Week 17 Waiver Wire: Early Pickups and Breakout Fantasy Football Candidates

Playoffs. You're asking me about playoffs?

In the world of fantasy football, that's what everyone is talking about. Week 17 in the NFL means it's time for fantasy football leagues all over the United States to crown a champion.

If you're one of the lucky ones to have withstood the rigors of an NFL season, then you'll be interested in seeing which hot players you may be able to snag off the waiver wire to push you to victory.

Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, 6 percent owned; Week 16 stats: five receptions for 90 yards

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The Oakland Raiders will take weapons any place they can get them. On Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, Thompkins proved himself to be healthy and a viable threat in Oakland's passing game.

He was claimed by the Raiders on Oct. 6 after being released by the New England Patriots. Seemingly stuck in an unproductive logjam of receivers in Oakland, Thompkins struggled to break out—until Sunday.

Against the Bills, Thompkins tied a season high in receptions and set one in receiving yards. It should also be noted that Thompkins had the most targets of any Raider with seven.

With Thompkins' emergence in Week 16, he projects to be a strong candidate for another solid game in the season finale against the Denver Broncos.

Joseph Randle, RB, 60 percent owned; Week 16 stats: 13 rushes for 37 yards

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DeMarco Murray played on Sunday in the Cowboys' 42-7 blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him sit the final game of the season to nurse his hand to health. 

Murray ran for 58 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries as Dallas clinched the NFC East title, despite having surgery on a broken left hand days after a Week 15 win. They are still in the mix for a first-round bye, but the Cowboys may not want to risk Murray when they have already qualified for the postseason.

That means Randle should get as many touches as he's had all season in the finale against Washington.

Randle has the breakaway speed to produce big fantasy numbers. Dallas has arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the NFL. If Murray rests, there won't be many better starting options in the league than Randle.

When Murray's status for Sunday's game was still in doubt, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voiced his confidence in the second-year back, per Dan Hanzus of NFL.com: 

"I have a lot of confidence that Joseph Randle would step up and play big for us. Anytime that he's had a chance to run the ball this year—which maybe hasn't been enough—he's been very successful."

This is obviously a gamble as we don't know if Murray will sit. However, if you're in a pinch and have a player who is totally expendable, it wouldn't hurt to tab Randle and hope word comes down that Murray is out.

Jimmy Clausen, QB, 3 percent owned; Week 16 stats: 181 yards, two TDs, one INT

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It's obvious from the low amount of fantasy ownership that not many people were expecting much from Clausen against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Surprisingly, he outperformed the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco, New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees, Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and New England Patriots' Tom Brady.

Jamey Eisenberg of CBSSports.com talked about Clausen's production being superior to bigger names:

With no starts in the NFL in five years and going against the best defense in the NFL, no one would have predicted that from Clausen. The Bears still lost 20-14, but Clausen looked sharp.

He threw only two passes on the day that had a remote chance of being intercepted. Both were in desperate situations, and only one was picked. Essentially, he didn't hurt his team with either of the throws.

Clausen threw for two scores and looked comfortable. In Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, Clausen is set up to experience even more success. The Vikings don't have the studs on the defensive line that Detroit does, and Clausen should be even more comfortable.

Call me crazy, but I expect Clausen to throw for 300 yards and two scores in the season finale. Marc Trestman wants to prove that the team's struggles on offense were about the starting quarterback. He'll lean on Clausen in a major way.

If you aren't set at quarterback, be bold and jump on the Clausen bandwagon.

Fantasy owned percentages per CBSSports.com.