Well, folks. It’s here. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you made it to a fantasy football championship match. The theory on waivers changes slightly this week. Add anyone useful. Don’t drop anyone who your opponent can use. With that said, how much of a priority is Detroit Lions WR DJ Chark for fantasy managers to add off the waiver wire ahead of Week 17?
DJ Chark Is in a Smash Spot in Week 17
Surprisingly, as difficult as it is to predict performance on a week-to-week basis, Chark has been pretty reliable in that regard. He opened the season as the Lions’ clear WR2 opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Chark’s season for months. But in Week 13, he regained his starting job, and he’s run with it ever since.
Chark has posted receiving lines of 98, 94, and 108 in three of his last four games. There was a 1-18 effort mixed in there against the Jets, but that was actually predictable! The Jets have an elite pass defense, and with St. Brown in the slot often, Chark had to deal with Sauce Gardner. Yet, against the Jaguars, Vikings, and Panthers, he thrived.
MORE: Could Deebo Samuel Return in Week 17?
Last week, Chark’s 1-18 the prior week notwithstanding, I recommended his receiving yards higher on Underdog Fantasy. It was in the 30s. Obviously, it soared past that number, with Chark posting his highest receiving-yardage total of the season against the Panthers.
This week, the Lions are home against the Bears in a game they absolutely have to have if they want any shot at playing beyond Week 18. With the Lions unable to stop anyone defensively, this could be an epic shootout.
Jared Goff is playing as well as ever. Not every pass can go to St. Brown, and Chark is quite the solid option this week if you’re in need of a WR3/Flex play.
How Aggressively Should Fantasy Managers Pursue Chark Off the Waiver Wire?
As I mentioned in the intro, the waiver wire thesis changes in Week 17. This is the last week of the fantasy season. It’s the championship (or maybe the third-place game, if your league pays that as some of mine do). There is quite literally no reason to save any of your remaining FAAB.
There is also no reason to continue stashing any players you aren’t using. For weeks, we’ve been throwing handcuff running backs on our benches in case the starter got injured. Well, if the starter isn’t injured, we’re out of time.
Feel free to drop any player on your roster that fits the following two criteria: 1) You’re not starting; 2) Your opponent won’t use against you if you drop him.
At this point in the season, FAAB recommendations are meaningless. Most teams have very little left, so it’s really a matter of how much you need a guy. You can and should spend every dollar you have left on your claims. If Chark is the guy you need, go for it.
If you play in a league that still uses the continual rolling list waiver priority system, put in waiver claims for every player you conceivably want and let the system go to work.
