If your championship is decided in Week 17 of the NFL season you need to do two things: First, read this article (check). Second, you need to change your league settings for next season. Week 17 is a minefield of players being placed on IR for nicks and bruises, and teams who have clinched their playoff spot resting their studs. It is not an adequate measure of the season as a whole. If you are stuck with or choose to have these settings, Week 17 does offer some interesting opportunities off the waiver wire. The Footballers will discuss their top picks on the podcast.
Wide Receivers
Adam Thielen vs CHI (ESPN 25%, Yahoo 29%)
I’ll spare you the pop culture references on this one. Adam Thielen has played well enough on this offense to keep 1st round pick Laquon Treadwell on the sidelines. He has earned Sam Bradford’s trust and he deserves yours too.
Marqise Lee @ IND (ESPN 12%, Yahoo 17%)
Blake Bortles had a very un-Bortles-like game last week. Look for Bortles to continue to sling the ball around against the Colts secondary. After all, it’s not like Marqise Lee loses points for Bortles’ interceptions.
Will Fuller V @ TEN (ESPN 35%, Yahoo 37%)
The Titans secondary has completely collapsed down the stretch. If you need a home run play, this is it.
Robert Woods @ NYJ (ESPN 7%, Yahoo 10%)
I don’t know what to expect from Buffalo this week. An interim head coach and a QB change mean uncertainty in the passing game.
Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs BAL (ESPN 86%, Yahoo 80%)
Good news! Cody Kessler will be under center again for Week 17. Some of Pryor’s best performances this season have come with the rookie at the helm.
Keenan Allen IR (ESPN 5.2%, Yahoo 16%)
Keenan Allen is a stand in for any player who may have been dropped but has value as a keeper under your league rules. Don’t forget about next season.
Running Backs
Jacquizz Rodgers vs CAR (ESPN 17%, Yahoo 18%)
Doug Martin will be a healthy scratch again in Week 17, which means more work for Tampa’s other undersized workhorse.
Alex Collins @ SF (ESPN 2%, Yahoo 1%)
He plays RB, he faces San Francisco. He checks all the boxes.
Shaun Draughn vs SEA (ESPN 1%, Yahoo 1%)
DuJuan Harris vs SEA (ESPN 6%, Yahoo 8%)
Carlos Hyde will obviously miss this game with a torn MCL. If you are desperate you can start Draughn (PPR) or Harris (Standard) against Seattle.
Alfred Blue @ TEN (ESPN 19%, Yahoo 8%)
It is unlikely that Lamar Miller will suit up for this game with the Texans’ division title in hand. Alfred Blue is the kind of backup RB that the team isn’t afraid to lean on.
Chris Ivory @ IND (ESPN 42%, Yahoo 39%)
T.J. Yeldon is on IR. This means the workload will be there and Ivory managed 100 total yards last week with a TD.
Damien Williams vs NE (ESPN 3%, Yahoo 3%)
The Dolphins have secured a spot in the playoffs and they will need Ajayi at 100% to have a chance against the likes of Pittsburgh and Kansas City. Damien Williams will likely shoulder the load while Ajayi rests his shoulder.
Ronnie Hillman vs KC (ESPN 4%, Yahoo 3%)
Melvin Gordon
?
Danny Woodhead Branden Oliver Dexter McCluster Kenneth Farrow Ronnie Hillman, c’mon down! You’re the next contestant on Try to Survive a Football Game.
Deangelo Williams @ CLE (ESPN 18%, Yahoo 19%)
Fitzgerald Toussaint @ CLE (ESPN 0.4%, Yahoo 1%)
Le’Veon Bell should be rested or at the very least receive a minimal workload in Week 17. This means Williams will get the call, if healthy. If both Bell and Williams sit, Toussaint is an interesting play against Cleveland.
Tight Ends
Charles Clay @ NYJ (ESPN 17%, Yahoo 18%)
Clay has been a reliable asset in fantasy football over the last month. He is the best TE available.
Dennis Pitta @ CIN (ESPN 45%, Yahoo 37%)
More reliable in PPR formats, Pitta has been heavily targeted by his buddy Joe Flacco.
Brandon Myers vs CAR (ESPN 0%, Yahoo 0%)
Allow me to save you the google search: Brandon Myers plays TE for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers vs CLE (ESPN 37.5%, Yahoo 42%)
Steelers at home against the Cleveland Browns. What more do you need?
Houston Texans @ TEN (ESPN 59.3%, Yahoo 50%)
Remember that one time Matt Cassel put up a monster game without throwing multiple picks? Neither do I.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs CAR (ESPN 11.4%, Yahoo 14%)
Carolina is a surprisingly good matchup for fantasy defenses. They are giving up the 9th most points to opposing defenses.
Buffalo Bills @ NYJ (ESPN 72.4%, Yahoo 64%)
Rob Ryan is no longer pulling the strings on this Bills defense and they get to defend Ryan “Picks” Patrick.
The post Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17 appeared first on The Fantasy Footballers Podcast.