Week 17 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)
Championship Week waivers! Below is a list of the players to target if you need a Week 17 pickup. Listen or watch today’s Week 17 Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers podcast for a full breakdown of these waiver adds.
Wide Receivers
| Team | Player | Roster % | Upcoming |
| BUF | Isaiah McKenzie | 1% | vs ATL vs NYJ |
| MIN | KJ Osborn | 15% | @ GB vs CHI |
| GB | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 43% | vs MIN @ DET |
| GB | Allen Lazard | 20% | vs MIN @ DET |
| LAC | Josh Palmer | 12% | vs DEN @ LV |
| LV | Zay Jones | 2% | @ IND vs LAC |
| JAX | Laquon Treadwell | 2% | @ NE vs IND |
Missing Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley didn’t seem to phase Josh Allen who found Isaiah McKenzie 11 times on 12 targets for 125 yards and touchdown in a tough matchup against the Patriots. The Bills will face Atlanta who have allowed the fourth-most points to wide receivers this season. At 1% rostered, he is widely available and should be at the top of your waiver priority.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen aggravated his ankle injury on Sunday against the Rams after logging only three catches on three targets for 40 yards. By some shocking miracle, K.J. Osborn is somehow only 15% rostered despite putting up double-digit fantasy points in three out of his last four outings. The Vikings will face Green Bay in Week 17, which isn’t the best matchup in terms of defense against wide receivers. That shouldn’t matter too much to Kirk Cousins who will be looking for his pass catchers to move the chains and score points against their division rival who they have already beaten once this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings defense is incredibly porous against wide receivers. Deciding which receiver between Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard will be a coin toss. It’s nearly impossible to predict who the WR2 will be between the two on any given game behind Davante Adams. Both players have high upside but they also carry tremendous risk. MVS may still be on the reserve/COVID-list when you are reading this as well.
Listen or watch today’s Week 17 Waivers episode to hear how The Fantasy Footballers are prioritizing these wideouts and who you can drop to pick them up!
Running Backs
| Team | Player | Roster % | Upcoming |
| TB | Ronald Jones | 48% | @ NYJ vs CAR |
| KC | Darrel Williams | 63% | @ CIN @ DEN |
| SF | Jeff Wilson | 63% | vs HOU @ LAR |
| PHI | Boston Scott | 34% | @ WAS vs DAL |
| PHI | Jordan Howard | 21% | @ WAS vs DAL |
| KC | Derrick Gore | 5% | @ CIN @ DEN |
| HOU | Rex Burkhead | 13% | @ SF vs TEN |
| JAX | Dare Ogunbowale | 0% | @ NE vs IND |
| TB | Ke’Shawn Vaughn | 4% | @ NYJ vs CAR |
The Eagles have announced that Miles Sanders has a broken hand and has already been ruled out for this week. After he exited the game, Boston Scott and Jordan Howard split carries until Howard left with a stinger. He is still listed as questionable with a “neck” designation, but his status is unclear for Week 17. Out of the two, I lean Boston Scott because of the injury issue to Howard. He also scored a touchdown before Howard left the game on 12 carries and 41 yards to finish.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn broke the hearts of Ronald Jones managers with his early touchdown that frankly came out of nowhere. Still, both running backs could be available against the Jets. The game script is heavily in favor of the Buccaneers getting up early and then relying on the run between both backs in Leonard Fournette’s absence.
If you are really desperate, Dare Ogunbowale is available everywhere. There is a reason for that, but desperate times call for desperate measures. James Robinson suffered an Achilles injury and he is unlikely to play in Week 17. Ogunbowale had 17 carries for 57 yards and touchdown as well as two receptions on four targets for 15 yards. Buyer beware… the beleaguered Jaguars will face the New England Patriots.
Get the full breakdown of these RBs on today’s Week 17 Waivers episode.
Tight Ends
| Team | Player | Roster % | Upcoming |
| MIN | Tyler Conklin | 47% | @ GB vs CHI |
| CHI | Cole Kmet | 40% | vs NYG @ MIN |
| SEA | Gerald Everett | 30% | vs DET @ ARI |
| IND | Mo Alie-Cox | 12% | vs LV @ JAX |
| LV | Foster Moreau | 5% | @ IND vs LAC |
Out of the available tight ends, Tyler Conklin and Cole Kmet are the options. They are not great options, though. Conklin may see an increased opportunity if Thielen misses time and Green Bay can be exploited at the TE position.
Kmet is the very definition of a vanilla fill-in. It gets the job done, but there aren’t any fun flavors or toppings to get you really excited about the dessert. The Bears will face their division rivals in the New Giants so there is a chance Kmet could have an increased fantasy output, but he will mainly be there as a warm body to fill the spot.
If you’re doing the TE dumpster dive this week, listen/watch The Fantasy Footballers discuss these options on today’s Week 17 Waivers show.
Team DEF/ST
| Team | Roster % | Upcoming |
| Chicago Bears | 42% | vs NYG @ MIN |
| Cleveland Browns | 39% | @ PIT vs CIN |
| Carolina Panthers | 46% | @ NO @ TB |
| Indianapolis Colts | 37% | vs LV @ JAX |
| Seattle Seahawks | 14% | vs DET @ ARI |
Get the full breakdown from The Fantasy Footballers on the Week 17 Waivers episode! Good luck on your waiver claims!
Comments
Haha…Yeah, the division of suck.
Stay on top of Injuries & Covid & guys who not only will, but also those who could miss time. Especially in deeper rostered leagues or 12+team leagues.
My 14 team league I added Gore, Gainwell, Akers, Zay Jones & Mecole Hardman for my championship matchup to replace injured guys or guys who at this point don’t have much chance to do anything. I basically swapped out 3/4 of my bench. And chances are, I might have to play a couple since I lost CMC, Godwin, and missed boarded on my Michael Thomas dart throw. It irks me, cuz I’m in championship without those guys but have done it on smoke & mirrors and it feels like I would be stone cold lock had I not had such bad luck. But bad luck is relative since I am in championship game so hard to complain.
But best be sure I’m gonna be keeping an eye on Jordan Howard in PHI & CHE in KC. Cuz I am starting; Brady
Kittle
Antonio Brown
Damien Harris
Christian Kirk
1 of Elijah Mitch/Jeff Wilson
Donta Foreman
Browns DEF
And it’ll leave me 1 open slot in said 14 team lead. Had Hubbard not busted I could’ve slid him in after CMC injury but that turned out to be wasted pick. And I already mentioned Godwin/Thomas injuries as well and I took Rhomondre Stevenson too. Solid team for 14 imo if not for injuries. So basically it’s down to Gore/Gainwell/Zay Jones/Cam Akers
Unless Michel gets COVID(knock on wood) it’s prob Zay right now, But maybe Gainwell or Gore if those respective teams play without CEH/Howard. I dropped MIA DEF couple months ago & luckily that hasn’t haunted me yet. Carolina did just fine for awhile. But now I’m going CLE for champ and going against MiA DEF. Really hoping that drop doesn’t come back and haunt me but chances are, it’s
Kyler,
Barkley,
Cooper,
Waller
Javonte Williams
Dallas Goedert
Ogunbowale
And PeoplesJones
That I’m gonna have to worry bout this week since MIA ain’t playing Book again, thank god
Bears will face their division rival in the New York Giants? Say what?!