Fantasy
12/26/23
7 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in both points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Players listed below are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
Check out Fantasy Takeaways From Every Week 16 Game here.
Top Week 17 Waiver Wire Options
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs, RB
One hundred percent of current FAAB
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the last man standing in this Kansas City Chiefs backfield, with Isiah Pacheco suffering a Week 16 concussion and Jerick McKinnon headed to injured reserve. In Weeks 14 and 15, Edwards-Helaire averaged 12 carries, four targets, 85 total yards and 14.5 PPR fantasy points per game. He's a fringe fantasy RB1 for your fantasy championship week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers WR
One hundred percent of current FAAB
Green Bay Packers WR Romeo Doubs appears destined to handle featured wide receiver duties against a Minnesota Vikings pass defense that allows the fifth-most adjusted yards per route run (0.93) to opposing wide receivers and the third-highest catch rate (68.3 percent).
Green Bay wide receivers Christian Watson (hamstring) and Jayden Reed (toe/chest) were inactive in Week 16 after not practicing all week, and breakout rookie WR Dontayvion Wicks was forced from Sunday's game against the Panthers after suffering a chest injury.
Doubs’ 19.0 percent targets per route run (TPRR) rate and 1.38 yards per route run (YPRR) are middling averages, but he should see the requisite volume to return value as a WR3 starter.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears RB
One hundred percent of current FAAB
The Chicago Bears coaching staff has allowed running back performance to dictate lead-back duties for much of 2023. With part-time starting RB D’Onta Foreman absent last Sunday due to a personal issue, former starter Khalil Herbert shredded the Arizona Cardinals defense, taking 20 rushing attempts for 112 yards rushing (5.6 yards per rushing attempt) and one touchdown. He added one reception for nine yards on two targets.
Herbert should retain the starting role against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17. Atlanta’s run defense efficiently limits running backs to just 3.7 yards per rushing attempt but allows 82.9 yards rushing per game to the position, ranking No. 15. Atlanta DL Grady Jarrett and LB Troy Andersen are on injured reserve. Herbert is a pickup-and-play RB2.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers WR
Sixty percent of current FAAB
Los Angeles Chargers de facto No. 1 WR Joshua Palmer faces a Denver Broncos pass defense allowing 0.95 adjusted yards per route run to opposing wide receivers, the fourth-most in the NFL, and a 19.5 percent explosive pass plays allowed rate, the ninth-highest. Palmer’s respectable 1.77 yards per route run (YPRR) and moderately field-stretching 11.8-yard average depth of target (aDot) bode well.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions WR
Twenty-five percent of current FAAB
The Week 17 game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys’ elite offenses opened with FanDuel’s highest over/under, 51.5 points. Fantasy managers should expect Detroit’s field-stretching No. 2 WR Jameson Williams to play a featured role as Detroit attempts to keep pace with Dallas QB Dak Prescott and Co. Dallas’ vaunted defense helpfully allowed 0.89 adjusted yards per route run to opposing wide receivers, the 10th-most in the NFL.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans RB
Twenty-five percent of current FAAB
The Tennessee Titans opened as 3.5-point road underdogs to the Houston Texans in Week 17, signaling a high-volume outing for Tennessee’s pass-catching RB Tyjae Spears. Spears averaged nine rushing attempts per game over the last two games and twice totaled six-plus targets in two of the previous three.
Among 32 NFL running backs with at least 35 targets, Spears’ 22.4 percent targets per route run (TPRR) rank No. 12, and his 1.16 YPRR rank No. 17. Houston’s running back-coverage unit ranks bottom 10 in catch rate allowed (81.7 percent) and explosive pass plays allowed 9.7 percent).
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals RB
Eight percent of current FAAB
Cincinnati Bengals No. 2 RB Chase Brown is the most efficient pass-catching running back on a per-route basis, ranked among 80 NFL running backs with at least 10 targets. Brown boasts a 4.39 YPRR average and a 100.0 percent catch rate.
His 18.2 percent explosive pass plays rate ties for 12th-best. In Week 17, Brown faces the Kansas City Chiefs, whose defense has proven to be a fantasy-friendly matchup for pass-catching running backs, ranking bottom 10 in catch rate allowed (81.6 percent) and adjusted yards allowed per route run (0.61).
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints WR
Six percent of current FAAB
New Orleans Saints slot WR Rashid Shaheed is WR3 viable against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ slot-coverage unit allowing a 74.1 percent catch rate (the fourth-highest) and 13.5 yards per reception (the fifth-highest).
Shaheed’s 31.7 percent explosive pass play rate ranks No. 27 among 76 NFL wide receivers with at least 50 targets, and his 14.9 aDot ranks No. 5. Shaheed should efficiently stretch the field against Tampa Bay in Week 17.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (at Kansas City Chiefs)
Twelve percent of current FAAB
Among 32 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 passing attempts in Weeks 13-16, Cincinnati Bengals fill-in QB Jake Browning ties for No. 11 in touchdowns passing per game (1.5) and ranks No. 5 in per-game fantasy scoring (20.7 points), No. 2 in yards passing per game (322.0) and No. 1 in completion rate (73.8 percent). His Week 17 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs opened with a fantasy-friendly 45.0-point FanDuel over/under.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (vs. New York Jets)
Eleven percent of current FAAB
Among 32 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 passing attempts in Weeks 13-16, Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco ranks top two across the board in passing attempts per game (43.8), yards passing per game (326.8) and touchdowns passing per game (2.5).
His matchup against the New York Jets’ elite defense increases his downside risk but Flacco’s league-high passing volume and mind-meld connection with No. 1 WR Amari Cooper keeps Flacco locked in as a high-end QB2 with easy top-12 upside.
Nick Mullens, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Green Bay Packers)
Eight percent of current FAAB
Minnesota Vikings QB Nick Mullens should be considered a streaming quarterback contingency plan. Mullens’ 357.0 yards passing per game average in Weeks 15-16 ranks No. 2 among 22 NFL quarterbacks with at least 50 passing attempts, accurately reflecting his helpful fantasy football ceiling.
However, TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) and WR Jordan Addison (ankle) may be unable to play. On the plus side, Minnesota’s passing game will be unaffected by December weather, playing inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (at Houston Texans)
Six percent of current FAAB
Tennessee Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo operated as a feature Week 15 pass catcher against the Seattle Seahawks’ soft tight end-coverage unit, catching six of six passes for 63 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Tennessee faces a Houston Texans’ tight end-coverage unit that ranks outside the top 20 in catch rate allowed (73.8 percent), adjusted yards allowed per route run (0.85) and explosive pass plays allowed rate (13.5 percent), signaling a high-volume outing for the second consecutive week.
Kickers
Michael Badgley, Detroit Lions (at Dallas Cowboys)
Seven percent of current FAAB
The Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys game will be played safely inside AT&T Stadium, providing weather-free environs for Detroit’s recently hired K Michael Badgley. The game’s 51.5-point FanDuel over/under is Week 17’s highest game total, signaling a busy day for Badgley.
Defense
Los Angeles Rams D/ST (at New York Giants)
Ten percent of current FAAB
The New York Giants’ 43.4 percent quarterback pressure allowed rate is the NFL’s second-highest and Los Angeles Rams DL Aaron Donald ranks top 12 among NFL defensive linemen with a 16.0 quarterback pressure rate.
Looking Ahead to Week 18
Defenses
Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST (at Carolina Panthers)
Two percent of current FAAB
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ blitz-heavy defense should have little issue producing a high fantasy sum against Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young. Tampa Bay’s 39.5 percent blitz rate is the NFL’s third-highest, and Young’s 18 sacks on blitzed dropbacks are the league’s highest sum. His 74.1 NFL passer rating when blitzed ranks 38th among 44 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 blitzed passing attempts.
Have a question about a player on or off this list? Join our Discord and hop into the waiver wire channel. We’ll answer as many questions as we can on our Tuesday Waiver Wire show.
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