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Matthew Berry, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

The TMR 200: Week 17 rankings

Fantasy NFL

Been a helluva ride.

Not just for this fantasy season, but for Odell Beckham Jr. Didn't play the first four weeks. Currently tied with Randall Cobb as the eighth-best fantasy wide receiver on the season. He's a rookie, his quarterback is the up-and-down Eli Manning, he missed four weeks ... and he's a top-10 wide receiver? Whoa, crazy, crazy.

How ridiculous has he been? Averaging 15.73 fantasy points a game since Week 5, only Demaryius Thomas (15.92) has averaged more fantasy points per game since then among wide receivers. And, among nonquarterbacks, the only players with a higher average than him are Arian Foster (20.00), Le'Veon Bell (18.55), Eddie Lacy (16.82), DeMarco Murray (16.73) and Matt Forte (16.55), plus the aforementioned Thomas. That's it.

So yeah, on a points-per-game basis, he's been better than Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Jordy Nelson and even some quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers, among others.

Re-donk-ulous.

And now, a rookie wideout, with a so-so QB and just 11 games played in his NFL career, comes in at No. 1 in my wide receiver rankings for Week 17. A combination of what he has done on the field and a matchup with Philadelphia's very suspect corners makes him a guy I feel like I have to rank No. 1. Only Washington has given up more 20-plus-yard receptions and 20-plus-yard touchdowns than Philadelphia. Should be another big day for the man they call OBJ.

Ranking in Week 17 is always dicey, of course, but I feel like almost every team has something to play for this week. My take is that the Patriots, who have clinched home field throughout the playoffs, will do what they normally do. Play their starters some (a few series, a quarter, no more than the first half) and then rest them. Given the lack of concrete playing time and a tough matchup with Buffalo to begin with, none of the Patriots rank very high this week. Chuck Pagano says the Colts are going to play regardless (after last week, they need to) but there's a decent chance he's, er, not being entirely truthful. So there's a bit of a hedge in the initial Colts ranks, though, facing the Titans, parts of a game may be all their stars need to make you forget Week 16's no-show. I hope to get more clarity as the week goes on.

As always, these ranks will be updated throughout the week, especially as we get closer to the end of the week and there's more clarity. Be sure to check back Sunday morning for final ranks, plus tune in to "Fantasy Football Now" this Sunday, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN app for the final show of the season.

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