Good morning. Check in on any Broncos fans you know. It's been a rough season for them:

Of course, it was only a matter of time before something was done. On Sunday, the day after Christmas, the Broncos said happy holidays jabroni and parted ways with HC Nathaniel Hackett. They plan to throw the kitchen sink at Sean Payton.

Who's the next coach to go?

And to everyone who made the championship of their leagues, well done. Time to get those title belts/championship rings/confirmation that you are better than your friends.  

WAIVERS

First, if last week's top pickups, Jahan Dotson and Tyler Allgeier are available, they are priority adds. Before we get into it, yes, you have to start Davante Adams, despite his last three PPR finishes: WR39, WR59 and WR67.

RB: CAM AKERS

If you can grab Cam Akers, don't overthink it. Just do it. Coming off his second straight game with over 75% of the Rams' offensive snaps, Akers put up an RB1 34+ fantasy points in W16. And he's actually been good - since Week 11, Akers ranks:

• Missed tackles forced - 5th (ahead of Nick Chubb)

• PFF’s elusive rating - 7th (Immediately ahead of Najee & Ekeler, per @DBro_FFB)

• Chase Edmonds cut into Latavius Murray’s playing time significantly, as Murray played his lowest percentage of offensive snaps since Week 10 (Edmonds’ last game before his injury). Edmonds profiles as the pass-catching back for a bad Broncos team facing the Chiefs this week. Risky.

• If Derrick Henry misses Week 16, Hassan Haskins would lead the way with Julius Chestnut operating as the No. 2. Read the injury report below.

Keep an eye on Justin Jackson, who could have the valuable Jamaal Williams role this weekend:

WR: GREG DORTCH

All Greg Dortch has done is produce. When given a chance this season (whenever he plays more than 70% of offensive snaps), Dortch averages 13 ppr points. In W16, Dortch was moved back into the slot role and caught 10 passes for 98 yards, leading the Cardinals in targets, receptions and yards. This week, Dortch faces a Falcons team allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to wide receivers in the slot this season. Add and start. 

• Michael Gallup: Gallup has become the Dallas Cowboys‘ clear No. 2 receiver despite all of the news around veterans, and he has a great Week 17 matchup.

• Romeo Doubs took over Christian Watson's role after the latter left with a hip injury. If Watson is forced to miss a game, Doubs is borderline startable. Packers play the Vikings, who are allowing the second-most receiving yards to wide receivers this season.

• Isaiah Hodgins had the game of his career, catching eight passes for 89 yards and a TD. Unfortunately, this week Hodgins & the Giants face the Indianapolis Colts. The game script will likely be in the Giants’ favor, allowing them to run, and the Colts have allowed the fifth-fewest receiving yards to wide receivers this season.

QBs

Jared Goff has all his weapons healthy and has thrown for at least 325 yards in three of his past four games. Goff is averaging more than two touchdowns per game in that span (a top-12 fantasy quarterback in three of those four games) and faces a Bears defence allowing the 9th most fantasy points to QBs, per PFF's Week 17 fantasy football waiver wire targets. Goff is currently QB10. 

The Brock Purdy-led 49ers play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17. The Raiders have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and Purdy has thrown for two touchdowns in all four games where he’s played the majority of snaps. 

Brock Purdy has as many TD passes of 25+ yards this season as Patrick Mahomes (6)...

Keep an eye on:

A helpful review of injuries:

Derrick Henry did not practice yesterday with a hip injury. Tennessee plays on Thursday night and the result of the game has no impact on their playoff situation. Week 18 vs. JAX will determine if they're in or not. Holding Henry out would not be surprising.

Jets QB Mike F***ing White was cleared by the doctors today and will start on Sunday in Seattle, according to a source.  If we see limitations, will likely be deep ball and bullet or cross-body passes. Herbert's numbers dipped post-return.

Meanwhile, the Jets have permanently benched Zach Wilson and demoted him to the inactive list.

Tweet deleted now, but Leonard Fournette announced he has been playing through a Lisfranc injury. Likely a sprain similar to Najee Harris earlier in the year.

Tua Tagovailoa - Likely out Wk 17. Lean towards wk 18 too as the proximity to prior concussions may have made him more susceptible. Expect him ~100% next season w/o highly elevated short-term risk. TBD if he'd keep playing with #CTE risk rising, per @SportMDAnalysis. A few other gems by Deepak:

Lamar Jackson - Avg timeline = 2-4 wks. He's now at 4. If this were the playoffs, we'd lean towards Lamar playing. But w/post-season berth already clinched, there's low threshold to sit him. Look for progression in practice, but for now lean towards sitting Wk 17.

Eagles stud o-lineman Lane Johnson - Having "strain" and then "tear" suggests higher severity. Sounds like he's going to rest it and try to play through in the Playoffs. The Eagles build their offense around Johnson just as much as they do with any skill player. Not having him for the playoffs would alter what they do in both the run and pass game by a significant amount.

Christian Watson - Comments suggest low severity. Practice report = key. Right now, lean towards playing Wk 17 w/o major impact

Deebo Samuel - Lean towards Wk 18 return. WRs avg 1 wk to ramp up. Elevated re-injury risk 1st 2 games back.

Together with The Athletic

Defense Wins Championships

For the love of all things holy go add the Giants DST for your fantasy football championship.

THEY PLAY THE COLTS!!! - @DrakeFantasy

Thanks to The Athletic, we get Jake Ciely's Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 17: Streamers, James Cook, Jahan Dotson and future stashes. His defensive rankings for Week 17 are below:

Jake also tosses some players with potential 2023+ value worth stashing, including 

• Khalil Herbert, CHI — David Montgomery is a free agent, and Herbert has shown RB1 upside.

• James Cook, BUF — Devin Singletary is a free agent, and the Bills could let him walk.

• Alexander Mattison, MIN — Could be one of the “sleeper” signings after the big names like Saquon Barkley and Jacobs, and if Mattison has a lead job, RB2 value should be his floor.

• Zamir White, LV — Josh Jacobs is a free agent.

• Samaje Perine, CIN — Similar to Mattison, a team could like what they’ve seen when Perine leads and take the discount signing.

It's about time you check out The Athletic, who has been an amazing supporter of the Morning Huddle all season.

QUICK SLANTS

• It's pretty wild to think that the Jets scored 24, 40, and 27 points in Zach Wilson's first three starts almost entirely because Breece Hall was a next-level difference maker at RB.

• 5 steps to propel your team to a fantasy championship by PFF. Any player who has no shot of starting for you this week, can be replaced with a high-upside handcuff.

• Broncos backup quarterback Brett Rypien reportedly told the offensive line to pick up Russell Wilson when he goes down. Lineman Dalton Risner was NOT having it (video)

Hope you all made the title games, let us know any start/sit questions you have and how you did this season by replying to this email. Just win baby.

Jake, Eddie, Matt

Tweet of the Day