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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ja'Tavion Sanders had a quiet fantasy day, but was a notable contributor in the Panthers' narrow 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers. The Carolina TE had two receptions for nine yards, but also caught his first touchdown pass since Week 10 of the 2024 season. Sanders played the most snaps of all Panthers TEs (57%) and totaled 8.9 PPR points, his highest fantasy total since Week 2. The Panthers will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. Seattle ranked 18th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the TE position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 16. Although Sanders has a decent matchup against Seattle, he does not see enough volume to consider him in Week 17. Weeks 2 and 10 are the only two times this season that Sanders had 5+ targets in a game. Fantasy players should ignore Sanders and the other Carolina TEs for the fantasy football championship in Week 17.

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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) was back on the field Sunday during Houston's 23-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old had six carries for 33 yards and had one catch for nine yards. Despite rookie running back Woody Marks (ankle) being ruled out, Chubb's workload was limited as Jawhar Jordan led the backfield with 15 carries. Chubb has now gone six straight games without seeing double-digit touches and has only been able to find the endzone once during that stretch. It is worth mentioning that Chubb is coming off a rib injury, and the Texans could have been slow to roll him back into the offense. Chubb still profiles as a goal-line back that can still get work in the red zone. With Mark's availability uncertain for Week 17, Chubb is worth targeting off the waiver wire in deep standard leagues.

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Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz had a decent day in the 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lutz converted two of three field goal attempts, with the longest coming from 54 yards out, and converted both PAT attempts. His eight points on the day could've been 11 had he not hit the right pole of the uprights on his first field goal attempt from 44 yards out in the first quarter. It was a tough break and a slight shift in momentum, as neither team had scored yet in the game, with five minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Still a confident kicker with plenty of reliability, Lutz will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17, in which he went five for five field goals and converted his lone PAT when he last faced them in Week 11.

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Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt saw a decreased workload in Week 16 with the return of teammate Chris Rodriguez Jr., but was still productive, scoring his second touchdown in as many games. Croskey-Merritt toted the rock just eight times (25 yards) in Washington's 29-18 loss to the Eagles on Saturday -- ten fewer carries than he sported a week ago in Rodriguez's absence. However, he still played clearly ahead of Jeremy McNichols in the rushing attack, despite the latter pacing him in snaps 15-11. The 24-year-old may not garner the same upside he did at the beginning of the campaign, but fantasy managers in a pinch can turn to him for low-end flex production when Washington squares off with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

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