By: Malcolm McMillan

Well it is finally here. The end of the road. Week 17 (for most) represents the final week of the fantasy football season. After this, it is booking tickets to Cabo to celebrate the end of an exhausting 2021, and if you are lucky getting to watch your NFL team make a run at the Super Bowl.

Unless you play in a dynasty league.

If you play in a dynasty fantasy football league, you know that the season never ends for you, even if it is””admittedly””about to slow down significantly. Before that happens though, there is still a week to make some significant moves, and some players that could boost their stock going into 2022. This week the focus is going to be on those players; guys who could boost their stock for 2022 with a good Week 17 performance. Dynasty managers can then either hold these assets or flip them for a nice return on investment before the offseason gets underway.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn: RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ke’Shawn Vaughn has arguably been a bust so far in his career. Does it help him to be on a win-now team with two talented veteran running backs ahead of him in the depth chart? No, be even with that caveat it has still be disappointing. Last week though, there were finally signs of life. With starter Leonard Fournette out, Vaughn put in a solid relief performance behind Ronald Jones II. In fact, it was more than solid. In point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, Vaughn finished RB21 with 13 points. This week, Fournette is still out, and Vaughn gets an even better matchup against the abysmal New York Jets. So the stage is set for him to boost his stock.

This opportunity could not come at a better time. Last year, Fournette played well with Jones II injured, and turned it into a starting role this year. Now it could be Vaughn’s turn to shine, and given he is the only running back on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster in 2022 (for now), capitalizing on that opportunity could turn his career around.

Jaret Patterson, RB: Washington Football Team

While he was an impressive college player, Jaret Patterson was never expected to be a star in the NFL. He is undersized, and his athletic profile is nothing impressive despite his gaudy college stats. Plus, he is strictly a downhill runner, so the odds were against him to break through the Washington Football Team depth chart. However, he did just that, making it onto the 53-man roster despite his undrafted free agent status. Since making it that far though, he has stalled out as an occasional relief runner for starting running back Antonio Gibson.

Week 17 could change all that. Pass catching running back J.D. McKissic is already on injured reserve, and now Gibson is out on the COVID-19/reserve list. That leaves the backfield””potentially””solely in the hands of Jaret Patterson against a Philadelphia Eagles run defense that gave up two rushing touchdowns to the Washington backfield just two weeks ago, but not much else. If Patterson has a good performance against the Eagles, he could boost his stock going into 2022, when he and Gibson are the only running backs (currently) on the roster.

Deonte Harty: WR, New Orleans Saints

2021 has been a wild year for Deonte Harty, who started the year as Deonte Harris. The New Orleans Saints wide receiver has been suspended, been on the COVID-19 reserve list and changed his name and that was just in the past month. Prior to that, he flashed as one of the two wide receivers of note for the Saints (the other being Marquez Callaway). Now that he is back off the COVID-19 list for Week 17, he has a change to flash again against a reeling Carolina Panthers.

There are a couple of things going for Harty going into 2022. First, the Saints have a potential opening for a top wide receiver with Michael Thomas doing his best to be off the team in 2022. If they cannot trade Thomas, it may be worth it to cut the bridge-burning veteran receiver, as a post-June 1st cut would save the cap-starved Saints $15.8 million against the cap. Harty, as a restricted free agent, would be easy (and cheap) to bring back for 2022. His top HOG rate and targets per route run certainly indicate the Saints see something in him, and it would be surprising if they did not bring him back.

If the Saints do not bring Harty back for 2022, a great Week 17 performance would entice teams currently window shopping for a wide receiver. The 24-year old is currently trending up, and would be an attractive option for any team needing an intermediate to deep threat at wide receiver.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 17 (and Beyond!) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ian Evans (Twitter: @ianacevans)

Week 17 is almost upon us, meaning that many playoff-hopeful teams are still jockeying for a spot in the playoff picture. Throughout the season we have seen franchise quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, and Josh Allen, light up opposing defenses.

All of these quarterbacks were drafted by teams who moved up from their original draft positions to draft them. Some quarterbacks like Kyler Murray, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield were a top priority for the teams they were drafted by. However, trading up for a quarterback is a high risk-high reward. Trading up can either significantly help or stall a team’s progress.

In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bears traded up to draft North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick. He hasn’t quite panned out as well as the Bears hoped as he was benched for Nick Foles earlier in the year. But who was picked after Trubisky? Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. In last year’s draft, we saw the Green Bay Packers trade up to the 26^th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to pick Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. This pick came as a surprise to many as the Packers needed more depth in the wide receiver position to help Aaron Rodgers.

With the 2020-2021 NFL regular season coming to an end, there are many teams who should probably consider trading up to draft a franchise quarterback. There are a plethora of college quarterbacks who can be game-changers and franchise for teams in desperate need of one. There are other star college quarterbacks besides Trevor Lawrence who could be worth trading up for. Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Florida’s Kyle Trask, BYU’s Zach Wilson, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, and Alabama’s Mac Jones could be worth the risk. There are many teams who missed the playoffs that could use a change of scenery at quarterback to take them to the next level.

1. New England Patriots

If there is any team that should explore trading up for a quarterback its New England. It’s safe to say that the Cam Newton experiment didn’t work. In his first year, and potentially final year as a New England Patriot, Newton struggled severely.

So far he has thrown for a completion percentage of 65.4% which is 21st among quarterbacks. He has also thrown for only 2,415 yards (26th), 10 interceptions (13th), and has the sixth-worst QBR in the league at 45.1. He also has thrown 5 touchdowns, which is tied 37^th with San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard and recently cut Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

His touchdown percentage is also dead last in the NFL at 1.5%. That’s abysmal. Simply put, Cam Newton has had a rough year, and all signs point toward him being a backup quarterback in this league.

Replacing Tom Brady is no easy feat, but the 2021 NFL Draft could offer an opportunity for the Patriots to trade up for proper replacement. As of right now, the Patriots have the 15^th pick in the draft.

There are many teams within the top ten who could be looking to trade out of those spots. Teams such as the Giants, Broncos, Bengals, and Falcons could be looking to trade out of their respective spots if they don’t see a prospect worth trading for. Keep a close eye on the Patriots as draft talk and rumors heat up.

2. Washington Football Team

Many saw this season as a chance for Dwayne Haskins to make a leap and solidify himself as Washington’s quarterback of the future.

Haskins did the exact opposite as he was cut Monday afternoon by the teams for multiple reasons. From breaking COVID health and safety protocols to being benched multiple times throughout the year, Haskins had a year to forget. He was benched for Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, and practice-squad quarterback Taylor Heinicke in Week 16.

Haskins has the worst quarterback rating in the league at 30.7, threw only 5 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He only averaged 205.6 yards per game while having a completion percentage of 61.4% which is the fourth worst in the league.

Haskins is out, meaning that Washington is left with Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, and Taylor Heniecke. Alex Smith is still a solid starting quarterback, but the injuries have clearly taken a toll on him.

The 36-year old is nearing retirement as well. He also hasn’t done that much better than Haskins, throwing for 4 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, as well as having a QBR of 35.7. Kyle Allen is a decent backup quarterback at best and should not be starting for any NFL team. And Taylor Heinecke is merely a practice squad quarterback. With this being said, they are in need of a franchise quarterback.

However, Washington still has a chance to win out in the abysmal NFC East and make the playoffs. But no matter what outcome their season has, they should still draft up to take a quarterback.

A young quarterback with potential should be leading this young team lead by Chase Young, Terry McLaurin, and Antonio Gibson in the future. North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance is a name that has been mentioned as a prospect that could slip outside the top 15. If Washington wants to prioritize getting a quarterback that can help bolster their offense, they could trade up and take a chance on a young college star instead of signing a free-agent quarterback.

3. Indianapolis Colts

This one could come as a surprise to many fans. It’s a long shot but it could happen. Why? Phillip Rivers could retire after this season and Jacoby Brissett is simply not a starting quarterback. If Rivers does decide to retire after his one-year deal, the Colts would be in desperate need for a quarterback.

Rivers has had a good year thus far. He has a completion percentage of 68.2% (eighth in the league), 4,005 yards (ninth in the league), 23 touchdowns (15^th), and 10 interceptions (T-10^th). Besides significant help from a top five defense in the league, Rivers has still provided the veteran leadership the Colts needed. The Colts are currently 10-5 sitting at the eighth seed in the AFC playoff picture. Whether they make the playoffs or not, they could be eying quarterbacks in the offseason.

If it’s one thing the Colts haven’t had, it’s a mobile, dual-threat quarterback. As great as Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers have been in their illustrious careers, they were never known as a quarterback that could beat you with their legs. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, as well as many weapons such as T.Y. Hilton, Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, and Michael Pittman Jr., a young dual-threat quarterback would make them less one-dimensional. The Colts could be a team that surprises the league once the draft comes.

The post NFL teams that could trade up for a QB appeared first on Pro Football Mania.