Sneaky Starts: Week 17

Dec 25, 2014

All but the luckiest fantasy owners at some point need to find the proverbial diamond in the rough -- a waiver wire or bench player who is capable of putting up some points in a pinch. This weekly feature is dedicated to that part of fantasy football. It's not pretty, but it's part of the game.

How did our Sneaky Starts fare last week? There are always a few (or several) duds, but Colin Kaepernick (QB4), Mark Sanchez (QB7), Kyle Orton (QB8), Shaun Hill (QB10), Frank Gore (RB2), Matt Asiata (RB4), Branden Oliver (RB27), Torrey Smith (WR3), Eddie Royal (WR8), Kenny Britt (WR23), Malcom Floyd (WR27), Luke Willson (TE1), Zach Ertz (TE5), Charles Clay (TE6), Scott Chandler (TE9) and Lance Kendricks (TE10) all scored starter- or flex-caliber numbers in Week 16.

Below you'll find the top Sneaky Starts for Week 17. These players could double as quality starts in daily formats, but keep in mind that strange things often happen in the final week of the season.

QUARTERBACKS

Teddy Bridgewater (vs. CHI, #30 in QB aFPA) has played well of late – he has tossed at least two touchdowns in four of his last five games and is the #11 QB over that span…Josh McCown (vs. NO, #25) had a quiet game against the Packers in Week 16, but should fare better against a just-eliminated Saints team this week. He’s averaging 14.2 FP in the eight games that he has finished this season…I’m hesitant to recommend Andy Dalton (@ PIT, #32) in a nationally televised game, but he’s averaging 21.2 FP in his last three matchups against the Steelers, including a 302-yard, three-TD (two pass, one rush) effort a few weeks ago...Chase Daniel (vs. SD, #26) gets the start with Alex Smith out with a lacerated spleen. In his only start last season, Daniel completed 21 of 30 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed seven times for 59 yards and was the #13 QB on the week.