NFL Week 17 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Additions

Dec 26th 2022Sosa Kremenjas

The final week of the Fantasy Football playoffs has arrived. Let's address the best waiver wire additions available in our leagues ahead of this upcoming slate of games.

All stats and data are sourced from PFF and Sports Info Solutions. Rostered percentages are sourced from Yahoo Fantasy leagues.

Top Adds of the Week:

1. Los Angeles Rams RB Cam Akers - 68% rostered

There is no more intriguing addition on the waiver wire this week than Akers. It's been a confusing season for the third-year back, but he has seemingly grabbed complete control of the Rams' backfield and showed out this past week against one of the best defenses in the league. Akers registered 49-of-65 snaps, ran 20 routes on 29 dropbacks, was targeted just twice, but also handled 23 rushing attempts. With that workload, Akers was able to rattle off 118 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, in addition to 29 receiving yards, totaling 34.7 fantasy points and an RB1 performance.

Akers is nearing must-start status in the final week of the fantasy football season. He's seemingly a full-time workhorse back and has a tremendous matchup against a leaky Los Angeles Chargers run defense. The Chargers have actually allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. If Akers is available, he's worth not only the addition but could also warrant a start.

2. Buffalo Bills RB James Cook - 52% rostered

The Bills' backfield is a tough one to decipher but Cook continues to carve out a significant role in their backfield. The rookie hasn't played in fewer than 24 snaps nor has he run fewer than 12 routes in the past four games. This past week, the split between Devin Singletary and Cook was fairly close:

Snaps: Singletary (37), Cook (26), Nyheim Hines (3)

Routes run: Singletary (14), Cook (12), Nyheim Hines (2)

Targets: Singletary (3), Cook (2), Nyheim Hines (1)

Rushing attempts: Singletary (12), Cook (11), Nyheim Hines (1)

There is no getting around the fact that Buffalo will deploy a running back by committee approach and that won't change in Week 17 barring injury. A matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals awaiting the Bills in Week 17 isn't an easy one, either. But, Cook posted a top-10 week among running backs in fantasy points and he should be in consideration for a start in the finals with the big plays he's made in recent contests.

3. Atlanta Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier - 49% rostered

According to this past week, Allgeier has overtaken the RB1 role — if he didn't already before — in Atlanta. Allgeier played in 42-of-71 snaps, ran 20 routes on 37 dropbacks, had five targets, and handled 18 rushing attempts.

The Falcons are certainly limited as an offense and don't have a ton of touchdown upside, but Allgeier is trending toward a stronger workload, has a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals next game, and produced a top-10 RB week this past week (pre-Monday Night Football). He's been quite consistent for a rookie in a running back-by-committee approach.

4. New York Giants WR Isaiah Hodgins - 2% rostered

Hodgins has really come on as a weapon for an anemic Giants passing attack. The big wideout hasn't played fewer than 53 snaps in the past four weeks and has accumulated 26 targets over the same time frame. Hodgins is coming off a season-high 22.9-point performance and has clearly garnered quarterback Daniel Jones's trust moving forward.

The Giants don't have the best matchup against a pretty good Indianapolis Colts passing defense this week, though Hodgins could have the easier matchup between him and Darius Slayton. Not to mention, slot cornerback Kenny Moore has been injured and didn't play in Week 16.

5. Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee - 65% rostered

If you're looking for a FLEX option heading into Week 17, Higbee is worth considering. The veteran tight end has had a forgettable season though he's come alive the past two weeks having scored a combined 43.1 fantasy points and ranking third among tight ends in scoring. Higbee was clearly a focus in the red zone for the Rams and seems to have a connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Higbee has a combined 24 targets over the past four weeks. He also has a pretty good matchup against a Chargers defense that ranks slightly worse than league-average in points allowed to the position.

6. Houston Texans WR Chris Moore - 14% rostered

The Texans are certainly not a desirable offense or one worth targeting often. But, Moore is still playing the most snaps and running the most routes in that offense, even with Brandin Cooks back in the fold. Of course, Moore was targeted just three times and scooped just two of them for 25 yards. Moore does have a nice matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, too.

7. Baltimore Ravens RB Gus Edwards - 41% rostered

You probably aren't going to start Edwards in the finals but he's worth the addition based on the split between him and J.K. Dobbins anyways. This past week was nearly dead even between the two:

Snaps: Dobbins (22), Edwards (21)

Routes run: Dobbins (7), Edwards (3)

Targets: Dobbins (1), Edwards (0)

Rushing attempts: Dobbins (12), Edwards (11)

Right now, Edwards looks to be in a full-on 50/50 split on early downs with Dobbins. While that isn't enough to consider or warrant a start, it's worth the addition in the event that something does happen to Dobbins throughout the practice week.

8. Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard - 38% rostered

Hubbard has now out-snapped teammate D'Onta Foreman in consecutive weeks, though the most recent contest was nearly dead even in terms of snaps. Hubbard continues to be the preferred passing game option while Foreman is preferred as the early-down rushing option.

That likely won't change this week, particularly against a pretty stout Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Neither Hubbard nor Foreman is a desirable start but they could warrant consideration as FLEX options in the event that injuries struck your roster.