Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder) appears ready to return to the lineup on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens, and with ample opportunity within the Texans' offense. Wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) joined Stefon Diggs (knee) on injured reserve, opening the way for other receivers behind top target Nico Collins. However, starting Metchie, even against a Ravens defense in the bottom five against fantasy receivers, is a massive risk for managers in fantasy Super Bowls this week. In addition to rostering receiver Robert Woods, Houston added Diontae Johnson off waivers on Monday. Replacing Dell might be a committee approach.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson is off the fantasy radar when the Steelers take on Kansas City on Christmas Day. The veteran has played more than 70% of the Steelers' snaps the past three weeks, but that seems likely to change with top receiver George Pickens (hamstring) likely to return to the lineup. The Chiefs' defense ranks in the middle of the pack against fantasy receivers, but it's difficult to see Jefferson getting enough action in a run-loving Pittsburgh offense when competing for targets with Pickens, receiver Calvin Austin III, and tight end Pat Freiermuth.

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The New York Jets signed kicker Greg Joseph to their practice squad, according to Joseph's agent, Brett Tessler. The veteran is now on his fifth team of the season after spending training camp with Green Bay, briefly signing with Detroit's practice squad, and then having stints with the New York Giants and Washington Commanders. Jets kicker Anders Carlson had a brutal showing on Sunday against the L.A. Rams, missing an extra point and a 49-yarder that would have cut the lead to one score in the fourth quarter. Joseph is unlikely to hold any fantasy value, however, even if he unseats Carlson for the starting job prior to a Week 17 game at Buffalo.

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New Orleans Saints receiver Kevin Austin Jr. earned another four targets Monday at Green Bay, but turned them into just one catch for 17 yards on which he fumbled, but saw the ball go out of bounds. The third-year player has drawn at least three targets in four straight games, but is playing more mostly due to injuries, including to top receiver Chris Olave (concussion). New Orleans, playing behind backup quarterback Spencer Rattler, looked hapless in the 34-0 defeat to the Packers and became the first team in the league to be shut out this year. Austin is off the fantasy radar prior to a Week 17 game against Las Vegas.

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Dante Pettis of the New Orleans Saints earned seven targets on Monday at Green Bay, but finished with only two catches for 31 yards. The barren New Orleans offense was down to starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, who completed only half of his 30 passing attempts for 153 yards and an interception in a blowout 34-0 defeat. The Saints have ample opportunity for Pettis to play a high volume of snaps, but they have so few weapons at this stage of the season that starting anyone on this offense is likely a no-go. New Orleans will continue playing out the string in Week 17 against Las Vegas.

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New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams was a non-factor with just three carries for eight yards and no targets in a 34-0 defeat at Green Bay. The veteran drew fewer carries than fellow running backs Kendre Miller and Jordan Mims, and backup quarterback Spencer Rattler carried five times as the depleted Saints offense struggled to muster anything in a forgettable outing. Even without starting running Alvin Kamara (groin), Williams was not fantasy relevant. The former 1,000-yard rusher can safely be left on waivers as the Saints prepare for Las Vegas in Week 17.

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Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus converted every opportunity on Monday in a 34-0 win against the New Orleans Saints, connecting on both field goals and all four extra points. The veteran kicker hit field goals of 55 and 46 yards in the second half, adding a boost for managers who started him in the fantasy playoffs. McManus, who was released by Washington earlier this year after a lawsuit alleging sexual assault was brought against him, has latched on in Green Bay during the second half of the season. He'll continue being attached to a capable offense as the playoff-bound Packers take on Minnesota in Week 17.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler went 15-for-30 for 153 passing yards and added 28 yards on five rushes in Monday's 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Rattler also threw an interception and lost a fumble in the defeat, which had the dubious distinction of being the NFL's first shutout of the 2024 season. Additionally, the Saints never reached the red zone and the drives that brought them the closest were halted by Rattler's turnovers. Through four starts and five total appearances, the rookie has gone 84-for-150 for 859 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. In postgame comments, interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that the team would evaluate Derek Carr's (hand) progress on Thursday. With the Saints officially out of the playoff hunt it isn't out of the question for Rattler to remain the starter in order to gain more experience at the pro level. Even if New Orleans gives him another chance, he doesn't belong on fantasy rosters in Week 17.

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Those hoping that New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller would be the late-season add that would propel fantasy teams to the championship round of the fantasy playoffs were sorely disappointed on Monday night. Miller handled eight carriers and gained just 15 rushing yards in the 35-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He also caught both of his targets for 16 receiving yards. After taking over the Saints' backfield following Alvin Kamara's (groin) early departure last week, Miller finished with fewer snaps than fellow backup Jordan Mims. In postgame comments, interim head coach Darren Rizzi alluded to having a plan to use Miller that went out the window after falling in an early hole which forced New Orleans into playing catchup. Kamara's status for Week 17 is unknown at this point but if he misses another game then Miller should have an easier time against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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New Orleans Saints running back was the unexpected leader in targets and receptions in Monday's 35-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Mims caught five of his eight targets but finished with a meager 16 receiving yards. Mims also had four carries for 16 rushing yards, second only to the 28 yards that quarterback Spencer Rattler scrambled for. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi credited the surprising usage of Mims to the fact that the team had to shift into "two-minute mode" after falling into an early hole. Mims finished with 25 offensive snaps to 21 for Kendre Miller who was expected to be the team's featured back with Alvin Kamara (groin) shelved. Before Monday's game, Mims had been inactive for four straight games leading back to the Saints' Week 12 bye. In his very limited role this season he now has 58 rushing yards on 18 carries and another 58 on nine receptions.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau was the team's unlikely leader in receiving yards in their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. If that isn't a strong enough indicator of how the Saints' offense fared, the fact that he needed just 33 yards to lead the team should make it a little more clear. Moreau caught two of his three passes for those 33 yards in a 35-0 loss in which New Orleans was held to less than 200 yards on offense. He also logged the Saints' longest play from scrimmage in the game when he caught a 21-yard pass from rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler in the second quarter. Primarily used as a blocker, Moreau now has a line of 25-335-4 for the season. In Week 17, Moreau can be ignored for fantasy purposes, even in a supposed "revenge game" against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has failed to prove himself as a dependable option within the team's offense. As a result, he ranks outside the top 18 tight ends and should be benched in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks. Although Kmet did catch a touchdown last week, he has just three receptions for 23 yards over his last three games. The 25-year-old ranks 14th among fantasy tight ends in 2024, but most of his production has come from outlier games. Through 15 contests, he has posted double-digit fantasy points (PPR) just thrice. Fantasy managers can justify benching or even dropping the 25-year-old as fantasy championships arrive and Kmet remains a non-factor.

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Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson should be avoided in all fantasy leagues ahead of Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. While Johnson did vulture numerous touchdowns from D'Andre Swift earlier in the year, that hasn't happened as much lately due to his reduced snap counts, as well as the fact that he missed multiple weeks due to a concussion. In fact, while the 23-year-old scored six touchdowns over eight games from Week 4 through Week 12, he has not found the end zone since then. He mustered just one carry against the Detroit Lions last week and should not be viewed as a legitimate fantasy option as long as Swift stays healthy.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore continues to impress with his large target share, and he should remain a must-start fantasy option heading into Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Moore has been one of Caleb Williams' favorite targets, averaging 7.2 catches per game over the last six weeks. He has scored double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of those six games, ranking as the overall WR12 in fantasy football during that window. While he loses a significant amount of his touchdown opportunities to Keenan Allen, Moore has shown that he can sustain high-end WR2 production even if he's not finding the end zone on a routine basis. This week, Moore continues to rank as a fringe top-12 fantasy receiver against the Seahawks, who have allowed the fourth-most touchdowns and 12th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2024.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze remains a volume-dependent fantasy option heading into Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Odunze has commanded solid target shares lately, but he has caught more than four passes in just two of his last seven games. Furthermore, he has just three touchdowns through 15 games this season, losing key opportunities to DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. All in all, the rookie pass-catcher should be viewed as a low-end WR3/FLEX option. Seattle ranks near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, but on a positive note, they've surrendered the fourth-most touchdowns to the position.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was a sizable part of the Packers' 34-0 rout over the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. Reed caught 3-of-4 targets for 76 yards on the evening, including a 37-yard strike early in the fourth quarter and then a 34-yard catch that boosted Reed's night later in the fourth quarter from backup quarterback Malik Willis. Also adding a rushing attempt for five-yard rush, Reed was a big factor for the Packers, but ultimately, the huge lead curbed a lot of the passing work in the second half. With the Packers heading to Minnesota for a divisional showdown against the Vikings in Week 17, Reed is a low-end flex option for fantasy managers due to his boom-or-bust nature over the second half of the season.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift has not been a dependable fantasy option lately, struggling to rack up points as he deals with reduced volume, efficiency, and scoring opportunities. The veteran running back mustered just 22 rushing yards on nine carries against the Detroit Lions last week, and he hasn't finished with double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues since Week 11. In fact, over his last five games, Swift ranks 30th among running backs in total points and 40th in average points per contest. These numbers suggest that he should be benched in most leagues, but the reality is that he checks in closer to the RB3/FLEX range. When Swift gets the perfect storm of high volume, pass-catching usage, and scoring opportunities, he can be one of the best running backs in fantasy football. However, that trifecta has been hard to come by in Chicago's offense, leading to some frustration for his fantasy managers. He'll have a chance to get back on track this Thursday night against the Seahawks, who have allowed the eighth-most rushing yards, 10th-most receiving yards, and 16th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. He's a solid RB3/FLEX option as the fantasy playoffs continue in most leagues.

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is the top fantasy scorer at his position this season and will look to finish the fantasy campaign on a high note against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Pittsburgh's top wide receiver, George Pickens (hamstring), is expected to return from a three-week absence on Wednesday, which should only benefit the offense and improve Boswell's chances of seeing the field. While the Chiefs have been stout defensively and have limited opposing kickers to the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game, Boswell has been far too consistent to bench in favor of a streaming candidate. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Boswell as a high-end option this week.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs was a background player in the Packers' 34-0 rout over the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. After coming off a two-touchdown game against the Seattle Seahawks in his return from two games missed while on concussion protocol, Doubs blended into the background as the run game was the star of the Packers' win. Doubs caught 2-of-3 targets for 20 yards in the victory as 10 different Packers earned a target, and the blowout nature led Green Bay to run the ball to salt away the victory. With the Packers headed to Minnesota to face the Vikings in a divisional showdown in Week 17, Doubs is a desperation flex option for fantasy managers with a low floor and capped ceiling.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen has been a touchdown machine lately, and he has a good chance to return to the end zone during Thursday night's contest against the Seattle Seahawks. Allen has five touchdowns over his last five games, ranking as the overall WR6 in PPR leagues during that span. He has just 3.2 fewer fantasy points than Ja'Marr Chase during that window, and he ranks ahead of stars like Mike Evans, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. While most of Allen's productivity can be attributed to his sudden spurt of touchdowns, we can't ignore that he has been a high-volume option for Caleb Williams, racking up nine receptions and 141 yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. As it stands, Allen may be the most dependable fantasy option in Chicago. He should continue to be deployed as a mid-to-low WR2 option for Week 17, especially as he faces a Seahawks defense allowing the fourth-most touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in 2024.

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