Happy Holidays! Have you made it to the fantasy championship game this week despite having had to overcome injuries, COVID absences, or just plain duds in Week 16? Perhaps you just lost James Robinson to the Achilles tear will be forced to start some iffy options at RB2, or maybe you’ve been streaming at WR2 since Chris Godwin tore his ACL. Whatever the case might be, don’t despair. There are still potential gems to be mined from the list of available free agents if you need some desperation Week 17 flex plays.
Before we get to the list of players who could help win you a fantasy championship, here’s a quick suggestion on what you might do with some of your winnings if you do end up victorious on Tuesday morning. A few years ago, Julio Jones helped me overcome a large deficit to win a fantasy championship. Exuberant at the win, I looked up what causes he supported and donated a portion of my winnings to the International Justice Mission, a charity that is working toward ending human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Since then, I’ve made it a point to donate 10 percent of fantasy championship winnings each year to a charity supported by my top-scoring player from that week.
Last year, I donated to the Mike Evans Family Foundation and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in honor of Mike Evans and Davante Adams helping two of my teams to bring home fantasy championships. I’ve seen similar proposals on Twitter and elsewhere, so I will in no way take credit for this, but I do staunchly support it. If you’re reading this and are in a stable financial situation playing fantasy mostly for fun and not the money, then please consider donating a portion of your winnings. Whether it’s 10 percent or even just $10, whatever you feel comfortable with giving could go a long way to helping good causes and those in need. And if anything, consider it good fantasy karma for next season as well.
That’s the end of my spiel. First things first, you have to win the fantasy title to donate a portion of the prize! So let’s get to some Week 17 flex plays who might still be available in your leagues to help fill in for a late scratch or underperforming fantasy starter. Remember that these are all low-key options (rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues even after this week’s waiver run), so obviously add guys like Rashaad Penny and Amon Ra St. Brown over the players listed below if they’re somehow still available in your league. Congrats if you’ve made it to the fantasy championship game, and best of luck in your match-ups this week!
Deep Week 17 Flex Plays
Boston Scott (20% on ESPN, 27% on Yahoo)
The Eagles are the most run-heavy team in the league, both overall as well as in the red zone, and Philadelphia’s offensive line ranks second in the league in run-blocking. With Miles Sanders out and Jordan Howard questionable, Scott is a strong RB2 option and borderline RB1 if Howard is ruled out.
Jordan Howard (13% on ESPN, 23% on Yahoo)
Scott would remain the preferred option even if Howard is able to suit up for Sunday’s game, as Howard would likely not be 100 percent with the shoulder stinger and be at risk of in-game aggravation. Still, Howard would have a fair shot at a touchdown or more considering his red-zone role alongside Scott.
Kendrick Bourne (22% on ESPN, 27% on Yahoo)
Jacksonville ranks 31st in pass defense, and Kendrick Bourne ranks sixth among wide receivers in yards after the catch per reception (YAC/R). The Jaguars give up a lot of big plays through the air, and while New England ranks just sixth-lowest in pass rate, they’ve kept their foot on the gas pedal this year even in blowouts.
Gabriel Davis (17% on ESPN, 23% on Yahoo)
Isaiah McKenzie was the hot waiver add on Tuesday, but following the NFL’s change in COVID protocols, both Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley are back. Conditioning is a worry, but with Emmanuel Sanders doubtful with a knee injury, Davis could be the no. 2 receiver against an Atlanta defense that ranks 25th against the pass.
Devontae Booker (25% on ESPN, 22% on Yahoo)
Last week against the Eagles, Devontae Booker played more snaps than Saquon Barkley, who injured his ankle. Barkley was limited in practice on Thursday, but Booker could see another big workload against Chicago this week even if Barkley is active. With Kadarius Toney doubtful and Darius Slayton on the COVID list, Booker could see some PPR volume.
Dare Ogunbowale (20% on ESPN, 31% on Yahoo)
It’s tough to run on New England’s stout front seven, but that shouldn’t really matter. The Patriots are favored by 16 points at home, so there’s potential for garbage time receptions for Dare Ogunbowale, who saw a season-high 82 percent snap share last week against the Jets after James Robinson tore his Achilles.
Braxton Berrios (5% on ESPN, 4% on Yahoo)
With Jamison Crowder out last week, Braxton Berrios saw a season-high 83 percent snap share. Crowder has yet to practice this week, so with the Jets being 12.5 point underdogs this weekend, like Ogunbowale, Berrios should see similar garbage time PPR volume against an injury-riddled Tampa Bay secondary.
Allen Lazard (17% on ESPN, 28% on Yahoo)
With Randall Cobb doubtful, Marcedes Lewis on the COVID list, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s conditioning unknown coming back from COVID this week, Allen Lazard should once again serve as the no. 2 receiver behind Davante Adams against a Minnesota defense that’s allowed the sixth-most passing yards to opponents this year.
Rex Burkhead (25% on ESPN, 29% on Yahoo)
Don’t expect another two-touchdown day for Rex Burkhead against the 49ers, who are far better at stopping the run than the Chargers. However, with David Johnson doubtful with both a quad injury and on the COVID reserve list, Burkhead should see enough volume to be a usable flex play again this week.
K.J. Osborn (35% on ESPN, 40% on Yahoo)
Adam Thielen underwent season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday, and Tyler Conklin was limited in Thursday’s practice with a hamstring issue. If Conklin can’t go or is limited, K.J. Osborn should see plenty of target volume as the de facto no. 2 receiver for Kirk Cousins on Sunday night.
Nico Collins (2% on ESPN, 2% on Yahoo)
The Texans are 12 point underdogs to the 49ers, and Brandin Cooks‘s conditioning is in question returning from COVID. Davis Mills will likely need to throw a lot in this game against a San Francisco defense that ranks 20th against the pass, which could mean additional opportunities for Nico Collins this week.
C.J. Uzomah (19% on ESPN, 22% on Yahoo)
Vegas projects 51 total points in this game, the second-most of any Week 17 game, and the Chiefs have been excellent guarding against outside receivers in recent weeks. Tight ends are often last resorts as risky flex options, but C.J. Uzomah at least has a fairly high fantasy ceiling this week.
Foster Moreau (20% on ESPN, 20% on Yahoo)
With Darren Waller out the last four weeks, Foster Moreau has averaged six targets per game, and he’ll face a Colts’ defense that just allowed eight receptions to Zach Ertz last week with Arizona trailing most of the game. With Vegas being seven-point underdogs, Moreau should see enough target volume to be usable in PPR formats if Waller is out again.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn (3% on ESPN, 3% on Yahoo)
With Leonard Fournette on IR, Ke’Shawn Vaughn broke a 55-yard touchdown run against Carolina last week. If the Buccaneers are up multiple scores in the second half, Vaughn could again see some garbage time work behind Ronald Jones against a Jets’ defense that ranks 29th against the run. He’s a long shot but has scoring upside.
Cameron Brate (1% on ESPN, 3% on Yahoo)
It might shock you to know that Cameron Brate is 10th in the league in red-zone targets. That’s only translated to three touchdowns, but against a Jets’ defense that ranks dead last in the league against the pass this week, Brate has a fair chance at a score like Vaughn in a game where the Buccaneers have an implied total of 30 points.
Rondale Moore (19% on ESPN, 23% on Yahoo)
If Rondale Moore is able to play, he would face a tough slot matchup against Jourdan Lewis. Still, Vegas projects 52 total points scored in this game, the highest among the Week 17 slate, and Moore has the speed to break a long touchdown whenever he touches the ball if you don’t have better options.
Mo Alie-Cox (3% on ESPN, 2% on Yahoo)
After Jack Doyle was injured early last week against Arizona, Mo Alie-Cox played a season high 90 percent of the snaps. Doyle was still not practicing as of Thursday, and the Raiders have already allowed 10 touchdowns to tight ends this season. Alie-Cox is very much touchdown dependent but has a great matchup.
John Bates (0% on ESPN, 0% on Yahoo)
How desperate are you? If you have absolutely no other options, John Bates has seen more snaps than Ricky Seals-Jones since Logan Thomas got hurt. The Eagles have allowed a whopping 12 touchdowns to tight ends, and Bates had a garbage time score against Dallas last week. Start him if need be and pray to the fantasy gods.
For more fantasy football and NFL content, follow me on Twitter @FFA_Meng.
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