RADIO
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans
Spears has out-produced and out-snapped Tony Pollard in back-to-back games. Some of that is due to gamescript. Some of it is likely because Tony Pollard is banged up, having regularly missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday the past few weeks. The reasons are, to some extent, irrelevant. This is the best we’ve seen Spears play all season. Spears played 37 out of the team’s 61 snaps this past weekend. He ran 21 routes to Pollard’s 14. Pollard out-targeted Spears, but Spears had two more carries than Pollard (10 carries to eight). Spears finished with 27 rushing yards and two rushing scores. He also had three receptions and 39 yards.
This makes back-to-back games with two touchdowns and over 20 half-PPR points. He has 158 scrimmage yards and nine catches in the past two weeks. His Week 17 matchup is one of the best for running backs. The Jaguars have allowed the third-most points to running backs at 24.2 half-PPR PPG.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
Alvin Kamara left the Saints’ game this past weekend with a hamstring injury. He did not return. Hamstring injuries can be tricky and are often a one to three-week injury, and reports have indicated that the injury is worse than they suspected. Given New Orleans’ record and how close we are to the end of the season, Kamara may be shut down. Kendre Miller played 23 of the team’s 27 snaps after Kamara exited the game.
Miller will likely be the lead back for Monday Night Football against the Packers. If he plays well, Miller will become a higher priority.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars
Bigsby continues to split touches with Travis Etienne, even though Etienne has dominated playing time the past two weeks. This past weekend, Bigsby played just 19 of the team’s 67 snaps, while Etienne logged 35 snaps. However, Bigsby finished with 12 touches to Etienne’s 11. Bigsby is only involved in the running game. He has just six receptions all season. In the past three weeks, Bigsby has 41 carries. In Week 16, Bigsby had 12 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
He finished with 9.6 half-PPR points. He’s a touchdown-dependent running back. The week before, he had 11 carries but finished with just 4.2 half-PPR points because he didn’t score. Bigsby’s fantasy value is higher in games where Jacksonville should stay competitive. That’ll ensure the Jaguars don’t have to abandon the run, keeping Bigsby involved in the team’s offensive game plan. Jacksonville has Tennessee in Week 17, another AFC South team that has struggled this season.
Alexander Mattison, RB, Raiders
Sincere McCormick went on IR, which thrust Mattison back into the starting lineup for the Raiders. He finished logging 42 of the team’s 74 snaps. He ran 20 routes to Ameer Abdullah‘s 19. Both backs had six targets, but Mattison had more carries (12 carries to seven). Mattison is the preferred target out of the Las Vegas backfield.
Mattison and Abdullah split pass-catching duties, but Mattison handled more short-yardage, third-down, and goal-line plays. He rushed for 27 yards on 12 carries but found the end zone. He also had four receptions and 29 yards en route to 13.6 half-PPR points. Mattison and the Raiders have a favorable Week 17 matchup against the Saints. They’ve allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Mattison will be on the RB3 radar next week.
Patrick Taylor Jr., RB, 49ers
Isaac Guerendo didn’t play this past weekend due to a hamstring injury. It’s unknown if he’ll be healthy enough to return to the lineup in Week 17. If he’s not, Taylor will again lead the San Francisco backfield. No other 49ers’ running back played in Week 16. Only Kyle Juszczyk played any snaps in the backfield.
Taylor was completely ineffective. He finished with eight carries for 24 yards. He also had one reception for one yard. After this lackluster performance, it’ll be tough to trust Taylor in Championship week, even if Guerendo is out. However, if he is out again, Taylor will be ranked as an RB3.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Buccaneers
McMillan has been on a tear lately. He’s scored touchdowns in three consecutive games. McMillan has three straight weeks with at least six targets, four receptions, and 55 yards. He has scored 14.2, 16.0, and 19.9 half-PPR points in his last three games. Tampa Bay has the Panthers in Week 17. Carolina has been playing well as of late, and this game could become a shootout. McMillan is worth adding if you play in any three wide receiver leagues. He has scored double-digits in three straight weeks and will likely be ranked as a WR4 next week, but he’ll have WR2 upside again.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers
In his first game back after a two-game absence due to a concussion, Romeo Doubs had five targets, three receptions, 40 yards, and two touchdowns. He finished with 17.5 half-PPR points. He’s played in 11 games this year, and Doubs scored 7.0 half-PPR points in seven of them. He has six or more targets in five of those 11 games.
Green Bay’s passing attack has taken a backseat to Josh Jacobs the past couple of weeks, but this is still one of the better offenses in the NFL. Doubs has shown himself to be a trusted target for Jordan Love in the end zone. Before getting hurt, Doubs routinely played the most snaps among Packers receivers. He also has a great Week 17 matchup on the road against Minnesota, which has yielded many points to receivers this season.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans
Stefon Diggs is on IR. Tank Dell will soon follow him. That’ll leave Nico Collins and Schultz as C.J. Stroud‘s No. 1 and No. 2 pass-catchers heading into Week 17. Schultz now has seven or more targets in two of his last three and three of his last five. That kind of volume, especially with the Houston offense depleted of pass-catchers, will put Schultz on the streaming radar in Week 17.
In Week 17, Houston will go toe-to-toe with Baltimore. They’ve allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Houston and Baltimore will have a high implied point total, and fantasy managers shouldn’t be surprised if this game turns into a high-scoring affair. At the very least, we should expect Houston to trail on the scoreboard, which will keep Stroud in passing mode. That’s an ideal environment for Schultz in a favorable matchup and on an offense that will be desperate for playmakers.
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Titans
Okonkwo is coming off the best back-to-back games of his season. He had 10 targets, eight receptions, and 59 yards in Week 15 en route to 9.9 half-PPR points. This past weekend, he had 11 targets, nine receptions, and 81 yards en route to 14.6 half-PPR points. He had two great matchups in Weeks 15 and 16. Okonkwo took advantage and will get another great matchup in Week 17. The Jaguars have given up the 10th-most points to tight ends this season. He’ll be on the streaming radar in Week 17.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
Since regaining his starting job, Richardson has scored over 20 points in three of his last five games. It’s been a brutal six-game stretch, too. He’s faced off against defenses that have allowed the 20th, 16th, 19th, 17th, and 14th-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Richardson gets his easiest matchup for Championship Week since he regained the lead job. The Giants allow the 12th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Richardson will likely be ranked in the top 12 for quarterback starters in Week 17. Much of his production comes from his legs, but that’s been consistent for him. He has four games with at least nine carries in his last five games. He also has 45 yards in four out of his previous five and a rushing touchdown in four of his last five.
