Welcome to the last edition of this article for the 2024 fantasy season! Most of you are heading into your fantasy football championship week, and this article will be short and sweet, focusing mostly on matchups, opportunities, and a little playing keep-away from your opponents. I'll drop some nuggets in case you happen to play in Week 18 as well.
Remember to consider a team’s motivation to make the playoffs and individual incentives as you take your last stab at this season’s waiver wire. Good luck out there!
Beat the Waiver Wire: Week 17 Targets
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (27% rostered on Sleeper)
If you have made it this far, it is no time to get cute. But if you lost Lamar Jackson, for example, Shough has looked decent over the past few weeks, averaging 240 yards per game. The team faces the Titans in Week 17, who have allowed 21.9 fantasy points to the quarterback position over the same period.
QB Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (61% rostered on Sleeper)
I will go back to the Brissett well even after his non-top-12 fantasy quarterback finish in ten weeks. The matchup is with the Bengals, who still appear to be playing with heart, so we could see an Arizona offensive bounce-back.
Keep an eye on QB Marcus Mariota (20% rostered on Sleeper), who had an injury on Sunday. The Washington Commanders have a fantastic matchup against the Dallas Cowboys (who gave up 33.3 fantasy points to Justin Herbert last week) in Week 17. He might not start, but if he does, there is a lot of upside.
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (60% rostered on Sleeper)
We have seen Sean McVay use Corum more regularly recently, and it has been paying off. Corum has been a top-20 RB for the past few weeks. McVay could continue to save Kyren Williams for the playoffs, so Courm could be a good play this week against Atlanta. If you are a Week 18 player, he gets the Arizona Cardinals, who bleed points to the running back position.
RB Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers (49% rostered on Sleeper)
I have mentioned Wilson many times this year, so I hope you held on to him to handcuff Josh Jacobs. Jacobs was dealing with an injury all week, and it was unclear if he would play. He eventually did, but not the same amount he had in the previous weeks.
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (55% rostered on Sleeper)
Rodriguez had a decent outing against the Eagles in Week 16, finishing with 63 yards on the ground and one touchdown. He also caught his only target. The team plays the Cowboys in Week 17, who have been giving up the 6th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. In addition, if QB Marcus Mariota is not healthy enough to play, the team may lean on the running game more.
TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (5% rostered on Sleeper)
This is risky, but the Panthers have two strong tight end matchups to close out the year, not to mention they are battling to make the playoffs. It is Seattle and Tampa Bay, both teams that are vulnerable to tight ends.
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (13% rostered on Sleeper)
It doesn't matter if the Saints have an advantageous matchup for tight ends - Taysom Hill can do it all. In Week 16, he took snaps at both running back and quarterback and finished the week with over 13 fantasy points. Hill is always a threat to run in a touchdown, and if he has one of those blow-up games, he could be a league winner.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (66%), the Detroit Lions (63%), and the New York Giants (6%) all have above-average defensive matchups in Week 17. The Steelers get Cleveland, who are currently giving up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Lions have a Minnesota Vikings team that might have Max Brosmer under center, and the Giants play the Cowboys. If your starting lineup is locked, grab multiple defenses to keep them away from your opponent!