It’s the week many fantasy mavens have been waiting for all season, and one that fantasy failures will watch from afar. It’s Fantasy Football Championship Week.

(Well, not for everyone. The Loop’s season ended Sunday with a sad bronze medal loss because our opponent’s kicker was credited with 19 freaking points … but we digress.)

Week 17 would be a wonderful exercise for those lucky enough to be blessed by this season’s most valuable players, and led by the NFL’s top two MVP candidates.

You couldn’t go wrong at quarterback this week with either Buffalo’s Josh Allen or Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. They’ve combined for 63 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing TDs.

If league rules and draft budgets didn’t apply, here are other starters we would most want to find under our tree for our Christmas Week 17 Dream Team.

>> Saquon Barkley (Eagles RB): He’s on pace to challenge Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 rushing yards, so the Eagles will give him plenty of opportunities against a Dallas rush defense that is among the league’s five worst.

>> Derrick Henry (Ravens RB): The King has fallen off some from his 2,000-yard pace, but he’s likely to see a lot of red zone duty in what shapes up as an offensive shootout on Christmas against Houston.

>> Kyren Williams (Rams): What’s not to like about a runner who has 30 touchdowns in his past 27 games? And since it’s a must-win game for L.A. against an Arizona defense that is playing out the string, he should add a couple more.

>> Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals WR): As great as the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson is, he’s not the No. 1 receiver this year. Chase leads all with 16 TDs and 1,510 yards, figures he’ll pad against Denver’s overrated defense Saturday.

>> Justin Jefferson (Vikings WR): While the Packers will present a testing matchup for the Griddy Guy, you still could do much worse than start a fellow with five TD catches and 349 yards over the past three weeks.

>> Brock Bowers (Raiders TE): He’s the best rookie tight end since hall of famer Mike Ditka, going against one of the league’s worst pass defenses in New Orleans. With 101 catches for 1,067 yards, he’ll be breaking more records in the Superdome.

Sitting stars

It’s been two months since Steelers RB Najee Harris has topped 75 yards, and he won’t against the Chiefs’ No. 3 rush defense. … QB uncertainty will be to the detriment of Eagles wideouts A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. … Buffalo will freeze up Jets receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, especialy with Aaron Rodgers “uncertain.” … Chargers QB Justin Herbert won’t set the world on fire in New England. … Neither will Packers QB Jordan Love in Minnesota.

Matchup game

Detroit RB Jahmyr Gibbs will roll through what’s left of 49ers’ defense. … Carolina RB Chuba Hubbard will be able to run on Tampa Bay’s defense … Rams WR Puka Nacua is due for another big game against Arizona. … Same goes for Washington WR Terry McLaurin vs. Atlanta. … Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow is quietly having a monster season and will shred Denver to keep Bengals’ faint playoff hopes alive …. Chicago’s defense has mostly quit, so Seattle QB Geno Smith will have a big game.

Injury watch

The big absence could be Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, who left Sunday’s game in Washington with a concussion and could prove to be Tush-Push-free against Dallas. … Others whose status is in question this week include Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, Steelers WR George Pickens and New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara.

Deepest sleeper

Our championship week sleeper is a fellow whose career appeared to be in a deep coma just a couple of months ago. But Carolina quarterback Bryce Young could be a league winner for some folks. The former Heisman Trophy winner has six touchdown passes and three TD runs over the past month, averaging nearly 230 passing yards per game. And he’s facing a Tampa Bay defense that made Dallas’ Cooper Rush look like a Pro Bowler on Sunday night.

The early picks

Chiefs at Steelers (+2½):

Pick: Chiefs by 3

Ravens at Texans (+5½):

Pick: Ravens by 7

Seahawks at Bears (+3½):

Pick: Seahawks by 4

Chargers at Patriots (+5½):

Pick: Chargers by 3

Broncos at Bengals (-3½):

Pick: Bengals by 7

Cardinals at Rams (-5½):

Pick: Rams by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.