FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 17 (2024)

December 24, 2024

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 17 (2024) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

If you're still reading fantasy football content going into Week 17 then you're either part of the community's elite, very close to a title, or a glutton for punishment. Whether you are flush with cash or rubbing pennies together, we're here for the championship push with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

For the last time, remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for and many of you will lean on priority tiebreakers like the olden days! Be sure you order your bids appropriately and prioritize based on your needs and that of your opponent. You know exactly what matchup awaits you and what weaknesses are there to address and/or exploit.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook so please compare your FAAB to your competition and act appropriately. If you are the only team with FAAB to go then congratulations on being ol' Billy Gates for a week. It's time to pay up and buy yourself a title!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Bryce Young (QB, CAR) - 7% rostered

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-25%

Young is coming off his best fantasy game thanks to an electrifying 68 rushing yards and a ground score alongside his 158 pass yards with another two TDs through the air. You don’t have to swear by Pro Football Focus, but Young was their top-graded passer in Week 16, which means something.

Bryce Young is the highest graded QB of week 16 😌 pic.twitter.com/PxTuwINrsX

— For Panthers Fans Only (Podcast) (@FPFO_Podcast) December 23, 2024

Then there is the small matter of his drawing another matchup with the Bucs, who allowed Young to reach a season-high 298 yards back in Week 13 and just yielded a similar number to Cooper Rush. If Young is feeling comfortable enough to rush more and draws a familiar foe against which he has shown success, then many of you should sign up for the ride.

Drake Maye (QB, NE) - 14% rostered

FAAB Bid: 3-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%

Maye threatened Buffalo in a 24-21 loss which saw the rookie toss a pair of touchdowns alongside 261 yards and another 30 rushing. He did throw another interception, which makes seven straight games with a pick, and a backward pass to Rhamondre Stevenson couldn’t be secured and led to a Buffalo TD.

Overall, Maye is a work in progress for the Patriots with a rather established median range for us fantasy managers. Despite poor matchups, he’s typically thrown for 200-250 yards with 25-30 rush yards and 1-2 total TDs. He’s unlikely to blow past that expectation in a home game against the Chargers but a safer floor is welcome to many.

Michael Penix Jr. (QB, ATL) - 14% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%

Penix wasn’t asked to do anything wild in his first NFL start, completing 18-of-27 pass attempts for 202 yards with an “interception.” The quote marks are necessary as the INT was Kyle Pitts heave-hoing a fine goal-line ball into the arms of a defender. But that doesn’t mean Penix didn’t make an impact and show off decisiveness and a strong arm.

Michael Penix's NFL Debut

+ 81.5% catchable throw rate [4th-best on the week]
+ 0.0% turnover worthy throw rate
+ 0.0% pressure-to-sack (9 pressures)@FantasyPtsData https://t.co/f0a6hZVBu6

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) December 23, 2024

Overall, the Giants needed but a small nudge in the wrong direction to fall 34-7 at the hands of a strong defense and Bijan Robinson. A road game against the Commanders will bring more of a fight and an increased ask of Penix. His lack of rushing caps the fantasy upside but those needing a deep-league spark shouldn’t shy away from the rookie.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Trey Benson (RB, ARI) - 18% rostered
Michael Carter (RB, ARI) - 18% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 100% / 25-30%
Aggressive Bid: 100% / 30-40%
Desperation Bid: 100% / 40-50%

James Conner was forced from Week 16 due to a knee injury after topping 160 total yards against the Panthers. Benson was inactive due to an ankle injury while Emari Demercado is on IR with a back issue, which left Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas to finish the game.

Gannon: no updates on Sunday injuries yet. Wait to see on RB James Conner, and RT Jonah Williams.

With Conner, “I know he wants to play.”

— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) December 23, 2024

But Benson has been the year-long handcuff so speculators will hope he can practice this week and line up for an impact against the Rams. His 4.6 yards per carry highlight his fantasy relevance without Conner on the field, but he must be healthy first!

Both Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are 0% rostered and would be elevated into deep-league territory should both Conner and Benson be unavailable in Week 17 (though Arizona would likely go pass-heavy).

Ameer Abdullah (RB, LV) - 23% rostered

FAAB Bid: 40-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%

Abdullah ran better than Alexander Mattison in the split backfield with Sincere McCormick out for the year. Mattison needed 16 touches for 56 yards and a score while Abdullah logged 85 yards and a TD on just 12 touches.

That makes four TDs in Abdullah’s last six games going into a plus matchup against New Orleans’ bottom-10 rushing defense next week. The Raiders are still fighting for Antonio Pierce and Abdullah looks like a center figure to the effort.

Audric Estime (RB, DEN) - 7% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 15-25%
Aggressive Bid: 25-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%

Estime notched 48 yards and his first NFL touchdown on nine carries as Denver fell 34-27 to the Chargers. Jaleel McLaughlin missed the game, which left Estime in a rotation with Javonte Williams and Blake Watson.

Sean Payton once again said that Estime has earned additional looks ahead of their date with Cincinnati on Saturday. He’s unlikely to make a PPR impact but may have earned those valuable short-yardage reps.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Marquise Brown (WR, KC) - 32% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 20-30%
Aggressive Bid: 30-40%
Desperation Bid: 40-50%

In Brown's first action of the 2024 season, he was limited to just 15 routes so surely, he barely produced, right? Wrong! He was the primary read on all eight of his targets (per Fantasy Points Data Suite), of which he caught five for 45 yards. If this is Kansas City easing him in, then this next week could provide a strong showing as a win would secure the No. 1 seed for the Chiefs.

Olamide Zaccheaus (WR, WAS) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 8-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16%
Desperation Bid: 16-20%

In a shootout without a known No. 2 receiver, Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, and Jamison Crowder rotated as Terry McLaurin retained alpha status. Zaccheaus would lead the team with 70 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets (five catches). It’s worth noting he had 20 fewer air yards than the other three WRs, but he tied with McLaurin’s six first-read targets, per Fantasy Points Data Suite.

Crowder had two touchdowns, and Brown ran the same number of routes as Zaccheaus so we can’t act like he’s a runaway favorite for No. 2 duties. Washington needed its aerial attack in the 36-33 comeback effort and while this week against Atlanta shouldn’t be at that caliber, it should be hotly contested between two contenders.

John Metchie III (WR, HOU) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Metchie missed Week 16’s game against Kansas City with a shoulder injury but reports he is “good to go” for this week’s home tilt against Baltimore’s secondary. This takes on increased importance due to Tank Dell’s season-ending knee injury, meaning it’ll be Metchie and Robert Woods lining up with Nico Collins with Dell joining Stefon Diggs on IR.

The Ravens should keep the action moving and force C.J. Stroud to the air with Metchie seeing starting snaps. Houston has the division clinched and doesn’t need to win but they won’t want to roll over to a playoff contender ahead of the postseason run either.

Kayshon Boutte (WR, NE) - 3% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Boutte’s best game of the season resulted in five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown as New England came within three points of knocking off the Buffalo Bills. The young WR had only topped 50 yards once before (back in Week 6, 59 yards) but he’s averaging six targets per game over their last eight contests.

Drake Maye continues to improve despite a poor offensive line and young corps. He’ll need Boutte and the entire team against a good Chargers team at home next week.

Sick angle of Drake Maye’s TD pass to Kayshon Boutte on Sunday.

A dot 🎯.

(🎥: @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/lv9eHTLj5B

— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) December 23, 2024

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Chig Okonkwo (TE, TEN) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 20-30%
Aggressive Bid: 30-40%
Desperation Bid: 40-50%

Okonkwo has suddenly caught eight or more passes in back-to-back weeks after being a nonfactor through Weeks 1-14. Mason Rudolph’s entry and an incredible matchup stretch of late have seen Okonkwo pop. Sunday saw him post career-high marks in targets (11), catches (nine), and yards (81).

Don’t forget that the athletic Okonkwo tore up field for a 70-yard TD in Week 12. He’s more than capable but has been perpetually doomed by low volume. Can Rudolph keep Okonkwo rolling against Jacksonville in Week 17?

Chig Okonkwo:

Week 15: Set career-highs in targets (10) and receptions (8)

Week 16: Sets career-highs in targets (11), receptions (9), receiving yards (81) and fantasy points (19.1)

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) December 22, 2024

Isaiah Likely (TE, BAL) - 22% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

Likely caught all three of his targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s 34-17 win over Pittsburgh. It was Likely’s fifth TD of the year and his second in his last three contests. Desperate fantasy managers can’t be greedy for volume, but you could do worse than an ancillary option on the Ravens’ high-scoring offense. They’ll do battle with Houston in another possible playoff preview.

Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

Making his 2024 debut, Higbee made his lone catch count for an 11-yard touchdown. He’ll continue to be eased in after last year’s torn ACL but it’s nice to see his situational entry into the game come inside the red zone. The Rams will look to bolster their NFC West case in Week 17 against Arizona.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

40-50% rostered priority options:
-Indianapolis Colts (at NYG) - 47% rostered
-Miami Dolphins (at CLE) - 46%
-Los Angeles Chargers (at NE) - 44%

Tennessee Titans Defense (at JAX) - 22% rostered

FAAB Bid: %
Aggressive Bid: %
Desperation Bid: %

Sure, the Titans have been rolled by offenses like the Colts, Bengals, and Commanders over the last month, but the one good game came against this week’s opponent: Jacksonville! They forced two interceptions with a sack alongside 10 points allowed (yet still lost). Those who haven’t already lined up a premier defense should be thrilled to snag a JAX matchup.

Seattle Seahawks Defense (at CHI) - % rostered

FAAB Bid: %
Aggressive Bid: %
Desperation Bid: %

Seattle dropped a heartbreaker to Minnesota last week and their playoff hopes are on life support. Any postseason hope starts with a Thursday night win over the Bears, who have only eclipsed 20 offensive points once since their Week 7 bye. Mix in multiple sacks in all nine of those games and we’ve got something cooking.

Las Vegas Raiders Defense (at NO) - 10% rostered

FAAB Bid: %
Aggressive Bid: %
Desperation Bid: %

The Raiders defense once again fared just fine without Maxx Crosby, holding the Jaguars to 14 points with a sack and two fumble recoveries. Most will judge them by the matchup and argue it doesn’t get worse than the Jags, but the Saints are coming for that throne. Targeting the first team of 2024 to get shut out is a stellar strategy! Line up and take your shot here.

More Waiver Wire Adds and Pickups