Waiver Wire: Week 17
Happy Festivus! And welcome to Championship Week! This is what all that work was for. Congratulations on overcoming all the adversity 2024 threw at us. With only one week left, our Waiver Wire: Week 17 will help you fortify that final roster.
This is not the time to change your routine or get cute with lineups. Keep doing what you’ve been doing. However, it is smart to be proactive in adding depth, especially if it blocks your opponent from reinforcing their roster.
Along with knowing who to pick up, FullTime Fantasy‘s Matchup Analyzer Tool will help you get the most out of your lineup.
NOTE: There are TWO games on Christmas🎄 and THREE Saturday games this week.
Alexander Mattison (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – In his return to the lineup, Mattison totaled 56 yards and a score. What was encouraging was the 16 touches that Mattison absorbed. The Raiders are just playing out the string but Mattison’s high-volume role makes him the top add to target where he is available. Also, teammate Ameer Abdullah remains a viable flex option in PPR formats.
Trey Benson (RB) Arizona Cardinals – James Conner suffered a knee injury in the second half of Week 16’s loss. With Arizona mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, there is a good chance that Conner won’t play again this season. That puts Benson in a position to take over as Arizona’s starter. However, Benson missed last week due to an ankle injury. That injury isn’t considered serious, but if Benson can’t play a committee of Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas doesn’t offer nearly as much fantasy appeal.
Jalen McMillian (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Over the last three games, McMillian has reeled in 11-of-16 targets for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Those 44.9 PPR points rank 19th overall. Additionally, McMillian and the Bucs have a tasty Week 17 matchup at home against the Panthers. McMillian is a solid WR3/flex in any format and the top wideout to add ahead of title week.
Kendre Miller (RB) New Orleans Saints – Like the Cards, the Saints’ season is essentially over. Therefore, it may mean that we have seen the last of Alvin Kamara in 2024. This is being written before New Orleans’ Monday Night Football appearance, but Miller is expected to take over as the club’s main running back. That gives him significant value as a potential flex option against the lowly Raiders.
Audric Estime (RB) Denver Broncos – With Jaleel McLaughlin out, Estime led the Broncos in carries. If McLaughlin misses another week, Estime would be on the RB3/flex line.
Patrick Taylor (RB) San Francisco 49ers – Taylor logged nine touches as San Francisco’s latest (fourth) man up. This week, the Niners host the Lions in a game that should be among the highest-scoring contests of the slate. Taylor has some RB3/flex appeal.
Kayshon Boutte (WR) New England Patriots – Boutte has his best game of the season on Sunday, catching 5-of-7 targets for a career-best 95 yards and a touchdown. He has now drawn five-plus targets in seven of his last eight outings. That is excellent volume for a player that is rostered in well under 10% of fantasy leagues.
Marquise Brown (WR) Kansas City Chiefs – Hollywood’s 2024 debut went better than expected. He drew an impressive eight targets in 16 snaps. We can’t expect that kind of massive target share every week, but it was encouraging to see Brown generate 45 yards for the Chiefs.
Tyjae Spears (RB) Tennessee Titans – In back-to-back games Spears has scored two touchdowns. Tony Pollard is also dealing with an ankle injury, which opens the door for Spears to continue to see valuable reps.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE) Tennessee Titans – Okonkwo is coming off of his best game of the season. He’s drawn 21 targets over the past two games and has an excellent shot at keeping that positive momentum moving forward in Week 17 facing a horrendous Jacksonville pass defense.
Tyler Conkin (TE) New York Jets – After missing a week to see the birth of his child, Conklin had his highest yardage total (59) since Week 3. He will be on the TE2 radar in a game where the Jets are double-digit underdogs.
Brandin Cooks (WR) Dallas Cowboys – Dallas has nothing to play for, which could encourage them to sit CeeDee Lamb, who is dealing with a bothersome shoulder. Cooks would act as the Cowboys’ No. 1 wideout if Lamb sits. Even if Lamb plays, Cooks gets enough looks to warrant WR4/flex value.
John Metchie (WR) Houston Texans – Tank Dell will miss a significant amount of time with a major knee injury. Houston has now lost two of their top wideouts. Metchie was regularly out-snapping Robert Woods and we expect DeMeco Ryans to employ a committee to replace Dell. Metchie has the most upside, with Woods and Xavier Hutchinson mixing in. None of these options are recommended plays versus the Chiefs’ staunch pass defense on Christmas. However, desperate managers in deeper leagues could gamble that Metchie or Woods generate decent target numbers in the second half of a game where Houston is favored to lose. Additionally, the Texans put in a waiver claim and added Diontae Johnson to the mix.
Streaming QuarterbacksÂ
Matthew Stafford vs. ArizonaÂ
Caleb Williams vs. Seattle
Bryce Young at Tampa Bay
