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The 2023 NFL season has just two weeks remaining, meaning it's time for the fantasy football championship slate in Week 17. By no surprise, the waiver wire in deep leagues is a wasteland, but there are still a chunk of players who could help you win your league for cash prizes, bragging rights, or both.
The top waiver wire adds are often obvious for traditional 10 and 12-team leagues, but a larger pool of players is in consideration in leagues of 14 people or more. All of these Week 17 deeper-league waiver wire suggestions are specific to this week only since it's the final week of the fantasy season in most leagues. That said, this article will mostly cover matchup-dependent streamers. We won't cover chalk waiver wire pickups for shallower leagues like Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Zamir White.
Without further ado, here are the top deeper league waiver wire targets for Week 17, including Derek Carr, Khalil Herbert, K.J. Osborn, Demarcus Robinson, Rashid Shaheed, Chigoziem Okonkwo, and more.
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Running Back Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Tyler Allgeier is set to face a Chicago Bears defense that has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Although Chicago has played well against poor rushing teams, Allgeier has upside as a midrange flex option due to his goal line role in Atlanta's offense.
Khalil Herbert faces a worrisome matchup against the Atlanta Falcons this week, but he's coming off his best performance of the 2023 season. Against Arizona, Herbert rushed 20 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. With D'Onta Foreman out, it was a mystery whether Herbert or Roschon Johnson would carry the load for Chicago. It was clearly Herbert, so he has RB3/flex value in Week 17.
Justice Hill led the Ravens' backfield with 13 touches in the first game without Keaton Mitchell (knee). Hill rushed 10 times for 26 yards and caught three passes for 31 yards, while Gus Edwards was given 10 touches. Although the touch distribution is likely to change week-to-week, both backs could have boom weeks at any point in one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL.
Tyjae Spears is averaging the eighth-most yards per touch (5.5) among all running backs this season. He's been given at least 10 touches in each of his last four games, and he's always a threat to rack up 4-5 receptions. He should likely be avoided in standard formats, but fantasy managers hurting at running back in PPR leagues can roll the dice on him against the Houston Texans.
Rico Dowdle faces the toughest matchup for running backs in Week 17 (Detroit Lions). However, he remains a touchdown-or-bust flex consideration in the high-ceiling Cowboys' offense.
Chase Brown saw at least nine touches in the three games prior to his Week 16 outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although there's no guarantee he'll approach double-digit touches against the Kansas City Chiefs this week, he has low-end flex value in deep formats.
Emari Demercado caught seven of his eight targets for 40 yards in the Week 16 loss to the Chicago Bears. Although his high-volume receiving game is likely an outlier performance, he now has desperation flex appeal in PPR formats.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Rashid Shaheed is reliant on deep-shot touchdowns to pay off for fantasy managers. However, he's set to face a Tampa Bay secondary that has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points per game and the most receiving yards per game to wide receivers. Although he has a low floor, he has week-winning upside when it matters most.
Demarcus Robinson has come out of nowhere and scored a touchdown in four consecutive games. It's never a good idea to chase touchdown production, but a favorable matchup against the New York Giants in Week 17 keeps him firmly on the fantasy radar.
K.J. Osborn draws a neutral matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, but the Vikings might be without Jordan Addison (ankle) and T.J. Hockenson (knee). If one or both of those pass-catchers can't suit up this week, Osborn has immediate plug-and-play value.
Greg Dortch has drawn five or more targets in three of his five games with Kyler Murray this season. In Week 17, he faces the Philadelphia Eagles, who have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to wideouts. He's far from a sure thing, but the matchup is right and this could be a shootout that produces a ton of fantasy points.
Marvin Mims Jr. and Brandon Johnson are both viable flex options if Courtland Sutton (concussion) can't play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The Chargers have given up the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, so hopefully, Russell Wilson can get back on track and support one of the two pass-catchers. Mims is likely the preferred option here, but it could go either way.
D.J. Chark had one of the best games of his career last week. The veteran caught six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the narrow loss to the Green Bay Packers. Heading into a matchup with the weak Jacksonville Jaguars secondary, he's another boom-or-bust option with upside.
Justin Watson is third among Chiefs' pass-catchers with 49 targets this season. Skyy Moore is on injured reserve, while Kadarius Toney missed the Week 17 game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a hip injury. Especially if Toney remains out, Watson has plenty of upside against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals pass defense.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. failed to deliver when Tyreek Hill (ankle) was out in Week 15, but he's back on the fantasy radar since Jaylen Waddle is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. If Waddle can't go, Wilson can be flexed against Detroit, who has been a bottom-six defense against fantasy wide receivers.
Tight End Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Gerald Everett has drawn eight targets in three straight games and he draws the most favorable matchup for tight ends in the NFL this week. The Denver Broncos have allowed the second-most yards (66.5) and most touchdowns (0.7) per game to tight ends this season. Everett is a clear TE1 in the fantasy championship round.
Chigoziem Okonkwo enjoyed his best game of the season in Week 16, catching all six of his targets for 63 yards and a score. Since the Houston Texans have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, he has a chance to build on the performance in Week 17. For what it's worth, Ryan Tannehill seems to target him more often than Will Levis.
Jonnu Smith has hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 132 yards in two full games with Taylor Heinicke under center. Heinicke will start in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears, who present a favorable matchup for tight ends.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues/Two-QB Leagues
Derek Carr failed to score 20 fantasy points in a game through the first 14 weeks of the 2023 campaign. Over the last two weeks, he has scored at least 20.3 fantasy points. He should be able to keep the good times rolling against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have surrendered the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Bryce Young posted by far the best performance of his career in Week 17. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick completed 23 of his 36 passing attempts for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he'll face the Jaguars, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to signal-callers.
Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis have low floors behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, but a matchup with the Houston Texans defense keeps whichever quarterback that starts on the fantasy radar. Houston has allowed at least 18.8 fantasy points to QBs in seven of the last eight games.
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