If you are here reading this column for another week, it means you won in Week 16 and are playing for your league’s championship title. Do not get cute here. You cannot take your FAAB with you nor will your waiver priority carry over into 2025. At this point, you are using the waiver wire to play offense or defense. You either acquire a player you need to play in Week 17 or select a player you do not want your opponent to roster. EX: In Week 16, I did not need an RB but grabbed Jerome Ford off the wire bidding $1 more than my opponent. He then picked up (and started) Kendre Miller. I think we all know how that turned out. I played defense and moved on to Week 17 while my opponent ponders his FAAB spending throughout the season. The list you will see below is very small based on that fact very few teams are still alive and active. Of the names below, I am only considering three for my lineups: Jalen McMillan, Ameer Abdullah, and Chig Okonkwo. I do provide deeper names for everyone but want to be transparent that many of the names below are simply unstartable. Choose wisely and best of luck.
An additional, small consideration for you, the reader, as you move through my weekly columns is to understand that a waiver article is not a mandate from me to you to add/drop players each week. Sometimes the best move is the one you do not make. I fully understand that waivers and trades are top of the fun list in fantasy football but remember winning trumps all other fun things in fantasy football. Take the following names as options, considerations for your squad versus must-add players. Only add players when it makes sense for you and your team(s).
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WAIVERS:
ADD OF THE WEEK = Jalen McMillan – 45% rostered is almost in must-start territory. Across the past three weeks, McMillan’s line is 20-14-191-4. The Buccaneers throw the football a lot, so you need to consider adding, and playing, this rookie WR. Keep an eye on the Sterling Shepard hamstring injury news. If Shepard cannot go, McMillan becomes even more valuable.
QB: Michael Penix – 14% rostered. The former Husky was not good in his rookie debut. With that game under his belt, I expect Penix to be more relaxed heading into a must-win game on Sunday Night Football at the Washington Commanders. Penix will have to throw for the Falcons to keep up with the high-flying Commanders who appear to have lost their running attack outside of Jayden Daniels. Keep your eye on Drake London and the injury that forced him out of the Week 16 game. London’s early departure appears to be more cautionary with the Falcons in command against the Giants. If London is a full go, then Penix goes up slightly. If London sits, I drop Penix down my ranks.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Cooper Rush – 10% rostered (only one of his past six games has seen him throw less than 30 times and that game was 29)
Bryce Young – 7% rostered (at TB who gives up the second most passing points in fantasy)
Mac Jones – 3% rostered (has Brian Thomas Jr. The End.)
RB: Michael Carter – 0% rostered. You will need to dig deep to find any information about Carter. Essentially, Carter is what is left of the Arizona RB room after the possible season-ending James Conner injury. Emari Demercado is on IR. Trey Benson missed Week 16 (ankle). DeeJay Dallas played 16 snaps and reeled in a TD. Carter is an explosive RB with great speed. It goes without saying if you need to acquire and start Carter, you are in real trouble during your championship.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Tyjae Spears – 56% rostered (two straight weeks with 20+ PPR points)
Ameer Abudullah – 23% rostered (two straight weeks with 18 PPR points)
Raheem Mostert – 44% rostered (eight carries and two receptions; clearly well behind Achane but Miami gets the awful Browns)
WR: Hollywood Brown – 32% rostered. Could be a league winner if you miss out on McMillan. Clearly the best WR of the options Patrick Mahomes must choose from. His snap count should increase. Week 17 matchup is tough at Pittsburgh.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
KaVonte Turpin/Jalen Tolbert – 9%/9% rostered (is McCarthy dumb enough to play CeeDee Lamb on his injured shoulder)
TE: Chig Okonkwo – 7% rostered has two straight weeks with 10+ targets and 8+ catches for an average of 70 receiving yards per game. Tennessee is on the road against a bad Jaguars squad. Chig could go off in this game. Brenton Strange – 2% rostered just dropped a 2-20-0 dud but carries value at a thin position.
Remember, you do NOT have to make a move each week. If you look at your roster and a hole does not immediately jump out to you, then maybe your team is good to go for Week 17. If you see a hole (injury, bye, underperformance), then start looking at options to make your team better.
Follow me @stiles08 on X and send questions comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs. We have a ton of free content to include our Slot Versus Wide tool, our Win Versus Loss tool, and many more.
-Stiles-
