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Pickups of the Week: Jimmy Garoppolo cannot be contained, needs to be owned

Jimmy Garoppolo has emerged as a matchup-proof fantasy asset. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Jimmy Garoppolo has emerged as a matchup-proof fantasy asset. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Each week, we highlight six recommended fantasy pickups, all unowned in a majority of Yahoo leagues. One or more of these players may help decide fantasy titles in Week 17. Let’s go win a ring.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers, 29% owned

If for some reason you still had doubts about Garoppolo, presumably they were erased by his ridiculous Week 16 performance against the NFL’s best defense. Garoppolo completed 21 of 30 attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville, plus he opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD plunge. He became just the second quarterback this season to deliver three combined touchdowns against the Jags, and the first to lead a team to 40 or more points.

Check the highlights here. He was simply deadly, his ball placement near-flawless. After shredding the Jaguars defense, Garoppolo is approved for use in any matchup. He’s averaging 8.8 Y/A while completing 69.0 percent of his throws, and he’s doing it with a collection of cast-off receivers.

Schedule: at LAR

FAAB bid: You can’t save it for 2018. Spend it all.

Wayne Gallman, RB, New York Giants, 10%

Another week, another half-dozen receptions for Gallman. The rookie has caught 19 passes over the past three weeks since ascending to the head-of-committee role in New York’s backfield. He’s added 116 rushing yards on 30 carries during that three-game stretch. If you’re involved in a full-PPR league, Gallman deserves a long look. He’ll finish his season against a Washington defense that’s allowed the eighth most fantasy points to opposing backs.

Schedule: Was

Kapri Bibbs could be in line for a significant Week 17 workload. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
Kapri Bibbs could be in line for a significant Week 17 workload. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

Kapri Bibbs, RB, Washington, 6%

Samaje Perine is dealing with groin and Achilles issues, and pretty much every other Washington running back you can name (plus several you can’t) is on IR right now. So there’s a very good chance that Kapri Bibbs will see a substantial workload next week in a terrific matchup against the Giants. New York’s defense currently ranks last in the NFL in total yards against (384.9 YPG), No. 29 in scoring (25.2 PPG) and No. 28 against the run (124.8 YPG). Bibbs was just signed a couple weeks ago, and he’s not a particularly dynamic athlete by NFL standards, but he’s likely to see all the work he can possibly handle in the finale for Washington. He’s flex-worthy for desperate owners.

Schedule: at NYG

Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals, 45%

An ankle injury forced Joe Mixon out of action on Sunday, resulting in another massive workload for Gio. He carried 23 times for 116 yards and a fourth quarter score, adding seven catches for 52 yards. Bernard’s 30 touches were the most he’s seen in a game since September of 2014. His matchup at Baltimore in Week 17 is less than ideal, but a sizable workload can make everything OK.

Schedule: at Bal

Charles Clay has been a target monster in the closing weeks. (AP Photo/Rich Barnes)
Charles Clay has been a target monster in the closing weeks. (AP Photo/Rich Barnes)

Charles Clay, TE, Buffalo Bills, 35%

Volume-chasing fantasy owners will note that Clay has seen 19 targets over the past two weeks. He hasn’t exactly erupted statistically in those two games, catching nine balls for 105 yards, but opportunities haven’t been an issue. Buffalo gets a season-ending matchup with Miami, a defense that’s allowed 25 pass TDs on the season, including nine to opposing tight ends.

Schedule: at Mia

Josh Doctson, WR, Washington, 36%

Doctson was absurdly inefficient against the Broncos on Sunday, hauling in just two balls on a team-high 13 targets. One of the receptions resulted in a way-too-wide-open 48-yard score, however, so Doctson ultimately delivered an acceptable fantasy line. He’ll close his season against a Giants pass defense that ranks No. 31 in the league, allowing 260.1 passing YPG and 7.7 Y/A. It’s a gift to fantasy owners. Take it.

Schedule: at NYG

Buffalo Bills, D/ST, 26%

Despite the loss at New England in Week 16, the Bills are technically still alive in the AFC playoff hunt — they need a complicated and unlikely scenario to play out, true, but they do still have life. Nothing good happens for Buffalo without a win at Miami, so the team doesn’t lack motivation in Week 17. The Bills are just two weeks removed from a three-turnover, three-sack game against the Dolphins, and a repeat performance is a clear possibility. Buffalo ranks second in the league in total interceptions (17) and eighth in takeaways (24).

Schedule: at Mia

Additional recommended adds: QB Nick Foles, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Mike GIllislee, RB T.J. Yeldon, RB Chris Ivory, WR Keelan Cole, WR Will Fuller V, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Eli Rogers, TE Eric Ebron, TE George Kittle, D/ST New Orleans Saints

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