Week 17 Waiver Wire – NFL Fantasy Football – 2024

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.

Follow Gthom on the cesspool they call X, or Twitter, or whatever it’s called @GarettThomas.

 

QUARTERBACKS

Caleb Williams (CHI) – 44%

Only a handful of quarterbacks have outperformed Williams in fantasy since Week 12. From Weeks 12 to 16, Williams ranks as the seventh-best quarterback overall and is averaging 20.0 fantasy points per game. During this time, Williams has averaged 251 passing yards, 27.2 rushing yards, 2.0 passing touchdowns, and not thrown a single interception.

His next game will be against the Seattle Seahawks. Over their last three games, Seattle has been scorched by quarterbacks, allowing an average of 20.1 fantasy points per game. That 20.1 figure would be the third-most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks when compared to the entire 2024 season.

Bryce Young (CAR) – 5%

Young finished off his second 20-plus fantasy point day in four games after his Week 16 game against the Cardinals. Against Arizona, the second-year quarterback flashed his arm and legs. He finished 17 of 26 for 158 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, and added five carries for 68 yards and one touchdown on the ground. His 68 rushing yards were a career high for a single game.

The former Heisman winner will play the Buccaneers next. In Week 13, Young scored 23.6 fantasy points against Tampa Bay. This was done on the back of 21 of 35 for 263 passing yards and one touchdown in the air and three carries for 20 yards on the ground. For the season, Tampa Bay allows 20.4 fantasy points per game, and that is the second-highest clip in the NFL this season.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 48%

Spears is heating up over the last two weeks. He has scored 27.2 and 21.6 PPR points, respectively, during that time. The second-year back has primarily shined as a receiver and a goal-line back. Over his last two games, he has caught nine passes for 126 receiving yards and one touchdown and carried the ball 14 times for 32 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The positive aspect of Spears’ low yards-per-carry average during this sample is that he leads the Titans’ backfield with four goal-line attempts (or inside the five-yard line) compared to Tony Pollard’s one attempt during the same time frame. Managers can expect that trend to continue as well. Tennessee has had issues turning the ball over at the quarterback position all season, and running the ball during goal-to-go situations makes quite a bit of sense when this is the case.

The Titans will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, and they are allowing 22.2 Half PPR points per game to opposing backs over their last four games. When compared to all of 2024 that figure ranks 11th worst in the NFL.

Patrick Taylor Jr. (SF) – 33%

Taylor burned managers in Week 16. Against the Dolphins, the 49ers never got their running game going; as a team, they had only 18 rushing attempts compared to 40 passing attempts. Additionally, Taylor never found his rhythm. He finished with eight carries for 24 rushing yards, his longest rush being nine yards. The positive takeaway is that Taylor received 100 percent of the workload among 49ers running backs, which is very rare in the NFL; worth noting that Deebo Samuel is a receiver who gets carries out of the backfield, he saw five against the Dolphins.

The 49ers will desperately want to establish the run against the Lions in Week 17, but their work will be cut out for them. The Lions allow the sixth-fewest running back fantasy points, but San Francisco needs establish the run to properly run their offensive scheme. On a brighter note, the Lions have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns to running backs this season, which is tied for the 13th most in the NFL.

If Guerendo is healthy enough to play, he is the back to start for the 49ers. If Guerendo doesn’t play, managers can cautiously rely on Taylor as a FLEX/RB3 option.

Tank Bigsby (JAC) – 47%

The “Tank” finished with 12 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown on the ground and added one catch for one yard, good for 10.1 PPR points. He remains a FLEX/RB3 option for managers due to his consistent double-digit touch count each game. Additionally, the Jaguars will be facing the Titans. Tennessee is allowing opposing backs to score 33.3 Half PPR points over their last four games. That would be a league-worst amount (by over five fantasy points) if compared to all NFL teams for the 2024 season.

Bigsby has shown flashes of brilliance when he gets consistent opportunities. With a tight, low-scoring game projected and Jacksonville expected to win, Bigsby could easily have another breakout week like in Week 5 or Week 7. During those weeks, he scored 25.9 and 23.8 PPR points, respectively.

Kendre Miller (NO) – 47.6% (To be Updated After MNF)

Miller emerges as a priority waiver add following Alvin Kamara’s early exit during Week 15’s game against the Commanders. With the Saints likely to miss the playoffs, rushing Kamara back would not benefit his long-term health, and a cautious approach makes sense for their prized offensive weapon.

Miller has seen limited action this season but would be the most dynamic back in the Saints’ backfield. In four games this season, Miller has posted 130 rushing yards on 28 carries (4.64 yards per carry) and one touchdown. He has added two catches for one yard as well. If Kamara were to play in Week 16, Miller would not be playable.

Lastly, it would be naïve to assume Jamaal Williams or Adam Prentice won’t factor into the backfield with Kamara shelved. Any usage by Williams or Prentice would cut into Miller’s workload. As a result, Miller is a speculative FLEX option in Week 16 against a tough Green Bay Packers defense. The Saints are projected as 13.5-point underdogs, playing with a tandem of backup quarterbacks.

Trey Benson (ARI) – 18%

James Conner exited Week 17 with a knee injury and never returned. If Conner should miss time, Benson would certainly see an increase in his workload. During Weeks 9 and 10, when Conner was banged up but still played, Benson finished with eight carries for 37 yards and one touchdown, adding one catch for 18 yards in Week 9, and 10 carries for 62 yards with two catches for 25 yards in Week 10.

If Conner plays, all other backs in Arizona are off the table. If Conner misses, then Benson would be the only attractive option in this backfield unless Benson were to miss Week 17 as well. In that scenario, Michael Carter or DeeJay Dallas would be the duo Arizona utilizes. Both Carter and Dallas would be tough to trust.

Alexander Mattison (LV) – 48%

He finished with 12 carries for 27 yards and one touchdown on the ground and added four catches for 29 yards receiving, good for 15.6 PPR points in Week 16. This was Mattison’s second game back after missing three games. Next on tap for the Raiders is a bout against the Saints. In New Orleans’ 14 games this season, their defense allows the 12th-most fantasy points to the running back position in 2024.

Anytime you play a Raiders running back, you are playing Russian roulette because the play can quickly go sideways on you since they heavily rotate their running back roles, and Vegas constantly trails in their games. That said, Mattison played more of the snaps for the Raiders in Week 16, but Abdullah was much more efficient on the ground and as a receiver.

Both backs will have roles in Week 17, but Mattison’s might be a little more guaranteed given his experience and usage throughout the 2024 season.

Ameer Abdullah (LV) – 24%

Abdullah will carry PPR value for managers desperate at the position. Over his last two games, Abdullah has caught 12 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown, combined. While his receiving ability has been clearly displayed, he has not been bad on the ground either, logging 10 carries for 46 yards and one touchdown.

The issue with trusting Abdullah—aside from being a running back on a team that often plays from behind—is that the Raiders’ coaching staff is known for feeding whoever performs best on any given day. This creates volatility and opportunities for other backs on the roster to take over. With that in mind, Abdullah is clearly going to be a receiving weapon for the Raiders down the stretch.

Abdullah and the Raiders play the Saints next, and their defense allows the 12th-most fantasy points to the running back position in 2024. While Abdullah is in play, his floor feels shakier than Alexander Mattison’s (the other Raiders running back). Mattison seems to be the preferred back on first and second downs, and that is why he gets the nod over Abdullah in Week 17.

Running Back Handcuffs with Low-End FLEX Usage

• Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
• Ty Johnson (BUF)

Running Backs to Stash Only

• Ray Davis (BUF)
• Cam Akers (MIN)
• Blake Corum (LAR)
• Craig Reynolds (DET)
• Devin Singletary (NYG)

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Jalen McMillan (TB) – 33%

McMillan is in top form heading into Week 17 against Carolina. Over the past three weeks, he is the WR11 overall in Half-PPR, averaging 16.7 points per game. In these three games, he is averaging 63.6 receiving yards, 6.6 targets, 4.6 receptions, and 1.3 touchdowns.

Facing off against the Panthers may be just what fantasy managers need from McMillan, too. Over the last five weeks, Carolina is allowing 28.0 Half-PPR points per game to the receiver position. That figure would rank as the 11th worst in the NFL if compared to the rest of the NFL across the 2024 season.

Romeo Doubs (GB) – 42% (To be Updated After MNF)

Doubs jumped right back into the receiver rotation in Week 15, nearly leading the entire receiver room in snaps. The third-year receiver finished with three catches for 40 yards and two touchdowns on five targets. This small yet impactful stat line demonstrates the exact type of player Doubs is: boom-or-bust.

Doubs has posted single-digit fantasy points in seven of his 11 games. Even with the lack of targets, he can provide a fantasy spark that few others on the waiver wire can. He has three games with 17 or more PPR points, and this Packers offense remains highly efficient

Hollywood Brown (KC) – 29%

While Brown cannot be fully trusted, he certainly fits the mold of a player with a high ceiling but a shaky floor. Brown profiles as a fast, vertical receiver, and just last season with the Cardinals (in only 14 games), he ranked 21st in deep targets, 28th in air yards, and 37th in average depth of target among all receivers.

The Chiefs are searching for a consistent playmaker at the receiver position and have yet to find that player since Rashee Rice went down with an injury. It is within the realm of possibilities that Brown could fill that role for Kansas City. Managers will need to see this happen in Week 17 and beyond, as Brown’s first game with the Chiefs resulted in five catches for 45 yards on eight targets, good for 9.5 PPR points. The biggest concern was the low 27 percent of snaps he played.

If managers are starting Brown in Week 17 against the Steelers, they need to set proper expectations. The veteran receiver has the potential to reach 20-plus fantasy points in a single week, but he will need to play significantly more snaps than he did in Week 16. Additionally, the Chiefs spread the ball around quite a bit, which also can be to Browns demise.

David Moore (CAR) – 1%

Moore led the team with 90 percent of snaps in Week 16, largely thanks to Xavier Legette’s inactive status and Adam Thielen playing only 59 percent of snaps. This created opportunities for Moore to capitalize efficiently against the Cardinals. Moore finished with two catches for 39 yards and one touchdown on three targets, scoring 11.9 PPR points.

In Week 17, the Panthers will face the Buccaneers, who are allowing 30.0 Half-PPR points per game to receivers over their last four games. That figure would rank tied for seventh most in the NFL when compared to the full 2024 season. This favorable matchup, coupled with the likelihood that Xavier Legette could miss Week 17, makes Moore a FLEX or WR3 option for managers. However, if Legette suits up, Moore likely loses the small amount of trust he earned from managers.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NO) – 21% (To be Updated After MNF)

With a rotation of quarterbacks operating under center for New Orleans, Valdes-Scantling remains a low-floor, high-ceiling option on the waiver wire. The veteran receiver has shown he only needs two or three catches to score more than 15 PPR points, but he has failed to reach 10 PPR points in each of his last two games. Despite this, he has received 14 targets during that span.

Valdes-Scantling remains a viable option for fantasy managers hoping for another big game, but it could lead to fool’s gold. He faces the Packers in Week 16, and they have been tough against opposing receivers, ranking as the seventh-stingiest unit in the NFL this season.

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Chig Okonkwo (TEN) – 6%

With back-to-back weeks of 13.5 or more PPR points, Okonkwo may be a streaming option and a diamond in the rough. Breaking down his last two performances, Okonkwo finished with eight catches for 59 yards in Week 15 and nine catches for 81 yards in Week 16. He received 10 and 11 targets, respectively.

Next on the schedule is the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags are allowing 11.1 Half PPR points to opposing tight ends over the last nine weeks. That figure would rank Jacksonville as the seventh-worst defense against tight ends, if compared to the entire 2024 season.

Okonkwo plays for a shaky Titans offense, but they need consistent pass-catching weapons, and Okonkwo provides that. Additionally, Mason Rudolph seems to be better for the Titans’ fantasy assets, and he should get the start again in Week 17.

Dalton Schultz (HOU) – 44%

With Tank Dell going down to a knee injury, Houston will need pass catchers to step up. Since Week 13, Schultz has been contributing too. Over his last three games, he has respectively finished with five catches for 61 yards and one touchdown, two catches for 13 yards, and five catches for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Another positive trend is that Schultz is tied for the most red zone targets in Houston since Week 13. Tight ends largely deliver their value via touchdowns, and Schultz has delivered two touchdowns in his last three games. Next on his schedule are the Ravens, who allow 10.2 Half PPR points to the tight end position this season.