December 26, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet draws a great matchup with the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. The Panthers are No. 25 against opposing running backs in fantasy, and Charbonnet's role as the goal line running back should allow him to have a crack at the end zone against this vulnerable defense. Charbonnet's nine touchdowns this season have propelled him to a flex-worthy season. When he scores, he generally has a solid day for fantasy. His efficiency has been low all season, but in good matchups, he is generally able to rack up a respectable amount of yards. Look for the Seahawks' offense to have success against this defense all day. Charbonnet would be a risky play, as you are betting on a touchdown. However, if Charbonnet is going to score in any week, it would be in this matchup with the Panthers.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 26, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed is a risky play against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. Shaheed has come alive over the last three weeks, posting no less than 67 receiving yards or a touchdown in any given week. However, he only earned one target in Week 16, and most of his points came from a punt return for a touchdown. Shaheed should earn more than one target in Week 17, but the Panthers have a solid secondary that has given opposing passing games fits this season. Shaheed's role in the offense is evolving into more of the downfield role he held in New Orleans. As such, he is always a threat for a bomb touchdown reception. On the other hand, the Seahawks have shown that in unfavorable matchups, their only reliable wide receiver is generally
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If you need upside for a big play, Shaheed is your guy, but proceed with caution for championship week because he is always a threat to sink your week.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 26, 2025
Seattle Seahawks tight end
AJ Barner (elbow) is a starting option in Week 17 against a middle-of-the-pack Carolina Panthers defense. The Panthers are No. 17 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. The defense is much improved from last season and is not being gouged at every level of the field as they have in years past. Barner has been relatively fantasy-relevant this season with a nose for the end zone and a proven after-catch ability. In Week 16, Barner caught four of six targets for 49 yards and a touchdown. He has also recorded at least six targets in two straight games. The recent volume supplies Barner with a solid fantasy floor. The Seahawks should be able to move the ball against the Panthers, which will provide Barner with red zone opportunities. If you need a potential replacement for an injured San Francisco 49ers tight end,
George Kittle (ankle), or underperformers such as Indianapolis Colts tight end
Tyler Warren, Barner is a solid option for championship week. It is worth noting that Barner has been dealing with an elbow injury this week, but he has been a full participant in practice all week, and does not appear to be in danger of missing the game.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 26, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Jack Bech (back) was added to the injury report on Friday after practicing in a limited capacity. He is officially listed as questionable to play in Sunday's Week 17 contest against the New York Giants. Vegas' receiving corps is short-staffed with
Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve, so Bech could be in line for more targets if he suits up. With that being said, he's still a risky fantasy option given his underwhelming performance as a rookie this year. The TCU product has played at least 81% of the snaps in two of his last three games, but he has a modest 10 catches during that span, and just 20 catches through 15 games this season. He still hasn't scored his first career touchdown, either. As it currently stands, Bech is the overall WR67 in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings for Week 17.
--Andersen PickardSource: Paul Gutierrez
December 26, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) logged another limited practice on Friday. He is officially questionable to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. Pearsall is working his way back after missing last week's victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Given his practice participation and game status, it sounds like he could be a true game-time decision this week. His six-catch, 96-yard performance from Week 15 makes him a tempting starter, but the timing of kickoff is risky. 28 of 32 teams will have played by Sunday night, leaving managers with fewer replacement options if he's ruled out. Managers who do feel compelled to start Pearsall as a flex could pivot to someone like
Kyle Monangai,
Blake Corum, or
Luther Burden III if he doesn't play.
--Andersen PickardSource: San Francisco 49ers
December 26, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) did not practice on Friday, and he's officially listed as questionable to play against the Chicago Bears in Week 17. The team expects Kittle to be a game-time decision, but the fact that he missed all three practices this week is very discouraging. Nevertheless, the door remains open for him to play. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, the 49ers play on Sunday Night Football, which means we won't get confirmation on his status until 28 of the 32 teams have played. If he's ruled out, fantasy managers will have trouble finding a last-minute replacement. With that said, his high upside may be worth the risk in some formats. Managers planning to roll the dice with Kittle should also add his backup,
Jake Tonges, in case he's ruled out. Kittle, who is averaging the second-most fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, would rank as a high-end TE1 if active.
--Andersen PickardSource: San Francisco 49ers
December 26, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown (teeth) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Brown missed the first two days of practice this week due to a dental procedure. He was able to practice in full on Friday, which was enough to clear him for Week 17. Brown has been cruising lately, with 95 receiving yards or more in four of his last five games. He'll draw a tough matchup against the Bills' defense this weekend, a unit that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried, though, and need to keep Brown locked into all starting lineups in a game with shootout potential.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
December 26, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis (shoulder, illness) is in line to start under center for the Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Starting quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion, shoulder) has been ruled out after getting concussed during last week's loss to the Chicago Bears. Willis came in as relief and completed nine of 11 passing attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 10 times for an additional 44 yards on the ground. Willis suffered a shoulder injury in the process. He's currently questionable for this game, but he'll make the start for the Packers if he's cleared to play. Otherwise,
Clayton Tune might come off the practice squad and start if Willis is also ruled out. Willis is enough of a dual threat to be viewed as an option in superflex formats. Fantasy managers in standard 12-team formats should be able to find a more trustworthy streaming option at QB.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 26, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee) is being shut down for the rest of the regular season, according to Jay Glazer. Crosby suffered a knee injury early in the season and has been playing through it for months. The Raiders aren't playing for anything at this point in the season, so they'll elect to let Crosby rest and get healthy. Crosby reportedly didn't like the decision and stormed out of the building. The superstar pass-rusher is notorious for wanting to play in every game, no matter the team's record or injury to his body. The 2-13 Raiders are certainly rebuilding and might trade the 28-year-old pass-rusher for draft picks or younger players in the offseason. For now, Crosby is done for the year, and the Raiders' defense gets worse heading into a Week 17 matchup versus the New York Giants.
--Andy WebbSource: Jay Glazer
December 26, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals tight end
Noah Fant (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 17 matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals. Fant suffered an ankle injury in Week 15, and as a result, he sat out during last week's game against the Miami Dolphins. He was limited during the first two practice sessions of the week before getting in a full practice on Friday. Fant appears to be trending in the right direction, but fantasy managers will need to check back on Sunday. If active, Fant remains a shaky streaming option for this weekend. The 28-year-old hasn't finished with more than one reception since Week 11. Fantasy managers should be able to find a more reliable streaming option for this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Paul Dehner Jr.
December 26, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dawson Knox (knee) is listed as questionable for the upcoming Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Knox sat out the first two days of practice, but was able to get in a limited session on Friday. If active, Knox could end up serving as the No. 1 tight end with
Dalton Kincaid (knee) in danger of missing this game as well. Knox had a two-touchdown performance in Week 15, but outside of that, he has been quiet most of the season as the No. 2 behind Kincaid. He'd be a touchdown-dependent option, even as the primary tight end in Buffalo. If both Knox and Kincaid miss Week 17,
Jackson Hawes would take over as the starting tight end. The rookie wouldn't be worth streaming in 12-team formats for championship week.
--Andy WebbSource: Buffalo Bills PR
December 26, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) is trending in the right direction ahead of the Sunday night matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Matt Maiocco. Pearsall has been limited in practice this week after sitting out last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts. The second-year wideout is managing both an ankle issue and a PCL problem. He'll likely get slapped with a questionable tag ahead of the Week 17 contest. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Sunday for more information. Pearsall could offer some flex value if he's able to get back on the field this weekend, but with everything on the line in championship matchups, it's hard to put any faith in an oft-injured player not even guaranteed to be on the field on Sunday evening.
--Andy WebbSource: Matt Maiocco
December 26, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back
Bhayshul Tuten (finger) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional title against the Indianapolis Colts. The 23-year-old rookie was unable to suit up in Week 16 due to this finger injury, but appears to be nearing a return. This week, the Virginia Tech product logged three-straight limited practice sessions, which leaves the door open for a return on Sunday. Managers should keep a close eye on his status leading up to Sunday's contest. Throughout his debut season, Tuten has remained in a change-of-pace role behind workhorse
Travis Etienne Jr., as he has only logged double-digit carries in one contest. Even if Tuten can play, he remains a low-end RB4 given his minimal projected role. Etienne is expected to remain the primary running back in this offense and carry high-end RB2 upside facing the Colts.
--Andy SmithSource: Mia O'Brien
December 26, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for the third straight game due to a knee injury. The veteran tight end has been on the shelf since week 15 due to this injury. This week, the 29-year-old was unable to make much progress as he logged three straight non-participations during their practices. Njoku will look to return in their regular-season finale next weekend, when they travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. Before his injury, Njoku was losing his footing in this offense, averaging just 4.3 PPR points per game over his last five contests (Weeks 10 through 14). As a result, managers should expect rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) to continue to remain the team's clear top tight end, if cleared to suit up on Sunday.
--Andy SmithSource: Mary Kay Cabot
December 26, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Cleveland Browns. Austin suffered this injury during their thrilling victory over the Lions last weekend. This week, Austin was unable to participate in any practice sessions and will set his sights on returning in Week 18, when the Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens. Austin will join top wideout
DK Metcalf on the sidelines as he will be unable to play in each of the final two regular-season games due to a suspension. As a result, fantasy managers should expect the Steelers to deploy
Marquez Valdes-Scantling,
Adam Thielen,
Scotty Miller, and
Roman Wilson as the starting wideouts. However, managers should expect both running backs,
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell, and tight ends
Pat Freiermuth,
Darnell Washington, and
Jonnu Smith to operate as the top pass catchers.
--Andy SmithSource: Mary Kay Cabot
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