Best fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 17

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

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. We still have the Monday night showdown between the 49ers and Colts to get to this evening, but it’s not too early 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.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (57.5%)

The Jaguars are arguably the hottest team in the NFL right now and they picked up their sixth straight victory in a huge 34-20 road triumph over the Broncos. It took a while, but Lawrence is finally looking like the franchise QB that was drafted No. 1 overall as he put 279 passing yards and four total touchdowns on a Broncos defense that had only allowed 30+ points once prior to Sunday.

This was an excellent follow-up to his five-touchdown performance against the Jets the week prior and he now has 12 passing touchdowns to zero picks over his last four games. We’ve seen some impressive stuff from the QB as the team is not only nearing the AFC South title, but is now in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the conference. If you need a QB off the wire to lift you over the top in this final week, then Lawrence is your guy.

Week 17 matchup: @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks (40.4%)

Darnold came out on the winning side of what could be the game of the year in the NFL, as a successful two-point conversion strike to Eric Saubert in overtime lifted the Seahawks over the Rams in a 38-37 thriller. Things looked bleak for the team late as they were staring down a 16-point deficit with less than 10 minutes to go. However, a punt return touchdown, a defensive stop, and a 26-yard strike to AJ Barner allowed them to tie the game just mere minutes later. After L.A. put a TD on the board to start OT, Darnold marched the Seahawks down the field, found Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown, and delivered the dagger with the successful two-pointer to put Seattle on top of the NFC West standings.

He racked up 21.5 fantasy points with 270 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing the week as a top-10 fantasy QB for the fifth time this season. The Seahawks have business to handle with an inside track to the No. 1 seed in the NFC, so he may be dialed in for Sunday’s showdown against the Panthers.

Week 17 matchup: @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET

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

Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (12.4%)

Trevor Lawrence has been in sync with his receiver core for the past month and Washington ended up being his favorite target in the Jaguars’ 34-20 statement victory over the Broncos on Sunday. The third-year wideout was a fireworks factory at Mile High Stadium, posting a career-day by catching six of 10 targets for 145 receiving yards and a first-quarter touchdown that opened the scoring festivities for Jacksonville.

He exited Sunday as a top-three fantasy wideout in all scoring formats for the week and that’s a testament to the role that he’s played in the Jags offense in recent weeks. Momentum is on their side right now and if you need a skill guy to get you over the hump in the final week, then a Jags receiver like Washington would be a solid choice.

Week 17 matchup: @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (48.1%)

Johnston had his most productive game of the season on Sunday as the Chargers moved a step closer to clinching a playoff spot in their 34-17 victory over the Cowboys. The third-year wideout from TCU was hitting home runs with each catch, turning four receptions into 104 receiving yards including a first-quarter touchdown reception that put them on the board.

Johnston has been relatively quiet in the second half of the season after storming out the gate with a strong start in the first month of the campaign. His big-play abilities will come in handy for the Chargers in the coming weeks and he could be a helpful hand in your championship game.

Week 17 matchup: vs. Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET (Saturday afternoon)

AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks (18.2%)

Many playmakers played a hand in the Seahawks’ frantic 38-37 overtime victory over the Rams on Thursday and chief among them was Barner. He maneuvered his way around the Rams defense and got open for a 26-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that ended up tying the game for Seattle. He ended his night with a respectable line of four receptions for 49 receiving yards and the aforementioned score.

This marked the first time the second-year Michigan product had found the end zone since his two-touchdown day against the Buccaneers way back in Week 5. They’re going up against a Panthers team that has given up the 10th-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends this year, so there’s a chance for him to have a repeat performance from last Thursday.

Week 17 matchup: @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET

Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (37.6%)

Six straight wins for the Jaguars makes for a team that is hitting their stride just in time for the playoffs and they’re getting quality performances from multiple playmakers on offense. Strange is in that camp and he came away with five catches for 39 receiving yards and a second-quarter touchdown in their 34-20 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.

Trevor Lawrence has spread the wealth around his offense and Strange has popped up as a beneficiary from time to time, recently posting a 93-yard performance against the Cardinals in Week 11. If you’re in your championship game and need a waiver option that will give you a shot in the arm, then you’d want to seek out Jags playmakers like Strange.

Week 17 matchup: @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET