Dynasty Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17

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In case you are reading this, there is one bit of information to know before you start reading names. Just like last year’s series, we will be utilizing player rostership percentages, courtesy of real dynasty rosters from 1,700 MFL leagues. While this may not be entirely accurate for every individual league, it is very reflective of how managers view who is worthy or not of a roster spot. Now that that’s covered, let’s dive into the waiver wire after Week 16!

Players to double-check availability and immediately add:

• Gardner Minshew, QB PHI
• Keaontay Ingram, RB ARI
• Joshua Kelley, RB LAC
• Deon Jackson, RB IND
• Zack Moss, RB IND
• Latavius Murray, RB DEN
• Zonovan Knight, RB NYJ
• Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE TEN

Royce Freeman, RB HOU

With Dameon Pierce on the sideline for the remainder of the season, Freeman stepped in as the primary ball carrier this week with 17 carries and one additional reception. Dare Ogunbowale added eight carries and Rex Burkhead grabbed only two receptions, so the backfield was essentially Freeman’s. Unfortunately, his 16 carries only resulted in 32 yards, but against a tough Titans defense, I hope you didn’t leave your championship hopes in Freeman’s hands.

The Texans play the Jaguars this week, who is still tough, but not as difficult as Tennessee. They have allowed double-digit PPR points to Gus Edwards, Ezekiel Elliott, Latavius Murray, and Melvin Gordon, who all found the end zone against them. That’s the upside for Freeman this week, which isn’t great, but better than some other options you might be weighing out, so if you really need him, he’s a good bet for volume at least.

Richie James, WR and Isaiah Hodgins, WR NYG

Leave it to the Vikings defense to allow both Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins to put up 90 yards on them and also allow Hodgins to find paydirt. Both players had double-digit targets, eight receptions, 90 yards, and 17+ fantasy points as two of only five players to see a target from Daniel Jones. The Giants play the Colts this week, who have allowed some huge games to big-name receivers like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith, but were also torched by KJ Osborn, and allowed Michael Gallup, Adam Thielen, and Quez Watkins to score on them.

If you’re in a really deep starting lineup league, I wouldn’t rule out starting either receiver this week. If I had to choose, it would be Richie James for the more consistent workload he has seen out of the slot since Wan’Dale Robinson’s injury, but Hodgins has seen 6+ targets in three of his last four games, so both aren’t horrible plays if you’re that desperate, even in championship week.

Since we are at the point where waivers are pretty meaningless unless you’re still playing for a championship, here are some players that are widely available that I like as stashes for the 2023 off-season that could rise in value:

• Kyle Trask, QB TB – I expect Tom Brady to actually retire after this season and the Bucs could go into next year seeing what Trask can do in a complete rebuild season. You never know and in superflex leagues, he should be added.
• Jerome Ford, RB CLE – Both Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson are free agents and if both leave, Ford could be first in line for handcuff duties behind Nick Chubb.
• Trestan Ebner, RB CHI – David Montgomery is a free agent and honestly, I would be surprised if he returned to Chicago. That doesn’t mean they won’t add anyone, but if they wait until the draft to add another back, there would be a two-month period where Ebner could fetch a fourth in a trade, and that in itself is worth it if you add him now for free.
• Tim Patrick, WR DEN – Don’t forget about Tim Patrick! The Broncos WR3 tore his ACL before the season started and is now rostered in only 75% of dynasty leagues on MFL. He signed a fairly hefty contract extension and is still signed through 2024, so getting him off waivers now would be a big pickup.
• Jake Ferguson, TE DAL – Dalton Schultz is a free agent and could sign elsewhere as arguably the best tight end on the market. Ferguson is almost an exact replica of Schultz in terms of measurables and athleticism and could take over as the starting tight end for Dak Prescott.