Let’s face it: On fantasy football championship week, no player pickup off the waiver wire is going to lead you to a title.
If you haven’t constructed a strong roster, starting on draft day and continuing throughout the season, you have no business playing for a title in the first place.
There’s really no need to even read this column, because your starting lineup from last week’s win should certainly be strong enough to carry you over that final hurdle.
But. just in case some twist of fate has somehow kept your season from reaching its rightful end weeks ago and you find yourself with no idea who you’re starting … help is on the way.
Fantasy football players to add for Week 17
Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms.
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (13% rostered)
So many quarterbacks have been injured over the past few weeks that it’s totally possible you could be scrambling for a starter this week, despite riding the coattails of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, Daniel Jones or even Tua Tagovailoa for most of the season.
That’s where Shough comes in. He’s put up at least 20 fantasy points each of the past four weeks and is coming off a career-high 308 passing yards last week against the Jets. He has developed great chemistry with wideout Chris Olave and has another favorable matchup for championship week against the Tennessee Titans.
QB Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers (0% rostered)
If Love doesn’t clear concussion protocol and is unable to play, Willis could put up decent numbers in his place. The Packers face a Ravens defense that just gave up 380 passing yards to New England’s Drake Maye. While Willis is dealing with a bit of a shoulder injury himself, he still completed 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown after he replaced Love on Saturday. He’s also been effective throughout his career as a runner, which helps raise his fantasy floor.
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (41% rostered)
We’re going to put Corum’s name out there one last time, even though he keeps producing week-in, week-out. Corum rushed for a touchdown for the fourth consecutive game (five total) last Thursday in Seattle and he remains a consistent fantasy scorer, despite being the backup to Kyren Williams.
RB Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers (38% rostered)
With starter Josh Jacobs playing through a knee injury, Wilson actually played more snaps (33-28) against the Bears. He only produced 48 total yards on 14 touches, but if Jacobs’ injury gets worse during practice this week, Wilson’s workload could increase dramatically. And he’s already shown what he can do as the lead back, totaling 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns just two weeks ago vs. Denver
Other possible running back additions: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (29% rostered); Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (42%); Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (11% rostered).
WR Adam Thielen, Pittsburgh Steelers (3% rostered)
With DK Metcalf sitting out this week due to a suspension, there’s an unexpected wealth of targets now up for grabs. After seeing only one pass his way in his first two games with the team, Thielen caught all four of his targets for 49 yards against the Lions this past week. The only problem: the Steelers travel to face the Browns, who just held Buffalo QB Josh Allen to a season-low 130 yards and no touchdowns last week.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (15% rostered)
Coker saw his streak of back-to-back games with a touchdown catch end on Sunday against the Bucs. Yet he was on the field for 44 snaps, his second-highest total of the season. The Panthers have plenty to play for at home this week against Seattle.
Other possible wide receiver additions: Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (51%); Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (41%); Mack Hollins, New England Patriots (3%).
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (1% rostered)
It’s a Saints-fest on the waiver wire! With so many injuries to Saints running backs, Hill actually led the team in rushing on Sunday with 12 carries for 42 yards and caught four passes for another 36. Plus, in typical Taysom Hill fashion, he also took a few snaps at quarterback and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass.