December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. returned from injury in Week 16, taking 15 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown in the 29-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although there was concern that rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt would be more of a factor after his big Week 15 outing, Rodriguez returned to his usual workload. He played a season-high 56% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt played 22% and
Jeremy McNichols played 24%. He faces the Dallas Cowboys, who may be without star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys ranked as the worst run defense in the NFL before they acquired Williams at the deadline, and with him out last week,
Omarion Hampton had 95 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. While there are concerns about the Commanders' quarterback situation this week, look for them to run it a ton against this Cowboys defense, where Rodriguez could be a league-winner in Week 17.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Ben Sinnott has recorded one catch in three straight games, totalling 49 yards on four targets. The second-year tight end posted season highs in snaps and routes in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, playing 66.7% of the snaps with a 56% route share. He could continue to see more opportunities as a receiver moving forward with
Zach Ertz (knee) out for the season.
John Bates played more in the first game without Ertz in Week 15, but that usage flipped in Week 16, with Sinnott playing more snaps and running more routes. The floor is still low for the Kansas State product, but he remains an intriguing player to monitor in Thursday's Christmas Day matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have struggled to defend the pass all season, and with Sinnott's opportunities on the rise, he profiles as a deep-league dart throw as a TE2 in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Raheim Sanders had 11 carries for 42 yards in the 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 16. Sanders saw a role due to the season-ending leg injury to
Quinshon Judkins. With
Jerome Ford (shoulder) done for the season and
Dylan Sampson (calf) unable to play in Week 16, Sanders led the team in carries. After Judkins went out, both Sanders and veteran
Trayveon Williams split the backfield snaps (30%-30%). The Browns also face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, who shut down Lions running backs
Jahmyr Gibbs and
David Montgomery last week. The injury status of Sampson will determine "Rocket's" fantasy value this week, but fantasy managers should be cautious about trusting this backfield in Week 17.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
John Bates was outsnapped 37 to 27 by second-year tight end
Ben Sinnott in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bates has served as Washington's No. 2 TE for most of the season, primarily as a blocker. He posted his highest route share (50%) of the season in Week 15 with
Zach Ertz (knee) out for the season, but that mark cratered in Week 16, falling to just 16%, his lowest since Week 2. Sinnott profiles as the better receiving option and is seeing his role increase in that area. He jumped to a season-high 56% route share last week. Bates seems to be trending back toward his typical role as the top blocking tight end and shouldn't be considered a fantasy option on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, especially considering Washington's starting QB is likely to be
Josh Johnson with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) injured.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Taysom Hill turned back the clock in Week 16, which might be his final game in the Superdome. Hill led the team in carries, with 12 for 42 yards, and added 36 receiving yards on four receptions. He wasn't done either, throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Chris Olave in the fourth quarter. The veteran playmaker scored 15.3 fantasy points in Week 16, and there's a legitimate reason he could improve his fantasy production in the final two weeks. He dominated the carries with
Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) and
Devin Neal (hamstring) inactive, outcarrying
Audric Estime and
Evan Hull combined, 12-5. The Saints' offense has been solid as well, averaging 24.3 points per game and winning three straight games. With a legitimate RB1 workload if Kamara is unable to return, Hill should be a must-start at the tight end position.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Treylon Burks led the team in targets in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, catching two of five targets for 30 yards. The 2022 first-round pick saw his snaps decrease with the return of
Noah Brown in Week 14, but with Brown now on Injured Reserve due to a rib injury, Burks played the most he has all season in Week 16. Burks tied
Terry McLaurin for the highest snap share (84.3%) on the team and should continue to see a healthy number of routes on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys' 32nd-ranked pass defense. However, the favorable matchup could be offset by Washington starting journeyman
Josh Johnson at QB this week, with
Marcus Mariota's status in doubt due to hand and quadriceps injuries. It's tough to trust Burks as anything more than a deep-league flex option in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough has been playing really well of late, scoring 17 or more fantasy points in five of his last six starts. What is providing him a safe floor during this stretch is that he is averaging five rush attempts per contest and has built an excellent rapport with wide receiver
Chris Olave and tight end
Juwan Johnson. For the season (nine games), Shough has thrown for 1,792 yards, completing 66 percent of his passes, thrown for seven touchdowns and five interceptions, and has rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Depending on his matchup for the week, he is borderlining the QB1 ranks, but given his limited experience and upside, he usually finds himself in the QB2 ranks. Shough is a solid Superflex (two-quarterback play) and should be viewed as a higher-end QB2 in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, who are vulnerable against the passing game.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. has been held under 50 yards in three straight games and hasn't found the end zone since Week 11. Samuel has exceeded 50 receiving yards only twice over the past nine games. The former San Francisco 49er draws a potential get-right spot on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled to defend the pass. Dallas has allowed the most passing yards per game and the most PPR points per game to wide receivers this season. Washington's pass-catchers could take a hit for fantasy with quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play after missing consecutive practices to begin the week, opening the door for journeyman
Josh Johnson to make his first start since 2021. Samuel currently ranks as RotoBaller's WR29 in PPR leagues in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Ian Rapoport spoke on Good Morning Football on Wednesday and said Detroit Lions star receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) should play on Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings. St. Brown has dealt with a few injuries over the past few weeks, including knee and ankle injuries, but still has played through them, even if he has not been at 100%. Still, given his progression throughout the short week, it's great news that he is expected to play, and fantasy managers should confidently fire him up in their lineups this week, regardless of the situation or matchup. The Vikings' defense has been stellar of late and tough against opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks. Still, the Lions are in a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive, and shouldn't hold anything back against the
Max Brosmer-led Vikings on Thursday.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Ian Rapoport
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin has provided a major lift to the passing game since returning in Week 13. McLaurin has compiled 16 catches on 26 targets for 259 receiving yards and two touchdowns, ranking 16th among wide receivers in yards over that span. The 30-year-old wideout has a golden matchup on Christmas Day against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing a league-high 8.8 yards per pass attempt over the last five games. However, the Ohio State product could be catching passes from journeyman quarterback
Josh Johnson, with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play after missing two straight practices to open the week. McLaurin still profiles as a solid start with upside in Week 17 as Washington's clear top target, ranking as RotoBaller's WR14 in PPR leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Parker Washington is coming off a career day in Week 16, where he caught six of nine targets for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown. The Denver Broncos' defense had no answer for him and rising star
Trevor Lawrence. With the Broncos' top cornerback, Patrick Surtain, following
Brian Thomas Jr. most of the afternoon, that allowed Washington to find openings and carve up the stellar Broncos defense. Although it's unlikely he repeats this type of production in Week 17, he remains a decent option for Lawrence, and his 10 targets from Week 16 shouldn't be overlooked. The Jaguars take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17, who just got carved up against the San Fransico 49ers on Monday Night Football, and the Jaguars' offense should have one of the higher implied team totals on the week, making all of Brian Thomas Jr.,
Jakobi Meyers, and Washington fantasy value. For teams with three wide receiver slots or multiple flex spots, Washington should be in consideration.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols has had a solid season as the team's primary third-down back, recording 42 carries for 220 yards and a touchdown to go with 21 catches (27 targets) for 176 yards in 15 games. The veteran handled a season-high 10 touches in Week 15 with
Chris Rodriguez Jr. inactive, but he had only three touches with Rodriguez back last week against the Eagles. It will likely be a similar situation for McNichols on Christmas Day against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, where the Commanders could be starting journeyman quarterback
Josh Johnson with the status of
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) in doubt. McNichols shouldn't be considered as a fantasy option in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Dylan Sampson (hand) is in line to see more volume upon his return, following the injury to teammate
Quinshon Judkins (leg, knee) in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills. Sampson is dealing with injuries of his own, but according to Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski, he reported on Tuesday that Sampson is improving by the day. Sampson has not played since Week 14, and when healthy, was still involved in the offense primarily as a receiver in passing situations. Still, with Judkins placed on the Injured Reserve, Sampson could earn the RB1 carries and should provide RB3 fantasy value in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who, although they have been better against opposing running backs of late, would still be on the fantasy radar and a decent option in Week 17 for fantasy managers. At this time, it's unclear how involved
Trayveon Williams or
Raheim Sanders would be; however, Sampson has been the only running back involved since the start of the season, giving him the upper hand should he be active.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has scored in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, played only 11 snaps in last week's loss to the Eagles, but handled eight carries for 25 yards and a score. The rookie seventh-rounder was still firmly behind
Chris Rodriguez Jr. in snaps and touches, but he earned more work on the goal line, outcarrying Rodriguez four to three inside the 10. The Commanders could be starting
Josh Johnson at QB this week, with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play on a short week. That would limit the fantasy appeal for Croskey-Merritt. Plus, he has a tough matchup against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game since acquiring Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. JCM projects as a desperation flex option for Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson could potentially see most of the running back opportunities on Sunday with rookie
TreVeyon Henderson (head) currently working his way through the concussion protocol after leaving the game early in Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens. Since Stevenson's return from injury in Week 12, his snap share has increased each week, from 31 percent to 58 percent, 67 percent, and 84 percent, respectively. Combine that with Henderson potentially being out on Sunday, Stevenson would climb up the RB ranks and become a borderline RB1 against the New York Jets, who have been reeling of late and are allowing the fourth most points on the season to the running back position. Regardless of Henderson's status for Week 17, Stevenson will provide fantasy value given the matchup.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
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