Waiver wire: Potential replacements for James Conner, Jalen Hurts

The NFL is simply a "next man up" league. By extension, your fantasy shot league is arsenic well. You acquired your squad during the draft, but it's the moves you make arsenic the play -- and now arsenic the post-season unfolds -- that yet determine whether you're winning that crown aliases simply fresh to commencement readying for adjacent season. As always, each week we thief you place the players disposable successful much than 50% of ESPN leagues whose worth has taken a move for the amended and should beryllium added to your roster arsenic starters aliases arsenic smart stashes for your bench.

For astir imagination leagues, the playoffs started backmost successful Week 15. In immoderate case, whether you're still successful the hunt for a title aliases conscionable trying to debar that viral last-place punishment, I've sewage you covered.

Sunday gave america immoderate monster performances that had imagination managers either celebrating aliases pulling their hairsbreadth out. Jonathan Taylor, Justin Jefferson, Jayden Daniels, Chuba Hubbard, James Cook, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Saquon Barkley each delivered large games. On the flip side, Josh Allen, Cooper Kupp, Joe Mixon, and Trey McBride didn't precisely unrecorded up to expectations.

We besides saw immoderate injuries that could effect your playoff push. Drake London went down pinch a hamstring wounded successful the 4th quarter, Kenneth Walker III is nursing an ankle issue, and Jalen Hurts was ruled retired successful the first 4th against the Commanders owed to a concussion.

However, what could person the biggest imagination effect is the ankle wounded suffered by James Conner successful the 3rd 4th against the Panthers. With 47% of imagination teams who made the playoffs successful ESPN leagues having him connected their roster, this 1 hurts. Trey Benson, the team's superior backup (18.1% rostered successful ESPN leagues), was inactive owed to his ain ankle injury, truthful Michael Carter (just 0.1% rostered) stepped successful aft Conner went down.

If Conner can't return successful clip for Saturday's crippled against the Rams, Benson should beryllium capable to return complete arsenic the lead back. And if some backs sit, Carter would beryllium the guy. Conner has averaged 18.5 touches per crippled this season, truthful this business is captious for imagination managers heading into the weekend.

Next RBs up

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (47.6%): The Saints discourtesy has been deed difficult by injuries this season, and now Alvin Kamara is the latest casualty. He's dealing pinch a groin wounded and could beryllium unopen down for the remainder of the year. Kamara was averaging 21.1 touches per game. Miller has a akin accomplishment set, truthful expect him to astatine slightest return connected the aforesaid role. The Saints will look the Packers connected Monday, truthful you tin get a sneak peek astatine what the last 2 games mightiness look for illustration from Miller.

Alexander Mattison (47.4%) and Ameer Abdullah (23.7%), Las Vegas Raiders: Sincere McCormick was placed connected IR past week, leaving the Raiders to decorativeness the play pinch the combo of Mattison and Abdullah. This brace is the meaning of a committee past week, pinch Mattison getting 16 touches against the Jaguars while Abdullah saw 12. Both are coagulated flex options successful deeper leagues successful Week 17, particularly pinch the Saints defense coming up. New Orleans is among the top-10 astir generous successful position of RB imagination points allowed entering "Monday Night Football."

Gus Edwards (52.5%), Los Angeles Chargers: Sure, he's not rather nether 50%, but if he is disposable successful your league, he should beryllium a apical priority. He's portion of a committee pinch Kimani Vidal, but still managed 15 touches and 20.1 imagination points past week against the Broncos, acknowledgment to 2 touchdowns. Looking ahead, the Chargers look the Patriots and Raiders to adjacent retired the regular season, some of which beryllium among the apical half of the convention for astir RB imagination points allowed.

Next QBs up

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (44.0%): Williams conscionable made history arsenic the first Bears rookie backmost to propulsion for complete 3,000 yards successful his debut season. He's besides had 4 games pinch 300 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, including a coagulated Week 16 capacity against the Lions, wherever Williams scored 22.7 imagination points. In Week 17, he'll beryllium up against a Seahawks defense that's allowed 18.0 QB imagination points per crippled complete the past month. This could beryllium different large week for Williams.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (20.5%): Maye has been beautiful consistent, scoring 17-plus imagination points successful 4 of his past 5 games. The dual-threat backmost is successful a awesome spot for Week 17 going up against a Chargers defense that's had caller difficulties successful containing quarterbacks. Los Angeles has fixed up 19.5 imagination points per crippled to the position complete the past six weeks, including immense performances from Baker Mayfield (Week 15) and Bo Nix (Week 16).

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Is Bryce Young showing his imagination potential?

Matt Bowen breaks down Bryce Young's large imagination crippled against the Cardinals.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (4.9%): Young put up a season-high 27.1 imagination points against the Cardinals connected Sunday. It was his 3rd crippled this twelvemonth pinch some a passing and rushing touchdown, each of them coming successful December. In Week 17, he faces a Buccaneers defense that has allowed the second-most QB imagination points per game. In the erstwhile gathering betwixt these teams backmost successful Week 13, Young vanished pinch 23.6 imagination points.

Anthony Richardson (53.0%), Indianapolis Colts: Just successful lawsuit yours is 1 of the leagues successful which Richardson is available, consciousness free to elevate him to being your apical target astatine quarterback. The dual-threat QB will beryllium facing a Giants defense that has allowed the eighth-most QB imagination points per crippled this season.

Next WRs up

Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33.1%): McMillan and Mike Evans person tally a akin number of routes complete the past 3 games arsenic McMillan has stepped up arsenic the Buccaneers' No. 2 WR. McMillan has seen six-plus targets and astatine slightest 16 imagination points successful some of those games. With matchups against the Panthers and Saints to adjacent retired the season, he's the must-add from the waiver ligament if you're successful request of a receiver.

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (22.3%): Bateman is having the champion play of his career, pinch 39 catches connected 63 targets, 668 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Last week against the Steelers, the Ravens relied heavy connected the run, limiting Bateman to conscionable 3 targets and 8.4 imagination points. However, things should alteration successful Week 17 erstwhile Baltimore faces the Texans. Houston's defense allows the ninth-most WR imagination points per game, truthful expect the Ravens to thin much connected the pass.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (42.3%): Doubs put up 19 imagination points successful Week 15 against the Seahawks, acknowledgment to 2 receiving scores. He's besides starring each Packers pass-catchers pinch 27.0 routes per game, averaging 10.3 imagination points and 5.3 targets connected the season. Looking ahead, the Packers person 2 very favorable matchups near aft tonight's gathering pinch the Saints -- the Vikings successful Week 17 and the Bears successful Week 18.

Next TEs up

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (44.2%): Schultz has had a quiet imagination season, but he's posted 15-plus points successful 2 of the past 3 weeks. The Texans are dealing pinch a bladed TE group arsenic they person 3 backups connected IR. Additionally, injuries to Tank Dell and John Metchie III person besides constricted C.J. Stroud's passing options. Given each that, Schultz is successful a premier spot to measurement up, particularly against a Ravens defense that's allowed the sixth-most TE receiving yards per crippled this season.

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (6.4%): Okonkwo had a breakout crippled against the Colts connected Sunday, finishing pinch a season-high 11 targets and 19.1 imagination points. That's now 2 consecutive games pinch astatine slightest 14 imagination points. The alteration from Will Levis to Mason Rudolph astatine backmost has decidedly helped the Titans' passing game. Looking up to Week 17, Okonkwo has a coagulated matchup against the Jaguars defense, making him a coagulated action if you're successful need.