Top Players to Add in Week 17
It’s Championship Week, and it’s time to shut up or shine your way to a fantasy football title. Even in the final week, it’s essential to pick up players who help your team or even block your opponents from taking them.
As a reminder, we’ll be covering Waivers every Tuesday morning right here on football.pitcherlist.com. You can also catch our Waiver Wire show with Brian Hartman (aka @TooMuch_Brian) on the Waiver podcast every Tuesday morning and the Start/Sit podcast every Thursday morning, wherever you listen to podcasts.
Here are my top five targets, as well as some honorable mentions, to help you win through the wire this week.
An important consideration: this article focuses on players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of leagues. There could be players rostered in over 50% of leagues that are available in your league. Be vigilant; watch your league’s Free Agency pool and look for players who were given up on too early.
1. Parker Washington – Parker Washington is coming off a massive performance, racking up 145 receiving yards and a touchdown in a big win over the Denver Broncos. While Washington has been somewhat inconsistent this season, 10 targets is usage that’s impossible to ignore. The Jaguars’ offense has been red-hot with Trevor Lawrence. Since their Week 7 bye, Jacksonville has scored at least 25 points in every game, making this one of the more reliable fantasy environments heading into Week 17. Washington now draws a favorable matchup against an Indianapolis Colts secondary that has been banged up by injuries. With the Jaguars continuing to lean into the passing game, Washington should get another opportunity to post a strong stat line. If you’re looking for a FLEX option in Week 17, Washington fits the bill as a high-upside play with volume and matchup working in his favor.
2. Tyjae Spears – We have another player coming off a strong Week 16 in Tyjae Spears. Spears finished the game with 100 all-purpose yards on 16 touches and found the end zone. While it was encouraging to see more work on the ground, it’s his involvement in the passing game that really stands out for fantasy purposes. Week 17 sets up as a potentially tight matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints, a game script that could keep Spears heavily involved throughout. New Orleans has shown vulnerability to receiving backs, allowing Isaiah Davis to rack up 52 receiving yards just last week. If you’re struggling at running back, Spears offers a reliable RB2 floor with PPR upside, making him a strong option to plug into lineups in Week 17—especially for managers desperate for pass-catching production out of the backfield.
3. Raheim Sanders/Dylan Sampson –The Cleveland Browns’ backfield is suddenly wide open after Quinshon Judkins suffered a broken leg in Week 16, forcing Cleveland to turn to new options heading into fantasy championship week. Ideally, the Browns would love to get Dylan Sampson back in the lineup, but he’s been dealing with injuries that have sidelined him for the past two games. If Sampson can return, he brings high RB2 upside thanks to his explosiveness and potential workload, making him a priority pickup this week.
If Sampson can’t go, the spot start likely falls to Raheim Sanders, who logged 11 carries for 42 yards in Week 16. While Sanders is still somewhat of an unknown, the likelihood that he leads the team in touches makes him a worthwhile speculative add—especially in deeper leagues or desperate RB situations. Don’t completely rule out Trayveon Williams either, who caught four passes and could carve out a meaningful role. The Browns have consistently used their backfield as a weapon in the passing game all season.
Waiver guidance:
• Sanders is the preferred add in half-PPR formats
• Williams carries more appeal in full-PPR leagues
Given the uncertainty—but also the opportunity—this is a Browns backfield worth investing in as you head into championship week.
- Chris Rodriguez – Chris Rodriguez returned to the Washington Commanders lineup in Week 16 and immediately made his presence felt, finishing with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown. More importantly, Rodriguez was the clear leader of the backfield, playing 52% of the offensive snaps—a strong signal of trust from the coaching staff. In Week 17, Rodriguez draws a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, a below-average run defense that just allowed Omarion Hampton to gash them on the ground. If Dallas is without Quinnen Williams this week, Rodriguez’s outlook improves even further. The production has also been consistent when the workload is there. In six games this season where Rodriguez has seen double-digit carries, he’s totaled at least 56 rushing yards every time and has scored a touchdown in four of those contests. If you’re looking for a championship-week RB2 or strong FLEX option, Rodriguez is absolutely worth adding in Week 17, especially for teams that need a dependable volume-based running back with touchdown upside.
5. Mack Hollins – If you need another wide receiver in Week 17, Mack Hollins is a decent waiver option worth considering. Hollins has been quietly reliable, averaging seven targets per game and flashing spike-week potential at multiple points throughout the season. He draws a familiar matchup against the New York Jets in Week 17—a defense that has struggled in coverage down the stretch. Hollins already produced 64 receiving yards against New York earlier this season, and the Jets’ secondary has been shaky in the second half of the year. While the ceiling may be limited, Hollins offers solid WR4 upside and can be plugged into a FLEX spot if you’re dealing with injuries or lack depth at wide receiver heading into fantasy championship week.
Others Receiving Votes
Michael Carter/Blake Corum, ARI/LAR (39/30% ESPN, 42/41% Yahoo!) – These players are less likely to be available on your waiver wire, but if they are, they should be picked up immediately. Michael Carter led the way for the Arizona Cardinals last week, totaling 11 touches for 65 yards while carving out a meaningful role in the offense. He’ll face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17—a matchup that has consistently been favorable for fantasy running backs this season. Another strong option is Blake Corum of the Los Angeles Rams, who has now posted double-digit fantasy points in four straight games. The Rams take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, a matchup that should favor the run game and set up a positive game script. Both running backs are worth picking up now and can be confidently used as FLEX options if you need depth or injury insurance heading into championship week.
Emanuel Wilson, HOU (36% ESPN, 37% Yahoo!) – This could end up being a league-winner type of player in Week 17. Emanuel Wilson took over the Green Bay Packers’ backfield after a Josh Jacobs fumble and finished the game with 82 total yards, showing immediate effectiveness with his opportunity. Green Bay draws an average matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17—a defense that just allowed Rhamondre Stevenson to post 15+ fantasy points. If the Packers lean on the run game, or if they choose to manage Jacobs’ workload with the playoffs approaching, Wilson could see an expanded role. He’s a strong speculative add worth picking up now and monitoring closely as the week progresses, especially for managers searching for a high-upside flex or emergency RB play.
Tyler Shough/Cam Ward, NO/TEN (11/6% ESPN, 13/8% Yahoo!) – If you’re hurting at quarterback the last few weeks, you may be forced to take a shot on a rookie QB in Week 17. Tyler Shough has been one of the steadier options, posting at least 17 fantasy points in four straight games. He draws an average Tennessee Titans defense, a matchup that should allow him to stay within that same production range we’ve seen over the past month. Fellow rookie Cam Ward is coming off one of his best performances of the season and now faces the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. While Shough profiles as the better overall play, Ward offers a solid floor in the 15–16 fantasy point range for managers simply looking to survive the week.
Defense Wins Championships
Los Angeles Chargers (36% owned) – One of the best defenses to pick up for Week 17 is the Los Angeles Chargers. They get a favorable matchup against the Houston Texans’ offense, which has been mediocre at best for most of the season. The Chargers’ defense has been red-hot, posting double-digit fantasy points in three of their last four games. While Week 16 was a slight letdown with just four fantasy points, that matchup came against a stronger offense. The Texans present a clear step down, setting the Chargers up for a bounce-back performance in championship week. If you’re looking for a defense with both floor and upside, the Chargers D/ST is a strong Week 17 play that could help swing a title.
Tennessee Titans (11% owned) – At home in Week 17, the Tennessee Titans defense could be a sneaky, low-risk option for your D/ST slot. They haven’t been elite, but the Titans’ defense has shown steady production over the last six games, scoring five or more fantasy points in four of those contests. While the ceiling isn’t massive, the floor has been serviceable. The Saints offense isn’t the type of unit that typically blows up defenses, which helps keep the risk low in a championship matchup. If the Titans can finish with around six fantasy points, that’s a solid safety-play outcome for managers who just need stability in the finals.
New Orleans Saints (57% owned) – If the New Orleans Saints defense is still sitting on your waivers, they should be added immediately for your Week 17 championship matchup. The Saints draw a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans offense, which—while improved—still presents plenty of opportunities for fantasy production. Meanwhile, the Saints defense has quietly been trending up, scoring at least six fantasy points in five of their last six games. With momentum on their side and a plus matchup in the fantasy finals, the Saints D/ST has legitimate league-winning upside and could be the difference between a title and a runner-up finish.
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads | @kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)