Should I Pick Up Gardner Minshew For Fantasy Football Week 17? Waiver Wire Outlook

Week 17 of the NFL season serves as a "make or break" proposition for most fantasy managers, as the vast majority of leagues are holding their championship finals this week.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew was pressed into action in place of incumbent starter Jalen Hurts last week against the Dallas Cowboys.

What did Minshew do in Week 16? Should you pick him up in fantasy leagues ahead of Week 17?

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What Did Gardner Minshew Do In Week 16?

The former starting QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars proved himself to be one of the better backup quarterback options in the NFL with his Week 16 performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

Minshew completed 24 of 40 pass attempts for 355 yards and two TDs against the rival Cowboys in last week's 40-34 loss. The Washington State product did also throw two INTs in the losing effort, but his 22.7 fantasy points in standard leagues was a great return for fantasy managers that rolled the dice on him in their league playoffs.

Should I Pick Up Gardner Minshew Off the Waiver Wire In Week 17?

Adding Minshew is a no-brainer for Jalen Hurts' managers, though that should have already been done last week.

His Week 17 fantasy viability will, obviously, hinge on Hurts' injury status. The incumbent Eagles starter is dealing with a separated throwing shoulder, an injury he suffered in a Week 15 victory over the Chicago Bears. As of this writing, Hurts' availability for Week 17's game against the New Orleans Saints is still in doubt.

Assuming Hurts can't suit up against the Saints this week, Minshew will once again be a strong substitute. While he doesn't possess Hurts' rushing ability, the Philadelphia coaching staff entrusted him to attempt 40 passes last week against the Dallas Cowboys and Minshew proved up to the task from a fantasy standpoint.

With a talented pass-catching group that includes A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, Minshew deserves serious fantasy consideration in Week 17. He can be started in place of Hurts in all leagues and is a must-start in 2QB and SuperFlex formats.

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