The post Fantasy Football Week 17: Diamonds In The Rough appeared first on .
Remember: This column is not designed to spotlight the top options at each position. If you are looking for advice on start/sit options or top players at a specific position, check out our rankings and other columns throughout the week. This is going to be a weekly spotlight of five players this weekend that have a shot to be a nice flex or last starting option (a WR3 or RB3 for example). Will they all produce a large number of points? No, but these are nice lottery tickets to fill in on your team and give you a chance to steal the win.
Here are my top five options (in no particular order):
Teddy Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings): Down the stretch of the season, Teddy has been putting up quite nice numbers for a rookie, getting about 15 or more points per game. He’s a rookie so there will be some mistakes that lead to interceptions, but there will be a lot of good as well. Teddy has been putting up over 200 yards the last three weeks and two touchdowns mostly every game. This week he gets the horrid Chicago Bears defense at home to finish out the season. I believe that Teddy can slice and dice the Bears’ secondary to send the Vikings out on a winning note by putting up 300 yards and three touchdowns.
Chris Ivory (New York Jets): The Jets have been in a run-heavy approach since Geno Smith has taken over the reins to the offense again. That means that Ivory has been toting the ball a good amount week after week. Then, there is the fact that no team has allowed more rushing yards the past five weeks than Miami. The Jets will use Ivory early and often to move the ball on the Dolphins and Ivory will get 80 yards and a score.
Eddie Royal (San Diego Chargers): I do not believe that Keenan Allen is going to play this week and this will throw Royal into the role of main target in the passing game. He had 10 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown last week filling in for Allen and there is going to be a lot more of that this week. He is must play in PPR leagues since his targets will be enormous. In a must win game for the Chargers, Royal will get 80 yards on eight receptions and a score.
Marquess Wilson (Chicago Bears): Wilson has been thrown into the starting wide receiver role since Brandon Marshall went on injured reserve. He has produced two solid outings in a row and now heads into week 17 with a good matchup against the Vikings. Alshon Jeffery is the clear number one in Chicago and this allows Wilson to be in one-on-one coverage on Sunday. I like Wilson as a nice flex play getting five catches for 60 yards.
Scott Chandler (Buffalo Bills): Going back to Chandler for week 17 as he gets another good matchup (against the Patriots this time). He put up over 100 yards last time against the Patriots and New England’s defense gives up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends (according to ESPN.com). Chandler will not overwhelm you with big numbers, but there is a good chance he will put up a late game score. Chandler catches four for 45 yards and a score.
As you head out into this week in the NFL, take these suggestions with a grain of salt. This is all about filling that last flex spot in your starting lineup with a guy that has a good matchup or a solid chance of production. These guys are my best options for that to occur. I wish everyone luck in their championship week.
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