Emeka Egbuka Needs to Bounce Back in Week 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has seen a significant drop-off since his fantastic beginning to the season. Over the last six games, Egbuka has been held to under 45 receiving yards in every game but one. The return of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan isn't going to do Egbuka any favors in terms of target share. The Bucs have a lot of mouths to feed, and unfortunately, Egbuka is getting lost in the shuffle. He hauled in one of his two targets for 40 yards during last week's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Egbuka should be viewed as a WR3 for the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The upside is great, but Egbuka isn't getting the ball enough to be trustworthy in most formats right now.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Troy Franklin Sees Another Dip in Snap Shares in Week 17
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin saw another dropoff in snap share during the 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. After posting an uptrend in snaps with 50% in Week 15 and 64% in Week 16, Franklin was only on the field for 38% of snaps in Week 17 despite not having to compete with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant (concussion) for snaps. Franklin still caught all four of his targets for a modest 17 yards and no touchdowns. The Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, and Franklin will seemingly remain a volatile option until otherwise noted.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Courtland Sutton Struggles in Win Against Chiefs
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton struggled in the 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Coming off two back-to-back WR1 consensus outings, Sutton was held to four catches on 10 targets for 40 yards and zero touchdowns as the Chiefs' defense keyed on restricting the passing game. Sutton did lead the team in receiving yards and targets, but the lone passing touchdown from quarterback Bo Nix went to rookie running back RJ Harvey to win them the game in the final minutes. While this outing was a disappointment for fantasy managers who started Sutton in Week 17, his performance still allowed him to surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. The Broncos will face the Los Angeles Chargers at home in Week 18.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bo Nix Posts Another Clutch Performance in 20-13 Win
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had another clutch showing in their 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Nix had a mediocre day through the air, completing 26 of 38 pass attempts for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but elevated his overall fantasy day with a new season high in rushes, taking nine carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. Before the second half, Nix had no touchdowns and one interception. The Broncos have now won 12 of their last 13 games, and only three of those games were decided by more than one score. In Week 18, the Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers to end the regular season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Allen Good to Go for Sunday
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (foot), who has been trending in the right direction with a foot injury, was a full participant during Friday's practice and carries no injury designation into a Week 17 matchup with the defending champion Eagles. Allen was seen receiving attention during the Bills' Week 16 win over the Browns, but never missed a snap, and had been viewed as a long shot to miss any time with the injury. With his status now official, Allen is RotoBaller's QB3 for fantasy championship weekend, and he should be viewed as a trusted start, even against an Eagles defense that has held opposing quarterbacks almost four points below their season-long average.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Mike Evans Carries WR2 Value in Week 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has seen heavy involvement in the passing game since making his return to the field two weeks ago. Since Week 15, Evans has hauled in 11 of his 21 targets for 163 yards with one touchdown. He figures to continue being a focal point on offense heading into the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. This Dolphins' defense has been middle of the pack when it comes to defending wide receivers this season. Clearly, Evans is a favorite target for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Fantasy managers should be able to count on Evans as a WR2 for this game.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Sean Tucker is a Touchdown-Dependent Option
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker carries a three-game touchdown streak into Sunday's Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Tucker has seen his role on offense take a significant drop since Bucky Irving returned from injury in Week 13. Since Irving returned, Tucker has seen four or fewer carries in three of the last four games. The only thing saving his fantasy value is the fact that he has scored a touchdown in three straight games. The Bucs have been using Tucker in goal-line situations, and he keeps finding his way into the end zone. He figures to remain in the role, which means Tucker should be viewed as a touchdown-dependent flex option for Week 17.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Mack Hollins Amongst a Handful of Patriots Ruled Out for Sunday
New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Jets, as an abdominal injury has kept him from practicing this week. Hollins was one of seven Patriots players ruled out on Friday, along with fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte (concussion). With two of New England's most reliable downfield threats set to miss the game and DeMario Douglas (hamstring) carrying a questionable tag of his own, Stefon Diggs and tight end Hunter Henry could be in line for staggering target shares. Meanwhile, rookie Kyle Williams, who caught a 37-yard touchdown pass in Sunday night's comeback win, becomes an upside-driven desperation flex against a Jets defense that has struggled against the pass.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Rachaad White Hopeful to Have Expanded Role
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has seen a minimal role in the rushing attack since Bucky Irving returned from injury in Week 13. Since then, White has only seen double-digit carries once over the last four games. Head coach Todd Bowles recently stated that he wants to increase White's involvement for the upcoming Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. White is posting solid numbers with his limited attempts, so the Bucs want to get him more carries. This could be a messy situation, with Irving and Sean Tucker also getting carries. This is a favorable matchup for White, but he shouldn't be trusted as anything more than a flex option in deep leagues for Week 17.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Bucky Irving Falls into RB2 Range
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is having success on the ground, but it's not exactly resulting in solid fantasy value right now. Since returning from injury, Irving has only found the end zone on the ground once over the last four games. The second-year back is doing well on the ground with 55 or more rushing yards in all of those games. The biggest problem has been the lack of scoring, with Sean Tucker being used in goal-line situations lately. Tucker has scored a touchdown in three straight games coming into the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Irving does have a plus matchup this weekend, with the Dolphins being mediocre against the rushing attack. The 23-year-old should be able to offer RB2 value, but his ceiling could be limited with the Bucs using a three-back committee that also includes Rachaad White.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kayshon Boutte Ruled Out for Sunday
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion) has been ruled out of the team's Week 17 matchup with the Jets after suffering a concussion late in a Week 16 win over the Ravens. Boutte was injured on a controversial deep pass that resulted in no pass interference call, and he will now be held out of at least one more game as he works through the league's concussion protocol. Fellow receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) has also been ruled out for Sunday, leaving Drake Maye without his two most reliable downfield threats, but potentially putting rookie Kyle Williams in a position to build upon his late-season momentum. Williams caught a critical 37-yard touchdown in New England's comeback win on Sunday night, and he could be in line for his highest snap share of the season with Boutte and Hollins already ruled out, while DeMario Douglas (hamstring) is questionable with a hamstring injury.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Baker Mayfield Has Low-End QB1 Appeal for Week 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has given fantasy managers some lackluster performances during the second half of the season. Over his last six games, Mayfield has only surpassed 200 passing yards in a single game once. Mayfield has also only thrown for multiple touchdowns once during that span. It has been a struggle lately for Mayfield, but he does head into a favorable matchup in Week 17. He'll draw a matchup against a shaky Miami Dolphins defense, a unit that has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. It's a must-win game for the Bucs, so Mayfield needs to be at the top of his game. The hope is that Mayfield can offer fantasy managers low-end QB1 value for this one.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
TreVeyon Henderson Questionable Vs Jets
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Jets. The first-year back was spotted at Friday's practice, no longer donning the red non-contact jersey he wore to begin the week. Henderson will still need to officially clear the NFL's concussion protocol after exiting the team's Week 16 win over the Ravens with a head injury, and fantasy managers should check back when New England releases their final injury report of the week, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. Henderson finished as the RB3 on the week when the Patriots last faced the Jets in Week 11, and he becomes a must-start if active. Should he miss Sunday's game, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson slots in as a high-end RB2 who could be asked to handle substantial volume.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Dylan Sampson Questionable for Week 17
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (hand) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Steelers as he continues to work back from the hand injury that has kept him out of the last two games. With fellow first-year back Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) done for the year after undergoing surgery following a brutal Week 16 injury, the Browns' running back depth chart has been one to monitor heading into fantasy title games. It was undrafted rookie Raheim Sanders who saw the bulk of the carries following Judkins' injury. He finished the day with 12 touches for 46 yards, while veteran Trayveon Williams was also mixed in to the tune of seven opportunities. If Sampson is able to suit up against the Steelers, he will likely be given starter's reps, but things could quickly devolve into a committee approach. Should Sampson miss another game, Sanders at least carries desperation flex appeal into an otherwise unfavorable matchup.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Harold Fannin Jr. Questionable for Sunday
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) sustained a groin injury during Friday's practice and is now being listed as questionable for the team's Week 17 matchup with the Steelers. He had been RotoBaller's TE3 for championship weekend, but his status is now up in the air. Fannin had seen a 20+ percent target share in seven of his last nine games, hitting a 30 percent share twice in the previous five, but the groin injury now calls into question how he might be used even if he is able to suit up. This is another tough blow in a week that has already seen Brock Bowers placed on Injured Reserve and George Kittle likely to head into Sunday night as a game-time decision, leaving fantasy titles to be potentially won or lost by some unlikely suspects at the position.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
RADIO



