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Michael Florio's deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy football sleepers for Week 17. His top free agent options for 14-team fantasy leagues or deeper.
Championship week is here. This is the reason we study all summer long, set waivers and lineups and live and die with our team each week – all is done in the quest to bring home a title. If you are still reading this you are either in the title game or maybe just a big fan of waiver wire articles, but lets be honest: no one is that big of a fan of waiver wire articles.
Setting waivers in the final week is different than any other week. There is literally no tomorrow, so any player you are not starting can be dropped, as long as its not a player your opponent would pick up and start. Any player that is injured can definitely be dropped (different in dynasty and keeper leagues). Plus, since all that matters now is your starting lineup, you should prioritize whoever you would be picking up and starting. Typically, the top add each week is a running back or receiver, but if you have been streaming QB, TE, or even a defense or kicker, then prioritize that position first since you will actually start them.
Lastly, its okay to use waiver claims to pick up players to block your opponent. For example, last week I was playing someone with Antonio Gibson, who was truly up in the air. I grabbed Jaret Patterson and because that was the late game, my opponent chose to bench Gibson for Tyler Johnson. It worked out tremendously in my favor. If you can grab a backup running back like that, or perhaps its a QB or TE to block your opponent from having the top streaming option, do it. All is fair in love and fantasy football!
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 17
Trey Lance is the top streaming QB option for championship week. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a chipped bone and torn ligament in his right thumb and is in doubt for this weekend, per Ian Rapoport. Lance would start against the Houston Texans, who give up 141.3 rushing yards per game, tied for the second most in the NFL. Lance, who is a superb runner, would certainly take advantage of that. He scored 14.58 fantasy points in his lone start against the Cardinals, but this is a much better matchup this time around. We also saw him score over 20 points in one half against the Seahawks this season. In a week without great streaming options at the QB position, Lance is a savior for those in need. He is a borderline QB1 with more upside in a strong matchup.
Boston Scott and Jordan Howard are back in play after Miles Sanders broke his hand in Week 16. Howard is reportedly dealing with a stinger, which would propel Scott ahead of him in the priority order. Scott played 32 percent of the snaps and carries the ball 12 times for 41 yards and a score. He had more carries yards and touchdowns, while Howard played 35 percent of the snaps with nine carries for 37 yards, while seeing four targets, tied for the second most on the Eagles. If Howard sits, Scott would definitely be in play as an RB2. If both suit up, they are both flex options in a favorable matchup and the more valuable one likely comes down to who scores the TD.
Dare Ogunbowale is the new lead back for the Jags after James Robinson tore his achilles and Carlos Hyde was placed on IR last week. In Week 16, he played 83 percent of the snaps with 17 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown. He was also targeted four times, catching two for 15 yards. He will have a tough task facing the Patriots next week, but volume alone puts him in play as a flex option. Those in deeper leagues should definitely be grabbing him off the waiver wire.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn played 36 percent of the snaps and saw seven carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his damage came on a 55-yard run, but that sort of explosiveness should excite you. He will continue to play in a secondary role, but for those in a deeper leagues, he brings explosiveness in a great matchup against the Jets, who allow the most fantasy PPG to RBs this season. He is a streamer in deeper formats.
Isaiah McKenzie was targeted 12 times, the second most on the Bills. He led the Bills in both catches (11) and receiving yards (125) and scored a touchdown. Gabriel Davis has already been ruled out for Week 17 as he is unvaccinated and Cole Beasley will take it down to the wire himself. The Bills face the Falcons next week, who allow the fourth most fantasy PPG to WRs. He gets a huge boost if Beasley is out next week, but even if he suits up, McKenzie is a flex option, especially in deeper leagues.
Josh Palmer saw six targets, catching five of them for 43 yards and a touchdown, playing in lieu of Mike Williams. He will be doing so again this week as Williams has already been ruled out. Palmer has stepped up when asked to this season and given the opportunity he will see in Week 17, he is in play as a WR3 or flex option against the Broncos.
Kadarius Toney returned for the Giants in Week 16 and saw a team-high nine targets. He did not turn it into much production, catching four for 28 yards, but the volume is great to see. The Giants face the Bears next week, who are in the top third of the league in fantasy PPG allowed to receivers. The volume, paired with the matchup and the explosiveness Toney has shown makes him a high upside flex option.
Robby Anderson saw 10 targets in Week 16, the most on the Panthers. He was able to catch five of them for 58 yards. Anderson has seen at least eight targets in each of his last three games, with 30 total in that span. He has scored at least nine fantasy points in all three of those games and showed his ceiling a bit going for over 21 a couple weeks ago. This week he faces the Saints, who allow the eighth most fantasy PPG to receivers. The volume and matchup makes him a flex option in deeper formats.
Zay Jones saw a team-high eight targets, catching six of them for 50 yards against the Broncos in Week 16, good for 11 fantasy points. Jones now has at least seven targets in three straight games and in four of the past five. He has topped double-digit fantasy points in two straight games and in three of his last five. Defenses are giving more attention to Hunter Renfrow and the Raiders have needed someone else stepping up. Jones has been that option. Plus, they will take a deep shot or two each week with him. He is a streaming option in deeper leagues against the Colts.
These tight ends might not be out there in deeper leagues, but if they are, they are definitely the top options this week. Firs up is Gerald Everett, who scored a season-high 16.8 fantasy points last week. He has now scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games. He also remains a consistent option for the Seahawks in the red zone and is the top TE option if available. If not, Tyler Higbee would be as he returned and caught five of six targets for 41 yards. He has scored nine fantasy points in two straight and four of five, plus he faces the Ravens this week who are in the top five in fantasy PPG allowed to tight ends this season. Lastly, there is Cole Kmet, who now has at least five targets in five straight games with over seven in four of them. He brings a safe floor with some upside.
Ricky Seals-Jones saw John Bates get more work in Week 16, but that could be because it was a blowout or it could be a changing at the guard for the Football Team. Bates played 74 percent of the snaps while RSJ played 46, and Bates out targeted Seals-Jones three to one against the Cowboys. The only reason for interest in either is they face the Eagles, who give up the most fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Two weeks ago, Seals-Jones saw seven targets against Philly. He would be the preferred option of the two, but the uncertainty makes both deeper streaming options for Week 17.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelFFlorio
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