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The Week 17 slate is loaded at the wide receiver with options to pay up for and ways to pay down. This piece will cover options to pay up for and the reasons why you should do so. Let’s get into it!
Dallas Goedert ($4,900), Eagles at Giants
The Eagles have ruled Zach Ertz out for the team’s regular season finale. Ertz and Goedert were effectively the Eagles’ Nos. 1 and 2 WRs at this point, with all of their actual receivers either injured, disappointing, or both. Over the last three weeks, they rank one and two in targets, receiving yards, and receiving TDs, and one and three in air yards (Ertz is one in each metric). Goedert has remained incredibly effective even though he is behind Ertz on the depth chart. He will have a massive role in Week 17, and the Eagles are one of the few teams that still has something on the line this week – they make the playoffs with a win and are probably eliminated with a loss (assuming Dallas beats Washington).
Jonnu Smith ($4,200), Titans at Texans
Another one of the handful of teams with something on the line in Week 17, the Titans make the playoffs with a win (they’ can technically make the playoffs with a loss, but they’d need a whole convoluted mess of things to break in exactly the right way). Smith was a top TE prospect when he entered the league in 2017, and while he’d flashed some glimpses of his potential, he’s only recently started to show his immense talent on a consistent basis. Though his four targets in Week 16 don’t jump off the page, it was tied for second-most on the team. He’s third on the team in targets and second in receptions over the last three games. Finally, the matchup is great – according to the Harris Football Index, the Texans have been the most favorable opponent for TEs over the last five games.
Darren Waller ($5,400), Raiders at Broncos
The argument for Waller is pretty similar to the argument for Ertz and Goedert. Waller is effectively the Raiders’ No. 1 WR, and the Raiders need to win Sunday to keep their longshot playoff hopes alive (they’re eliminated with a loss; the need a win and a three-team parlay to advance). The matchup isn’t quite as favorable as the one facing the Eagles, but the Broncos have been pretty close to average against TEs this season. Waller’s salary hasn’t been this cheap since Week 7, and he caught seven of eight passes for 70 yards and 14.0 DKFP last time these teams faced off. There’s a ton of upside, and one of the highest floors available at the position.
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