Week 17 Championships: DFS & Waiver Wire Sleepers for the Playoffs

December 23, 2014

Waiver Wire Pickups Options for Fantasy Championships

While most people end their fantasy seasons in Week 16 there are plenty of people still competing for a championship in Week 17! For the rest of us, we'll be playing DFS.  I'm still here to help you out if you need to make a waiver claim, and if you don't these players can be considered DFS sleepers as well due to their cheap prices. Best of luck in the final week of the regular season!

Week 17 Quarterback Sleepers

QB Teddy Bridgewater Vs Bears - 22% Owned on Fleaflicker

Bridgewater has quietly played very well over his last few games. He's thrown for 2 touchdowns or 300 yards in each of the past five games, occasionally mixing in some rushing yards as well. The Bears did just stifle Matt Stafford but I don't expect the same for Teddy, especially at home. He has a very good chance of hitting 15+ points.

QB Jay Cutler @ Vikings - 86% Owned on Fleaflicker

Jay Cutler is owned in most leagues, and likely if a team was eliminated they weren't bothering to drop him last week. However, a team still in contention may have been quick to drop him. Well it was announced that Jimmy Clausen has a concussion and Cutler will be back at the helm this week. Regardless of his real life skills, he was a top ten QB going into last week and will continue to offer high upside here. He's probably your best bet if he was dropped and you need a QB. He'll certainly be a cheap play in DFS leagues, and it's unlikely folks will be piling on him in GPPs.

Week 17 Running Back Sleepers

RB Toby Gerhart @ Texans - 46% Owned on Fleaflicker

Gerhart has looked surprisingly good the past two games since retaking the starting position. He had to exit last week's game early but with additional rest (having played on Thursday) he should be fine here. Having averaged over 4.0 yards per carry the past two weeks I definitely see that trend continuing with a chance for a touchdown again.

RB Devonta Freeman vs Panthers - 24% Owned on Fleaflicker

Steven Jackson left last week's game and his availability for the coming week will decide whether Freeman is worth adding. If Jackson is out or they decide Freeman will get more touches he is worth considering. In just 8 touches last week he managed to total 84 yards and a touchdown. Against the porous Saints defense he has the same upside.

Week 17 Wide Receiver Sleepers

WR Eddie Royal @ Chiefs - 35% Owned on Fleaflicker

With Keenan Allen out with a broken collarbone, both Royal and Floyd had big games. Royal was the more impressive with 10 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to see a similarly high number of targets this coming week. He should be a very solid play in PPR formats.

WR Robert Woods @ Patriots - 22% Owned on Fleaflicker

Woods has had an up and down season showing flashes of excellence with stretches of mediocrity in between. Last week was a good week and I think this one can be as well. We know that the Bills will likely have to throw a lot to keep up with the Patriots. We can also be pretty sure that Darrelle Revis will be covering Sammy Watkins meaning Woods should see an increase in targets. In their first matchup Woods posted a line of 7-78-1. He can definitely reach that again here.

Week 17 Tight End Sleepers

TE Charles Clay Vs Jets - 41% Owned on Fleaflicker

Clay is coming off his best game of the season in terms of yardage with 114. He also has back-to-back 6 catch games. It's mostly been a disappointing year for Clay but he's finishing strong and the Jets allow the 4th most points to opposing tight ends so he has a great shot to put up one more great game before the season ends.

TE Zach Ertz @ Giants - 66% Owned on Fleaflicker

Where did that last game come from? After totaling 15 receptions in his first seven games with Sanchez, Ertz had an astounding 15 last week against the Redskins. I definitely didn't see that coming. Will he come close this coming week? It's unlikely but with the Eagles eliminated they have incentive to let Ertz shine and showcase his ability. Chip Kelly has already said that he won't be going with the 'Let's see what we have' approach with the young guys. He intends to win this game. Yet that doesn't rule out plenty of Ertz given that he helped keep them close this past game. I like his chances here.