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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Playoff Week 3 | NFL: Week 17

NFL Playoff Picture: 49ers two wins from No. 1 in NFC

Tue Dec 23 2:18pm ET
Field Level Media

Seats are filling up in the NFC playoff picture but seeding in both conferences is up for grabs with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The San Francisco 49ers re-entered the conversation for the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win Monday in Indianapolis and lead the conference with an 8-2 record vs. NFC opposition.

The 49ers control their fate in the final two weeks. If San Francisco beats the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, they'll be celebrating a first-round bye when the dust settles Week 18.

A Green Bay Packers loss or Bears win at San Francisco gives Chicago the NFC North division title.

If the Bears and 49ers tie on Sunday and the Seahawks win at Carolina, Seattle would clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

All seven AFC playoff participants could be set by Saturday if the Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers and Packers beat the Baltimore Ravens in Green Bay. A Baltimore win leaves it up to the Steelers on Sunday. Pittsburgh can wrap up the division crown with a win at Cleveland.

Here is the full playoff picture by conference entering Week 17.

--AFC Playoff Picture

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; First place, AFC West

Up Next: at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday, Dec. 25); vs. Chargers (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Chargers won the first matchup, 23-20, in Week 3. Should Denver lose and finish with the same record as the Chargers, the Broncos could go from the No. 1 seed in the AFC to traveling to the No. 4 seed -- currently the Steelers -- in the wild-card playoffs.

2. New England Patriots (12-3)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; First place, AFC East

Up Next: at New York Jets (Dec. 28); vs. Miami Dolphins (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: Finishing with two more wins and a 14-3 record would not assure the Patriots the No. 1 seed, but it would guarantee they can fall no lower than No. 2 in the conference.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)

Status: First place, AFC South

Up Next: at Indianapolis Colts (Dec. 28); vs. Tennessee Titans (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Houston Texans, who split two games with Jacksonville, still can win the AFC South.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

Status: First place, AFC North

Up Next: at Cleveland Browns (Dec. 28); vs. Baltimore Ravens (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: A statement win at Detroit gives the Steelers a chance to clinch the division at Cleveland on Sunday, but hold the noisemakers and confetti. Pittsburgh lost at Cleveland last season (24-19), in 2023 (13-10) and 2022 (29-17), last beating the Browns on the road on Halloween 2021.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)

Status: Second place, AFC West

Up Next: vs. Texans (Saturday, Dec. 27); at Broncos (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: With seven wins in the past eight games, the Chargers are not yet assured a playoff spot but could still land any of the AFC's seven seed positions.

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)

Status: Second place, AFC East

Up Next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 28); vs. Jets (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Bills are 28-4 at home over the past four seasons.

7. Houston Texans (10-5)

Status: Second place, AFC South

Up Next: at Chargers (Saturday, Dec. 27); vs. Colts (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Texans are 13-4 in AFC South games since the start of the 2023 season and have won four consecutive games against the Colts.

--AFC, next in line

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-7): Enormous Chargers fans this week, the Colts wound be eliminated if Houston beats the Bolts on Saturday.

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8): Unable to catch Houston, the Ravens are rooting against the Steelers at Cleveland. A Pittsburgh win eliminates Baltimore from the postseason.

--NFC Playoff Picture

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; First place, AFC West

Up Next: at Carolina Panthers (Dec. 28); at 49ers (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: Alarmed by finishing the season with consecutive road games? Seattle is 13-2 in away games since 2024.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; First place, NFC North

Up Next: at 49ers (Dec. 28); vs. Detroit Lions (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Bears are 9-1 outside the NFC North and 2-3 in division games this season.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)

Status: Clinched NFC East, playoff spot

Up Next: at Bills (Dec. 28); vs. Washington Commanders (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: Philadelphia can move up to No. 2 if the Seahawks and Bears lose their final two games.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)

Status: First place, NFC South

Up Next: vs. Seahawks (Dec. 28); at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Panthers and Rams are both 6-4 against conference opponents, tied for the worst among the NFC's current playoff seeds.

5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; Second place, NFC West

Up Next: vs. Bears (Sunday, Dec. 28); vs. Seahawks (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: Jumped the Rams in the NFC West and conference standings with a shot at a first-round bye with wins the next two weeks.

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

Status: Clinched playoff spot; Third place, NFC West

Up Next: at Atlanta Falcons (Monday, Dec. 29); vs. Arizona Cardinals (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: The Rams play the primetime Week 17 finale on Monday night and are 0-2 in non-Sunday games this season.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

Status: Second place, NFC North

Up Next: vs. Ravens (Saturday, Dec. 27); vs. Minnesota Vikings (Jan. 4)

Noteworthy: If Minnesota beats Detroit on Christmas Day, the Packers clinch a wild-card spot. They can still get in the postseason field without winning either of their final two games.

--NFC, next in line

8. Detroit Lions (8-7): All of a sudden closer to fourth place in the NFC North than the playoffs after their loss to the Steelers.

9. Minnesota Vikings (7-8): Beating the Lions and Packers to end the season is not likely to be enough to push the Vikings into the playoffs.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8): No margin for error as the Bucs pull for a Panthers loss, then host Carolina in the Week 18 finale.

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The Paur Report

Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 16

Player Notes
Jaylen Warren Dec 23 1:50pm CT
Jaylen Warren

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.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Dec 23 1:50pm CT
Demarcus Robinson

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.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Dec 23 1:30pm CT
Jauan Jennings

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.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Dec 23 1:30pm CT
J.J. McCarthy

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.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Dec 23 1:20pm CT
Christian McCaffrey

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.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 23 1:20pm CT
Rome Odunze

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.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Dec 23 1:00pm CT
Kyle Pitts

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.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Dec 23 12:50pm CT
Brock Purdy

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.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Dec 23 12:10pm CT
Rachaad White

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.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 23 11:40am CT
Tony Pollard

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.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Dec 23 11:10am CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

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.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Dec 23 10:40am CT
Kayshon Boutte

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.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Dec 23 10:30am CT
George Kittle

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) "felt confident he didn't suffer a dreaded high-ankle sprain" during the team's Week 16 win, but "didn't sound as certain" about his availability for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Across 10 games this season, Kittle has recorded 52 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns on 62 targets. The 32-year-old has been particularly effective in recent weeks, hauling in 15 receptions for 203 yards and two scores on 17 targets over his last two games. If Kittle is unable to play, Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges would likely split tight end snaps for San Francisco against Chicago. Across the five games Kittle missed earlier this season with a hamstring injury, Tonges recorded 22 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Dec 23 10:30am CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on Tuesday that running back TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) is in the NFL's concussion protocol, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Henderson was forced to exit early from New England's Week 16 win over the Baltimore Ravens after suffering a head injury. He will now need to clear the league's testing to be available for the Patriots' Week 17 matchup against the New York Jets. Across 15 games this season, the 23-year-old has racked up 997 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 183 touches. Coming into Week 16, Henderson had recorded at least 75 scrimmage yards in seven straight games, scoring seven touchdowns in that stretch. If he's unavailable in Week 17, Rhamondre Stevenson would likely be in line to dominate New England's backfield snaps against the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Dec 23 10:20am CT
Taysom Hill

After recording more than seven touches in just one game before Week 16, New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill saw a significant workload increase in his team's Week 16 win over the New York Jets. Hill recorded 12 carries for 48 yards and four receptions for 36 yards on six targets. The Saints will be without running backs Kendre Miller (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) for the remainder of the 2025 season, and veteran back Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) has missed four straight games. If Kamara remains sidelined for the Saints' Week 17 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Hill could see another week with a sizable role in the offense. Hill has proven to be a red zone threat throughout the course of his career, as he's scored 34 rushing touchdowns on 486 career carries. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Hill is a player to target on the waiver wire heading into Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Dec 23 9:00am CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Sam Darnold led his team to a big win last Thursday against the Rams, throwing for 270 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He's had a few down games lately, but has also thrown for at least 249 yards in three straight games. When the touchdowns are there, he's typically a solid, QB2 or low-end option in single-QB deep leagues. Darnold and the Seahawks have a tough matchup on the road against the Panthers in Week 17, in a battle of teams pushing towards the playoffs. He's not in an elite spot, but he still brings enough upside to be a decent pickup if you need help at the position in two-QB formats or deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Gardner Minshew II Dec 23 8:50am CT
Gardner Minshew II

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew (knee) got good news from an MRI on his injured knee, as his ACL was not torn as initially feared. He's still out for the rest of the season on IR, but his recovery will be quicker since it's a "non-displaced tibial plateau fracture," which is basically a severe bone bruise but does not require surgery. The seventh-year QB was on a one-year deal with the Chiefs, but only played two games this season. He'll be a free agent this offseason, and the fact that he won't have to recover from a torn ACL will make him one of the better backup options on the market. He could return to Kansas City or land with a new team, but wherever he ends up, the fact that he doesn't have a torn ACL should improve his chances of being ready for offseason activities and the start of next season.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Dec 23 8:50am CT
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (hand) missed practice on Monday after having to leave last week's game at halftime with a hand injury. The Vikings have a favorable matchup this week and a chance to play spoiler against the Lions, but McCarthy will need to overcome his injury to be a viable option. He was excellent in his last two full games before the injury, producing three total touchdowns in wins over the Commanders and the Cowboys. McCarthy has the potential to be a streamer in two-QB or deep leagues if healthy, so keep a close eye on his practice participation if you're in the market for some help. If he's out, Max Brosmer would likely start, but he has not yet proven he can be a fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Dec 23 8:40am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is on a heater as the Jaguars push to the playoffs, and he makes a good start in almost all formats this week. He's still available in about one-third of leagues despite his recent success, and he has a favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Colts, who were just carved up by Brock Purdy on Monday Night Football. Lawrence led the Jags to a huge win in Denver by throwing for 279 passing yards, three touchdowns, and running for a fourth score. Lawrence has thrown multiple touchdowns in five straight weeks and added a rushing score in each of the last two weeks as well. He finishes the season with division matchups against the Colts and Titans, and will be an elite play as long as he isn't rested before the playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Dec 23 8:30am CT
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco took back over as the lead back for the Chiefs this week, stepping in ahead of veteran Kareem Hunt and taking eight carries for 34 yards while adding six catches for 41 yards in the team's loss to the Titans last week. Pacheco could be in for a heavy workload moving forward, since the team could phase out Hunt now that the playoffs are no longer a possibility. The team could take the next two weeks to evaluate Pacheco and rookie Brashard Smith for their future roles, but Pacheco is in a brutal matchup this week against the Broncos, who have been elite against the run. Pacheco does have touchdown-dependent upside and should get a good workload, but he's still a long-shot flex play to add off the waiver wire this week due to the matchup.

From RotoBaller