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FFL: Playoff Week 2 | NFL: Week 17

Lamar Jackson breaks QB career rushing record

Wed Dec 25 8:59pm ET
Field Level Media

Lamar Jackson is officially the most prolific rushing quarterback in NFL history.

The Baltimore Ravens star on Wednesday broke the record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback, getting just enough to pass Michael Vick as the Ravens demolished the host Houston Texans 31-2.

Entering the game 86 yards behind Vick, Jackson collected 87 rushing yards in the game. That moved him one yard past Vick at 6,110. He set the mark with a 6-yard run midway through the third quarter. Earlier in the period, Jackson turned in the play of the game with a 48-yard scoring run to make it 24-2 and put the game away.

Jackson was playing in the 102nd game of his seven-year career. Vick played in 143 games over 13 seasons.

The 27-year-old Jackson is in the midst of perhaps the best season of his career. He has already established career highs in passing touchdowns (39), total touchdowns (43) and passing yards (3,955) as he makes a case for what would be his third MVP award.

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Player Notes
Jaylen Waddle Dec 25 9:40pm ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report. The Dolphins didn't hold an official practice, but if they had, Waddle would not have participated. This is a concerning start to the week for Waddle, who missed last Sunday's game after being a non-participant the whole week prior. He still has a few days to get healthy and log a limited or full practice session, but if that doesn't happen, he'll likely sit out Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. Simply put, fantasy managers should stay tuned for key updates on his status over the next few days. If he can't play, Malik Washington would likely step up as the Dolphins' No. 2 receiver behind Tyreek Hill (wrist, rest).

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 25 9:40pm ET
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate. In other words, the Packers did not practice on Wednesday, but if they had, Watson would not have participated. The 25-year-old injured his knee during Monday night's win over the New Orleans Saints. His game was abbreviated as he played just 43 percent of the offensive snaps, exiting the contest with one target and zero receptions. Watson has been a hit-or-miss fantasy receiver this season, and even if he suits up against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17, most managers can justify leaving him on the bench.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Dec 25 9:40pm ET
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight ends Tucker Kraft (hip) and Luke Musgrave (ankle) were both listed as limited participants on Wednesday's practice estimate. The Packers noted that since they didn't practice on Wednesday, their injury report was merely an estimation. In other words, if they had practiced, both Kraft and Musgrave would have been limited. While any sort of appearance on the injury report is newsworthy and should be monitored, players who are limited on Wednesday typically progress to full participants by the end of the week and are able to play on Sunday. We'll gain more insight into the tight ends' statuses over the next two days of practice, but as of now, fantasy managers should expect them to suit up in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings. Of the duo, Kraft has the most fantasy appeal, ranking as a fringe top-12 option at the tight end position.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Dec 25 9:30pm ET
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (knee, shin) and Cedric Tillman (concussion) were both limited during practice on Wednesday. Jeudy has not yet missed a game this season, catching 72 passes for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns while ranking as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, Tillman was coming on strong before suffering a serious head injury. The second-year receiver has missed four consecutive games and could be in danger of missing a fifth. Ever since Amari Cooper was traded, Tillman had been averaging 5.2 catches, 66 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. While both pass-catchers have garnered significant fantasy appeal at points throughout this season, their intrigue has dwindled ahead of Week 17. The primary reason for their reduced value is Cleveland's recent decision to bench Jameis Winston for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, shifting from an offense centered around launching the football and making risky throws to implementing a more composed, run-oriented scheme. Jeudy had one of his worst games of the season in Thompson-Robinson's first start last week, catching just two passes for 20 yards. As the Browns' offense continues to stall and its quarterback lacks dependability, Cleveland's receivers may continue to struggle. Both Jeudy and Tillman have decent upside, but their extremely low floors drop them to the bottom of the WR3/FLEX tier in most leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Dec 25 9:30pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. While having a quarterback on the injury report isn't necessarily ideal in the fantasy playoffs, managers shouldn't panic. Tagovailoa was limited with the same injury two days in a row last week, but he logged a full practice on Friday and had no limitations in Sunday's win over the San Francisco 49ers. We could see the 26-year-old log a similar practice participation pattern this week, and managers should only start to get concerned if he misses a practice entirely. For now, all signs point to Tagovailoa suiting up against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. He ranks as a fringe top-12 fantasy quarterbacks against the Browns' subpar pass defense, but his floor could drop a little if he has to deal with unfavorable weather conditions in Cleveland.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Dec 25 9:30pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist, rest) was listed as a limited participant on the team's practice estimation Wednesday. It's unclear whether the wrist injury or the rest day was the primary factor for Hill being estimated as limited, but the bottom line is that fantasy managers should continue to monitor his practice status over the next few days. The good news is that a limited practice on Wednesday typically bodes well for a player's availability on Sunday. In fact, last week, Hill missed Wednesday's practice entirely, and he still managed to suit up against the San Francisco 49ers, albeit after being listed as questionable. Managers should check back for updates over the next few days, but as of now, all signs point to the 30-year-old suiting up against a subpar Cleveland Browns pass defense. It's worth noting that Hill could end up starting alongside Malik Washington if teammate Jaylen Waddle (knee), who was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday, is inactive for a second consecutive week.

From RotoBaller

Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dec 25 9:20pm ET
Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) and Jameis Winston (right shoulder) were limited participants during practice on Wednesday. The Browns' quarterback problems have been no secret this year, and it now appears that a pair of injuries have further complicated the situation. Thompson-Robinson earned his first start of the season last week, completing 20 of 34 pass attempts for 157 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 32 yards. Most of his positive momentum came in garbage time, as the 25-year-old didn't inspire much confidence in his playing ability and the Browns' overall offensive performance. Still, it appears he remains the preferred option for the job over Winston, who tossed eight interceptions over his final three games under center. Injuries could certainly impact the starting quarterback decision for Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, but assuming both are healthy, Thompson-Robinson will likely be named the team's primary quarterback for the second week in a row. We can't rule out snaps for Bailey Zappe, either. The 25-year-old Western Kentucky product was active as Thompson-Robinson's backup last week since Winston was inactive as the emergency third quarterback. None of these players have legitimate fantasy appeal long-term.

From RotoBaller

John Metchie III Dec 25 8:50pm ET
John Metchie III

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III led the team with eight targets on Wednesday against the Baltimore Ravens, which he turned into five catches for 48 yards. Unfortunately for the everybody on the Houston offense, it was an all-around poor day as the team failed to score on offense and was blown out 31-2. With receiver Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) both lost for the season, Houston involved Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson, and Robert Woods in the passing game behind top receiver Nico Collins, but the offense ground to a halt against the Ravens as nothing seemed to work. Houston will hope for a much better outing on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Dec 25 8:50pm ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz drew six targets on Wednesday against Baltimore, but finished with just two catches for 21 yards. The Texans' offense looked awful in the game, with quarterback C.J. Stroud off target on a number of throws and the offensive line unable to sustain much of anything in the running or passing game as Houston failed to score a point on offense. Without No. 2 receiver Tank Dell (knee), the veteran tight end figured to be in line for a bit more receiving work, but a decent number of targets didn't lead to much production. Schultz likely will remain in the TE2 range when the Texans conclude the regular season on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Dec 25 8:40pm ET
C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans delivered a dud in Week 17, finishing 17-for-31 for 185 yards with no touchdowns and an interception as the Houston offense failed to score in a 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The sophomore was off target on a number of throws, and he was done no favors by a Texans offensive line that allowed five sacks and paved the way for only 58 rushing yards. The young quarterback and the Houston offense couldn't establish much of anything as Baltimore completely dominated the game from the outset. Stroud now has an 8:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the past six games, during which he hit 250 passing yards only once. Houston will look for better as it concludes the regular season in Week 18 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Dec 25 8:10pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins caught three of his six targets for 59 yards on Wednesday in a 31-2 blowout loss against the Baltimore. The Texans' offense had a brutal showing in which quarterback C.J. Stroud was off target, the offensive line surrendered five sacks, and the Texans gained only one rushing first down. As a result of the Houston offense failing to score, the Michigan product also had his lowest-scoring fantasy output of the season for a game in which he appeared. Fantasy managers will rightly be disappointed Houston's passing game managed so little against a Ravens secondary that has struggled against top-tier receivers this season. Collins and the Texans will look for improvement on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Dec 25 8:00pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon managed only 39 total yards as the Houston offense failed to score in a 31-2 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. The veteran back rushed only nine times, picking up 26 yards, and caught two of his three targets for another 13 yards. The Texans' offense was awful in the game, gaining only 211 total yards and one rushing first down while putting up their lowest scoring output of the year. Mixon was not alone in having a bad day, but the performance was a far cry from what managers in the championship round were hoping to see, even against a solid Ravens run defense. He and the Texans will conclude the regular season on Jan. 5 at Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 25 7:50pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's estimated practice participation report. Njoku sustained a knee injury in the Week 16 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He underwent an MRI on Monday and has not been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. The results of Monday's MRI have not been released yet. After missing Week 15 with a hamstring injury, Njoku returned last Sunday and caught eight passes for 66 yards in the Week 16 loss to the Bengals. The 28-year-old will have a few more chances to practice this week in order to have a chance to suit up against the Dolphins. If Njoku does get ruled out in Week 17, look for Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart to see an uptick in snaps, but neither is an option for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Rasheen Ali Dec 25 7:20pm ET
Rasheen Ali

Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali (hip) won't return in Wednesday's game against the Houston Texans due to a hip injury. Ali suffered a hip injury during the Christmas game versus Houston and has been ruled out. He lost three yards on his only carry of the game. Ali also had a kickoff return for 23 yards. Justice Hill (concussion) was inactive, leaving Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell as the only healthy Ravens running back with both Ali and Hill sidelined. Ali's next chance to return will be the regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Dec 25 7:00pm ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) was listed as a non participant in Wednesday's estimated injury report. He is dealing with a toe injury and would have missed Wednesday's session if the Giants had practiced on Wednesday. The 21-year-old has dealt with various injuries throughout the year but has only missed two games (Week 5 and Week 6) due to a concussion. Despite poor quarterback play from the Giants, Nabers is having a great rookie season. The No. 6 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has caught 97 passes for 969 yards and four touchdowns over 13 games this season. He will have a few more days to try to practice, with the chance of being able to suit up against the Indianapolis Colts. Nabers is a mid-range WR2 and should be in all lineups if active for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is once again not on the fantasy radar in Week 17 when Seattle travels to Chicago to play the Bears. Lockett has received very little target volume since Week 7. Even in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Lockett could only earn two targets despite quarterback Geno Smith throwing the ball 43 times. The Seahawks have consolidated their targets among the running backs and their top two wide receivers. Lockett is a great veteran presence for this team, but he is not integral to the game plan at all. Despite the Bears being a solid matchup for opposing wide receivers in recent weeks, Lockett should remain on waivers.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (elbow) looks to be in line to receive the majority of the running back workload in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. With Kenneth Walker III (ankle) dealing with another injury, Charbonnet should step in as a high-end RB2 or even an RB1 against a Bears team with issues stopping the run. Charbonnet has delivered high-end fantasy output in each of his four starts in relief of Walker this season. The highlight of those starts was a 38.3 PPR fantasy point outburst in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. Despite only logging four starts and receiving limited volume in his other games this season, Charbonnet is the RB26 on the season. Charbonnet should have solid running lanes all night long and will continue to be a significant factor in the passing game as well. Charbonnet has been banged up this week with an elbow injury. However, he has been practicing fully and appears to be in good shape to receive a heavy workload in a must-win game for Seattle.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Dec 25 6:40pm ET
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (knee) is not a player you can trust to lead your team to a fantasy championship this week. The Seahawks play the Chicago Bears in Week 17 who are middle-of-the-road against opposing tight ends in fantasy. Fant receives solid target volume in Seattle's offense, but his yardage is often capped, and his touchdown upside is limited. Rookie tight end AJ Barner seems to be the team's preferred tight end target in the red zone. Fant has not scored a touchdown since 2022. Fant has earned at least four targets in seven straight games. However, he has only exceeded 26 yards in three of those games. If their yardage is limited and touchdowns are scarce, then it is difficult to trust a tight end in fantasy football. Leave Fant on waivers this week.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Dec 25 6:20pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (finger, concussion) did not practice in Wednesday's estimated injury report. Hurts exited Sunday's loss against the Washington Commanders early with a concussion and did not return. The 26-year-old is also dealing with a broken finger. He is in concussion protocol and will need to be cleared by Saturday to have a chance to suit up in Sunday's contest versus the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles are banged up at quarterback as Kenny Pickett (ribs) was also limited Wednesday with a rib injury. Philadelphia did bring in former quarterback Ian Book for a team visit on Wednesday. Hurts will need to be cleared and practice in some fashion in order to be active against Dallas. Fantasy managers will need to monitor Hurts' status for the week but should have a backup plan in case the star quarterback is ruled out for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Dec 25 6:10pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints Chris Olave (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Olave was ruled out for Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers and has been sidelined since Week 9 due to a concussion. The 24-year-old was designated to return from injured reserve last week and is trending in the right direction toward playing in Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He will need to be officially activated later this week in order to have a chance to suit up in Week 17. Olave would give the banged-up Saints wide receiver corps a boost after catching 32 passes for 400 yards and a touchdown over eight games. The former first-round pick would be a low-end WR3 this week if active. The Saints were recently shut out, and New Orleans' offense has been downgraded, with Derek Carr (hand) sidelined. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation and hope Olave can return to action for fantasy championship week.

From RotoBaller