Fantasy Football Redraft

Print

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 17

Don't Start Reaching in Week 17

This list of IDP waiver wire pickups is sorted by position, and then by priorty.

This week's list focuses primarily on recently emerging options, but it's quite possible you shouldn't go after any of them.

Check the Free Agent Finder for your synced league to see if any waiver targets make sense for you -- or if you should just roll with what you've got.

Kwity Paye, Edge, Indianapolis Colts

Paye notched the only sack in Sunday’s win over the Titans. 

That not only marked a nice rebound from his empty stat line against Denver in Week 15. It also marked the fifth time in the past seven games that Paye tallied at least a half-sack. 

A Week 17 visit to the Giants presents a good opportunity to add to that. New York has allowed 18 sacks over just the past five games (3.6 per contest).

Kyle Van Noy, Edge, Baltimore Ravens

Van Noy has delivered sacks in three straight games, including 1.5 in Saturday’s victory over the Steelers.

Next comes Houston, which sits tied for fifth-most sacks allowed on the season.

The Texans have yielded 4+ sacks in four of the past seven contests – and could be a bit more vulnerable with No. 2 WR Tank Dell now done for the year.

Christian Harris, LB, Houston Texans

Harris entered Friday’s game questionable with a late-week ankle issue. But it proved to be no problem as he climbed to 97% playing time in his second game back.

Harris also tallied 7 tackles (5 solo) and a sack in the loss to Kansas City.

Next come the Ravens, who have supplied the ninth-most fantasy points per game to LBs over the past five weeks.

Jaylon Carlies, LB, Indianapolis Colts

Carlies and Grant Stuard both started Sunday’s win over the Titans alongside Zaire Franklin, with E.J. Speed out.

Carlies emerged for a team-leading 10 tackles, though, including 6 solos and 1 tackle for loss. That was particularly impressive because it marked his first game since Week 7, coming off an IR stint for leg and shoulder injuries.

If Speed remains out for Week 17 – he didn’t practice at all last week on his injured knee – then Carlies would start for a high-upside matchup with the Giants.

Darius Muasau, LB, New York Giants

LB Micah McFadden missed the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Falcons with a neck injury. LB Bobby Okereke missed his third straight game with a back injury, which has yet to allow him to return to practice.

If both remain out this Sunday, then Muasau would lead Giants LBs into a positive matchup with the Colts.

Last week found Titans rookie LB Cedric Gray racking up 15 tackles against Indy. The week before featured a pair of Denver LBs totaling 8+ tackles.

Muasau took advantage of McFadden’s early departure Sunday to tally 11 tackles – including one for loss – and a QB hit against Atlanta.

Cedric Gray, LB, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee entered Sunday’s game without Luke Gifford (concussion) and having already benched LB Jerome Baker. LB Kenneth Murray entered with a hamstring issue and then added a wrist injury. Otis Reese also left early with the ankle issue that rendered him questionable heading in. 

That left Gray to tally a game-high 11 tackles in the loss to Indianapolis. We’ll see about the Titans’ LB picture heading into a Week 17 date with the Jaguars. But from here it seems like they might as well see what their fourth-round rookie can offer over the final two weeks.

Demani Richardson, S, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers surprisingly made starting S Jordan Fuller a healthy scratch for Sunday’s OT win over Arizona, switching back to this undrafted rookie.

Richardson responded with 6 tackles and an INT. That marks three top-24 fantasy finishes (depending on your scoring) in three starts. Richardson previously collected 12 and 11 tackles (with 7+ solos in each) in consecutive weeks while Fuller was out.

Don’t be surprised if Richardson’s busy this Sunday against a Buccaneers offense that has supplied more fantasy points to DBs than any other.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.