Hitting The Waiver Wire For Week 17; Matchups To Watch For: Playoffs Pt. 3

Welcome in week 17 of the football season and week 17 of your fantasy season. Alas, for some of you this is the week to show your fantasy football dominance in your league in the Championship Game. But for others this is simply a week to watch football, back to normal, as if fantasy football didn’t exist.

Like I have all season, I will go over the top five waiver wire acquisitions as well, the top three matchups I like that could potentially help you get a win over your opponent.

The first player I see jumping off the boards this week is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton, who is owned in just over one percent of leagues. With Romo down for the count, Orton will get the start. I like Orton only because of the players he has around him, because the matchup is not that great against the Philadelphia Eagles. I would start Orton only if you had Romo, and don’t have another option.

The second player I like this week is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore, who is owned in just over 64 percent of leagues. I like Moore for the fact he has big play ability and they matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. I would start Moore if you are looking for a second receiver or a flex start.

The third player I see coming off the boards this week is New York Giants tight end Brandon Myers, who is owned in just over 68 percent of leagues. I like Myers as a starting fantasy tight end this week with the matchup against the Washington Redskins.

The fourth player I like this week is actually a defense, the New York Giants defense, which is owned in just over three percent of leagues. I like the Giants matchup against the Washington Redskins this weekend. With both teams out of playoff contention this game is going to be a true slugfest between NFC East teams looking to save some grace in week 17. I like the Giants as a starting defense if your matchup you have currently is poor.

The fifth player I would take a shot on this week is Philadelphia Eagles kicker Alex Henery, who is owned in just over 10 percent of leagues. It’s been proven that a kicker can change a matchup and get the win, thank you Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago with his six field goals. So this week I like Henery and the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys. While I don’t think Henery will get six field goals, anything is possible, and this is a playoff bound matchup so both teams will be putting everything on the table. I like Henery as a starting kicker if you have a poor matchup with your kicker.

Now that I have gone over the top five waiver wire pickups I will go over the top three matchups I think you could benefit from starting players in to get a jump on your opponent this week.

The first matchup I like this week is the San Francisco 49ers at the Arizona Cardinals. The hopes for both teams playoff placement are still alive. The 49ers are already in, but are still in the running for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home field advantage. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals are fighting to maintain a Wild Card spot. I like the 49ers to win this game, and with a little help from the St. Louis Rams beating the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers should enjoy a first round bye going into the playoffs. I see the 49ers taking this one 31-17. On the 49ers side of the ball I like Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree. On the Cardinals side of the ball I like Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald.

The second matchup I like this week is the New England Patriots at the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are still in the hunt for a first round bye on the AFC side of the playoffs; while the Bills are just looking to earn an upset win to end the season on a high note. I like the Patriots to roll by the Bills in this game and earn that first round bye. I see the Patriots running away with this one, 41-24. On the Patriots side of the ball I like Tom Brady, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. On the Bills side of the ball I like Fred Jackson.

The third matchup I like this week is the Philadelphia Eagles at the Dallas Cowboys. This is probably the best matchup of the year. Two playoff hopeful teams playing each other in the final week of the season looking to clinch the NFC East playoff spot. While neither team has a shot for a first round bye week, each team still wants to make the playoffs. I like the Eagles in this matchup, but the Cowboys have an outside shot to take this one. However, I see the Eagles winning this one 28-27. On the Eagles side of the ball I like Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, Zach Ertz and DeSean Jackson. On the Cowboys side of the ball I like Kyle Orton, DeMarco Murray, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant.

That’s all for this season. I will be back after the Super Bowl to recap my three best and worst pickups I had over the season, which three players were over rated and under rated as well as a recap of what my teams did this season. Good luck in your championship game if you are in it, and if not enjoy the playoffs!