Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 17: Taysom Hill, Tyler Shough among top players to target

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Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended fantasy football waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Key injuries to consider

• Lamar Jackson (back)

• Jordan Love (concussion)

• J.J. McCarthy (hand)

• Marcus Mariota (hand, quad)

• Gardner Minshew (knee)

• Josh Jacobs (knee)

• TreVeyon Henderson (head)

• Quinshon Judkins (leg)

• Jordan Mason (ankle)

• Kimani Vidal (neck)

• Romeo Doubs (wrist)

• Kayshon Boutte (concussion)

• Pat Bryant (concussion)

• Ryan Flournoy (knee)

• John FitzPatrick (knee)

Pickups by position

• Quarterbacks

• Running backs

• Wide receivers

• Tight ends

• Defense/Special teams

• Kickers

Week 17’s top-10 overall pickups

1. Michael Carter, Cardinals
2. Blake Corum, Rams
3. Emanuel Wilson, Packers
4. Taysom Hill, Saints
5. Troy Franklin, Broncos
6. Parker Washington, Jaguars
7. Brenton Strange, Jaguars
8. Tyler Shough, Saints
9. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders
10. Dalton Schultz, Texans

Quarterbacks

Tyler Shough, Saints

Shough has grown more comfortable in the Saints offense and is making a strong case to be the team’s starter next season. 

Despite having Rashid Shaheed traded away at the deadline and losing Alvin Kamara and Devaughn Vele to injuries, Shough is coming off a strong month of fantasy performances. 

Over the last month, the rookie has finished as the weekly QB12, QB6, QB16 and currently sits as the QB14 with Monday Night Football left to be played. 

While those numbers don’t make him a must-add off the waiver wire, it certainly makes him the most attractive streaming option available at this point in the year. 

He also gets the benefit of a very favorable matchup with a Titans defense that’s top-10 in terms of most points allowed to quarterbacks. Prior to taking advantage of a Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs offense this week, Tennessee had given up four straight QB1 fantasy results, including three inside the top-five. 

Sam Darnold is 54% rostered but would be the No. 1 QB add if available. 

Risky streaming options (if healthy)

• Marcus Mariota vs. DAL (9% rostered)

• J.J. McCarthy vs. DET (40% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Geno Smith vs. NYG (13% rostered)

• Aaron Rodgers at CLE (29% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy and starter is out)

• Malik Willis vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options

• Kirk Cousins vs. LAR (10% rostered)

• Cam Ward vs. NO (8% rostered)

• Quinn Ewers vs. TB (2% rostered)

• Shedeur Sanders vs. PIT (12% rostered)

• Bryce Young vs. SEA (19% rostered)

• Philip Rivers vs. JAX (6% rostered)

• Brady Cook vs. NE (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out)

• Tyler Huntley at GB (0% rostered)

• Josh Johnson vs. DAL (0% rostered)

• Max Brosmer vs. DET (0% rostered)

• Chris Oladokun vs. DEN (0% rostered)

Running Backs

Michael Carter, Cardinals

While 65 scoreless yards wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for from Carter in a Week 16 matchup with the Falcons, it will be difficult to bench him in the fantasy championship when he faces the Bengals. 

Cincinnati allows the most fantasy points to running backs, including at least 100 scrimmage yards or a touchdown to six different backs over the last four weeks. 

Carter was the clear lead runner for Arizona last time out and will have an excellent opportunity to return RB2 fantasy stats this week. 

Blake Corum, Rams

Even in a complementary role behind Kyren Williams, Corum continues to make his mark in fantasy, finishing as a top-20 RB in four consecutive outings. 

Not only has Corum found the end zone five times during that span, he’s also posted yardage totals of 81, 131, 71 and 61 over the last month. 

The 25-year-old can be started as a high-end RB3 with RB2 upside in the fantasy championship. 

Emanuel Wilson, Packers

Josh Jacobs has continued to play hurt in recent weeks, but it was evident that he wasn’t himself in Saturday night’s loss to the Bears and eventually ceded touches to Wilson late in the game. 

It seems almost inevitable that Jacobs will need to get some rest eventually and if we knew the veteran was going to sit out Week 17, Wilson would vault to the top of this list as the most important fantasy pickup. 

As it stands, we’ll likely spend another week with Jacobs not practicing but pushing to play through the pain. There’s no denying Wilson’s potential if Jacobs is ruled out though. 

In the four contests where Wilson has been on the field for at least 40% of the snaps, he’s put up 87 yards, 49 yards and a TD, 125 yards and two TDs and then 82 yards this past week. 

Wilson will be a fantasy RB3 if Jacobs suits up, but a high-end RB2 if he’s sidelined. 

RB3/Flex options

• Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. DAL (29% rostered)

RB3/Flex options (if healthy and starter is out)

• Dylan Sampson vs. PIT (11% rostered)

Flex options

• Tyjae Spears vs. NO (25% rostered)

• Audric Estimé at TEN (19% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out)

• Raheim Sanders vs. PIT (0% rostered)

• Jawhar Jordan at LAC (8% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Emari Demercado at CIN (12% rostered)

• Tyler Allgeier vs. LAR (37% rostered)

• Samaje Perine vs. ARI (4% rostered)

• Devin Singletary at LV (25% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Trayveon Williams vs. PIT (0% rostered)

• Nick Chubb at LAC (37% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Isaiah Davis vs. NE (3% rostered)

• Sean Tucker at MIA (20% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell at GB (3% rostered)

• Tank Bigsby at BUF (18% rostered)

• Malik Davis at WAS (2% rostered)

• Ty Johnson vs. PHI (2% rostered)

• Ameer Abdullah vs. JAX (0% rostered)

• Brian Robinson Jr. vs. CHI (28% rostered)

• Jaylen Wright vs. TB (14% rostered)

• Zavier Scott vs. DET (0% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Parker Washington, Jaguars

The Jaguars offense has become undeniable after five straight quality performances, culminating in a win over a tough Broncos squad in Week 16. 

Trevor Lawrence is playing the best ball of his career under Liam Coen and the team now has a variety of weapons to use week-to-week. That means Washington remains a volatile fantasy option, even after his six-catch, 145-yard, one-touchdown effort on Sunday. 

With Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Etienne Jr. and Brenton Strange all vying for targets, it will be tough for Washington to reach 10 targets again. 

Even so, he’s an intriguing pickup as a WR4/flex option for fantasy managers in need of receiver help going into their title game. 

Troy Franklin is 51% rostered but would be the No. 1 WR add if available. 

Jayden Reed is 50% rostered but would be the No. 3 WR add if available. 

WR3/flex options (if healthy)

• Luther Burden III at SF (16% rostered)

WR4/flex options

• Adonai Mitchell vs. NE (19% rostered)

Flex options

• Jalen Coker vs. SEA (15% rostered)

• Darius Slayton at LV (42% rostered)

• Chimere Dike vs. NO (15% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Kendrick Bourne vs. CHI (4% rostered)

• Mack Hollins at NYJ (3% rostered)

• Tre Tucker vs. NYG (41% rostered)

• Josh Downs vs. JAX (43% rostered)

• Jayden Higgins at LAC (41% rostered)

• Tre’ Harris vs. HOU (2% rostered)

• Elic Ayomanor vs. NO (15% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Cooper Kupp at CAR (41% rostered)

• Marvin Mims Jr. at KC (12% rostered)

• Isaac TeSlaa at MIN (6% rostered)

• Adam Thielen at CLE (3% rostered)

• Jack Bech vs. NYG (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Kyle Williams at NYJ (2% rostered)

• Olamide Zaccheaus at SF (2% rostered)

• Konata Mumfield at ATL (0% rostered)

Tight Ends

Taysom Hill, Saints

The answer to who would replace Devin Neal as the focal point of the Saints’ backfield turned out to be Hill. 

While Audric Estimé led the running backs with a 58% snap share, it was Hill who was the key to the team’s game plan versus the Jets. 

The jack of all trades ran 12 times for 42 yards, caught four passes for 36 yards and also threw a 38-yard touchdown to Chris Olave in the lopsided win. 

After only topping three fantasy points once this season, Hill is on his way to being a top-five fantasy tight end for Week 16. 

Given the state of the tight end position, it will be difficult to rank Hill outside the top-12 for championship week — even though he remains an extremely volatile fantasy play.   

Brenton Strange is 53% rostered but would be the No. 2 TE add if available. 

Dalton Schultz is 53% rostered but would be the No. 3 TE add if available. 

Low-end TE1/high-end TE2

• Colston Loveland at SF (43% rostered)

Streaming options

• AJ Barner at CAR (12% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Oronde Gadsden II vs. HOU (48% rostered)

• Theo Johnson at LV (45% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options

• Colby Parkinson at ATL (31% rostered)

• Chig Okonkwo vs. NO (16% rostered)

• Evan Engram at KC (37% rostered)

• Mike Gesicki vs. ARI (4% rostered)

• Terrance Ferguson at ATL (0% rostered)

• Cade Otton at MIA (29% rostered)

• Luke Musgrave vs. BAL (2% rostered)

• Elijah Higgins at CIN (0% rostered)

Defenses

Lions D/ST is 55% rostered but would be the No. 1 DST add if available. 

Kickers