December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Josh Johnson will make the start on Christmas Day on Thursday versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala.
Jeff Driskel will serve as the backup with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) unable to play following his injury on Saturday night in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Normal starter
Jayden Daniels (elbow) has already been shut down for the rest of the year. This will be Johnson's first NFL start since Week 17 of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Ravens. The 39-year-old journeyman went 5-for-9 passing for 43 yards and an ugly interception in Week 16 after taking over for the injured Mariota. The matchup this week against Dallas' porous defense is friendly, but Johnson still won't be much more than a desperation QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues with everything on the line in championship matchups.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
December 24, 2025
When asked whether quarterback
Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) injury timeline impacts decisions on
Kirk Cousins going forward, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday, "Anything can happen. We will for sure discuss all of the options when the end is near." Penix needed full reconstructive surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee that is likely to keep him out to start the 2026 season. The 25-year-old signal-caller has undergone three reconstructive surgeries on his ACL, dating back to his days in college, leading the Falcons to likely reconsider their future at the QB position this offseason. Veteran Kirk Cousins is finishing out the year as the team's starter, but he can opt out of the last two years of his four-year, $180 million contract. If Cousins leaves, the Falcons could be in trouble without any first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
December 24, 2025
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that wide receiver
Drake London (knee) will practice this week, but still with "some type of modifications," according to Terrin Waack of AtlantaFalcons.com. "He's Drake. He's productive. I look forward to him getting better this week," Morris said. After a four-game absence due to a PCL sprain in his knee, London returned in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals to play a season-low 69% of the offensive snaps. The 24-year-old caught just three passes on eight targets for 27 yards in the 26-19 victory. It appears that he's still not 100% with his knee injury, but he will be active on Monday night to face the Los Angeles Rams, and London should see more action in his second game back. Before his injury, Atlanta's WR1 was averaging 6.7 catches and 90 receiving yards in nine games.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
December 24, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion) will practice again on Wednesday but remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Love was listed as limited on the team's first injury report of the week on Tuesday after he was forced from Saturday night's loss to the Chicago Bears with a concussion. The 27-year-old signal-caller appears to be making some progress, but he's still very much up in the air to be cleared to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 on Saturday. Backup
Malik Willis (shoulder) is also questionable to play after getting injured after he replaced Love in Week 16 in Chicago. If both Love and Willis aren't able to play against Baltimore, the Packers would be forced to go with
Clayton Tune under center this weekend. Love's status could be a game-time decision on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
December 24, 2025
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Los Angeles Rams "very well could shut down" wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) for the final two regular-season games. Head coach Sean McVay already said that Adams is doubtful to play on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, and a team source told Fowler that "it wouldn't be a surprise" to see Adams also miss the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The Rams' goal is to "ensure Adams is 100 percent for the first week of the playoffs." Adams is currently considered week-to-week after aggravating his hamstring injury on Dec. 14 against the Detroit Lions. The Rams held him out of last Thursday's overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect to have him the rest of the way.
Konata Mumpfield, along with star
Puka Nacua, could be the biggest beneficiary in L.A.'s passing attack if Adams misses two more games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
December 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Omarion Hampton told ESPN's Dan Graziano that Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys was the "best he has felt" since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for seven games from Week 6 to Week 13. Across three games since returning, the 22-year-old has recorded 227 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 48 touches. The Chargers held Hampton under 25 offensive snaps in each of his first two outings back from injury, but bumped his playing time up to 35 snaps in Week 16 against Dallas. Hampton could be in line for an even larger bump in playing time in Week 17 against the Houston Texans, as fellow Chargers back
Kimani Vidal (neck) is considered day-to-day due to a neck strain. Hampton has been a dynamic player when healthy this season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 5.1 yards per touch across eight games played. He profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 with upside, even in a tough matchup in Week 17 against Houston.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Dan Graziano
December 24, 2025
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old suffered an orbital fracture in pre-game warmups that has had him on Injured Reserve since mid-October. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup quarterback in Indianapolis behind
Daniel Jones (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. With both Jones and Richardson Sr. unavailable, the Colts brought 44-year-old quarterback
Philip Rivers out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to save their season. Rivers has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 397 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions across two starts and appears to be in line to make his third start in Week 17. It's unclear whether Richardson Sr. will return this season or whether he would take the starting job away from Rivers once activated.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - James Boyd
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Dylan Sampson (hand) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Sampson has missed each of Cleveland's last two games due to calf and hand injuries. The 21-year-old has mostly been used in a part-time role as a receiver out of the backfield so far in 2025. However, with Browns RB1
Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) suffering a season-ending injury in Week 16, Sampson has an opportunity to take over as the team's lead back. Across 13 games this season, Sampson has racked up 375 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 72 touches. The Browns also have
Raheim Sanders and
Trayveon Williams as backfield options who can help fill in for Judkins. If active, Sampson could be a solid flex option for fantasy managers in his Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
December 24, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero notes that Bowers has been battling a lingering knee injury since Week 1, and the 2-13 Raiders are now focused on making sure their star tight end is fully healthy for 2026. Across 12 games this season, the 23-year-old recorded 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets. With Bowers sidelined, Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer is likely in line for a spike in both playing time and target share. Across a two-game stretch in Weeks 6 and 7 with Bowers inactive, Mayer recorded six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. For fantasy managers now left scrambling to fill the tight end position, Mayer could be a solid streamer in Week 17 against the New York Giants.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) is not expected to return to practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. The 29-year-old has missed Cleveland's last two games due to a knee injury, and his availability for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to be in question. Across 12 games this season, Njoku has recorded 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. In his absence, Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. has seen a spike in production. With Njoku going down early in Week 14, Fannin Jr. has recorded 19 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets over the last three weeks. If Njoku remains sidelined against the Steelers, Fannin Jr. can be viewed as a must-start fantasy tight end in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
December 24, 2025
Across 15 games this season, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Konata Mumpfield has recorded just eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets. However, the 23-year-old saw a spike in playing time in Week 16 with star Rams wideout
Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined by a hamstring injury, and recorded three catches for 40 yards on eight targets. Rams head coach Sean McVay has said that Adams is likely to remain out for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, so Mumpfield could spend another week as the team's WR2 alongside
Puka Nacua. Los Angeles uses more two and three-tight end personnel groupings than just about any team in the NFL, which limits Mumpfield's playing time even with Adams out. In Week 16, Mumpfield played 46% of the Rams' offensive snaps. Still, he could be a flex option for deep-league fantasy managers in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 24, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
Jake Tonges has an opportunity to produce in Week 17 as the 49ers face the Chicago Bears. Tonges has hauled in 27 of 37 targets for 233 yards and four touchdowns, with most of his production coming early in the season.
George Kittle (ankle) injured his ankle in the 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which could open the door for Tonges to have a viable role in this offense. In the six games that Kittle missed or left early in the season, Tonges had 25 receptions for 224 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 10.9 PPR points per game, which ranked ninth among tight ends during that span. Kittle's injury will determine whether the third-year tight end will have any fantasy value in Week 17, so fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the 49ers' practice reports this week.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange hauled in five of seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown in the 34-20 win over the Denver Broncos. Strange returned from a hip injury in Week 12 and hasn't looked back since, averaging 46 yards on 3.4 receptions and adding two touchdowns in the last five games. The third-year tight end is having a career-best season, averaging 9.2 PPR fantasy points per game and on pace to finish as the TE18. With the Jaguars heating up, winning seven of their last eight and scoring over 25 points in each of those games, Strange will have opportunities to produce, especially in the red zone. There are plenty of options at the tight end position entering Week 17, but Strange could beat them all given the Jaguars' offensive firepower.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter had 11 carries for 65 yards in the 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals have been decimated by injuries this season, especially in their RB room.
James Conner (ankle),
Trey Benson (knee), and
Bam Knight (ankle) are all on injured reserve, leaving Carter and
Emari Demercado as the two lead backs. Carter played 54% of the snaps and led the team in carries, while Demercado played 30% of the snaps. Their Week 17 matchup brings some upside, as they face the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season. While he entered the season as an afterthought in Arizona, he could determine fantasy championships this week and offers low-end RB2 value against this struggling Bengals defense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. returned from injury in Week 16, taking 15 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown in the 29-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although there was concern that rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt would be more of a factor after his big Week 15 outing, Rodriguez returned to his usual workload. He played a season-high 56% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt played 22% and
Jeremy McNichols played 24%. He faces the Dallas Cowboys, who may be without star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys ranked as the worst run defense in the NFL before they acquired Williams at the deadline, and with him out last week,
Omarion Hampton had 95 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. While there are concerns about the Commanders' quarterback situation this week, look for them to run it a ton against this Cowboys defense, where Rodriguez could be a league-winner in Week 17.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
RADIO
