December 25, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is slated to operate as, at worst, the No. 2 option in the team's aerial assault for the remainder of the season. Valdes-Scantling was signed to Pittsburgh's practice squad at the beginning of November, although he hadn't earned a snap until their Week 14 win over the Ravens. Since then, the 31-year-old has pulled in just 2-of-5 targets for 25 yards and a touchdown. However, the veteran is poised for a significant uptick in playing time following teammate
DK Metcalf's suspension stemming from an altercation with a fan. Valdes-Scantling doesn't project to see a ton of volume, but he should see some valuable downfield targets. In fact, he just missed hauling in a long TD in Week 16's victory against the Lions. With fellow wideout
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) also in danger of missing this Sunday's outing, Valdes-Scantling projects to operate behind
Adam Thielen as the team's top two pass-catchers when they square off with the Cleveland Browns.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Adam Thielen has become a moderately more intriguing fantasy option for the final few weeks of the campaign following the suspension of teammate
DK Metcalf. Thielen joined Pittsburgh ahead of the team's 27-22 win over their division-rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. Despite logging roughly 50% of snaps over the two ensuing contests (48/58), the veteran could only come away with one catch on one target in each appearance. However, Thielen saw his workload elevate in last Sunday's victory against Detroit (4/49) and is poised to see a decent target share with Metcalf set to sit for the next two games. Moreover, if fellow WR
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) is unavailable for Week 17, then Thielen,
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and
Scotty Miller would operate in three-wide-receiver sets, significantly raising the floor of the trio. It's a situation worth monitoring as the Steelers gear up for a road clash with the Browns this Sunday.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
David Montgomery (illness) will be active for Thursday's road bout with the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day, per the team. The veteran appeared on Detroit's practice report on Tuesday, missing the session due to illness. After logging a limited practice on Wednesday, it would seem Montgomery will be able to play anyway, and figures to assume his typical allotment of snaps behind teammate
Jahmyr Gibbs as the Lions attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive. Notably, the seventh-year pro has seen his snap count steadily dwindle since Week 11, dropping under 20 plays in each of his last three appearances, compared with just once over the season's first 13 weeks. Correlatively, he'll offer little more than flex appeal with Gibbs dominating time and touches in the backfield.
--Alex CiullaSource: Detroit Lions
December 25, 2025
According to the team, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) will be active for Thursday's divisional clash against the hosting Minnesota Vikings. St. Brown gave fantasy managers a scare, beginning the week tagged with a DNP after upgrading to limited sessions over the ensuing two days. Fortunately, the tough-as-nails 26-year-old will play through the issue and has yet to miss a start all season. It's unclear if he'll feel any of the lingering effects from the knee injury he picked up in Week 16, so fantasy managers may want to temper expectations, particularly against a stout Vikings' pass defense that's allowed the third-fewest passing yards per game (169.2). That said, St. Brown is a must-start option when healthy and should be amongst the top scorers at his position again deep in the fantasy playoffs. He's RotoBaller's PPR WR4 for Thursday's outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: Detroit Lions
December 25, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Samaje Perine has garnered a greater role in the offense since returning from an ankle injury a few weeks back, absorbing at least seven touches in four straight outings. Backfield mate
Chase Brown has still operated as Cincinnati's clear lead back. However, Perine has begun eating into the former's workload on the ground, handling 14 carries in two of the last four contests. Over that four-game sample, the veteran has nearly doubled his rushing production on the season, while seeing eight opportunities in the red zone -- a stark contrast to the four he accrued through the campaign's first 12 weeks. As it stands, Brown is the best bet for fantasy production in the backfield, but Perine has evolved into one of the higher-end handcuffs in the league, offering some standalone flex appeal. He'll be a solid play against a Cardinals' defense that's yielded the second-most fantasy points per game to RBs (26.95).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
ESPN's Todd Archer reports that Dallas Cowboys tight end
Jake Ferguson (calf) has been ruled out for the remainder of the game after sustaining a calf injury. He caught 1-of-2 targets for six yards and a touchdown before exiting the contest. Ferguson saw his last opportunity of the outing early in the second quarter, but did not rejoin his team coming out of halftime. With the 26-year-old deemed out, fellow tight end
Luke Schoonmaker will operate as the Cowboys' No. 1 option at the position.
Brevyn Spann-Ford will mix in behind him. Fantasy managers can also expect a modest uptick in work for wide receivers
George Pickens and
CeeDee Lamb while Ferguson is sidelined.
--Alex CiullaSource: Todd Archer
December 25, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Chimere Dike is worthy of owners' consideration as a low-end PPR flex play ahead of Week 17's outing with the visiting New Orleans Saints. The rookie's fantasy output has been anything but consistent in his debut season, tied to a developing
Cameron Ward under center. However, Dike has retained a decent role and is a legitimate threat in the red zone. On the season, the fourth-round pick of April's draft has 15 opportunities in the red area, with the next closest Titans' pass-catcher failing to eclipse eight (
Gunnar Helm). Moreover, Dike's superb work on special teams gives him an enormous boost in formats that account for such statistics. Indeed, the rookie teeters on boom-bust territory for fantasy. That said, he leads all Tennessee wideouts in receptions (41) and touchdown catches (four), and is a perpetual threat to score in the return game.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
According to Tommy Yarrish of the team, Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams (shoulder) is questionable to return to Thursday's road matchup with their division-rival Washington Commanders. Williams exited Christmas Day's contest in the first half after picking up a shoulder injury. Before leaving, he'd racked up 54 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, failing to bring in either of his targets. With the University of North Carolina product on the sideline, fantasy managers can expect backfield mates
Malik Davis and Hunter Leupke to pick up extra snaps in his stead. As it stands, Davis figures to get most of the work, considering he's primarily played behind Williams over the previous few weeks.
--Alex CiullaSource: Tommy Yarrish
December 25, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie running back
Kyle Monangai has emerged as an integral part of the team's offensive attack and presents as a solid flex play despite splitting time with backfield mate
D'Andre Swift. The 23-year-old began the season minimally involved in the Bears' offense, averaging just seven carries a game through the campaign's first eight weeks. However, following a 176-yard eruption in Week 9 in Swift's stead, Monangai has been much more heavily utilized, picking up double-digit rush totals in six of eight appearances. Swift's presence will keep the rookie on the back burner for as long as he's healthy, capping his upside. Still, fantasy managers can comfortably slot the latter into their lineups for low-end flex production at worst. Moreover, Monangai holds massive built-in upside if his teammate is ever forced to miss time. The duo will get a formidable San Francisco 49ers' rush defense this weekend on Sunday Night Football.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford is coming off one of his best performances of the season in last Thursday's 38-37 shootout with the Seahawks, and remains a high-end fantasy option moving forward. Stafford tossed three touchdowns across 457 yards in Week 16's defeat. The yardage total was a career-high, and it was the eighth time he'd thrown at least three TDs and no interceptions in the 2025 campaign. The former Georgia Bulldog has been lights out this season, and managers can continue rolling him out with confidence deep into the fantasy playoffs. While LA may decide to sit the veteran and other starters in Week 18 depending on this weekend's outcomes, Stafford will be afforded an excellent outing on Monday night against a Falcons' defense that's yielded 24 points per game -- ranking in the bottom third of the league.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell has come on strong in recent weeks, solidifying himself as an excellent fantasy asset over the back half of the season. Gainwell popped off earlier in the campaign in backfield mate
Jaylen Warren's (hip) stead, although he'd operated in a secondary role for most of the season. However, in Week 11, the 26-year-old emerged as a legitimate threat in the passing game and has since recorded at least six targets in all but one appearance. Furthermore, Gainwell has out-snapped Warren in each of the previous two weeks despite the latter remaining heavily involved in the rush attack. While both will seemingly hold substantial value over the season's remaining weeks, Gainwell stands to see an uptick in targets, considering wide receiver
DK Metcalf will be absent while he serves a two-game suspension, vacating looks in the offense.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson saw an increased role in Week 16's 29-6 home win against the New York Jets, and figures to remain heavily involved moving forward after the loss of teammate
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) for the remainder of the season. Johnson has been a strong producer for the Saints and fantasy managers alike in 2025. However, the emergence of Vele had capped the veteran's upside over the last month or so. Leading up to New Orleans' victory last Sunday, Vele was placed on injured reserve, paving the way for Johnson to operate as the second option behind wide receiver
Chris Olave (back), and he delivered (8/89). With rookie
Tyler Shough playing competently, Johnson is poised to carry high-end TE fantasy value for the campaign's remaining weeks. He'll get another excellent matchup in the hosting Tennessee Titans this Sunday.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (rest, groin) could not find the end zone again in Week 16's 45-21 lopsided loss to the Bengals, but projects to be a useful fantasy asset for the remainder of the season. Waller and the rest of the Dolphins' skill players' value took a hit last Sunday when the team announced they'd turn to rookie signal-caller
Quinn Ewers. The move was a response to teammate
Tua Tagovailoa floundering in his role as a starter. For one game, at least, it was a downgrade for the Dolphins' offense. However, Waller remained involved, placing second on the team in targets (five) behind wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle's nine. Waller's upside won't be the same with Ewers under center, but owners can still rely on him as a fringy TE1, particularly against a Buccaneers' defense that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position (15.65).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston registered a stellar performance in his return to the field in Week 16, corraling 4-of-5 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown during the team's 34-17 road win against the Dallas Cowboys. The TCU product was inactive for LA's victory over the Chiefs the week prior after popping up on the practice report with a groin injury. Nonetheless, Johnston only missed one appearance and posted his first 100-yard performance of the campaign. While the 24-year-old has seen his production dip from an excellent first month of play, he's remained, at worst, the Chargers' second-leading wideout in terms of snaps on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, consistent production has been hard to find with a myriad of mouths to feed in the team's attack. However, he'll remain on the flex radar with substantial upside, even against a staunch Texans' defense in Week 17.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 25, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Alec Pierce posted a strong bounce-back effort in Week 16's 48-27 loss to the 49ers, reeling in all four of his targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Pierce has been a solid fantasy asset all season. However, he looked to be fading two weeks ago when Indy named veteran QB
Philip Rivers their starter. At the time, the 25-year-old's downfield skill set didn't appear to be a match for Rivers' current play style. That changed on Monday night, though, when the 44-year-old began pushing the ball a bit more. If Rivers won't be pigeonholed into a short, quick attack, then Pierce will still hold a bit of value down the stretch. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a ton of volume from the former Cincinnati Bearcat, but he'll at least still be the recipient of valuable downfield targets. Pierce has led all Colts' receivers in snaps in eight of their last nine outings.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
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