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
December 22, 2025
Across 10 games in 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange has hauled in 37 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns on 49 targets. The 24-year-old had his season interrupted by a hip injury that sidelined him from Week 6 through Week 11, but he's stayed healthy since then, and his production appears to be trending in the right direction. Strange tied his season high with seven targets in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos, recording five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. Between wide receivers
Jakobi Meyers,
Brian Thomas Jr., and
Parker Washington, the Jaguars have other capable pass-catchers who could steal opportunities away from Strange. However, Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 609 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two weeks and appears to be leading the Jacksonville offense to new heights. Strange carries streamer appeal in deeper leagues heading into his Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has been a steady contributor throughout the 2025 season, recording 75 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns on 98 targets across 15 games. While he may not be the most explosive player at the tight end position, Schultz provides a relatively stable production floor. Entering his Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, the 29-year-old has earned at least five targets and recorded at least 10 PPR fantasy points in six out of his last eight games. Outside of star Texans wideout
Nico Collins, Schultz may be the most trusted pass-catching option for Houston quarterback
C.J. Stroud. In leagues where he remains available, Schultz can be viewed as a viable streamer at the tight end position for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire heading into Week 17.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver
Isaac TeSlaa had the best game of his young career in Week 16, recording four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While TeSlaa has hauled in just 12 receptions on the season, the 23-year-old has turned five of those catches into touchdowns. Most encouragingly, TeSlaa's playing time has spiked in recent weeks. After failing to play more than 28 offensive snaps in any game from Week 1 through Week 12, TeSlaa has now played at least 41 offensive snaps in each of Detroit's last four contests. He's been a favorite end-zone target of Lions quarterback
Jared Goff in that stretch, recording three touchdown catches. Additionally, top Lions wideout
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's injury report ahead of the team's Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day. Based on his touchdown potential and emerging role in Detroit, TeSlaa could be worth targeting on the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
Across 15 games this season, Chicago Bears wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus has hauled in 39 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns on 65 targets. While his numbers don't jump off the page, Zaccheaus has moved into a more prominent role in the Chicago offense in recent weeks, thanks to injuries to Bears wideouts
Rome Odunze (foot) and
Luther Burden III (ankle). With both Odunze and Burden III sidelined in Week 16, Zaccheaus played 86% of his team's offensive snaps and was targeted five times. Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot that has held him out since Week 13 and may keep him on the shelf through the end of the regular season. Since Odunze went out, Zaccheaus has played at least 79% of Chicago's offensive snaps in every game. While it has not led to big production yet, Zaccheaus may be in line for another game of significant playing time in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers. He could be a viable injury replacement for deep-league fantasy managers off the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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