🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jakob Poeltl

Back in the Lineup on Sunday Night
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
Alexandre Sarr

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Marvin Bagley III

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Available on Sunday Night
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

Cleared to Play on Sunday Night
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
Washington Commanders

Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
New York Giants

Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Mike Conley

Nears Return After Missing Four Games
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Brandon Clarke

Exits After Brief Appearance Against Wizards
Derrick Jones Jr.

Nears Return From Sprained MCL
Herbert Jones

Head Injury Cuts Night Short
Ivica Zubac

Leaves Early After Suffering Left Ankle Injury
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Exits Early With Left Leg Contusion
Tage Thompson

Scores in Sixth Consecutive Game
Jacob Fowler

Posts First Career Shutout
Jonatan Berggren

Totals Three Points Saturday
Jake Evans

to Sit Out Sunday's Game
Zach Werenski

Injured in Saturday's Loss
Frank Nazar

Expected to Miss Four Weeks
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion, Replaced by Malik Willis
Jalen Smith

Expected to Remain in Lineup Sunday
Ayo Dosunmu

Probable for Meeting With Hawks
Jordan Love

Evaluated for Concussion, Questionable to Return
Coby White

Iffy for Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

May Remain Out Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Questionable for Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Trae Young

Available for Sunday's Tilt
Doug McDermott

Active on Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Misses Battle of Los Angeles
Jerami Grant

Won't Play Saturday Night, Kris Murray Joins Starting Unit
D'Andre Swift

Officially Active Against Packers on Saturday
Mike Matheson

Returns Against Former Team Saturday
Timothy Liljegren

Misses Saturday's Game
Mackie Samoskevich

Out on Saturday
Anthony Cirelli

Available Against Hurricanes
Brandon Hagel

Added to Injured Reserve
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Call Saturday
J.T. Miller

Injured in Saturday's Win
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Saturday
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
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP