If you are reading this at this point in the fantasy football season, congratulations! You have probably made it to your championship game! This is the last week of waivers, your final chance to piece together your season-winning squad. This week is different, with so much more to think about - you are no longer holding on to players to see if they will explode later in the season, and you are only battling a few people on the waiver wire, so your plan (and this article) will be slightly different this week.
Past your studs that got you here, you are looking at matchups and opportunities and blocking your opponent and their needs. Good luck, and let's win a championship!
Note: Because of the early games this week, the roster percentage is not included in this article since all waivers will not have run by the time of publication.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Once again, if you have gotten this far, you have probably not been piecing together the quarterback position. However, you do not want startable quarterbacks sitting on waivers for anyone to grab. Young had a great performance against Arizona fantasy-wise, and in Week 17, the Panthers head to Tampa Bay. The Bucs give up almost three fantasy points over expectation to opposing quarterbacks, so there are worse options out there.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Derek Carr, Anthony Richardson
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
We were doing so well, James Conner managers. Conner had never finished a season without missing a game, and just when we thought this might be the year, he left Sunday's game with a knee injury. Even though it did not look serious to the untrained eye, he did not return, and with their loss, the Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs, so Conner's return in Week 17 seems less likely. Rookie Trey Benson did not play in the game due to an ankle injury, so there is no guarantee he would be the fill-in for Conner if he misses, but I could see the world where the team wants to see what they have in the rookie. Either way, he must be rostered.
Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
Edwards bounced back nicely this week in a big win for Los Angeles with 68 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. There is no guarantee he can keep up the workload, taking 74% of the running back attempts, but he might be able to hang on just long enough for fantasy managers. Keep in mind that J.K. Dobbins' 21-day practice window was activated, so he, too, could return this week. The Chargers get to play the Patriots this week, and James Cook just carved them up.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Ken Walker III returned to the Seattle backfield on Sunday, and Charbonnet was pushed to the corner. He only had one carry, but Walker left late in the game with an ankle injury, so we might see Charbonnet's usage jump back up this week. Seattle plays early in the week, so it seems highly possible that Walker will be at least partially sidelined, making Charbonnet an important roster addition. The Seahawks can still win the division, and they play Chicago this week, a team that gives up almost three fantasy points over expectation to opposing running backs.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: J.K. Dobbins
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rookie McMillan has been blossoming before our eyes, with steady usage and performance over the last three weeks, and there is nothing to tell me that this will not continue. The Bucs are battling for the NFC South, and they will host Carolina this week, a team that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
John Metchie III and Robert Woods, Houston Texans
Tank Dell went down with a gruesome injury on Sunday, depleting the wide receiver room in Houston even more. Next up could be John Metchie III or Robert Woods. Metchie did not play in the game versus Kansas City due to injury, and with a quick turnaround heading into the Baltimore matchup, it is tough to tell if he will be ready. Either way, he needs to be monitored. Robert Woods was the primary beneficiary of extra targets on Sunday, with six, his season high. Woods has been dependable for multiple teams before, so Houston might turn to him in the absence of Dell. The Ravens are a solid matchup for wide receivers.
Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
Welcome back, Hollywood Brown! Brown was targeted eight times on Sunday, catching five for 45 yards. Pittsburgh isn't a great matchup for wide receivers, but Brown is clearly the WR1, and I believe the team will try to get him comfortable before the playoffs hit. I expect more targets and usage.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Rashod Bateman
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
As I mentioned, the Texans lost Tank Dell, leaving the team searching for pass catchers to step up. With the wide receiver room depleted, the extra targets might go to the tight end. Schultz had his best game of the year this week, catching five out of eight targets for 45 yards and one touchdown. Baltimore is an average matchup for tight ends, but Schultz needs to be rostered.
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo has been great the last two weeks, with a TE7 and TE3 finish. He played 85% of the snaps last week, his season-high. Mason Rudolph has been confirmed as the starting quarterback for Tennessee in Week 17, and the Titans get the Jaguars this week, the seventh-best matchup for opposing tight ends.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs
With Buffalo winning against the pesky Patriots on Sunday, the Chiefs still have to fight for that bye week. The matchup against Pittsburgh is great this week for the tight ends, with the Steelers giving up the third-highest fantasy points to opposing tight ends over the past three weeks. Travis Kelce will always be a factor, but I think Andy Reid will follow the game plan that worked so well for them last season - slowing down the Kelce usage until the playoffs, leaving Gray as a solid play.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Hunter Henry
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins play Cleveland this week, and the Bengals' defense was a great start against them, with two interceptions off of Dorian Thompson-Robinson, five sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Indianapolis Colts
I have mentioned the Colts before, who take on the New York Giants in Week 17 and currently hold the number one pick in the 2025 draft. It was reported Monday that Drew Lock will undergo an MRI on his shoulder, so it is uncertain who we will see under center for the Giants. No matter - start the Colts.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
