Footballguys Fantasy Football Show

Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups || Fantasy Football 2025

Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Date: December 23, 2025

Overview

This episode is all about championship week strategy as Dave Kluge and Alfredo Brown tackle the daunting Week 17 waiver wire—the most challenging of the season. Despite slim pickings, they lay out a consensus ranking, tiers for pickups (mainly running backs), quarterback and defense streamers, and advice on managing your remaining FAAB. Expect candid talk, laughs, and real-world examples from their own leagues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Contracts, Motivation, & Team Decisions (01:00–04:45)

• Player Motivation Post-Contract: Dave and Alfredo discuss how some NFL players (specifically Tua) seemingly lose drive after big paydays—citing management/PR missteps and how contract politics impact fantasy football landscapes.
• Dead Cap Trends: Teams like the Falcons, Packers, Broncos, Dolphins, and Cardinals are more willing than ever to absorb record-setting dead cap hits to move on from underperformers.

“Now all of these billionaire owners are just like, screw it. We'll take that $100 million hit just to not have to deal with this guy anymore.” —Dave Kluge (02:40)

• 2026 Rookie Class Hype: Hype cycles repeat each year for upcoming rookie classes; cautioning against overreacting to draft pick values.

2. Fantasy Playoff Heartbreak & Tough Beats (05:39–08:40)

• Groan-worthy Finals Week Waiver Wire: Acknowledge just how desperate this week’s options are. Even top names are probably rostered already.

  • “It’s an ugly, ugly, horrible, nasty, disgusting waiver wire week.” —Alfredo (04:50)

• Anecdotes of Bad Beats: The hosts describe brutal playoff defeats and how variance is magnified in semifinals and finals.

  • “Needed 4.1 points from TreVeyon Henderson… Left early with an injury.” —Dave (06:21)
  • “I lost 170 to 69.” —Alfredo (07:18)

• Lesson Learned?: Both hosts reflect on the unpredictability of 2025 due to injuries and wild swings; Dave’s main regret was holding onto Jonathan Taylor too long.

3. Waiver Wire Tiers & Priority Pickups (10:20–28:43)

Tier 1: The Only Real Prize

• Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots RB)

  • Likely not available; still top add if Henderson is out.
  • “Whatever you got, put it on this guy.” —Dave (05:39)
  • Has every-down ability, good matchup (Jets), and the offense is hot.
  • Fumbles risk (benching) less likely without Henderson.
  • “He can be the guy in the early downs, he can be the guy out there on passing downs. Is he super consistent? No…” —Alfredo (11:49)
  • Start if desperate, otherwise, block opponents.

• FAAB Advice:

  • “100% of your fab… no more game theory.” —Dave (12:32)
  • Bid only enough to outpace other finalists.

Tier 2: Secondary Options

• Taysom Hill (Saints RB/TE)

  • Bonus for TE eligibility; led Saints in carries.
  • Dave is cautious; might've just been a sentimental send-off game in New Orleans.
  • “I’d be shocked if he’s dropping back as a quarterback and rushing the ball 12 times again… Taysom Hill is probably going to fall outside of my top 20 running backs.” —Dave (15:29)

• Emmanuel Wilson (Packers RB)

  • Strong add if Josh Jacobs is out or limited (knee injury).
  • “If Josh Jacobs is out, Emmanuel Wilson easily becomes the top waiver wire add.” —Alfredo (18:24)
  • Coach LaFleur impressed with Wilson; Pack may rest Jacobs for playoffs.
  • If Jacobs is OUT, Wilson > Stevenson.

Tier 3: Ultra-Desperation

• Jawar Jordan (Texans RB)

  • Catch-passing upside, but sharing time with Nick Chubb, especially if Woody Marks returns.
  • “Splitting touches with Nick Chubb in a tough matchup… sure, I guess you can flex him if you’re super desperate.” —Dave (21:47)

• Dylan Sampson & Raheim Sanders (Browns RBs)

  • Both have roles but are game-script dependent.
  • Sampson = pass-catching; Sanders = likely goal-line work.

• Parker Washington (Jaguars WR)

  • High target games in past when others have been out.
  • Pure desperation FLEX/WR3.

“You’d have to be really, really desperate at receiver… There are worse players, but…” —Alfredo (26:28)

Notable Quotes & Fun Banter

• “Stupid, stupid fantasy football players.” —Alfredo, on Taysom Hill as unpredictable waiver gold (16:20)
• “This is the year where it didn’t matter if you went safe, if you went upside. …The first round was just littered with landmines.” —Alfredo (08:40)
• “If a guy at the midway point of the season is pacing for one of the best seasons in NFL history, he’s probably going to regress.” —Dave on his Jonathan Taylor regret (09:15)
• “Any defense that's going up against a third string or fourth string quarterback, you can feel okay putting them in your lineup.” —Dave (34:36)

Position Streamers (Quarterback & Defense)

Quarterback Streamers (29:02–31:15)

• Tyler Shough (Ravens)
  • QB6 over last 5 weeks, decent rushing floor, good schedule.
• Marcus Mariota (Cowboys)
  • Offers rushing upside. Worth streaming if healthy.
• Jacoby Brissett (Commanders)
  • Nice matchup vs Bengals. Preferable if safe floor is needed.

“For me, if I had to order them, it would be Brissett, Mariota, Shough.” —Alfredo (31:03)

Defense/Special Teams Streamers (31:15–35:46)

• Saints vs Titans (vs Cam Ward)
• Jaguars vs Colts (vs aging Philip Rivers)
  • “He really looks 44. Everything looks like a big struggle for him and then he just leads touchdown drives.” —Alfredo (32:05)
• Bucs vs Dolphins (vs Quinn Ewers)
• Giants vs Raiders
• Patriots vs Jets — “I think it’s the Patriots going up against the Jets.” —Dave (35:12)

Note: Any defense facing a 3rd/4th string QB is playable due to the mess at QB league-wide in Week 17.

Wrap-up: Community, Thanks, & Final Words

• Dave and Alfredo express gratitude for their audience’s participation all season.
• For Week 17 lineup advice, refer to Footballguys' live start/sit shows on Saturday and Sunday, plus weekly updated rankings.
• “We do not have this show without all of you… It is such an incredible honor to be part of your daily routines, your weekly routines…” —Alfredo (37:11)

Key Timestamps

• 01:00 — NFL contract motivation & dead cap philosophy
• 04:50 — Official start of waiver wire discussion
• 10:20 — Waiver wire priorities begin
• 15:05 — Taysom Hill and Emmanuel Wilson deep-dive
• 21:04 — Jawar Jordan desperation FLEX status
• 29:02 — Quarterback streaming options
• 31:15 — Defense streaming discussion and recommendations
• 37:11 — Season wrap-up and gratitude

Concise Waiver Priority List

1. Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, Patriots—if available)
2. Emmanuel Wilson (RB, Packers—if Jacobs out)
3. Taysom Hill (TE/RB, Saints)
4. Jawar Jordan (RB, Texans—only if desperate)
5. Dylan Sampson/Raheim Sanders (RBs, Browns—deep leagues)
6. Parker Washington (WR, Jaguars—PPR hail mary)

Streamer Rankings

QB:

1. Jacoby Brissett
2. Marcus Mariota (if healthy)
3. Tyler Shough

DST:

1. Patriots
2. Giants
3. Jaguars
4. Saints
5. Bucs

Summary:
The episode is a punchy, no-nonsense guide to surviving a brutal Week 17 waiver wire. With few obvious saviors available, it’s all about precise allocation of remaining FAAB, making block moves, and not overthinking desperation plays. Solid advice peppered with self-deprecating humor and actionable streamer picks makes this a must-hear for championship week fantasy managers.