FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 17 (2025)

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 17 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

For many of you, this is the moment you've been waiting for, what you've been building up to since starting that draft prep. Whether you've got some money to blow or simply $0 bid prioritization to line up, we're here for you. Let's secure our place in history together with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

Do note how these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, as every league's FAAB landscape is entirely unique by the final week. You will do whatever it takes to gain a slight advantage over your opponent. If you have money left and they don't, then feel free to identify their weakest point and stash the top available options there (assuming you don't overlook your own areas of need).

You've done well to get this far, and some of you have already started stashing and planning for this ultimate matchup. Please remember that we don't go above a 40% rostered rate on Yahoo!, but always keep your eyes open for forgotten players and check them against our weekly ranks! Do your best, trust the process, and I wish you the best of luck as the die is cast.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Tyler Shough (QB, NO) - 13% rostered

FAAB Bid: 5-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-15%

So, you’re being picky and want a healthy QB instead? Fine, have it your way. Shough has seen several injuries strike around him, with hits to the running back room putting more on his shoulders. He unleashed 49 pass attempts for 308 yards and a TD, avoiding a turnover for a second consecutive game and extending New Orleans’ win streak to three.

What would the 2025 Saints have looked like if he started over Spencer Rattler from the jump, eh? They’ll take on the Titans next, who have been ravaged by most opposing QBs who aren’t named Chris Oladokun. Shough is on the rise, and his opponents have been QB1 kingmakers more often than not. Are you in?

J.J. McCarthy (QB, MIN) - 40% rostered

FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-10%

McCarthy had an ugly day unfurling at MetLife Stadium, but he still rushed for his fourth TD of the season before suffering a hand injury right before halftime. Limit yourself to the box score, and you’ll scoff at yet another interception, but it was another on-target deflection gone wrong.

Can he clear the health checks to get Detroit’s ailing defense? He scored three TDs against them in Week 9 after missing five games, and will have the home dome comforts around him against the Lions. Before the Giants, he had a trio of TDs in back-to-back dome games against similar top-QB matchups (Washington, Dallas). Can lightning strike thrice?

DOLLAR BIN:
*Marcus Mariota (hand, quad) draws Dallas’ porous defense next, but is a health risk.
*Cam Ward has quietly thrown for multiple scores in three straight, and gets the Saints at home.
*Geno Smith now gets a top-five matchup vs. NYG after a month of bottom-10 opponents.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

*Michael Carter & Blake Corum sit above the threshold but are full-FAAB plays.

Emanuel Wilson (RB, GB) - 37% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 100%

Josh Jacobs didn’t practice ahead of Week 16 due to his knee and ankle injuries, and his playing time took a big hit on a cold night in Chicago. He battled through this to a 72% snap count in Week 14, but has been at 54%, 55%, and now 39% since missing Week 12 otherwise.

Wilson exploded for 125 total yards and two scores on 30 touches when Jacobs missed Week 12, and he just led the team with 82 yards on 14 carries on Saturday. Chris Brooks tends to be the third-down back, but if Jacobs is out or limited against the Ravens, then Wilson is a top-24 option.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB, WAS) - 29% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 50-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%

Rodriguez got four of Washington’s first five touches, but it was a clear split with Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the first half. JCM got two drives, yet never saw the field again after scoring with four minutes left in the second quarter.

Luckily, Rodriguez took over with the game largely out of hand. Despite only eight total yards in the first 26 minutes of the second half, we got precious garbage time in the form of 36 yards and a TD on the final drive. He’s topped 50 yards or scored in six straight games, and though Washington’s quarterback status is in serious flux, a date with Dallas’ generous defense looms.

Jawhar Jordan (RB, HOU) - 8% rostered 

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

With Woody Marks (ankle) unable to go as a game-time decision and Nick Chubb coming off a rib injury, Jordan was once again the primary running back. His 53 yards on 15 carries weren’t mind-blowing, but he added five receptions for 17 yards to bump up the volume.

The Texans have enjoyed healthy rushing gamescripts over the last couple of months thanks to their elite defense. Week 17 against the Chargers isn’t easy, but anyone with 15 touches is in flex consideration. Houston plays on Saturday afternoon, so speculators can hinge the call on Marks’ practice status and availability before the main slate.

Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN) - 26% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%

Cam Ward’s Titans are starting to take flight on the back nine, but it has been the Tony Pollard show without much Spears on the climb. That changed on Sunday, largely thanks to the Titans controlling the win over the Chiefs in a 26-9 win.

Pollard still crossed 100 yards, but Spears had 13-52-1 rushing and a season-high 53 receiving yards on five receptions. Those buying into the Titans’ rising tide lifting all ships should consider Spears in PPR formats before the home game with the Saints.

Raheim Sanders (RB, CLE) - 0% rostered
Dylan Sampson (RB, CLE) - 11% rostered

FAAB Bid: 10-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%

Quinshon Judkins’ season is done due to a brutal dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. With Sampson out due to a hand injury, this left Sanders as the next man up to gain 42 yards on 11 carries (with a four-yard reception).

Trayveon Williams became the receiving back, though the fantasy upside there resides in Sampson being activated. Unfortunately, the Browns already have a low fantasy ceiling, and they’ll go from facing Buffalo’s light run defense to Pittsburgh’s robust unit in Week 17. Proceed with caution!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Parker Washington (WR, JAX) - 23% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 40-50%
Aggressive Bid: 50-60%
Desperation Bid: 60-75%

Washington cruised to a career-best 145 receiving yards and his fourth TD of the year, including three in his last six contests. He was Trevor Lawrence’s go-to man, especially with Patrick Surtain II helping limit Brian Thomas Jr.

Parker Washington gained 90 of his 145 receiving yards against the Broncos after the catch.

Washington's +70 YAC over expected are the most by any player in a single game this season, and the most by any Jaguars' pass catcher since at least 2016.#JAXvsDEN | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/dWlalP4lsZ

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 22, 2025

Jakobi Meyers still saw eight targets (and a rush), so there’s no changing of the guard there. But is Washington a more reliable option than BTJ, who is now a field-stretcher with modest volume? Since the Meyers trade, Washington has a 70% route participation rate (BTJ 83%, Meyers 80%), but he’s maximizing the opportunities when they come.

Fantasy Points Data charts Washington with five missed tackles forced since Week 10, and no other Jags’ WR/TE has more than one. Will the Colts be able to push Jacksonville enough to supply a fun gamescript to attack?

Luther Burden III (WR, CHI) - 16% rostered
Jahdae Walker (WR, CHI) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 30-40% / 4-8%
Aggressive Bid: 40-50% / 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 50-75% / 12-20%

The Bears pulled off a wild comeback over the Packers to put themselves well in control of the NFC North, but the absence of both Rome Odunze (foot) and Burden (ankle) showed. Six different players had 2-3 catches behind DJ Moore, but Walker’s late TD may inspire future usage.

Chicago can take a sizable step toward the division crown with a win over the 49ers in Week 17. San Francisco takes a particular beating from opposing slot WRs, so Burden could return to a beautiful setup. If not, then consider Walker over Olamide Zaccheaus’ modest range of outcomes.

Mack Hollins (WR, NE) - 3% rostered
Kyle Williams (WR, NE) - 2% rostered

FAAB Bid: 20-25% / 5-10%
Aggressive Bid: 25-35% / 10-15%
Desperation Bid: 35-50% / 15-20%

New England may need to lean on Hollins and Williams more against the Jets in Week 17 as the team looks to stay ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East. TreVeyon Henderson is dealing with a concussion, so the ground game may not be able to carry the torch. Kayshon Boutte also suffered a head injury on that uncalled defensive pass interference flub, and DeMario Douglas suffered a hamstring injury.

This led to Hollins tying his season high with seven catches (69 yards, nine targets), with Williams bringing in his third deep-strike TD in six games. Sunday night’s extravaganza also yielded Williams’ first multi-catch effort in the NFL. If the Pats’ next win goes through the air, Hollins and Williams could help those in deeper waters.

Jack Bech (WR, LV) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-25%
Desperation Bid: 25-30%

Bech caught 2-of-3 targets for 43 yards as the Raiders did their best to overcome Houston’s defense. Tyler Lockett, who has seen his usage slide lately, exited early due to a wrist injury.

This could spring Bech into a more prominent role just in time for the Raiders to square off with the Giants’ secondary. It’s a deeper dart throw, as the team still has Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Tre Tucker on the totem pole, but Bech having more time on the field as an overlooked WR could bear fruit.

Adam Thielen (WR, PIT) - 3% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-30%

Thielen caught all four of his looks for 49 yards in the win over Detroit, but that’s only 5% of the story. Yes, increased usage was encouraging, but now DK Metcalf is facing a two-game suspension for his altercation with a fan during the game.

He’s appealing the decision, but he’d be taken off our chessboards even if it is reduced to one game. The Steelers can clinch the AFC North title with a win over Cleveland, but the division rivals won’t make it easy. Thielen could wind up with 6-8 targets for needy PPR managers.

Isaac TeSlaa (WR, DET) - 6% rostered
Kalif Raymond (WR, DET) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-30%

Detroit’s running backs ran into a Pittsburgh steel curtain in Week 16, which forced Jared Goff’s crew, which is already down its stud tight end, to rely on the secondary wide receivers. TeSlaa had four catches for 52 yards and a TD while Raymond secured four catches of his own for 62 yards and another score.

The Lions must now win out and hope the Packers lose out to make the playoffs, and step one is taking down the Vikings. The last time these two met, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery had struggles similar to this last week (25 touches for 78 total yards), with the aforementioned stud tight end, Sam LaPorta, tallying a 6-97-1 receiving line. Will TeSlaa and/or Raymond absorb that for you, risk-takers?

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Taysom Hill (TE, NO) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 50-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%

Hill had a proper homefield sendoff in New Orleans, rushing the ball 12 times for 42 yards, catching four passes for 36 yards, and tossing a 38-yard touchdown to Chris Olave. It was a great way to flex his ability to wear many helmets, but it was also a sensible plan given how injured the RB room is.

The usage is fragile, but no Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, or Devin Neal leaves New Orleans utilizing Hill over Audric Estime or Evan Hull. The Saints were able to control and bulldoze the Jets, and a Week 17 game against the Titans may go the same way. Outside of the elite TE tier, question marks stack up quickly, so Hill has a strong case for Week 17’s top 12.

Today could've been Taysom Hill's final game in the Dome, and although that reality wasn't on his mind at first, the #Saints swiss army knife gets choked up thinking about his time in New Orleans.

"I have so much love for the city of New Orleans & this fanbase." #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/mUFZeJgAUY

— Jared Paul Joseph (@JaredPJoseph) December 21, 2025

AJ Barner (TE, SEA) - 12% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 4-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%

Barner tallied a season-high 94% snap share in the wild 38-37 win over the Rams. After Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Barner’s six targets were the highest on the team, and he scored a receiving TD for the first time since Week 5.

If you think Carolina can take this week’s game to Seattle, then Barner is a worthwhile gamble. The Panthers have allowed 58.8 yards per game to opposing TEs, good for the 11th most thus far.

*Other TE Darts Worth Throwing: Colby Parkinson/Terrance Ferguson, Mike Gesicki, Chig Okonkwo

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense (D/ST)

*New England is 49% rostered and takes on the Jets in New York as a high-end add.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense (at MIA) - 40% rostered

FAAB Bid: 3-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

Tampa Bay once looked to be in complete control of the NFC South, and now the playoff hopes are on life support. However, a win here against Quinn Ewers’ Dolphins and then a victory against Carolina still gets them the division and the postseason.

If the Bucs can rally around that and put Miami into an early hole where they can’t run the ball, then Ewers gets exposed with more risky play. This will boil down to your faith in the Bucs, as those who believe the pirate ship is sinking should steer clear.

New York Giants Defense (at LV) - 11% rostered

FAAB Bid: 3-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

The Giants may have lost to Minnesota, but the defense did its job for much of the game. They wound up with four sacks, a pair of turnovers, and a defensive score, which means Big Blue can now boast five straight games with multiple sacks.

And their next opponent, the Raiders, are certainly scrappier with Geno Smith at QB, but have still surrendered double-digit D/ST performances in seven straight. We just saw the Giants D/ST deliver even with an invisible day out of Jaxson Dart, so perhaps the stars are aligning for us?

Dallas Cowboys Defense (at WAS) - 25% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

The shine following those trade deadline deals has worn off, but Dallas may be gifted a third-string quarterback in Week 17 at Washington. Jayden Daniels (elbow) is done for the year, and Marcus Mariota has a quad injury and required stitches in his throwing hand.

This would leave Josh Johnson or the recently signed Jeff Driskel at QB, which would give even the Cowboys a strong fantasy D/ST profile. They play in the first game of the week as the early Christmas game, so you can pivot anywhere else if Mariota plays.

More Waiver Wire Analysis