Let’s take a look at who might possibly be left to pick up on the waiver wire Week 17 from @DynastySanta!
A few reflections from last week prior to the waiver wire Week 17 suggestions:
From the obvious section, the two main highlighted players, Duke Johnson & Gabriel Davis, haven't played at the time this was written and/or had COVID. The "others" featured Amon-Ra St. Brown - another SMASH week - Russell Gage - disappointing performance in what should have been a great matchup - Marquez Valdes-Scantling - COVID, but Allen Lazard gave us a tuddy - Ameer Abdullah & Craig Reynolds were both meh.
From the bold, we were chock full of hits. Jeff Wilson & Ronald Jones were "featured" and had excellent games for who/what they are. Marquez Callaway - hasn't played at the time this was written - Justin Jackson - filled in PHENOMENALLY for a COVID stricken Austin Ekeler and sent many owners to their fantasy championships - James O'Shaughnessy & Laquon Treadwell were fine PPR plays - Foster Moreau - fine PPR performance - Dontrell Hilliard whiffed.
The traps all pretty much stayed true to name.
The Obvious
Rex Burkhead, RB, Houston Texans
Sexy Rexy returned healthy to the Houston Texans lineup with a BANG. You know we're at the end of the season when Rex Burkhead is leading the free agent pack as probably the most valuable waiver wire Week 17 pickup. However, he seems to have the trust of coaches to carry the load, as long as he can avoid another COIVD designation he should be a fine FLEX/RB3 play. Matchups with the 49ers and Titans finish up the season.
Josh Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Williams has already been ruled out of the Chargers' Week 17 game due to COVID. Since Josh Palmer already played 97% of snaps this past week and recorded a 5/43/1 stat line on six targets, he's an obvious pick-up this week. I've stashed Palmer in a ton of leagues, even redraft, this year and he could finally be paying off. Fingers crossed for another solid week of growing rapport and trust with Justin Herbert.
Other obvious candidates
Justin Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Chargers - The readers of this article are likely not playing in leagues where Jackson was even available ahead of last week. But just in case...
Gerald Everett, TE, Seattle Seahawks - Finally producing with some consistency
Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars - Received bellcow workload when James Robinson went down, and Robinson is done for the year
Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers - Last week MVS was here and it was sort of implied he AND Lazard should be rostered and they will likely flip flop production weeks
Darrel Williams + Derrick Gore - Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a shoulder injury and may be week-to-week. It's a coin flip between Williams and Gore who will be most productive, but they both would have value if CEH is ruled out
The Bold
Braxton Berrios, WR, New York Jets
I'm keeping Braxton Berrios as a "bold" addition since it took a special-teams return TD to salvage his fantasy week. In what should have been a smash matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jets passing offense continued to struggle. Since they were minus their top-four wide receivers due to injury + COVID, Berrios stepped into sort of the default WR1 role. I wanted more, but we'll see if the Jets enter YOLO mode and let Zach Wilson cook.
Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
I wrestled with putting Pringle here as a fringe pickup, or into the Traps section. I actually like Pringle and think that he is #hashtag GOOD at football. With all of the COVID designations lately, I think Pringle is a worthy addition in deeper leagues as a high-upside stash should Tyreek Hill or any of the Chiefs' pass-catchers randomly miss time. He reached season-highs in targets (7) and offensive snaps (55 - 80%) in the route of the Steelers.
Other bold stash candidates (deep rosters only):
John Bates, TE, Washington Football Team - I'm going to keep pounding the table for this guy. I wish Ricky Seals-Jones would just go away. If Bates is somehow available in your dynasty league, stash him now for next year
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans - Making strides with fellow rookie Davis Mills. The likely return of Brandin Cooks dampers his outlook this week, but he's worthy of a deep-league pickup
Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers - Gross, I know. Darnold is back slingin' the rock and Anderson was only one target behind D.J. Moore
The Traps
These guys I just simply don’t believe in. They are going to be even more inconsistent than the above stash players. Let someone else in your league take the bait for their Week 17 waiver wire claims.
Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Buffalo Bills - Benefitted from Gabriel Davis & Cole Beasley out with COVID
Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs - Byron Pringle >>>>
Chris Conley, WR, Houston Texans
Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nobody wants him to be real more than me and a handful of Twitter truthers, but I'll need to see it again
Antoine Wesley, WR, Arizona Cardinals - Hopefully Rondale Moore is back healthy
Malik Turner, WR, Dallas Cowboys - Garbage time recipient
Best of luck with your waiver wire Week 16 claims!
Follow me on Twitter at @DYNASTYSANTA for lots of spicy fantasy football takes (and taeks). Follow the @IDPGUYS main account for the best articles and fun IDP + offensive fantasy football banter, and check out our rookie draft magazines for that nostalgic aroma of using a book to help win your drafts! Waiver wire Week 16.
