After 16 long weeks, here we are. For most leagues, this is the championship week, the most important period of time of the entire fantasy football season. If you’ve made it to your league’s championship game, congratulations. Simply making it to this point is a large feat and you should be proud of your season no matter how this week’s set of games turn out.
However, don’t be mistaken; winning this game has been the goal of your entire season, so don’t settle for second place! After a few injuries in Week 16, your season could be decided by a player sitting on your league’s waivers. This means that choosing the right one to replace an injured starter will be one of the most important decisions of your entire season.
Each of this week’s selections are rostered in fewer than 60% of all ESPN fantasy leagues. Let’s get into this week’s list! Good luck!
Honorable Mentions
Geno Smith, Gus Edwards, Tyjae Spears
Kayshon Boutte, Jalen McMillan
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young - CAR
Bryce Young has been borderline electric since regaining the starting job in Carolina. This real-life resurgence has also been paired with a statistical revival in fantasy football for last year’s first-overall pick.
Young has scored three rushing touchdowns in his last four games. His rushing prowess was headlined by a 68-yard, one score performance in Week 16 against Arizona. Young has also registered a passing touchdown in every game since Week 8.
It’s safe to say that the young quarterback’s floor is pretty high, so starting him against Tampa Bay if you need a quarterback is less of a gamble than it appears. Bryce Young has improved his game dramatically in 2024, so expect him to put up a solid performance against the Buccaneers in Week 17.
Caleb Williams - CHI
This year’s first-overall pick has shown a lot of promise in what has been an extremely disappointing season in Chicago this year. Williams has routinely passed for high yardage totals and hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 6. Like Bryce Young, Williams has a high floor, passing for 10 touchdowns in his last five games. His rushing upside has also started to show up, as the rookie has logged at least four rush attempts in six straight games.
If you are in need of a starting quarterback with a high floor and a high ceiling, Williams could pave the way to a victory for your fantasy team. It’s been a strong rookie season for Caleb Williams. Hopefully, that will continue on Thursday.
Running Backs
Jerome Ford - CLE
This week, Ford took over for the injured Nick Chubb, who is now out for the season with a foot injury. He performed very efficiently, turning 11 carries into 92 rushing yards and a score. Ford was one of the only bright spots for Cleveland in a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and if Jameis Winston is not reestablished as the team’s starting quarterback, this will likely continue.
Ford is only owned in about half of ESPN’s fantasy leagues, so he is available on the waiver wire daily. On top of this, Ford was ranked outside of the top-20 in the Fantasy Trading Room Week 16 RB Rankings, so it’s no secret that he’s an underrated fantasy football asset.
The veteran running back has been solid when leaned upon as the starter this season, so an above-average fantasy performance next week is not out of the question. It’s also worth noting that Jerome Ford handled five receptions, giving him receiving upside in PPR leagues. If you need a running back for championship week, Jerome Ford could save your season.
Wide Receivers
Olamide Zaccheaus - WAS
Veteran wideout Olamide Zaccheaus shined on Sunday against a tough Philadelphia passing defense, putting up his first two touchdowns of the 2024 season. Zaccheaus seemed to be operating as the team’s second wideout, garnering eight targets on Sunday, which was a season-high. If he can retain this role next week, he presents at least a little upside for a red-hot Commanders offense taking on the Atlanta Falcons, which is a favorable matchup.
Jayden Daniels has been elite over the past few weeks, so it isn’t a stretch to imagine Olamide Zaccheaus putting together another great fantasy performance against a rather soft matchup during the most important week of the fantasy football season.
Wan’Dale Robinson - NYG
Giants wideout Wan’Dale Robinson delivered on Sunday, garnering an impressive 12 targets and putting up his highest yardage total of the 2024 NFL season. If Robinson is getting hot at the right time, he has no shortage of targets to hold him back from some solid fantasy football performances.
The veteran wide receiver was fairly fantasy-relevant early on this season but had fallen out of favor in recent weeks. This week’s stat line has certainly put him back into start-sit discussions in deeper leagues or for teams struggling with injuries. If Robinson can continue to earn a large amount of targets, he could be a solid option in Week 17. If you are desperate for a wide receiver, Robinson is worth the pickup.
Tight Ends
Chig Okonkwo - TEN
For the second week in a row, tight end Chig Okonkwo earned double-digit targets. In a season that has been a disappointment for many tight ends in fantasy football, this is definitely a welcome sight. The Titans were very close to overcoming a large deficit and defeating the Colts on Sunday, falling just short. Okonkwo was certainly a big part of that and should remain in the team’s game plan going forward.
Chig Okonkwo was ranked outside of the top-20 in this week’s Fantasy Trading Room Week 16 TE Rankings. This should no longer be the case heading into Week 17. If your team’s tight end has been unreliable, Chig Okonkwo has turned volume into production and has a lot of upside. I’m not telling you to start him over the top few guys at his position, but if you need a tight end, Okonkwo is a good bet to score some points.
Dalton Schultz - HOU
Tight End Dalton Schultz put together a good week against Kansas City, registering eight targets and a touchdown, after disappointing against Miami in Week 15. Sadly, Texans wideout Tank Dell was lost for the season with a significant knee injury. Though this is truly unfortunate, it could lead to Schultz receiving more targets going forward.
According to TeamRankings Offensive Stats, the Texans have averaged the tenth-most pass attempts per game in the NFL this year, so Schultz should see plenty of volume. Houston has now lost both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell and could be leaning on their reliable tight end in Week 17. Stroud and Schultz have a good connection and could lead teams to victory next week. If your lineup has a tight end-sized hole, Schultz could prove to be very valuable this coming week.