For most of us playing fantasy football, this is the ultimate week of competition as we seek to snatch that league championship trophy (presuming all has gone well to this point, that is). Even if you are playing in the consolation brackets, this is no time to lay down and play dead; it is imperative to compete to the best of our abilities until the final points are tallied and the standings are determined. Not quite so many rising IDP options to consider adding this week, and certainly a dearth of underperforming defensive players to contemplate excising from your rosters. Let’s get to it; time is wasting. Here is the NFL IDP Report for Fantasy Football Week 17. 

 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers – Elevator Going Up

Linebackers

Jordan Hicks, Minnesota Vikings

Hicks missed four weeks of game action (five weeks with a bye slipped in the middle of that stretch) but returned to action in the loss to Detroit with a bang, in the form of nine total tackles (TT), six of those being solos. He also contributed a pass deflection/defense, and was relied upon for an every down role on the defense (at the expense of rookie Ivan Pace). Although the Packers are not a great LB matchup, an every down LB has value.

Mack Wilson Sr., New England Patriots

Wilson picked up his third sack in three games despite being limited to less than 50% of the defensive snaps each contest. His use as an edge rusher makes him more valuable in spite of the limited presence on the field with the Patriot defense. 

Krys Barnes, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona defense plugged Barnes in for a season-high 66 snaps in Week 16, and he responded with a season best 9 TT (six solo). Josh Woods hitting the IR with an abdomen issue will keep Barnes as the Cards’ lead LB for the rest of the season, most likely, and thus he has become a useful free agent to plug in as the playoffs wind down.

Defensive Linemen

Malcolm Koonce, DE Las Vegas Raiders

He racked up three sacks in the last outing against the Chiefs, giving him an impressive five over the last two games he has participated in for the Raiders. He has a good matchup in store this week against the Colts, and if he continues to see the same uptick in playing time (PT), he has a great chance to provide his owners with some big play value.

Zach Harrison, DE Atlanta Falcons

The rookie edge rusher also been corralling the QB recently, with three sacks over the past couple of contests to his credit. This week’s opponent, the Bears, are fourth in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing defensive ends through Week 16. 

Jonathon Cooper, DE Denver Broncos

The Broncos are relying on the third-year player to be a significant part of their defensive squad, and he is responding with meaningful tackle numbers (averaging better than 4.5 tackles per contest) this season. He also has a pair of sacks in the last two games, one per game.

Christian Barmore, DT New England Patriots

The defensive tackle has exploded over the past five games, collecting 5.5 sacks over that period. Despite facing a couple of tougher matchups the past two weeks, he has also collected 14 TT (nine solo). This week’s opponent is a tough matchup, but that has not deterred him of late.

Defensive Backs

Eric Rowe, S Pittsburgh Steelers

He was promoted from the practice squad to play a full compliment of snaps with the Pittsburgh safety corps being severely depleted due to injury and suspension. Although he was officially demoted back to practice squad status following Week 16’s seven TT (three solo) effort accompanied by a PD and an INT, due to the scarcity of available safety personnel, look for him to be a participant in the defensive backfield for the Steeler in Week 17 against the host Seahawks. 

Jack Jones, CB Las Vegas Raiders

Two weeks, two INTs returned for TDs. Certainly that sort of production cannot be counted on to continue, but the move to the Raiders from the Patriots has resulted in some increased snaps for the corner. He has a nice matchup this week in Indy as well.

 

Fantasy Football IDP Fallers - Escalator Going Down

Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE New York Giants

It could be a momentary blip on the radar, but the Giant DE has been nearly nonexistent on the stat sheet over the past two weeks with just a single solo tackle to his credit. Since he had been productive overall prior to the recent drought, this is the outlier for the defensive end, but it is coming at a bad time for those who were relying on him for IDP value. The rest of the bad news: this week’s opponent, the Rams, is a poor potential for this rebound to fantasy relevance.

George Karlaftis, DE Kansas City Chiefs

Another IDP cooling off at the exact wrong time for his owners, Karlaftis has collected a measly two TT over the last two weeks (two solo, so there is that small benefit). It is not the time to exercise patience. Find some other DE to plug into your lineup ASAP.

 

Week 17 Matchups to Exploit

Remember, the first team listed is the one to use your IDPs against. Do not go crazy, and play a LB5 against the Jaguars or Broncos, but certainly you will do well if you own a top DB playing on either side of the Giants/Rams contest or a San Francisco defensive linesman going against the Commanders that you can plug in this week, for the most part.

Linebackers

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina

Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers

Baltimore Ravens vs Miami

Cleveland Browns vs New York Jets

Defensive Ends

Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago

New York Jets @ Cleveland

Tennessee Titans @ Houston

Chicago Bears vs Atlanta

Washington Commanders vs San Francisco

Defensive Tackles 

Cleveland Browns vs New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers @ Washington

Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit

Washington Commanders vs San Francisco

Safeties

Philadelphia Eagles vs Arizona

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay

Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore

Cornerbacks

Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants

Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver

Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore

New York Giants vs Los Angeles Rams

 

Week 17 Waiver Wire Targets

This section is intended to serve as a shortened cheat sheet listing those waiver wire targets you should be considering if you need to plug a hole in your starting lineup. All these players are spotlighted above, and you can read my comments about them in the "Elevator Going Up" section of this article. This group consists of those that you may have a chance of locating on your league's waiver wire in that they are owned in significantly less than 50% of leagues. Happy claiming for your weekly matchups.

Linebackers

Jordan Hicks Minnesota Vikings

Mack Wison, Sr. New England Patriots

Krys Barnes Arizona Cardinals

Defensive Linemen

Malcolm Koonce DE Las Vegas Raiders

Zach Harrison DE Atlanta Falcons

Jonathon Cooper DE Denver Broncos

Christian Barmore DT New England Patriots

Defensive Backs

Eric Rowe S Pittsburgh Steelers

Jack Jones CB Las Vegas Raiders

 

NFL IDP Injury Report - Ouch (My Aching Roster)

All the injury reports below need evaluation prior to kickoff.  Teams are notoriously sketchy about injury reports, and we often do not know a player's status until just before game time. Consider the list below as a "heads up" as to what is going on early in the week, and should not be considered definitive.

Linebackers

Victor Dimukeje Arizona Cardinals foot

Zaven Collins Arizona Cardinals foot

Tyus Bowser Baltimore Ravens knee NFI-R

Malik Hamm Baltimore Ravens ankle IR

Terrel Bernard Buffalo Bills ankle

Amare Barno Carolina Panthers knee IR

Luiji Vilain Carolina Panthers knee IR

Claudin Cherelus Carolina Panthers knee IR

Chandler Wooten Carolina Panthers ankle IR

Noah Sewell Chicago Bears knee

Jordan Kunaszyk Cleveland Browns calf

Anthony Walker Cleveland Browns knee

Nik Bonitto Denver Broncos knee

James Houston Detroit Lions ankle IR

De’Vondre Campbell Green Bay Packers neck

Blake Cashman Houston Texans hamstring

Segun Olubi Indianapolis Colts hip

Tanner Muse Los Angeles Chargers knee IR

Joey Bosa Los Angeles Chargers foot IR

 D.J. Wonnum Minnesota Vikings quadriceps

Matt Judon New England Patriots biceps IR

Nicholas Morrow Philadelphia Eagles abdomen

Zach Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles knee

Nakobe Dean Philadelphia Eagles foot IR

Elandon Roberts Pittsburgh Steelers pectoral

Oren Burks San Francisco 49ers knee

Frank Clark Seattle Seahawks illness

Jordyn Brooks Seattle Seahawks ankle

Drake Thomas Seattle Seahawks knee IR

Shaquil Barrett Tampa Bay Buccaneers groin

Jack Gibbens Tennessee Titans back IR

Luke Gifford Tennessee Titans hamstring IR

Chance Campbell Tennessee Titans undisclosed IR

De’Jon Harris Washington Commanders quadriceps IR

Defensive Linemen

DE

Jonathan Ledbetter Arizona Cardinals knee

Carlos Watkins Arizona Cardinals biceps IR

L.J. Collier Arizona Cardinals biceps IR

A.J. Epenesa Buffalo Bills ribs

DaQuan Jones Buffalo Bills pectoral IR

Obo Okoronkwo Cleveland Browns pectoral

Viliami Fehoko Dallas Cowboys knee IR

Will Anderson, Jr. Houston Texans ankle

Jonathan Greenard Houston Texans ankle

Emmanuel Ogbah Miami Dolphins hamstring

Isaiah Foskey New Orleans Saints quadriceps 

Arik Armstead San Francisco 49ers foot

Drake Jackson San Francisco 49ers knee IR

TK McLendon, Jr. Tennessee Titans shoulder

DT

Leki Fotu Arizona Cardinals hand IR

Jordan Phillips Buffalo Bills wrist IR

Johnathan Hankins Dallas Cowboys ankle

Daniel Ekuale New England Patriots biceps IR

A’Shawn Robinson New York Giants back

Dexter Lawrence New York Giants hamstring

Rakeem Nunez-Roches New York Giants knee

Bryan Mone Seattle Seahawks knee-ACL PUP

Jeffery Simmons Tennessee Titans knee IR

Defensive Backs

S

Bobby Price Arizona Cardinals quadriceps IR

Kyle Hamilton Baltimore Ravens knee

Ar’Darius Washington Baltimore Ravens chest IR

Damar Hamlin Buffalo Bills shoulder

Micah Hyde Buffalo Bills neck

Tycen Anderson Cincinnati Bengals knee IR

Juan Thornhill Cleveland Browns calf

Malik Hooker Dallas Cowboys ankle

C.J. Gardner-Johnson Detroit Lions pectoral IR

Darnell Savage Green Bay Packers shoulder

Eric Murray Houston Texans knee IR

Jimmie Ward Houston Texans quadriceps IR

Grayland Arnold Houston Texans calf IR

M.J. Steward Houston Texans shoulder IR

Julian Blackman Indianapolis Colts shoulder IR

Daniel Thomas Jacksonville Jaguars forearm IR

Jevon Holland Miami Dolphins knee-MCL

Jabrill Peppers New England Patriots hamstring

Minkah Fitzpatrick Pittsburgh Steelers knee

Trenton Thompson Pittsburgh Steelers neck

Keanu Neal Pittsburgh Steelers ribs IR

Jamal Adams Seattle Seahawks knee

K’Von Wallace Tennessee Titans quadriceps

Amani Hooker Tennessee Titans knee IR

Darrick Forrest Washington Commanders shoulder IR

Percy Butler Washington Commanders wrist 

CB

Garrett Williams Arizona Cardinals knee

Arthur Maulet Baltimore Ravens knee

Jalyn Armour-Davis Baltimore Ravens concussion

Trayvon Mullen Baltimore Ravens toe NFI-R

Donte Jackson Carolina Panthers ankle

Troy Hill Carolina Panthers concussion

Dicaprio Bootle Carolina Panthers knee IR

Cam Taylor-Britt Cincinnati Bengals ankle IR

Martin Emerson Cleveland Browns ankle 

Robert Rochell Green Bay Packers neck

Christian Braswell Jacksonville Jaguars hamstring IR

L’Jarius Sneed Kansas City Chiefs calf

Deane Leonard Los Angeles Chargers ankle

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson Los Angeles Rams hamstring

Cam Smith Miami Dolphins hamstring

Byron Murphy Minnesota Vikings knee

Mekhi Blackmon Minnesota Vikings shoulder

Christian Gonzalez New England Patriots shoulder -labrum IR

Marcus Jones New England Patriots shoulder IR

Marshon Lattimore New Orleans Saints ankle IR

Lonnie Johnson New Orleans Saints knee

Adoree’ Jackson New York Giants ankle

Deonte Banks New York Giants shoulder

Aaron Robinson New York Giants knee-ACL/MCL PUP

Darius Slay Philadelphia Eagles knee

Avonte Maddox Philadelphia Eagles pectoral IR

Ambry Thomas San Francisco 49ers hip

Carlton Davis Tampa Bay Buccaneers concussion

Sean Murphy-Bunting Tennessee Titans hip

Kristian Fulton Tennessee Titans hamstring IR

Caleb Farley Tennessee Titans back PUP

Benjamin St-Juste Washington Commanders concussion

As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, you can also send a message to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a personal response from the writer of this article. Naturally, the more detail you can send about your league, such as number of teams, platform you play in (Yahoo, ESPN, etc.), scoring and roster system, the better the ability to provide accurate advice.