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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!

Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.

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

Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
Lonzo Ball

Available Against Knicks
Evan Mobley

Listed as Questionable for Christmas Tilt
OG Anunoby

Returns to Action Thursday
Jalen Brunson

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season

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