With Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (hand) ruled out with a hairline fracture in his hand, rookie signal-caller Max Brosmer is in line to make his second start of the season in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day. Brosmer's first start of 2025 was a disaster, as he completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 126 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions in Minnesota's 26-0 Week 13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, the 24-year-old was much better after taking over for McCarthy in Week 16. He completed seven of nine pass attempts for 52 yards and avoided turning the ball over, helping the Vikings hold on for a 16-13 win over the New York Giants. Brosmer's second start will be against a far easier opponent than his first, as the banged-up Lions have allowed at least 27 points in five straight games. Still, fantasy managers may want to downgrade Minnesota's offensive weapons heading into Week 17.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin went "out of his way to point out" wide receiver Roman Wilson as a player who could step up in the wake of wideout D.K. Metcalf's two-game suspension for punching a fan during the team's Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions, per Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show. Wilson has seen limited usage so far this season, recording 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets across 12 games. However, with Metcalf suspended and fellow wideout Calvin Austin III (hamstring) battling a hamstring injury, the Steelers are now quite thin at the wide receiver position heading into their Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. In addition to Wilson, Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek are all candidates to see increased playing time at wide receiver in Pittsburgh.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney continued to be an afterthought in the Atlanta offense, drawingjust two targets in Sunday's 26-19 win over the Cardinals. The 28-year-old converted both targets into receptions for 24 yards, but is firmly behind Drake London (knee), Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson in the receiving pecking order, giving him little fantasy relevance. Even when London was absent the last four weeks, he failed to carve out a consistent role, with David Sills V finding more success than the 5-foot-11 receiver in those contests. The veteran wideout does have a favorable matchup in Week 17 against a Rams defense that is bottom 10 in terms of fantasypoints allowed to opposing wide receivers, so he could be a deep league dart throw for managers desperate enough to need his services, but it is probably a situation to avoid if possible.

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair his fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Judkins suffered the injuries in Week 16 and has now been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season. Across 14 games, the 22-year-old recorded 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries. Judkins also hauled in 26 receptions for 171 yards on 36 targets. While Judkins' rookie season is done, he looks like the feature back of the future in Cleveland, provided he can make a full recovery from this most recent setback. With Judkins sidelined, the Browns will likely turn to the running back combination of Dylan Sampson (hand), Raheim Sanders, and Trayveon Williams. Sampson has missed each of the last two weeks with calf and hand injuries, but he could be the team's lead back if he can return in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) was not seen at Tuesday's practice as he continues to work through the league's concussion protocol. Rice missed the team's Week 16 loss to the Titans after suffering a violent hit from the Chargers' Tony Jefferson in Week 15. With the Chiefs slated to face the Broncos on Christmas night, Rice's absence during the shortened week of preparation does not bode well for his availability come Thursday. Already down two quarterbacks, with Chris Oladokun set to make his first career start, Rice would likely be best kept on the bench even if healthy. Facing an implied point total of just 11.5 points, no Kansas City starters project to factor into many fantasy championships this season.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) led the team in receptions and receiving yards and tied for the team lead in targets in Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts. Kittle recorded seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, setting a new season high in receiving yards and making his second trip to the end zone in as many weeks. Unfortunately, Kittle suffered an ankle injury during the game that forced an early exit in the third quarter. By Kittle's own reckoning in post-game comments, he avoided a high-ankle sprain, but his status for Week 17 is unknown at this point. If Kittle is unable to go against the Bears, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell would split the load at tight end. When Kittle was on injured reserve earlier this season, Tonges posted a 22-209-2 line during Kittle's five-game stint on injured reserve.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) was targeted eight times in Sunday's 26-19 win over the Cardinals, but was only able to convert three of them into receptions for 27 scoreless yards. It was the 24-year-old's first game back from injury after missing four straight contests, and despite the high target volume, he was only on the field for 69 percentof the team's offensivesnaps after averaging 92 percent prior to the injury. For those managers who were able to advance despite the poor performance, the 6-foot-4 wideout draws a favorable home matchup in Week 17 against a Rams defense that is much more generous against the pass than it is against the run. Managers should monitor the practice reports throughout the week, but assuming he's got his legs under him now, London figures to be on the field for more snaps on Monday Night Football and should once again be a WR1.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) was not present for the media access portion of Tuesday's practice as he continues to recover from the concussion that kept him out of the team's Week 16 loss to the Titans. The Chiefs face a shortened week as they prepare for a Christmas night divisional matchup with the Broncos, making Thornton likely to miss a second consecutive game if he can not return to practice on Wednesday. Already down two quarterbacks, with fourth-year pro Chris Oladokun prepared to make his first career start against a dominant Denver defense, all Kansas City offensive pieces can be ignored for fantasy championship weekend.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren suffered an as-yet-unspecified injury in the team's Week 16 win over the Lions, and head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday that he will be limited to begin the week. Tomlin did note that he is optimistic about Warren's availability for Pittsburgh's Week 17 matchup with the Browns. Warren is coming off a career-high 143 rushing yards and an RB4 finish in Half-PPR formats, but fantasy managers will need to monitor the team's Wednesday injury report for additional information. Assuming a return to health, Warren should be viewed as a high-upside RB2/Flex against a Cleveland defense that he collected 63 total yards against in a Week 6 victory.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings took yet another trip to the end zone in Week 16, extending his streak to a fourth game. He has at least one touchdown in six out of the 49ers' last seven games. In Monday night's 48-27 win over the Colts, Jennings caught five of his six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown. The yardage was the most Jennings turned in since the 71-yard game he recorded in Week 10. Jennings' fantasy value has been largely touchdown-dependent, as he has averaged just 3.8 receptions and 43.5 receiving yards per game in 2025. Jennings has been one of Brock Purdy's preferred targets, though, and the receiver has a promising matchup in Week 17. In the fantasy football championship round, San Francisco will host the Chicago Bears, who have allowed the second-most touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in 2025.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings took yet another trip to the end zone in Week 16, extending his streak to a fourth game. He has at least one touchdown in six out of the 49ers' last seven games. In Monday night's 48-27 win over the Colts, Jennings caught five of his six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown. The yardage was the most Jennings turned in since the 71-yard game he recorded in Week 10. Jennings' fantasy value has been largely touchdown-dependent, as he has averaged just 3.8 receptions and 43.5 receiving yards per game in 2025. Jennings has been one of Brock Purdy's preferred targets, though, and the receiver has a promising matchup in Week 17. In the fantasy football championship round, San Francisco will host the Chicago Bears, who have allowed the second-most touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in 2025.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (hand) has been ruled out for the team's Week 17 Christmas Day matchup with the Lions. McCarthy underwent an MRI after being knocked out of the team's Week 16 win over the Giants, revealing a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who came on in relief on Sunday, is expected to make his second career start on Thursday. His previous start came in a disastrous Week 13 loss to the Seahawks, in which he threw four interceptions and zero touchdowns. Fantasy managers who have survived a rough season from All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson and managed to reach their fantasy championship face another tough decision, with Jefferson best left on the bench despite coming off his first top-24 finish at the position since Week 11.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had another explosive performance in Week 16. McCaffrey ran for 117 yards on 21 carries and caught six of his eight targets for 29 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers' 48-27 win over the Colts on Monday night. It was one of McCaffrey's better running performances of the season, having averaged 3.6 yards per carry coming into the game. McCaffrey's recent downward trend in receiving yards continued, though he was back to being one of the team's leaders in targets, due in part to Ricky Pearsall's (knee, ankle) absence. McCaffrey is now 151 yards away from achieving 1,000 yards in the rushing and receiving categories for the second time in his career. His next opportunity to add to his total will be against the Bears, who have allowed their opponents 348.1 offensive yards per game.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) has now missed three consecutive games with a foot injury, but head coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that his second-year wideout is right on track in his injury recovery and is expected to help the team again this season. The Bears face the 49ers in a Week 17 Sunday night tilt that could reshuffle the NFC playoff picture, so fantasy managers will need to monitor Odunze's status throughout the week and have a pivot ready in the event he becomes a game-time decision. The game features one of the highest projected point totals of the week, and with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams having thrown multiple touchdown passes in three straight games, Odunze is very much in play for fantasy championship weekend if he is able to suit up.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. continued his recent stretch of success in Sunday's 26-19 win over theCardinals, hauling in seven of nine targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. It was the fourth straight game with at least eight targets and at least six catches, and the 25-year-old has quickly vaulted himself into the position of second-ranked tight endfor fantasy this year after recordingfour touchdownsin the last two weeks alone (five on the season). The 6-foot-6 pass catcher was able to perform in Week 16 despite the returnof Drake London (knee),whoplayed just 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Pitts draws a home matchup against the Rams in what is most likely the championship round of the fantasy playoffs for most managers, a defense that is middle of the packin terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, although the Seahawks'AJ Barner just registered a 4-49-1 line in Week 16 against Los Angeles. With a solid role in the Atlanta offense, Pitts will surely be a TE1 in Week 17.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came through in a big way for those relying on him for a Monday night miracle to advance to the fantasy football championship round. Purdy went 25-for-34 for 295 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in the 49ers' 48-27 win over the Colts. Two of his touchdown throws went to running back Christian McCaffrey, with tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson each getting one. Once again, Purdy concentrated the majority of his attempts on McCaffrey, Kittle, and Jennings, though Kendrick Bourne worked in for five targets with Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) out. Purdy and the 49ers host the Chicago Bears in Week 17. It will be a welcome matchup for Purdy, as the Bears have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season.

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According to head coach Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White could be given a larger role during their contest against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. When asked about White's usage during their loss to the Panthers in Week 16, Bowles noted that he "completely agrees" that White should have been given more rushing attempts, given the success he enjoyed in his limited opportunities. In this contest, White took five carries for 45 yards and two receptions of 15 yards. Over the previous two games, White showed similar upside, tallying 73 yards on 12 rushing attempts. White's eight rushing attempts on Sunday placed him second on the depth chart, above Sean Tucker's four carries and behind Bucky Irving's 19 carries. Given that White seems poised for a larger role in Week 17, managers in deeper 12-team formats could consider him as a viable FLEX play facing a Miami defense that is allowing the eighth-most PPR points to opposing RBs.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard could be trending towards a timeshare during their week 17 contest against the Saints. According to OC Nick Holtz, the split workload between Tyjae Spears and Pollard was "how he envisioned" their usage given their respective skill sets. In their victory over the Chiefs, Pollard took the bulk of the carries on the ground, logging 21 compared to Spears' 13. However, in the passing game, Spears took the load as he was targeted five times and brought in all five for 53 yards, while Pollard was not targeted once. While Pollard's upside as a pass catcher may continue to be limited, he is finding his footing on the ground, averaging a strong 122.3 rushing yards per game over his last three contests. During these three games, Pollard has only drawn two total targets in the receiving game. Pollard should still be viewed as a high-floor RB2 in all formats heading into a Week 17 tilt against the Saints. Spears has entered FLEX territory for those in deeper PPR formats.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo had one of his better games of the 2025 season in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. Across 15 games this season, the 26-year-old has hauled in 51 receptions for 503 yards and a score on 67 targets. Okonkwo is averaging exactly five targets per game over his last five contests and has scored at least seven PPR fantasy points in four out of his last six games. However, his ceiling is limited by the presence of Titans tight end Gunnar Helm, as Tennessee has split playing time between its two tight ends throughout the second half of the season. Still, Okonkwo has proven that he can provide a relatively stable production floor. In fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams, he could be a viable streaming option in his Week 17 matchup against the New Orleans Saints for managers in need of help at the tight end position.

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on Tuesday that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion) is in the NFL's concussion protocol, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Boutte will need to clear the league's testing to be available for New England's Week 17 matchup against the New York Jets. Across 13 games this season, the 23-year-old has hauled in 31 receptions for 527 yards and six touchdowns on 42 targets. Boutte's production has tailed off a bit of late, as he has not recorded more than 35 receiving yards in a game since Week 8. If he's unable to play in Week 17, Patriots wide receivers Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs would likely both see a slight increase in target share. Additionally, rookie wideout Kyle Williams could step into Boutte's role as the team's top deep-ball threat.

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