December 26, 2025
San Francisco starting quarterback
Brock Purdy tore up the Indianapolis Colts' defense on Monday Night Football to put a bow on Week 16, and now enters Week 17 ranking as a mid-tier QB1 in the final weekend for some fantasy managers in the fantasy playoffs. Week 16 was his best game of the season; he dominated in primetime, finishing with five touchdown passes and 295 yards, finishing as the QB1 in fantasy for the week. His rapport with all pass catchers,
Christian McCaffrey,
George Kittle (ankle), and
Jauan Jennings, was all on display. He even hit
Demarcus Robinson on a touchdown pass as well. Since his return from the toe injury in Week 11, Purdy has scored 17 or more fantasy points in four of his last five starts and has finished as the QB10 or better in three of those five. With another decent matchup on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, Purdy should be fired up into starting lineups confidently as we look forward to Week 17.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn continues to regularly deliver for the Texans and his fantasy owners, so he's a strong starting option kicking indoors on Saturday afternoon against the Chargers. The 31-year-old from Hawaii made all three of his field goals last week from 55, 50, and 49 yards and also knocked through all three of his extra points. He's 36-for-40 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points. The Texans rely on their defense and usually take points whenever possible, leading to plenty of attempts for Fairbairn. He is the No. 6 K in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings, so even though the game against the Chargers is expected to be lower-scoring, he remains a strong starter in standard-sized leagues this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
The Houston Texans D/ST has fueled the team's seven-game winning streak, and they'll go on the road this week in a critical matchup against the Chargers on Saturday afternoon. The Texans can clinch a playoff spot with a victory, and they had four sacks and four interceptions against
Justin Herbert when they faced him in last year's playoffs. Pass-rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter will look to continue their impressive seasons and continue to force turnovers. Last week, the DST had a touchdown, an interception, and three sacks against the Raiders. The Chargers have been a top-10 matchup for DSTs this season, and since they have a playoff spot wrapped up, they may be slightly less aggressive this week. Even on the road against a playoff team, the Texans DST still ranks as the No. 6 DST in RotoBaller's rankings, so start them with confidence on Saturday afternoon as they look to lock up a return to the postseason.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
According to the Jaguars' injury report,
Bhayshul Tuten (finger) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Tuten did not play in the Jaguars' Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to this finger injury, and it was initially reported that he could miss multiple games, so it's encouraging to see him log consecutive limited practices, which should bode well for him suiting up Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Fantasy managers who are relying on Tuten's availability on Sunday will want to keep tabs on his Friday practice to see whether he will be available come Sunday. Once he returns, Tuten will likely resume his clear backup role to
Travis Etienne and won't be on the fantasy radar as anything better than a handcuff or a touchdown-dependent RB3. On the season, Tuten has 284 rushing yards (3.64 YPC) and four touchdowns. He's also contributed through the air with 79 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: https://www.jaguars.com/team/injury-report/
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has been a consistent PPR producer for most of the season and has played his way up the rankings coming into his team's Saturday afternoon matchup with the Chargers. Schultz has 75 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns this season and has found the end zone in each of the last two weeks against the Cardinals and Raiders. Schultz has at least five catches in three of his last four games and in 10 of his last 13. While his yardage totals are typically underwhelming, he gets plenty of looks in the Texans' current conservative play-calling. The Chargers are a below-average matchup for Schultz, but he still ranks as the No. 6 TE in RotoBaller's rankings, indicating he can be started with confidence in Week 17 in standard-sized leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk is coming off one of his best games of the season last week against the Raiders, as the veteran played his most snaps (39) since Week 9 and had his most targets (5) since Week 12. He'll have a tougher matchup this week against the Chargers on Saturday and is a high-risk play for fantasy purposes since his role is still extremely shaky. He finishes second on the team in receiving yards and tied for second in targets last week, though, so it's possible he'll continue to trend up as the Texans continue their playoff push. Since he only has 25 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown this season, Kirk is a high-risk option in this tough matchup in Los Angeles, and he's just the No. 67 WR in RotoBaller's rankings. He can be left on the bench or waiver wire in most leagues, but it is worth monitoring his involvement to see if last week's performance was a matchup-based outlier or the start of a trend.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jayden Higgins has made good progress throughout his rookie season, climbing the depth chart and locking in as the team's top option across the field from
Nico Collins. However, he only has one catch in each of his last two games, so he'll be a long-shot play this week, when his team takes on the Chargers in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Higgins has scored four touchdowns this season and hauled in 37 catches for 414 yards. He is only the WR 56 in RotoBaller's rankings for this week, though, so his recent quiet games have dropped him out of consideration as a flex play in standard-sized leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins has remained his team's clear go-to option at receiver this season, but he's only a fringe WR1 this week in a tough Saturday afternoon matchup against the Chargers. Collins has hauled in 68 of his 116 targets this season for 1,060 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and he has at least three catches in every game he has played this season. Last week against the Raiders, he had four catches for 59 scoreless yards, but he found the end zone twice in the previous week against the Cardinals. He's still
C.J. Stroud's favorite target both in the open field and near the goal line, so he always brings upside, even in tough, low-scoring games like is expected this week. The Chargers have only allowed eight WR touchdowns all season, but did give up two last week to the Cowboys. Collins is the No. 9 WR in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings, so he should be started as a top option in most formats, even with slightly tempered expectations.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb has been a regular part of the team's running back rotation this season, but his role in Week 17 against the Chargers is a little murky.
Woody Marks is ready to return from an ankle injury after missing Week 16, and
Jawhar Jordan had a nice breakout while Marks was injured. With both Marks and Jordan in the mix this week, carries could be hard to come by for Chubb. He could still be utilized as a short-yardage specialist since he is an effective between-the-tackles option, but he doesn't have the explosiveness he showcased earlier in his career. He'll be a touchdown-dependent flex long shot this week in a tough matchup, and he's only the No. 53 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, making him best left on the bench or waiver wire if possible this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan has impressed the last two weeks, but he's high-risk this week since his role is uncertain as his team visits the Chargers on Saturday afternoon. The 26-year-old broke out in his NFL debut in Week 15, taking 15 carries for 101 yards against the Cardinals. He followed that up last week with 15 more carries but only for 53 yards, but he saved his fantasy day with five catches for 17 more yards. Both of those big games came after
Woody Marks (ankle) left with an injury, but Marks is ready to return this week. Jordan and
Nick Chubb will likely continue to mix in for the Texans, but Marks was the primary running back before his injury and will likely resume that role moving forward. The Chargers have been good against the run this season, and Jordan is only the No. 52 RB in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings. He's a desperation play who should still be involved, but he's best left on your bench this week if possible.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks (ankle) missed last week's game against the Raiders after sustaining an injury in Week 15 against Arizona, but he had full participation in practice and has no injury status for this week, indicating he should be a full go in Week 17. The Texans are in a tough matchup against the Chargers in what is expected to be a low-scoring contest on Saturday afternoon, but Marks should step back into a significant role. Before his injury, Marks had set a season-high with 26 carries for 68 yards against the Chiefs and scored a touchdown as a receiver. The rookie now has five touchdowns on the season and seems to have taken the lead role in the backfield, although
Jawhar Jordan and
Nick Chubb will also likely remain involved. Since the Chargers have been good against the run and he's still in a committee, Marks is the RB No. 32 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 17, since he is a high-risk RB3 or flex option with touchdown-dependent upside.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud is in a tough matchup on Saturday afternoon against the Chargers, but he has shown enough momentum to still be a strong option in two-QB formats or in deep leagues this week. Stroud only threw for 187 yards and a touchdown last week in a narrow win over the Raiders, but he looked much better with 260 yards and three touchdowns the previous week against the Cardinals. Stroud has led his team to four straight wins since returning from a concussion, and the Texans have won seven straight overall to put themselves in a prime position to make the playoffs. While defense and a conservative offensive strategy have been the main reasons for their success, Stroud has shown enough play-making upside to still be the No. 17 QB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him a solid QB2.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 26, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) failed to practice again on Thursday as the team prepares to take on the hosting New York Jets in Week 17. Hollins had one of his better games of the campaign in New England's 28-24 victory over Baltimore last Sunday, reeling in 7-of-9 targets for 69 yards. However, he presumably picked up the issue in the win, despite leading the Pats' WR room in snaps. With teammate
Kayshon Boutte (concussion) following the same practice regimen as the veteran, and
DeMario Douglas (hamstring) limited with an injury of his own, New England is in danger of being down several critical offensive pieces. As it stands,
Stefon Diggs,
Kyle Williams, and
Efton Chism III are the only other active wideouts without a designation.
--Alex CiullaSource: New England Patriots
December 26, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Luther Burden III (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity for the second straight day ahead of Sunday night's matchup with the hosting San Francisco 49ers. The 22-year-old was deemed inactive for Week 16's win over the Packers after failing to practice at all leading up to the outing. However, Burden stringing together two limited sessions would seemingly put him on track to suit up on the road against San Francisco. If the rookie can get himself cleared to play in Sunday's game, he'd be in store for another significant workload, considering teammate
Rome Odunze (foot) is trending toward not playing. In the event that neither plays, fantasy managers can fire up
DJ Moore as a strong play against an exploitable 49ers' pass defense. Fellow wideouts
Olamide Zaccheaus and
Jahdae Walker would slot in behind him.
--Alex CiullaSource: FOX Sports
December 26, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has yet to return to practice, listed as a non-participant for the second consecutive session as the team gears up for a divisional matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. The veteran has missed Cleveland's previous two games as he recovers from a knee injury sustained in Week 14's loss to the Tennessee Titans. That Njoku hasn't been able to practice in even a limited capacity since suffering the issue suggests he's trending toward missing his third straight appearance, paving the way for fellow TE
Harold Fannin Jr. to retain a featured role in the passing game in his stead. As it stands, if Njoku is inactive again, teammates
Blake Whiteheart and
Brenden Bates will continue working in behind the rookie.
--Alex CiullaSource: Cleveland Browns
RADIO
