This is the final waiver wire column of the 2022 fantasy football season. I’m going to keep things short and sweet. There are only two teams remaining in head-to-head championship matchups. That said, there isn’t a ton to consider on the Week 17 waiver wire with less competition for pickups and a likely solidified roster. If you do need a little bit of help or want to block your opponent from certain players, consider who I have listed below.
Week 17 Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Allgeier is the top add on the Week 17 waiver wire. He continues to be the lead back for the Atlanta Falcons. Allgeier has 56 total carries in their last four games and 35 in their last two. That’s 12 more than Cordarelle Patterson in a four-game span and 13 more in their last two. Allgeier also has 138 more rushing yards than Patterson over the last four weeks, as well. Allgeier enters Week 17 after logging a career-high 22 touches last week. He gets a home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals for the fantasy football finals. They’re allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. Allgeier is a must-add on the waiver wire who will be a RB2 with upside in Week 17.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
After two games without Jonathan Taylor, it appears Zack Moss is the lead back for the Colts. He has 36 total carries in Taylor’s absence playing at least 67% of snaps in each game. Up next for Moss and the Colts are the New York Giants in Week 17. They’re allowing the third-most rushing yards per game. That’s a big reason why they’re allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to the position, as well. The Colts offense is very hard to trust, but Moss should be a volume-based, low-end RB2. He is trending up and is a must-add on the Week 17 waiver wire even if you have no need to start him.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
While D’Onta Foreman has the better stats from Week 16, Hubbard has put together a noteworthy last few weeks making him a worthwhile waiver wire pickup for Week 17. He has 291 all-purpose yards on 36 total touches and a touchdown in his last three games. That’s more than eight yards per touch. His pass-catching upside will likely come in to play against a tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Both teams remain in the playoff hunt. Hubbard is a flex play for Week 17, but worth stashing ahead of this weekend.
Hasaan Haskins, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans’ Week 17 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night does not matter. Their playoff hopes will come down to a Week 18 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South division title. That said, it’s unlikely we see Derrick Henry on a short week in a meaningless matchup. While that’s devastating for the fantasy football finals, we still need to consider adding Haskins from the waiver wire. Given that Dontrell Hilliard is out with a neck injury, Haskins is the only remaining running back of note. He gets a home matchup and should see a ton of volume on this run-heavy offense. With Malik Willis at quarterback, though, the offense could struggle to move the ball diminishing Haskins’ scoring opportunities and his fantasy upside.
Wide Receiver
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
If Jahan Dotson is still available on the waiver wire, you need to add him immediately. He is the top wide receiver add for Week 17. Dotson is averaging 18.83 points per game in his last three with 24 total targets, as well. That’s a 23.7% target share, the highest amongst all Commanders in their last three games. He has taken over Curtis Samuel as the WR2 in snap share but is producing WR1 numbers in fantasy football with a touchdown in each of his last three games, as well. Dotson is a priority add amongst all positions and worth starting in the fantasy football finals.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
In his first two games back from injury, Doubs has seen an increase in playing time as well as targets. That should continue in Week 17 with Christian Watson’s (hip) availability in question. We won’t know if Watson is going to play until closer to Friday so it’s wise to add Doubs now. If Watson is out, Doubs will take on the Minnesota Vikings defense allowing the most receiving yards to the position this season. They’re also allowing the third-most fantasy points. With the Packers still in the playoff hunt, Aaron Rodgers will look to pick them apart through the air which gives Doubs a boost in value.
Richie James, New York Giants
Daniel Jones’ top target in the Giants’ passing game over the last three weeks is Richie James. He has 26 total targets and is now third in team targets this season behind only Saquon Barkley and Darius Slayton this season. He’s averaging over 15 fantasy points per game in his last three with just one receiving touchdown. Isaiah Hodgins also warrants consideration after his best game of the season. His 11 targets, eight receptions, and 89 yards are all a season-high. He has seen more total snaps than James over the last three weeks, as well.
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
Dortch makes the Week 17 waiver wire list after seeing 11 targets from Trace McSorely on Sunday night. Dortch’s availability is wildly inconsistent, though. He played just nine total snaps in the two games prior without any targets or receptions. In Week 11, though, he saw 10 targets and played 93% of the Cardinals’ snaps. There’s also a good probability Colt McCoy is back under center for the Cardinals in Week 17. You can add Dortch on the waiver wire, but trusting him is extremely risky with a fantasy title on the line.
Tight End
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Otton remains the TE1 on the Buccaneers’ offense which is throwing at the highest rate across the league. Though he has just 27.8 fantasy points in his last four games, he’s seen 23 targets for an average of nearly six per game. If you need a plug-and-play tight end, Otton is worth adding on the Week 17 waiver wire for the sheer volume alone. In a must-win game against the Carolina Panthers, Otton could find the end zone assuming their secondary’s focus is on Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. It’s worth noting the Panthers’ stud cornerback, Jaycee Horn, is unlikely to play.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin gets a mouth-watering matchup in Week 17 for the fantasy football finals. The Seattle Seahawks defense is allowing the third-most receiving yards and third-most touchdowns to tight ends on just the 18th-most receptions! That is wild production on limited touches for the position so Conklin has a good chance to feast. Especially with Mike White back under center, the quarterback play for the Jets is much more trustworthy than in their last two games with Zach Wilson. Conklin could be a league-winner given the matchup and his role on a playoff-hopeful team.
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia Eagles
The top seed and first-round bye for the NFC playoffs is still up for grabs. Minshew and the Eagles can clinch it this weekend at home against the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, a win against the Saints further improves the draft capital of New Orleans’ 2023 first-round pick which the Eagles own. The Saints are a tougher matchup for quarterbacks, but given the stakes, the Eagles’ obvious weapons, and home-field advantage, I think Minshew will easily finish inside the top-10 at the position for the second week in a row. If you need a quarterback who can put up 20 or more points, then I think Minshew is your guy to add from the Week 17 waiver wire.
Mike White, New York Jets
White is cleared for contact, following a Week 14 rib injury, and will be the Jets’ start for the remainder of the season. In the two games prior to his injury, White’s 22.13 points per game average was the seventh-best amongst all quarterbacks. He has a chance to flirt with a similar score in Week 17 against a Seattle Seahawks defense allowing the 11th-most points to quarterbacks. Seattle has allowed exactly two touchdown passes in each of their last two games as well as an average of 220.5 passing yards.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy has now thrown for two passing touchdowns in each of his last four games. He is thriving in Mike Shanahan’s offense with plenty of weapons at his disposal. I think if you’re adding Purdy off of the Week 17 waiver wire, you’re banking on him to absolutely light up the Las Vegas Raiders defense on Sunday. He has a good chance to as they allow the sixth-most points to quarterbacks. Purdy has no rushing upside, though. In four games, he has just six rushing yards on nine attempts, which includes kneel-downs. I do think Christian McCaffrey and the run game have their way in Vegas which further limits Purdy’s upside, but all it takes is a few big plays to George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and even McCaffrey through the air to make starting Purdy worthwhile.