Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 17

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Bryce Young, Panthers

Young is far from perfect, but the former No. 1 pick is finally getting comfortable in Dave Canales' system, and it's starting to show up in the box score.

The 23-year-old is coming off one of his best games as a pro, passing for two touchdowns while rushing for one TD and 68 yards.

For Young's next act, he'll take on a Buccaneers defense that allowed him to finish as the QB8 overall in Week 13 with 23.6 fantasy points.

Rookie wideout Xavier Legette might return from a groin injury, but you should view Young as a high-end QB2/streamer this week, regardless.

Anthony Richardson is above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top QB pickup this week if available.

Streaming options: Drake Maye vs. LAC (14% rostered), Russell Wilson vs. KC (46% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Michael Penix Jr. at WSH (14% rostered), Mason Rudolph at JAX (2% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Aaron Rodgers at BUF (41% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Jameis Winston vs. MIA (X% rostered), Kenny Pickett vs. DAL (0% rostered), Tyrod Taylor at BUF (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Aidan O'Connell at NO (4% rostered), Cooper Rush at PHI (10% rostered), Mac Jones vs. TEN (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Drew Lock vs. IND (3% rostered), Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. MIA (1% rostered), Spencer Rattler vs. LV (1% rostered)

Running backs

Trey Benson/Michael Carter, Cardinals

A knee injury forced James Conner to exit Sunday's game, and he could miss Week 17, too.

If that happens, Benson would be the next man up - if he's healthy. He didn't suit up last weekend due to his own ankle injury.

That'll make fantasy managers plan for all possible outcomes. If Conner is out and Benson starts, the rookie would be a top-24 option in fantasy championships.

However, if both Conner and Benson are sidelined, Carter would handle lead back duties. Carter totaled 48 yards on 10 touches last week and served as the primary back when Conner left the game. Carter would be a fantasy RB3 in that scenario.

J.K. Dobbins, Tyjae Spears, Alexander Mattison, Gus Edwards, and Tank Bigsby are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

RB3 options (if starter is out): Devin Singletary vs. IND (39% rostered)

RB3/flex options: Ameer Abdullah at NO (23% rostered)

RB3/flex options (if starter is out): Patrick Taylor Jr. vs. DET (46% rostered), Kendre Miller vs. LV (46% rostered)

Flex options: Audric Estime at CIN (7% rostered)

Risky flex options: Tyler Allgeier at WSH (32% rostered), Raheem Moster at CLE (44% rostered), Antonio Gibson vs. LAC (11% rostered), Ray Davis vs. NYJ (19% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. NYJ (4% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Kimani Vidal at NE (10% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jaleel McLaughlin at CIN (13% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Blake Corum vs. ARI (15% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. DAL (6% rostered), Cam Akers vs. GB (14% rostered), Craig Reynolds at SF (6% rostered), Samaje Perine at PIT (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Kenny McIntosh at CHI (1% rostered)

Wide receivers

Hollywood Brown, Chiefs

Brown returned to the lineup in Week 16 and earned eight targets, catching five for 45 yards.

The result is impressive for a player who ran only 15 routes and played 27% of the Chiefs' snaps.

With a game under his belt, Brown's involvement should increase in Kansas City's Christmas Day matchup with the Steelers.

If the speedy 27-year-old continues to draw that kind of volume, his big-play potential is bound to result in a fantasy eruption. It's just a matter of whether that happens this week or down the road.

Jalen McMillan and Romeo Doubs are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

WR4/flex options: Quentin Johnston at NE (39% rostered), Rashod Bateman at HOU (27% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if healthy): Xavier Legette at TB (22% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if starter is out): Dontayvion Wicks at MIN (14% rostered), Jalen Coker at TB (5% rostered)

Risky flex options: Brandin Cooks at PHI (15% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at JAX (26% rostered), Keon Coleman vs. NYJ (41% rostered), Calvin Austin III vs. KC (8% rostered), Olamide Zaccheaus vs. ATL (0% rostered),

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Malik Washington at CLE (3% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud at WSH (20% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. LV (29% rostered), John Metchie III vs. BAL (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Kayshon Boutte vs. LAC (3% rostered), David Moore at TB (2% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. IND (31% rostered), DeMario Douglas vs. LAC (21% rostered), Parker Washington vs. TEN (2% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. at CIN (2% rostered), Robert Woods vs. BAL (0% rostered), Ricky Pearsall vs. DET (13% rostered), Devaughn Vele at CIN (13% rostered), Joshua Palmer at NE (15% rostered), Michael Wilson at LAR (9% rostered), Jamison Crowder vs. ATL (0% rostered), Diontae Johnson vs. BAL (35% rostered), KaVontae Turpin at PHI (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Alec Pierce at NYG (13% rostered), Jalen Tolbert at PHI (9% rostered)

Tight ends

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Okonkwo played a season-high 85% of the Titans' snaps in Week 16 and came away with nine receptions and 81 yards on 11 targets.

That's after he turned 10 targets into eight catches and 59 yards.

His rapport with starting quarterback Mason Rudolph is evident, and the duo gets another excellent matchup with a Jaguars defense that's one of the 10 friendliest opponents for tight ends.

You can confidently start Okonkwo as a high-end TE2/streamer in the fantasy finals.

Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry, and Zach Ertz are around the 50% rostered mark but would be among the top TE pickups this week if available.

Risky streaming options: Isaiah Likely at HOU (22% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. LV (12% rostered), Noah Gray at PIT (19% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Will Dissly at NE (22% rostered), Brenton Strange vs. TEN (33% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Stone Smartt at NE (4% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Tyler Conklin at BUF (11% rostered), Noah Fant at CHI (18% rostered), Cole Kmet vs. SEA (47% rostered), Mike Gesicki vs. DEN (14% rostered), Tyler Higbee vs. ARI (1% rostered), Austin Hooper vs. LAC (1% rostered), Foster Moreau vs. LV (1% rostered), Tommy Tremble at TB (0% rostered), Grant Calcaterra vs. DAL (5% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Jordan Akins vs. MIA (0% rostered), Luke Farrell vs. TEN (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 17 streamers

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