Week 17 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Lineup Options After NFL Injury Reports

It's championship week in most season-long fantasy football leagues, and some managers may be without some of their top stars. Injuries continue to impact lineups around the league, and NFL teams are beginning to shut players down for the season.

A few managers may have also forgotten that Week 17 kicked off with a three-game Thursday slate.

The good news is that a few viable options should still be available on the waiver wire. Here, you'll find the latest from the Week 17 injury report, the top point-per-reception (PPR) plays of the week, and a few waiver-wire targets to consider at each key position.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Saints QB Tyler Shough

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

4. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

5. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

8. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

10. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Saturday's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers may not be a fantasy goldmine for pass-catchers or quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson is doubtful with a back injury, while Jordan Love has been ruled out with a concussion.

Packers backup Malik Willis is also questionable.

New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough is the top waiver target at quarterback this week, and it's not particularly close. The Louisville product has tallied at least 17 fantasy points in each of his last four games and has a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans have surrendered the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Shough is still available in over 80 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Other quarterbacks to consider this week are Aaron Rodgers, Cam Ward, and Shedeur Sanders.

Running Back

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Cardinals RB Michael Carter

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

2. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

3. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

4. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

6. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

8. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

10. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Alvin Kamara has been ruled out, while TreVeyon Henderson, Kimani Vidal, Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, and Tyler Goodson are among the list of running backs who are questionable.

Managers should have a few quality waiver options at running back this week. Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is among the best.

While Carter had just 6.5 fantasy points in Week 16, he provided 13.4 fantasy points the previous week. He also has a terrific matchup on Sunday with the Cincinnati Bengals, who have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing RBs than any other team.

Carter is still available in over half of Yahoo and Fantasy leagues. Cleveland Brown running back Raheim Sanders is available in nearly all Yahoo and ESPN leagues, and he looms as a boom-or-bust option.

While Sanders' floor will be limited against the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, his workload could be significant. Starting back Quinshon Judkins is done for the year, while Sampson has been limited with a hand injury.

Blake Corum, Emanuel Wilson, and Semaje Perine are other backs to consider in deeper leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Jaguars WR Parker Washington

Top 10

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

5. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

9. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

10. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will miss the final two weeks of the regular season due to suspension. Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Justin Watson, and Calvin Austin III are among those who will miss Week 17 due to injury.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Christian Watson, Savion Williams, and Ashton Dulin are listed as questionable.

Parker Washington looms as the top waiver target at receiver this week, and he's still available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. While the Jacksonville Jaguars pass-catcher hasn't been consistent, he's had several strong outings.

Washington is coming off a performance with 26.5 fantasy points. He's also set to face an Indianapolis Colts defense that has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Colts wideout Josh Downs should be a viable sleeper option in the same matchup. He's reached double-digit fantasy points in both games with Philip Rivers at quarterback, and the Jaguars have surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Downs is still available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Tre Tucker, Darius Slayon, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are other receivers to consider in deeper leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

Rams TE Colby Parkinson

Top 10

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

3. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

4. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

6. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

7. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

8. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

9. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

10. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Browns tight end David Njoku and New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor have both been ruled out this week. George Kittle, Dalton Kincaid, Harold Fannin Jr., Noah Fant, and Dawson Knox are among those listed as questionable.

A couple of tight ends stand out as boom-or-bust options off the waiver wire this week.

Saints do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill has underwhelmed in most matchups this year but tallied 15.3 fantasy points in Week 16. With New Orleans' backfield ailing, he could see a big role again as a runner/receiver/QB against Tennessee.

Hill is available in over 75 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson had just 4.1 fantasy points in Week 16 but topped 12 points in each of his previous two games. He'll have a tough matchup against the Atlanta Falcons but will pull through if he catches his fourth touchdown in four weeks.

Parkinson is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Managers can also consider Colston Loveland, Darren Waller, and Mike Gesicki this week.