Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

We’re entering the final week of the regular season in the NFL and that means the final week for any fantasy football leagues that haven’t already finished. To help those of you still playing, we’ve compiled a list of guys below available on free agency lists that can help your team this week. Some of these players are guys that have been on this list before but are still available in most leagues and are able to help out your team. Others are newcomers and on this list because they’re in a favorable matchup or because they’re new to their team in general, such as Arizona Cardinals kicker Mike Nugent. To see the rest of the list on this, and how they can help your team, continue reading the Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire - Pick Them Up article.

QUARTERBACKS - PICK THEM UP

Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is a guy that’s been on this list multiple times before but we must include him again for a few reasons. Not only has Smith been playing well this season, but he’s still available in most leagues (55-percent of Yahoo standard leagues). Furthermore, Smith has a very favorable Week 17 matchup as the 49ers will play at the St. Louis Rams, a team that is 24th against the pass and 31st in the league in points allowed. If you’re need of a quarterback for Week 17, there likely aren’t any better options available on your waiver wire and you should feel confident about using Smith as a plug-n-play. We like him as a solid play this week in any league.

RUNNING BACKS - PICK THEM UP

Arian Foster (Houston Texans)

Three weeks ago Houston Texans running Arian Foster found himself on this list because he touched the ball 17 times in a victory over the Seattle Sehawks and it appeared that he was going to at the very least share carries. After a big Week 14, Foster was expected to see significant action but in Week 15 he lost a fumble early and ran the ball just two times for 7 yards. In Week 16, the Texans decided to go back to Foster as their main back and he had a good game as he rushed 19 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Behind him, Ryan Moats carried the ball just eight times for 23 yards. There may be a little more balance next week against a tough New England Patriots run defense, but we still like Foster for at least 15 touches on the ball, making him a decent flex option in regular leagues and a starting option in deeper leagues.

Lex Hilliard (Miami Dolphins)

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams left the game last week with a shoulder injury and did not return. In his place stepped Lex Hilliard, a rookie out of Montana. Hilliard rushed three times for 12 yards and a touchdown, but he also caught nine passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Williams is listed as questionable this week, meaning that even if he’s able to go Hilliard will likely spell him in the game. More than likely Hilliard will receive about 10-15 touches and though he’s not a great option as a running back, he does hold some value in PPR leagues. Still, considering he’ll be going against a stout Pittsburgh Steelers run defense, you should be careful if you decide to pick up Hilliard. If you own Williams make sure to snag Hilliard as insurance entering Week 17.

Sammy Morris (New England Patriots)

The New England Patriots enjoy torturing fantasy football owners as they rotate their running backs seemingly without reason. Laurence Maroney had been the guy for just about the full season but last week in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars it was Sammy Morris who led the team in carries as he rushed 12 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. This shouldn’t be too surprising. Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes to go with guys he trusts at this point in the season and Morris falls in that category, well above Maroney. Expect around 15 touches for Morris next week, making him an decent flex option in regular leagues for those desperate for a running back

Carnell Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Though he is owned in the majority of leagues, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams is still available in some (30-40-percent), and if you need a running back it would behoove you to check on his status. Last week in an upset win over the New Orleans Saints, Williams had 129 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. It was the first game this season he had more than 20 carries and more than 100 yards in a game. Though next week’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons isn’t the greatest one for Williams, the Falcons do give up their share of points and he should get around 20 touches on the ball making him a good option in standard leagues.