December 24, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs defense gave up 24 points to the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 while recording two sacks and zero takeaways. The Chiefs defense has now allowed 20 or more points in 10 of 15 games this season. The Kansas City defensive unit has also recorded two or fewer sacks in 10 of 15 games. Kansas City will now take on the Denver Broncos, who are trying to clinch the top seed in the AFC with the Los Angeles Chargers just one game behind them. The Broncos offense has gained the 10th-most yards per game this season, so the Chiefs defense could have its hands full on Christmas Day. The Chiefs defense is ranked 27th in our RotoBaller rankings, making them a defensive unit to avoid in Week 17.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs kicker
Harrison Butker nailed three of his four field goal attempts and did not attempt a single extra-point since the Chiefs did not find the end zone in last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Butker and the Chiefs could be in for another low-scoring affair in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos defense has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game this season, and with
Chris Oladokun leading the offense, the Chiefs could have a tough time scoring any points on Christmas. Butker has now missed a kick in eight of his 15 games this season, making him a tough kicker to trust even with optimal conditions. Butker is ranked K27 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a low-end option at the position this week.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) is missing yet another practice on Wednesday, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Kamara has not been active for the Saints since suffering an MCL sprain in Week 12, and the 30-year-old veteran figures to sit out the final two games of the year with nothing on the line for the Saints. Rookie
Devin Neal (hamstring) is officially done for the year as well, which led to tight end
Taysom Hill leading the team with 12 carries in the Week 16 win over the New York Jets. The 35-year-old also caught a season-high four passes on six targets for 36 yards through the air.
Audric Estime and
Evan Hull will remain involved on the ground, but Hill is worth picking up off the waiver wire in deeper leagues for a Week 17 tilt on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Fantasy managers shouldn't count on Kamara the rest of the way in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Travis Kelce could be heavily involved on Christmas Day against the Denver Broncos. Kelce caught one pass for six yards on four targets in Week 16, giving fantasy managers one of his most disappointing performances of the season. With the Chiefs already eliminated from playoff contention, there is little left to play for except legacy. The 36-year-old tight end has not explicitly stated that this is his last season with the team, but there has been speculation that he could hang it up after this year. If Kelce does plan to retire this offseason, Christmas Day at Arrowhead could be Kelce's last home game of his career. Given the inexperience of
Chris Oladokun at quarterback, Kelce could operate close to the line of scrimmage and act as a release valve for the QB. Kelce will also have to deal with one of the best defenses in the league, the Denver Broncos. Despite giving up the fifth-fewest points per game this season, the Broncos defense has been relatively soft against tight ends. Kelce is ranked TE18 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE2 option for fantasy managers this Thursday.
--Joshua CostelloSource: KSHB.com
December 24, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) "has a chance" to play on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears in Week 17, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Kittle is not taking part in Wednesday's practice, but the team will see how he does in the next few days. The 32-year-old Pro Bowl tight end suffered an ankle sprain in the second half of Monday night's blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts and didn't return. He might not need to practice at all this week to play, but it could be a tough decision for fantasy managers to make on Kittle if he's a true game-time decision with this weekend's contest coming on Sunday night. Kittle is a no-doubt, must-start TE1 in fantasy when he's healthy. If the Niners play it safe and keep him out against the Bears,
Jake Tonges would enter the TE2 streaming picture in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Marquise Brown will face the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day in Week 17. Brown caught three passes for 22 yards on three targets in last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans. With
Rashee Rice and
Tyquan Thornton placed on IR, Brown's role in the passing attack should increase. The veteran receiver should be more involved, but with
Chris Oladokun operating as the Chiefs QB1, Brown's upside could be severely capped. Brown will also have to deal with a Denver Broncos defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Brown is ranked WR79 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a difficult player to start in any league regardless of depth or format.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
David Montgomery (illness) is considered questionable to play in Thursday's Christmas Day game versus the division-rival Minnesota Vikings due to an illness, according to the team's official website. Montgomery was added to the Week 17 injury report after not practicing on Tuesday while feeling under the weather. The 28-year-old returned to a limited practice on Wednesday, though, and he should be active for a must-win game on the road in Minnesota. If for some reason Monty still isn't feeling well on Thursday,
Sione Vaki and
Jacob Saylors would split RB2 duties for the Lions behind
Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery has been the clear RB2 this year behind Gibbs, giving him touchdown-dependent RB3/flex value most weeks. He does have eight rushing TDs on the year in 15 games, but Montgomery hasn't had double-digit carries in a game since Nov. 9.
--Keith HernandezSource: DetroitLions.com
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy will now be the unquestioned WR1 for the team moving forward. The Chiefs placed
Rashee Rice and
Tyquan Thornton on IR on Wednesday morning, opening the door for Worthy to step into a more prominent role. Worthy led the wide receivers in receiving yards last week, catching two passes for 41 yards on three targets. Despite being the lead receiver, Worthy will have to deal with downgraded quarterback play and a difficult matchup in Week 17.
Chris Oladokun is now the Chiefs starting quarterback, and they face the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. Oladokun has 16 passing attempts in his career, and the Broncos defense has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Worthy's role in the offense could potentially be valuable, but he has a lot working against him this week. Worthy is ranked WR56 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR ranking, making him a desperation flex option this week.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver
Luther Burden III (ankle) was limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to Bears Communications. Burden injured his ankle in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns and was forced to sit out of Saturday's win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 16. The 22-year-old has returned to the practice field, though, making it possible that he's back this Sunday night versus the San Francisco 49ers. Fellow wideout
Rome Odunze (foot) most likely won't be active again until the start of the playoffs, so Burden could have serious fantasy football upside as a WR4/flex this weekend if he returns as Chicago's WR2 behind
DJ Moore. In his last two games with Odunze sidelined, Burden had 10 catches on 13 targets for 151 yards. He's had at least six targets in all three games he played with Odunze out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Communications
December 24, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) was listed as a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, according to Bears Communications. Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and hasn't practiced since Dec. 12. The 23-year-old is on track to miss a fourth straight game this weekend on Sunday Night Football when the team travels to face the San Francisco 49ers. At this point, it's looking likely that Chicago will hold the second-year wideout out of the final two regular-season games so that he's closer to full health for the playoffs. The good news is that rookie
Luther Burden III (ankle) is back at practice, so he might return this weekend in the Bay Area. With Odunze and Burden out recently, wideouts
DJ Moore,
Olamide Zaccheaus, and rookie
Jahdae Walker have all had bigger roles in the Bears' passing attack.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Communications
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt has been relegated to a reserve role in the offense since
Isiah Pacheco has taken over RB1 duties. Hunt handled just three carries for two yards in last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Hunt was also not targeted at all in the passing game. The veteran back was most valuable for his role at the goal-line, but without
Patrick Mahomes,
Rashee Rice, and
Tyquan Thornton helping to move the sticks, the goal-line opportunities could be scarce. Hunt will also have to contend with the Denver Broncos defense on Christmas in Week 17. The Broncos have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and the second-fewest rushing yards per game this season. Facing one of the toughest defenses in the league with limited opportunities is a recipe for failure. Hunt is ranked QB50 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him nothing more than a desperation flex in the deepest of leagues.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco has seemingly reclaimed his leadback role in the backfield, but it comes when the team turns to
Chris Oladokun to be the starting quarterback. Pacheco rushed eight times for 34 yards, but the most surprising part of his stat line came in the receiving game. The 26-year-old was targeted a team-high seven times and caught six passes for 41 yards in last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans. The scoring opportunities will likely be few and far between for Pacheco, but once Oladokun stepped in as the starter, the running backs were targeted six times out of 16 attempts, and five of those went in Pacheco's direction. Pacheco will also have to deal with the Denver Broncos defense in Week 17. The Broncos have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and the second-fewest rushing yards per game this season. Pacheco is ranked RB37 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB3/Flex option for the fantasy playoffs. It could be an ugly game for Pacheco, but he should get enough opportunities to be worth considering.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams (neck) was upgraded to a full practice on Wednesday and has been removed from the team's final Week 17 injury report, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Williams will be active for the Christmas Day divisional matchup on Thursday against the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old suffered a neck injury in Week 15 but managed to play through it in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, handling 11 touches for 43 total yards while playing 57% of the offensive snaps.
Malik Davis has seen a larger role the last two games with Williams banged up, but he should continue to operate as the RB2 in Week 17 on Christmas Day. Williams should be viewed as on the RB1/2 borderline for fantasy managers with league championship trophies on the line this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
December 24, 2025
The Denver Broncos defense should be ready for a dominant performance as they face an injury-riddled Kansas City Chiefs offense in Week 17. The Chiefs will be without quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee), backup quarterback
Gardner Minshew (knee), and wide receiver
Rashee Rice (concussion) as the narrative has dramatically shifted for them since the last divisional matchup in Week 11. Coming into Week 17, the Broncos have allowed the 5th-fewest points per game, averaging 19.7. With third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun getting the start in Week 17, the Broncos' defense should bring that scoring average to an even lower number despite potentially being without linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring). As the best defense in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings, the Broncos should be started universally.
--Luke DeMarcusSource: ESPN
December 24, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day, although he is expected to play, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. In a must-win game for Detroit, it looks like St. Brown will tough it out and play on Christmas Day for Detroit. The 26-year-old pass-catcher is a must-start in all fantasy football leagues anytime he's active, although he could carry more risk this week if he's less than 100 percent on Thursday. In the first game against the Vikings on Nov. 2, St. Brown had a very productive outing, catching nine of his 13 targets for 97 yards. If St. Brown doesn't see the field as much as usual against Minnesota on a short week, both rookie
Isaac TeSlaa and
Kalif Raymond could have bigger secondary roles in Week 17.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
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