Championship week is almost here! We are waiting; Instead, we’re looking at which players can help us. right now. Recent weeks have seen some great repeat performances from several so-called heroes, but are we brave enough to turn to them during Championship week?
Let’s take a look at some unlikely playoff heroes and whether or not they’ll really save the day when it matters most in Week 17.
Cannon Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
No superstar arrived in 2024 more than Keenan Allen. The odds weren’t in favor of a 32-year-old who spent his career in California joining a rookie quarterback in Chicago, a wide receiver in DJ Moore and one of the fastest receivers in the draft in Rom Odense. There was one. The season started off shaky and many expected Allen to be phased out of the offense as the year progressed.
However, the latter half of the season has been extremely kind to Allen. Heading into this week, Allen ranked WR8 and WR13 overall in half the PPR formats, averaging 15.7 fantasy points per game with three finishes inside the top 15 over the last four games. Clearly, it was difficult for fantasy managers to trust him given the overall volatility of Chicago’s offense. Still, these performances came in a tough matchup with Allen acting as a veritable target hog.
Check the pulse.: Has Allen necessarily moved into the starting area?
This week, Allen once again delivered nine receptions with 13 targets for 141 yards and a touchdown. Chicago faces Seattle in Week 17. The matchup through the air isn’t particularly favorable and the Seahawks tend to limit passing volume (though both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison had big days against him in Week 16), which could work against Allen. are Additionally, Seattle’s offense has been inconsistent, suggesting this will likely be a closer game than fantasy managers like. We prefer Caleb Williams to chase the points. Still, Allen has been reliable and should continue his hot streak, potentially delivering championships to fantasy managers. He’s a strong play in Week 17.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Keenan Allen wasn’t the only standout in the Detroit-Chicago game today. Jameson Williams had his best performance of the season, hauling in seven targets for 143 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. It was a somewhat surprising performance given the play Chicago and Jared Goff played on the outside.
Williams is often labeled as a boom or bust player and while there have certainly been some bust games, his back-to-back seasons have generally been steady. That said, we’ve been waiting for one of those signature Jameson Williams boom games, and in Week 16, he finally delivered.
Checking the pulse: Can Williams be trusted in Week 17?
I won’t beat around the bush – Saturday 17 is all about Williams. The matchup is against a San Francisco defense that is playing for pride and dealing with injuries across the board. Despite those injuries, the 49ers have remained solid against the pass — including limiting Waddle-free Tyreek Hill to just 10.4 fantasy points today. They are one of the toughest matchups for opposing wide receivers, allowing the sixth fewest fantasy points at the position.
Williams is certainly the type of player worth taking the risk, but beware – this game profiles exactly as a potential breakout week.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
I wrote about Jerome Ford this week. “Make it or break it” article. While Ford was expected to return the clear lead, there were concerns about how productive the Browns’ offense would be with the change to Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. Even so, I recommend taking a leap of faith, expecting at least the RB2 floor, given the impressive matchup against the Bengals and the lack of recent inclusions of D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong.
The results were exactly what I expected. Doreen Thompson-Robinson struggled, but it didn’t matter because the Ford is a big machine. He rushed for 92 yards on just 11 carries, scored a touchdown and added five receptions for 39 yards. Neither the strongman nor the foreman risked their workload. This backfield clearly belongs to Jerome Ford.
Check the pulse: Are we running it back with Ford in Week 17?
While a Week 17 matchup against Miami isn’t as enticing as Cincinnati, Ford’s upside and explosive playmaking ability 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’ Week 16 performance was a bit of a surprise. We actually discussed spears. Pulse check last weeknoting that he scored a goal-line touchdown earlier in the game before Tony Pollard was injured, which would have indicated the Titans’ desire to potentially split the series and use both rooms on the goal line. is
On Sunday, Spears finished with two rushing touchdowns, both in the red zone — one from 11 yards out and the other at the goal line late in the game when the Titans played catch-up. Pollard still handled most of the early game work and this performance could be another case of the Titans falling behind, with the game script favoring Spears more than Pollard.
Looking at the Week 17 matchup, this game against Jacksonville feels like it could go in countless directions. Neither team is particularly strong. The Jaguars have been more competent with Mack Jones at quarterback the past two weeks, but this still profiles as quite the matchup.
Checking the pulse: Is Spears back to start in Tennessee?
This is the second matchup between the Titans and the Jags this season. When we look back at their Week 14 matchup, with Will Lewis at quarterback, it was a low-scoring game that favored Pollard significantly. It’s hard to gauge how much has changed in three weeks, especially since Pollard hasn’t played poorly. Spears is a risky flex option that fantasy managers need to approach with caution. While his past two strong performances may instill a sense of confidence, there is a real threat of a low-volume, bust game in Week 17 if the game remains competitive.
Chug Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans
It’s fitting that a number of “unlikely heroes” come from the Titans because they have truly been one of the dirtiest teams in the league. It’s been a frustrating and frustrating 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 has been enough to carry him. Okonkwo finished as the TE7 last week and is currently the TE3 this week through afternoon games.
Earlier in the season, Okonkwo’s top-10 performances depended on touchdowns, as volume had been a major issue. Before Week 15, he had never surpassed four receptions in a game. His recent success can be attributed to favorable matchups, but replacing Mason Rudolph at quarterback could also be a factor.
Check the pulse: Is Okonkwo’s speed toward Rudolph enough to start?
The Titans face a stout Jacksonville defense this week. However, in his last game against the Jaguars, Okonkwo had just three receptions for eight yards — but that was with Will Lewis at quarterback. The Jaguars allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and with Rudolph at center, Okonkwo could have the right setup for another strong fantasy performance.
Although his lack of proven long-term success is a threat, the tight ends this season are incredibly rare. Okonkwo is worth the risk as long as Rudolph remains the quarterback.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Let’s wrap things up with our favorite player on this list: Bryce Young.
Heading into the season, I predicted that Young would make a jump in his second year under Dave Canales, but that prediction looked shaky when Young was benched. However, since returning to the starting lineup, he’s looked like a completely different quarterback.
Turnovers continue to be a concern, though it’s not the fault of some of the receiving corps and a tough schedule. Despite these challenges, Young has shown significant improvement in accuracy and overall ability, with the added bonus of growing faster. He’s always been more of a mobile quarterback than a true runner, and the booming volume has been a nice surprise for his fantasy production. Young has scored a rushing touchdown in three of his past four games.
Check the pulse.: Is the young man hot in the 17th week?
Great news! Young’s hot streak included a matchup against Tampa Bay, and wouldn’t you know it, Week 17 provides another great opportunity against the Bucks. Tampa has been one of the most generous defenses to opposing quarterbacks, and Young took advantage of that with a QB8 performance in Week 13, throwing for a season-high 298 yards.
After a big win and three-touchdown performance against Arizona’s stout defense, Young is being touted as a solid streaming option in Week 17. It may feel uncomfortable, but deep leagues dealing with injuries and poor matchups could turn on Young. In the league’s most lucrative matchup for QBs.
