We've put a bow on Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season and as head coach Bill Belichick would say, "We are on to Week 16."
Ideally — with the help of Action Network's fantasy content — you are in the midst of your fantasy semifinals. And even if you find yourself in the consolation bracket, you may be playing for pride or to avoid a last-place punishment.
Now it's time to gaze into the crystal ball and see which players we should target on the waiver wire now for a big-time payoff later.
Week 17 Early Waiver Wire Targets
QB Brock Purdy, 49ers (35% rostered)
Purdy was stellar once again in the 49ers’ Week 15 win over the Seahawks. He completed 17-of-26 attempts for 217 yards and two touchdowns and was the QB14 for the week.
Since stepping in for Jimmy Garoppolo, who is out with a broken foot, Purdy is the QB10. He has a soft schedule to finish out the season against three below-average defenses against quarterbacks, starting with the Commanders this week, and then the Raiders, who rank 31st in pass DVOA and have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year — just in time for the fantasy finals.
Purdy is a strong choice for Jalen Hurts or Lamar Jackson managers, who may need more than a one-week band-aid.
WR Jahan Dotson, Commanders (22%)
Dotson was my absolute favorite waiver wire add this week despite a significant obstacle against the 49ers defense ahead. He had a breakout performance in Week 15, when he caught 4-of-6 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was his second touchdown in two weeks and he finished as the WR8 in half-PPR scoring.
The first-round rookie has been injured for much of this season, but in the nine games he’s played, Dotson has finished as a top-22 receiver or better five times.
The Commanders have certainly had their offensive struggles, but their receiving corps has been strong with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel by Dotson’s side. Dotson is on the rise and he should offer WR3 value against Cleveland and Dallas in Weeks 17 and 18.
WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints (4%)
Shaheed had a breakout game in Week 15 against the Falcons. He caught 3-of-4 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown and was the WR11 in half-PPR scoring. It was Shaheed's second game in a row with at least double-digit fantasy points, and he may have the opportunity to make it a three-peat this week against the Browns.
Although the weather could limit both teams' passing attacks, Shaheed will have minimal competition from the Saints' wide receiver depth chart. Both Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry have been ruled out, which will open the door for the Shaheed to shine again. He would be worth adding if Olave misses any more time.
RB Zack Moss, Colts (41%)
The Colts leaned on the duo of Moss and Deon Jackson after star running back Jonathan Taylor went down after just two snaps in their epic meltdown against the Vikings.
Moss tallied 24 carries for 81 yards, while Jackson recorded 13 carries for 55 yards and caught a pass for a one-yard touchdown. Moss out-snapped Jackson by a count of 53 to 25 in the effort.
Normally I would recommend Jackson, who had been productive with Taylor sidelined in the past, but that was before Moss joined the team. The snap counts and touches suggest Moss would be the preferred add, though this will likely be some kind of committee.
I love this week's matchup against the Chargers, and his schedule stays soft the rest of the season. In Weeks 17 and 18, the Colts face the Giants and Texans — two bottom-nine teams in terms of rush DVOA. Moss could be a RB2-in-the-rough given this new opportunity.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (48%)
With Desmond Ridder making his first NFL start, the Falcons leaned heavily on their run game in a loss to the Saints.
Allgeier had his best fantasy game this season and led the backfield in carries. The rookie rushed 17 times for 139 yards and a touchdown, and he was the RB7 in half-PPR scoring. Cordarrelle Patterson also had a nice game with 14 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.
I expect the Falcons to continue this trend for the rest of the year with Marcus Mariota on injured reserve and the inexperienced Ridder under center. Allgeier could end up offering RB3 value down the stretch in a 1A/1B situation with Patterson, especially in Week 17 against the Cardinals.
Arizona ranks 29th in rush DVOA and has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs.
RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (38%)
Hubbard had four carries for 10 yards and caught three passes for 57 yards in Carolina’s most recent loss to Pittsburgh. He was the RB36 in half-PPR scoring, while D’Onta Foreman was the RB71. Foreman saw the majority of attempts, but he was quite ineffective, logging ten carries for nine yards.
Hubbard continues to be the primary pass-catching back on a team that finds itself in negative game scripts more often than not. I suspect Foreman may have a rough time this week versus the Lions, who are no longer pushovers against the run, and the Panthers may lean on Hubbard even more based on his skill set.
The Panthers face the Buccaneers in Week 17 — the last time these two teams met, Hubbard popped for 17 touches and 145 scrimmage yards and was the RB13. He will be a locked-in RB3 with RB2 potential in that matchup next week.
