QB

Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)

OK, so I usually use a threshold of rostered in under 50% of leagues and Goff is just under 60%, but there is a chance he is there. If he is, snag him and let it rip. He will face off against the Bears at home this week in a game that should have fireworks and has opened with a 52 o/u, the highest on the slate by three points.  

Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)

As I mentioned last week, Purdy is going to get you 15-20 each week. Over his last three he has scored 21.7, 16.48, and 15.96. This week he faces off in Vegas against the Raiders. The Raiders have given up the seventh most fantasy points to QBs this year at 19.2 per game. Purdy offers a great floor of 15 and can get you into that 20-25 range, which is all you can ask for from a waiver QB in Week 17. 

Gardner Minshew (Philadelphia Eagles)

Minshew put up a respectable 22.7 in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. This week he will be at home against the Saints, who have still been unable to stop the opposing team’s pass attack. With one of the best supporting casts in the NFL, confidently fire up Minshew one more week if Jalen Hurts were to miss. 

RB

Tyler Allegeier (Atlanta Falcons) 

Allgeier has finally taken over as the alpha of this backfield. He is showing that he is a solid all around NFL back. He ran the ball 18 times for 74 yards with four catches for 43 added receiving yards. He has now scored 22.6 and 15.7 PPR points in his last two games with only six of those 38.3 points coming from a lone TD. He is seeing volume and will face the Arizona Cardinals at home this week, a game in which the Falcons open as 3.5 favorites. Expect 18+ touches again here for Allgeier and an increased chance of scoring. 

JaMycal Hasty (Jacksonville Jaguars)

This is purely based on the idea that the Jaguars let Etienne rest for Week 17. Etienne is battling a few injuries and this game means absolutely nothing to the Jaguars. Hasty has shown competence and in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens where he started, he ran the ball 12 times for 28 yards against a tough rush defense but caught all five of his targets for 67 yards and a score. This matchup is juicy and Hasty becomes a great RB2 play if Etienne sits. 

Zack Moss (Indianapolis Colts)

The usage for Zack Moss on MNF was absolutely infuriating. The Colts refused to pound the ball against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL despite having early success and Nick Foles as their QB. Instead they passed the ball in a neutral script about 75% of the time with Nick Foles throwing for 143 yards with no scores and three turnovers. Moss had averaged 5.4 YPC on 12 carries and showed burst. This week they face another poor rush defense against the Giants. I would have him higher but I have no faith in Parks Frazier to call a coherent game plan in Week 17. 

Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers)

Hubbard has a tough matchup this week, but he also had one last week. I underestimated how powerful this Panthers running game has become as they dropped 320 rushing yards on the Detroit Lions, who had been the top rushing defense over the seven week span prior to their Week 16 matchup against the Panthers. Foreman ran the ball 21 times for 165 yards without a target, while Hubbard ran the ball 12 times for 125 yards and also didn’t see a target. However, Hubbard actually out-snapped Foreman 31-30. In this Week 17 matchup I expect similar usage but I do expect Hubbard to see some targets on top of it. Look for Hubbard to score around 8-12 PPR points.  

Justin Jackson (Detroit Lions)

Jamaal Williams was banged up in the Lions loss to the Panthers in Week 16. If Williams misses, Jackson will assume his early down and goal line work. 

WR

Romeo Doubs (Green Bay Packers) 

Doubs could return to the Packers alpha after Christian Watson is highly questionable for Week 17 as he left the Packers Week 16 win over the Dolphins with a hip flexor. Doubs did most of his 3/36 work in the second half once Watson had left the game. This matchup in Week 17 is against the Minnesota Vikings, who we have been attacking for the last month of the season. They can’t cover WRs and get beat all over the field. Doubs will have his chances to make plays in this one.

Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders)

The Commanders first round pick is on a roll right now. Over his last three games he has seen 23 targets, pulling in 15 of them for 235 yards and a score in each game. He has scored 16.4, 20.5, and 19.6 PPR points over that stretch. This week he faces the Cleveland Browns at home, a team that has given up the 6th most PPR points to perimeter WRs on the season.

Isaiah Hodgins (New York Giants)

Hodgins becomes a nice FLEX play if you need a spot start this Championship week. In Week 16 against the awful Vikings pass defense, he saw 11 targets, pulling in eight of them for 89 yards and a score. Since Week 13, Hodgins has seen 27 targets, catching 23 of them for 208 yards and three scores. He has had at least 15.4 in three of those four games. He has another great matchup in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Greg Dortch (Arizona Cardinals)

McSorley loves Dortch and hyper targeted him in the Cardinals Week 16 loss to the Bucs. Dortch actually led the Cardinals in targets with 11, one more than Hopkins. He gets high percentage throws from McSorley and has a great matchup against the poor Falcons secondary. I expect 6-8 targets in this one and Dortch should get you around 10-14 PPR points.

DJ Chark (Detroit Lions)

Not only has Chark seen five targets in four of his last five games but they are high quality, down the field targets. He has scored at least 9.8 PPR points in those four games and has at least 14.8 and 94 yards in three of those games over the last five games. This week the Lions are at home against the Chicago Bears. I think the Lions take a few shots deep and it will only take one reception for Chark to pay off. 

TE

Tyler Conklin (New York Jets) 

Conklin has seen at least four targets in three of his last four games. The last two games that Mike White has started, Conklin saw targets of seven and eight. The Jets visit the Seahawks who have given up the 5th most PPR points to opposing TEs. Conklin is the best option out of a shit landscape across available TEs. 

Greg Dulcich (Denver Broncos)

Dulcich has seen eight targets in three of his last four games. In those three games, he has 13 receptions for 166 yards and a score. His dud against the poor Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 15 is concerning, but we need to put on blinders considering how bad the TE options are. Dulcich should get 6-8 targets and around 8-12 PPR points. 

Jonnu Smith (New England Patriots)

If you don’t want to take a goose egg in your TE spot, Jonnu Smith can get you 4-5 points. Like I mentioned above, TE is a shit show right now and outside of the two I mentioned above, I can’t recommend anyone outside of just trying to get 4-5 PPR points from Jonnu Smith. Smith has seen seven targets over his last two games and will face off against Miami at home, a team who has given up the second most fantasy points to opposing TEs. Godspeed if you have to go this route.

DST

New York Giants 

The Giants defense hasn’t been that great but this week they face the putrid Indianapolis Colts offense. Colts Offensive Coordinator, Parks Frazier, is completely in over his head. He has no idea what talents his offense has and how to call a game. The Giants blitz at a league high 40.1% of the time and they should get home to Nick Foles, who just tossed three picks to the LA Chargers. 

Atlanta Falcons

Both of these teams are eliminated from playoff contention but one of them has to travel from Arizona to Atlanta. This play is only viable assuming that Trace McSorley is going to be starting for the Cardinals. McSorley is a terrible QB and has one of the most inaccurate arms in the NFL. The Falcons allow the seventh fewest rushing yards to opposing QBs so they should be able to keep him in check there and keep him in the pocket. I expect a few mistakes from McSorley, one of which could end as a touchdown. 

New York Jets

This is a floor play for your DST and if this game was at home, it would be at the top of the list. However, the Jets have to travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. I expect this game to be a low scoring affair and both offenses to struggle a bit. Geno Smith has come back down to earth a bit and has taken eight sacks with four turnovers over his last three games. The Jets play sound ball and won’t make many mistakes so I expect about 2-3 sacks with a turnover ending with around 4-6 points.