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
December 22, 2025
Carolina quarterback
Bryce Young had his ankle stepped on early in the team's Week 16 win over the Buccaneers, but he did not miss any time, and head coach Dave Canales expects him to be a full go as the Panthers begin preparation for a Week 17 matchup with the Seahawks. Young completed nearly two-thirds of his passes in Sunday's divisional win, finishing with just under 200 yards and two passing touchdowns, and he has been a usable and occasionally exciting play in Superflex formats. With one game left to be played on Monday night, he sits as the QB11 for the week, which would be his third top 12 finish in the last five weeks, including finishes of QB2 and QB3. The Seahawks have been one of the 10 most difficult matchups for fantasy quarterbacks, making Young a risky play in single quarterback leagues, but he should provide a safe enough floor to be considered in the championship matchup of Superflex leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Joe Person
December 22, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback
Josh Johnson will get the "lion's share" of the starter's reps at practice this week, according to JP Finley of NBC Sports Washington. Johnson was forced into action on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles when fellow quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand) exited early with a hand injury. The 39-year-old went five-for-nine for 43 yards with one interception. Entering the 2025 season, Johnson earned the QB3 job in Washington after outperforming
Sam Hartman during the preseason. After an injury-riddled season, Johnson is trending toward being the Commanders' starting quarterback on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys. On a short turnaround, Mariota's availability remains unclear for Week 17, and
Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. It is worth noting that Washington recently signed quarterback
Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals' practice squad to add depth to their quarterback room.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: JP Finlay
December 22, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts have activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) from Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Buckner will play in tonight's game against his former team after missing an extended period of time due to a neck injury. The 31-year-old captain will not only solidify the Colts' defensive front but also provide a much-needed veteran presence in the locker room after the team lost both
Daniel Jones and Sauce Gardner in recent weeks. Before exiting Week 9 early, Buckner had tallied 42 tackles and four sacks this season. As a result of Buckner being activated, the Colts have waived quarterback
Brett Rypien.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Ian Rapoport
December 22, 2025
The Washington Commanders are signing quarterback
Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Driskel served as Washington's QB3 last season and knows how to operate in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. This move adds much-needed depth to an injury-plagued quarterback room in Washington. With
Marcus Mariota's (hand) availability unclear and
Jayden Daniels being sidelined for the rest of the season, Driskel could be forced to slide into the QB2 role. Washington is playing on a short week and will be facing off against division rival Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. On a quick turnaround, Washington likely wanted to bring in someone who has been around their offense to back up
Josh Johnson.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Ben Standig
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