown | WHAT (vs. ATL)
83) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
84) Alec Pierce | IND (at NYG)
85) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at BUF)
86) Van Jefferson | PIT (against KC)
87) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs IND)
88) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
89) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at PHI)
90) Jamison Crowder | WHAT (vs. ATL)
91) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
92) Troy Franklin | DEN (at CIN)
93) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (compared to LV)
94) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs NYJ)
95) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
96) Jalen Nailor | MIN (compared to GB)
97) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at PIT)
99) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs MIA)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at PIT)

Bosses at Steelers Trends and Insights

Kansas City Chiefs

Team: The Chiefs are one of 32 teams in the NFL (3.1%) to account for 13.3% of the five-game winning streaks since the start of 2022.

QB: Patrick Mahomes recorded the longest touchdown run of his career (15 yards) on Saturday and now has a carry of more than 10 yards in three straight games for the first time in the regular season since Weeks 1-4 last year.

Attack: Saturday marked the third time this season that they averaged 3+ points per drive (there were also three such games last regular season).

Defense: Kansas City has allowed fewer than 20 points in four straight games, its third-longest streak since 2016.

Fantasy: Things have been tough for Isiah Pacheco lately, but it hasn’t all been his fault – 0.44 yards per carry before contact in his last three games.

Betting: Since 2022, the Unders are 8-1 when the Chiefs play on short rest.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Team: From Week 9 of 2022 to Week 2 of this season, the Steelers had a losing streak – they’ve had two since then.

QB: George Pickens missed three straight games, and in those contests Russell Wilson was 10 of 26 with a touchdown and an interception when pressured (two games earlier: 14 of 24 with three pointers and zero picks).

Attack: Pittsburgh has turned the ball over in 7.2% of its home games this season (away: 9.1%).

Defense: The Steelers have allowed 7.7 yards per pass since Week 12 (Weeks 1-11: 6.9). They are 8-0 this season when allowing fewer than 29 yards per drive (2-5 otherwise).

Fantasy: Najee Harris has yet to reach 45 rushing yards in a loss this season and has just seven receiving yards (two scores) in his last three games.

Betting: Since 2005, the Steelers are 8-1 ATS (9-0 overall with a +130 point differential) in a short week in Week 15 or later.