December 28, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
David Moore (elbow) was not activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. As a result, he won't face his former team this weekend. Moore was eligible to be activated and seemed to be trending in the right direction after logging three full practices. However, the Panthers have decided to hold him out. Moore hasn't played since Week 4. He played 97% of the snaps in Week 3 but has just one catch for five yards this year. Even when he returns to action, the 30-year-old won't be a reliable fantasy receiver.
--Andersen PickardSource: Mike Kaye
December 28, 2025
The Tennessee Titans D/ST is coming off an impressive showing against a banged-up Kansas City Chiefs offense, but the unit could come back down to earth in Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have looked weak at certain times this year, but they're playing some very good football all of a sudden. New Orleans has won three consecutive games, and they exploded for 412 yards and 29 points last week against the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Titans did tally four sacks and allow just nine points last Sunday, but they strongly benefited from a matchup against
Gardner Minshew (knee) and
Chris Oladokun. Tennessee has the 12th-lowest-scoring D/ST in fantasy football this year, and they drop to 10th-lowest if you throw out last week's game. Fantasy managers should be wary about starting the Titans this Sunday against the surging Saints. There are better alternatives available on the waiver wire.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 28, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST continues to be a strong fantasy football option heading into their Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars have been one of the hottest defenses in football lately, ranking as the second-highest-scoring D/ST unit since Week 10. This week, they'll benefit from a matchup against the
Philip Rivers-led Colts. While the Colts have played competitive football since turning to the 44-year-old quarterback, Rivers is still turnover-prone. He has an interception in each of his two games, which bodes well for a Jaguars defense that has picked off six passes over the last three weeks. The Jaguars remain in must-start territory on Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 28, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp has been underwhelming during his first year with the team, but last week's season-high snap share offers plenty of optimism near the end of the regular season. Kupp played 93% of the snaps in last week's overtime win over his old team, the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the increased involvement, he posted modest volume with four targets, three catches, 39 yards, and a lost fumble. With that being said, managers should feel optimistic that his high snap share could lead to improved volume in Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers. Kupp, who is the WR33 in half-PPR leagues over the last three weeks, faces a Carolina defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to slot receivers in 2025. His 284 slot snaps rank 14th-most among wide receivers this year. Kupp enters Week 17 as the WR49 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 28, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is expected to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Pearsall is listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. While star tight end
George Kittle (ankle) is unlikely to play, San Francisco will get a major reinforcement in the passing game with Pearsall back from his one-game absence. The second-year receiver had six catches for 96 yards in his last healthy game against the Tennessee Titans, and he'll look to build on that performance this week against the Bears, who have allowed the third-most receiving yards and fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. He ranks as a low-end WR3/flex in deeper leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
December 28, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) is "highly unlikely" to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Kittle had been listed as questionable, and while he was expected to be a game-time decision, it seemed like he was trending in the wrong direction after missing all three practices this past week. He has been the overall TE2 since Week 8, so his absence will be felt among fantasy managers and the 49ers. As most leagues host their fantasy championships this week, managers should look for replacement options ahead of time. There are plenty of waiver-wire or bench options who play in the afternoon windows of games. Managers who want to wait until Kittle is ruled out tonight could pivot to
Jake Tonges (Sunday night) or
Colby Parkinson (Monday night).
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
December 28, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker
Chase McLaughlin has been offering consistent fantasy value all season. He's getting plenty of chances and is converting on them when he's called upon. The 29-year-old has converted 28 of 32 field goal attempts and has made 29 of 30 extra point tries over 15 games in 2025. McLaughlin hasn't missed a kick since the Week 6 matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers. He'll head into a decent matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. A team that is middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to kickers this season. McLaughlin isn't an elite option, but is a consistent enough option to be trusted for Week 17.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 28, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Van Jefferson is seeing consistent playing time, but hasn't been a reliable contributor this season. Jefferson has been held to under 40 receiving yards in every game but three this season. The veteran wideout has five total receptions over his last three games. He's also heading into a tough matchup against the New Orleans Saints defense in Week 17. A defense that has allowed the third-fewest receiving yards to wideouts this season. Fantasy managers are best to leave Jefferson on the bench this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 28, 2025
Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo is coming off his best performance of the season. Okonkwo finished with six receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown during last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old also saw a season-high eight targets during that victory. It was a nice outing from Okonkwo, but fantasy managers should consider it more of a fluke game. He continues to split up the reps with rookie
Gunnar Helm. Okonkwo hasn't given fantasy managers much reason to have faith that he'll be a consistent contributor. He should only be viewed as a deep league streaming choice ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 28, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Ashton Jeanty will suit up for Sunday's Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, there was speculation that Las Vegas could potentially sit Jeanty this weekend as the Raiders and Giants are in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders have already ruled out tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) and superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) for Sunday’s game. It was unclear if the Raiders would go into full tank mode and bench their star rookie running back. Despite the speculation, Jeanty will be available for this game and is a strong RB1 in a plus matchup versus the Giants.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
December 28, 2025
Indianapolis Colts defensive back Sauce Gardner (calf) is listed as questionable, but is expected to suit up in Week 17, according to Ian Rapoport. Gardner appears ready to make his return after missing each of the last three games due to a calf injury. His return to the field will be a significant boost for this defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts are certainly going to need Gardner if they plan to slow down the red-hot
Trevor Lawrence. Fantasy managers with IDP seem to be safe to get Gardner into their lineups. The Colts defense is a risky streaming choice even with Gardner on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: Ian Rapoport
December 28, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) plans to test out his ankle pre-game ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Kittle hasn't practiced all week due to an ankle injury, but is shaping up as a game-time decision. Fantasy managers will need to make a big decision, as this game doesn't start until 8:20 est. There's a good chance that Kittle's final status won't be known until about an hour before kickoff. If available,
Jake Tonges could be worth stashing for fantasy managers waiting on Kittle's final status. Tonges should have an expanded role if Kittle is unable to go.
--Andy WebbSource: Ian Rapoport
December 28, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver
Roman Wilson shouldn't be considered for fantasy in this weekend's road matchup with the division-rival Cleveland Browns. With the Steelers' WR room in flux, the 24-year-old will re-enter the lineup in Week 17 after being a healthy scratch for the previous three games. As it stands, it's unclear in what type of role Wilson will operate, as veterans
Marquez Valdes-Scantling and
Adam Thielen both project to play a considerable amount of snaps. Notably, head coach Mike Tomlin pointed to the second-year pro as a candidate to step up during teammate
DK Metcalf's two-game suspension. However, fantasy managers can't rely upon Wilson until he shows a decent standing in Pittsburgh's passing game hierarchy.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 28, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is little more than a cheap DFS play for Sunday's outing with the hosting Cleveland Browns. The veteran has picked up considerable playing time in Pittsburgh's wide receiver corps over the last three weeks and should be in store for even more over the season's remaining games. With teammate
DK Metcalf serving a two-game suspension, and
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) deemed out with a hamstring issue, Valdes-Scantling is set to run alongside
Adam Thielen in two-wide-receiver sets. While this should boost the 31-year-old's floor,
Roman Wilson's return does cloud the situation a bit. More so, quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has made a habit of distributing the ball evenly. Valdes-Scantling should boast a significant amount of playing time on the road against the Browns, but won't be a recommended option for fantasy, ranking as RotoBaller's PPR WR79 for the divisional clash.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 28, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Elic Ayomanor is unlikely to make an impact for fantasy when his team lines up with the visiting New Orleans Saints this Sunday. All things considered, the Stanford product has had a decent rookie season. While it hasn't always shown up in the box score, Ayomanor had drawn targets at a nice rate earlier in the campaign and periodically flashed his athleticism in a Titans' attack that's largely struggled in 2025. That said, he's seen his opportunities dip recently following a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Week 12. Moreover, Ayomanor played behind teammates
Van Jefferson and
Chimere Dike in Week 16, notching his lowest snap share of the season (56%). Tennessee's offense is trending in the right direction, but the rookie's volume makes him a questionable play deep in the fantasy playoffs. Ayomanor is RotoBaller's PPR WR61 for his outing with the Saints.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
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