December 23, 2025
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) "felt confident he didn't suffer a dreaded high-ankle sprain" during the team's Week 16 win, but "didn't sound as certain" about his availability for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Across 10 games this season, Kittle has recorded 52 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns on 62 targets. The 32-year-old has been particularly effective in recent weeks, hauling in 15 receptions for 203 yards and two scores on 17 targets over his last two games. If Kittle is unable to play,
Luke Farrell and
Jake Tonges would likely split tight end snaps for San Francisco against Chicago. Across the five games Kittle missed earlier this season with a hamstring injury, Tonges recorded 22 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets.
--Will BradySource: San Francisco Chronicle - Eric Branch
December 23, 2025
After recording more than seven touches in just one game before Week 16, New Orleans Saints tight end
Taysom Hill saw a significant workload increase in his team's Week 16 win over the New York Jets. Hill recorded 12 carries for 48 yards and four receptions for 36 yards on six targets. The Saints will be without running backs
Kendre Miller (knee) and
Devin Neal (hamstring) for the remainder of the 2025 season, and veteran back
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) has missed four straight games. If Kamara remains sidelined for the Saints' Week 17 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Hill could see another week with a sizable role in the offense. Hill has proven to be a red zone threat throughout the course of his career, as he's scored 34 rushing touchdowns on 486 career carries. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Hill is a player to target on the waiver wire heading into Week 17.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has put together three solid games in a row and helped secure another winning season for head coach Mike Tomlin in Week 16's win over the Detroit Lions. Rodgers completed 71.6% of his passes for 774 yards, four touchdowns, and no turnovers while also adding four carries for nine yards and another touchdown on the ground over the last three weeks. However, the 42-year-old will be without his No. 1 receiver,
D.K. Metcalf, for the remaining two weeks in the season after his altercation with a fan during Pittsburgh's win in Detroit, which will limit his ceiling. The future Hall of Famer has relied more on Metcalf over the last three weeks, targeting him 24 times, and will certainly miss his presence in an offense that lacks playmakers. Rodgers will likely lean more into running backs
Kenneth Gainwell and
Jaylen Warren in the passing game, along with Pittsburgh's trio of tight ends, in a tough Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. In leagues where he is available, Rodgers could be an option to target as a QB2 in superflex and is a viable mid-end QB2 for those in 14+ team one-QB leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
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
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