Week 17 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)

For many of us, the fantasy season is over, but for those who play on Week 17, we’ve got your back. It’s tricky playing the championship on Week 17 when some teams rest their starters and others can potentially pull them if the team is up big. Remember to keep an eye on the playoff probabilities to help gauge which teams fall into these categories.

Make sure to listen to the Fantasy Footballers Week 17 Waivers episode for Andy, Mike, and Jason’s take on these players, who you should target, and who you can drop to make room on your squad. Also, check out the Week 16 Snap Count Observations, Target Report, and Injury Recap to help make the best decision for the championship weekend.

WRs

Nelson Agholor, Raiders (Rostered: ESPN 34% / Yahoo 51%)
Week 17: @DEN
Week 16: vs MIA — 6 targets for 5/155/1

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (Rostered: ESPN 44% / Yahoo 44%)
Week 17: @NYG
Week 16: vs PHI — 8 targets for 6/121/2

Sterling Shepard, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 59% / Yahoo 44%)
Week 17: DAL
Week 16: 12 targets for 9/77/1

Russell Gage, Falcons (Rostered: ESPN 31% / Yahoo 38%)
Week 17: @TB
Week 16: @KC –5 targets for 4/23/0

Rashard Higgins, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 19% / Yahoo 23%)
Week 17: PIT
Week 16: COVID-19 Reserve

Jakobi Meyers, Patriots (Rostered: ESPN 37% / Yahoo 32%)
Week 17: NYJ
Week 16: BUF — 6 targets for 4/45/0

Keke Coutee, Texans (Rostered: ESPN 29% / Yahoo 43%)
Week 17: TEN
Week 16: vs CIN — 5 targets for 5/54/0 — 1 fumble

Emmanuel Sanders, Saints (Rostered: ESPN 58% / Yahoo 61%)
Week 17: @CAR
Week 16 vs MIN — 5 targets for 4/83/0 — 1/12/0 rushing

Zach Pascal, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 5%)
Week 17: JAX
Week 16 @PIT: 6 targets for 3/64/1

Tyron Johnson, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 3% / Yahoo 13%)
Week 17: @KC
Week 16 vs DEN: 3 targets for 3/26/0

For the first time in 2020, there are just a handful of names that I do NOT like for Week 17 so I will focus on my favorites. Michael Gallup, Emmanuel Sanders, and Zach Pascal are at the top of my waiver WRs.

Gallup finally exploded the way many analysts had hoped he would at the beginning of the year. There was a glimpse of his potential when Andy Dalton took over after Dak Prescott was injured but it had not come to fruition until Week 16. CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper are both still around and healthy, so Gallup will have competition. However, now that the connection between Dalton and Gallup has blossomed, his opportunity against the Giants’ defense is sky-high.

With both Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith on injured reserve, Sanders is the de facto WR1 for the Saints. That didn’t do much for Sanders last week, but that game belonged firmly in the hands of RB Alvin Kamara who scored six touchdowns. The Saints may be in a position to rest Kamara at half time or in the fourth quarter, which would give Sanders ample opportunity to flourish.

Zach Pascal has turned into what we all wanted Michael Pittman to become over the last few weeks. After being virtually invisible over the previous six weeks, Pascal erupted in the passing game with two touchdowns on six targets in Week 15 and then a touchdown last week on six targets against the Steelers. The Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed five touchdowns to WRs in the past four weeks giving Pascal the opportunity to continue his push as the go-to receiver for Philip Rivers.

RBs

Darrel Williams, Chiefs (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 3%)
Week 17: LAC
Week 16: 10/46/0 — 6 targets for 4/27/0

AJ Dillon, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 3% / Yahoo 8%)
Week 17: @CHI
Week 16: vs TEN — 21/124/2 — 1 target for 1/5/0

Malcolm Brown, Rams (Rostered: ESPN 33% / Yahoo 19%)
Week 17: ARI
Week 16 @SEA: 7/27/0 — 3 targets for 1/8/0

Gus Edwards, Ravens (Rostered: ESPN 24% / Yahoo 40%)
Week 17: @CIN
Week 16 vs NYG — 15/85/0 — 2 targets for 2/37/0

Dare Ogunbowale, Jaguars (Rostered: ESPN 3% / Yahoo 8%)
Week 17: @IND
Week 16 vs CHI — 14/71/0 — 5 targets for 3/7/0

La’Mical Perine, Jets (Rostered: ESPN 6% / Yahoo 11%)
Week 17: @NE
Week 16 vs CLE — 9/30/0 — 2 targets for 1/14/0

Ito Smith, Falcons (Rostered: ESPN 5% / Yahoo 14%)
Week 17: @TB
Week 16 @KC — 10/46/0 — 1 target for 1/5/0 — 1 fumble

Samaje Perine, Bengals (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 2%)
Week 17: BAL
Week 16 @HOU — 13/95/2 — 4 targets for 4/41/0

Sony Michel, Patriots (Rostered: ESPN 16% / Yahoo 18%)
Week 17: NYJ
Week 16 vs BUF — 10/69/0

Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers (Rostered: ESPN 4% / Yahoo 4%)
Week 17: ATL
Week 16 @DET — 15/62/0 — 2 targets for 1/7/0

I know the performance wasn’t all that great, but Rams RB Malcolm Brown is an option for Week 17. Fellow RB Darrell Henderson suffered a high ankle sprain last week after Cam Akers was forced to miss that game, also with a high ankle sprain. Brown is about the only one left. On top of that, QB Jared Goff just underwent surgery on his broken thumb and will likely miss Week 17. Brown is a must-start on volume alone against the Cardinals.

Rookie RB A.J. Dillon had a breakout game during the snowy matchup against the Tennessee Titans with 124 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. He was something special to watch on the field after Aaron Jones was sidelined with a hip injury. If Jones continues to battle the injury, Dillon could pick up right where he left off this week against Chicago.

If you are in a deeper league, you may need to check out Dare Ogunbawale, if James Robinson is forced to miss another week. The matchup against the Colts isn’t ideal, but he received the majority of the workload in Robinson’s absence for the Jaguars.

TEs

Irv Smith Jr., Vikings (Rostered: ESPN 6% / Yahoo 15%)
Week 17: @DET
Week 16: @NO — 9 targets for 6/53/2

Austin Hooper, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 57% / Yahoo 61%)
Week 17: PIT
Week 16 @NYJ — 15 targets for 7/71/0

Jimmy Graham, Bears (Rostered: ESPN 34% / Yahoo 27%)
Week 17: GB
Week 16 @JAX — 5 targets for 4/69/2

Let’s not mince words here. Pick up Irv Smith. I am shocked he is only 6% rostered in ESPN leagues and 15% Yahoo, but if you need a spot start at TE, then Smith should be your guy. They play Detroit who has been beleaguered, to say the least. There is a possibility QB Kirk Cousins spreads the ball around or Dalvin Cook takes over, but Smith has the best opportunity among tight ends on the waiver wire.

If all of the Browns WRs are still on COVID-19 reserve due to some tomfoolery with a hot tub, then Hooper may also be an option. However, if the receivers continue to test negative, then they will be active for Week 17.

Remember to listen to this week’s Waiver Wire episode for the Footballers QB and DST streamers.

Good luck this week and bring home that championship title!

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