Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire: Priority adds for those still chasing titles
While we do not officially endorse the concept of deciding fantasy championships in the season's final week — when the league's best offenses are often resting — we do understand that some of you hate to allow any games go to waste. If you still have something on the line in Week 17, here's a collection of players who can plausibly help, all available in a majority of Yahoo leagues.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (40% rostered)
Edwards was rolling on Sunday, leading Baltimore's backfield in touches (17), total yards (122), and rushing (85) as his team punished the Giants. Mark Ingram has been a healthy scratch in back-to-back weeks, so he's no longer a complicating factor. The league's top rushing offense is now in the capable hands of Edwards, Lamar Jackson, and rookie J.K. Dobbins.
Gus had a rare opportunity to demonstrate receiving skills during Sunday's win, while also flashing the expected power:
What. Just. Happened.
👏👏 @Lj_era8 to @GodsGiftGus13
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/8GjsIMv8p9— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 27, 2020
He'll finish his season with a friendly matchup at Cincinnati, facing a defense that's allowed 4.6 YPC on the season.
Zach Pascal, WR, Indianapolis Colts (5%)
All Pascal has managed to do over the last two weeks is catch eight balls for 143 yards and three scores, including this 42-yard TD on Sunday:
Gunslinger stuff. 🤠
Phil ➡️ @ZachPascal6
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/MFbI1L7srC— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 27, 2020
Pascal will face Jacksonville's shaky secondary next week, so you can't argue with the matchup. It's certainly possible that Indy will simply allow Jonathan Taylor to steamroll the Jags, but the ball is gonna go in the air at some point. Pascal has drawn six targets in back-to-back weeks, so volume hasn't been an issue.
A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers (8%)
The rookie had played only 54 total snaps this season entering Week 16, so his legs were definitely fresh. Dillon’s rushing services were finally needed on Sunday night, with Jamaal Williams (quad) inactive and Aaron Jones (hip) dinged early. Dillon punished Tennessee’s defense in the snow at Lambeau, piling up 124 yards on the ground with a pair of scores. At 240-plus pounds, he does not offer an enjoyable tackling experience, particularly on a cold night...
.@ajdillon7 pounds his way in for the score! 😤#TENvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 NBC
Watch live 📱 https://t.co/Rx5eGctCI0 pic.twitter.com/gYXWP4Y4jO— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 28, 2020
Dillon basically delivered the exact stat line you might have reasonably expected from Derrick Henry. Next week, Dillon seems certain to have a significant role in the matchup with Chicago, in a game needed by both sides.
Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (3%)
It's tough to guess who, exactly, will be part of the gameplan for Kansas City next week, because the Chiefs have clinched everything worth clinching. But there's a decent chance Williams will remain involved, because, well ... KC can't sit everyone. He actually led the Chiefs' backfield in usage in Week 16 while Clyde Edwards-Helaire was sidelined by injury. Williams out-touched Le'Veon Bell, 14 to 8, and out-gained him, 73 yards to 39. Keep Williams in your waiver plans. His team will host the Chargers next Sunday — a group that ranks bottom-third against the run, allowing 4.5 YPC.
Michael Gallup & Andy Dalton, WR and QB, Dallas Cowboys (44% and 13%)
Gallup is just so damn good, a fact that's easily overlooked given the number of ridiculous stories attached to Dallas this season. He's been feasting in December with Dalton back at the controls of the Cowboys' offense. Gallup has caught four TD passes over his last four games and he repeatedly shamed Philly defensive backs on Sunday, on his way to 121 yards:
We 👀 you @michael13gallup
📺 #PHIvsDAL on FOX pic.twitter.com/dWRlbtLstb— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 27, 2020
Dalton, meanwhile, has strung together four straight multi-touchdown games. He was mostly terrific against the Eagles, delivering 377 yards and three scores. Dalton is fully capable of continuing the hot streak against New York next Sunday.
Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants (44%)
Shepard is coming off a 9-catch, 77-yard performance highlighted by a short score, only his second TD of the season:
8 to 87 🙌
Watch live: https://t.co/cLanMzBpPN pic.twitter.com/DufpHuuNUo— New York Giants (@Giants) December 27, 2020
He saw a season-high 12 targets on Sunday, which gives him 70 over his last nine games. Volume like that gives him plenty of value in any sort of PPR format, plus he's facing an exceedingly user-friendly Dallas D next week.
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (39%)
Vegas was officially eliminated on Saturday when Ryan Fitzpatrick snatched their souls. So it's possible Carr could sit out the finale at Denver, one week after playing through a groin injury. Let's just keep him in mind as a streamable option if he goes, because Denver's defense at this stage isn't anything to fear. Carr has topped 300 passing yards in three of his last four games, only missing the mark the week he was injured.
Samaje Perine, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (2%)
Houston's defense had Perine feeling like he was back in the Big-12, running over and through would-be tacklers:
.@samajp32 will not be stopped! Welcome Home 💥
WATCH on FOX pic.twitter.com/qoMpIo4l22— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 27, 2020
Perine made a pair of house calls against the Texans, rushing for 95 yards on just 13 carries and hauling in all four of his targets for 41 yards. He and Giovani Bernard combined for a whopping 267 yards from scrimmage on Sunday. They get a much tougher test next week against Baltimore, but workload shouldn't be a worry.
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