Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 17

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr, Saints

Starting Carr in a fantasy championship game would've seemed like an insane proposition a few weeks ago.

However, the veteran is coming off a string of quality performances, including back-to-back finishes as a top-seven QB. He's also thrown for eight touchdowns over the last three weeks.

Now he'll get another inviting matchup against the Buccaneers, who are one of the 10 easiest opponents for fantasy passers this season.

Streaming options: Gardner Minshew vs. LV (31% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Jake Browning at KC (45% rostered), Joe Flacco vs. NYJ (33% rostered), Nick Mullens vs. GB (13% rostered), Bryce Young at JAX (12% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Sam Darnold at WAS (0% rostered), C.J. Beathard vs. CAR (1% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at HOU (2% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Will Levis at HOU (18% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starting): Mason Rudolph at SEA (1% rostered), Kenny Pickett at SEA (13% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Tommy DeVito vs. LAR (8% rostered), Aidan O'Connell at IND (5% rostered), Taylor Heinicke at CHI (6% rostered), Bailey Zappe at BUF (2% rostered), Easton Stick at DEN (2% rostered), Trevor Siemian at CLE (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Tommy DeVito vs. LAR (8% rostered), Tyrod Taylor vs. LAR (0% rostered), Jacoby Brissett vs. SF (0% rostered)

Running backs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco is in concussion protocol after Monday's game and will have difficulty getting cleared during a short week.

With Jerick McKinnon getting placed on injured reserve, that could leave Edwards-Helaire as the last man standing in the Chiefs' backfield.

In the two games Pacheco missed, Edwards-Helaire totaled 24 carries for 76 yards, as well as six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

The Bengals rank inside the top 10 for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed in 2023, so CEH would be a strong fantasy RB2 with RB1 upside if Pacheco is ruled out.

Kareem Hunt and Tyler Allgeier are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.

RB3/flex options (if starter is out): Zamir White at IND (27% rostered)

Flex options: Khalil Herbert vs. ATL (45% rostered), Roschon Johnson vs. ATL (26% rostered), Tyjae Spears at HOU (45% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. ARI (28% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy and starter is out): Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. SF (3% rostered)

Risky flex options: Justice Hill vs. MIA (19% rostered), Rico Dowdle vs. DET (9% rostered), Chase Brown at KC (20% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin at KC (20% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Jeff Wilson Jr. at BAL (9% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): D'Onta Foreman vs. ATL (40% rostered)

Desperation flex options: Samaje Perine vs. LAC (24% rostered), Miles Sanders at JAC (41% rostered), Jordan Mason at WAS (3% rostered), Latavius Murray vs. NE (15% rostered), Emari Demercado at PHI (3% rostered), Ronnie Rivers at NYG (0% rostered), Jamaal Williams at TB (15% rostered)

Desperation flex options (if healthy): Elijah Mitchell at WAS (13% rostered)

Wide receivers

Demario Douglas, Patriots

Douglas had a quiet return to the lineup in Week 15 with just three catches for 33 yards, but he got back into form Sunday with five grabs for 74 yards on eight targets.

He now has at least 49 yards in five of his last seven outings and leads the Patriots in most receiving categories despite missing three games due to injury.

The Bills aren't a great matchup in Week 17, but Douglas has emerged as a solid WR3/flex option for fantasy.

Romeo Doubs, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Brown, Josh Downs, and Tyler Boyd are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.

Flex options: Joshua Palmer at DEN (46% rostered), Rashid Shaheed at TB (44% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Greg Dortch at PHI (5% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. GB (16% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks at MIN (13% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. vs. LAC (8% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. ATL (10% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Zay Jones vs. CAR (26% rostered)

Risky flex options: Curtis Samuel vs. SF (40% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at NYG (10% rostered), Jameson Williams at DAL (22% rostered), DeVante Parker at BUF (3% rostered), D.J. Chark at JAX (7% rostered), Jonathan Mingo at JAX (13% rostered), Elijah Moore vs. NYJ (46% rostered),

Risky flex options (if healthy): Michael Thomas at TB (34% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Cedric Wilson at BAL (0% rostered), Parker Washington vs. CAR (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Rashod Bateman vs. MIA (17% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. LAR (2% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. LAR (12% rostered), Quentin Johnston at DEN (20% rostered), Treylon Burks at HOU (11% rostered), Andrei Iosivas at KC (0% rostered), Trey Palmer vs. NO (2% rostered), Brandon Powell vs. GB (1% rostered), Khalil Shakir vs. NE (10% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Michael Wilson at PHI (6% rostered), Brandon Johnson vs. LAC (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft has been on an absolute heater with stat lines of 4-64-0, 4-57-1, and 4-60-0 over the last three weeks.

His head coach, Matt LaFleur, gushed about Kraft this week, and fantasy managers should be equally excited.

The rookie has become a borderline TE1 at the most important time in the fantasy calendar.

Streamer options: Chigoziem Okonkwo at HOU (32% rostered), Gerald Everett at DEN (42% rostered),

Streamer options: Hunter Henry at BUF (26% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Logan Thomas vs. SF (39% rostered), Juwan Johnson at TB (12% rostered), Cade Otton vs. NO (32% rostered), Tyler Higbee at NYG (38% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Mike Gesicki at BUF (3% rostered), Josh Oliver vs. GB (0% rostered)

Desperation streamer options: Tyler Conklin at CLE (5% rostered), Tanner Hudson at KC (5% rostered), Kylen Granson vs. LV (1% rostered), Jonnu Smith at CHI (14% rostered)

Desperation streamer options (if healthy): Michael Mayer at IND (7% rostered)

Defenses

Week 17 streamers