5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 17

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 26: Rex Burkhead #28 of the Houston Texans celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 26: Isaiah McKenzie #19 of the Buffalo Bills catches the ball for a touchdown in front of Adrian Phillips #21 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /

2. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 17 – Buffalo Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie

The COVID list struck the Buffalo Bills’ receiver room in Week 16 to devastating effect. Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis, two key cogs in the Bills’ passing attack, tested positive for the virus and were forced to miss Buffalo’s key Week 16 matchup against the New England Patriots.

Making matters worse is the fact that both players are unvaccinated, which could knock them out of Week 17 as well. All of those targets had to go to someone and the beneficiary was Isaiah McKenzie, who put up a monster performance in Foxboro on Sunday.

McKenzie racked up 12 targets filling Beasley’s role in the slot and caught 11 of them for 125 yards and a touchdown. Allen took advantage of McKenzie’s shiftiness to find holes in the stout Patriots’ secondary, a performance that should earn him some more targets even after Beasley returns.

Rostered in just one percent of Yahoo leagues, McKenzie is a worthwhile flex pickup ahead of championship week. Buffalo has a tantalizing matchup against Atlanta’s terrible defense which could allow McKenzie to feast again as a WR3 in PPR leagues.

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