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Week 17 Deeper Waiver Wire Sleepers: Standard Leagues

Matt Terelle's deeper standard league sleepers & Week 17 NFL waiver wire pickups for the 2016 fantasy football season. These RBs, WRs & TEs and D/STs should be added as sleepers.

What's up RotoBallers. Welcome to my deeper standard league sleepers column for Week 17 of the NFL season. In this weekly article we are going to take a look at some deeper waiver wire options for standard leagues, who could help out your team in this upcoming week.

For reference's sake, we are looking at standard scoring leagues and will be using ownership percentage data from Fleaflicker. In order to qualify as a deep sleeper, a player must be 20% owned or less.

Let's get to the picks!

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Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 17 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF

 

Quarterback

Matt Barkley (CHI) @ Minnesota Vikings

(Ownership: 7%)

Barkley has been fun to use in fantasy over the past few weeks, topping 300 yards in three of five games. Sure, he's going to throw his share of picks, like the five (!) that he managed last week, but he's also been a solid bet for multiple touchdowns whenever he takes the field. Barkley has managed that feat in all but two of his starts this season, with one main outlier being the Week 13 slugfest against the 49ers in terrible weather. The matchup against the Vikings is not especially appealing, but Minnesota was just roasted by Aaron Rodgers last week amidst questions of whether the secondary ignored a coaching edict regarding who was to shadow star wide receiver Jordy Nelson. This was possibly an overblown story, but there's also the chance of an end of the season implosion for a once-promising Vikings team is eliminated from the playoffs and has nothing left to play for. Go ahead and stream Barkley in deeper two-quarterback leagues one last time and get festive at this joyful time of year.

 

Running Back

Alfred Blue (HOU) @ Tennessee Titans

(Ownership: 13%)

Blue is a must-add for anyone who plays in a league with Week 17 championships on the line. Starting running back Lamar Miller missed Week 16's game with an ankle injury, a game in which the Texans won to wrap up the AFC South division title. With nothing left to play for in Week 17, it would be a huge shock if the team trotted Miller out there. Blue will be in line for a huge workload a week after logging a workman-like 73 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. The Titans do represent a stout matchup for running backs, but Blue is still a great play on projected volume alone.

 

Wide Receiver

J.J. Nelson (ARI) @ Los Angeles Rams

(Ownership: 17%)

It's surprising that Nelson remains this widely available. The second-year receiver has now scored a touchdown in four straight contests, totaling five overall in that span, as he's become the top outside option in Arizona's passing attack. With Larry Fitzgerald running out of steam, John Brown dealing with sickle-cell disease-related symptoms, and Michael Floyd now in New England, the once robust wide receiving corps of the Cards is now quite depleted. That bodes well for Nelson's chances to stay productive in Week 17. He hasn't been a high-volume receiver this season, totaling five or more receptions just twice this year, but he's sure making the most of his chances. The touchdown dependence makes him a better option for standard leagues, which is why we're here anyway. The Rams have struggled against the pass this season, ranking just 19th in DVOA. Pick up Nelson this week, even if you don't need him, to play keep away from your opponent.

 

Tight End

Jesse James (PIT) vs. Cleveland Browns

(Ownership: 20%)

James took on a bigger role in Week 16 due to Ladarius Green sitting out with a concussion. Don't expect the playoff-bound Steelers to rush Green back to action in Week 17 in a game which they will likely rest their starters most (or all) of the game against the hapless Browns. James, a second-year tight end, most likely has not earned the stature to sit out of a meaningless game in early January, so expect him to be active as a full-time player. Cleveland's defense has been horrid against tight ends this season, allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position. That includes just coughing up eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown to an aging Antonio Gates who has been sputtering through what may be his last year. All of those were season highs for Gates this year. James shapes up as a touchdown-or-bust option, but you have to like the odds of a touchdown in this one.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Tennessee Titans (TEN) vs. Houston Texans

(Ownership: 19%)

The Titans continue to be a decent deep league fantasy defense as they pull yet another plus matchup late in the year. They will take on a Houston team that has already locked up the AFC South and will likely be looking to rest several starters on offense this week. Even if Houston doesn't rest anyone, they haven't exactly been an offense to avoid with fantasy defenses. The Texans have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing fantasy defenses. Sure, replacing Brock Osweiler with Tom Savage has helped, but Savage isn't exactly Aaron Rodgers back there. Tennessee is currently a three-point home favorite in a game with an extremely low 40 point over/under.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Matvei Michkov

Expected to Play Thursday
Alex Lyon

to Miss at Least One More Week
Mason Marchment

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere Battling Illness, Iffy for Thursday
J.T. Miller

Likely to Return Thursday
Adam Henrique

Out Through Olympic Break
Dean Wade

Ruled Out Thursday
Brandon Williams

Questionable for Thursday
P.J. Washington

Doubtful Thursday
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Questionable Thursday
Donovan Mitchell

Available Thursday
Corey Kispert

Hawks Land Corey Kispert
CJ McCollum

Moves to Atlanta
Trae Young

Traded to Washington
Ja Morant

Remains Out on Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Will Suit Up Versus Utah
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Good to Go Against Phoenix
Santi Aldama

Cleared to Play on Wednesday
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Brandon Miller

Unavailable Versus Raptors
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Onyeka Okongwu

Sidelined Wednesday
Nathan Walker

Ready to End 16-Game Absence
Rutger McGroarty

Out Indefinitely With Concussion
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Downgraded to Questionable For Wednesday
Kevin Stenlund

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Ty Dellandrea

Ruled Out Wednesday
Matas Buzelis

Set to Suit Up Wednesday
Adam Erne

Misses Wednesday's Action
Tom Wilson

Aliaksei Protas Won't Play Wednesday
Coby White

Sidelined Versus Pistons
Anze Kopitar

Out Wednesday
Draymond Green

Upgraded to Probable on Wednesday
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
LeBron James

Considered Questionable For Wednesday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
Devon Toews

to Miss at Least Two Weeks
Gabriel Landeskog

Out for Several Weeks
Jamie Drysdale

Makes Early Exit Tuesday
Bobby Brink

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Adam Henrique

Expected to Miss Time
Brad Marchand

Dealing With Lingering Health Issue
Haydn Fleury

Hospitalized Tuesday
Moussa Diabaté

Ryan Kalkbrenner Out, Moussa Diabate Probable Wednesday
Brandon Miller

Listed as Probable Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker

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