Week 17 Free Agent Focus

By DS Staff 11:15pm EST 12/26/21

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We're likely heading into championship week in your fantasy football league. If not, then you have 1 more week to play at most. So we'll skip the blind-bid recommendations this week. Spend what you have left to get what you need.

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks

He’s owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, so we’ll highlight him here just in case he’s still available in your league. Penny ripped off 135 yards and a score on 17 carries in Sunday’s loss to the Bears – his 2nd big game among the last 3. Week 17 brings a pristine matchup against the Lions.

Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore, RBs, Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire left Sunday’s game with a collarbone injury. X-rays came back clean, but CEH is set for more testing on Monday and might still miss time. Williams has showed us already this season that he’ll be startable if CEH is out. And Gore flashed once again – 104 total yards on a team-high 15 touches – in Sunday’s victory. He’d be a fringe option for hard-up fantasy rosters in Week 17.

Jordan Howard and Boston Scott, RBs, Eagles

We’ll also see about Howard’s status after he came away from Sunday’s game with a “stinger.” That doesn’t tend to be a serious or lengthy injury, though. So we’d expect both Howard and Scott to factor into the replacement plan if Miles Sanders misses further time with his hand injury. Week 17 brings a trip to Washington, which just allowed Sanders a career-high 131 rushing yards last Tuesday night and the Eagles 238 ground yards in all.

Justin Jackson, RB, Chargers

Austin Ekeler should clear COVID protocols by this coming weekend, but Jackson should be rostered in all fantasy leagues just in case Ekeler doesn’t. Jackson exploded in Sunday’s loss to Houston, running for 64 yards and 2 scores and catching 8 of 9 targets for 98 yards.

Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Jaguars

With James Robinson set to join Carlos Hyde on IR, Ogunbowale figures to top a depth chart that also includes Ryquell Armstead and Nathan Cottrell. But, especially in a negative Week 17 matchup vs. the Patriots, consider Ogunbowale a desperation option only.

K.J. Osborn, WR, Vikings

Adam Thielen departed Sunday’s loss to the Rams after aggravating his high-ankle sprain. That helped open the door for Osborn to snag 5 of 7 targets for 68 yards and a 4th-quarter score. In 2 full games without Thielen — Week 14 and Week 15 — Osborn posted lines of 3-83-1 and 3-21. He saw a solid 21.8% target share across the small sample. If Thielen sits next week at Green Bay, Osborn will carry some WR3 intrigue.

Josh Palmer, WR, Chargers

The unvaccinated Mike Williams will remain on the COVID list for next weekend’s game vs. the Broncos. Los Angeles should get Jalen Guyton back from the COVID list for that one, but Palmer will be the preferred fantasy play. The rookie posted a 5-43-1 line on 6 targets in Sunday’s loss to the Texans. Palmer also led the Chargers with 7 targets in the Week 14 game that Keenan Allen missed on the COVID list. (Guyton got 3 targets in that one.)

Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Bills

With WRs Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis on the COVID list, McKenzie came up big in Sunday’s win over the Patriots. He hauled in 11 of 12 targets for 125 yards and a score. Beasley is eligible to be cleared in time for Week 17. But if he remains out, McKenzie would be an intriguing fantasy play vs. the Falcons.

Foster Moreau, TE, Raiders

He led the Raiders with 67 yards on 4 catches in Sunday’s win over the Broncos. That followed last week’s 7-65 line. Next up for Vegas is an Indianapolis defense that’s been getting shredded by TEs all season. The Colts have allowed a TE to score 11.7+ PPR points in 7 of their last 8 games. Moreau will be a nice Week 17 play, assuming TE Darren Waller remains out with his knee and back injuries.

Gerald Everett, TE, Seahawks

Everett caught 4 of 5 targets for a team-high 68 yards and a TD in Sunday’s loss to the Bears. That gives Everett 4+ catches in 4 of his last 5 games and a TD in 3 of the last 5. He’ll be a solid Week 17 play vs. the Lions.

C.J. Uzomah, TE, Bengals

Uzomah took a backseat to Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon and others in Joe Burrow’s 525-yard, 4-TD eruption vs. Baltimore. Still, the TE saw 7 targets (a 15.2% share) and managed to catch 5. He’s now caught 3+ balls in 9 of his past 10 outings. Next Sunday turns up another likely high-scoring game vs. Kansas City.