Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Week 17, and it’s win-or-go-home time for your fantasy squads if you’re in your fantasy championship! It could also be your semifinals, but either way, there’s a LOT at stake!
We set off to find the best waiver wire options of the week so you don’t have to because we know how important having a ton of information will be now that we’re in the fantasy playoffs. We’ll set you up for success heading into Week 17’s action.
Note: All rostership percentages use Sleeper for this Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire (2024) article.
Quarterback:
Bryce Young – Sleeper Roster – 14%
- After one of his worst games in this recent stretch since getting back in the saddle as starting quarterback, Bryce Young bounced back in a huge way as the fantasy QB2 before Monday Night Football. With two touchdowns passing and 65 yards with a rushing score, Young took advantage of a great matchup against the Cardinals at home.
- Young gets to flex his muscles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa in Week 17, and if you’re in need of a starting quarterback for the fantasy semi-finals or championship, Young gets the Buccaneers in Week 17. Tampa allows the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, so those with quarterback problems heading into Week 17 will find Young to be a stopgap solution.
Drake Maye – Sleeper Roster – 24%
- Averaging 19 fantasy points per game in his past three games, Drake Maye has risen above his not-so-great surroundings to post manageable, solid numbers for those who have started him. Maye always provides a rushing floor, and he added 30 yards rushing on top of 261 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 16 against Buffalo.
- Despite turning the ball over twice, Maye and the Patriots hung around with the Bills way longer than anybody thought they would (myself included), so it’s a bit safe to say we can start Maye in most matchups. He gets the Chargers in Week 17, who haven’t been a great pass defense as of late and are in the bottom-half of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.
Mason Rudolph – Sleeper Roster – 4%
- For the last week, I’ve called Mason Rudolph “the adult in the room” compared to Will Levis, who has been the big kid at the kid’s table for weeks now. The Titans put up 30 points in the losing effort to the Indianapolis Colts but threw for two touchdowns and 252 yards passing. While he threw three interceptions on the afternoon, Rudolph kept team competitive.
- The Titans will travel down to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars, the worst pass-defense in the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, EPA per pass attempt, DVOA, and most other metrics you can find. While it’s not the sexiest of plays, Rudolph is a nice option for two-quarterback leagues or in deeper leagues.
Running Back:
Audric Estime – Sleeper Roster – 12%
- While the Denver Broncos’ backfield committee has been a nightmare to track, keep up with, and find fantasy options from, Audric Estime has carved out some efficiency and solid production. That could grow in a larger role as Estime averaged over 5.0 yards per carry on Thursday night and earned 48 rushing yards on nine carries with a score.
- With the Bengals on tap in Week 17, Cincinnati is in the bottom half of the NFL in fantasy points allowed to running backs. While Javonte Williams will be involved in the offensive game plan when he’s healthy, Estime was the rusher of choice as Estime more than doubled Williams in carries (9-to-4) despite Williams taking 52% of snaps and 48% of routes. Estime is at worst a solid bench addition and a desperation flex in a good matchup.
Michael Carter – Sleeper Roster – 0%
- With James Conner leaving the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, Michael Carter was pressed into action and out-snapped DeeJay Dallas 25-to-16 in Week 16. To say the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield is banged up is an understatement with Dallas himself questionable heading into Week 16’s game against the Panthers, plus Emari Demercado on injured reserve and Trey Benson also missing this afternoon’s game with an ankle injury.
- We obviously do not know how this backfield will shake out, but the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16, so the team may not rush Conner back and could just run Carter out in tandem with Dallas or Benson. At worst, Carter can be the receiving complement to either back and at best, he can be the last man standing and take the entire role for the Cardinals to run out the clock on the season. Either way, Carter is a solid addition to your fantasy roster for the end of the season.
Ameer Abdullah – Sleeper Roster – 30%
- The shuffling of backs in this Las Vegas Raiders’ offense has been reminiscent of swapping deck chairs on the Titanic, but at the very least, Ameer Abdullah has been serviceable for fantasy managers over the last few weeks. Now that Alexander Mattison is back in the lineup and Sincere McCormick is out for the season, both Mattison and Abdullah have split the backfield role for the Raiders to somewhat surprising success.
- In Week 16 against the Jaguars, Abdullah averaged just shy of 6.0 yards per carry with 38 yards rushing on seven carries with a touchdown. He also caught 5-of-6 targets for 47 yards, so compiling PPR value has been Abdullah’s calling card this season. With the Saints on deck for the Raiders, Abdullah is a solid flex option for fantasy managers looking to sneak some points on the ledger in Week 17.
Wide Receiver:
Hollywood Brown – Sleeper Roster – 34%
- Making his season debut at the perfect time for the Kansas City Chiefs was Hollywood Brown, who immediately made his presence known and felt by finishing second on the team in targets (8) on a very limited routes share (33%). That’s a massive 53.3% targets per route run, so the Chiefs had clear and obvious intent to get the ball to him in Week 16 against the Texans.
- Brown should continue to earn more routes and while he may not be up to an 80% routes player next week or in Week 18, he should at the very least displace and earn some routes that are going to players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Justin Watson as the team looks for an offensive spark to ignite at the playoff time. Brown should be a universal add in fantasy leagues and he’s an instant flex for fantasy managers despite a touch matchup on deck against the Steelers.
Jalen McMillan – Sleeper Roster – 49%
- In the biz, we call this touchdown thing Jalen McMillan is doing a “streak.” That’s a good thing and the Buccaneers are using the attention focused on Mike Evans to their benefit by feeding McMillan the ball in the red zone and downfield. Week 16’s 5-57-1 line on six targets added to his glowing late-season surge, as McMillan is averaging 19 fantasy points per game in his past three contests.
- The Buccaneers will head home to host the Panthers in Week 18, who have been a plus matchup for opposing wide receiver groups, so it’s all systems go for McMillan and company. McMillan is rostered in half of leagues at this point, but that number will skyrocket after his third straight game with a score. If he’s available in your fantasy league, spare no expense.
Wan’Dale Robinson – Sleeper Roster – 42%
- While Robinson has been super productive over the past eight games with just once double-digit fantasy game in that span, Robinson has averaged over 10 targets per game in his last three games and had his best performance since Week 5 with a 7-62 line on 12 targets.
- Robinson is a PPR-focused addition to your fantasy roster and a floor play through and through, but simply put: target-earning is a skill. He’s earning them and while the state of the offense isn’t great, Robinson is a functional and solid second target for whoever the quarterback is that week. Against the Colts in Week 17, Robinson should continue his “PPR scamming” ways, so add him if you need a floor-play flex option for the next week or two.
Tight End:
Chig Okonkwo – Sleeper Roster – 8%
- That’s two straight weeks of target compiling for Chig Okonkwo as he’s getting the David Njoku treatment for the Titans as Mason Rudolph is making him the “PPR scam” option at tight end alongside Calvin Ridley to form a potent one-two combo. With a 16.5 points per game average in his last two games, plus double-digit targets in both games, it’s time to take notice and add Okonkwo.
- In Week 16, Okonkwo caught all nine targets for 81 yards and then added a two-point conversion as well, finishing as TE2 on the week behind Brock Bowers. He’s been on fire with Rudolph throwing him passes, so he’s a high-end streaming option moving forward. Luckily, Okonkwo gets the Jaguars in Week 17, who allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight end. Scoop him up and if you’re hurting with a touchdown-or-bust option at tight end, Okonkwo represents a points floor at the position at a bargain-basement price.
Tyler Conklin – Sleeper Roster – 11%
- Tyler Conklin missed Week 15’s game against the Jaguars, so he couldn’t feast on that prime matchup, but in his return to the lineup in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Rams, he was a solid fantasy option as one of Aaron Rodgers’ trusted targets. Conklin earned seven targets, catching five of them for 59 yards. It was Conklin’s first double-digit fantasy point game in Week 8 against the Patriots.
- With the Bills on tap for Week 17, it’s a tougher matchup. Bills linebacker Matt Milano missed Week 16 with groin and bicep injuries, and it’s possible he could miss Week 17 too. Milano is their stalwart defender in the middle and typically locks down tight ends, so his absence will benefit Conklin. Even against the Bills in Buffalo, Conklin represents some upside at the position if you’re in dire need of somebody who, at the very least, will run 80-90% routes per dropback at worst.
Brenton Strange – Sleeper Roster – 43%
- The encore performance for Brenton Strange never came as Strange was held in check against the Raiders with just four targets and a 2-22 receiving line. Strange split time with several other depth tight ends like Luke Farrell and Josiah Deguara, which isn’t a great sign, but with the Jaguars not playing for anything, the former 2023 second-round pick Strange should continue to get the bulk of playing time.
- The Jaguars have the Tennessee Titans up next at home, so Strange can hopefully bounce back in this spot in Week 17. With tight end scoring so up and down, seeing Strange’s Week 15 with his target compiling is attractive as a streaming option. While expecting 11 catches for 73 yards on 12 targets is asking a lot, there’s no reason why he can’t put up double-digit fantasy points again in Week 17. We call this a “flop lag” spot for Strange, so I’ll give another shot to earn some meaningful targets this upcoming week.
D/ST:
Miami Dolphins – Sleeper Roster – 33%
- The Packers were a top-five fantasy defense in Week 15 after laying waste to what remained of the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers sacked the combination of Geno Smith and Sam Howell seven times, forced two interceptions, and were a constant nightmare for their offensive line all night.
- Against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, the Packers D/ST might be the best fantasy defense play this week, considering the mess that the Saints are right now, and they must travel up to Lambeau Field. Whether the Saints quarterback is Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler, the fact that they must throw to a pass-catching group missing most of their Week 1 starters is problematic enough. Add the fact that New Orleans may also be without Alvin Kamara too? If the Packers D/ST is sitting out there, they’re THE play this week in my eyes.
Indianapolis Colts – Sleeper Roster – 37%
- The Colts couldn’t completely hold their end of the bargain against the Tennessee Titans as Indianapolis allowed 30 points to the Mason Rudolph-led team. The Colts did tally a sack and three interceptions to buoy their scoring for the afternoon, but Indianapolis gets a much easier task in the most important week of the fantasy season.
- The Colts may have to travel on the road for this matchup, but they’ll get the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, where no matter who the quarterback is for the Giants, they’ll be a plus matchup. Whether it’s Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, or Tim Boyle, it doesn’t matter. The Giants have a been a fantasy D/ST goldmine for whoever appears as their opponent. Look at what the Falcons did: three sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and TWO touchdowns. Not saying that the Colts will replicate this state line, but if this is the ceiling, the floor must be juicy. They’re a priority add for anybody looking for a D/ST this upcoming week.
Los Angeles Chargers – Sleeper Roster – 38%
- The Chargers come third on this totem pole of D/ST additions, mainly because they have not played well in their last three games. Los Angeles has combined for just seven fantasy points combined against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and then the last two games against the Buccaneers and Broncos at home.
- Los Angeles will head east to play the New England Patriots in Week 17, and that’s a pretty good matchup for a Chargers team looking to get right. They could only force two sacks on Bo Nix, so they’ll look to do a lot better against an inferior offensive environment in New England. Despite how well Drake Maye has played this season, he’s not infallible, so the Chargers are a nice fallback option if you’re unable to add the Dolphins or Colts.
