Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can
help your squad and may still be available in your league. I’ll
also provide a brief update on the players I covered the previous
week.
Kirk Cousins,
MIN – Not many fantasy leagues are still going, but if
you need a free agent QB for Week 17, Cousins (35-50 percent owned)
looks like one of the best bets. He’s facing an eminently vulnerable
Lions defense and he’s thrown multiple TD passes in seven of his
last eight games.
Alex Smith,
WAS – Smith should be ready to go in Week 17 in a must-win
game (since the Cowboys or Giants will go to the playoffs if they
lose), and the Eagles secondary just got shredded by Andy Dalton.
He’s a desperation QB2 play if he’s healthy enough to suit up,
but a viable option nonetheless.
Matthew
Stafford, DET – Stafford is nursing
an ankle injury after the loss to Tampa Bay when he left in the
first half, and there’s no reason to make the veteran QB (questionable
for Sunday) play an insignificant game.
Baker
Mayfield, CLE – Woof. Mayfield was
terrible on Sunday, completing just 28 of 53 passes for 285-0-0
and fumbling three times, losing two – and the game to the New
York Jets. A Week 17 game with the Steelers doesn’t seem like
a get-right spot to close out the season.
Running Backs
AJ Dillon,
GB – Dillon (just 3-5 percent owned) took charge and rushed
21 times for 124 yards and two scores in Sunday’s beatdown of the
Titans. He probably won’t go that crazy in Week 17, but the matchup
portends another big workload if the Packers try to keep Aaron Jones
and Jamaal Williams (quad, inactive in Week 16) fresh.
Darrel
Williams, KC – Williams took advantage
of the opportunity and finished with 46 rushing yards on 10 carries
and 4-27-0 on six targets Sunday. With rookie sensation Clyde
Edwards-Helaire expected to sit along with a few other starters
for the regular-season finale against the Chargers, Williams’
workload will depend on Andy Reid and his plans for the postseason.
He could get a bunch of touches.
Samaje
Perine, CIN – Perine carried 13
times for 95 rushing yards and two TDs in Week 16 against the
Texans, adding 4-41-0. He’s firmly on the radar for Week 17.
Salvon
Ahmed, MIA – Gaskin was back in
action and Ahmed took a back seat with just 2 rushing yards on
six carries and 1-1-0 receiving. Unless the starter suffers a
setback, he’ll be relegated to a bench role.
Tony
Pollard, DAL – Zeke got the start
and Michael Gallup was the big hitter. Pollard carried the ball
nine times for 12 yards wasn’t a huge factor in the passing game.
Giovani
Bernard, CIN – A solid game from
Gio, even if Perine shined as well. Bernard finished with 16 carries
for 65 yards and 7-66-0 receiving against the Texans.
Gus Edwards,
BAL – Edwards (25-30 percent owned) handled a decent-sized
workload on Sunday with 15 carries for 85 rushing yards and 2-37-0
in the win over the Giants. He’ll see plenty of action in Week
17’s divisional clash vs. the Bengals.
Malcolm
Brown, LAR – Brown didn’t do much
on Sunday, but he’s in line for a possible start in Week 17 with
Darrell Henderson on the shelf and Cam Akers still nursing a high
ankle sprain.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Sterling
Shepard, NYG – Shepard reeled in 9-77-1
on 12 during Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Ravens and looks ready to
face off against the Cowboys for the first time this season, as
he was on IR when they last met in October. He’s a high-upside option
in the Giants offense in a must-win game.
Michael
Gallup, DAL – Gallup went nuts on
Sunday, catching 6-121-2 on eight targets in the monster win over
the Eagles. I don’t expect another two-TD game but he’s a solid
fantasy option for Week 17.
TE Irv
Smith, MIN – Smith blew up for 6-53-2 on nine targets
in Week 16 and remains a low-end TE1 heading into the season finale
against the pitiful Lions.
Nelson
Agholor, OAK – Agholor is on a hot
streak. He hauled in five of six targets for 155 yards and a huge
TD during Saturday’s 26-25 loss to the Dolphins and seems like
a new player in 2020.
Emmanuel
Sanders, NO – Sanders had 4-83-0
and a 12-yard carry in the Saints’ 52-33 win over the Vikings
on Friday. The veteran WR faces the Panthers in Week 17.
TE Logan
Thomas, WAS – Thomas had 7-63-0 on 12 targets in
Week 16 against the Panthers, despite Dwayne Haskins. He could
finish the season with a solid performance in Week 17 against
the Eagles, especially if Smith is under center.
Lynn
Bowden Jr., MIA – Bowden had a pair
of catches for 8 yards (and an 8-yard carry) during Saturday’s
26-25 win over the Raiders. With Gaskin and the WRs back he’s
not really relevant.
Darnell
Mooney, CHI – Mooney hauled in 4-29-0
and mixed in a 2-yard rush in the win over the Jaguars on Sunday,
but doesn’t have as much upside against the Packers in Week 17.
