Fantasy Football Sleepers: 5 WR’s to Start in Week 17

If you’re still playing fantasy football this week, there are even more factors to consider than usual as you construct your roster with players taking additional time to rest and some teams with nothing left to play for as the season comes to a close. The additional considerations just make it a little more tricky to get your lineup together. Whether you’re in a season-long league finishing up or

Julian Edelman-New England Patriots

Edelman has picked up the slack as Patriots receivers have fallen due to injury the last few weeks. He’s a PPR beast catching at least six passes in his last six games and adding four TD’s during that time. He and the Patriots look to close the season with a win and get the #2 seed in the AFC as they host the Bills at Foxboro in a late afternoon game this week. Edelman lit up Buffalo in the opener for a pair of touchdowns and 79 yards on seven catches, so expect plenty of catches for “minitron” while he piles up yards and touchdowns serving as Tom Brady’s security blanket against a solid Bills pass rush.

James Jones-Green Bay Packers

Jones has been the Packers leading receiver over the past few weeks as the offense has struggled along without Aaron Rodgers. This week Rodgers returns just in time to get the Packers in the playoffs which could lead to a big week for Jones. It’s a great matchup for the Green Bay aerial attack against the Bears who have allowed nine TD’s to opposing WR in their last seven games and were picked apart last week by the Eagles. Rodgers does tend to spread the ball around and he’ll also have Randall Cobb to utilize as a weapon, but I think Jones will get enough passes thrown his way to make him a very nice WR2 option this week.

Cordarrelle Patterson-Minnesota Vikings

Patterson is a playmaker in the purest sense of the word. He has a touchdown in each of the Vikings last four games-two rushing and two receiving. He’ll be going against the Lions this Sunday in the season finale who have nothing to play for and have struggled giving up big plays this season. Patterson is a risk since he isn’t guaranteed to break one for a big gain, but without Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart the Vikings would be wise to get the ball in his hands making him an intriguing sleeper option.

Hakeem Nicks-New York Giants

Nicks came close to a few big gains last week but couldn’t quite connect with Eli Manning against the Lions. He still hasn’t scored a touchdowns this season, but has a good chance to find the end zone against the struggling Redskins this week in the Giants finale. He’ll have less competition for targets this week with Victor Cruz still out and Reuben Randle very questionable and likely to sit it out. He could be Eli’s only established option against a struggling secondary which should lead to a big game for him as he heads into free agency. He’s high-risk, but his price has plummeted to where he actually represents value in many formats.

Andre Holmes-Oakland Raiders

Holmes has been the Raiders top WR weapon recently and the Broncos defense has struggled containing opposing WR at times this year. Even if it’s in garbage time, Holmes has shown he can put up numbers and should finish the season strong in Oakland on Sunday. The big question mark with Holmes is how he’ll gel with new starting QB Terrelle Pryor who is back under center this week, but Holmes is a cheap option that could pay off big time based on his ability to make circus catches and establish himself as a red zone weapon.