It’s almost time for championship week! We are done looking ahead; instead we look at which players can help us now. The past few weeks have brought some big repeat performances from several unsung heroes, but are we bold enough to turn to them during championship week?
Let’s take a look at some unlikely playoff heroes and whether they will actually save the day when it matters most in Week 17.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
No superstar entered 2024 more maligned than Keenan Allen. The odds were not in favor of a 32-year-old who spent his career in California heading to Chicago to join a rookie quarterback, an established wide receiver in DJ Moore and one of the flashiest receivers in the draft in Rome Odunze. The season started off shaky and many expected Allen to be phased out of the offense as the year progressed.
However, the second half of the season was extremely kind to Allen. Entering this week, Allen was ranked as an overall WR8 and WR13 in half-PPR formats, averaging 15.7 fantasy points per game with three finishes in the top 15 over the past four games. Understandably, it was difficult for fantasy managers to trust him given the overall volatility of Chicago’s offense. Yet these performances came in tough matches, with Allen serving as a real target.
Pulse check: Has Allen moved into must-start territory?
This week, Allen again delivered nine receptions on 13 targets for 141 yards and a touchdown. Chicago faces Seattle in Week 17. The matchup isn’t particularly favorable in the air and the Seahawks tend to limit passing volume (although both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison had big days against them in Week 16), which could work against Allen. Additionally, Seattle’s offense has been inconsistent, suggesting this will likely be a more exciting game than fantasy managers would like. We prefer Caleb Williams chasing points. Still, Allen has been reliable and should continue his good streak, potentially giving fantasy managers a championship. He’s playing strong in week 17.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Keenan Allen was not the only standout in the Detroit-Chicago game today. Jameson Williams had his best performance of the season, racking up five receptions on seven targets for 143 yards and a touchdown. It was a bit of a surprising performance considering the game was played in Chicago and Jared Goff’s struggles in the outdoors.
Williams is often labeled as a boom-or-bust player and while there have certainly been some bust games, the second half of his season has been generally steady. That said, we’ve been waiting for one of those signature Jameson Williams boom games, and in Week 16 it finally materialized.
Pulse control: Can Williams be trusted in week 17?
I won’t beat around the bush: Week 17 is worrying for Williams. The game is against a San Francisco defense that plays for pride and is dealing with injuries across the board. Despite these injuries, the 49ers have stood strong against the pass – including limiting a Waddle-free Tyreek Hill to just 10.4 fantasy points today. They remain one of the toughest matchups for opposing wide receivers, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points going to the position.
Williams is definitely the type of player worth taking a risk on, but beware: this game is definitely shaping up as a potential bust week.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
I wrote about Jerome Ford in this week’s “Make or Break” article. While Ford was expected to take over the clear lead, there were concerns about how productive the Browns offense would be with the change at quarterback to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Nevertheless, I recommended taking a leap of faith, expecting at least a low-end RB2 floor given the excellent showing against the Bengals and the lack of recent involvement from D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong.
The results were exactly what I expected. Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled, but it didn’t matter because Ford is a big machine. He racked up 92 yards on just 11 carries, scored a touchdown and added five receptions for 39 yards. Neither Strong nor Foreman posed any threat to his workload. This backfield clearly belongs to Jerome Ford.
Pulse check: Do we run it again with Ford in week 17?
While the Week 17 matchup against Miami isn’t as enticing as Cincinnati’s, Ford’s positive play and explosive playmaking skills make him a solid option once again. He will be ranked as a top-24 back and we should start him with confidence.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Spears’ appearance in Week 16 was a bit of a surprise. We discussed Spears in last week’s Pulse, noting that he scored a touchdown on the goal line early in the game before Tony Pollard was injured, indicating the Titans are willing to potentially split the series and add both backs to the goal line to use.
On Sunday, Spears finished with two rushing touchdowns, both in the red zone — one from 11 yards out and another at the goal line late in the game as the Titans played catch-up. Pollard still did most of the work in the early game and this performance could be another case of the Titans falling behind, with the game script favoring Spears over Pollard.
Looking ahead to the Week 17 matchup, this matchup against Jacksonville feels like it could go in any number of directions. Neither team is particularly strong. The Jaguars have performed more competently with Mac Jones at quarterback over the past two weeks, but this still profiles as a fairly even matchup.
Pulse check: Is Spears the back-to-start in Tennessee?
This is the second match between the Titans and Jags this season. Looking back at their Week 14 game, with Will Levis at quarterback, it was a low-scoring game in which Pollard had a significant advantage. It’s hard to predict how much has changed in three weeks, especially since Pollard hasn’t played poorly. Spears is a risky flex option that fantasy managers should approach with caution. While his past two strong performances may inspire a sense of confidence, there is a real risk of a low-volume bust in Week 17 if the game remains competitive.
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans
It’s fitting that several “unlikely heroes” have come from the Titans, as they have truly been one of the messiest teams in the league. It’s been a disappointing and underwhelming year for Okonkwo, but he’s been on fire over the past two games with 17 receptions on 21 targets. While the lack of touchdowns limits his overall upside, the volume was enough to carry him. Okonkwo finished as TE7 last week and is currently the TE3 this week during the afternoon games.
Earlier this season, Okonkwo’s top-10 performances depended on the touchdown, as volume was a major issue. Before Week 15, he had never exceeded four receptions in a game. His recent success can be attributed to favorable matchups, but the switch to Mason Rudolph at quarterback could also be a factor.
Pulse check: Is Rudolph’s speed enough to make Okonkwo a must-start?
The Titans face a generous defense from Jacksonville this week. However, in their last game against the Jaguars, Okonkwo only had three receptions for eight yards, but that was with Will Levis at quarterback. The Jaguars are allowing the eighth-highest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and with Rudolph under center, Okonkwo may have the right setup for another strong fantasy performance.
While there are risks due to his lack of proven long-term success, the tight end floors are incredibly low this season. Okonkwo is worth the risk as long as Rudolph remains the quarterback.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Let’s close with my favorite player on this list: Bryce Young.
Heading into the season, I predicted that Young would make a leap in his second year under Dave Canales, but that prediction looked shaky early on when Young was benched. However, since returning to the starting lineup, he has looked like a completely different quarterback.
Turnovers remain a concern, although some may not have been his fault due to an underwhelming receiving corps and a tough schedule. Despite these challenges, Young has shown significant improvement in accuracy and overall competence, with the added bonus of rushing up the field. He has always been a mobile quarterback rather than a true runner and the increased rushing volume has been a great surprise for his fantasy production. Young has scored a rushing touchdown in three of his past four games.
Pulse check: Will Young stay warm in week 17?
Great news! Young’s streak of success included a game against Tampa Bay, and wouldn’t you know it, Week 17 offers another great opportunity against the Bucs. Tampa had one of the most generous defenses against opposing quarterbacks, and Young took advantage of that in Week 13 with a QB8 performance, throwing for a season-high 298 yards.
After a big win and a three-touchdown performance against a tough Arizona defense, Young is primed to be a solid streaming option in Week 17. It may feel awkward, but deep leagues dealing with injuries and bad matchups can turning to Young for a positive side. in the most advantageous matchup for QBs in the league.
