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
December 24, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Chris Oladokun will now be the starting quarterback for the team heading into the last two games of the season. Kansas City lost
Patrick Mahomes to an ACL tear in Week 15, and
Gardner Minshew was the next man up in the QB room. Minshew started the game in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans but left with a knee injury of his own, passing the torch to Oladokun. Oladokun performed well given the hand he was dealt, completing 11 of 16 pass attempts (69%) for 111 yards and rushing twice for seven yards. Last week's contest was the first time Oladokun had ever thrown a pass in an NFL game, so expect there to be some growing pains as he faces one of the toughest defenses in the league on Christmas. The Denver Broncos have allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game and fifth-fewest points per game this season while leading the league in sacks, so Oladokun will have his work cut out for him. The Chiefs quarterback will also have to compete without
Rashee Rice and
Tyquan Thornton, who were both placed on IR on Wednesday afternoon. Oladokun is ranked QB34 in our RotoBaller rankings, placing him dead-last. Oladokun should not be considered a fantasy option for Week 17
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 24, 2025
Denver Broncos kicker
Wil Lutz will look to replicate his Week 11 performance against the Kansas City Chiefs when traveling to face them again in Week 17. In that Week 11 performance, Lutz had 16 total points from making all five of his field goal attempts and converting his lone PAT attempt. While it's difficult to predict that type of performance again since this was an outlier in his season, Lutz is also coming off a game in which he missed one of the shortest tries out of his three field goal attempts against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ranked as RotoBaller's 18th best kicker on the week, there are likely other options for managers to rely on in Week 17.
--Luke DeMarcusSource: ESPN
December 24, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Both Thornton and fellow wideout
Rashee Rice (concussion) will miss the final two games of the regular season due to head injuries. The 25-year-old Thornton had some fantasy relevance earlier this season with
Xavier Worthy injured and Rice out due to a suspension, but once both pass-catchers returned, he fell down the depth chart as a hard-to-trust deep threat in KC's offense. The former second-rounder will finish his first year in Kansas City with 19 catches on 37 targets for a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (four starts). Worthy and
Marquise Brown will have more opportunities to close out the year, but expectations must be tempered for fantasy managers with third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun set to run KC's offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
December 24, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Max Brosmer will start for the team in a Christmas Day meeting with the Detroit Lions, but the chance to play doesn't mean fantasy managers should go anywhere near this matchup. Vikings starter
J.J. McCarthy (hand) will miss another game, while backup
Carson Wentz (shoulder) is already out for the year, thrusting the undrafted rookie into the spotlight. Brosmer's first and only start in the NFL so far was a total disaster: he threw no touchdowns and four interceptions in a loss at Seattle, the first of which was a wild, ill-advised heave while being sacked that the Seahawks returned for a game-changing touchdown. Brosmer played admirably after McCarthy departed last week, and the Lions have allowed more air yards than any team in the NFL, which gives some hope. Even so, the odds are stacked against Brosmer, who has played only out of desperation and is facing a short week to boot. Fantasy managers still playing this weekend almost certainly can find a higher-rated option.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (ankle) has been a reliable, if unremarkable, fantasy option this year, but he finds himself in RB3 territory as Minnesota prepares to host the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day. Due to injuries to starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) and backup
Carson Wentz (shoulder), the Vikings are down to third-stringer
Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie. Already without left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee), the Vikings also ruled out center Ryan Kelly (concussion) and tight end
T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), while right tackle Brian O'Neill (heel) is questionable. Jones figures to get most of the running back work with fellow running back
Jordan Mason (ankle) injured, but the Vikings' offense is a shell of what it was even two weeks ago. Detroit ranks 12th against half-PPR running backs, and the Lions surely will be keying on the run in an effort to put pressure on Brosmer. Managers will have to weigh whether Jones dominating the backfield is worth the risk of relying upon an offense counting on so many reserves.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver
Rashee Rice (concussion) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, ending his 2025 season, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Fellow wideout
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) also landed on IR. Both receivers will miss the final two games of the regular season with the Chiefs already eliminated from postseason contention. The 25-year-old Rice got a late start to the year after serving a suspension, but once he returned, he had a high weekly floor for fantasy managers with 53 receptions, 571 yards, and five touchdowns in eight games played. When healthy, it's clear that Rice has become quarterback
Patrick Mahomes' (knee) favorite weapon through the air. With both Rice and Thornton out for the last two games,
Xavier Worthy and
Marquise Brown will have more opportunities, but third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun will be running the offense with Mahomes and
Gardner Minshew (knee) dealing with torn ACLs.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
December 24, 2025
For fantasy managers weighing whether to start Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day, the better question is how much they trust an offense led by an undrafted rookie quarterback. Vikings starter
J.J. McCarthy (hand) will miss his seventh game of the season, and backup
Carson Wentz (shoulder) is out for the year, leaving rookie
Max Brosmer to take the reins. To say Brosmer's first start went poorly would be putting it mildly: he threw four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and Jefferson finished with a paltry two catches for four yards. The superstar has routinely torched the Lions in his career, gaining more than 1,200 receiving yards and scoring five touchdowns in 11 games against them. Detroit ranks dead last in the NFL in air yards allowed, so the matchup is a good one for Jefferson, albeit with the significant risk of relying upon Brosmer. The offense likely will run through running back
Aaron Jones Sr. and Jefferson, the latter of whom should be considered a high-risk WR2.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
Denver Broncos running back
RJ Harvey gets to travel and face the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas in Week 17. Since the Week 12 bye, Harvey has produced RB1 consensus numbers in all but one game, averaging 17.25 touches for 87 yards and 1.25 touchdowns per game in that four-week stretch. Profiling as a potential league winner on the season, Harvey will look to carry the momentum from his Week 16 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which he had 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches. With RotoBaller ranking Harvey as the RB14 overall for Week 17, he should be relied upon as a high-end RB2 with upside.
--Luke DeMarcusSource: ESPN
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