Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 17.
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- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
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- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Bryce Young (QB – CAR) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.5% Rostered)
Young was awful to start the year, totaling three interceptions over the first two weeks. However, spending time on the bench turned around his season. The former Alabama star has played well since the Week 11 bye, averaging 1.2 passing touchdowns and 18.4 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, totaling 23.6 or more twice. Furthermore, Young is coming off his best performance this year, totaling 158 passing yards, two touchdowns, 68 rushing yards, a rushing score, and 27.1 fantasy points in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The second-year pro ends the fantasy season with a matchup against the Buccaneers. They’ve surrendered 20.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-highest average in the NFL, allowing 23.6 or more in nearly half of their contests. Last week, Cooper Rush completed 74.3% of his pass attempts for 292 yards, a touchdown, and 15.3 fantasy points against Tampa Bay. More importantly, Young had 298 passing yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing score, and 23.6 fantasy points in the Week 13 matchup against the division rivals.
Ameer Abdullah (RB – LV) vs. New Orleans Saints (30.1% Rostered)
Unfortunately, the Raiders have had a merry-go-round at the running back position. Sincere McCormick was playing well but landed on season-ending injured reserve a few weeks ago. However, Abdullah has stepped up. The veteran is the RB13 over the past two weeks, averaging 16.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, posting a higher average than Kyren Williams (15.8) and Bucky Irving (14.5). He has had at least 66 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in both contests. More importantly, Abdullah is coming off his best fantasy performance this year.
Last week, the veteran had seven rushing attempts for 38 yards and a touchdown. He also had five receptions for 47 receiving yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars, totaling a season-high 17 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Saints have surrendered 23 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fifth-most in the NFL. Last week, they gave up 30 rushing attempts for 144 yards and 39.8 fantasy points to the Green Bay Packers backfield, with Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks each scoring a touchdown and at least nine fantasy points.
Audric Estime (RB – DEN) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8.4% Rostered)
Every week, fantasy players try to guess which Broncos running back they can trust in their lineup. Estime was the team’s best option last week, totaling nine rushing attempts for 48 yards, a touchdown, and 10.8 half-point PPR fantasy points, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. While Javonte Williams averaged six yards per rushing attempt in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, he had five ewer rushes and two fewer fantasy points in the Week 16 contest. More importantly, head coach Sean Payton hinted at Estime earning more work.
Fantasy players have heard Payton hype up the rookie running back in the past, only to give the ball to someone else. However, Estime has an appealing matchup in Week 17 against the Bengals. Last week, Jerome Ford had 11 rushing attempts for 92 yards, a touchdown, five receptions for 39 receiving yards, and 21.6 fantasy points against Cincinnati, setting season highs in several categories. More importantly, the Bengals have surrendered 96 rushing yards, one touchdown, and 27 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past month.
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (5.1% Rostered)
New England has the worst wide receiver core in the league. However, Boutte has been solid lately. The second-year wide receiver has averaged 3.3 receptions on six targets for 51.7 receiving yards and 9.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his past three contests, totaling 7.6 or more twice. Furthermore, he is coming off the best performance of his career. Last week, Boutte had five receptions on seven targets for 95 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 18 fantasy points, leading the team’s wide receiver core in every category.
Meanwhile, he has a fantasy-friendly matchup during the championship game week. Boutte faces a Chargers defense that surrendered 12 receptions for 158 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 28.1 fantasy points to the Denver Broncos wide receiver last week. Furthermore, they’ve given up 13.8 receptions for 178.5 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 32.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past month, allowing 200 or more yards in half the contests. Don’t be surprised if Boutte finds the end zone for the second consecutive week on Saturday.
Olamide Zaccheaus (WR – WAS) vs. Atlanta Falcons (0.9% Rostered)
The Commanders had an impressive 36-33 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, thanks to five passing touchdowns from Jayden Daniels. While Terry McLaurin is the team’s go-to receiver, Zaccheaus played a critical role in the team’s victory. The veteran wide receiver had five receptions on eight targets for 70 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 21.5 half-point PPR fantasy points against the division rivals. Furthermore, Zaccheaus led Washington in every category, earning 25% more targets than McLaurin. More importantly, he has played well when seeing enough volume.
Zaccheaus has two games with more than four receptions this season. The veteran wide receiver had at least 70 receiving yards and 11.5 fantasy points in both contests. Meanwhile, he faces an Atlanta defense that has struggled to slow down opposing passing attacks this year. They’ve surrendered 30.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-highest average in the NFL. Furthermore, the Falcons have given up at least 260 receiving yards and 53.9 fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past five games.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (24.1% Rostered)
While he had no fantasy value earlier this season, Okonkwo has become an excellent streaming option lately. The third-year tight end has averaged 4.8 receptions on 6.4 targets for 49 receiving yards and 8.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past five weeks. Furthermore, he has recently become a target machine. Okonkwo has double-digit targets in back-to-back games, seeing a season-high 11 in Week 16. Moreover, he has had 17 receptions on 21 targets for 140 receiving yards and 24.5 fantasy points over the past two weeks.
More importantly, the former Maryland star has an appealing fantasy matchup on Sunday against the Jaguars. They have surrendered 11.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends, one of the highest averages in the NFL. Jacksonville has given up 15 or more fantasy points to tight ends in two of their past four games. Last week, Brock Bowers had 11 receptions on 13 targets for 99 receiving yards and 15.4 fantasy points against the Jaguars. Expect Okonkwo to have his third consecutive top-seven finish against the division rivals.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.