Week 17 Waiver Wire: Examining Fantasy Football Lineup Options After Injury Reports
The weekly NFL injury report brings with it bad news for fantasy managers who are looking to capture league championships and the bragging rights that come along with it.
Week 17 is no different, with injuries to key positions leaving managers scouring the waiver wire for as suitable a replacement as possible.
Entering the penultimate week of the season, here are a few options for those managers suddenly in need of quarterback, running back, or wide receiver.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
With Gus Edwards and Alvin Kamara out in Week 17, managers looking for a replacement at running back should consider Saints backup Kendre Miller.
He had a rough game in Green Bay, carrying eight times for a whopping 15 yards, but the entire Saints team had a forgettable Monday night on the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field.
The Las Vegas Raiders rank 19th against opposing running backs, giving up 22.73 points to the position. They have allowed 10 rushing and four receiving touchdowns to backs, opening up an opportunity for Miller to have one of his best days of the year
It will ultimately be up to rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler and how he plays that will determine if the Saints are able to get any offense going on the ground, but the Raiders are playing out the stretch and certainly will not be as motivated as the Packers were in Week 16.
Be cautiously optimistic about Miller's prospects Sunday, especially if the injury report has been unkind to your crop of running backs.
Miller is available in over 50 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The shoulder injury suffered by CeeDee Lamb that will keep him out of the final two weeks of the season has devastated some managers looking to secure their league's championship, leaving them scurrying for a replacement.
While there is no such thing as a true replacement for a player of that magnitude, Jalen McMillan in Tampa Bay has the potential to be a difference-maker in Week 17.
The rookie wide receiver has been a top-20 finisher at his position the last three weeks in both standard and PPR leagues. He has scored four touchdowns in that span and has quickly developed into a key cog in the Bucs' passing game.
Week 17 brings a showdown in Carolina, against a defense ranked No. 13 against opposing wide receivers over the last four weeks. The team has allowed 15 receiving touchdowns this season and McMillan will look to keep his streak alive.
He has caught at least four balls in the last three and should get looks from Baker Mayfield as the Bucs look to keep their playoff hopes alive by knocking off a division rival.
Add McMillan now because he is amid a breakout that should make Buccaneers fans excited about his future.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young has been a top-20 fantasy quarterback in seven of the last eight weeks and a top-10 finisher twice. In Week 16, he was the No. 2 quarterback, delivering two passing and a rushing touchdown.
The second-year quarterback has been on a tear since returning to the starting lineup and will have a chance to add another strong week to a string of them Sunday when he battles a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team giving up the second-most points to opposing quarterbacks.
The Bucs give up 20.38 points to the position and have allowed 24 passing and six rushing touchdowns to QBs.
Look for Young, already riding a wave a momentum, to take advantage of that leaky squad and put up quality numbers.
Those managers with Tua Tagovailoa in their starting lineup but worried about his "questionable" status on this weeks injury report should consider grabbing Young as an insurance policy.
All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.