December 23, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud is coming off one of his worst starts of the season in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, with his 5.3 yards-per-attempt mark being his second-lowest output of the season and lowest since the Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old was excellent just one week prior against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, completing 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, his second game this season with three or more scores through the air. Stroud profiles more as a reliable QB2 in superflex leagues for most weeks, but he has a tough matchup in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Stroud still profiles as a viable QB2 option, ranking as RotoBaller's QB19 in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) is dealing with multiple injuries and is considered day-to-day ahead of Thursday's matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. He left early during the Week 16 loss to the Eagles and didn't return. Mariota has been a quality backup for the Commanders this season, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 50 carries for 297 yards and a score on the ground in 11 games (eight starts). The 32-year-old would be set up with a prime matchup on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys' 32nd-ranked pass defense if he can play. As of now, it appears the most likely option to start for Washington is journeyman
Josh Johnson, who completed five of nine passes for 43 yards and an interception in relief of Mariota against the Eagles. Mariota is worth adding and profiles as a solid streamer in deeper leagues for Thursday if he can play, but fantasy managers should keep a close eye on this week's injury report. If he is unable to play, Johnson wouldn't be a streaming option to consider despite the great matchup.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough has had a terrific rookie season so far, completing 66.4% of his passes for 1,792 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 38 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in nine games (seven starts). Shough is coming off his first 300-yard passing performance in Week 16 versus the Jets, and he also completed 32 passes, tied for the 10th-most in a game by a quarterback this season. The 26-year-old ranks as the QB8 in fantasy points over the last four weeks and looks to be establishing himself as a weekly option to consider in single-QB leagues. Shough draws another favorable matchup next week against the Tennessee Titans and is worth adding off the waiver wire in leagues where he is still available.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold led his team to a big win last Thursday against the Rams, throwing for 270 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He's had a few down games lately, but has also thrown for at least 249 yards in three straight games. When the touchdowns are there, he's typically a solid, QB2 or low-end option in single-QB deep leagues. Darnold and the Seahawks have a tough matchup on the road against the Panthers in Week 17, in a battle of teams pushing towards the playoffs. He's not in an elite spot, but he still brings enough upside to be a decent pickup if you need help at the position in two-QB formats or deep leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Minnesota Vikings QB
J.J. McCarthy (hand) missed practice on Monday after having to leave last week's game at halftime with a hand injury. The Vikings have a favorable matchup this week and a chance to play spoiler against the Lions, but McCarthy will need to overcome his injury to be a viable option. He was excellent in his last two full games before the injury, producing three total touchdowns in wins over the Commanders and the Cowboys. McCarthy has the potential to be a streamer in two-QB or deep leagues if healthy, so keep a close eye on his practice participation if you're in the market for some help. If he's out,
Max Brosmer would likely start, but he has not yet proven he can be a fantasy option.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
December 23, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Gardner Minshew (knee) got good news from an MRI on his injured knee, as his ACL was not torn as initially feared. He's still out for the rest of the season on IR, but his recovery will be quicker since it's a "non-displaced tibial plateau fracture," which is basically a severe bone bruise but does not require surgery. The seventh-year QB was on a one-year deal with the Chiefs, but only played two games this season. He'll be a free agent this offseason, and the fact that he won't have to recover from a torn ACL will make him one of the better backup options on the market. He could return to Kansas City or land with a new team, but wherever he ends up, the fact that he doesn't have a torn ACL should improve his chances of being ready for offseason activities and the start of next season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Ian Rapoport
December 23, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence is on a heater as the Jaguars push to the playoffs, and he makes a good start in almost all formats this week. He's still available in about one-third of leagues despite his recent success, and he has a favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Colts, who were just carved up by
Brock Purdy on Monday Night Football. Lawrence led the Jags to a huge win in Denver by throwing for 279 passing yards, three touchdowns, and running for a fourth score. Lawrence has thrown multiple touchdowns in five straight weeks and added a rushing score in each of the last two weeks as well. He finishes the season with division matchups against the Colts and Titans, and will be an elite play as long as he isn't rested before the playoffs.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco took back over as the lead back for the Chiefs this week, stepping in ahead of veteran
Kareem Hunt and taking eight carries for 34 yards while adding six catches for 41 yards in the team's loss to the Titans last week. Pacheco could be in for a heavy workload moving forward, since the team could phase out Hunt now that the playoffs are no longer a possibility. The team could take the next two weeks to evaluate Pacheco and rookie
Brashard Smith for their future roles, but Pacheco is in a brutal matchup this week against the Broncos, who have been elite against the run. Pacheco does have touchdown-dependent upside and should get a good workload, but he's still a long-shot flex play to add off the waiver wire this week due to the matchup.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
December 23, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett had a rough week against the Falcons in Week 16, but he should be poised to bounce back in a big way against the Bengals in Week 17. Brissett has thrown multiple touchdowns in eight of his previous nine games, but he only threw for one score and a season-low 203 passing yards last week against Atlanta. The Bengals have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, allowing 30 QB touchdowns (passing and rushing) in 15 games, along with an average of 256 passing yards per week. In what should be a much better matchup, Brissett can be a great addition and streaming play in Week 17 if you need help at the position.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Tank Bigsby scored his first touchdown of the season in Saturday's win over the Washington Commanders, finishing with four carries for 37 yards. Bigsby has been highly efficient as a runner after the Eagles acquired him from the Jaguars in early September. Since his first carry with the team in Week 7, he's recorded 40 carries for 262 yards (6.6 yards per tote) and a touchdown. His 6.6 YPC average ranks second out of 59 running backs with at least 40 carries over that span, trailing only
Keaton Mitchell. Despite the great production, it's come in a smaller sample size, as the Auburn product doesn't see much usage when
Saquon Barkley is healthy. That leaves Bigsby only as a handcuff option for the final two games of the season against the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
Jaylen Wright had another productive day in Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, recording nine carries for 35 yards and a touchdown while hauling in one of two targets for 18 yards. Wright delivered a dud in Week 15 against the Steelers after a career-best performance in Week 14 against the Jets. He handled 24 touches against New York as top running back
De'Von Achane exited early, but that number cratered to just two against Pittsburgh with Achane taking on his usual workload. The second-year back rebounded with 10 touches in Week 16 (nine carries) and seems to have become the preferred running back for head coach Mike McDaniel down in the red zone, leading the team with five of eight total RB carries over the last three weeks. With Wright's usage increasing, the 22-year-old could be worth targeting off the waiver wire in deeper leagues for Week 17's matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Trayveon Williams stepped into a meaningful role in the backfield following rookie
Quinshon Judkins (leg, knee) suffering a gruesome lower-leg injury late in the first half during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Williams played 48.5% of the snaps and handled three carries for 17 yards while adding four catches (four targets) for 38 yards as a receiver in the second half. The 28-year-old running back played in tandem with rookie
Raheim Sanders, who had the bulk of the touches with 11 carries for 42 yards and one catch (one target) for four yards. Williams' role in Cleveland's backfield could be short-lived if
Dylan Sampson (calf) can return next week, but it remains to be seen how the roles will shake out. Williams could be worth targeting on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues based on his encouraging usage in Week 16 and the current uncertainty in the Browns' backfield.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller has caught 23 of 31 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns in eight games this season. The veteran has been one of the best red-zone threats in the league, scoring on 19% of his targets, best among tight ends with at least 20 targets. Despite playing just over half the season, the 33-year-old is one of only six tight ends with two or more games with multiple touchdowns. Miami's offense didn't look as fantasy-friendly with rookie
Quinn Ewers in the lineup for
Tua Tagovailoa in Week 16, but Waller finished second on the team in targets and is a weekly threat to find the end zone. In leagues where he is available, Waller offers streaming appeal in 12-team leagues for Week 17's matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 22, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson has been a steady producer for most of the 2025 season, recording 70 receptions for 733 yards and three touchdowns on 93 targets across 15 games. Johnson posted one of his better performances in Week 16 against the New York Jets, hauling in eight catches for 89 yards on nine targets. The Saints placed wideout
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on Injured Reserve leading into the game, which cements Johnson's status as the number two pass-catcher in New Orleans behind star wideout
Chris Olave. While Johnson may not have major upside, he's recorded just one game with fewer than four receptions since Week 6. Behind rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough, the Saints are playing some of their best football of the season in recent weeks and face another favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable viewing Johnson as a high-floor streamer option off the waiver wire at the tight end position.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Across 14 games this season, Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland has recorded 42 receptions for 528 yards and four touchdowns on 58 targets. The 21-year-old has provided remarkably consistent production in the second half of the year. Loveland has recorded no fewer than three and no more than four receptions in each of his last seven games. In that stretch, he's also logged between four and six targets and between 29 and 63 receiving yards in every outing. With Bears wideouts
Rome Odunze (foot) and
Luther Burden III (ankle) potentially set to miss the team's Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Loveland could finally see a production spike. Even if his role remains the same, he's a good bet to continue to provide around 10 PPR fantasy points. In leagues where he remains available, Loveland should be viewed as a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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