Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, Week 17: Let's hope you don't need any of these bad ideas

Honestly, the waiver wire is like an empty fridge this week — just a few ketchup packets, an expired butter, two PBRs and a half-eaten jar of pickles that no one can remember buying. Those pickles might predate your move-in. You definitely cannot make a meal from this mess. 

Thankfully, it's Championship Week, so we can dispense with the usual fantasy grift. Let's stop pretending you actually need a lengthy shopping list of pickups. At most, you might only be looking for one or two potential adds — perhaps for your own use, or maybe to play keepaway from an opponent. 

This week, we offer only on a small number of names. Ideally, you won’t need any of them. Hopefully your squad is healthy and talent-rich, the sort of roster that basically sets itself. But if you happen to have needs, the players below are widely available and approved for use. 

Chris Rodriguez, RB, Washington Commanders

52% rostered at Sleeper

Rodriguez reestablished his supremacy in Washington’s backfield in Saturday’s loss, out-touching Bill/JCM, 16 to 8. This is a 225-pound bulldozing runner averaging 3.47 yards after contact per attempt on the year. Rodriguez scored one of the week’s trashiest garbage-time touchdowns, but those points count just the same:

We should expect him to see another beefy workload in a friendly Christmas matchup against Dallas, in a meaningless clash of eliminated teams. Washington might be down to Josh Johnson at quarterback, the most well-journeyed of journeymen, so points and yards may not be plentiful. Still, there’s comfort to be found in Rodriguez’s likely usage. 

FAAB: You can’t take it into next season, buddy. Let’s empty the wallet this week for whatever we need. 

Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals

49% rostered

Honestly, you’d be crazy to do it. Surely you have better options currently on your roster. But, hey, if you don’t, um … here’s a guy. 

Carter functioned as the lead runner for Arizona in Sunday’s loss, playing 30 snaps, running 17 routes and converting 11 carries into 65 yards. He’s fine. Emari Demercado was plenty involved against Atlanta and we can expect to continue seeing him in passing situations. 

Carter’s most appealing attribute at the moment (and it’s no small thing) is that he’s about to face Cincinnati’s defense. He’s a fair desperation play, certainly capable of finding the end-zone. 

Taysom Hill, TE (LOL), New Orleans Saints

3% rostered

Naturally, the correct answer to “Audric Estime or Evan Hull?” turned out to be Taysom. Of course it was.