Fantasy Football Week 17: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
This year, a few rookies will help fantasy football managers win leagues. One quarterback has emerged with consistent production over the past month and a wide receiver has peaked just in time for the championship round. Meanwhile, a preseason standout may have a chance to come up big in the clutch.
If you look deep into the free-agent pool, you'll still find some gems. This week, our sleeper list covers all bases—whether you need a high-floor addition to patch up a hole in your starting lineup (Jalen Hurts) or a player with boom potential for a comeback effort.
Also of note, the New York Jets have a streamer stack that's worthy of your consideration with the return of their best quarterback.
Let's dive into eight sleeper options for the fantasy football championship round. As usual, all of our selections are recommended for point-per-reception scoring formats and are available in at least 40 percent of Yahoo leagues.
QB Brock Purdy at Las Vegas Raiders (42 Percent Rostered)
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We rarely list players in consecutive weeks in order to provide a variety of options, but managers with their playoff lives and title hopes on the line shouldn't pass up on Brock Purdy, who landed on our sleeper radar last week. If you picked up the San Francisco 49ers signal-caller, hold on to him.
Purdy has scored at least 15.3 fantasy points in four consecutive weeks with two passing touchdowns in each of those games. He also had a rushing score in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This week, Purdy draws a juicy matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, who allow the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and rank 27th against the pass. On top of that, the Silver and Black lost two key starting defenders in edge-rusher Chandler Jones (elbow) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (shoulder) for the remainder of the season. Also, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin has missed the previous three games with a knee injury.
Purdy's momentum coupled with a generous and now injury-riddled Raiders defense should result in a productive outing for the rookie signal-caller.
QB Mike White at Seattle Seahawks (21 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $5,400
On Monday, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that Mike White will start against the Seattle Seahawks, which is good news for Gang Green's playoff hopes and fantasy managers who need a sleeper at the quarterback spot.
White brings a lot more vitality to the Jets' aerial attack, and he's moved the ball up and down the field in all three of his appearances, throwing for at least 268 yards in each outing.
Even though White failed to throw for a touchdown in his previous two contests against the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, he could have a solid passing performance against the Seahawks, who allow the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Seattle has a middling pass defense that ranks 17th in yards allowed and 22nd in touchdown surrendered, giving up 23 scores in 15 contests.
White has more than enough playmakers at his disposal with Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah all healthy at the wide receiver and tight end positions. Managers can count on him to eclipse 250 passing yards, and the Seahawks' tendency to give up passing touchdowns bodes well for his scoring outlook as well.
RB Zack Moss at New York Giants (44 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $5,400
The Indianapolis Colts offense doesn't generate much excitement, but managers should take a look at an emerging lead running back in Zack Moss, who made his first career start this past Monday.
After Jonathan Taylor's exit from the Colts' Week 15 game with the Minnesota Vikings, the coaching staff has turned to Moss to carry the majority rushing workload. Over the past two games, he's registered 36 carries for 146 yards.
Clearly ahead of Deon Jackson on the depth chart, Moss could have a strong finish to the 2022 season. This week, he draws a favorable matchup with the New York Giants' 28th-ranked run defense that's giving up the most yards per carry (5.4) across the league. Also, Big Blue allows the 12th-most fantasy points to running backs.
The Giants haven't won a game by more than one possession in the 2022 term, which means the Colts can avoid a negative game script and keep their rushing attack involved throughout this contest. Moss could see 15 or more carries in another high-volume performance.
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RB Chuba Hubbard at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (39 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,900
Yahoo league managers have somehow overlooked Chuba Hubbard, who's scored at least 12.5 fantasy points in two of his last three outings. With that level of production at the running back position, he should be on more rosters.
Even though D'Onta Foreman starts in the Carolina Panthers backfield, Hubbard still handles enough touches to make a fantasy impact.
With the 10th-ranked rushing attack, the Panthers have implemented a run-heavy approach that gives Foreman and Hubbard a high production floor in any given week. This weekend, Carolina faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank 17th against the run while allowing 4.5 yards per carry, which lists 20th leaguewide.
Remember, Hubbard registered nine carries for 63 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers in Week 7. Nose tackle Vita Vea has sat out the previous two games with a calf injury. Though he practiced on Wednesday, his status for Week 17 remains unclear. Without him, the Buccaneers may struggle to stop the run. Managers should start both Panthers running backs with Hubbard in the RB2 or flex spot.
WR Jahan Dotson vs. Cleveland Browns (36 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,600
Jahan Dotson has caught touchdown passes from Carson Wentz (four) and Taylor Heinicke (three), so the Washington Commanders' quarterback decision to start the former won't faze the rookie wideout's fantasy outlook.
Furthermore, Dotson leads all first-year wide receivers in touchdowns, and he's on a scoring streak with a touchdown in three consecutive contests. In that stretch, Dotson has also hauled in 15 out of 24 targets for 235 yards.
Dotson has the momentum, target share and volume in receiving yards to establish himself as a viable WR2 or high-end flex option.
In Week 17, Dotson will face the Cleveland Browns' eighth-ranked pass defense, but the Commanders have featured the receiver out wide and in the slot, which allows them to line him up against the opposing team's second or third cornerback in a winnable perimeter matchup.
With at least six targets, four catches, 54 receiving yards and a score in three straight games, Dotson should get some attention on the waiver wire during championship week.
WR Romeo Doubs vs. Minnesota Vikings (18 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $4,700
Romeo Doubs comes with some risk because quarterback Aaron Rodgers may not trust a rookie who just returned from an injury with the Green Bay Packers' playoff hopes on the line, but he may not have much of a choice this weekend.
Fellow rookie wideout Christian Watson has a hip injury, and he's "day to day," according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Even if he suits up, the Packers may limit his snaps to keep him on the field for the entire contest.
Since Doubs' return from an ankle injury in Week 15, he's seen 11 targets, hauling in eight for 91 yards. In the first half of the season, he had some flashes with an eight-catch performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his third game and three touchdowns through Week 8.
In Week 17, Doubs can put together another strong showing against the Minnesota Vikings, who allow the most passing yards and the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. He belongs on your sleeper radar regardless of Watson's status.
TE Tyler Conklin at Seattle Seahawks (28 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $2,900
A couple of weeks ago, Tyler Conklin made our list of sleepers in a matchup with the Detroit Lions, but his teammate and fellow tight end C.J. Uzomah finished with a big day, hauling in two touchdown passes to go along with 41 receiving yards.
Managers should give Conklin another shot against the Seattle Seahawks, who allow the most fantasy points to tight ends. Over the past four weeks, he's played more offensive snaps than Uzomah, who's been on the field for 46 to 51 percent of the plays in that stretch.
In Week 14, before White missed time with fractured ribs, he connected with Conklin on five passes for 28 yards. While he didn't rack up a lot of yards, the pass-catching tight end could see far better numbers against a defense that struggles to cover players at his position.
With White under center, Conklin becomes a viable sleeper option in a plus matchup for tight ends.
TE Jordan Akins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1 Percent Rostered)
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DraftKings DFS Price: $3,100
Over the past month, Jordan Akins has carved out a decent role in the Houston Texans' aerial attack, hauling in at least three passes in four of his last five outings. In that stretch, he's also scored two touchdowns.
Moreover, quarterback Davis Mills, who's thrown the majority of passes while under center over Jeff Driskel, has more targets to spread around with wide receiver Nico Collins (foot) on injured reserve.
While wideout Brandin Cooks benefits most from Collins' absence in terms of target share, Akins can become a viable secondary receiving option in a matchup against a defense that's vulnerable to pass-catching tight ends. The Jacksonville Jaguars' unit fits that description.
The Jaguars allow the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends, and they've given up the fourth-most passing yards per contest.
With an AFC South title showdown set between the Jaguars and Tennessee Titans in Week 18, don't be surprised if Jacksonville's defense lacks some intensity in this matchup. Even in the event that the Jaguars play with top-notch focus, they're still susceptible to tight ends that can make an impact in the passing game. Akins projects as a decent TE2 or flex option this week.
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Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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