Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 17: Tee Higgins, Chase Brown

The Cincinnati Bengals (7-8) will host the Denver Broncos (9-6) for their final home game on Saturday afternoon in Week 17. 

This contest has playoff implications for both franchises. A win for Cincinnati will keep their hopes alive heading into Week 18. Denver can clinch a spot in the postseason with a victory and knock out the Bengals. 

With the season on the line for Cincinnati, it should benefit the fantasy football managers of a pair of players that you can put in your lineups this weekend. 

Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Tee Higgins

Higgins is coming off a solid outing against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, in which he finished with eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. He has received double-digit targets in three of his last five games and has a touchdown in five of his last six games. 

This weekend Higgins will be facing a Denver defense that hasn’t been kind to receivers this season. Per Pro Football Reference, they are tied for the fifth-fewest PPG to receivers and are the only team in the NFL to allow less than 10 receiving touchdowns to the position. 

That might tell you to sit Higgins but the Broncos haven’t been as tough on the position as of late. In their last four games, there have been five receivers to finish with at least 80 receiving yards, and three of those receivers crossed the 100 receiving-yard mark. 

Higgins is a low-end WR2 in Week 16 who can overcome his matchup because of the volume of targets he can see and how great Joe Burrow has been this season. He’s worth the risk if he is active on Saturday. 

Verdict: Start ‘Em

Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Chase Brown

If you are reading this then that likely means Brown has helped carry your fantasy football team to the championship game. He has finished with at least 15 touches and 100 total yards in his last five outings.

This Saturday he will face a Denver defense that is tied for the 13th-fewest allowed PPG to running backs this season per Pro Football Reference. They are one of the 11 teams in the league that hasn’t allowed double-digit rushing touchdowns to the position but are tied for the second-most allowed receiving touchdowns (six) to running backs. 

The Broncos defense has only allowed one running back to finish over 75 total yards in their last four games, which was Jonathan Taylor. In those contests, they gave up five touchdowns to the position but should be six if JT didn’t infamously drop the ball before crossing the endzone. 

Brown is on a hot streak heading into Week 17 and you can’t sit players that got you to this point. Leave him in your lineups. 

Verdict: Start ‘Em