Best fantasy football RB waiver wire pickups for Week 17

Hello! Happy holidays and welcome to the Week 17 waiver wire watch for running backs!

This is the end of the line. Championship week is here for most fantasy leagues and whether you’re gunning for the title or trying to avoid the humiliation of finishing last, your fantasy season comes down to one final matchup. So its time to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for the grand finale.

We’ll go over some performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 17 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max. There are three games set for Christmas on Thursday and two games set for Saturday, so make sure to get your lineups situated early this week.

Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams (43.4%)

The Rams came out on the losing end of a game-of-the-year contender last Thursday, falling 39-38 to the Seahawks in an overtime loss that cost them their NFC West lead. They at least continue to get good production out of Corum, who took 14 carries for 48 rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown that extended the Rams’ lead in the third quarter.

That’s now five touchdowns in the last five games for the second-year back from Michigan as he’s been Mr. Reliable for the offense in multiple facets, especially the red zone. There’s a lot of potential upside for a guy who is always a threat to score.

Week 17 matchup: @ Atlanta Falcons, 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday night)

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans (37.1%)

Look, was the Titans’ 26-9 victory over the Chiefs a result of KC’s season going down in flames with Gardner Minshew tearing his ACL just one week after Patrick Mahomes? Absolutely, but you get it however you can get it and Tennessee put together one its most productive days on offense this season. Spears played his part in that performance, registering 52 rushing yards, 53 receiving yards, and punched in a fourth-quarter touchdown that put them up by two scores.

It was a nice effort for Spears, who hadn’t scored a touchdown since their road loss to the Colts back in late October. They may want to give him some extra touches after the day he had this week, so this may be the perfect time to stream him.

Week 17 matchup: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders (36.9%)

The Commanders are just counting down the days until the season ends and got overpowered in a 29-18 loss to the Eagles on Saturday. But we did continue to see Rodriguez take command of the backfield and he put together a solid performance with 15 carries for 63 rushing yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that made the score more respectable.

Rodriguez has continued to shoulder a bulk of the workload since their bye last month and Saturday’s loss was the first time where he was on the field for over 50% of the offensive snaps this season. Whether its Marcus Mariota or Josh Johnson starting for the Commanders on Christmas, I expect Rodriguez to get a healthy dose of touches.

Week 17 matchup: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET (Thursday afternoon)

Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins (14.1%)

Speaking of teams that can’t wait to get this year over with, the Dolphins sputtered to a 45-31 loss to the Bengals in a game where Tua Tagovailoa was benched for rookie Quinn Ewers. The first-year QB got to lean on his run game and one of the backs who helped him out was Wright, who registered nine carries for 35 yards and a touchdown for the afternoon.

Wright has been getting plenty of run as of late and this came just two weeks after his 107-yard outburst against the Jets. The Dolphins have nothing to play for, so why not give the backup back some more carries?

Week 17 matchup: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET