To steal an expression from the King of Kings, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Triple H of WWE fame:
For many of you this is it: Fantasy Football Championship Week.
It is the time of year when many go home empty-handed, with their head hung down low in disappointment, while one person raises their hand in victory and proclaims they are the BEST. Some of you in your leagues may be repeating as champion. For others, you may be achieving that accomplishment for the first time. Either way, this is the end of the road for us all in the 2024 Fantasy Football season, so if we’re going to go out, why not assemble the best championship-worthy rosters during the last week?
That’s where these IDP Waiver Wire for Week 17 (2024) recommendations come in handy. YOU may think your roster is bulletproof and without holes, but I know some of your opponents might think differently. Therefore, this article goes out to those looking to snatch up more high-quality players on your league’s waiver wire so other league mates won’t get them, OR for those desperate managers looking for last glimmers of hope to help them win a title.
Now, as HHH, has also has stated throughout his career, it is officially Time To Play The Game!
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Defensive Tackle Zach Sieler, Miami: It’s not often one recommends an interior defensive lineman as an overall DL recommendation, but Zach Sieler isn’t an ordinary defensive tackle. Over the past five weeks, Sieler has been second among all Miami Dolphins’ defensive linemen in pressures applied to the Quarterback and has led the team in sacks during that time, per PFF.
Using FantasyPros IDP scoring, Sieler has ranked as the DL7 overall, averaging 12.9 PPG in those five weeks. Furthermore, during those five weeks, he has tallied 18 total tackles (10 solo / 8 Assists), 7 TFLs, 9 QB Hits, and six sacks, placing him in the Top 10 among defensive linemen in each category. On Sleeper, he is rostered in only 11% of leagues, while on ESPN and Yahoo, he’s rostered in 13% of leagues. Definitely someone who will provide upside for SOME FANTASY MANAGER during championship week.
Hint, Hint.
EDGE K’lavon Chaisson, Las Vegas: Maxx Crosby, who?! I’m kidding, I’m kidding! That being said, since Maxx Crosby declared himself out for the rest of the season, it’s been Chaisson who has been taking his opportunities and running with them by accounting for five pressures and one sack with a 16.8% win rate against offensive linemen during the past two weeks along with seven total tackles.
He’s averaged 9.0 PPG during the past two weeks, which has placed him in the DL20 overall in FantasyPros IDP scoring formats during that time. In Week 16, he tallied three total tackles, one sack, one TFL, one QB Hit, and even a pass deflection for 11 fantasy points. For those who roster defensive linemen that have been “sack or bust” this season, consider adding K’Lavon Chaisson as his consistency these past two weeks bodes well for future production.
LINEBACKERS
LB Henry To’oto’o, Houston: Even with Christian Harris starting to resume close to 100% of snaps in this linebacker corps, Henry To’oto’o has been right there with him. In his last four weeks, he has averaged 13.8 FantasyPros IDP PPG on 29 total tackles, ranking him as the LB27. This week, he has an advantageous matchup versus Baltimore, as Houston ranks 11th in the fewest rushing yards allowed to teams on the season. Mix in the fact that To’oto’o is a highly graded run-stopping tackling machine, evidenced by his team-leading 37 defensive stops on the season; he’s someone you shouldn’t leave lying around on your league’s waiver wire.
LB Darius Muasau, New York Giants: “The Micah McFadden Experiment” didn’t last long in New York, as in Week 16, we saw Darius Muasau leading the linebacking corps in defensive snaps and tackles for “Big Blue” finishing as the LB20 with 13.8 FantasyPros IDP points on 11 total tackles. With Bobby Okereke out for the season, it looks like Muasau is in line for the majority of snaps going forward with the Giants. Given his decreasing missed tackle rate over the past few weeks, it looks like his tackling upside, plus his tackle efficiency, should keep him firmly locked in as the LB1 for the Giants going forward. Please don’t leave an LB1 on your league’s waiver wire for any team.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
S Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Battle finished as the DB6 in Week 16, tallying 7 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, and an interception. Playing the majority of box snaps again this past week, Jordan Battle is a set-it-and-forget-it defensive back for fantasy managers, as his proximity to the ball helps in run-assisting defensive plays and will help to improve up the Bengals’ middle-of-the-pack run-stopping defensive unit.
S Ar’Darius Washington, Baltimore: Look, Gary Davenport, The Godfather of IDP, got it right last week, and I’m echoing his sentiments this week. While fellow safety Kyle Hamilton has played more box snaps than Washington, he HAS been making impact plays on the ball; whether in the form of an interception or a forced fumble, his presence has been felt by IDP fantasy managers. He has been close enough to the line of scrimmage to help out in run support, yet he has been poor enough in coverage that opposing teams often target him, giving him opportunities to make plays on the ball. He’s definitely a waiver wire add for those in desperation mode looking for some upside during championship week.
