Matt Asiata heads up the list of consensus waiver wire pickups for Week 17

For most, championship week is decided, and the fantasy season is complete. For those who are playing into Week 17 though, we here at FantasyPros have not forgotten about you.

In what has been a long season, Week 17 provides a few candidates that would be worthy of a waiver claim and we’re here to help you out with who that claim should be used on. As with each week, we’ve asked the experts to rank the top waiver wire pickups that are readily available. Read on to view the pundits’ consensus advice as well as their top D/ST rentals for Week 17.

Featured Pros

Jon Collins (Fantasy Sports LR)
Ryan Rufe (RotoBaller)
R.J. White (CBS Sports)
Tony Mauriello (ProjectRoto)

Waiver Wire Rankings (STD Scoring)

Week 17 Waiver Wire Advice

Each expert was asked to share advice about a target or two they like this week along with any other waiver wire suggestions they have. Here’s what the experts had to say.

Q1: Give us your thoughts on a waiver wire target (or two) you especially like as a pickup.

Jon Collins – Fantasy Sports LR
At this stage in the season, it’s all about potential upside… so, while Joseph Randle has looked good in limited opportunities so far (despite fumbling Sunday) and is a logical candidate for a significant change in workload if Dallas rests DeMarco Murray, there is nothing to like about his matchup against Washington’s run defense. As such, I’m focusing my waiver claims on less exciting names in a better context. Matt Asiata is not a pretty runner, nor is he a particularly talented one, but he is a back with a nose for the end zone. He out-carried Joe Banyard 16:5 last week and already owns sole possession of lead back duties (vs. Randle, Freeman and others who have to see something break just right to net 20 touches) and trails just Marshawn Lynch and DeMarco Murray in rushing TDs. This is a one week proposition and not a season-long race, and as such, I’ll take Asiata with a shot to find the end zone against a struggling Bears D.

R.J. White – CBS Sports
Matt Asiata has now racked up three touchdowns over the last two weeks. Any fantasy owners brave enough to scoop him up and start him during this key part of the season have been vastly rewarded. He should have another great chance to deliver a double-digit fantasy performance in Week 17 against a Bears team that checked out on the season weeks ago. Asiata should make for a solid RB2 selection in the final week of the season.

Tony Mauriello – ProjectRoto
If your seasonal league continues into Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season, you either really love unpredictable coaches or your league’s commissioner is out of touch. Ultimately, your waiver wire decision today depends on your roster composition and the rankings are here for a rough guide. If you are in need of an RB, look to Matt Asiata (who gets to face a Bears defense that was shredded by a Lions ground attack for 138 yards and 2 TDs as well as by a RB corp that added in 10 receptions for 67 yards) or Joseph Randle (who gets to face a Redskins run defense that surrendered 134 yards and 1 TD on the ground and another 9 receptions for 71 yards through the air to RBs). If you are in need of a WR, take a look at Marquess Wilson who will see coverage from a league-average set of CBs in the Vikings, who also have the 11th worst pass rush.

Ryan Rufe – RotoBaller
Matt Asiata isn’t the most exciting fantasy player, but he definitely deserves a spot in your lineup as an RB2 or flex play in Standard and especially PPR leagues. With 20 receptions and three touchdowns over the last five weeks, he’s a solid bet to have a productive game in Week 17 against Chicago, who allowed 221 rushing yards and three scores on the ground over the last two weeks. If you’re looking for receiver help, look no further than Marquess Wilson, who has done a nice job in the Bears’ starting lineup in the absence of Brandon Marshall. A 7-66-0 line on 10 targets with Jimmy Clausen at QB for Chicago was encouraging, and while the matchup against the underrated Vikings secondary isn’t the greatest, it’s certainly not the worst either. I’d expect similar fantasy production from the rookie wideout in Week 17.

Q2: For owners looking to rent a D/ST in Week 17, what readily available option should they target first?

Ryan Rufe – RotoBaller
Give the New York Jets D/ST credit for holding Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and the high-powered New England offense in check this past Sunday. They held the Patriots to 17 points on the afternoon. They tied a season-high with four sacks, which they’ve done five times this season. In Week 17, they’ll travel to Miami where they’ll look to avenge a 16-13 loss to the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football a few weeks back. In fact, they’ve held opponents to under 17 points three times over the last four weeks. The Jets aren’t my favorite readily available D/ST to use in Week 17 — I much prefer Green Bay (vs. DET), Dallas (at WAS) or Minnesota (vs. CHI) — but if you play in a deep league with 14 or more owners, they might be the best available option.

Tony Mauriello – ProjectRoto
If you are streaming defenses in Week 17, look for a team that has something to play for. The obvious top choice is the Houston Texans who face the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they are likely owned. Look next to the Carolina Panthers, who head to Atlanta where the winner of the game wins the NFC South, a number four seed and a first-round bye. With Cam Newton looking sharp in Week 16 and Jonathan Stewart rushing as well as he has in his career over the last few weeks, the game script for the Panthers should be to pound the ground with Newton and Stewart to limit the Falcons air attack. The Panthers grade league-average across most defensive metrics, but Matt Ryan may find himself pressured as the Falcons run block grades out as the sixth worst in the league and will struggle against the Panthers’ top 15 run D.

R.J. White – CBS Sports
The Dallas defense looked incredible for a second straight week when they completely shut down MVP candidate Andrew Luck and the entire Colts offense. In the previous week, the Cowboys came through in the clutch with a division-swinging performance against the Eagles. This week, the competition appears to be much easier, as the Redskins will be looking to wrap up a lost season and are coming down from a big win of their own. With a bye potentially on the line for the Cowboys, the defense should come to play.

Jon Collins – Fantasy Sports LR
Sticking with my apparent love for the Vikings – or just picking on the Bears – I think Minnesota represents a great D/ST play in Week 17. Yes, they just gave up a ton of points while producing a pair of sacks and turnovers, but I think they’ll bring the heat against Jimmy Clausen and company. Clausen played well enough against Detroit, and he still produced just 14 points. To think because of one ‘ok’ performance he isn’t a QB to stream against would be a mistake. With 40 sacks and 19 turnovers, the Vikings are already hanging around the D/ST top 12 and should find themselves inside that this week against the Bears.

—

Congratulations to those who wrapped up a successful season in Week 16, and to those going for the championship in Week 17. Thank you to the experts for contributing their thoughts on Week 17 waiver wire pickups as well as an entire season’s worth of advice from all the experts that participated in this weekly column.