Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire: Trey Lance, Boston Scott, Isaiah McKenzie among top potential options
Players who can help you in Week 17 -- the Fantasy playoffs
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2 min read
If you're reading this, you probably made it to your Fantasy championship, which is awesome. Now it's time to finish the job and get that title. Hopefully, your starting lineup is locked in, but you might have a few tweaks to make.
We know there are some crucial running back injuries for Week 17, including James Robinson (Achilles), Miles Sanders (hand) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder), among others. And of course, there are a slew of players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Keep it locked and loaded on CCBS Sports and HQ for updates.
Thankfully, there are quality replacement options on the waiver wire, and several of them could be difference makers in your Fantasy championship. So let's get to it, and good luck to all of you in your quest for a title.
Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Week 16 Waivers
WAIVER WIRE
Quarterbacks
- Injuries: Lamar Jackson (ankle), Derek Carr (ribs), Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb), Taysom Hill (COVID), Teddy Bridgewater (concussion), Justin Fields (ankle) and Tyler Huntley (COVID).
Quarterback
Week 17 Priority List
Lance could start this week if Garoppolo can't go, and Lance should be considered a streamer in all leagues with his matchup against Houston. In two extended appearances this season, Lance scored 29 Fantasy points against Seattle in Week 4, as well as 15 Fantasy points at Arizona in Week 6. He's yet to throw for 200 yards in a game, but he did rush for at least 41 yards in each outing. The 49ers will likely run all over the Texans this week, but Lance could have a hand in that. And two of the past three opposing quarterbacks against Houston have scored at least 18 Fantasy points.
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We'll see if Jackson or Huntley can return this week, but Johnson would be serviceable again if both are out. In a spot start in Week 16 at Cincinnati, Johnson handled himself well with 304 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception, along with 10 rushing yards. He has a tougher matchup in Week 17 against the Rams, but Johnson could be a streamer in deeper leagues. There's also the chance Huntley (29 percent rostered) starts if healthy and Jackson remains out, and Huntley scored 39 Fantasy points in his last start against the Packers at home in Week 15.
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Mills is making a strong case to be Houston's starter in 2022, and he scored at least 18 Fantasy points in three games in a row, including 22 points against the Chargers in Week 16. The Stanford product gets to face the 49ers in Week 17, and San Francisco has allowed two of the past four opposing quarterbacks to score at least 20 Fantasy points. In deeper leagues, Mills could be a sneaky starting option, especially if Brandin Cooks (COVID) is healthy for this matchup.
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WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
- Injuries: James Robinson (Achilles), Miles Sanders (hand), Jordan Howard (neck), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder), Dalvin Cook (COVID), James Conner (heel), D'Andre Swift (shoulder), Darrell Henderson (knee), am Akers (Achilles), Leonard Fournette (hamstring), Elijah Mitchell (knee), Kareem Hunt (ankle), Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID) and David Johnson (COVID).
- Check to see if available: Jeff Wilson (68 percent). If Mitchell remains out for the 49ers then Wilson should be considered a must-start Fantasy running back in all leagues against the Texans in Week 17. He has at least 14 PPR points in consecutive games, and Houston is No. 3 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. And with Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) banged up, the 49ers could lean even more on their ground game in this matchup, which would be great for Wilson.
Running Back
Week 17 Priority List
Sanders has already been ruled out for Week 17, and Howard is dealing with a stinger. If both can't play against Washington then Scott would be considered a quality No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He has four games this season with at least 11 carries, and he either scored a touchdown or had at least 100 total yards in each outing. Philadelphia just played Washington in Week 15, and the combination of Sanders and Howard had 33 carries for 200 yards, along with two catches for 15 yards. Kenneth Gainwell (28 percent rostered) would share touches with Scott, and Gainwell is worth adding in deeper leagues. You should also plan to add Howard (28 percent rostered) in case he's cleared to play. If that happens then he's most likely the lead back ahead of Scott and Gainwell.
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I don't want to start Ogunbowale in Week 17 at New England, but he could be a flex option in deeper leagues as the replacement for James Robinson. In Week 16 at the Jets, Ogunbowale stepped in when Robinson went down and finished with 17 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 15 yards on four targets. The Patriots have allowed a touchdown to a running back in three of their past four games, and hopefully the Jaguars lean on Ogunbowale in this matchup for any Fantasy managers in deeper leagues who might have to start him.
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Burkhead doesn't have an easy matchup in Week 17 at San Francisco, but he does benefit with David Johnson potentially out. Johnson didn't play in Week 16 against the Chargers, and Burkhead went off with 22 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, as well as two catches for no yards on two targets. It's the first time he scored a touchdown since Week 8 and only the third time he's scored double digits in PPR this season. His expected workload at San Francisco makes him a potential flex option in all leagues, and hopefully he can deliver a quality stat line for the second week in a row. The problem is the 49ers have allowed one touchdown to a running back in their past three games.
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Darrel Williams will lead the Chiefs backfield if Edwards-Helaire is out, and Williams is worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. But don't overlook Gore in deeper formats. He has three games this season with at least 11 total touches, and he scored at least 13 PPR points in two of them. He has the potential to be a flex option in deeper leagues in what should be a high-scoring game at Cincinnati in Week 17.
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There's a chance the Rams could activate Akers in Week 17 with Henderson out, and Akers could be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Sony Michel. Most likely, Jake Funk will fill that role, and Michel has been dominating touches anyway for the Rams. It's an amazing story that Akers could play this season after rupturing his Achilles in July, but most likely he won't make an impact for Fantasy managers in Week 17. Still, with the way the 2021 season has gone, would it surprise you if Akers did something of significance? He could just be worth adding as a good luck charm for your Fantasy championship.
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WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
- Injuries: Mike Evans (COVID), Adam Thielen (ankle), Mike Williams (COVID), Brandin Cooks (COVID), Julio Jones (COVID), Cole Beasley (COVID), Gabriel Davis (COVID), Calvin Ridley (personal), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (COVID), Jamison Crowder (calf), Rondale Moore (COVID), Laviska Shenault (COVID), Nick Westbrook (COVID), Jalen Guyton (COVID), Josh Reynolds (COVID), Bryan Edwards (COVID) and Nelson Agholor (concussion).
- Check to see if available: Amon-Ra St. Brown (77 percent rostered) and Tyler Boyd (73 percent). St. Brown put on an impressive show in Week 16 at Atlanta despite Jared Goff being out with nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. He's now scored at least 15 PPR points in four games in a row, with at least 11 targets, eight catches and 73 yards in each outing, including three touchdowns over that span. ... Boyd has scored at least 13 PPR points in three of his past four games, and he has touchdowns in consecutive outings against Denver and Baltimore. He's worth using again as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues despite the success of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, and the Bengals could be in a shootout with the Chiefs in Week 17, which bodes well for all three Cincinnati receivers.
Wide receiver
Week 17 Priority List
McKenzie was a star in Week 16 at New England with Beasley and Davis out, and McKenzie could have a prominent role again in Week 17 against Atlanta if both remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Against the Patriots, McKenzie had 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets, and it was great to see Josh Allen trust him in a huge game. The matchup with the Falcons is great since Atlanta is No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and McKenzie could be considered a starting Fantasy option in all leagues.
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Lazard scored 13 PPR points in Week 16 against Cleveland, and he's now scored a touchdown in two of his past three games. It could have been three games in a row, but Aaron Rodgers missed Lazard in the end zone in Week 15 at Baltimore. We'll see if Valdes-Scantling can play in Week 17 against Minnesota, but if he's out again then Lazard should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues. With Valdes-Scantling, Lazard is still worth starting in all three-receiver formats against the Vikings, who are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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Osborn should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues if Thielen is out, and he's done well as a fill-in option this season in Minnesota and for Fantasy managers. Osborn has seven games this season with at least six targets, and he scored at least 14 PPR points in six of those outings. With the Vikings likely chasing points in Week 17 at Green Bay, Osborn should have the chance for six-plus targets, which makes him at least a starter in three-receiver leagues if Thielen can't play.
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Mike Williams is out for Week 17, which means Palmer should see an increase in playing time, even if Guyton is cleared to return. In Week 16 at Houston with Williams and Guyton out, Palmer had five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on six targets, and he scored at least 15 PPR points in two of his past three games. It's not an easy matchup against Denver in Week 16, but I would use Palmer as a starter in three-receiver leagues with Williams not cleared to return.
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Perriman was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, and he could step into a prominent role for the Buccaneers right away in Week 17. Chris Godwin (ACL) is out, and Evans is likely going to miss Week 17 as well. With both out in Week 16 at Carolina, the combination of Cyril Grayson, Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson had three catches for 81 yards on four targets opposite Antonio Brown. Perriman could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Jets, and this is a revenge game for him after spending 2020 in New York.
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WAIVER WIRE
Tight Ends
- Injuries: Travis Kelce (COVID), Darren Waller (knee), Pat Freiermuth (concussion), Jack Doyle (ankle) and Adam Trautman (COVID).
Tight End
Week 17 Priority List
Everett has become a must-start Fantasy tight end in all leagues. He has three touchdowns in his past five games, and he scored at least 10 PPR points in four outings over that span. He should continue to be a solid contributor in Week 17 against the Lions, who have allowed eight tight ends to score at least nine PPR points in their past five games, including three touchdowns.
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After three down games in place of Waller, Moreau has picked up his production in his past two outings with at least 10 PPR points in each game against the Browns and Broncos. He has a favorable matchup in Week 17 at the Colts, who have allowed seven tight ends to score at least 11 PPR points in their past eight games. Moreau is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues if Waller remains out in Week 17.
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Kmet has yet to score a touchdown this season, but maybe it happens this week against the Giants. We'll see who starts at quarterback for Chicago this week, but hopefully Kmet remains a viable target. He has two games with at least 13 PPR points in his past five outings, and the Giants have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in two of their past three games.
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Conklin hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 10, and he has only one game with more than eight PPR points in his past six outings. But with the Vikings likely chasing points at Green Bay in Week 17, Conklin could be a sneaky sleeper in all leagues. The Packers have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends in their past six games, and six tight ends have scored at least nine PPR points over that span.
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Uzomah hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7, so he's due. He has at least six targets in three of his past four games, and I like the potential of his Week 17 game against the Chiefs becoming a high-scoring affair. In deeper leagues, Uzomah could be a potential starter as a top target for Joe Burrow.
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WAIVER WIRE
DST
- Bears (29 percent rostered) vs. NYG
- Titans (55 percent rostered) vs. MIA
- Steelers (61 percent rostered) vs. CLE
WAIVER WIRE
KICKERS
- Brett Maher (3 percent rostered) vs. CAR
- Mike Badgley (36 percent rostered) vs. LV
- Randy Bullock (24 percent rostered) vs. MIA
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