Week 17 Waiver Wire: Jacquizz Rodgers, Donte Moncrief Highlight Pickups to Know

While most fantasy leagues use Week 16 as championship Sunday, many standard league formats use all 17 weeks.  So while the overall fantasy buzz is usually limited during the final week, those who are still playing have everything left on the line.

Because of that, your team should be entirely matchup-oriented.  Borderline flex plays with unfavorable matchups might as well be waiver-wire fodder at this point.  The majority of your bench should consist of handcuffs for your running backs and lottery tickets that might receive increased touches based on injuries and potential rest.

The final edition of these Monday waiver-wire recommendations will seek to take advantage of Week 17's unique circumstances, pouncing on players with not only the best matchups, but the highest likelihood of receiving a steady dose of touches.  With that in mind, here's a look at a few players who could lead your team to glory.

Eli Manning, QB (34.3 percent owned)

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The younger Manning has burned plenty of unhappy fantasy owners this year, but with two consecutive 20-point outings amid the New York Giants' three-game winning streak, Eli looks primed to finish the season strong against a now-eliminated Philadelphia Eagles squad.

On Sunday, Manning turned in arguably his most impressive performance of the season, shredding a hot St. Louis Rams defense for 391 yards and three touchdowns.  Indeed, coinciding with Odell Beckham Jr.'s emergence, Eli has cut down on the turnovers and hit more big plays over the past three weeks:

That stretch coincides well with the Eagles' collapse, as Philly's secondary has particularly imploded during their season-wrecking three-game losing streak.  According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Eagles have allowed 14 pass plays of 20 or more yards during the losing streak, tops in the league.

With Philly having nothing left to play for, it's not difficult to imagine Manning-to-Beckham putting a cap on the Eagles' December demise.  While the rookie receiver is the true fantasy superstar, Manning has benefited from riding Beckham's coattails into fantasy relevance during the postseason.

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB (0.4 percent owned)

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This would be a nice speculative addition, as Steven Jackson exited Sunday's contest with a quadricep injury and did not return.  The tough-as-nails veteran Jackson figures to at least suit up in a do-or-die contest for the Atlanta Falcons, but it would hardly be surprising if his touches were reduced significantly.

Thus, Rodgers figures to represent the primary beneficiary against the Carolina Panthers.  The Panthers were one of the worst fantasy defenses against opposing running backs over the first 10 games, though they have tightened up over the last month.

However, Carolina has not exactly shut down a murderer's row during that stretch, having faced two of the four worst rush offenses (Tampa Bay and Cleveland) based on Football Outsiders' opponent-adjusted DVOA metric.  Though the Falcons figure to move the ball primarily through the air, the goal-line opportunities should be there for the taking.

Many might look to pick up rookie Devonta Freeman, who had a touchdown in Jackson's stead against the New Orleans Saints.  But Rodgers received 12 total touches compared to eight for the rookie, suggesting that the veteran backup is more likely to receive the primary workload against the Panthers.

Donte Moncrief, WR (20.4 percent owned)

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Moncrief was a popular waiver-wire addition after his two-touchdown, 134-yard showing against Washington two weeks ago.  Since then, though, the Ole Miss rookie has compiled a meager total of five catches for 38 yards and no scores in three games, burning many fantasy owners at the worst possible time.

Thus, it's understandable if you're hesitant to go back to Moncrief.  But with the Colts locked into either the No. 3 or 4 seed in the AFC playoffs, it's possible that they could rest ailing top receivers T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne.  That would be excellent news for Moncrief, who would figure to receive a big uptick in targets based on the seasonal distribution:

Much like with Rodgers above, some fantasy owners will be tempted to pick up Hakeem Nicks, the familiar veteran name who has outproduced Moncrief recently (11 catches, 116 yards, one touchdown the past two weeks).  However, much of Nicks' production came in junk time against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, suggesting a bit of statistical inflation stemming from a small sample size.

Moncrief will also get the benefit of a soft matchup against a Tennessee Titans defense that has had issues with vertical threats all season (DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham, etc.).  Even if Andrew Luck doesn't play all four quarters, there is a strong chance Moncrief breaks loose deep at least once, instantly making him a flex option in deeper leagues.

Scott Chandler, TE (17.7 percent owned)

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Tight end is so thin beyond the top five or six names that most owners should probably resort to a week-by-week, matchup-based approach.  Those owners are in luck this week with Chandler, who represents an underrated option against the New England Patriots.

While the Pats defense has been stingy against the passing game for most of the year, New England had allowed 894 yards to opposing tight ends headed into Week 16, the third-highest total in the league.  Patrick Chung in particular has struggled in recent weeks, providing a juicy individual matchup for Chandler to exploit.

Moreover, as fans of both teams will note, Chandler has been a notorious "Patriot Killer" throughout his career. The Bills tight end has compiled more receptions and receiving yards against New England than any other team he has faced, and his four touchdowns against the Pats are tied for his highest total against a single opponent, per Pro-Football-Reference.

In the first meeting between these teams, Chandler compiled a career-high 105 yards through the air.  Given New England's strength on the perimeter with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, expect Chandler to represent the Bills' primary target in the passing game, making him a sleeper No. 1 TE even in standard leagues.

Texans D/ST (54.1 percent owned) 

This is admittedly more geared toward standard leagues, but it's astounding that the Texans are not more universally owned despite accruing the third-highest point total among all fantasy defenses.  Facing a home contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars to close out the season, Houston is arguably the top option in all of fantasy next Sunday.

Even against some shaky matchups the past few weeks (Colts, Ravens), the Texans have not scored fewer than 11 points since Week 12.  Part of that stems from improved health in the secondary, as starters Kareem Jackson and A.J. Bouye have returned to the lineup to send the replacement-level talent back to the bench.

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However, J.J. Watt and the front seven figure to feast most against a Jaguars team that has allowed a historic sack rate this season.  In the first matchup against Houston three weeks ago, Jacksonville conceded four sacks, including three from Watt himself.

If the Houston D is somehow available on your waiver wire, make it your top waiver priority claim.  While defenses don't typically move the needle much in the larger scope, a 15- to 20-point effort from the Texans could make them one of your highest scorers, potentially swinging the championship.

Honorable Mentions

Position	Player (Team)	Opponent	Percent Owned
QB	Ryan Tannehill (MIA)	vs. Jets	48.8
RB	Lance Dunbar (DAL)	@ Washington	5.6
RB	Doug Martin (TB)	vs. Saints	47.4
WR	Terrance Williams (DAL)	@ Washington	28.8
WR	Allen Hurns (JAC)	@ Texans	12.4
TE	Charles Clay (MIA)	vs. Jets	10.6
D/ST	Colts D/ST	@ Titans	19.5

*All points against and ownership percentages based on ESPN standard scoring.