NFL Waiver Wire: Week 17 Early Watch

NFL Waiver Wire: Week 17 Early Watch

This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.

This article will come out every Sunday night. It's not expected to be a deep dive. Instead, we'll explore players who had atypical workload and/or opportunity during the Sunday games. We won't be paying attention to whether these players will be available in most leagues. The hope is that you become aware of the short-term usage change. If you're looking for detailed waiver wire coverage, we'll have two weekly articles to set you up. On Tuesday, Kevin Payne will publish the weekly pickups. Then on Wednesday, Dan Marcus will provide you with deep dives.

Quarterback

  • Jacoby Brissett looked like a hero in the second straight game coming in to bail out Sam Howell. Don't be surprised if Brissett starts for the Commanders next week.
  • Taylor Heinicke did enough in a victory over the Colts to likely hold the starting QB job for the Falcons over Desmond Ridder.

Running Back

  • Israel Abanikanda served as the No. 2 RB for the Jets against Washington. The rookie turned nine carries into 43 yards. Those who need a player with volume might get that chance in Week 17.

Wide Receiver

  • With Jordan Addison leaving the game against the Lions early, K.J. Osborn was targeted seven times, posting 95 yards and a TD. Osborn could move into a more prominent pass-catching role if Addison misses next week's game against the Packers.
  • Bo Melton caught four of six targets for 44 yards with Green Bay dealing with wide receiver injuries. Dontayvion Wicks (chest) left

This article will come out every Sunday night. It's not expected to be a deep dive. Instead, we'll explore players who had atypical workload and/or opportunity during the Sunday games. We won't be paying attention to whether these players will be available in most leagues. The hope is that you become aware of the short-term usage change. If you're looking for detailed waiver wire coverage, we'll have two weekly articles to set you up. On Tuesday, Kevin Payne will publish the weekly pickups. Then on Wednesday, Dan Marcus will provide you with deep dives.

Quarterback

  • Jacoby Brissett looked like a hero in the second straight game coming in to bail out Sam Howell. Don't be surprised if Brissett starts for the Commanders next week.
  • Taylor Heinicke did enough in a victory over the Colts to likely hold the starting QB job for the Falcons over Desmond Ridder.

Running Back

  • Israel Abanikanda served as the No. 2 RB for the Jets against Washington. The rookie turned nine carries into 43 yards. Those who need a player with volume might get that chance in Week 17.

Wide Receiver

  • With Jordan Addison leaving the game against the Lions early, K.J. Osborn was targeted seven times, posting 95 yards and a TD. Osborn could move into a more prominent pass-catching role if Addison misses next week's game against the Packers.
  • Bo Melton caught four of six targets for 44 yards with Green Bay dealing with wide receiver injuries. Dontayvion Wicks (chest) left this week's game with an injury, so Melton may be needed next week against the Vikings.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Coventry
Coventry was a finalist for the FSWA football writer of the year in 2022. He started playing fantasy football in 1994 and won a national contest in 1996. He also nabbed five top-50 finishes in national contests from 2008 to 2012 before turning his attention to DFS. He's been an industry analyst since 2007, though he joined RotoWire in 2016. A published author, Coventry wrote a book about relationships, "The Secret of Life", in 2013.
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