If you’re still alive in the fantasy football playoffs, nice work getting to your championship round. We’re into Week 17 — which is the last week of the fantasy season for the vast majority of leagues. There are still plenty of injuries and teams with something to play for going into such a crucial slate, plus we need to account for the schedule. There are three games on Christmas on Thursday, as well as a two-game Saturday slate, which will force some early lineup decisions.
Let’s go over early pickups to consider off the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 17.
Fantasy Football Early Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups
Dylan Sampson/Raheim Sanders, RBs, Browns (11%/0% rostered on Yahoo)
Cleveland lost rookie RB Quinshon Judkins to a leg injury in the first half on Sunday vs. the Bills. It looked bad as Judkins was carted off the field. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after the game that the rookie suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle.
Sampson has missed the past two games due to hand and calf injuries but if he’s able to get back on the field against the Steelers on Sunday, he should handle most of the work out of the backfield. If Sampson can’t get healthy, Sanders got the most work after Judkins was hurt, finishing with 11 carries for 42 yards, plus one catch for four yards. We also saw Trayveon Williams get snaps and operate as the passing-down back, grabbing four catches for 38 yards (and three carries for 17 yards). If you can’t grab Sampson, Sanders could make sense as a target in deeper formats.
Blake Corum, RB, Rams (41% rostered)
The Rams fell to the Seahawks in a big TNF matchup to start Week 16. Los Angeles continues to offer the type of offensive volume to buoy two running backs. Despite lead back Kyren Williams having 26 touches, Corum was able to take his 15 and convert it into 61 yards and a score. He isn’t getting much work in the passing game but Corum has 37 carries for 247 yards and four TDs over the past three games. It feels like we’ve been pleading for you to add Corum since Week 13, yet, he remains widely available in Yahoo leagues going into the championship round.
If you’re in a shallow league (8-10 teams) and are dealing with injuries at RB (see above with Judkins), Corum is a great player to target. He’ll have flex appeal in Week 17 when the Rams face the Falcons with the No. 1 seed in the NFC still within reach.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (25% rostered)
We’re giving you another RB but sometimes that’s the hand your dealt in terms of options. We saw Spears come on late last season with three strong performances in December. Might history repeat itself? Spears still trailed Tony Pollard in touches 21-19 but saw a lot of work in the passing game with five catches for 53 yards. Spears would finish with 104 total yards and a rushing score for 19 fantasy points. Tennessee has another matchup in Week 17 that should provide a good environment for points going up against the Saints. Spears is an intriguing add in PPR formats and offers a safe floor out of the flex if you need a plug-and-play option.
