Fantasy Football: Rankings by position for Week 17, plus top-150 overall and waiver wire targets

There's been so much bad news around the NFL lately – in many ways, all season, really – that I want to start this today's newsletter with some good news: We might see Cam Akers play football this week.

Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday "there is a possibility" Akers makes his return from his ruptured Achilles in Week 17 against the Ravens, and that would be quite a dramatic turnaround. Akers suffered his injury in July, and that's an injury that usually requires 6-9 months of recovery time, so it seemed all but certain that his season was finished before it ever began. Now, there's a chance his season will begin just before it finishes.

I'm not sure it matters too much for Fantasy – Sony Michel has looked every bit the part as an every-down back over the past four weeks, and Akers will probably return to a bit role after Darrell Henderson was added to IR Monday with a knee injury (more bad news…). But just seeing Akers on the field this quickly would be one of the best stories of the season.

We could use more good stories these days, especially on a day when over 100 more players were added to the COVID list across the NFL, bringing the total to over 400 just during the month of December. Fantasy championships are going to be decided by players we never dreamed would be in our lineups, and just making it to this point in the season is an accomplishment in 2021.

But you're not here for moral victories, you're here to take home a trophy this week, so that's what I'm here for. In today's newsletter, we've got Jamey Eisenberg's top waiver-wire targets for Week 17 plus a first look at my rankings for each position, plus the top-150 flex rankings. But first, a quick recap of all the news from Monday you need to know about:

Miles Sanders is out for Week 17 with a broken hand – Jordan Howard also suffered a stinger in Week 16, so his status is up in the air, though Nick Sirianni said the team is "hopeful" about his status. Boston Scott would figure to be the lead back against Washington if Howard is out, and should have a solid role even if Howard plays.
Jimmy Garoppolo has a torn UCL and fractured thumb – Garoppolo will try to play through the injury, but that's asking an awful lot. It seems likely No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance will make his second start of the season Sunday against the Texans. It's fair to be skeptical of what Lance means for the team's passing game options, but Lance himself is a pretty solid Fantasy option thanks to his rushing abilities in a pretty soft landing spot against the Texans. He didn't manage to find the end zone in his previous start, but I would say he's got a decent chance of at least one and if he had one in that previous start, he would've finished with 20-plus points. I think he's got a very good chance of getting there this time around.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire did not suffer structural damage to his collarbone – That's good news for Edwards-Helaire, but I'm betting he'll still be out this week. Darrell Williams should be a top-20 RB this week against the Bengals.
Austin Ekeler was activated from the COVID list – Justin Jackson filled in more than admirably in Ekeler's stead, but Ekeler should be back to the elite tier of RBs this week.
Also activated from the COVID list -- Kareem Hunt, Jared Goff, Allen Robinson, Dan Arnold
Added to the COVID list -- Mike Evans, Julio Jones, David Johnson, Josh Reynolds, Marlon Mack

And, before we move on to the rest of the newsletter this morning, a reminder that you can vote in our survey for the 2021 Fantasy Football Superlatives. We're looking for your nominations for Fantasy MVP, rookie of the year, biggest bust, and more, so make your voice heard here. And, as always, if you've got any questions, send them my way at Chris.Towers@ViacomCBS.com and I'll answer as many as I can this week, either directly to you or in this newsletter.

And now, here's what you need to know as we kick off Week 17, the Fantasy championships, beginning with the rest of today's newsletter:

➕Top Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets
📈Positional rankings

➕Top Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets

Titan Douglas DeFelice / USA TODAY Sports

It's the last game of the year, Brent, you can't hold anything back now. Whatever FAB you've got left, make sure you spend it this week, and if there are players on your bench you don't need and you don't think your opponent will use, don't be afraid to play defense on waivers either. Notice your opponent really needs a specific position? Going out and adding several players to your bench from that position might be a bit of a jerk move, but it's also a smart one.

Also, take a look around the NFL at position groups where COVID outbreaks have happened, particularly in running back rooms. As we've seen over the past few weeks, a positive test at the wrong time can force a starter out and create huge opportunities. I'm specifically thinking of the Colts, where Marlon Mack was added to the COVID list Monday; see if Nyheim Hines is available just in case something happens to Jonathan Taylor, whether you have him on your squad or not. The Texans, Patriots, Saints and Cowboys have all had RBs added to the COVID list in recent days, FYI.

Here are Jamey's top five waiver-wire targets for Week 17, and you can see the rest of his recommendations here:

Jamey Eisenberg's top targets

Boston Scott, RB, PHI – With Sanders out and Howard at least in question, Scott is the highest-upside RB you'll find on the waiver wire. I think if Howard plays, he'll be at least a co-lead to Scott, so that would probably make Scott more like a low-end RB2. But if Howard is out, Scott could be top-15.
Isaiah McKenzie, WR, BUF – If I just need a flex for this week, McKenzie is my choice. We have a small sample size to go on, but McKenzie had six catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns and 11 catches for 125 with one score in the two games where he has played 50% or more of the snaps over the past two seasons. He's a dynamic playmaker and should be in line for another big role with Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley (COVID list) out for Week 17 as well.
K.J. Osborn, WR, MIN – Osborn had two games with at least 14 PPR points in the three games Adam Thielen missed (he played just 8% of the snaps in one, so we'll count that), and with Thielen suffering a setback with his ankle injury Sunday, I expect Osborn to have another shot to get to that level in Week 17 against the Packers.
Josh Palmer, WR, LAC – I prefer Palmer to Osborn, but it's effectively a coin flip in my eyes. Palmer had a touchdown in the game Keenan Allen missed in Week 14 and then had another in Week 16 with Mike Williams out, so if Williams is out again this week, I like Palmer as a borderline WR3.
Gerald Everett, TE, SEA – Everett has 60-plus yards in consecutive games and a touchdown in three of the past five, as Russell Wilson has looked for him more with his deep ball touch not being quite there. If you need a tight end for this week, Everett against the Lions is a pretty good option.

📈Week 17 positional rankings

NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars — Reinhold Matay / USA TODAY Sports

These will be updated throughout the week on CBSSports.com/Fantasy, but here's my first round of rankings for Week 17:

Quarterback

There are a couple of intriguing situations to keep an eye on around the league this week when it comes to quarterbacks who could potentially step up as starters in Week 17. If Tyler Johnson can test out of the COVID protocols and Lamar Jackson's ankle continues to be an issue, Tyler Huntley would likely be a top-12 QB against the Rams, while Trey Lance would also be in that range if Jimmy Garoppolo's thumb injury keeps him out, as seems likely.

I wouldn't necessarily start either Huntley or Lance over any of the established studs at the position, a group that still includes Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford, despite some disappointing showings of late. However, I would start both over the likes of Rusell Wilson, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kirk Cousins this week, among others, so keep that in mind.

Josh Allen vs. ATL
Tom Brady @NYJ
Patrick Mahomes @CIN
Aaron Rodgers vs. MIN
Justin Herbert vs. DEN
Jalen Hurts @WAS
Matthew Stafford @BAL
Dak Prescott vs. ARI
Kyler Murray @DAL
Joe Burrow vs. KC
Trey Lance vs. HOU
Russell Wilson vs. DET
Tua Tagovailoa @TEN
Kirk Cousins @GB
Carson Wentz vs. LV
Ryan Tannehill vs. MIA
Mac Jones vs. JAX
Derek Carr @IND
Taylor Heinicke vs. PHI
Matt Ryan @BUF
Josh Johnson vs. LAR
Ben Roethlisberger vs. CLE
Nick Foles vs. NYG
Zach Wilson vs. TB

Running back

Opportunity isn't everything when it comes to Fantasy value at running back, but it's incredibly important. And that's especially true for the right kind of opportunity, as we saw with Justin Jackson in Week 16. Jackson is a career backup whose role as the Chargers lead back without Austin Ekeler was questioned, but he basically took Ekeler's role in the offense, and while I don't think he's as good as Ekeler as a player, who did a mighty fine impression en route to a massive game both on the ground and as a pass catcher. That's what you're looking for when it comes to replacements as well as waiver-wire claims and buy-low candidates.

A good example of that is David Montgomery, who is suddenly playing a massive role in the passing game and looks like a potential league-winner as a result. After having just 15 targets in his first seven games, Montgomery has at least six in each of the past four (31 overall) and is averaging 19.4 PPR points per game in that span. And, with a matchup on the way against the Giants, he's a top-five RB for Week 17.

Ekeler will be back for Week 17, but there are more than a few players looking like must-start options all of a sudden this week, including Devin Singletary, Ronald Jones, Damien Harris, and Darrel Williams; Boston Scott might be in that group as well, as could Chase Edmonds if James Conner is out.

Jonathan Taylor vs. LV
Austin Ekeler vs. DEN
Alexander Mattison @GB
David Montgomery vs. NYG
Alvin Kamara vs. CAR
Josh Jacobs @IND
Joe Mixon vs. KC
Ronald Jones @NYJ
Sony Michel @BAL
Nick Chubb @PIT
Najee Harris vs. CLE
Ezekiel Elliott vs. ARI
D'Andre Swift @SEA
Aaron Jones vs. MIN
Darrel Williams @CIN
Antonio Gibson vs. PHI
Jeff Wilson vs. HOU
Damien Harris vs. JAX
Devin Singletary vs. ATL
Rashaad Penny vs. DET
Javonte Williams @LAC
Michael Carter vs. TB
Saquon Barkley @CHI
AJ Dillon vs. MIN
Chase Edmonds @DAL
Cordarrelle Patterson @BUF
Melvin Gordon @LAC
D'Onta Foreman vs. MIA
Devonta Freeman vs. LAR
Dare Ogunbowale @NE
Kareem Hunt @PIT
Rex Burkhead @SF
James Conner @DAL
DeeJay Dallas vs. DET
Boston Scott @WAS
Jamaal Williams @SEA
Ameer Abdullah @NO
Duke Johnson @TEN
Phillip Lindsay @TEN
Brandon Bolden vs. JAX
Jordan Howard @WAS
Mark Ingram vs. CAR
Mike Davis @BUF
Chuba Hubbard @NO
Justin Jackson vs. DEN
Latavius Murray vs. LAR
Devontae Booker @CHI
Derrick Gore @CIN

Wide receiver

A.J. Brown's return from IR came at the perfect time if you were still alive, and it also coincides with what might be the best the WR position has looked in a while. The lack of depth at WR has been a recurring issue throughout this season, but I think you can probably get into the 20s this week before running out of options I feel pretty good about this week.

Of course, that includes the likes of Amari Cooper, D.J. Moore, MIchael Pittman, and DK Metcalf, who have been pretty iffy of late, but if I've got nay of those names on my roster this week, I'm probably going to ride with them in the championship game. There's still too much upside – and some pretty good matchups – for me to get away from them.

Add in the likes of Isaiah McKenzie, Tyler Boyd, Braxton Berrios, and Josh Palmer emerging of late, and it's not a bad time at the WR position.

Cooper Kupp @BAL
Davante Adams vs. MIN
Justin Jefferson @GB
Keenan Allen vs. DEN
Stefon Diggs vs. ATL
Antonio Brown @NYJ
Deebo Samuel vs. HOU
Diontae Johnson vs. CLE
Tyreek Hill @CIN
A.J. Brown vs. MIA
Tee Higgins vs. KC
Jaylen Waddle @TEN
CeeDee Lamb vs. ARI
Ja'Marr Chase vs. KC
Marquise Brown vs. LAR
Hunter Renfrow @IND
Russell Gage @BUF
Tyler Lockett vs. DET
Amon-Ra St. Brown @SEA
Amari Cooper vs. ARI
D.J. Moore @NO
Christian Kirk @DAL
Michael Pittman vs. LV
D.K. Metcalf vs. DET
Odell Beckham Jr. @BAL
Isaiah McKenzie vs. ATL
Braxton Berrios vs. TB
Jarvis Landry @PIT
Jakobi Meyers vs. JAX
Tyler Boyd vs. KC
Terry McLaurin vs. PHI
Josh Palmer vs. DEN
Brandon Aiyuk vs. HOU
DeVonta Smith @WAS
DeVante Parker @TEN
Chase Claypool vs. CLE
Michael Gallup vs. ARI
Marvin Jones @NE
A.J. Green @DAL
Van Jefferson @BAL
K.J. Osborn @GB
Allen Lazard vs. MIN
Jerry Jeudy @LAC
Kenny Golladay @CHI
Darnell Mooney vs. NYG
Tim Patrick @LAC
Kadarius Toney @CHI
Laquon Treadwell @NE

Tight end

What can you say about the tight end position by Week 17 of the Fantasy football season? If you're one of the lucky ones with an elite option – one of the first three to six in the rankings, depending on your definition, you've got a big edge on the rest of the competition. There are maybe two to four other guys you can consider must-starts this week, and basically everyone else is negotiable. The number changes from week to week, but that's pretty much been the case, more or less, since Week 1.