Happy Tuesday and welcome back to my weekly Waiver HUB! It’s time to hit the waiver wire and do what you can to improve your team moving forward. Mike Hubbard here, you can follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football throughout the season. Feel free to tweet me or message me with any comments or questions you might have regarding fantasy football.
Week 17 has ended following the MNF game seen around the world between the Bills and Bengals. Unfortunately, as you probably already know, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a scary cardiac arrest episode on the field early in the game. He is currently in critical condition. The game has been postponed so keep your eye out on when that will eventually be played. The NFL made the right decision to postpone the game after such a tragic raw emotional time. Your fantasy team and/or sports wagers are not as important as Hamlin and his teammates health and wellbeing. MNF has now come and gone this season so week 18 games will all take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Week 18 will begin on Saturday with 2 matchups. Those are the Chiefs/Raiders and the Titans/Jaguars. Mahomes trying to lock up that #1 seed while the Jags and Titans duke it out for their playoff lives. All other games will be played on Sunday.
Your fantasy playoffs are most likely in the championship game this week if they haven’t already ended, so the waiver wire is just as important as ever. Hopefully you are fighting for that championship win but if you aren’t you can fight in consolation games or use the information to play DFS. Another week gone, another opportunity to make your team stronger and inch your way to that league trophy and an offseason of bragging rights.
Below are my top waiver wire priorities this week. Go get those hopefully available players to help your chances at a championship run. Good luck this week and remember to check back every week to stay informed on who you could target off waivers.
TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Zach Moss – Indianapolis Colts
Moss has taken over RB1 duties in Indianapolis. He has 12-25 carries in each of his last 3 games reaching a minimum of 65 rushing yards in those games. He takes on Houston next who have been putrid defending the run, and the Colts QB situation is a mess, so I expect a good amount of running plays since they are playing for pride as both them and the Texans aren’t playing for a long time after this game. Just last game on Sunday the Texans allowed Travis Etienne to rush for 103 yards and score a TD. Houston gave up 3 rushing TDs in total. Add Moss and start him with confidence this week.
Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers
Brock has continued to impress leading the 49ers to yet another win, this time a narrow win over Vegas. Purdy has 2 passing TDs in each of his last 5 games and is averaging over 225 passing yards in those 5 games. The 49ers get the Cardinals for their last game of the regular season which should be a fairly easy win if all goes according to plan. I expect Brock to play well since they are still fighting for seeding in the playoffs. Could easily see another 2 passing TDs in week 18.
Running Backs
Zach Moss – Indianapolis Colts
SEE TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Tyler Allgeier – Atlanta Falcons
Chances are that Allgeier is already owned but if he isn’t I would scoop him up for the final game of the NFL regular season. The rookie out of BYU is ending the year on a hot streak rushing 55 times in his last 3 games accounting for 296 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs. He is averaging 18 rushes for 98 rushing yards since the Falcons week 14 BYE. The Falcons get Tampa next who has a good rush defense, but with Brady already clinching the division and that 4 seed, I bet they will rest a lot of players making the probability of Tyler’s success increase.
Wide Receivers
Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans
Burks saw an uptick in his production with QB Joshua Dobbs under center. No Derrick Henry last game made life extra difficult for the Titans. This week is win or go home for the Titans. Yes, we will see a ton of Derrick Henry, but assuming Dobbs gets the start again, the passing game is more involved, and Burks is a top option to target for the Titans. He finished with 4 receptions on 8 targets for 66 receiving yards in week 17. Burks is an option to grab off waivers if you are in need of a WR play and don’t have options.
Richie James – New York Giants
Richie James has become a big part of the Giants offense. He has 7+ receptions in 3 of his last 4 games and also a receiving TD in 2 of those 4 games. Be warned that the Giants have locked up a playoff spot that will remain no matter what happens when they play Philly on Sunday. James could get less exposure depending on who is benched and when. Proceed with caution and only pick up if you need a WR and he is best available.
KJ Osborn – Minnesota Vikings
KJ Osborn has basically been the definition of boom or bust WR. He has 35 or less yards with no scores from week 9-13 and then from week 14 on he has 3 TDs. His last 4 games he has a combined stat line of 32 targets, 25 receptions, and 271 receiving yards to go along with those 3 TDs. Justin Jefferson had just 1 catch for 15 yards in his last game which is uncharacteristic of him and shouldn’t repeat itself. However, if Jefferson/Hockenson were to struggle at all it would open up looks for Thielen and KJ.
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill – New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill is a do it all “TE”. The Saints shocked the Eagles and Hill was a decent part of that scoring a TD and being able to run and convert when needed. He is always a possibility to break a long run and he also has the opportunities to draw in the defense and take a shot downfield for a TD pass. Not every day a TE has all of these options so I’m sure picking him up would be an upgrade to your TE spot unless you have a top 5 TE. Don’t look now but Hill has the 2nd most fantasy points this season for a TE behind only Travis Kelce.
Evan Engram – Jacksonville Jaguars
Engram is staying on this list so if you don’t own him go grab him prior to this meaningful game. Winner of the Jags and Titans will go to the playoffs while the other team goes home. Trevor Lawrence has been slinging it around and it’s no secret he has been targeting Engram a ton and it has been very beneficial to their team and everyone’s fantasy league. His 1 catch for 6 receiving yards last week doesn’t scare me away at all. That game had no effect on their playoff potential, so the Jags stuck to the ground game and simply overpowered Houston.