December 27, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange has been inconsistent, but he has a chance to be serviceable against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Strange hasn't been the most targeted, but since returning from injury in Week 12, he has had decent involvement in the Jaguars thriving offense. He did manage 93 yards in Week 12 and a touchdown each in Weeks 13 and 16, but his overall season numbers don't stand out in any way. However, in a plus matchup and a week with plenty of injured tight ends, Strange is certainly startable. Fantasy managers can do better, but can also do much worse than Strange, who might be an injury replacement for injured studs
Brock Bowers (knee) and
George Kittle (ankle) for numerous fantasy managers in their Week 17 fantasy championships.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Brenton Strange RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson has been a steady, low-end producer for most of the 2025 season, recording 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets across 15 games. However, he was held without a catch on two targets by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. Johnson's Week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders is more favorable, which should give fantasy managers more confidence re-inserting him in the lineup. Before Week 16, Johnson has recorded at least 10 PPR fantasy points in five out of his last eight games and at least three receptions in all eight contests. Still, his upside is limited in a Giants' offense that is averaging just 16.3 points per game over its last three matchups. Johnson profiles as a low-end fantasy TE2 in Week 17 against Las Vegas.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers is among the safer options at wide receiver this week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars' offense is clicking, and Meyers has been the most consistently targeted option for
Trevor Lawrence. He has had at least six targets in every game since Week 11 and has usually been able to muster at least a good chunk of yards or a touchdown. Against the Colts in Week 14, he earned his most targets of the season with the Jaguars, with 10, but only managed four catches for 39 yards, but salvaged his fantasy day with a touchdown. Given his consistent involvement with the offense, Meyers is a safe play in Week 17 for managers looking for someone reliable to start in their fantasy championship.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Jakobi Meyers RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Across 13 games this season, New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton has recorded 31 receptions for 468 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets. Slayton is coming off one of his worst games of 2025 in Week 16, hauling in just one catch for eight yards on two targets against the Minnesota Vikings. However, the 28-year-old is now facing a far easier matchup in Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Entering the week, Las Vegas ranks 18th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.1). The Raiders have also ruled out star edge rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) with a knee injury, which should make life significantly easier on Giants quarterback
Jaxson Dart. Before his Week 16 dud, Slayton had recorded at least 9.3 PPR fantasy points in four out of his last five games. He profiles as a low-end deep-league flex option for fantasy managers in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. is an interesting player in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars' offense has been impressive over the last few weeks, but that hasn't meant guaranteed production for the second-year pro. With that said, the Colts are a great matchup, which Thomas Jr. somewhat took advantage of in Week 14, putting up 87 yards on just three catches. If BTJ can combine that big-play ability with an endzone trip or two, he could be in for a big day. However, after just 18 yards last week, he is difficult to trust. Thomas Jr. is a boom-or-bust play that is certainly worth consideration in Week 17, especially with the numerous injuries to close out the season.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Brian Thomas Jr. RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson is coming off his lowest fantasy finish since Week 4, as the Giants look to put their disastrous Week 16 performance behind them. In a 16-13 loss to the Vikings, New York finished with as many passing yards as points allowed. Nobody should be excited to start Robinson coming off a three-catch, 19-yard performance, but when considering that he accounted for nearly 40% of the team's targets and over half the receiving yardage, a bounce back could be in store against a Las Vegas team that has already shut down
Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, and Jeremy Chinn. Robinson is 99 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season, and he projects as RotoBaller's WR26 against a shorthanded Raiders defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. has thrived over the past three weeks and should continue to succeed in a rematch from Week 14 with the Indianapolis Colts. The whole Jaguars offense is clicking to end the season, and Etienne Jr. has been a primary benefactor of the improved performance. He has been a fiend for the end zone lately, especially in the receiving game, making him a high-upside dual threat out of the backfield. With backup rookie
Bhayshul Tuten (finger) potentially out again, Etienne Jr. should dominate touches out of the backfield. In the biggest week of the fantasy season, managers should feel good about starting Etienne Jr. in Week 17 against the Colts.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Travis Etienne Jr. RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals kicker
Evan McPherson made a career-high six field goals in the Week 13 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, he's been relatively quiet in the last three weeks by draining his only attempt during that span. All things considered, the 26-year-old is viewed as a top fantasy option at the position in Week 17, considering the Bengals offense is projected to put up plenty of points against a weak Cardinals defense. As a result, McPherson is a must-start, especially since he has an excellent chance to finish as the week's highest-scoring fantasy kicker.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
December 27, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence has been on a tear towards the end of the season, and will look to continue his great play in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts. He has combined for over almost 700 total yards and 10 total touchdowns the last two weeks, with the previous week's performance coming against a great Broncos defense. Clearly, the Jaguars' offense is clicking, so expectations should be that it continues. The Colts' defense is banged up, so Lawrence has a chance to be even better than his Week 14 performance against their division rival. Fantasy managers should continue to ride Lawrence to a potential fantasy championship in Week 17.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Trevor Lawrence RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
New York Giants running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has seen quality usage down the stretch and projects as a high-floor RB2 against a Raiders team that looks to have turned their attention to 2026. With the number one pick of the upcoming NFL draft potentially at stake on Sunday, Las Vegas has already shut down
Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, and Jeremy Chinn, and the Giants are slight favorites on the road. Averaging 18.5 opportunities per game, since Week 10, Tracy has finished as a top-15 fantasy running back three times over that span, including an RB5 finish against the Commanders in Week 15. And while he's scored only three total touchdowns on the season, 12 of his 16 red zone looks have come in the past four games. Against a Raiders defense that struggled against the run even when they were trying, Tracy looks to be a safe Week 17 start.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals tight end
Mike Gesicki has seen an uptick in production of late by scoring a touchdown in two of his previous three appearances. While the veteran had only four catches in the last two weeks, he's still playing better than most anticipated. With a favorable matchup on the horizon against an injury-plagued Cardinals defense, the Bengals offense is projected to be the highest-scoring unit of the week. Granted, Gesicki isn't a safe fantasy option, although there is streaming potential, considering some of the league's top tight ends have already been ruled out. There could be more names added to the list heading toward lock time on Sunday.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
December 27, 2025
New York Giants quarterback
Jaxson Dart has the precise skillset needed to put up monstrous fantasy performances even if the games aren't always pretty, as evidenced by his seven-week stretch as the QB3 while going 2-5. Unfortunately, since returning from a concussion in Week 13, his usage has no longer showcased those skills, making him difficult to trust in a Week 17 matchup with the Raiders. Since his return from injury, his designed rushing yards per game have dropped from 22.6 to two. Heading into a game that could ultimately determine the number one pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders have already shut down
Brock Bowers, Jeremy Chinn, and Maxx Crosby, so depending on the Giants' approach, there is a path for Dart to hit a ceiling that few players in the league are capable of. That ceiling potential must be weighed against his floor, as he is coming off his worst game of the season against Minnesota. As RotoBaller's QB13 for the week, he is best viewed as a desperation play by heavy underdogs in single quarterback leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Samaje Perine scored a touchdown in the 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins. While
Chase Brown remains the No. 1 option out of the backfield, as expected, Perine has stayed involved by logging double-digit carries in two of his previous four appearances. With a favorable matchup against a weak, injury-plagued Cardinals defense on the horizon, everyone on the offensive side of the ball could benefit from a statistical standpoint. However, despite a higher ceiling than usual, Perine shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a deep-league desperation option in Week 17.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
December 27, 2025
Buffalo kicker
Michael Badgley was elevated from the Bills' practice squad before Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the Browns, and in filling in for
Matt Prater (quadriceps), he made two of three extra points and was good on a 41-yard field goal, his only attempt of the game. He finished as the 26th-best kicker on the week, and in a Week 17 matchup against the Eagles that projects to see fewer scoring opportunities, he lacks the ceiling that fantasy managers should be seeking for their Week 17 title games. In his seven games with Indianapolis this season, Badgley connected on 10 of 11 field goals while converting 18 of 21 extra points. Badgley is RotoBaller's K15 for the Week, indicating that better options are likely available.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins only has 49 catches for 720 yards in 13 games this season. On the other hand, he's certainly made up for it by amassing 10 touchdowns, tying him with
Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the third-highest mark at the position. Granted, fantasy managers would love to see more volume for the former Clemson Tiger. Still, not many (if any) can say that they have scored at least once in six of their last seven appearances. With a favorable matchup with the injury-plagued Cardinals defense on tap for Week 17, Higgins' ceiling is as high as ever. Keep him starting in all fantasy formats.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
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