December 22, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (right hand) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice report. The Vikings conducted a walk-through on Monday, so this designation is based on an estimation from the team. McCarthy exited during the middle of the Vikings' Week 16 contest and was unable to return. Video from the FOX broadcast showed McCarthy in serious pain, so between his pain level and Monday's injury report, it seems like there's a very real chance the former first-round pick misses Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. To make matters worse for McCartyhy, the Vikings and Lions have a short week, playing on Christmas Day (Thursday). He only has a few days to get healthy for Week 17. Otherwise,
Max Brosmer would be in line to start against Detroit.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kevin Seifert
December 22, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice report. The Lions conducted a walk-through on Monday, so this designation is based on an estimation from the team. The 26-year-old is coming off a relatively disappointing contest in which he caught four of his nine targets for 54 yards while handling a season-high 97% snap share. He did handle an increased target share on the final drive of the game, but two of his catches (including a touchdown) were called back due to penalties. The Lions have a quick turnaround before playing again on Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings, so St. Brown only has a few days to get healthy. If he suits up in Week 17, he'll be a WR1.
--Andersen PickardSource: Eric Woodyard
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey bounced back in Week 16 after two quiet outings, leading the team with six targets and finishing with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in the 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. It was a much-needed get-right performance, as McConkey reasserted himself as Herbert's primary chain-mover and red-zone option, bringing his season total to six touchdowns. However, Week 17 presents a dramatically tougher matchup against the Houston Texans, who boast one of the league's most suffocating pass defenses. Houston ranks near the top in EPA per pass, completion percentage allowed, interception rate, pressure rate, and total yards allowed. With the Texans generating consistent pressure and limiting downfield opportunities, McConkey may be limited to short-area targets and modest volume, making him a volatile WR3 rather than a dependable fantasy starter.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre' Harris continued to earn
Justin Herbert's trust, catching four passes for 54 yards on five targets and finishing second on the team in receiving yards in the 34-17 win over Dallas. Despite seeing his snap share cut nearly in half with
Quentin Johnston back in the lineup, Harris still posted an 18% target share, tying Johnston and
Keenan Allen. Harris has now seen ten targets over the last two games, an impressive trend given his fluctuating playing time. Week 17 brings a much tougher test against the Houston Texans, one of the league's most dominant pass defenses, ranking near the top in EPA per pass, pressure rate, yards allowed, and interceptions. With Houston limiting explosive plays and Harris still splitting work with veterans, his upside is capped, making him a risky flex option in deeper formats.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton delivered in the team's 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys, rushing 16 times for 85 yards and a touchdown while averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per carry. Hampton handled 62% of the team's rushing attempts, especially after
Kimani Vidal exited with a neck injury, and consistently showed more burst and decisiveness than his backfield mates. He also contributed as a receiver, adding a 10-yard catch. Heading into Week 17, Hampton could see an expanded role if Vidal misses time, though Houston presents a much stiffer challenge. The Texans rank among the top seven run defenses, allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards this season. Still, with the Chargers leaning on the ground game and Hampton's explosiveness standing out, he profiles as a volume-based RB2 with RB1 upside.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 22, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf is being suspended for two games without pay due to his confrontation with a fan during their victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon. Metcalf was seen physically confronting the fan during the contest. However, Pelissero noted that the lead wideout is planning to appeal his suspension as he has already reported this same fan to security last season. During their thrilling victory over the Lions, Metcalf brought in just four of his nine targets for 42 yards. However, during Weeks 14 and 15, Metcalf averaged a strong 18.1 PPR points per game and tallied 101.5 yards per game. If Metcalf were to lose his appeal, the team's top wideout would not be eligible to participate in their final two games of the regular season. This would leave
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) as the tentative WR1, if he can suit up, as he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday. With his status potentially in doubt as well, managers should expect both running backs,
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell, to see an even higher target share in their Week 17 tilt against the Browns.
--Andy SmithSource: Tom Pelissero
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end
Oronde Gadsden saw his role shrink significantly in the team's 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, recording just one catch for seven yards while playing only 59% of the snaps and posting a 3.5% target share. This marked his lowest usage since becoming a regular contributor, continuing a troubling post-bye trend in which his snap rate has dipped as the Chargers prioritize pass protection for their depleted offensive line. For the first time since Week 2, veteran
Will Dissly out-targeted Gadsden, highlighting the rookie's diminishing involvement. Week 17 brings a difficult matchup against the Houston Texans, who rank among the top pass defenses and top-10 units against tight ends in yards allowed. With declining playing time, reduced targets, and a challenging opponent, Gadsden should not be trusted in fantasy lineups during championship week.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 22, 2025
Head Coach Sean McVay said that the Los Angeles Rams will not activate tight end
Tyler Higbee (ankle) from injured reserve for Monday night's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Higbee was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. The 32-year-old was eligible to return to play in Week 16 but will remain on injured reserve. Before his injury, Higbee had hauled in 20 catches for 190 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 30 targets. In his absence,
Colby Parkinson has stepped into the TE1 role for the Rams offense and has been a reliable streaming option for fantasy managers. With a playoff spot secured, the Rams will want to make sure Higbee is fully healthy before rushing him back into action.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Sarah Barshop
December 22, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson has a serious contusion to his back and is considered day-to-day, coach John Harbaugh said, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Harbaugh also said, "It doesn't look like it's more than that. He's in there getting treatment now." Jackson was kneed in the back on a run play during the Sunday night loss to the New England Patriots. Before his exit, Jackson went seven-for-10 for 101 passing yards, along with two carries for seven rushing yards. The Ravens remain hopeful that Jackson can return to play soon as they continue to fight for a playoff spot. If Jackson is unable to play in Week 17,
Tyler Huntley will be forced to start on the road against the Green Bay Packers.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Jamison Hensley
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal was diagnosed with a neck strain and is considered day-to-day after an MRI, according to Ian Rapoport. Vidal left Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys early in the fourth quarter. Before his exit, Vidal had five carries for 11 rushing yards. The Chargers leaned on rookie
Omarion Hampton and
Hassan Haskins to close out the game on the ground. The 24-year-old has stepped up when needed this season, totaling 152 carries for 631 yards and three touchdowns. Vidal could miss some time, but the belief is that the injury is not serious. If Vidal does miss time, Hampton and Haskins will get more work in the backfield in his absence.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Ian Rapoport
December 22, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Audric Estime had a season high in touches on Sunday against the New York Jets. The 22-year-old had five carries for 19 yards, along with three catches for 17 yards on four targets. Estime was projected to be the lead back for the Saints with
Alvin Kamara and
Devin Neal missing time due to injuries, but was out-touched by
Taysom Hill in Week 16. Hill led the team with 12 carries in the Saints' final home game. With Kamara's status unknown in Week 17, Estime will likely split carries with Hill and
Evan Hull. With a lot of mouths to feed in the Saints' backfield, Estime should only be added off the waiver wire in deeper leagues to add bench depth heading into fantasy championships.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Parker Washington is coming off a week 16 win over the Broncos in which he caught six of nine targets for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown, and he will be a popular waiver addition heading into fantasy championships. While he is capable of providing a relatively safe floor as part of a Jaguars' offense that has seen
Trevor Lawrence flourish of late under the tutelage of first-year head coach Liam Coen, it's important to consider the context behind his Week 16 explosion. With Broncos' All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II shadowing
Jakobi Meyers and
Brian Thomas Jr. for most of the game, the Jaguars leaned heavily on Washington and tight end
Brenton Strange. Against the Colts in Week 17, Jacksonville should see its primary pass catchers more involved, especially if Sauce Gardner, who did not practice at all before missing his third consecutive game, is unable to suit up again.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed fifth-year quarterback
Shane Buechele off the Bills' practice squad, pending a physical. With
Patrick Mahomes (ACL) and
Gardner Minshew (ACL) both being lost to severe knee injuries in back-to-back weeks, the Chiefs were forced to turn to
Chris Oladokun, a 2022 7th-round pick out of South Dakota State, in their Week 16 loss to the Titans. With no other quarterback currently rostered, Kansas City adds emergency depth with Buechele, who has never taken a professional snap but spent the first two years of his career with the Chiefs after going undrafted in 2021. With Oladokun primed to make the first start of his career in a Christmas night divisional matchup against the Broncos, none of the Chiefs' offensive weapons should be in consideration for fantasy championships.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
December 22, 2025
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski provided no updates on quarterback
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) regarding an activation to the 53-man roster. The deadline to activate Watson from the Physically Unable to Perform list is this Tuesday, and despite telling the media that a decision would be made this week, nothing appears imminent with approximately 24 hours to go. If no move is made by the deadline, Watson will be ineligible to play in the team's final two games, likely leaving rookie
Shedeur Sanders as the starter for the rest of the season. The Browns will have Watson, Sanders, and fellow rookie
Dillon Gabriel under contract heading into 2026, but with a projected top-five pick in April's draft, they will very much be in play to further address the quarterback position.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Zac Jackson
December 22, 2025
Dallas quarterback
Dak Prescott finished Week 16 on the sideline, watching backup
Joe Milton III take the team's final offensive snaps in what became a blowout loss to the Chargers, but according to team CEO Stephen Jones, he will remain the team's starter for a Week 17 divisional matchup with the Commanders. Prescott and the Cowboys' offense started hot on Sunday, finishing each of their first three drives with points, but stalled out after that, with their most successful drive of the second half being the six-play opener that resulted in 21 yards and a punt. The Commanders provide what is, on paper, a dream fantasy matchup for Prescott and the rest of Dallas' weapons. Still, with the Cowboys now eliminated from playoff contention, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding many of the studs that likely had a part in punching many a ticket to the fantasy championship.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tommy Yarrish
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