Week 17 injury update, starting/sit-em advice, scoring predictions and more

The Los Angeles Rams face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17. Here you’ll find the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineup this week and going forward, especially when it comes to WR Cooper Kupp.

Will 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 among the top 10 defenses in pressure rate, and that was the driving factor in losing Cooper Kupp in Week 16:

Kupp’s yards per route when his QB is under season-related pressure:

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

That worked, and while I think Kupp’s best days are behind him, the numbers are quite usable without pressure, and that’s the version we should get this week. This season, the Cardinals rank 25th in pressure percentage, and assuming they’re reading this, why shouldn’t they? They may try to correct this by increasing the aggression.

Don’t scare me.

Arizona ranks 27th in blitz pressure rate this season, so Matthew Stafford is capable of dismantling this secondary for the majority of 60 minutes. None of my concerns about Kupp apply to this matchup, and I have him pegged as a top-20 contender, competing ahead of rising stars like Malik Nabers and Garrett Wilson.

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.

Cooper Kupp’s Week 17 Fantasy Points Prediction

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 this week for the latest predictions and advice for your lineups.

PFN insight into the Cardinals defense

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

However, Sunday’s loss to the Panthers was a stark reminder that this is also the 28th-ranked unit in run percentage.

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

The Cardinals took a step forward in 2024, but the ending will feel like a disappointment after Arizona was the clear favorite to win the NFC West at midseason. The lack of defensive talent beyond Budda Baker was a known flaw on the roster early in the season and one that will require a significant commitment of offseason resources for 2025.

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

Cooper Kupp’s fantasy rankings

Below are our weekly consensus PPR rankings – both position-wise and overall. They were last updated on Saturday, December 28th at 3:45 p.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) Terry McLaurin | WHAT (vs. ATL)
8) Davante Adams | NYJ (at BUF)
9) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
10) AJ Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
11) Tea Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
12) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
13) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at CIN)
14) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at NE)
15) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
16) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
17) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs IND)
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
19) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at BUF)
20) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
21) Zay Flowers | BAL (at HOU)
22) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NE)
25) Jordan Addison | MIN (compared to GB)
26) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
27) George Pickens | PIT (against KC)
28) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
29) Adam Thielen | CAR (at TB)
30) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs NYJ)
31) Jameson Williams | DET (at SF)
32) Josh Downs | IND (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 (at LAR)
39) Jalen McMillan | TB (compared to 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. | IND (at NYG)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs NYJ)
48) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at HOU)
49) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
50) Jalen Coker | CAR (at TB)
51) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs LAC)
52) Xavier Legette | CAR (at TB)
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) Olamide Zacchaeus | WHAT (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 | IND (at NYG)
82) Alec Pierce | IND (at NYG)
83) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
84) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at BUF)
85) Van Jefferson | PIT (against KC)
86) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
87) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs IND)
88) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
89) Jamison Crowder | WHAT (vs. ATL)
90) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
91) Troy Franklin | DEN (at CIN)
92) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (compared to LV)
93) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs NYJ)
94) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
95) Jalen Nailor | MIN (compared 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 (at LAR)
101) Dante Pettis | CHI (vs. SEA)
102) Lil’ Jordan Humphrey | DEN (at CIN)
103) Curtis Samuel | BUF (vs NYJ)
104) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. DAL)
105) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (compared to LV)
106) Tylan Wallace | BAL (at HOU)
107) DJ Chark | LAC (at NE)
108) River Craft | MIA (at CLE)
109) Luke McCaffrey | WHAT (vs. ATL)
110) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (vs IND)
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 its last 19 road games.

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

Attack: James Conner has completed a carry of more than 40 yards in consecutive games, the previous time he had such a run in his career with the Cardinals (794 rush attempts).

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

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

Betting: Since the start of 2022, the Overs are 4-0 when the Cardinals take an extended break (1-0 this season: 28-27 victory over the Dolphins in a game that ended with a total score of 46.5 points ).

Los Angeles Rams

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

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

Attack: Los Angeles has won four straight games, but in the last two they have been on thin ice, converting just two of their eight red zone trips into touchdowns.

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

Fantasy: Kyren Williams has played 15 games with more than 20 appearances in the league since the start of last season.

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