Matthew Berry’s Love/Hate for Week 17 of 2024 season

It’s the last, it’s the first. What ends must start again, and time is a flat circle. Is this the end or just another beginning?

Welcome, my friends, to the last Love/Hate of 2024. But while it’s a tradition to end in Week 17, so too are my Way, Way, Way Too Early 2025 Rankings. So, while we close down another season of “Love/Hate” and season-long fantasy football, we also already have an eye on next year. Can’t get here soon enough.

Before we get there, some quick housekeeping. As I mentioned, this is the last “Love/Hate” article of the year. But we will still do a “Love/Hate” episode of Fantasy Football Happy Hour in Week 18.

Speaking of #FFHH, we are doing a show today (Thursday the 26th) and Friday the 27th. (On Peacock, the NFL on NBC YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts). Then, this Sunday I actually get to celebrate my birthday on air as Fantasy Football Pregame will air at its normal time, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET this Sunday on Peacock and the NFL on NBC YouTube channel.

Next week, we return to the normal schedule for Fantasy Football Happy Hour with the exception that we will be off on New Year’s Day.

Finally, if you’d like to keep playing fantasy football during the NFL playoffs, you can do so for free at Guillotine Leagues where there are two different formats — a larger field tournament where you pick whoever you want at the start of the playoffs and every week of the playoffs, 25% of the field is eliminated. Or do a five-person draft where the lowest scoring team is dropped every week of the playoffs. There are free versions and versions to play for money (in eligible states) so check it out. It’s a great way to try the format.

Ok, now to Matthew Berry’s Way, Way, Way Too Early Top 50 for 2025:

Along with the tradition of having way, way, way too early rankings for next year, so too is the tradition of a bunch of caveats. First, while they are obviously adaptable (especially this early) these rankings are for a 1 QB league with full PPR scoring. It also takes into account the NFL as it is on publish day, December 26, 2024. In other words, Davante Adams is still a New York Jet and his QB is still Aaron Rodgers, both of which may change this offseason.

As we get into the playoffs, and then free agency, the NFL draft, coaching changes, and all the other news of the 24/7/365 news cycle that is the National Football League, these rankings will change as teams/players/schemes/opportunities and more change, adjusting their fantasy value as it goes. And we will adjust as we go along, though I will say the next update to these way, way, way too early rankings for 2025 won’t be until after the Super Bowl.

As always, please let me know what you think of the rankings – what you agree with, what you don’t – on social media where I am @MatthewBerryTMR on all forms of social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky) except the Bleacher Nation Fantasy App where I am merely @MatthewBerry.

MATTHEW BERRY’S WAY, WAY, WAY TOO EARLY TOP 50 FOR 2025

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM
1	Ja’Marr Chase	WR	CIN
2	Justin Jefferson	WR	MIN
3	Saquon Barkley	RB	PHI
4	Bijan Robinson	RB	ATL
5	De’Von Achane	RB	MIA
6	CeeDee Lamb	WR	DAL
7	Puka Nacua	WR	LAR
8	Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	DET
9	Nico Collins	WR	HOU
10	Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	DET
11	Derrick Henry	RB	BAL
12	Malik Nabers	WR	NYG
13	Breece Hall	RB	NYJ
14	Brock Bowers	TE	LV
15	Josh Jacobs	RB	GB
16	Kyren Williams	RB	LAR
17	Chase Brown	RB	CIN
18	Trey McBride	TE	ARI
19	A.J. Brown	WR	PHI
20	Drake London	WR	ATL
21	Josh Allen	QB	BUF
22	Lamar Jackson	QB	BAL
23	Tyreek Hill	WR	MIA
24	Brian Thomas Jr.	WR	JAX
25	Tee Higgins	WR	CIN
26	Terry McLaurin	WR	WSH
27	Joe Mixon	RB	HOU
28	Christian McCaffrey	RB	SF
29	Kenneth Walker III	RB	SEA
30	Rashee Rice	WR	KC
31	Davante Adams	WR	NYJ
32	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	WR	SEA
33	Chuba Hubbard	RB	CAR
34	Jayden Daniels	QB	WSH
35	Jalen Hurts	QB	PHI
36	Alvin Kamara	RB	NO
37	George Kittle	TE	SF
38	Mike Evans	WR	TB
39	Garrett Wilson	WR	NYJ
40	James Cook	RB	BUF
41	Jonathan Taylor	RB	IND
42	James Conner	RB	ARI
43	Isiah Pacheco	RB	KC
44	Bucky Irving	RB	TB
45	Cooper Kupp	WR	LAR
46	George Pickens	WR	PIT
47	Ladd McConkey	WR	LAC
48	Chris Godwin	WR	TB
49	Chris Olave	WR	NO
50	David Montgomery	RB	DET

Hard to keep it to just 50, and yes, I’m sure you have opinions on who should be on this list, who shouldn’t, who is too high and who is too low. Hit me up.

In the meantime, let’s get to it. A reminder: This is championship week. Generally speaking, you should have your lineup fairly well set. However, it’s been a weird week – we are already two games in, so maybe you’re in a big deficit (I faced Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Travis Kelce in one final. Sigh.) or maybe you’re up big (I had Nico Collins and Ka’imi Fairbairn in another final, so I’m sure my opponent feels pretty good. Double sigh.), so you can adjust your lineup for more upside or more floor depending on where you are, especially after Thursday night’s Seahawks-Bears game.

So, here’s “Love/Hate” as usual – but again – this is merely about expectations and who I believe will exceed or fall short of general expectations. Long way of saying, in most situations, don’t get cute.

Finally, the ranks referenced below are after the two Wednesday games have been removed. (In other words, when you take Lamar Jackson out of the rankings, everyone moves up one spot, etc. etc).

So, I have removed all the players from my weekly ranks that played on Wednesday and their current rank (prior to the Thursday night game) are referenced below.

As always, an incredible and huge THANK YOU to my producer Damian Dabrowski, without whom this column is not possible, for his hard work all year long. I’d also like to take a moment to thank Chris Wilson, my editor here at NBC (lord knows I am not an easy edit) and to everyone else that has helped, supported, suggested or just been there for me when I write this novel every week.

You know who you are. From the bottom of my heart – THANK YOU.

And last but certainly not least, an INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION to you. This is a fairly pointless exercise if no one is reading, so I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you show up every week. You have many, many options available to you, so believe me, it means a great deal to me. As I’ve said many times this season, I don’t know what the future holds for this column, but I do know this is NOT the last one ever.

But for the final time in 2024, HERE. WE. GO:

Quarterbacks I Love in Week 17

Jayden Daniels vs. Atlanta

Jayden Daniels put up a season-high 34.4 fantasy points last week against the Eagles behind five touchdown passes and 81 rushing yards. That just continued his late-season surge. Get this: Over Daniels’ last four games, he’s averaging 29.0 PPG along with 64 rushing yards per game, and he’s getting 35% of Washington’s red zone rushes, too. While classic commies want equal distribution, these Commies have decided to keep the ball pretty much in just Daniels’ hands. Smart. But not only is Daniels playing lights out of late, he also has a great matchup for fantasy championship week. Since Week 5, Atlanta is allowing the fifth-highest passer rating and the seventh-most fantasy PPG to opposing quarterbacks. During that same stretch, the Falcons are giving up touchdown passes at the highest rate in the league. I have Daniels as my QB2 this week and QB1 forever.

Brock Purdy vs. Detroit

This is all about the matchup for Brock Purdy. Over the past four weeks, Detroit is allowing a league-high 26.2 PPG to quarterbacks. Over the same four-week period, the Lions rank 30th in pass defense and are allowing a league-high 14.3 yards per completion. Going back to Week 13, Detroit is 19th in pressure rate despite blitzing at the third-highest rate. It’s been ugly. Very ugly. In fact, if you print out all these Lions defense stats and tape them to a sweater, I guarantee you will win any ugly holiday sweater contest. This game also has the highest Over/Under of the week at 50.5 thanks to that injury-riddled Lions D (and their prolific offense). Purdy is a top five play for me this week.

Bo Nix at Cincinnati

Since Week 8, Cincinnati is allowing the second-most PPG to quarterbacks (20.1) and the fourth-most yards per pass attempt. The only quarterbacks to score below 24 points against the Bengals during that stretch? Cooper Rush, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Mason Rudolph. Look, I know it’s a tough week to slander Rudolph, but he’s not a top quarterback regardless of how many lumens his nose produces. The Bengals are also a great matchup for Bo Nix when he escapes the pocket as Cincinnati has allowed the most rush yards to quarterbacks this season. So, while Nix tries to get the Broncos into the playoffs this week, he can simultaneously help you win your fantasy playoffs. I have him at QB9 for Week 17.

Others receiving votes: Dating back to Week 11, the Patriots are giving up the fourth-most fantasy PPG to quarterbacks (19.8) and are surrendering touchdown passes at the highest rate in the league. Justin Herbert is good at throwing a football, so I like him as a top 12 play against this Patriots’ pass defense. … The Giants have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. And now they have to play Anthony Richardson. Since returning from injury in Week 11, Richardson is QB9 in fantasy in PPG (19.4) and has scored 58% of his fantasy points on the ground. … Before Carolina’s bye, Bryce Young averaged 7.1 PPG. Since the bye? He’s averaged 18.4 PPG. It might sound crazy, but it ain’t no lie, Bryce has thrived since the bye (Bye! Bye!). No, I’m not apologizing for that. Last column. Anyway, this week Young faces a Bucs team that ranks 30th in pass defense and has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks I Hate in Week 17

Tua Tagovailoa at Cleveland

The weather forecast for when this game kicks off on Sunday at 4:05 pm ET is 50 degrees and rainy. How festive! Unfortunately, Tua Tagovailoa is averaging 12.8 PPG in his 12 career games in which the temperature is between 40 and 55 degrees. Then there’s the fact that his production is typically way down on the road: 13.7 PPG away from home this season compared to 20.2 PPG in Miami. I also don’t love the game environment in this one, with an Over/Under of 39.5 (tied for second lowest of Week 17) and Cleveland with a bottom three implied team total. Literally everything about this game feels 50 degrees and rainy. I have Tua as my QB15, a cold rain of a ranking.

Jordan Love at Minnesota

Going all the way back to Week 9, Jordan Love doesn’t have a single game with more than 28 pass attempts. Partly because of that, he’s just QB20 in PPG since then. Now he faces a Vikings defense that, over the past four weeks, is allowing touchdown passes at the third-lowest rate and is giving up the fifth-fewest PPG to quarterbacks. Love also ranks just 19th in fantasy points per pass attempt against the blitz, while Minnesota leads the league in blitz rate. If you’re looking for a silver lining (and I am since I might have to start Love in the same 2 QB league where I had Nico Collings and may not have Jalen Hurts this week. Sigh) I will mention that this game DOES have a high Over/Under (48.5 on DraftKings as of this writing) and Love DID throw for 389 and four touchdowns (plus three interceptions) against these same Vikings in Week 4. That said … the Packers’ offense and Vikings’ defense are both pretty different since then, hence having Love outside my top 15 this week. I’d say that having to play Jordan Love this week in your fantasy championship is like getting coal in your stocking, but coal that has a chance of catching fire.

Running Backs I Love in Week 17

Jonathan Taylor at New York Giants

After running for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries last week against the Titans, Jonathan Taylor said, “The most exciting part is kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage. Those are the type of football games, as a running back at least, those are the type of games that you love.” Taylor might love his matchup this week even more. Since Week 10, the Giants are tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed and teams facing the Giants during that stretch are averaging a league-high 28.5 running back rushes per game. Which is to say: No one allows opposing running games to impose their will or establish the line of scrimmage more than the New York football Giants. Because of that, the Giants have given up at least 17.8 fantasy points to a running back in five of their past six games. Taylor is a top 10 back this week.

Zach Charbonnet at Chicago

In Zach Charbonnet’s four starts this season, he is averaging 19.5 touches, a 15% target share and 23.9 PPG. With the Seahawks heading to Chicago down Kenneth Walker III, we will see start number V for Charbonnet – and he’ll get it against a soft Bears run defense. Since Week 11, the Bears are allowing 177 scrimmage yards per game to running backs and the second-most PPG to the running back position. With Walker out, Charbonnet is my RB8.

Bucky Irving vs. Carolina

On Sunday, a former Oregon back named Bucky plays in a game with playoff implications. Three days later, a team named the Buckeyes plays Oregon in an actual playoff. Really makes you think. About what? I’m … not sure. I’m still drunk on eggnog. So, instead let’s think about how well Bucky Irving has been playing of late. In his past four healthy games, he’s averaging 20.5 touches and 135.5 scrimmage yards for an average of 21.5 PPG. Now, he has a great matchup against a Carolina team that allows the most rush yards and highest YPC to backs this season. Don’t forget: Back in Week 13, Irving had a career-high 185 scrimmage yards against the Panthers on the road.

Others receiving votes: It’s looking like Isaac Guerendo will be back in action this week and, in his two games since Christian McCaffrey went on IR, he’s averaging 18.5 touches and a 10.5% target share. Now, he’s facing a Lions defense that has allowed seven rushing touchdowns over their past three games. … Last week, Alexander Mattison saw 63% of the Raiders’ RB rushes, a 19% target share and 16 total touches. That level of workload projects well against a Saints defense that has allowed 20-plus fantasy points to running backs in 11 of their past 13 games. … Over the past two weeks, Tyjae Spears has out-snapped Tony Pollard. Spears has also averaged 24.4 PPG, has a 15.7% target share and multiple goal-line rushes in both games. … If only Spears could run against his own team. Over the past four weeks, the Titans have allowed a league-high seven rushing scores to running backs. During that same stretch, Tennessee is giving up 167 rush yards and 5.4 YPC to running backs. All of that is good news for Tank Bigsby managers this week. … If Jaleel McLaughlin is out again this week, Audric Estime has a lot of upside in deeper leagues against the Bengals. Cincinnati is allowing running back rush touchdowns at the third highest rate, while last week Estime got a 53% RB rush rate – his second highest of the season.

Running Backs I Hate in Week 17

D’Andre Swift vs. Seattle

Dating back to Week 11, D’Andre Swift has a total of ZERO performances with double-digit fantasy points. Not great. And just to be clear: He also has zero performances in which he’s put up triple digits. (A 100-plus game probably would have made news.) So, yeah, we’re talking single-digit performances here. Swift is RB38 over that stretch and now has seven consecutive games with a target share below 9%. This week, Swift has a tough matchup against a Seattle defense that – since Week 9 – ranks top 10 in fewest PPG allowed to running backs. During that same stretch, Seattle has allowed just one rushing score to a back. I have Swift outside my top 20 backs this week.

Tony Pollard at Jacksonville

As mentioned earlier, Tyjae Spears has out-snapped Tony Pollard in each of the past two games. Spears also has more targets and goal-line rushes in that span. Some of it feels game-script dependent, but also Spears has just looked better to me. When you consider Pollard is clearly not 100% healthy (Pollard has barely practiced in the past two weeks) plus the drop in usage, it’s easy to understand why Pollard is averaging just 8.3 PPG in his last two games. If that’s not concerning enough, Pollard also faces a Jaguars team this week that ranks top 12 in success rate against RB carries over the past four weeks. The Titans also have a bottom seven implied team total in this one, and the game itself is tied for the second lowest Over/Under of Week 17 (39.5). Not much to love here. I have Pollard as a shaky FLEX play this week.

Rico Dowdle at Philadelphia

Philadelphia is going to treat Rico Dowdle like Santa Claus in this one. Wait, wait, wait … hold on. This is not an “Eagles fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus” joke. I’m better than that. What I meant is that Rico Dowdle will have as much success running on the Eagles as an overweight elderly man would. Over the past four weeks, Philadelphia is allowing the third-fewest PPG to running backs and a league-low 3.2 YPC to the position. Meanwhile, Dowdle only has six goal-line rushes all season (46th among RBs) and he hasn’t seen a double-digit target share since Week 10. I have Dowdle at RB25 this week. But if I’m wrong, please don’t throw snowballs at me.

Pass Catchers I Love in Week 17

Davante Adams at Buffalo

Over his past four games, Davante Adams has 11-plus targets in every game and a target share of 32.7%. He’s also been pretty much the only guy Aaron Rodgers is looking to in the red zone (45% of team targets) and the end zone (55%) over that same stretch. This week Adams has a positive matchup against a Buffalo defense that, since Week 10, is allowing the most fantasy points and yards per game to wide receivers. Get this: Wide receivers who have seen seven-plus targets against Buffalo during this stretch are averaging 23.6 PPG. I have Adams ranked as my WR4 this week. And his playing time is assured. I heard he’s ranked very high in Brick Johnson’s Week 17 Madden rankings.

Brian Thomas, Jr. vs. Tennessee

Back in Week 14 against the Titans, Brian Thomas, Jr. had 10 targets and a season-high target share of 40%. That game kicked off his current streak of four games in a row with double-digit targets and 16 or more fantasy points. In fact, over the past four weeks, Thomas has the second-most targets in the NFL at 12.3 per game. I love that volume against a Tennessee defense that, since Week 11, has seen six of the seven WRs that got eight-plus targets against them score 15-plus points. Over that same stretch, Tennessee also ranks bottom six in completion rate and touchdowns allowed on deep passes. I have Thomas as an easy top 10 play at the WR position this week.

Terry McLaurin vs. Atlanta

Terry McLaurin reeled in his 12th receiving touchdown of the season last week, tying the franchise record set by Ricky Sanders in 1988. I, of course, remember that 1988 season well. Not because I’m old though. Because … uh … I streamed a TikTok of it on Twitch? Yeah, that sounds right. I’m hip. In fact, I’m so hip that my hip hurts when it rains. But my point is this: There’s a very good chance that McLaurin sets the franchise record this week against a Falcons defense that is tied for the most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers this season. (McLaurin, by the way, has 47% of Washington’s end zone targets.) Since Week 9, Atlanta is allowing a league-high 41.1 PPG to wide receivers and the most yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. Meanwhile, McLaurin has at least 15.8 fantasy points in nine of his past 10 games. He’s my WR10 this week.

David Njoku vs. Miami

If Jameis Winston starts, here’s the stat you need to know: David Njoku averaged 15.2 PPG in Winston’s six starts and was TE6 over that stretch. And if Dorian Thompson-Robinson starts, here’s the stat you need to know: Njoku has a 28% target share in DTR’s four career starts and has posted 10-plus fantasy points in every game. This means we’re witnessing history here, folks. Yes, for the first time ever, there are really only positive outcomes in play for something related to the Cleveland Browns. Amazing! By the way, since Week 10, tight ends who have seen a 20% target share versus the Dolphins are averaging 18.3 PPG. I have Njoku at TE5 for Week 17.

Others receiving votes: It’s now five straight games for Ladd McConkey with 14-plus fantasy points. He also has a 25.8% target share over that stretch. I love that consistent production. I also love his upside this week against a Patriots defense that has surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to the slot (tied for fifth-most slot TDs allowed). … Remember that team I mentioned I was playing in one final that has Lamar, Henry, and Kelce? Well, that team also has Keenan Allen, which is really annoying because over the past two weeks, Allen has a 38% target share and five end zone targets. This week he faces a Seahawks defense that, since Week 7, has seen the second-most targets to the slot per game. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I will be … When Adam Thielen played the Bucs back in Week 13, he put up a line of 8-99-1 on them for 23.7 fantasy points. Dating back to that game, Thielen has a target share of at least 24% in every game and is WR17 (17.1 PPG) over that stretch. He should have another productive day in Week 17 against that Tampa defense that allows the third-most yards to the slot. … The Bucs obviously miss Chris Godwin, but Jalen McMillan has made the coping much easier. Over McMillan’s past three games, he has a 20.6% target share and four touchdowns on the way to averaging 19.0 PPG. He also has 9.6 yards per target over that stretch, which is top 12 among wide receivers. … Since Week 10, Jacksonville is allowing the seventh-most fantasy PPG to tight ends. This week, they have to face a tight end who has been unlocked by the skills of Mason Rudolph. No, seriously. That’s not a joke. Chig Okonkwo has a 31% target share from Mason Rudolph over the past two weeks and is averaging 16.5 PPG.

Pass Catchers I Hate in Week 17

Jerry Jeudy vs. Miami

If Dorian Thompson-Robinson starts again this week, you’ll have to get all your joy from David Njoku’s fantasy production, Browns fans. In DTR’s four career starts, only once has a wide receiver caught more than four passes or scored double-digit fantasy points. Jerry Jeudy wasn’t the receiver who did it. In fact, last week Jeudy had a season-low target share of 10% and put up his worst fantasy performance since Week 7. And get this: 45% of Jeudy’s yards this season have come on deep passes, while DTR had an aDOT of just 5.6 last week. As you may know, 5.6 yards is not considered throwing it deep outside of u6 flag football. Add to it that Cleveland has the third-lowest implied team total this week and Jeudy is outside my top 40 (if DTR plays over Winston).

Calvin Ridley at Jacksonville

I like a revenge game as much as the next guy, but it’s hard to inflict much vengeance on a team when you’re only getting a 14% target share. That’s Ridley’s share over the past two weeks. Not great. And over the past four weeks, he’s had a share under 20% in three of those games. Ridley also has just three end zone targets this season, tied for 81st among wide receivers. Making matters worse, over the past four weeks the Jaguars are allowing the seventh-fewest PPG to wide receivers. I have Ridley at WR29 this week.

Jameson Williams at San Francisco

The 49ers’ goal entering the season was clear: win the Super Bowl. Entering Week 17, they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs. Is it karma for lying to fantasy managers about the health status of Christian McCaffrey all throughout the preseason and early NFL season? Who is to say? Me. I am to say. And yes. Yes, it is. But, on the bright side, the 49ers have allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, the fewest yards per game to perimeter wide receivers and the fewest receptions AND yards on deep passes. So, hey, that’s something! I gotta be honest – I had the toughest time ranking CMC for next year. I also have a tough time feeling super optimistic about Jameson Williams against that Niners pass defense this week. I have him at WR27.

Kyle Pitts at Washington

If I had one wish that I could wish this holiday season, it would be that all the children of the world join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and peace. If I had two wishes that I could make this holiday season, the first would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing in the spirit of harmony and peace, and the second would be that in 2025, we all finally admit to ourselves that Kyle Pitts just might not be that good. Get this: Not only is Pitts just TE22 on the season in PPG, but he hasn’t even scored double-digit fantasy points in a game since Week 8. Last week in Michael Penix Jr.’s first start, Pitts notched a target share of 7.7% and also dropped a pass that resulted in an interception. I don’t see Pitts suddenly becoming productive this week against the Commanders, who allow the third-fewest receptions to tight ends and the seventh-fewest yards. Pitts is TE18 this week. Oh, and if I had three wishes this holiday season, the first — of course — would be for all the children to get together and sing. The second would be the Pitts thing. And the third would be for $30 million a month to be given, to me, tax-free, in a Swiss bank account. Happy holidays, everyone. And best of luck in your fantasy championships.