Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder) and tight end Cade Stover (illness) were both upgraded to full practice participants on Monday after they were listed as limited for the first practice of Week 17 on Sunday. Metchie didn't practice at all last week and was ruled out of the Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. However, a return to a full practice on Monday gives the 24-year-old pass-catcher a great shot at being active on Christmas Day on Wednesday for the Week 17 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. In addition to the Ravens defense being a great matchup for the Texans receivers, Metchie could have an expanded role if he's active this week now that Tank Dell (knee) is out for the year. Still, fantasy managers playing for a championship shouldn't consider Metchie, who had a 13-146-1 line in five games before his shoulder injury.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed on a conference call with the media on Monday that All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) will miss the team's final two games of the regular season. Williams hasn't played since Week 11 and will end up missing the final seven games of the 2024 campaign due to an ankle injury that took much longer to heal than the team was expecting. And with the Niners being officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday, there is no reason for the team to bring the veteran 11-time Pro Bowler back for meaningless games. The 36-year-old's injury-plagued season was one of many frustrating situations with the 49ers and some of their key players in 2024. Williams also dealt with the tragic death of his son this year. Jaylon Moore will protect quarterback Brock Purdy's blind side in the last two games.

From RotoBaller

In the team's estimated practice report on Monday, the Seattle Seahawks listed running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) as a non-participant after he injured his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. Walker missed the previous two games due to a calf injury but returned last weekend, only to be pulled in the second half with a new injury. The 24-year-old took over lead-back duties immediately against Minnesota over backfield mate Zach Charbonnet (elbow), but it only amounted to eight carries for 31 yards. However, he salvaged his fantasy day with a season-high-tying eight catches for 28 yards. Sunday's game cemented the fact that Walker is still Seattle's preferred backfield option when healthy. The problem is Walker isn't healthy again and faces a short week to get right before a Thursday night game in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. Right now, Charbonnet is the better bet to play on Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (knee) was listed as limited on the team's estimated practice report on Monday. The Seahawks didn't actually hold a practice on Monday, so Fant's status was merely an estimation. The 27-year-old was on the injury report last week as well with a minor knee injury before playing through it on Sunday and securing only three of his six targets for 50 yards in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. He's probably not going to get much practice work in on a short week, but barring a setback with his knee, Fant should be available for Thursday night's clash against the Chicago Bears. Fant logged 75 percent of the offensive snaps against the Vikes and will continue to operate as a low-ceiling TE for fantasy managers this week behind receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Fant has only cleared 50 receiving yards three times in 2024 and doesn't have a TD.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) will be inactive again on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints, according to a source. The 27-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback was able to practice in full all of last week, but the Packers are being cautious with the veteran defensive back, and he'll end up missing his fifth straight game. Hopefully, Alexander will be available for a big divisional matchup on Sunday, Dec. 29, in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings at home. With Alexander out yet again, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes will remain the team's corners in an excellent matchup against a Saints offense with very little experience at the receiver position thanks to injuries. New Orleans will also be starting rookie QB Spencer Rattler, making the Packers' defense/special teams unit in fantasy an attractive streaming option in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest, illness) is inactive for Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Valdes-Scantling did not practice on Thursday and Friday due to a chest/illness and was listed as questionable for Monday Night football. The 30-year-old was eventually ruled out about an hour before Monday's kickoff. MVS has put up modest numbers recently, catching eight of 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown over his last three weeks. Valdes-Scantling's next chance to return will be in the Week 17 matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders. With MVS out, look for Kevin Austin Jr., Mason Tipton, Dante Pettis, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. to lead the Saints wide receivers in Week 17. Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau should also see an uptick in usage against the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers shouldn't trust any of these Saints targets for the fantasy football semi-finals outside of deep leagues as the Saints offense is downgraded as a whole with Alvin Kamara (groin) inactive and Spencer Rattler starting for the injured Derek Carr (concussion, hand).

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Texans have claimed former Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Dynasty Analysis: With Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs both out for the season with serious knee injuries, the Texans needed to do something to shore up their receiving corps and are taking a shot on Johnson. It's a decent gamble for the team, but Johnson was a total bust with Baltimore and even refused to enter a game at one point, leading to the team cutting him this week. There's no doubting Johnson's talent, however, so hopefully this works out. Johnson is far from lineup consideration, but any sign of life will help stop the freefall of his dynasty value.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is out for the season with a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap. Dynasty Analysis: This is yet another devastating injury for Dell, who just can't seem to catch a break. He was having his best game of the season before suffering a gruesome knee injury on a touchdown catch yesterday that proved to be of the season-ending variety. The question now will be if he's going to be fully healthy for the 2025 season, which honestly seems unlikely at this point. The Texans claimed Diontae Johnson off waivers, but that's going to be a short-term solution. Houston will need to make a decision on how to move forward in the off-season with their receiving corps, especially considering Stefon Diggs was lost for the year as well. Dell is going to see his dynasty value sink a ton this off-season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Already his team's best wide receiver, Nico Collins of the Houston Texans could be due an even bigger target share on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens. The fourth-year veteran is the lone healthy member of Houston's talented receiver trio now that Stefon Diggs (knee) and Tank Dell (knee) are both out for the year. Additionally, he'll take on a Baltimore defense that has allowed a ton of points to fantasy wide receivers, ranking 30th against the position. Although Houston added another receiver to the fold in Dionate Johnson and has struggled at times this season as an offense, Collins has been regularly productive and should be considered a WR1 again in this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will face another difficult matchup in Week 17 when his team takes on the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. The 28-year-old has cooled off after being one of the top-performing fantasy running backs in the middle of the season, ranking outside the top 25 two weeks in a row, and now comes a Baltimore defense that ranks eighth against fantasy running backs and has allowed the fewest yards per attempt in the NFL. With wide receivers Stefon Diggs (knee) and Tank Dell (knee) out for the year, it's possible Houston can involve Mixon in the passing game, which would be beneficial, especially in PPR formats. But given the tough matchup, the veteran should be considered a solid RB2/high-end flex this week.

From RotoBaller

On one hand, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a nice matchup on Christmas Day against a Baltimore Ravens passing defense that has struggled this year. But on the other, the circumstances surrounding the second-year quarterback leave a lot to be desired. Two of his top three receivers in Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) are out for the year, his patchwork offensive line will face a Ravens unit that has the second-most sacks in the league, his running game will face the best rushing defense in the NFL, and the Texans very well could be running on fumes with a third game in 11 days. Though Baltimore ranks an attractive 27th against fantasy quarterbacks, Stroud hasn't had a top-10 finish since Week 4. He should be saved only for Superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Texans D/ST is not recommended for fantasy managers deep in the fantasy playoffs in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. There's a lot to dislike: Houston will be playing its third game in 11 days, do-it-all-safeties Jalen Pitre (chest) and Jimmie Ward (foot) are out for the season, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is devastatingly effective as a runner, and a Baltimore's overall offense ranks in the top five in the league in scoring percentage, turnover percentage, passing touchdowns, penalties drawn, and net yards per passing attempt. With the waiver wire less and less competitive as teams get eliminated, there's no practical reason to risk playing the Texans when there are better matchups available.

From RotoBaller

An already great fantasy season for Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn has a chance to be even better with a superb matchup against Baltimore in Week 17. The 30-year-old is the overall No. 3 at his position, and in the Super Bowl week for many fantasy leagues, he'll take on a Ravens team that ranks 29th against fantasy kickers. Fairbairn has a whopping 11 top-10 finishes among kickers this year and already has set the NFL record for most made field goals from beyond 50 yards. There's never a guarantee with kickers, but managers have to like this strong matchup at a great time.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz should be considered a high-end TE2 candidate ahead of the Texans' Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Houston offense has seen dramatic changes to its pecking order now that wide receivers Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) are both out for the season, leaving the veteran tight end as the team's likely second option behind leading receiver Nico Collins. Baltimore ranks 22nd against fantasy tight ends, providing a solid matchup, but the former Dallas Cowboy has been reliant upon touchdowns for top-10 finishes. This year, Schultz has far more finishes outside of the top 20 (nine) than touchdowns (two), so managers should reserve him only for formats that play two tight ends.

From RotoBaller

Following two serious injuries ahead of him, Robert Woods of the Houston Texans could find himself as a popular, but not recommended, waiver wire addition going into a Christmas Day meeting against Baltimore. The Texans have had awful wide receiver luck, losing both Stefon Diggs (knee) and Tank Dell (knee) for the year, leading them to claim Diontae Johnson off waivers on Monday. While top target Nico Collins remains the clear No. 1 option, Woods drew a season-high six targets after Dell's injury in Week 16. Additionally, the Ravens have been one of the worst defenses in the league against fantasy receivers at 30th overall. But ultimately, starting a receiver who has just 16 catches in 15 games at this stage of the fantasy playoffs is an unnecessary risk.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is going through "return to play" protocols on a daily basis. Sanders was placed on Injured Reserve in late November due to a sprained ankle, but it sounds like he has a shot to return to play in one of the final two games of the season for the Panthers. However, especially at this point in the year, the 27-year-old has no business being rostered in redraft fantasy leagues. He was eligible to come off IR and play in the Week 16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers have yet to open Sanders' 21-day practice window to return from IR, but that could come on Wednesday for the team's first practice of Week 17. If Sanders is able to return in the next two weeks, he'll be a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard and will likely see a limited role on offense.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Texans claimed wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, according to sources. The move comes after the news that Texans wideout Tank Dell (knee) will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL and dislocating his knee in Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson, whose short tenure with Baltimore didn't go well at all, will now face his former team this Wednesday on Christmas Day with the Texans. While Johnson is an intriguing weapon being added to Houston's offense with both Dell and Stefon Diggs (knee) out for the year, it would be foolish to expect the 28-year-old pass-catcher to be able to come in immediately and make a fantasy-relevant impact on a short week with his new team. However, Johnson could be a nice DFS play in postseason contests if he gets up to speed quickly and sees a big enough role.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette (groin) is progressing, and head coach Dave Canales "likes the strides he's making." However, Canales also said Legette needs to make significant improvement to be ready to go for Week 17 against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Panthers want to get the rookie receiver back on the field, but they aren't going to rush him back, either. It's sounding like Legette could be fighting an uphill battle to be active in Week 17, but we'll have a better idea of his status once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday. The 23-year-old was injured in the Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and was inactive for the Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. If Legette is able to return in Week 17, he should be avoided in fantasy lineups in championship matchups, as he hasn't been a top-50 wideout in his first year in the NFL in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (oblique) "was limited during the (Vikings) game but signs are positive right now" that he can be a full-go in Week 17 on Thursday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Charbonnet came out of Week 15 action with an oblique injury but ended up playing in the Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, backfield mate Kenneth Walker III (calf) also returned from a two-game absence and led the backfield by a wide margin. Walker had a 59% snap share and handled 16 touches for 59 scrimmage yards, while Charbonnet played a season-low 22% of the snaps and had three touches for 13 scrimmage yards. It was a disappointing development for fantasy managers that started the 23-year-old, but the good news is Walker suffered an ankle injury, which could thrust Charbonnet back into a starting role on Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that tight end David Njoku (knee) is undergoing an MRI exam for a knee injury that he suffered in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Njoku missed the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to a hamstring injury he suffered the week prior, and now he could be in danger of missing Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 29, depending on the results of his MRI. In his return against Cincy on Sunday, the 28-year-old tight end picked up right where he left off in quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson's first start of the year, catching eight of 10 targets for 66 yards in the 24-6 loss. Njoku led the team in targets, catches and receiving yards, so if his knee injury isn't too serious and he's able to play against Miami, he'll be clearly in the TE1 picture in fantasy championships. Jordan Akins isn't worth streaming if Njoku misses time.

From RotoBaller