RADIO
Week 17 is here, and for many fantasy football managers, this is the moment that makes or breaks your season—Championship Week. You’ve put in the work, and now it’s time to reap the rewards—or face the agony of coming up just short. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and one last smart move could be the difference between holding the trophy and finishing as a runner-up.
With your roster locked and your league’s title on the line, it’s critical to be tactical about your final decisions. The pressure is on, and so are the fantasy football trends—injuries, player rest, and matchup analysis will all play a significant role in determining who brings home the championship.
In this article, we’ll break down the best buy-low and sell-high targets to ensure your team is firing on all cylinders for the final push. Buy-low players are primed for a late-season surge—whether due to injuries, matchups, or other factors. On the other hand, sell-high targets are players who may have hit their peak and are facing upcoming challenges that could see their value dip.
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Fantasy Football Buy-Low Trade Targets
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Romeo Doubs is shaping up to be a prime buy-low target for Week 17, especially given his favorable matchup and the uncertainty surrounding his fellow wide receiver, Christian Watson. The Green Bay Packers face the Minnesota Vikings, who have one of the league's most vulnerable secondaries.
Minnesota is allowing 248.7 passing yards per game—ranking fourth-most in the league—and has been particularly generous to wide receivers. The Vikings are giving up the most PPR points to wideouts, which sets up a potential breakout opportunity for Doubs.
🚨Fantasy Strength of Schedule🚨
Week 17, all positions
Based on opponent-adjusted FPTS allowed
Top 10 most favorable matchups
WR Top 10 most favorable⤵️
1) Packers
2) McLaurin
3) AJB/D Smith
4) Thielen
5) Hill
6) Adams/Wilson
7) Ridley
8) Flowers
9) Lamb
10) Keenan/Moore pic.twitter.com/MIUOqPticH— Scott Rinear (@MunderDifflinFF) December 25, 2024
With Watson nursing a knee injury and missing practice throughout the week, Doubs will likely see an increased target share. The Packers’ offense must keep pace with Minnesota’s high-powered attack, which could mean more passing attempts and scoring opportunities for Doubs, especially in the red zone.
While he’s been a bit touchdown-dependent at times this season, this is a game where the Packers will need to air it out, and Doubs could be the beneficiary of both volume and a favorable matchup.
If the current manager undervalues Doubs based on recent inconsistency or a quiet stretch, now is the time to buy. Doubs has a good chance to finish the season strong and provide solid value in Week 17, with the Packers needing to rely on their passing game to stay competitive.
WR Jauan Jennings, San Fransico 49ers
Jauan Jennings is an intriguing buy-low candidate heading into Week 17, as he has the perfect matchup and game script to bounce back from a recent cold streak potentially. The San Francisco 49ers face the Detroit Lions, who have been generous to wide receivers all season, allowing the fourth-most PPR points to the position.
With the 49ers likely needing to chase points in what could be a high-scoring affair, Jennings should see plenty of targets and opportunities to make an impact.
The Lions' defense used the second-most man coverage with the second-highest rate of Cover 1 in Weeks 10-16. Aaron Glenn continues to use man coverage despite the injuries.
Jauan Jennings thrives against man coverage, especially in contested situations.
Jennings garners an… pic.twitter.com/PvIplQgJ8D
— Corbin (@corbin_young21) December 26, 2024
Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have overshadowed Jennings in the past. Still, his current role in the 49ers' offense remains valuable, especially in a game where San Francisco may need to lean on its passing attack more than usual.
While Jennings has had some quiet weeks, he has a history of stepping up in key moments, particularly in shootout scenarios where the 49ers are forced to throw the ball more.
This game could present the ideal environment for Jennings to produce, and if his current manager is getting frustrated by his lack of consistent production, now is the time to make an offer. Given the potential for high volume and a favorable matchup, Jennings has the opportunity to finish the season strong and could be a difference-maker in Week 17.
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
Breece Hall is an excellent buy-low target for Week 17, especially after his encouraging snap count in Week 16. While Hall didn’t have a massive statistical output last week, he played 79% of the snaps, signaling that he’s fully integrated back into the New York Jets offense after his recovery from injury.
As the Jets look to close out the season on a strong note, Hall is poised to take on a significant role in what could be a high-volume game for the Jets running game.
Hall faces a favorable matchup this week against the Buffalo Bills, who have been vulnerable against the run all season. Buffalo has allowed the third-most PPR points to running backs, giving Hall a prime opportunity to exploit their defense.
Given Hall's combination of talent and workload, he has the potential to put up big numbers in Week 17, especially if the Jets lean heavily on their ground game to keep the ball out of Josh Allen’s hands.
If Hall’s current manager is disappointed by his lack of recent explosive games or if they’re concerned about the Jets' offense overall, now is the perfect time to buy low on the promising young back. With the snap count trending in the right direction and a matchup against a beatable defense, Hall is primed for a strong finish to the season.
Fantasy Football Sell-High Trade Targets
RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs has been one of the top fantasy running backs this season thanks to his heavy workload and ability to rack up both rushing yards and receptions. However, Week 17 presents a tough matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense that is stout against the run.
The Vikings have allowed the second-least yards per rush attempt this season, making it difficult for any running back to find success on the ground consistently. Even more concerning for Jacobs' fantasy outlook is that Minnesota has allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns, making it difficult for him to capitalize on scoring opportunities near the goal line.
In addition to their dominance against the run, the Vikings have been solid against receiving backs, allowing the eighth-fewest receiving yards per game to running backs. This severely limits Jacobs' potential for additional PPR production, especially if the Packers find themselves trailing and forced to abandon the run.
If Jacobs' current owner is riding high on his strong season but is unaware of the tough matchup, now is the perfect time to sell high. Jacobs’ value is unlikely to be higher than it is right now, but with a challenging Week 17 matchup, he might not deliver the type of explosive performance needed to close out the fantasy season.
This could be your chance to sell Jacobs for a high return and target a running back with a more favorable matchup or consistent production.
WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins has been a steady fantasy contributor this season, but Week 17 brings a tough matchup that may present an ideal opportunity to sell high. The Cincinnati Bengals face the Denver Broncos, an exceptional defense against the pass, allowing fewer than 220 yards per game through the air.
To make matters worse, the weather conditions for this game could further complicate the passing attack, likely reducing overall passing volume and creating a more challenging environment for both teams' quarterbacks and wide receivers. Higgins has also been nursing some injuries.
#Bengals WR Tee Higgins (questionable, ankle/knee) improved every day in practice and there's optimism he can play Sat. vs. #Broncos, barring new development, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 27, 2024
On top of the tough matchup and weather concerns, Higgins' role in the Bengals' offense is consistently overshadowed by fellow wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who commands a significant portion of the target share. While Higgins remains a talented and important part of the offense, he is often the secondary option in the Bengals' high-powered passing attack, limiting his ceiling.
Furthermore, Higgins could draw the assignment of Broncos shutdown cornerback Pat Surtain, one of the league's top cover corners. With Surtain likely to match up with Higgins throughout the game, it is even more difficult for him to produce big numbers, especially in a game with challenging conditions.
If a fantasy manager overvalues Higgins based on his season-long consistency or recent performances, now is the time to sell. The tough matchup, potential weather issues, and likely low target volume make this a prime week to move on from Higgins and look for a wide receiver with a better Week 17 outlook.
RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Rico Dowdle has had a rollercoaster season, showing flashes of potential but struggling with consistency. Week 17 presents a tough challenge for him as the Dallas Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles, who boast one of the league’s most formidable defenses. The Eagles have given up the fewest PPR points to running backs this season, making it one of the least favorable matchups for any backfield.
📊RB Matchups for Week 17 Fantasy Football
Rico Dowdle's matchup against PHI this week is -5.1 PPR
After adjusting for RBs faced, PHI's defense gives up 5.1 FEWER PPR fantasy points to RBs than expected
It's time to SIT Rico Dowdle in fantasy football based on the matchup pic.twitter.com/jmonM1XnFN
— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) December 24, 2024
Dowdle’s recent performances have been up and down, and in his previous meeting against the Eagles, he was primarily held in check. Despite being the primary back for the Cowboys in recent weeks, his upside is limited by the strength of the Eagles' run defense.
Additionally, the resurgence of Ezekiel Elliott, who found the end zone last week, could further eat into Dowdle’s workload and scoring opportunities. The return of Elliott is a significant factor, as it creates an even more crowded backfield for the Cowboys, limiting Dowdle’s fantasy ceiling.
Given the tough matchup, Dowdle’s inconsistent usage, and the looming threat of Elliott siphoning work from him, now might be the perfect time to sell high. If you’ve been riding Dowdle's recent success, it’s wise to move him before Week 17.
His value could plummet after facing a stout Eagles defense, and you might be able to trade him out for a more reliable option heading into the championship week.
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