Waiver Wire Week 17: Top Pickups, Drops and Expert Analysis

We enter the final week of the regular season with the majority of fantasy champions already determined. For those who like to play into Week 17, we’ll take one last look at the scraps left on the waiver wire.

Playing time shouldn’t be a major concern heading into the final week of the season, save for a couple of teams. The Seattle Seahawks can only be the fifth or sixth seed in the NFC, so they’d have reason enough to pull any key players if there are any injury concerns during their matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. 

The Washington Redskins are locked into the fourth seed in the NFC, so it makes sense that head coach Jay Gruden said they “have to be smart” about playing time for injured players, per Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

If you’re hitting the waiver wire this week, the top priorities are running back Bilal Powell of the New York Jets and tight end Zach Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles. I’ve provided options at every position, but those two are at the top of the list if they’re available in your league. 

Good luck in Week 17!

Quarterbacks

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Sam Bradford #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles attempts a pass against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter of a football game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 26, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (

Sam Bradford, Philadelphia

Percent Owned: ESPN – 18, Yahoo – 35

I know Bradford came nowhere near the high expectations I set for him at the beginning of the season, but part of the reason I liked him so much is because of the volume that comes with playing in Chip Kelly’s offense. We’ve seen plenty of that over the last two weeks. Bradford completed 37 of 56 attempts for 380 yards and one touchdown against the Redskins in Week 16. That gives him 97 attempts and 741 yards in his last two games.

When you’re getting that kind of volume, fantasy owners have to take notice, especially with a nice matchup this weekend against the New York Giants. Like the Eagles, the Giants were eliminated in Week 16, so this game is nothing more than an NFC East rivalry between two teams with beatable defenses. Hopefully, that leads to a lot of points and another busy and productive week for Bradford.

Week 17 Projection: 310 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions

Droppable Players: Teddy Bridgewater

Running Backs

Matt Hazlett/Getty Images

Mike Gillislee is taking advantage of his opportunities with the Buffalo Bills.

Bilal Powell, New York Jets 

Percent Owned: ESPN – 40.9, Yahoo – 29

Frankly, I’m shocked to see how widely available Powell is considering he’s been the best running back for the New York Jets over the last month. Chris Ivory is clearly running out of gas and got banged up once again in Week 16 against the New England Patriots. Ivory came back in the game following the knee injury but finished with just 11 carries for 38 yards and four receptions for four yards. He’s topped 100 rushing yards just once since Week 6. 

On the flip side, Powell turned seven carries into 56 yards and added five receptions for 34 yards. He has at least five receptions in his last four games and has been a more efficient option than Ivory. He’s the one to pick up and play this week against a banged-up Buffalo Bills defense, with the Jets needing a win to clinch a playoff spot in the AFC.

Week 17 Projection: Nine carries, 40 yards; six receptions, 52 yards

Cameron Artis-Payne, Carolina

Percent Owned: ESPN – 52.4, Yahoo – 43 

After leading the Carolina Panthers backfield in every statistical category in Week 15, Artis-Payne was a big letdown in Week 16, although you could say that about the entire team, as it blew its undefeated season in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He wound up with just five carries but ran for 49 yards and had just one reception for seven yards.

With the loss, the Panthers still need to win in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. So why is Artis-Payne back on the waiver wire following a disappointing performance? Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Fozzy Whittaker is deal with a high-ankle sprain that will keep him out for Week 17. Jonathan Stewart’s status is up in the air because of a foot injury, so it could be more about Artis-Payne this week.

Week 17 Projection: 16 carries, 81 yards; two receptions, 15 yards

Mike Gillislee, Buffalo

Percent Owned: ESPN – 8.9, Yahoo – 10 

Gillislee and Karlos Williams caught the attention of the fantasy world heading into Week 16 thanks to the absence of LeSean McCoy (knee), so it was a matter of figuring out who would lead the way. Luckily, you didn’t go wrong with either player. Gillislee ran nine times for 93 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 16 yards. Williams had 17 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown with two receptions for 21 yards.

According to head coach Rex Ryan, he’s unsure if McCoy will play. There’s no reason to risk him, so we could see the Williams/Gillislee combination again. Even though Williams had the snap lead at 62 percent to Gillislee’s 35 percent, both were productive enough to consider using, even in a tough matchup with the New York Jets.

Week 17 Projection: Eight carries, 44 yards; two receptions, 14 yards

Droppable Players: Fozzy Whittaker

Wide Receivers

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

The Miami Dolphins don't have any hope, but they do have DeVante Parker.

DeVante Parker, Miami

Percent Owned: ESPN – 30.6, Yahoo – 33

I love seeing young, talented players finish the season on a high note since it gives you reason to believe they can build on that and put it all together heading into the next season. I’m feeling that way about Parker, even though the Miami Dolphins are heading for a major overhaul in the coaching staff this offseason.

He’s gone for at least 63 yards in four of his last five games, including four receptions for 93 yards on 10 targets in the Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. With the Dolphins taking an extensive look at Parker down the stretch, he should be busy again in a beatable matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday. They allowed 17 receptions, 258 yards and three touchdowns to New York Jets wide receivers in Week 16.

Week 17 Projection: Four receptions, 82 yards

Dontrelle Inman, San Diego

Percent Owned: ESPN – 6.4, Yahoo – 8

We know the San Diego Chargers have been out of contention for quite some time thanks to an extensive list of injuries, which is why we’ve seen more of Inman in recent weeks. He ended up with eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in the loss to the Oakland Raiders. He has at least 65 yards in three of his last four games.

The Chargers travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in the season finale, so it’s not a great matchup for Inman, especially if wide receiver Stevie Johnson (groin) comes back to take away some targets. You’re only grabbing Inman because in the last week of the season, you take whatever production may be available.

Week 17 Projection: Five receptions, 61 yards

Droppable Players: Malcom Floyd, Rueben Randle

Tight Ends

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Where has this version of Zach Ertz been all season?

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia

Percent Owned: ESPN – 52, Yahoo – 58

Ertz will fall well short of my expectations this season, but he’s been good over the last month and is one of the lone bright spots for the Philadelphia Eagles. After posting 13 receptions for 122 yards in last week’s loss to the Washington Redskins, he now has 21 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. He has at least 78 yards in the last three games. 

The Eagles have been eliminated from playoff competition, but so have their Week 17 opponents, the New York Giants. This game comes down to pride and the NFC East rivalry between the two teams, but it’s also a good matchup for Ertz since the Giants aren’t particularly strong when it comes to covering tight ends (at least six receptions allowed in four of their last six games). 

Week 17 Projection: Seven receptions, 80 yards

Droppable Players: Charles Clay

Defenses

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The Washington Redskins get a chance to tee off on Kellen Moore and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

Washington Redskins

Percent Owned: ESPN – 6.1, Yahoo – 9

The Redskins dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16 en route to clinching the NFC East, so while there’s nothing to play for with the team locked into the fourth seed, they still face a third-string quarterback in Kellen Moore when they meet the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

The Redskins have racked up 14 sacks in the last four games and have recovered six fumbles, which puts them among the best defensive options over the last month. Typically, they wouldn’t be a great unit to use, but when you face the Cowboys with this bad of a quarterback situation and no Dez Bryant, it becomes an attractive matchup. 

Week 17 Projection: Three sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, 16-19 points allowed

Kickers

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Chris Boswell has been one of the better kicking options down the stretch.

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh

Percent Owned: ESPN – 28.5, Yahoo – 32

Last week was a forgettable one for Boswell and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it’s important to put that in the rearview mirror because the Steelers still need to beat the Cleveland Browns and get some help in Week 17 to have a shot at making the playoffs. 

Boswell has hit 10 of his 11 field-goal attempts and all 13 extra-point attempts over the last four games. There’s no concern about this matchup, so both he and the Steelers should bounce back in the season finale.

Fantasy leaders provided by NFL.com. Targets provided by ESPN.com. Snap counts provided by ProFootballFocus.com.