Waiver Wire Targets Week 17 2017

By Armando Marsal

The final week of the NFL season is upon us and while most fantasy leagues had their championship game in Week 16, there are still some leagues playing for a title this week. This is an interesting week due to a lot of moving parts such as injuries, teams not playing for anything, teams playing for a playoff berth, and other scenarios that can affect the way some teams approach the final week. This is one of those weeks where teams could give players some extra run so that they can evaluate that player heading into next season, much like we see in the preseason. Therefore, if you as a fantasy owners are playing for something this week, the waiver wire could be very helpful for you if some of your players are on teams that have clinched a playoff berth or if you are dealing with injuries. That said, let’s take a look at some players to target off of waivers this week.

Quarterback

Joe Flacco - Ravens: The Baltimore Ravens are currently the fifth seed in the AFC and a win would lock them into a spot in the playoffs. Flacco has actually played well in his last four games, scoring at least 17 fantasy points in each game during that stretch. He faces a Bengals team that is in shambles and a defense that has surrendered 17 or more fantasy points to quarterbacks in four of their last five games. Since the Ravens have something to play for this week, Flacco should play all four quarters in this one and could be of big help to fantasy owners in need of a QB.

Others to consider: Jimmy Garoppolo – 49ers

Running Back

Giovani Bernard – Bengals: Joe Mixon left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and was unable to return. Although the severity of the injury is not known at this time, with nothing to play for, the Bengals do not need to play Mixon this week and risk further injury to their potential future back. That being the case, Bernard would be in for a heavy workload this week if Mixon is sidelined and would be an asset to fantasy owners despite the subpar matchup.

Mike Gillislee - Patriots: After not playing since Week 8, Gillislee played in Week 16 and received six carries for 28 yards and a touchdown, while also catching his lone target for 15 yards. With Rex Burkhead unlikely to play this week, Gillislee could see some more red zone work against the Jets who are going to be missing a key defensive linemen this weekend.

Others to consider: Kapri Bibbs – Redskins, Peyton Barber – Buccaneers, Tion Green - Lions

Wide Receiver

Keelan Cole – Jaguars: Cole has 22 targets in the last two games and has scored a touchdown in three of his last four games. During that four-game stretch, he has also scored double-digit fantasy points (PPR formats) in each of those games, exceeded 16 fantasy points in three of those games. The Jaguars play the Titans in Week 17, a defense who is giving up the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Cole should continue to see plenty of looks as the Jaguars get him ready for the post season.

Josh Doctson – Redskins: Doctson caught two passes for 48 yards and touchdown in Week 16 against the Broncos, but saw 13 targets. While that type of volume is unlikely in his final game of the season, he does draw a nice matchup against an awful Giants defense and could see plenty of looks as the team takes a hard look at Doctson who will be entering his third NFL season next year. The Giants have allowed eight receiving touchdowns in their last five games and 150+ receiving yards to opposing wide outs in four of those games.

Others to consider: Marquise Goodwin – 49ers, Corey Davis – Titans, Will Fuller - Texans

Tight End

Antonio Gates – Chargers: The Chargers playoff hopes are still alive and a win is a must for them this week, so it is safe to assume that all of their starters will play all for quarters. Gates stepped in for the injured Hunter Henry in a big way on Sunday, catching 6-of-8 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. He draws a very nice matchup against the Raiders who are giving up the fifth most fantasy points per game to tight ends and have allowed 75+ receiving yards in six of their last seven games to the position.

Others to consider: Eric Ebron - Lions

For any questions, feel free to reach out to me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal. Best of luck to all.