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They say to save the best for last, which is what fantasy football seems to do with NFL Week 17 when it comes to start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
Well, if the best also doubles as the most challenging.
The regular season's farewell tour offers the usual hurdles such as matchup decisions, but atop it falls things like upset specials, teams outright quitting in meaningless games and other teams sitting starters while looking ahead to the playoffs.
Below, we'll look to make the task in front of owners a bit easier by comparing some of the week's best matchups and notable start-sit decisions.
Quarterback
Start: Tyrod Taylor, BUF (at MIA)
It's easy to overlook Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor compared to other big names at quarterback with so much on the line.
Those who have a need or want to live life on the wild side, though, will find plenty of value.
Taylor has eclipsed the 20-point mark three times this season, most recently doing so in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins, a 23.16-point effort. Funnily enough, he gets those Dolphins again to close the season and they happen to allow the 15th-most points to opposing quarterbacks on average.
One of the keys to success when it comes to start-sit decisions in Week 17 is finding a guy with something to play for—Taylor has it, alongside plenty of other traditional positives.
Sit: Joe Flacco, BAL (vs. CIN)
On the other end of the something-to-play-for spectrum is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Those looking to rely on a big name or find a silver lining with a guy looking a playoff berth in the eyes can do much better. Flacco might seem like he's rounding into shape with 17 or more points in four consecutive games, but a season-ending bout with the Cincinnati Bengals isn't great.
Those Bengals allow the 14th-fewest points to the position and held Flacco to 7.84 the last time the two met. And Flacco is still the guy with six single-digit outings or worse—he had that disaster in London with minus-.88 points.
Those needing to stream at the position have to look elsewhere, to say the least.
Running Back
Start: Alvin Kamara, NO (at TB)
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara hasn't been the easiest sell over the past few weeks, especially considering he's posted single-digit outings in two of his last three on top of the fact he's still in a committee backfield.
Still, Kamara owners have a green light in Week 17 as the explosive rookie gets to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team coughing up the 10th-most points to backs on average this year.
Kamara last saw the weak Buccaneers defense in Week 9, when he ran 12 times for 106 yards and a score on the way to a 25.2-point outburst—which isn't even a season high.
With plenty to play for as the Saints head to the playoffs, owners shouldn't be alarmed to see Mark Ingram or someone else take some snaps in the Saints backfield, as Kamara should do plenty on his guaranteed work rate.
Sit: Jordan Howard, CHI (at MIN)
Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard carried plenty of owners to victories last year as a rookie. He's had a solid season this year as well despite an ever-changing offense around him, hitting double-digit production eight times.
Howard isn't a quality option to close the season, though. The Bears have nothing to play for, and he's confronted with a Minnesota Vikings defense predictably allowing the fewest points to backs this year.
True to this narrative, Howard hit a brick wall against the Vikings back in Week 5, totaling 7.6 points in an eventual loss.
Howard deserves to be a top-24 pick in most leagues next year, but he isn't a guy to lean on as the season concludes.
Wide Receiver
Start: Keelan Cole, JAX (at TEN)
When it comes to Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wideout Keelan Cole, why stop now?
Cole has been arguably the biggest surprise of the final fourth of the season, scoring 10.9, 15.9, 24.6 and 10.8 points over his last four outings. He's a hot hand with three touchdowns over his last four games, and the AFC South champs don't figure to simply stop trying against the Tennessee Titans.
Speaking of the Titans, they permit the 10th-most points to wideouts on average this year. Cole wasn't a big part of the game plan when these teams met back in Week 2, but teammate Allen Hurns went off for 14.2 points.
It's safe to think Cole can come up with something similar given his newfound role and usage in an offense desperately searching for balance as it heads into the playoffs.
Sit: Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs. BUF)
Miami Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry is a great option in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues.
Elsewhere, though, Landry falls short and he might just do so in Week 17 in PPR scoring as well thanks to a matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Those Bills allow the fourth-fewest points to the position this year and back in Week 15 held Landry in check with his 9.9 points. Sounds like a decent number, but try to keep in mind it came on a whopping 13 targets.
In fact, the target number there is an anomaly as of late. Landry has single-digit targets in four of his last five outings, which coincides nicely with his double-digit production trend.
Tight End
Start: Antonio Gates, LAC (vs. OAK)
Some things never change—Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is once again a reliable option during league-championship time.
This hasn't always been the case in 2017, but the veteran has stepped up for the Chargers with Hunter Henry on injured reserve, posting 14.1 points in Week 16.
Gates should make it two double-digit outings in a row in Week 17 if he sees similar usage to the eight targets, especially against a team like the Oakland Raiders.
Those Raiders have never contained Gates, and the trend doesn't figure to change now considering the defense permits the seventh-most points to the position.
Sit: Kyle Rudolph, MIN (vs. CHI)
The wheels finally fell off the Kyle Rudolph train.
Rudolph had an encouraging seven or more targets in six consecutive games. He wasn't always putting up big numbers with the usage, but consistency in usage is something rare at the position.
Over the last five weeks, Rudolph has four, five, five, two and one targets while only hitting double digits twice.
Coming off a 0.6-point performance in Week 16, Rudolph now has to deal with a Bears defense allowing the seventh-fewest points to tight ends. Name familiarity only goes so far, even at tight end.
All scoring info, points-against info and ownership stats courtesy of Yahoo standard leagues.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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