The majority of fantasy football leagues come to an end this week. It has been a long and, at times, frustrating process navigating the waiver wire.
While the majority of us have seen our seasons end with disappointment, we’re still here to give our takes on the top suggestions on the waiver wire as the fantasy football season concludes.
Even for those of us who have been eliminated, this can be a good chance to find some DFS dart throws or simply keep up with storylines heading into the offseason.
Before we get to it, though, I’d like to thank you for sticking with us all season. We wouldn’t be here without the readers. It’s a privilege to write about fantasy football — let alone have people actually read it. Even though the suggestions haven’t always worked out, we couldn’t be more appreciative of the time you’ve spent with us this season and, hopefully, some of you benefited from our advice.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
Because it’s Week 17, the focus is going to be more on one-week plays for the championships, but we’ll also throw in some potential stashes for Week 18 considering some leagues are still playing at that time.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Coming off the best fantasy football performance of his career, Young threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 5-68-1 rushing line. He’s the QB2 on the week entering Monday night. Now, Young gets a rematch against a reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, a unit he scored 23.6 fantasy points against in Week 13. He’s one of the top streaming options available this week despite the risks.
Availability: 93%
FAAB: 20%
QB Kenny Pickett, Philadelphia Eagles
Few managers likely survived Jalen Hurts exiting in the first quarter with a concussion. Pickett was serviceable in relief, throwing for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It’s not the most ideal play if Hurts is out for Week 17, but the Eagles draw the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and multiple touchdown passes in three of the last five weeks. Pickett is a true “break glass” emergency option if Hurts is out.
Availability: 100%
FAAB: 0-1%
RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
This one bears monitoring. Starter James Conner exited the Week 16 game with a knee injury, but Benson himself was inactive due to an ankle injury. However, if Benson returns and Conner is limited or inactive (Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention), the rookie running back would be a fringe RB2 option against the Los Angeles Rams. The other option is Michael Carter (100% available), but even if he’s alone in the backfield, he would be more of a desperation RB3 play with a capped ceiling.
Availability: 82%
FAAB: 25%
WR Olamide Zaccheaus, Washington Commanders
Talk about getting nasty. This may be considered chasing points after Zaccheaus posted a 5-70-2 receiving line last week, but he has 12 targets over his last two games with Noah Brown on the Reserve/injured list. Washington technically still has a chance at the division, so they won’t be letting off the gas. Zaccheaus draws a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, and there’s some juice here as a potential desperation dart throw.
Availability: 100%
FAAB: 15%
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
As the leader in the backfield once again, Mattison put together a serviceable outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mattison enters Monday night as the RB18 on the week after posting a 12-27-1 rushing line while adding four receptions for 29 receiving yards on seven targets. It won’t be a joyful watch, but Mattison is still a back-end RB2 option for Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 30%
RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Miller and the Saints play Monday night, so we’ll see how that goes. He’s also rostered in roughly half of Yahoo leagues, so there’s simply a chance he’s not available. If he is, though, he could be a worthwhile addition for Week 17 if things go well against the Green Bay Packers. He draws a matchup against a Raiders defense that has largely struggled against the run this season, so if he’s the clear lead back, there is some upside here.
Availability: 54%
FAAB: 40%
WR Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
Making his season debut after a scary preseason injury, Brown was pretty involved. The former first-round pick posted five receptions for 45 yards on eight targets in his debut. That’s nothing to write home about, but it was clear the Chiefs wanted to get him involved. A matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 isn’t ideal, but they’ve struggled a bit more against slot receivers. Brown played eight of 20 snaps in the slot, so if he’s in line for a bigger workload, he could have a flex-worthy outing.
Availability: 68%
FAAB: 10%
WR Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos
A true desperation play in Week 17, this is solely based on the hope that Mims comes away with an explosive play against a struggling defense. Mims is coming off playing a season-high 47% of the snaps, which he turned in three receptions for 62 yards on five targets. The matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals is ideal. Their secondary has struggled all season long, and Joe Burrow is likely to put up a lot of points on the other side.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 5%
TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson plays Monday night, so this will be something to monitor. With rookie Spencer Rattler under center, it could go either way. With that said, he draws a favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders, so he’s likely to be in the streaming category regardless.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: 5%
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo came through with a massive performance in Week 16, posting nine receptions for 81 yards on 11 targets against the Indianapolis Colts. He’s seen 21 targets over his last two games combined and now draws a matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Availability: 94%
FAAB: 5%
Indianapolis Colts D/ST
The Colts may have given up 30 points to the Titans last week, but they also came away with a sack and three interceptions. In Week 17, they get to play the New York Giants. Enough said there.
Availability: 53%
FAAB: 10%
Grab-n-Stash
For the Grab-n-Stash section, we’re looking solely at preemptive streaming moves for the Week 18 matchups.
QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (54% available)
Wilson ends his regular season with a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who coule very well still be fighting for a playoff spot. Wilson finished as the QB2 with 414 yards and three touchdowns in Week 13 against Cincy.
QB Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (97% available)
It feels gross because it is. Jones probably won’t be a league-winner, but he’s been serviceable over the last two weeks. The Jaguars end the regular season with a road matchup against a Colts defense that has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in each of the last two games.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (68% available)
Vying for the division lead, the Falcons won’t be resting Bijan Robinson. However, Allgeier could get some extra work in a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers run defense in Week 18.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (94% available)
The Eagles get to end their season with a matchup against the New York Giants yet again. Saquon Barkley could break the rushing record against his former team, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gainwell saw some extra work in what could be a blowout.
RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (94% available)
The Lions proved Jahmyr Gibbs will handle the bulk of the work with David Montgomery (knee) out for a while. Reynolds was technically the next man up in terms of snaps, but it amount to just five opportunities. Still, he could get some extra work in what should be a high-scoring affair in Week 18 between two juggernauts.
WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (86% available)
He was inactive for Week 16 due to a concussion. If he’s back by the regular-season finale, Pierce could be a factor as a deep threat against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
WR Calvin Austin, Pittsburgh Steelers (92% available)
Though George Pickens is expected to be back by Week 18, Austin has been a solid receiver averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game over his last five. The matchup against the Bengals should be conducive for fantasy points, so there are worst shots to take.
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (74% available)
Maybe he catches a touchdown against the Houston Texans as one final hurrah?
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (67% available)
He’s coming off a rough performance in Week 16 after exploding the week prior. Most tight ends are difficult to trust, and Strange is no different. What managers can trust is the Colts’ lack of awareness that the tight end position exists.
TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (78% available)
Mark Andrews has rounded into form, but Likely is still a factor in the offense. The matchup isn’t amazing, but Lamar Jackson is playing at an MVP level, so there’s always a chance Likely finds the end zone.
