It's tempting to think that owners who made their fantasy football championship game don't need any of the top Week 17 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds, but the reason they've made it this far is because they're always working the wire and looking for streamers. And you better believe there are plenty of potential upgrades with favorable matchups out there if you look hard enough.
Our full waivers list is really just a full streamers list. That's what Week 17 is all about. You're not going to play Demarcus Robinson over, say, Amari Cooper just because Robinson has a better matchup, but you might stream him, Rashid Shaheed, DJ Chark, or K.J. Osborn over someone like Terry McLaurin or Odell Beckham Jr. We have legit options at every position (though QB is really weak), so don't be afraid to weigh your options.
This week is all about making whatever waiver move is necessary to field the best lineup in your money game. Doesn't matter the position, doesn't matter the waiver priority -- do what it takes. If your lineup is set, then do whatever it takes to block your opponents from getting the players they need.
Just as important is dropping the players you don't plan on starting, even if they've been on your team all season. Late-week injuries/downgrades are always possible, so make sure your RBs (and possibly even WRs) are all handcuffed. If you're worried about your opponent picking up the players you drop, wait until Friday to make your moves so your freshly dropped players are on waivers through the weekend.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 17
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Top fantasy QB streamers for Week 17
Derek Carr, Saints (@ Buccaneers). It hasn't always been pretty, but Carr has gotten it done the past three weeks despite missing his top-three receivers for all or part of the time. During that span, he's posted 655 yards and eight total TDs, and he's coming off his best fantasy day of the season (319 yards, three TDs, two-point conversion). Yes, he was aided by garbage time, but it all counts the same. Now, he gets Tampa's 31st-ranked pass defense in a must-win game, so he should have another solid day.
After Carr, the best matchups go to uninspiring QBs like Bryce Young (@ Jaguars), Tommy DeVito/Tyrod Taylor (vs. Rams), Mason Rudolph/Kenny Pickett (@ Seahawks), and Ryan Tannehill/Will Levis (@ Texans). If you're willing to trust any of them in your championship matchup in single-QB leagues, then good luck. You're likely better off going with a high-volume guy like Nick Mullens (vs. Packers) or Jake Browning (@ Chiefs) in a neutral matchup. Even Joe Flacco (vs. Jets) in a bad matchup might be a better option given his recent play.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Top fantasy RB streamers for Week 17
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (vs. Bengals). With Isiah Pacheco in concussion protocol and Jerick McKinnon (groin) on the IR, CEH could be leading the way in the Chiefs' backfield in Week 17. He totaled 48 yards on seven touches in Week 16, and he'd likely see closer to 18 touches if Pacheco is out in Week 17. The Bengals are a slightly above-average matchup, so take advantage.
Zamir White, Raiders (@ Colts). White excelled for the second straight week with Josh Jacobs (quad) out, rushing for 145 yards on 22 carries. It's unclear if Jacobs will return for Week 17, but if he's out, White will be a borderline must-start against a Colts' defense that entered last week allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs.
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (vs. Cardinals). No team allows more fantasy points to RBs than Arizona, so Gainwell, who's played at least 40 percent of snaps in each of the past three games, has a lot of upside in what should be an Eagles' blowout.
Tyjae Spears, Titans (@ Texans). Spears continues to see a lot of touches (14 in Week 16), and his big-play ability makes him a threat on any given play. The Texans are middle of the road against RBs, but Spears' versatility makes him especially appealing in PPR formats.
Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (@ Bears). Fresh off a 14-carry game, Allgeier turned 10 touches into 88 total yards and a TD against the Colts. It's clear he's not "going away," and if he continues to see a decent number of opportunities, he always has a chance to produce flex-worthy numbers. The Bears are solid against the run but tend to give up a lot of TDs and passing stats to RBs, so Allgeier has a little more upside than it might initially look.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (vs. 49ers). With Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) out, Rodriguez led the Commanders in carries (10) for the second-straight week. Even better, he racked up 65 total yards and two TDs against the Jets, outproducing Antonio Gibson both on the ground (58 yards to 30) and through the air (7 yards to 2). A matchup against the 49ers isn't ideal, but if Robinson Jr. is out again, Rodriguez Jr. will have low-end flex value. He'll need to be monitored in practice, though, as he limped off the field late against the Jets.
Khalil Herbert, Bears (vs. Falcons). Herbert led the way in the Bears' backfield last week, totaling 121 yards and a TD on 21 touches. However, it's important to note that he had the best possible RB matchup and D'Onta Foreman (personal) was out. It's unclear if Herbert will see such a big touch share next week in a tougher matchup against Atlanta, but he's still worth grabbing and keeping away from your opponents.
Top fantasy WR streamers for Week 17
Demarcus Robinson, Rams (@ Giants). Robinson has scored in four straight games, and after catching all six targets for 82 yards in what was supposed to be a tough matchup against New Orleans last week, he's definitely in play against a Giants' defense that entered last week allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to WRs.
K.J. Osborn, Vikings (vs. Packers). Osborn has an average matchup next week (though Green Bay just struggled against Carolina's anemic passing game), but with Jordan Addison (ankle) and T.J. Hockenson (knee) both exiting early against the Lions, Osborn's target share and production took off. He finished with a 5-95-1 line against Detroit, and he should see plenty of looks next week in a huge divisional game.
DJ Chark, Panthers (@ Jaguars). Chark looked like Carolina's No. 1 receiver against the Packers, hauling in six-of-eight targets for 98 yards and two TDs. It's possible he sees just three targets next week, but with a matchup against Jacksonville's putrid pass defense, he has a lot of upside if he carries over the momentum.
Michael Thomas, Saints (@ Buccaneers). Thomas (knee) has missed the past five games, but there's a chance he returns this week against Tampa's bottom-feeding pass defense. If he's back, he's a solid plug-and-play given the matchup.
Rashid Shaheed, Saints (@ Buccaneers). Shaheed broke out with a five-catch, 70-yard, one-TD game on nine targets last week, but what makes him especially appealing is his Week 17 matchup against Tampa's 31st-ranked pass defense. If Michael Thomas (knee) remains out, Shaheed is a prime streaming option.
Cedrick Wilson Jr., Dolphins (vs. Ravens). Baltimore is typically strong against the pass, but they allowed two 100-yard receivers in Week 16, so we're optimistic the Dolphins can do some damage. With Jaylen Waddle (ankle) likely out, around a half-dozen or more targets are opened up in the passing game, and Wilson Jr., who caught three-of-five targets for 42 yards against the Cowboys, figures to see many of them. He's worth considering in deep standard leagues because of his big-play ability.
Romeo Doubs and Bo Melton, Packers (@ Vikings). Dontayvion Wicks scored last week, but he also exited early because of a chest injury. Even when Wicks was playing, Melton was seeing targets (6), so he has some deep-league appeal. Doubs is the preferred stream, though, especially if Christian Watson (hamstring), Jayden Reed (toe), and Wicks remain out. Doubs caught four-of-five targets for 79 yards and a TD last week, and this week he'll face a Vikings' defense that entered last week allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to WRs.
Brandon Johnson and Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos (vs. Chargers). With Courtland Sutton in concussion protocol, Denver spread the ball around last week, targeting Johnson five times and Mims four times. Mims led the team with 63 yards and Johnson scored, showing the reasonably solid floors and ceilings of both. Only two teams allow more fantasy points to WRs than the Chargers, so there will be plenty of receiving production to go around if Sutton remains out.
Greg Dortch and Rondale Moore, Cardinals (@ Eagles). Dortch scored and led all Cardinals' wide receivers in yards (45) on his five targets last week, and Moore had 36 total yards on his four opportunities. Neither have high floors, but a matchup against a Philadelphia defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to WRs provides plenty of upside, especially if Marquise Brown (heel) remains out.
Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (vs. Rams). The Rams entered last week allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to WRs, and then they were ripped up by Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry. The Giants' passing attack is about as bad as it gets, but at least one of these guys can make an impact, as Slayton did in Week 16 (3-90-1). We'd opt for Robinson, who saw a team-high seven targets last week, in PPR leagues and Slayton in standard leagues, but flip a coin and hope for the best if you're truly adventurous.
Top fantasy TE streamers for Week 17
Gerald Everett, Chargers (@ Broncos). Everett racked up seven catches on eight targets in Week 16, and while he totaled just 42 yards, it was still nice to see Easton Stick leaning on his veteran TE so much. No team allows more fantasy points to TEs than the Broncos, making Everett an optimal streamer this week.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (vs. Saints). Otton always seems to have favorable matchups, and his hit rate against those opponents is about 50 percent. You can live with that when he takes on a Saints' defense that entered last week allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to TEs.
Juwan Johnson, Saints (@ Buccaneers). Johnson came through in a similarly favorable matchup last week, catching four-of-seven targets for 47 yards and a TD. The Bucs came into last week tied for the sixth-most fantasy points to TEs, so Johnson can do damage once again.
Jonnu Smith, Falcons (@ Bears). Smith is the epitome of a boom-or-bust TE (though he did have a respectable 4-32 line last week), but the Bears have given up several "boom" weeks to the position, most notably a 104-yard, one-TD day to David Njoku in Week 15. Smith might have too low of a floor for fantasy championship matchups, but if you want to go for broke, you can do worse than a big-play TE facing the defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position.
Chig Okonkwo, Titans (@ Texans). Okonwko finally found the end zone in 2023 for the first time last week, and he seemed to be rejuvenated with Ryan Tannehill under center. Will Levis (ankle) could be back this week, but either way, Okonkwo is a big-play specialist, and if he's ever going to score again, it will be against a Texans' defense that entered last week tied for the sixth-most fantasy points allowed to TEs before giving up 44 yards and a score to David Njoku. Play him at your own risk, but you might just be rewarded.
Josh Oliver, Vikings (vs. Packers). Oliver will replace T.J. Hockenson (knee), and he figures to see at least six targets against Green Bay's below-average TE defense. That could be enough to give him value considering how much Minnesota relies on its TEs in the red zone.
Greg Dulcich, Broncos (vs. Chargers). Dulcich isn't a lock to return from his hamstring and foot injuries, but if he does, he's an intriguing stream given his talent and upside. He's by far the riskiest play of anyone on this list considering he did next to nothing even when he was healthy this year, but the Chargers have struggled against TEs all season, giving Dulcich some potential value.
Top fantasy defense streamers for Week 17
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Panthers). Carolina has been in the top five virtually all season in fantasy points allowed to D/STs, and even after last week's breakout, we don't see a big improvement when they go on the road to face one of the most turnover-happy defenses in the NFL. In an important game for the Jags, don't expect them to hold back on rookie Bryce Young.
Los Angeles Rams (@ Giants). The Rams did a good job holding Derek Carr and the Saints in check until garbage time, and they should have an even easier time against Tommy DeVito (or Tyrod Taylor) and the Giants' porous offensive line. New York had surrendered a whopping 76 sacks going into Week 16 -- 15 more than any other team. Take advantage.
Indianapolis Colts (vs. Raiders). Last week notwithstanding, the Colts' defense has been making big play after big play in the second half of the season, and Aidan O'Connell remains a shaky QB prone to INTs. Back at home, Indy will keep the score low, rack up a few sacks, and get a turnover or two, and there's upside for much more.
Atlanta Falcons (@ Bears). Chicago gives up sacks and turns the ball over no matter who's under center, so even though Justin Fields can run around and make big plays, the Bears are always a plus matchup. Atlanta has come through in most favorable matchups this year thanks to its improved pass rush and big-play secondary, and it can do more damage even on the road.
Houston Texans (vs. Titans). Houston's big-play D/ST is usually better at home, and it gets to tee off on either a gimpy Will Levis (ankle) or Ryan Tannehill in a must-win game. We'll take it even after last week's struggles.
Chicago Bears (vs. Falcons). Chicago's been playing inspired run defense lately, and it's made several big plays against turnover-prone QBs. Taylor Heinicke qualifies, especially outdoors late in the year -- a situation in which the Falcons rarely play well. You're taking a risk with Chicago, but it could pay off in a big way.
Seattle Seahawks (vs. Steelers). The 12th Man has really shown up for the Seahawks the past couple of games, and facing either a rusty Kenny Pickett (ankle) or Mason Rudolph could lead to plenty of sacks and turnovers. Seattle wouldn't be our first choice, but it should have a solid floor.
