It’s never too early to start looking forward to your next match and a chance to strengthen your fantasy football lineups. Here are some options to consider for Week 17: The championship round of the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers (7% selected)
Remember when Bryce Young was benched earlier this season? He looked like he wasn’t an NFL caliber quarterback, let alone capable of winning a game this season.
Man, does that feel like a thousand years ago?
Young’s play has improved tremendously, and his Week 16 performance in a 36-30 win over the Cardinals was an exclamation point in that regard. Young showed poise and dual-threat ability in a back-and-forth affair, and perhaps we’ll get a similar performance in Week 17. Young and the Panthers will face the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are no strangers to high-scoring matches.
You can bet Young will be motivated to finish his season strong and show the Panthers that they should stick with him under center.
If you’re looking for QB help in the hunt for a trophy or a third-place finish in your league, especially in SuperFlex and two-QB leagues, consider Young vs. TB.
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans (6%)
Football fans and fantasy managers alike have been tantalized by the talent Chig Okonkwo has shown in the past. Unfortunately, Tennessee’s passing game hasn’t been strong enough to be more than an occasional streaming option in fantasy leagues.
But perhaps that has changed in the past two weeks.
Okonkwo delivered his best performance of the season in week 16, posting a score of 11-9-81 with a 2-PT conversion. This comes after Okonkwo collected 8 of 10 targets for 59 yards in Week 15. He appears to be developing a strong bond with Mason Rudolph, appearing as the clear second option in the receiving game after Calvin Ridley.
The Titans get a third straight fantasy-friendly game in Week 17, this time against the Jaguars. Okonkwo seems like a starter option for managers needing TE help.
Devaughn Vele, WR, Denver Broncos (13%)
The Broncos fell to the Chargers in Week 16, meaning they will be motivated for a win in Week 17 to improve their playoff chances and position. That also means Bo Nix and the offense will have to fire on all cylinders. That includes Nix’s top targets, and it appears starting receiver Devaughn Vele is moving up that hierarchy.
Vele has had his moments this season, and in Week 17 he gets to join what has truly been a great fantasy matchup for wide receivers: the Cincinnati Bengals.
Given the way Joe Burrow has been playing, this will likely be another shootout. It may be a shot in the dark, but Vele is on the desperation flex’s radar.
