Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 17 Fantasy Football (2025)

December 25, 2025

Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 17 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

If you are fighting for a championship, congratulations. I know the job is not finished yet, but the rest of your league, minus your opponent, wishes they could be in your position!

We have a lot of injuries to navigate, so there are pivot options for those in need. Before we get to that, I do want to thank everyone for reading this season. Even those who were eliminated and are no longer reading this -- thank you!

You all make this dream job possible, and I am forever indebted. While I can never pay you back, one way I could start is by helping you win your leagues!

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for QB

Tyler Shough is in play as a top streaming option this week. Do not look now, but he has topped 17 fantasy points in four straight and five of his last six games. That is a safe floor for fantasy purposes. He is eighth in the NFL in completion percentage on passes of 10-plus air yards. Plus, the Titans have allowed the eighth-most fantasy PPG to QBs this season and the second-most in the last month. He is in play.

Dear Santa,

please make Tyler Shough @NFL Rookie of the Week 🙏

🗳️https://t.co/smCmvQL5nP pic.twitter.com/batygirXwy

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 23, 2025

Kirk Cousins helped me advance in a two-QB league where injuries have depleted my QB room. If you are in a similar situation, or you’re down bad in a one-QB league, Cousins is once again an option this week. First, he is just playing better as of late, with five touchdown passes over his last two. He has topped 17 fantasy points in each. Now, he gets the Rams, who have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to QBs in the last month.

Cam Ward has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last three games. It has not led to huge fantasy results, but he has scored 15 and 18 in his last two. The Saints have been tough against QBs, but given how depleted the position is, you may not have a choice in superflex or two-QB formats. That is the only place you can use him, but if you are in a pinch, he has been playing well.

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for RB

Kenneth Gainwell has been a great fantasy option for weeks now. He has averaged 19 fantasy PPG in his last six games, as he gets more utilized in the passing game and near the goal line. He has seven targets in three straight and has averaged six per game in his last six. Now, he gets the Browns, who have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and most TDs to RBs since Week 12, while also struggling against them as receivers. Yet, for some reason, he is still not an auto-start in the minds of fantasy players. Play him!

Rhamondre Stevenson is a must-start if TreVeyon Henderson is out this week. Last week, Stevenson turned 11 opportunities into 78 yards and a touchdown. Now, he gets the Jets, who have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to RBs in the last month. The Pats should be able to put up a lot of points, which naturally leads to scoring chances for Stevenson. It also means the game script would be on his side. Play him!

TOUCHDOWN DRE @dreeday32‼️

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/nx0vwbvPKV

— x - New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 22, 2025

Michael Carter was once again the lead back for the Cardinals last week, playing 54 percent of the snaps with 11 carries, 17 routes, and two targets. Each led the backfield for Arizona. That should come in handy this week as he gets the Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to RBs this season. That includes the most rushing yards and the second-most receiving yards. The recent usage, paired with the matchup, has him in play as a flex option with RB2, if not higher, upside.

Kyle Monangai continues to remain very involved on the ground. Last week, he saw nine carries; before that, he had 11-plus in five straight. What I really like is that last week he had four targets after being slowly more utilized before that. That helps elevate the fantasy floor and ceiling. He gets the 49ers this week, who are middle of the pack against the run, but that defense should not scare anyone off. This also could be a higher-scoring game this weekend. Monangai is a flex option with top-20 RB upside.

Dylan Sampson is the Browns RB I trust most, if he can suit up. We have seen him handle this backfield at times, and I would expect him to be heavily involved on the ground, while the top option in the passing game in that backfield. If he is unable to suit up, expect Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams to split duties. Last week, we saw Sanders handle the bulk of the work on the ground and Williams through the air. If Sampson suits up, he is a reliable flex option. If not, Sanders would be my preferred option, but both would be in play as low-end flex options. The floor is low, so they are only for those in a pinch.

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for WR

Parker Washington exploded last week, turning a team-high 10 targets into six catches, 145 yards, and a touchdown. That made him the WR3 for the week. He has shown to be a bit boom or bust, but there is clear upside there. Especially this week, with an indoor game against the Colts, who have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to receivers this season. They are top five in the last month as well, so it is not like their issues have improved.

Parker Washington had the defense scrambling on Sunday

(by @FanDuel) pic.twitter.com/k1uGE4fZ2k

— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2025

Mack Hollins saw nine targets last week, turning them into seven catches for 69 yards. Hollins has seen eight-plus targets in two straight, and with Kayshon Boutte's status up in the air, it could mean even more volume going his way. The floor is low, but Hollins is a big-play threat, especially in the red zone. If you need to dive a bit deeper at receiver, he is in play.

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for TE

Dalton Schultz remains far too underappreciated. He should not be available to stream, but in a good chunk of leagues, he is. Schultz has scored a touchdown and topped 14 fantasy points in his last two games. Since Week 9, he has scored fewer than 11 fantasy points just twice. The Chargers are also extremely tough against wideouts, so Schultz could see a boost in volume this week. He is a TE1 in championship week.

Hunter Henry has six-plus targets in four of his last five games and a 25 percent end-zone target share since Week 12. That should come in handy this week as the Patriots should put up plenty of points against the Jets. Plus, they are in the top eight in touchdowns allowed to tight ends. Henry can be elevated to the starting lineup by those who have been streaming.

Darren Waller is in play this week, just like last week, due to his matchup. The Bucs have struggled against tight ends all year, but especially as of late. They have allowed the most touchdowns to tight ends since Week 12. They are in the top four in catches and yards allowed to tight ends in that span as well. Plus, Waller was the second target for Quinn Ewers last week and scored seven PPR points. He remains an upside shot in a fantastic matchup.

Taysom Hill led the Saints in carries and rushing yards, while being their third leading receiver on six targets. Oh, and he threw a 38-yard touchdown pass. It was as Taysom of a performance as we have seen in a while. With the Saints still banged up in the backfield, I would not expect them to suddenly shy away from using him. This week, they get the Titans, who have been tough on the run as of late, but still. Hill is not really someone you play for the matchup. He is more of someone you take a shot on, hoping he has a game like last week. With the usage as great as it was, he is in play as a high-upside, low-floor tight end.

Cinema.

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/nggfuDSBnx

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 21, 2025

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for D/ST

If you have the Broncos or Seahawks defense, you do not have to think twice. But many fantasy managers have been streaming week-to-week, and there are several good options this week. I really like the Patriots D/ST against Brady Cook and the Jets, who allowed 10 and 19 fantasy points to the opposing defense in his two starts.

The Lions D/ST are a must-start option this week against Max Brosmer and the Vikings. In his lone other start this season, the Seahawks defense went for 30 fantasy points against him. Other options are the Giants D/ST at the Raiders, the Buccaneers D/ST at the Dolphins, and the Steelers D/ST at the Browns.

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.

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