If I have learned anything in my 15 years of playing fantasy football, it’s to trust the guys that got you to a championship to play in a championship.
Obviously, something worked along the way that you now find yourself nearly hoisting a trophy.
The Week 17 sleepers and streamers took a little bit more time, because if you’re here to find one, you’re in desperate need of the correct answer. We saw players at multiple positions go down and ruled out for Week 17 – such as Jalen Hurts and Kenneth Walker – so if you’re like me, you’re searching for that flex position.
You may need that extra oomph to start someone you’re on the fence with. You also may have taken a gamble in the draft and feel depleted at a position and are looking to slide someone in this week slyly. And let’s be honest, this happens most weeks.
Last week, we saw Bears’ QB Caleb Williams, Jaguars’ RB Travis Etienne, Falcons’ RB Tyler Allgeier, Ravens’ WR Rashod Bateman and Buccaneers’ WR Jalen McMillan make the list.
What a way to find Williams with his 300-plus yard game! Did you bet on a Bateman anytime touchdown scorer? Baltimore is 7-0 when he scores this season…
Editor’s Note: These selections are based on The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yes, I’m serious.
Once benched this season, the same player could help lead you to a fantasy football championship.
Bryce Young had his second-best fantasy outing of the season in Week 13 at home against Tampa Bay. He finished with his highest yardage total of the season (298), as well as a passing and rushing score.
His only better fantasy output game came in last week’s upset against Arizona. So, I’m hoping Young can continue to roll and do so against an opponent he has already been successful against this season.
I’m hopeful Young has all his receiving weapons back this week after No. 1 Adam Thielen was removed from the injury report. Thielen (hamstring), Xavier Legette (hip), Jalen Coker and David Moore should all suit up. The Bucs allow the second-most fantasy points to receivers, and with Chuba Hubbard possibly not at 100% or missing the game, Young and the Panthers corps could be more responsible in a shootout.
Tampa Bay is now chasing the NFC South crown after leading a majority of the season. This wasn’t a push over game for them in Week 13 and it definitely isn’t now. With the way the Bucs passing game smothers opponents, Carolina could likely be chasing points.
Young ranks in Tier 4 (QB 22) in The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
I liked Tyjae Spears this week before Tony Pollard’s ankle injury and flu update.
I don’t necessarily think Tennessee will be playing from behind this weekend like it has in Spears’ most successful games of the season, but he should be in for a large workload regardless.
Spears has scored more than 21 PPR points in his last two games and has two touchdowns in each of them. He also has nine catches (11 targets) for 126 yards in the same time frame.
Spears saw double digit carries for just the second time last week, but Jacksonville allows the second most points on the ground to backs. A likely elevation in carries with Pollard not 100% and an uptick in targets in the passing game should give you a better-than-average security blanket if you need it.
Spears ranks in Tier 4 (RB 22) in The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
@ New Orleans Saints
New Orleans injury woes seem to get worse every week, and Week 17 is no different.
Even with Alvin Kamara last week, the Saints were blanked on national television by the Green Bay Packers. Struggling to extend drives with using the veteran back doomed an already struggling offense, and now they’ll be without him at home on a short week.
Both Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison were successful without Sincere McCormick (injured reserve) against Jacksonville, and face a similarly struggling team for a consecutive week.
Abdullah stands out as a receiver ahead of Mattison, as the veteran has more than 100 yards on 12 catches (13 targets) in the Raiders’ last two games.
Whether on the ground or in the air, three rushers scored touchdowns for Green Bay against New Orleans less than one week ago.
Abdullah ranks in Tier 4 (RB 29) in The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
@ New York Giants
Anthony Richardson (back) was ruled out on Saturday morning after missing practice all week. That means veteran Joe Flacco will start, which is music to the ears for fantasy owners of Josh Downs.
Downs finished with double digit fantasy points in all formats in multiple games with Flacco under center already this season.
In five games played together, Flacco has helped Downs average more than 16 PPR points per game, too (CBSSports). Consequently, New York has allowed 10 receivers this season to score at least 13 PPR points. The math checks out for me.
Plus, what are the Giants playing for?
Downs ranks in Tier 4 (WR 36) in The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
Doubling up on Tennessee and having a Panthers quarterback in my championship week sleepers is something I never had on a bingo card.
But, Calvin Ridley is returning to Jacksonville for the first time since playing for the team and faces a defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers in the league.
Ridley drew 12 targets – his second most so far this season – in the Titans’ Week 14 clash with Jacksonville. I feel better about playing him in any form of PPR, because he finishes without double digits if it’s standard scoring, but the Jaguars are so bad I’m unsure it matters.
It’s important to note that Ridley has scored at least 12 PPR points in three of the previous four games with Mason Rudolph, who is starting again on Sunday.
Ridley ranks in Tier 4 (WR 20) in The Wolf’s Week 17 Rankings.
Editor’s Note: Thank you for joining in for a second season of top sleepers with RSJ. We look forward to the annual tradition and want to hear your fantasy championship stories (or punishments)!
