Week 17 IDP Waiver Wire: Let's Find the One Thing You Need

Injuries, Matchups Drive Upside

This list of IDP waiver wire pickups is sorted by position, and then by priorty.

This week's list focuses primarily on recently emerging options, but it's quite possible you shouldn't go after any of them.

Check the Free Agent Finder for your synced league to see if any waiver targets make sense for you -- or if you should just roll with what you've got.

Zach Sieler, DL, Miami Dolphins

Zach Sieler

DL17 on Sun 1:00 PM vs TB

Bye12

Week 17 PPR Proj5.1

Current Week32.7%

Despite racking up 3.5 sacks over the previous two games, Sieler hit Sunday available in 91% of Sleeper IDP leagues. He added another sack in the loss to Cincinnati. 

Week 17 holds a matchup with the Buccaneers that has supplied the sixth-most fantasy points per game to D-linemen over the past five weeks.

Zach Allen, DL, Denver Broncos

Zach Allen

DL50 on Thu 8:15 PM @ KC

Bye12

Week 17 PPR Proj3.8

Current Week-30.8%

Allen sits available in 84% of Sleeper IDP leagues after his fourth game of single-digit fantasy points among the past five contests. Don’t mistake those low numbers for lack of impact, though. 

Allen has racked up 12 QB hits over just the past three games, including 3 in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars. Don’t be surprised if more of those turn into sacks in Thursday’s matchup with a Chiefs offense that lost its QB for the second straight game Sunday. 

Allen will combine big-play upside with a potentially good tackle environment. Kansas City figures to lean run more than usual with QB Chris Oladokun likely headed for his first NFL start.

Jack Gibbens, LB, New England Patriots

Jack Gibbens

LB5 on Sun 1:00 PM @ NYJ

Bye14

Week 17 PPR Proj7.8

Current Week1.9%

Two weeks ago, Gibbens played every snap while an “active” Robert Spillane watched from the sideline. Sunday found Gibbens playing every snap again, with Spillane officially inactive this time.

Spillane missed all three practices with his sprained ankle in advance of that win over the Ravens. If he couldn’t go for matchups with Buffalo and Baltimore the past two weeks and wasn’t even close to playing in Week 16, it’s tough to see why the Pats would shove him back onto the field for this week’s Jets clash.

We’ll watch for confirmation, of course, but Gibbens should be a good bet for another full snap share in a high-upside matchup. He tallied 9 and 10 tackles the past two weeks, with 3 tackles for loss and a QB hit in three straight outings.

Drue Tranquill, LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Drue Tranquill

LB25 on Thu 8:15 PM vs DEN

Bye10

Week 17 PPR Proj6.6

Current Week-21.0%

Tranquill tallied 10 tackles in Sunday’s loss at Tennessee. That marked his third straight game of 10+ tackles. 

Losing No. 3 LB Leo Chenal for the season certainly won’t hurt the tackle opportunities for Tranquill and Nick Bolton the next two weeks. Neither will a Week 17 matchup with the Broncos, who have allowed the fifth-most LB points per game over the past five weeks.

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jihaad Campbell

LB38 on Sun 4:25 PM @ BUF

Bye9

Week 17 PPR Proj6.0

Current Week-23.0%

Nakobe Dean left Saturday’s win at Washington with a first-quarter hamstring injury. That’ll make it difficult for the veteran to make it back for this Sunday’s visit to Buffalo.

In his absence, Campbell played his largest snap share since Week 7 -- just before Dean’s return to the field.

Campbell was no lock for fantasy production across his seven weeks as a near-full-timer to open the season. But he does present cross-category upside vs. a Bills offense that’s presented top-12 matchup numbers for LB scoring all year.

Campbell’s merely a deeper-league option, but there’s some appeal if that fits your situation.

Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Arizona Cardinals

Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

DB28 on Sat 12:00 AM @ CIN

Bye8

Week 17 PPR Proj5.7

Current Week27.6%

Jalen Thompson missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury Sunday. We’ll see about his Week 17 outlook, but the fact that he didn’t practice at all sure makes a return seem unlikely. Moreover, the 3-12 Cardinals have no reason to press the veteran back into duty over getting a look at this second-year contributor.

Taylor-Demerson returned from his own ankle injury, which still rendered him questionable for Week 16 after three limited practices. “Rabbit” played through the issue, though, started, stayed on the field for 75 of the 77 defensive snaps, and tied LB Akeem Davis Gaither for the team tackle lead (11 total, 5 solo).

Barring a Thompson return for next Sunday, DTD looks like a high-floor, high-ceiling play against a Bengals offense that has supplied the most fantasy points to DBs this season.

Next Up

Best Week 16 Moves From Our Experts: Is Tyler Shough Your Playoff Hero?

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Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.