Fantasy Football Week 17: Weekly Fantasy Trends Report

Week 17, also known as the worst week in fantasy football, is among us.

Nope, there is no Thursday Night Football or Monday Night Football game, we'll get everything this coming Sunday.

As we've done throughout the year, we will examine notable trends happening around Yahoo fantasy leagues and determine whether or not the respective move is the right one to make.

Compared to other weeks, there were noticeably fewer transactions heading into Week 17, but I'll rant and rave about that in the last slide.

Well, here we go—let's get ready for Week 17, also known as "rely on someone like Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones to win my league" week.

Buccaneers RB Jacquizz Rodgers Top Add

Jason Behnken/Associated Press

In the wake of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin being suspended four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, fellow Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers is now the top overall waiver add in Yahoo leagues.

During Martin's initial absence, Rodgers was used heavily by the Buccaneers. However, fellow running back Charles Sims was also out during that period.

Rodgers' track record is appealing, and he should once again get plenty of work in Week 17, even with Sims back in the fold.

In a week where players are heading to injured reserve and a lot of the top backs are set to sit out, Rodgers may be a key piece to a championship team if your Super Bowl is in fact Week 17.

Even though he'll go up against the Carolina Panthers, pick Rodgers up. He'll be a part of a tight-knit group of running backs to, you know, actually play.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen Top WR Add

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

Finally. Finally. Finally. 

While it wasn't a ton of adds, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is the second-most added player in Yahoo leagues and the top wide receiver.

For a guy who will finish the season (minus a complete dud in Week 17) as a top-20 or top-21 points-per-reception wide receiver, Thielen has just now reached 30 percent owned.

Absolutely criminal.

Pick him up and start him in your Week 17 championships.

Bills TE Charles Clay Top TE Add

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Twenty-two targets, 18 receptions, 209 yards, four touchdowns and 63 fantasy points in PPR leagues.

Which tight end does that describe over the last three weeks?

The New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski? No, no, no...He's injured.

The Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce? Great guess, but not quite.

Dammit, who?

The Buffalo Bills' own Charles Clay.

Yup, believe it or not, Clay has put up those numbers over the last three weeks.

These are also his first three games since becoming a new father. Coincidence? Perhaps, but it's a great narrative, so let it be.

Clay is the top tight end add ahead of Week 17—the numbers explain everything you need to know.

This is a no-brainer.

Hold Steady on Seahawks RB Alex Collins

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

After Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls suffered a shoulder injury in Week 16, the fantasy football world turned their attention to backup (and rookie) running back Alex Collins.

If Rawls were to miss this game, not only would you have gotten a running back who would receive all the work on a team that is fighting for playoff seeding, but you'd also get a heck of a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who rank 29th in DVOA against the run.

However, those hopes and dreams have been thwarted.

According to Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio KJR, Rawls practiced Wednesday and should be ready to go.

As of Wednesday, Collins was the fifth-most added running back in Yahoo leagues.

Top D/ST Add: Pittsburgh Steelers

Associated Press

Steelers LB Ryan Shazier

Now owned in 43 percent of Yahoo leagues, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense/special teams is the most-added squad ahead of Week 17.

While they are more owned than what we'd like to see out of streamable defenses, they haven't been all that great this season, so there's a chance they'll be available in your league (well, a 57 percent chance).

Oh. Right. Why are they the most added?

Three words.

The. Cleveland. Browns.

Yup, that's their opponent in Week 17. Have fun.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith Top QB Add

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

This may be the last time I ever say this, so enjoy: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is the top quarterback add as we head into Week 17.

Wow did that feel weird.

Anyway, yeah, Smith will go on the road against the San Diego Chargers in Week 17 in a game where they will be fighting for playoff seeding.

While Smith is coming off a 20-plus point performance in Week 16 and had nearly 30 fantasy points in Week 1 against these same Chargers, my confidence in Smith would only be linked to desperation if your starting quarterback is sitting out Week 17.

In the Week 1 game, the Chiefs and Chargers went into overtime, and prior to Smith's Week 16 performance, he had three straight games with less than 12.5 fantasy points.

If you're looking to be 100 percent safe and are content with around 10 fantasy points, Smith is your man.

At 28 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, he was likely more accessible than some other potential streamers this week, so I'll put partial blame on that.

Few Transactions Heading into Week 17

Associated Press

Steelers QB Landry Jones

In all the weeks I've kept track of transactions and trends in fantasy football, the waiver wire heading into Week 17 was far less active than during Weeks 1-16.

Yeah, you may be thinking that's obvious, and sure, it is, but it speaks to how few people play their championships in Week 17.

For example, the top add this week—Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers—was added by just over 16,000 teams, whereas other week's players at the top of the waiver wire would creep over 200,000 adds.

What's the point of all this?

Get rid of Week 17 championships! They are maddening and you are completely nuts if you participate in them!

Not sure about you, but I don't want to depend on someone like Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones to win my league.

Abolish Week 17 fantasy championships!

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders. Ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.