Looking for the best players to target on the waiver wire this week? Well, the Fantasy Ticker is just the place for that. Here are the top pickups for Week 17, as well as a key player to trade for and one you may want to quickly unload.
HOT PURCHASES
These players should be free agents in many leagues. Pounce on them if you can.
Dolphins QB Chad Henne (owned in 14 percent of Yahoo! leagues)
If you think the Dolphins are a run-first team behind RB Ricky Williams, think again: In three of the past four games, Henne has aired the ball out at least 46 times. That has resulted in some big performances for the first-year starter, as he has racked up 322 yards or more three times in the past month. Henne could find himself throwing often again this week, as Miami faces a Steelers defense that's stout against the run but vulnerable to the pass. With Williams banged up, it could be on Henne to lead the Dolphins' offense in the season finale, making him a decent guy to grab and possibly plug in for one week.
Colts RB Donald Brown (29 percent owned)
After missing the past three games with a chest injury, Brown returned Sunday and dominated the workload with Joseph Addai getting pulled early. The rookie only mustered 22 yards on his 16 carries, but he did score from one yard out and added a 12-yard reception. What Brown did this week against the Jets isn't important though — it's what he could do next Sunday at Buffalo. With Addai almost certain to be rested with the game meaning nothing, Brown should lead the club in carries once again, this time against the league's worst run defense. As a one-week pickup and play, you won't find a better option than Brown.
Falcons RB Jerious Norwood (21 percent owned)
Assuming Jason Snelling is already owned in your league, grabbing Norwood this week is your next-best move. With nothing on the line in Week 17, it's unlikely that starter Michael Turner will return from his ankle injury, so it should once again be Snelling and Norwood splitting Atlanta's backfield load. What makes Norwood, who had a solid 13-52-0 rushing day against the Bills on Sunday, so enticing is his matchup with the Bucs, who rank 30th in the league against the run. Even in a timeshare, he should do enough this week as both a runner and pass catcher to be worth a flex spot in many leagues.
Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad (16 percent owned)
Sunday was a great day for the Panthers in every way but one: They lost WR Steve Smith to a broken arm in a 41-9 thrashing of the Giants. That means the veteran Muhammad will take over as the No. 1 target for QB Matt Moore in the season finale against the Saints. Although Muhammad isn't exactly having a banner season, he did finish with nice numbers this week, catching three passes for 56 yards and his first touchdown of 2009. Teams can pass on New Orleans, and with Moore playing well lately, Moose could be a respectable receiver plug-in if you're thin at the position.
BUY LOW
Here's a player who has underperformed thus far and seen his value drop. Trade for him before it's too late.
Bills RB Fred Jackson
Jackson has been a productive player since surpassing Marshawn Lynch on the depth chart in Week 12, but he had a hiccup Sunday, as the Bills fell behind early and were forced to go pass-heavy against the Falcons. Jackson had only 13 carries for 39 yards, likely dropping his market value. However, his slump shouldn't last long: Jackson faces a Colts defense this Sunday that just yielded 202 rushing yards to the Jets and will be resting starters aplenty in their meaningless season finale. With inexperienced QB Brian Brohm likely to start again, Jackson should be the focal point of the offense and have a huge outing to close out the '09 season.
SELL HIGH
Deal this guy for productive players now, because his value is about to fall off.
Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco
With another TD catch in Sunday's contest against the Chiefs, Ochocinco has now found the endzone in four consecutive games and nine times on the season. He's riding high, but his run of success is likely about to end. Unless he can buck the trend, Ochocinco is going to become the latest superstar receiver to be shut down by CB Darrelle Revis, meaning he's going to finish the regular season with a dud. Knowing what awaits him in Week 17, it's best to get rid of No. 85 while his value is still high and look elsewhere for receiving options in the final week.
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