December 22, 2025
Dating back to Week 10, Chicago Bears running back
Kyle Monangai has recorded double-digit touches in six straight games. While the 23-year-old remains stuck in a backfield time share with veteran running back
D'Andre Swift, the Bears have shown a willingness to force-feed the ball to both players every week. Monangai has rewarded his team with efficient rushing as well. Across 15 games this season, he's logged 731 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 155 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per rush attempt. Swift remains the lead back in Chicago, but just barely. Monangai has played at least 41% of his team's offensive snaps in five straight games. In that five-game stretch, Swift has recorded 70 carries while Monangai has logged 68. As long as the split between the two backs remains close to even, the Bears' rushing offense is powerful enough to support production from two players. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Monangai is a priority waiver wire target heading into his Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
As the 2025 season has progressed, Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell has emerged as one of his team's most reliable all-purpose weapons. Over his last six games, the 26-year-old has recorded 568 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 84 touches. Gainwell has earned 38 targets in that six-game stretch and has now hauled in at least five receptions in five out of his last six outings. The Steelers continue to deploy a near 50/50 split in the backfield between Gainwell and
Jaylen Warren, which limits the upside for both players to some degree. However, as long as Gainwell continues to function as a featured piece in the Pittsburgh passing game, he should provide a safe production floor in PPR fantasy leagues. In any league where he remains available, Gainwell is a must-add player off the waiver wire heading into his Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Rams running back
Blake Corum began the 2025 season as his team's clear RB2 behind established back
Kyren Williams. However, as the year has progressed, Corum and Williams have moved closer to a true timeshare in the backfield. Over his last four games, Corum has recorded 328 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries. While Williams remains the team's leading rusher and snap-earner, Corum has played at least 22 offensive snaps in three straight weeks. Given the overall prowess of the Rams' offense, Corum has a chance to provide fantasy-relevant production every week, as long as he continues to earn double-digit touches. In any fantasy league where he remains available, Corum is a must-add player on the waiver wire heading into his Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Emanuel Wilson could be a top waiver wire priority this week, as the Packers get ready to host the Ravens on Saturday. The team could be without
Jordan Love (concussion) and
Josh Jacobs (knee) for that matchup, and Wilson has proven he can be a fantasy factor if he takes over for Jacobs as the primary option. Last week, Wilson ran for 82 yards on 14 carries against the Bears, while Jacobs had just 36 yards on 12 carries. Wilson also starred in Green Bay's win over the Packers when Jacobs was injured, racking up 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in that week. The Ravens have been a great matchup for running backs this season, and if Wilson gets the start, he could be a true difference-maker in Week 17.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
December 22, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter filled in as the starter in Week 16 for the team's banged-up backfield, and he had a solid game against the Falcons. He took 11 carries for 65 yards but failed to catch either of his two targets or get into the end zone. Carter played well ahead of
Emari Demercado and
Corey Kiner and will likely lead the backfield committee again in Week 17 with
James Conner,
Trey Benson, and
Bam Knight all on the shelf for the rest of the season. Carter and the Cards get a favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Bengals, so if you need some emergency help in the backfield, he's a solid streaming option with touchdown-dependent upside in Week 17.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
New England Patriots rookie running back
TreVeyon Henderson (head) suffered a head injury during their victory over the Ravens on Sunday night. Henderson suffered the injury in the second quarter. Before exiting, the second-round pick took just five carries for a mere three yards and brought in his lone target for nine yards. In relief, veteran
Rhamondre Stevenson led the way, totaling 51 yards and a score on eight attempts and bringing in two of his three targets for another 27 yards. Managers should pay close attention to Henderson's status ahead of their Week 17 contest against the Jets next Sunday. During the second half of the campaign, Henderson has enjoyed a massive breakout, averaging a stellar 22.6 PPR points per game over the last five games, entering Sunday night. If Henderson sits out in Week 17, Stevenson would carry high-end RB2 upside facing a Jets defense that is allowing the third-most PPR points to opposing RBs.
--Andy SmithSource: New England Patriots
December 22, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. seems to have secured the top spot in the backfield coming down the stretch, and he should be fantasy relevant in the closing weeks of the season. He makes a solid waiver wire add if you need a running back after picking up 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries on Saturday against the Eagles, and adding a six-yard catch as well. He played 28 snaps (52%) this week, compared to just 15 snaps (28%) for
Jeremy McNichols and 11 snaps for
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (20%). Rodriguez and the Commanders face the Cowboys on Christmas Day after a short week, and he'll have touchdown-dependent flex upside in a favorable matchup against Dallas this coming week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
December 22, 2025
Green Bay Packers tight end
John FitzPatrick (Achilles) was helping to fill in for the injured
Tucker Kraft, but he suffered his own season-ending injury during Saturday's 22-16 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears. Tests confirmed that FitzPatrick suffered a torn Achilles, which will end his season after 12 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Without FitzPatrick,
Luke Musgrave will continue to be the team's top tight end with
Josh Whyle as his primary backup.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Adam Schefter
December 22, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) is considered day-to-day after sustaining a back bruise in the second quarter of Sunday night's loss to the Patriots. He took a knee to the back from Craig Woodson on a run in the second quarter and was unable to return. He said he hopes to play on Saturday against the Packers, but his status is very uncertain after battling multiple injuries this season. Jackson and the Ravens are still chasing the Steelers for the top spot in the AFC North, but it isn't clear if they'll have Jackson or
Tyler Huntley under center when they take on the Packers on a short week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Ian Rapoport
December 22, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Pat Bryant was released from the hospital after suffering a scary injury when he took a massive hit over the middle in the final minute of Sunday's loss to the Jaguars. He had to be stretchered off the field and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Although he was diagnosed with a concussion, he cleared the rest of the tests and seems to have avoided any more serious injury. Since the Broncos play the Chiefs on Christmas this Thursday, it seems unlikely that he'll be able to clear the protocol in time to play in that game. Without Bryant, more work would likely go to
Troy Franklin and
Marvin Mims Jr. behind
Courtland Sutton. Stay tuned for further updates this week, but it's great news that Bryant did not have any further injuries.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Zac Stevens
December 22, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan broke through with a huge NFL debut last week, and he built on that performance in Week 16 against the Raiders. Jordan was the primary back for Houston with
Woody Marks (ankle) out, getting 20 touches compared to just seven for veteran
Nick Chubb. Jordan racked up 53 rushing yards on 15 carries and 17 receiving yards by turning all five of his targets into receptions. After two solid performances, Jordan could remain involved in the backfield again next week as the Texans take on the Chargers, but his role will depend on Marks' recovery. If Marks does return, Jordan could still get work, but his role would likely be dramatically reduced. He's worth watching, though, since he has been more effective than Chubb and could remain the team's secondary running back after a pair of promising performances.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins only had four catches for 59 yards on Sunday against the Raiders, but his team did just enough to still pull out a 23-21 win to extend their winning streak to seven games. Collins was targeted a team-high nine times by
C.J. Stroud and drew two key pass interference calls late while also catching a 24-yard pass at the two-minute warning that iced the game. He remains the Texans' go-to option and should be poised to bounce back with better totals next week when Houston's offense will have to be more aggressive against the Chargers.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb (ribs) was able to play through his questionable tag on Sunday, but his fellow running back
Woody Marks (ankle) was ruled out. Even without Marks, though, Chubb's workload was limited as
Jawhar Jordan led the way with 15 carries for 53 yards, while Chubb had six carries for 33 yards and one catch for nine more yards. He remains involved as an early-down option and could get work around the goal line, but he doesn't seem likely to be the featured running back at this point in his career. If Marks is ready to return next week against the Chargers, Chubb could get even less work with Jordan and Marks each looking more effective and explosive than the veteran.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz caught all five of his targets on Sunday against the Raiders, racking up 35 yards and a touchdown in his team's narrow, 23-21 victory. Schultz's touchdown came on a one-yard pass from
C.J. Stroud midway through the fourth quarter and was the only offensive score of the day from the Texans, who struggled to get much going on offense, settling for three long
Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks and a defensive score before Schultz got to paydirt. Schultz continues to be a PPR producer as one of the top targets in the Texans' passing game. He doesn't typically get a ton of yards, but his catches and targets are consistent enough to give him a high floor and decent ceiling.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
Jaylen Wright scored his second touchdown of the season in the last five minutes of the team's 42-21 loss to the Bengals. After breaking out with a monster game in Week 14 against the Jets, he only had one carry and one target last week against the Steelers, but he was more involved on Sunday against Cincy. He finished with nine carries for 35 yards and one catch for 18 yards to go with his touchdown, while fellow backup
Ollie Gordon II only had one carry for -1 yards. Wright seems to be the better option behind
De'Von Achane at this point, but Achane will likely handle most of the work next week against the Bucs, with Wright mixing in a few times as a change-of-pace option.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
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