Waiver Wire Pickups Week 17

Waiver Wire Week 17

Championship Week is here, and everything you have done all season comes down to this moment. Every waiver move, every lineup decision, every late‑week pivot has led you to the final matchup. There is no tomorrow, no planning ahead, no saving players for later. Your entire focus is on maximizing points in a single week. Roles are locked in, injuries are shaping opportunities, and matchups matter more than they ever have. This is where sharp managers separate themselves by trusting the right players and avoiding unnecessary risks. You are one great decision away from a title. Let’s finish the job and bring home the championship.

Malik Willis

26% Rostered on Sleeper

Willis stepped in for Jordan Love after Love left with a concussion on a roughing‑the‑passer hit that had plenty of people fired up. Willis handled himself well, completing 9 of 11 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, and adding real juice on the ground with 44 rushing yards on 10 carries.

This is not his ceiling. If Willis gets the start this week and Love is unable to clear protocol, he has the tools to play lights out. Green Bay cannot afford to coast, especially with Josh Jacobs dealing with a reaggravated knee injury. It is playoffs or elimination, and they have to win out.

The matchup against the Ravens is decent, and Willis has the potential to deliver QB2 numbers if he starts.

Chris Oladokun

0% Rostered on Sleeper

I’ll be honest, most people had no idea who Oladokun was until his name popped up on the Week 16 stat sheet. The immediate question was what happened to Gardner Minshew, and the answer came quickly. Minshew suffered a knee injury, avoided an ACL tear, but was placed on IR for the rest of the season. That opened the door for Oladokun, who held his own by completing 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and adding 2 carries for 7 yards.

The Chiefs face Denver this week, and it is a poor matchup, so expectations should stay modest. Still, if you absolutely need someone in a superflex spot, Oladokun is not the worst option. He can give you a handful of crucial points, and he becomes even more viable in best ball formats like the ones available on Sleeper, where any spike plays automatically count.

Raheim Sanders

21% Rostered on Sleeper

The Browns took a major hit when star rookie Quinshon Judkins went down with a severe leg injury that included a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. He is expected to make a full recovery for 2026, but it is still a devastating loss for Cleveland. With Dylan Sampson dealing with a hand injury, it becomes a next‑man‑up situation, and that puts Raheim Sanders in line for meaningful work.

Against the Bills he rushed 11 times for 42 yards and added one catch for 4 yards. The matchup this week against Pittsburgh is poor, but Sanders is slated to be the primary back. Hoping for double‑digit points is not unrealistic, especially in a flex spot where volume alone can carry him.

Tyrone Tracy Jr.

96% Rostered on Sleeper

Tracy handled a strong workload against Minnesota, finishing with 16 carries for 71 yards and adding 2 receptions for 7 yards. The usage was exactly what you want to see from a late‑season waiver option, and the Giants clearly trust him with meaningful touches.

This week they face Las Vegas in a very good matchup for running backs. With his volume and the defensive matchup lining up, Tracy has a real path to RB2 numbers in Week 17. He should be in starting consideration, especially for managers looking for stability in the flex spot.

Kenneth Gainwell

94% Rostered on Sleeper

Gainwell has been a rising star in this offense, and Week 16 against Detroit was another strong showing. He logged 9 carries for 50 yards and added major value as a receiver with 5 catches on 7 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown. The trust is clearly there. Rodgers continues to praise him and has even called him the most reliable set of hands on the team.

With D.K. Metcalf suspended for two games after an altercation with a fan, Gainwell’s role in the passing game should grow even more. They face Cleveland this week in a decent matchup, and Gainwell is positioned to exceed expectations, especially in PPR formats where his receiving work gives him a strong weekly floor.

Parker Washington

79% Rostered on Sleeper

Washington is coming off a career performance in Week 16, posting 6 receptions on 10 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown against Denver. That is especially impressive considering the Broncos are one of the best defenses in the league, and Jacksonville handled them decisively.

He now gets an excellent matchup against the Colts, who allow the fifth most points to opposing wide receivers. With the Jaguars gearing up for their playoff push, Washington should remain heavily involved in the passing game.

Expect another strong target share and a real chance for him to deliver starter‑level production in Week 17.

Chimere Dike

84% Rostered on Sleeper

Dike played a real part in Tennessee’s win over the Chiefs this past week, finishing with 3 receptions on 5 targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. The rookie continues to flash whenever he gets opportunities, and his impact isn’t limited to offense. He’s also a legitimate threat as a return man, already scoring two special‑teams touchdowns this season.

The Titans face New Orleans this week, and it’s a poor matchup on paper. Even so, you can still expect some volume. Dike has carved out a role and has caught three touchdowns in the past five games. A flex spot is where he belongs for Week 17, with some upside if he breaks another big play.

Mike Gesicki

51% Rostered on Sleeper

With Noah Fant out, Gesicki has stepped into the TE1 role and has been making the most of it. Against Miami, he recorded 3 receptions on 4 targets for 35 yards and a touchdown, giving Cincinnati exactly the kind of red‑zone presence they needed.

This week the Bengals face Arizona, a defense that allows the seventh most points to opposing tight ends. The matchup lines up well for continued involvement, especially with Cincinnati leaning on short and intermediate routes.

Gesicki is firmly in play as either a tight end start or a flex option this week based on the matchup.