The Cowboys sustained their third-straight loss this past week
when they fell to the Chargers, but it's hard to put the blame
on Dak Prescott. He continued his excellent statistical season
by passing the 4,000-yard mark during the contest while also reaching
28 touchdowns. Prescott has been a borderline elite option all
season long and with a matchup against the Commanders on the horizon,
it's tough to find reasons to bench him for your championship
game. The only real worry would be that the Cowboys opt to bench
him late in a blowout, turning to Joe Milton in the fourth quarter,
as they did this past week. However, another multi-score loss
seems unlikely in a matchup against the Commanders whose offense
will be on their third string quarterback. Fire up Prescott as
a top-half QB1.
Wide receiver George Pickens was on a bit of a cold streak heading
into Week 16 as he had failed to reach even 10 PPR fantasy points
in back-to-back games, but he got back on the right track with
a huge, seven-catch, 130-yard performance that included a touchdown.
He also reached nine targets in the contest, adding to his impressive
stretch of seeing at least that many passes come his way in seven
of his past eight games. Pickens is a high-volume play who's facing
one of the league's worst secondaries. He joins CeeDee Lamb as
a WR1 for fantasy in this one.
Javonte Williams has been dealing with a neck injury for a while
now and while he was able to play through it and still lock a
nearly 60-percent snap count this past week, it's hard not to
notice that he also saw his fewest touches of the season in the
Cowboys' Week 16 loss to the Chargers. Williams' saw just nine
carries and added two receptions in the contest—a significant
drop-off from his usual usage—as his previous season low
of touches was 14 back in Week 8. Not coincidentally, this low
usage also led to Williams failing his fantasy managers and producing
fewer than 10 fantasy points for just the third time all season.
We should expect that Williams will continue to lead the Cowboys'
backfield this to close out the season, but the team has been
leaning on backup Malik Davis more in recent weeks, and there's
a chance that the trend could continue, especially if the game
gets out of hand one way or another. Williams is still an RB2,
but his floor is now a bit of a concern whereas it was previously
his biggest asset throughout the first three-quarters of the season.
Jake Ferguson's early-season dominance will almost certainly
allow him to finish the season as a top-12 scorer at the position,
if not top-five, but it's hard to overstate just how poor he's
been throughout the second half of the season. Since his huge
two-touchdown performance against the Broncos back in Week 7,
Ferguson has averaged just over 7.3 PPR fantasy points per game.
That total is far from TE1 range despite the fact that he's been
in one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
With the Cowboys now out of playoff contention, there's a looming
concern that the team may opt to get a better look at the tight
ends further down the depth chart in these final two games. This
isn't to say that Ferguson will be overtaken as the tight end
to start in Dallas, but it could just mean fewer total snaps for
him as the team tries to gain information for future roster moves.
Ferguson has become a borderline unstartable option to begin
with. The only reason to consider him for fantasy this week is
because he's facing the Commanders and their terrible defense,
but the same could be said for any number of other tight ends
who are probably available on your league's waiver wire.
DAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
DAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
DAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
DAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
No Brainers: N/A
Update: Chris
Rodriguez Jr. has been ruled Out due to an illness.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt's breakout performance in Week 15 had
us unsure about Chris Rodriguez's role upon his return to the
lineup in Week 16, but things seemed to get right back to normal
with Rodriguez taking the lion's share of the touches while leaving
the scraps to the other backs in the offense. Sure, the rookie
was able to get into the end zone once on eight carries for 25
yards, but it was Rodriguez who carried the ball 15 times for
63 yards and a touchdown of his own.
It's fair to say that Rodriguez lacks the upside to be a very
exciting fantasy option, but this matchup against the Cowboys
is one that opposing backs have been exploiting all season long.
Dallas has conceded the seventh-most fantasy points to the position
and Rodriguez himself even scored a touchdown against them when
these teams played back in Week 7. There are quite a few injuries
throughout the league and Rodriguez isn't a particularly hot name
for fantasy, so take a look at your waiver wire—he just
might be available and worth a spot-start if you're in trouble
at running back.
Terry McLaurin has been hit-or-miss since returning to the Commanders'
lineup back in Week 13. He got out to a huge start with a 14-target
game in Week 13, but things have since taken a dramatic turn for
the worst as he's seen just 14 total targets over the three games
since.
There's no question that McLaurin is still the Commanders' top
weapon in their passing game, but with the team now needing to
turn to third-stringer Josh
Johnson following injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota,
it's tough to believe that McLaurin is going to get the volume
he'd need to provide a truly difference-making fantasy total for
his managers.
A matchup against the Cowboys has been the cure for much worse
situations this season, though, so all hope may not be lost.
Fantasy managers may still have some hope for Terry McLaurin,
but unfortunately the same cannot really be said about Deebo Samuel.
Samuel has now failed to reach even eight PPR fantasy points in
three straight contests and he's seen 10 or more targets just
twice all season. He hasn't seen more than seven passes come his
way in a game since Terry McLaurin returned to the lineup back
in Week 13.
The Cowboys have been destroyed by almost every opposing passing
game they've faced all season and they're by far the league's
worst defense against wide receivers, but a wide receiver who's
seeing mediocre volume with a third-string quarterback just doesn't
inspire much confidence, even in the best of matchups.
With the Lions’ vaunted ground game stuck in neutral against
the Steelers, Goff took it upon himself to move the offense. For
the day, Goff set season highs in pass attempts (54), completions
(34), and passing yards (364). It marked the fourth time this
season the Pro Bowl snub has thrown for 300-plus yards with three
or more touchdowns and no interceptions. While he wasn’t quite
as productive the last time he faced Minnesota (284 yards, 2 TDs,
0 INTs), the game situation was similar to what he just went through
with Pittsburgh where Detroit couldn’t get their running game
working -- that day, the combo of Gibbs and David Montgomery finished
with 65 yards on 20 carries. The Vikings have been playing strong
defense recently, though their offense might be hamstrung by the
presence of Max Brosmer, which could lead to issues possessing
the ball and maybe wear down the defense. This is a big game for
Detroit, which is eliminated with a loss, and it feels like one
where Goff will step up. He’s a potential midrange QB1.
While Gibbs was able to salvage his dismal day on the ground
with a 10-66-1 effort as a pass catcher, Montgomery had no such
luck. He finished Week 16 with a season-low four carries for 14
yards, and it also marked the first time all season he wasn’t
targeted in the passing game. Further clouding his Week 17 prospects,
Montgomery has been held out of practice due to illness. On the
flip side, Montgomery was the more effective back in the previous
matchup with Minnesota, posting 50 yards and a touchdown. Plus,
if his illness abates, he should be fresh on Christmas day after
being used so sparingly versus the Steelers. Add it all up, and
Montgomery is a risk/reward flex.
Fade: N/A
DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.8
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.14
By any metric, it has been a disappointing season for Jefferson.
Taking out 2023, when he missed seven games due to injury, Jefferson
has averaged 1,590 yards and 8.75 TDs. This year, he still needs
83 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Don’t be surprised
if the Vikings chase that mark here. Detroit’s secondary
has been decimated by injury, and it should be much easier for
Max Brosmer to operate the offense at home versus his debut in
Seattle. Jefferson had a 6-47-1 line in his earlier matchup with
the Lions, which was the last time he scored a touchdown. You
still can’t count on him as more than a WR3, but coming
off a 6-85-0 effort versus the Giants you should get him in your
lineup.
Right up front, Hockenson has been a nonparticipant in practice
this week due to a shoulder injury, so his status for Christmas
is very much up in the air. Even if he does play, the veteran
has hardly been a bastion of production. So, why is he here? Two
reasons: 1) one of his best games of 2025, a 6-59-0 line, came
in Brosmer’s first start, and 2) he scored a touchdown in
the earlier matchup with Detroit. There’s always a little
extra juice when going against a former team, so if Hockenson
is up this Thursday, there’s some high-risk potential for
him to post playable numbers.
With J.J. McCarthy (hand) ruled out, Brosmer will make his second
career start. The first was a disaster: 126 yards, 4 sacks, 4
INTs, including a pick-six. Don’t expect a repeat. It should
be very beneficial for the rookie to play at home as opposed to
in front of a raucous Seahawks crowd, and Detroit lacks the pass
rush to affect him the same way. Still, while better results should
be expected from Brosmer, he’s far too much of an unknown
commodity to consider him for your lineup.
Courtland Sutton (6-86-1) picked up his 7th touchdown of the
season — and his 3rd in four weeks — against the Jaguars
in Week 16. Sutton has now posted at least 59 receiving yards
in five straight games. The league’s 16th-best wide receiver
in FPts/G, he draws a Chiefs team that has limited opposing WRs
primarily by allowing just 10 touchdowns to the position. However,
this is a matchup where Denver is likely to enjoy a major edge
in field position. That sets up frequent trips into the red zone,
which directly benefits Sutton’s scoring profile. He’s
a high-end WR2 for Thursday night.
Despite game script limiting RJ Harvey to just 7 rushing attempts
last week, he still managed a rushing touchdown for the 4th straight
game — and added 4 catches for 71 yards as a receiver. That
resulted in 20.1 FPts, his 3rd game with at least 19 FPts over
the last month. The Chiefs have generally been tough on running
backs, but their defensive slide has created massive volume opportunities
for opposing rushers. Since Week 13:
• Woody Marks handled 26 carries
• Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal combined for 27 carries
• Tony Pollard topped 100 rushing yards on 21 carries
• Tyjae Spears added 13 carries, 52 yards, and a touchdown
Over that span, five different backs have produced at least 10.2
FPts against Kansas City, and three have cleared 14.5 —
solid mid-RB2 territory.
Harvey has game script, time of possession, and field position
all leaning his way. Already producing like an RB1 since taking
over Denver’s backfield, he’s a Top 10 option in Week
17.
The Chiefs have given up very few ceiling games to opposing quarterbacks
— only three have cracked 20 FPts against them — and
there may be little incentive for Denver to push aggressively
in this matchup. If the Broncos control the game, Bo Nix could
lean conservative with more floor than ceiling. He’s a borderline
QB1 this week.
Troy Franklin followed his 17.8-point outing against Green Bay
with a respectable but modest 4-catch, 66-yard performance (8.6
FPts). Despite Pat Bryant’s return and 8-target involvement, Franklin
actually saw his snap rate increase to 64% — likely influenced
by Denver chasing points against Jacksonville.
Week 17 should look different. The Broncos are unlikely to ask
Nix to throw 47 times again, which caps Franklin’s volume
even with Bryant sitting out due to a concussion. Sitting WR41
in FPts/G, he’s best viewed as a WR4 versus Kansas City.
Fade: N/A
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12
Travis Kelce continues to fade as the season winds down. Whether
its age catching up, injuries across the offense, or the loss
of vertical threats, the result has been two separate 1-catch
games in recent weeks — something unheard of for peak-Kelce.
Losing Patrick Mahomes, and now going to a third-string quarterback,
makes it incredibly difficult to trust him in fantasy title week.
If there’s a sliver of hope, it’s matchup related. Denver’s defense
— despite dominating overall — has been surprisingly forgiving
against tight ends, allowing the 12th-most FPts/G. Brenton Strange
became the 7th tight end since Week 7 to score at least 10 FPts
against them. Kelce still offers check-down appeal, but his floor
is dangerously close to zero. He’s more TE2 than TE1 at this point,
even with injuries thinning the position.
Journeyman QB Chris Oladokun — a former seventh-round Steelers
pick — steps into a Chiefs offense that has effectively folded
up shop, with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton joining Mahomes
and Gardner Minshew on IR. With limited weapons and a shaky line,
he faces a Denver front averaging over four sacks per game.
Oladokun has taken 5 sacks on just 21 dropbacks — and now
sees one of the league’s nastiest pass rushes. He’s
arguably the last QB you’d start this week.
In the backfield, Kareem Hunt gave up most of the snaps to Isiah
Pacheco (33 to 11) after taking an early safety in the Titans
loss. Pacheco continued to struggle on the ground (8-34-0), and
Denver has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards to running
backs.
Pacheco did show unexpected receiving life (6 catches for 41
yards), but that’s unlikely to repeat against a defense
allowing the fewest receiving yards to RBs. Both he and Hunt are
desperation plays at best.
Xavier Worthy caught just two passes on three targets last week
and added a meaningless 0-yard rush. His 41 yards basically matched
his season average (40.9). Losing time of possession, lacking
quarterback stability, and facing Pat Surtain II makes Worthy
a volatile dart throw — with more bust than boom.
Woody Marks is practicing fully to start Week 17 and appears
poised to return from injury. He should reclaim the lead role
in Houston’s backfield, though Jahwar Jordan made a bit
of noise while Marks was out — including a 100-yard rushing
effort two weeks ago.
The concern is that Marks wasn’t exactly thriving before
the injury. He’s averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, and
Jordan actually forced more missed tackles in two games (7) than
Marks has all season (6). While Marks has been strong as a receiver
(118 passer rating when targeted), there’s real risk he
gives up some early-down work to Jordan.
For fantasy purposes, Marks sits just RB35 on the season and
has only been a mid-range option even when featured. Over the
last five weeks he’s just 30th in FPts/G. The matchup also
isn’t ideal, as the Chargers have yet to allow a receiving
touchdown to running backs — and half of Marks’ six
touchdowns have come through the air. He’s a risky flex.
Dalton Schultz has quietly been one of the steadier tight ends
since October, posting at least 10.7 fantasy points in five different
games and at least 8.5 points seven times over that stretch (9.4
FPts/G). He’s had a couple of duds mixed in, but overall
he’s been reliable.
The Chargers have generally handled tight ends well, though they’ve
sprung a leak at times. Brock Bowers scored twice on them in Week
13, then Dallas Goedert and Travis Kelce both logged solid yardage
games. L.A. bounced back last week by holding Jake Ferguson to
just 3-19-0, and on the year they’re still among the stingiest
defenses versus the position. Schultz sits at TE13 among active
tight ends. He’s just outside TE1 territory this week, but remains
very playable if you need him.
C.J. Stroud has had flashes (23.4 points vs. Arizona recently),
but he hasn’t found his 2023 ceiling. He’s hit 20+ points only
three times this year and sits just QB24 in FPts/G. The Chargers
aren’t likely to help — they’ve recently slowed Jalen Hurts, Patrick
Mahomes and Dak Prescott. Stroud is more of a low-end QB2 with
real downside.
Rookie Jayden Higgins has cooled off considerably, totaling just
eight fantasy points over his last three games. He’s topped
50 yards only twice and relies heavily on touchdowns for relevance.
With the Chargers allowing the third-fewest wide receiver touchdowns,
Higgins profiles as a WR5.
Jahwar Jordan was impressive while filling in — 101 yards
in one game and 11.2 FPts/G across two weeks with solid volume.
But with Marks back, Jordan likely slides into change-of-pace
duty. In Championship Week, that level of uncertainty is tough
to trust.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.21
In three games since returning from injury, Omarion Hampton has
settled in as a low-end RB2, averaging 12.2 FPts/G while sharing
work with Kimani Vidal. With Vidal opening the week sidelined,
Hampton could be in line for a true bell-cow role.
Houston is a tough draw, but Ashton Jeanty just posted 188 total
yards and two scores on them, and other feature backs like Travis
Etienne, James Cook and Jonathan Taylor have recently found moderate
success as well. If Vidal sits, Hampton is a mid-range RB2. If
Vidal plays, Hampton drops to more of a flex.
Justin Herbert snapped his slump with a big game versus Dallas,
but that may say more about the Cowboys’ recent struggles
than a total turnaround. Houston is the opposite challenge, allowing
the second-fewest points to quarterbacks. With the offensive line
banged up, Herbert is a QB2 with a scary floor.
The Texans allow just 19.7 FPts/G to opposing wide receivers
— and the Chargers spread targets around without a true
alpha. Quentin Johnston (WR25) did most of his work early. Keenan
Allen (WR45) has faded. Ladd McConkey has been the most consistent
lately, but sits only WR34 in FPts/G. McConkey is a WR4 this week,
Johnston is touchdown-dependent, and Allen is off the radar.
Houston has allowed only five tight ends to post TE1 weeks, and
four were true studs. Oronde Gadsden II averages 7.3 FPts/G and
likely needs a touchdown just to sneak into low-end relevance.
He’s more of a TE2 with a near-zero floor.
There are a ton of variables with this matchup that are unlikely
to be resolved much before game time on Saturday night, and that
starts with the quarterback situation for both teams. Jackson
(back) left the team’s Sunday night loss to New England
with a back injury, and Jordan Love (concussion) checked out of
Saturday’s matchup with the Bears due to a concussion. It’s
far from clear if either will be available, but the situations
aren’t the same since Love needs clearance from the NFL.
Jackson, meanwhile, will likely come down to pain tolerance and
ability to function. Therein lies the issue. If Jackson plays
in what is a must-win game for Baltimore -- they would be eliminated
from postseason contention with a loss -- it seems impossible
he’d be close to full strength, which is a real concern
for someone whose game is so tied to his athleticism. While I’d
tend to shy away from Jackson this week, even if he plays, if
you lack palatable alternatives, you can roll the dice and hope
he finds a way to deliver dual-threat value.
At this point, the only skill players you can remotely rely on
in Charm City are Henry and Flowers. While Andrews’ history
is such that it’s always possible he can turn back the clock
for one night, over his last six weeks, the veteran has logged
13 receptions for 136 yards combined. That’s less than 25
yards per game. Between his lack of production for much of 2025
and uncertainty surrounding the quarterback, Andrews can’t
be trusted.
BAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
BAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
BAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
BAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
If you watched Saturday’s game, you probably remember Doubs
for his brutal attempt at recovering an onside kick that ultimately
led to Green Bay’s improbable loss. Before that, however,
he led the team in receiving, hauling in five passes for 84 yards
and the team’s lone touchdown. While Doubs appeared to be
injured on the kick, he hasn’t been listed on the injury
report for the week, meaning he should play. A year ago, Doubs
was suspended by the team for one game. When he returned the next
week, Love found him for a pair of touchdown passes. Don’t
be surprised if the team tries to enact something like that again
this Saturday as a palette cleanser to turn the page after the
botched recovery. Clearly, it would be to Doubs’ benefit
if Love plays rather than Malik Willis (shoulder), who would almost
certainly throw less, but either way I like Doubs as a flex option
with decent upside.
Even though Jacobs was active last Saturday, it was Wilson who
shined. The usual backup ran the ball 14 times for 82 yards, easily
surpassing Jacobs’ 12-36-0 effort, and Wilson essentially
took over after Jacobs fumbled near the goal line. With Jacobs
again limited in practice by his knee injury, fantasy owners will
have to play the waiting game to see whether he’s active.
Even if he is, look for Wilson to carry a bigger load, though
he’d be no better than a somewhat risky flex play. If Jacobs
sits, however, Wilson could push into RB2 territory -- remember
he posted a 28-107-2 line when Jacobs was out versus Minnesota
-- and if it’s Willis instead of Love, Wilson’s ceiling
gets even higher.
The Buccaneers may be out of playoff contention, but don't expect
their offense to make any significant changes here in Week 17.
That's great for Bucky Irving, who continues to dominate the backfield
touches for Tampa, having seen 36 over the past two weeks and
at least 17 in each of his four games since returning from injury.
Unfortunately, the touches haven't yet resulted in any huge games,
in large part due to the Bucs' overall offensive struggles, but
that may not be the case in this matchup with the Dolphins.
Miami has struggled to defend against opposing running backs
this season and there's no better example of that than the beating
they took at the hands (and legs) of Chase Brown this past week.
Brown rushed the ball 12 times for 66 yards and a touchdown, but
he also added four receptions for 43 yards and a pair of scores
in the Bengals' beatdown of the Dolphins. Irving may not be a
locked-in RB1, but he's a very solid option this week with huge
volume potential against a bad team with nothing to play for.
Baker Mayfield's second-half-of-the-season struggles continued
in Week 16 as the QB threw for just 145 yards and a touchdown
with an interception as Tampa fell to Carolina. Mayfield hasn't
been completely horrible from a fantasy standpoint during this
bad stretch—he's thrown at least one touchdown in every
game—but he certainly is not the superstar fantasy asset
that he was during the first half of the season. He does have
a positive matchup against a Dolphins defense that has been bottom-10
at defending against fantasy QBs, but he just doesn't look healthy
right now. Mayfield is a decent floor play, but the ceiling is
lacking for him to return QB1 value right now.
A non-participant in Thursday's practice due to his lingering
fibula injury, Chris Godwin is a player who fantasy managers will
have to keep an eye on yet again heading into this weekend's games.
Godwin is expected to play, but he continues to deal with the
ongoing nagging injuries that have hampered his production and
limited his snaps. The truth is that he's been mediocre since
his return to the lineup, compiling just 19 receptions for 192
yards and one touchdown on 28 targets over these past five games.
Miami is a terrible team, but if there's one thing they've done
well this season, it's defend against WRs. They've been the eighth-best
team at defending against the position this season and while Ja'Marr
Chase topped 100 yards and Tee Higgins got into the end zone against
them this past week, this looks like it could be a low-scoring
contest that would limit Godwin's already low chances of scoring
a touchdown.
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.12
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.16
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.5
Tight end Darren Waller has been battling injuries all year long
so it should come as no surprise that we're going to need to keep
a close eye on his practice participation and activation announcement
leading into Week 17's contest. Like most tight ends, Waller has
been a hit-or-miss, touchdown-dependent fantasy asset when he's
been active, but the nice thing is that his "hits" have
been true difference-making performances at a position that rarely
delivers those types of performances. Waller has managed to score
six touchdowns in just eight total games played this season, so
we should like his chances to perform against a Dolphins defense
that has conceded the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight
ends throughout the 2025 season.
It's hard to get too excited about a player who hasn't caught
more than five passes in a game since all the way back in Week
9, but there is some hope for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle
this week as he and the Dolphins host the Buccaneers. Waddle had
a respectable five-for-72 performance this past week and while
that won't blow anyone away in the fantasy points column, the
biggest positive that came from it was that he matched a season-high
nine targets in that contest.
With the Dolphins now transitioning to Quinn Ewers to lead the
offense, we have some additional reason for optimism, as young
quarterbacks have a tendency to rely heavily on their top targets.
Time will tell if Ewers follows that trend and focuses heavily
on Waddle, but hey—it's hard to imagine that things will be significantly
worse with Ewers behind center than they were with Tua. Waddle
should be a startable low-end WR2, but we'll feel more confident
about him as a Flex.
Things are looking up for Rhamondre Stevenson managers as TreVeyon
Henderson is still in the concussion protocol following the head
injury that knocked him out in Week 16. The rookie has still not
practiced as of Thursday and it's not particularly common for
a player to be active in the game following after sustaining a
concussion, so there's a strong chance that Stevenson will be
in line for a big workload against a terrible Jets defense that
has struggled against running backs all season long and has completely
lost all hope of even being competitive in most games.
This could be—and probably should be—a multi-score
victory for the Patriots, so whoever gets the lion's share of
the backfield touches is an extremely strong play in this one.
Think top-half RB1 upside with a solid RB2 floor.
Patriots' top wide receiver Stefon Diggs is coming off of his
second-best fantasy game of the season as he caught nine passes
for 138 yards in New England's victory over Baltimore. It's easy
to look at that performance and slide Diggs back into your lineup
without much thought, but this is a more complicated situation
than that.
Prior to that big performance, Diggs had been on a cold streak
as the wide receiver had caught just eight total passes for 72
yards and no touchdowns over his previous three contests. To make
matters worse, we couldn't even make the case that he was unlucky—he
just wasn't seeing opportunities as Diggs was targeted just 11
times over those three contests.
Looking ahead to this matchup, we have to consider that not only
has Diggs been difficult to trust, but he's also entering a matchup
against a team that has seemingly completely given up. The Patriots'
passing game has put up some big numbers in games where they had
to keep up with their opponents on the scoreboard, but there've
been times where they've played things much more conservatively
when they get ahead by multiple scores.
Diggs did catch nine passes for 105 yards against this Jets defense
when these teams played back in Week 11, but it's tough to imagine
that he'll see that much volume again in this one. He's still
worthy of a WR3/Flex start due to the upside.
Fade: N/A
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.30
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11
The only player in the New York offense who's even worth taking
a glance at right now is Breece Hall, and even that is becoming
difficult to justify. On the positive side, Hall is still seeing
the volume that should make him a borderline RB1. Unfortunately,
the efficiency is beyond pathetic. Hall has not reached even 4.0
yards per carry in a game since all the way back in Week 11, and
he's scored just one touchdown over this recent six-game stretch.
He touched the ball 16 times the last time he faced the Patriots,
which was in Week 11, but he only mustered 64 total yards and
didn't get into the end zone in that contest. If any player is
going to produce anything meaningful in the Jets offense, it's
almost certainly going to be Hall, but he's a Flex play at best.
With the suspension of DK Metcalf for the season’s final two
weeks, the Steelers find themselves without their No. 1 receiver.
In his absence, expect the team to lean heavily on its backfield
tandem while spreading the ball around in the passing game. While
there are plenty of veterans with varying degrees of name recognition
on the receiving depth chart, the most intriguing is Thielen.
The veteran has had an incredibly quiet year splitting time with
the Vikings and Steelers, but he posted a season-best 4-49-0 line
last week, and he had some impact games for the Panthers as recently
as 2024. He’s not going to stretch the field or be a 50/50 ball
threat like Metcalf, but he’s a savvy route router with good hands.
For a player that’s probably available on most waiver wires, Thielen
represents a legitimate Week 17 lottery ticket.
Although I don’t doubt Rodgers and the offense can weather
the storm, the loss of Metcalf likely means an even more conservative
approach offensively, especially in a game against a Browns team
that is unlikely to light up the scoreboard. Even during Pittsburgh’s
current three-game winning streak, during which the Steelers have
scored at least 27 points each week, Rodgers has posted middling
numbers: 258 yards passing and 1.33 TDs per game. He did a decent
job against Cleveland back in Week 6 with 235 yards and a pair
of TD strikes, but Metcalf had a 4-95-1 line that day, and it’s
not like that was solid QB1 production to begin with. Stay away
from Rodgers this Sunday.
PIT FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
PIT FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
PIT FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
PIT FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3
With Quinshon Judkins (leg) becoming the latest Brown to succumb
to a season-ending injury, it appears that Sanders will take over
as the lead back this Sunday -- Dylan Sampson (hand/calf) would
be the logical successor, but he’s missed the last two games due
to injury and didn’t even practice last week. Sanders made the
club on the strength of his preseason performance, and he even
scored a touchdown in the opener. He got lost in the numbers game
once Judkins signed his rookie deal, though, with his 11 carries
against Buffalo representing his first action since Week 1. Although
the Steelers stymied Detroit’s potent running attack in Week 16,
you can still expect the Browns to try and run the ball in order
to take pressure off of their rookie QB. That should give Sanders
enough juice to fill a flex role... that is, unless Sampson returns,
in which case he’d be the Browns back you’d want in your lineup
as your flex while Sanders would become someone to avoid.
In two games before his 364-yard, 3-touchdown outing versus Tennessee,
Sanders totaled 358 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. In two games since
his game against the Titans, the Colorado alum has totaled 334
yards, 1 TD, and 5 INTs. While it’s possible the Steelers
will have already wrapped up the AFC North at kickoff -- Baltimore
plays Green Bay on Saturday night, and if the Ravens lose, Pittsburgh
clinches the division -- it could also be a case where they need
to win on Sunday to avoid having their Week 18 matchup with the
Ravens be for a division banner. So, despite the Steelers bringing
the 30th-ranked pass defense to town, Sanders should not be considered
for a starting spot.
Back in action after missing two games following an emergency
appendectomy, Harrison endured his worst on-field performance
of the year, finishing with season lows in both receptions (1)
and yards (14). There’s no denying that the former Ohio
State star has disappointed fantasy owners since being selected
fourth overall last year, but he’s well positioned to help
either secure (or reach) your championship this Sunday. The Bengals
rank 29th in the NFL in total pass defense (246.8 yards per game),
30th in yards per attempt (8.1), and 31st in touchdown passes
allowed (31). Everything about this game absolutely screams shootout,
with both teams being eliminated from playoff contention and questionable
talent on the defensive side of the ball. Arizona has shown a
penchant for consolation yards as well, giving Harrison attractive
upside from your WR3 slot.
James Conner (foot), out for the season. Trey Benson (knee),
out for the season. Bam Knight (ankle), out for the season. Emari
Demercado, returned in Week 15 after suffering a high ankle sprain,
slowly being eased back into the offense. By process of elimination,
Carter is Arizona’s nominal RB1 for this Sunday. Carter, who had
some decent seasons with the Jets to begin his career, ran for
a season-high 65 yards in Week 16 against the Falcons. It was
the third time he’s posted 10-plus carries this season, and in
those games, he’s totaled 51, 56, and 65 yards, respectively.
Of course, the Bengals boast the worst run defense in football,
allowing 156 yards per game on the ground at a rate of 5.3 yards
per tote. While there’s mild concern that Demercado will poach
more of Carter’s workload this week, Carter still warrants a spot
in your lineup as an RB3/flex with some interesting upside.
Fade: N/A
ARI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
ARI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
ARI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
ARI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6
Last week, when the Bengals totaled 45 points and 407 yards of
offense, 68% of that (277 yards) went to the players on the no-brainer
list. That doesn’t leave a lot for anyone else. The most
productive of the tertiary threats was Perine, who carried the
ball seven times for 25 yards and added 16 more as a receiver.
He also scored his second touchdown of the season. Over the last
four weeks, Perine is averaging 44 yards per game, but he has
a shot to exceed that against Arizona -- a week ago, Falcons RB2
Tyler Allgeier ran for 79 yards on 16 carries. While Allgeier
is a different style of back (and more talented), the opportunity
for Perine to contribute meaningful numbers exists. That affords
him some flex appeal, at least in deeper leagues.
Outside of Olave, the Saints have struggled all season to find
production in their offense. Currently that task is left to tight
end Juwan Johnson who is coming off a 9-target game against the
Jets. He’s got four games this season of at least 70 receiving
yards but has only found the endzone three times, keeping him
in high-end TE2 range for the season on a per game basis. Johnson
is 8th in targets at the position and Tyler Shough has been performing
better of late, giving some optimism for the Saints traditional
tight end in Week 17.
After largely being useless in fantasy football this season, Taysom
Hill delivered a huge performance (1/1, 38-1-0, 12-42-0, 4-26-0)
last week, in what was likely his last game at home for the Saints.
The big question is, will this kind of usage continue, or was
this a one week “thank you” for the Swiss army knife? Those who
just lost Brock Bowers would certainly like to know. The Saints
could use his production as they are decimated at running back
and have basically two options in the passing game (Olave, Juwan
Johnson). We may not get 17 touches again, but 10 is certainly
a possibility given the current lack of weapons on offense.
The Saints’ running game has been abysmal this season.
They rank 30th in total rushing yards and 31st in rushing TDs.
Last week, Taysom Hill the team with 12 attempts. There’s
no reason to entertain Estime as a desperation Flex option.
NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.26
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
The Titans have won two out of their last three games so it’s
no surprise that’s coincided with three-straight 100-yard rushing
games from Pollard and 3 TDs in that span. In two of those games,
he touched the ball more than 20 times and we should expect the
same this week against the Saints which should be at least a neutral
game script. The only drawback for Pollard is his lack of involvement
in the passing game with just 2 targets in his last three games.
Most of the receiving work out of the backfield has gone to Tyjae
Spears (9 tgts), so we’re counting on rushing production and TDs
from Pollard. We should get it here as the Saints are middle of
the pack against the position, making Pollard a mid-range RB2
this week.
Despite the better play recently from Tennessee, there’s not
really a lot to like fantasy-wise outside of Pollard. Chig is
probably the best of the rest as he’s seen 14 targets in his last
two games but he’s totaled just 77 yards and 1 TD in that span…
his only TD of the season. If fellow tight end Gunnar Helm (toe)
gets ruled Out, then Chig becomes more tantalizing as a Week 17
fill-in for Brock Bowers.
It’s been a struggle for the Titans rookie quarterback
this season as he ranks 24th in total fantasy points at the position
and a dismal 42nd in fantasy points per game. He had his second-best
fantasy game last week against the depleted Chiefs, good for QB15
on the week. The weapons in the passing game are below average
as is the matchup against the Saints, allowing the 7th fewest
fantasy points to the position. With no upside to speak of, there’s
no reason to entertain Ward as a fantasy starter this week.
Over the last five weeks no fantasy QB has performed better than
Trevor Lawrence. He’s thrown 15 TDs against just 3 INTs and has
2 rushing touchdowns for good measure. Bringing in Jakobi Meyers
seems to have stabilized the passing game and given Lawrence someone
he can trust on third down. The Week 14 game against the Colts
was his worst performance in this five-game stretch, but he still
finished as the QB13. There’s no reason to get in front of Trevor
train, especially considering Brock Purdy and the 49ers dismantled
the Colts-D last week.
With Bhayshul Tuten on the shelf, Etienne played a healthy 70%
of the snaps last week with backup LeQuint Allen mixing in for
just 4 touches. Etienne is likely to see 20 touches in this contest
giving him low-end RB1 upside if he can find the endzone. This
one is close to a no-brainer, so start Etienne with confidence
if you find yourself in the fantasy Championship game.
Meyers has found a home in Jacksonville and has already established
himself as a primary option in the offense. However, there are
a lot of mouths to feed in Jacksonville and he hasn’t cracked
double-digit fantasy points (half-ppr) in his last two games.
The Colts are a plus matchup for wide receivers so he’s
not a recommended sit, but he posted a 4-39-1 line when these
teams played in Week 14 and probably carries a bit more risk this
week than most realize.
Fade: N/A
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
Taylor is a decent play for his TD probability alone, but he’s
not the not the No-Brainer he once was earlier this season. Since
his Week 10 explosion (244-3, 3-42-0) he’s finished as the
RB26, RB18, RB19, RB22, and RB16. Still solidly in RB2 range but
not delivering the RB1 performances we’re used to. The Jaguars
have been stingy against the position this season, allowing the
fewest number of rushing yards to the position. You’re going
to start Taylor, but expectations should be tempered.
Rivers can’t throw the ball downfield, so you would think Pierce
and his 20.3 yards per catch would struggle with the 44-year-old
at Quarterback. But that didn’t happen last week as Pierce posted
a 4-86-2 line on just 4 targets. What Rivers lacks in arm strength,
he makes up for with his veteran savvy and ability to getting
the ball out of his hands quickly and to the appropriate receiver
based on the defensive alignment. That could be to any one of
his wideouts or TE Tyler Warren, which makes it tough to pinpoint
a fantasy target. Warren hasn’t had the results (3-19-0, 3-30-0),
but he does have 15 targets in the last two games. Pittman had
12 targets the last time these two teams met with Riley Leonard
at QB. Two of this receiving group is likely to post fantasy duds,
but there’s room for two to be beneficial, especially if the Jags
are able to open a two-score lead.
Walker is coming off his best fantasy game of the season (11-100-1,
3-64-0) last week against the Rams, posting a RB8 finish in half-PPR
scoring. He landed some of his trademark big plays, which have
been too few and far between for most fantasy managers. This was
Walker’s 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season and just
his 2nd TD since Week 3. The matchup here is good, as the Panthers
are top 10 in yards and TDs allowed to the position, leading to
another week of Walker being a viable, yet unsettling play for
your fantasy team.
Walker’s been sharing time with Charbonnet who largely
gets the benefit of being used in the redzone which drives a lot
of his fantasy value. Being 7-point favorites in the matchup against
the Panthers certainly bodes well for the Seattle running backs,
and in particular Charbonnet (9 TDs), who is more likely to score.
He’s averaging 11.7 touches per game, which makes him a
Flex consideration only.
Fade: N/A
SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.21
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.24
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.7
The Panthers rookie wideout has been on a TD heater of late,
scoring five times in his last five games. The yardage and targets
have been lacking at times over the last few weeks, but there’s
no question who the leader of this passing attack is. He’s
tied for 13th among wideouts with 112 targets and currently sits
as the WR 19 in fantasy points per game (Half-PPR). The likely
negative game scripts against Seattle should give fantasy managers
confidence to get McMillan in their lineup.
After some mid-season heroics, Rico Dowdle has faded down the
stretch, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry over the last three
weeks and posting a high-water mark of 58 rushing yards since
Week 10. The touch count hasn’t been horrible, aside from
Week 12 (10) and Week 16 (13), but the production simply hasn’t
been there. Chuba Hubbard is demanding touches of his own and
playing roughly 40% of the snaps which cuts into Dowdle’s
upside. This workload split, combined with the negative matchup
against the Seahawks who have allowed the 2nd fewest fantasy points
to the position, would lead me to be searching for other answers
at RB in Week 17.
In holding Jawhar Jordan to 9.5 FPts, the Raiders slowed their
recent slide against running backs — a stretch in which they’d
allowed five different RBs to score at least 15 FPts over the
previous four weeks. That said, Las Vegas has still been a defense
we can target, and unlike Houston, the Giants have consistently
found fantasy value out of the backfield.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. hasn’t been the wrecking ball that Cam
Skattebo was earlier in the season, but since regaining his job
as the Giants’ lead back, Tracy has started to resemble
his 2024 version. Over his last five games, he’s averaged
13.2 FPts/G, highlighted by a 23.2-point outing versus Washington
two weeks ago.
It’s also in New York’s best interest to protect rookie QB Jaxson
Dart down the stretch — particularly if LT Andrew Thomas ends
up missing this week. That likely means fewer unnecessary hits
on Dart and more emphasis on Tracy. He carries strong RB2 appeal
with low-end RB1 upside against Las Vegas.
It certainly looked like the Giants were willing to play extremely
conservatively — even at the cost of winning — to
limit how many hits Jaxson Dart took against a blitz-heavy Vikings
defense. Dart still absorbed five sacks on just 13 pass attempts,
finishing with 2.0 FPts in his worst outing of the year.
The Raiders don’t bring the same pressure profile (26 sacks,
23 passing TDs allowed, 8 INTs), but they’re still coached
by a savvy defensive mind in Pete Carroll. While the Giants may
feel less compelled to “hide” Dart this week, it’s
clear that keeping him healthy has become priority No. 1. That
adds risk.
He still carries plenty of upside — six games this year
with 21.6+ FPts — but since returning from his concussion,
he has averaged just 12.6 FPts/G. Dart is a classic boom/bust
QB option in Week 17.
Wan’Dale Robinson is closing in on a very respectable season
and has done an admirable job stepping into a de facto No.1 role
following Malik Nabers’ injury. However, since Dart’s return,
Robinson hasn’t topped 54 yards and is coming off a 3-19-0 line
in a game where he still commanded six targets.
Las Vegas has tightened up considerably against receivers since
Week 12, with no opposing wideout surpassing 12 FPts over the
last month. Robinson — WR28 on the season — profiles
as a flex with a WR2 ceiling but a notably lower floor than earlier
in the year.
Theo Johnson might be the player most affected by Dart’s return.
After exploding earlier in the season (5 TDs in six games) and
staying mildly productive with Jameis Winston, Johnson has cooled
off — posting 4.4, 8.7, and 0 FPts over his last three.
On paper, the matchup isn’t easy, as the Raiders have allowed
among the fewest points to tight ends — though that number is
somewhat schedule-inflated. Recent performances from Dallas Goedert
(22.0) and Dalton Schultz (11.6) show there is still room for
tight end success.
The problem is yardage: no tight end has topped 70 receiving
yards against Las Vegas this season, meaning production has mostly
come from red zone work. Given the Giants’ inconsistent
offense, Johnson sits in the TE2 range with some TE1 upside if
he finds the end zone.
Fade: N/A
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.28
Ashton Jeanty finished as last week’s RB1 — the second
time he’s done that in his rookie campaign — reinforcing
both his long-term appeal and his elite weekly ceiling despite
the Raiders’ offensive line struggles. Doing it against
Houston only underscores how dangerous he can be.
He now draws a more palatable matchup versus the Giants. Jeanty’s
seven-game multi-reception streak was snapped last week, but he
still turned his lone catch into a 60-yard touchdown. He’s
averaged 4.4 receptions over his last eight games, and New York
has surrendered the second-most receptions to opposing backs.
With the Raiders extremely thin on weapons, Jeanty should once
again be heavily featured. Even if he isn’t hyper-efficient
on the ground, Jeanty is likely in line for 20+ touches with elite
upside in Week 17.
Tre Tucker opened the year with some promising consistency —
at least 9 FPts in four of the Raiders’ first six games — but
has cooled significantly since. Not surprisingly, most of his
production came while Brock Bowers battled injuries. With Bowers
now on IR and Jakobi Meyers traded mid-season, Tucker becomes
the best available wideout for Geno Smith.
The downside is obvious — defenses can key on him —
but the Giants have allowed consistent production to receivers,
and someone besides Jeanty has to command targets. Tucker is a
viable flex option with real upside in this matchup.
Geno Smith has stabilized a bit after his ugly midseason stretch,
throwing six touchdowns against only two interceptions across
his last four games — all against tough defenses. Even so, last
week’s solid outing versus Houston still resulted in just a QB18
finish. Without Brock Bowers and with only Tre Tucker and Tyler
Lockett as trustworthy weapons, Smith’s ceiling feels capped.
Despite the Giants allowing the sixth-most points to quarterbacks,
Geno remains more of a QB2.
As for Michael Mayer, fantasy managers scrambling after the Bowers
injury may be tempted — but Mayer has largely profiled as
a blocking tight end through two seasons. Even when previously
thrust into a receiving role, he produced just one notable fantasy
outing (5-50-1 vs. TEN) and has failed to top 3.8 FPts in any
other game.
The Giants have quietly handled tight ends well, allowing only
five touchdowns to the position while keeping yardage modest.
With matchups likely against Bobby Okereke in coverage, Mayer
is best left on benches as a low-end TE2.
Jalen Hurts' mediocre passing yardage totals continue to limit
him from delivering truly week-winning performance, but he's remained
an extremely reliable mid-to-low-end QB1 aside from the horrendous
blip on the radar back in Week 14 against the Chargers. The Eagles
will need him to air the ball out and be productive with his legs
if they hope to get the win in this battle of Super Bowl hopefuls.
Unfortunately, he does have a difficult on-paper matchup against
a Bills defense that has conceded the sixth-fewest fantasy points
to opposing quarterbacks this season. On a positive note, though,
they have struggled a bit against mobile QBs as of late, with
both Shedeur Sanders and Drake Maye doing some damage against
them with their legs over the past two weeks, and Joe Burrow threw
for 284 yards and four touchdowns the week before that.
Hurts remains a low-end QB1, but he still has elite upside, especially
if this turns into a shootout.
If the first half of A.J. Brown's 2025 season was anything like
the second half has been then we would be talking about him competing
to be the fantasy WR1 for the season. While we can't forgive the
early disappointment, Brown has been extremely reliable from Week
11 on and should be in line for more volume in this big matchup
as long as he's healthy.
Unfortunately, the caveat of him being healthy is the thing we
have to be worried about right now, as Brown underwent dental
surgery earlier this week and has missed practice on both Wednesday
and Thursday, leaving his status for Sunday's game in question.
He has one more chance to practice on Friday and if he does then
we can feel much more confident about putting him in our lineups,
but managers will need to have a contingency plan in case he's
inactive.
DeVonta Smith saved himself from another ugly fantasy performance
by getting into the end zone this past week in Philadelphia's
win over Washington. Smith was still only able to produce 42 yards
on six receptions, but hey—he got there for his managers.
Things could get ugly again this week, however, as Smith matches
up against a Buffalo defense that ranks in the bottom-10 of matchups
for opposing wide receivers. They've been particularly lock-down
as of late, as well, with only Tee Higgins being the only wide
receiver who's reached even 11 fantasy points against them over
their past four contests—that includes games against DK Metcalf,
Stefon Diggs, and even Ja'Marr Chase.
If A.J. Brown is inactive then the whole situation changes as
Smith becomes the locked-in WR1 in the Philadelphia offense, but
otherwise Smith is a risky option in what is a difficult matchup.
PHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
PHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
PHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
PHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32
The old "someone has to catch the ball" theory applies
here, but it's hard to make a great case to trust any of the Buffalo
pass-catchers here in Week 17. Not only have they all been struggling,
but the Philadelphia defense has been incredible at defending
against opposing wide receivers—especially recently. Sure,
they've faced a bunch of teams that are struggling to pass the
ball right now, but even still, the Eagles haven't given up a
10-point fantasy day to an opposing wide receiver in any of their
past four games.
Shakir himself has reached double-digit PPR fantasy points just
twice over his past six games, while also failing to reach even
2.0 points in two of those contests. The ceiling just isn't there
and the volume isn't there to give us hope that it will arrive
this week. Look elsewhere if at all possible.
Among healthy quarterbacks, Caleb Williams sits 11th in FPts/G
(18.8). Some of that growth can be tied to improved personnel
around him, but he’s also shown better pocket awareness
— cutting down his sack rate while facing similar pressure.
He’s thrown multiple touchdowns in four of his last five
games despite matchups against Green Bay (twice), Philadelphia,
and Cleveland, and even while battling winter weather conditions.
This week brings a friendlier environment — both weather-wise
and defensively — as Chicago travels to San Francisco. The
49ers have surrendered 28 passing touchdowns while managing just
six interceptions. They’ve limited quarterback rushing production,
but the passing yardage is there, and Williams has been producing
enough to land firmly inside the Top 8 conversation at the position
this week.
D’Andre Swift sits 15th among running backs in FPts/G and remains
RB18 over the last five weeks, even with Kyle Monangai carving
out a regular role. Swift’s versatility keeps him on the field
regardless of game script, which matters with the Bears likely
playing from behind. He remains a solid RB2 in what could become
a high-scoring matchup.
Colston Loveland has quietly become relevant at tight end. Over
his last eight games, he’s averaged 10.4 FPts/G — right in line
with guys like Kyle Pitts — and now draws a 49ers defense allowing
the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends. For managers still
streaming the position, Loveland is a viable TE1 in Week 17.
Which D.J. Moore shows up this week? Since Week 9, he has four
games with 14.9+ FPts… and two games with basically nothing.
With Chicago leaning more run-heavy and Williams posting just
a 68% on-target rate, Moore has become volatile. He carries WR2
upside against the 49ers, but still comes with a scary floor as
a flex.
Kyle Monangai has been fantasy-relevant since his breakout in
Week 9, averaging 13.1 touches and 9.9 FPts/G across his last
seven games. The touchdown upside (five rushing scores) keeps
him in the flex conversation here, but limited receiving work
— and the potential for increased passing volume —
cap his ceiling. He’s playable, just riskier than usual.
Odunze opened the season hot, but has been under 7 fantasy points
in six of his last eight games — including 1.8 last week
and a zero back in Week 9. With Olamide Zac-cheaus earning a larger
role and Odunze still battling a foot issue, he’s simply
too risky with championships on the line. If he plays, he’s
better left on the bench.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.7
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.10
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
Chicago’s defense has thrived creating turnovers (21 interceptions),
and Brock Purdy has had his issues there — eight picks across
seven starts this year. Even so, fantasy doesn’t punish
INTs nearly as much as real football, and Purdy’s production
has been strong: 17 touchdown passes and enough volume to rank
2nd among quarterbacks in FPts/G (albeit in limited starts). In
a matchup with a Bears defense that has given up 28 passing touchdowns,
Purdy remains a Top 10 fantasy option.
Jauan Jennings has become a weekly factor. He’s now scored
in four straight games and has topped 12 fantasy points in six
of his last seven. With injuries tightening San Fran-cisco’s
pass-catching depth, Jennings is seeing consistent involvement
— and Chicago has allowed 20 touchdowns to opposing wideouts.
He profiles as a strong WR2 this week.
Pearsall looked fully back after the bye with a 7-96-0 line,
then reinjured himself and missed Week 16. He’s practicing
in limited fashion and could play. If active, the upside is clear:
the Bears have allowed five 100-yard receiver games and plenty
of touchdown production. But health, snap count, and in-game durability
remain concerns. If he suits up, he’s a boom/bust WR3.
With George Kittle (ankle) likely out, Jake Tonges steps back
into the starting role. Ear-lier this season he averaged over
50 snaps and 4.4 receptions per game with two touch-downs while
Kittle was sidelined — good for 8.6 FPts/G. But he’s limited athletically
and draws a Chicago defense that’s middle-of-the-pack against
tight ends. He’s touch-down-dependent and best viewed as a TE2.
I expect we’ve seen the last of Davante Adams (hamstring) for
the regular season which isn’t great news for Stafford’s fantasy
value, but when you’ve got Puka Nacua as your top option, you’re
still in the weekly QB1 conversation. Stafford leads the league
in passing TDs (40), eight ahead of Jared Goff, and only has 5
INTs on his 2025 resume. Yeah, he’s not going to run much, but
that hasn’t hurt his fantasy value to date as he ranks as the
QB3 heading into Week 17. The Falcons are middle of the pack against
QBs and there’s reason why Stafford shouldn’t turn in a QB1 performance
this week.
Kyren has been ceding more work to Corum of late as the two RBs
trade series but the Rams’ main running back is still working
in a lead back role with plenty of TD upside. He’s T-6th
in rushing TDs at the position, including 8 scores since Week
9. With the Rams favored by 8 points, Kyren also has positive
game script in his favor making him an easy low-end RB1 in fantasy
championship week.
Corum has seen double-digit touches in his last three games (13,
11, 15) and has earned the trust of the coaching staff to be used
in critical situations and around the goaline. He has five TDs
in his last four games which makes him a viable Flex option considering
the Rams are strong favorites (-8.0) against the Falcons.
Fade: N/A
LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.29
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15
London admitted to being rusty in his first game back since injuring
his knee in Week 11. The result as just a 3-27-0 line but he did
see 8 targets. He’s got five 100-yard games in just 10 games played
and I’d expect a higher snap share and better performance against
a Rams unit that’s allowed the 8th most receiving yards to the
position including WR1 performances to other No.1 wideouts likes
JSN (twice), A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Given his lack of mobility, Cousins seems like a sitting duck
against a team decent at getting pressure on the quarterback.
However, we’ve seen him give spiked performances in negative
game scripts or high-scoring affairs which could be the setup
here in Week 17 against the Rams. The other thing going for Cousins,
is he will have Drake London again who should be able to increase
his workload from last week when he played just 69% of the snaps.
His presence, along with Kyle Pitts at tight end, could be enough
to consider Cousins as a QB2 in Superflex leagues.
