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See the List of Teams Resting Starters in Week 17 Before Making Any Bets

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Apr 21, 2020 · 2:51 PM PDT

Lamar Jackson talking to fans
Lamar Jackson will be among a number of Baltimore Ravens slated to sit out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Delano Scott [Wikipedia].
  • Which NFL teams are sitting out starters during Week 17 games?
  • The Baltimore Ravens have already announced several starters won’t see action against the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • The Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings could opt to sit out starters this week, as well

Week 17 will be do or die for some NFL teams. But there are others who are already home and cooled out.

With the playoffs looming and nothing to be gained this Sunday, some of these teams will opt to sit their starters for their final regular-season contest. Naturally, that’s going to impact how you’ll wager on certain games this week.

Which starters are sitting? Which teams are opting to rest key players? All the latest information on this subject is below.

Which NFL Teams Are Sitting Starters In Week 17?

Team Are Starters Sitting Out
Baltimore Ravens Yes
Buffalo Bills No
Houston Texans No
Minnesota Vikings Yes
New England Patriots No

Information as of 5:30 PM ET, Dec. 27th. 

Which Starters Are Sitting Out For NFL Teams?

  • Baltimore Ravens – QB Lamar Jackson, RB Mark Ingram, S Earl Thomas, G Marshal Yanda, DE Brandon Williams
  • Buffalo Bills – None
  • Houston Texans – WR Will Fuller
  • Minnesota Vikings – QB Kirk Cousins, RW Dalvin Cook, LB Eric Kendricks
  • New England Patriots – None

Ravens To Sit Many Key Starters

With a 13-2 slate and top seed in the AFC locked up, the NFC North champion Ravens will roll out a variety of second-stringers on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quarterback and NFL MVP favorite Lamar Jackson is out for certain. As well, 1,000-yard running back Mark Ingram will sit out with a calf strain.

Tight end Mark Andrews (ankle), cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (groin) and Marcus Peters (chest), and wide receiver Marquise Brown (illness) are all listed as questionable starters.

Robert Griffin III, a former NFL OROY and starter for the Washington Redskins, will start at QB. The Ravens also hinted that rookie Trace McSorley might see his first NFL action under center.

You’d think all of this would play into the hands of the Steelers, who need a win plus a Tennessee Titans loss to grab the second AFC Wild Card. Certainly, that’s the way the sportsbooks are viewing it.

Baltimore opened as three-point favorites to win this game. But the line has swung significantly since. One sportsbook currently lists it as a pick.

The Steelers have issues of their own. With both Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph on injured reserve, third stringer Devlin Hodges gets another start at QB. Running back James Conner (quad) and center Maurkice Pouncey (knee) are out.

Bet Baltimore’s backups to officially end Pittsburgh’s season.

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Bills Take Preseason Approach

Bills head coach Sean McDermott insists he simply doesn’t have the numbers to sit out his starters on Sunday against the New York Jets. Still, he hinted that he would treat the game as if it were a preseason contest. That means most starters will see extremely limited reps.

McDermott suggested that people should expect to see backup QB Matt Barkley relieve starter Josh Allen at some point in the game.

The Bills hope to get injured tackled Ty Nsekhe (ankle) some playing time to determine whether he can be counted on during the playoffs. He’s gone more than six weeks since seeing game action but is listed as questionable.

Buffalo will be without wide receiver/kick returner Andre Roberts (foot) and defensive end Shaq Lawson (hamstring).

The Bills opened as the -4.5 chalk in this game but their edge has shrunk to -1. Take Buffalo to cover at home against the Jets.

Texans Playing To Win

Houston coach Bill O’Brien stated that he will play to win against Tennessee on Sunday. The Titans need a victory to clinch an AFC Wild Card spot.

Might that decision change on Sunday, though? If Kansas City wins its 1:00 PM ET game against the Chargers, Houston will be locked in as the #4 seed in the AFC before taking the field at 4:25 PM ET.

It’s known that Texans WR Will Fuller (groin) is out. QB Deshaun Watson (back) and WR DeAndre Hopkins (illness) are questionable.

Houston opened as a one-point pick but the current line is Titans -5.5. Tennessee hasn’t won at Houston since 2011. Take the Texans and the points.

Vikings Mum On Who Will Play

Minnesota is locked in as the #6 seed in the NFC but coach Mike Zimmer insists he’s undecided about resting starters in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

However, ESPN reported that the Vikings will sit out several players, including QB Kirk Cousins and RB Dalvin Cook, as well as any other players nursing an injury.

The Vikes opened as the three-point pick here. It’s swung the other way and now the Bears are -3. Minnesota is 4-0 after a loss this season. Bet the Vikings.

Patriots Standing Pat

Win on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins and the Patriots clinch the #2 seed in the AFC and a bye. That being the case, Patriots coach Bill Belichick set out that it will be all hands on deck for the regular-season finale. He’s playing all his starters who are healthy enough to go.

New England opened as a 14.5-point choice at home and that’s grown to 16.5 points. Pats QB Tom Brady is 15-1 lifetime at home against Miami. Give the points and take the Patriots.

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