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FFL: Week 17 | NFL: Week 17

Raiders showing up late to New Orleans due to delayed flight

Sun Dec 29 2:31am ET
Field Level Media

The Las Vegas Raiders had a flight delayed for several hours on Saturday, forcing them to head to New Orleans late for their meeting with the Saints on Sunday.

Las Vegas was hoping to fly out in the morning, but a mechanical issue on its plane prevented it from doing so. Instead, the Raiders had to wait for a second plane, which didn't get out of town until about 10 p.m. ET.

Kickoff for Las Vegas' matchup with New Orleans is at 1 p.m. ET.

Because of the delay, the Raiders had to hold team meetings at their facility instead of the team's hotel.

Las Vegas is 3-12 this season and has already been eliminated from playoff contention.

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The Paur Report

Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 17

Player Notes
Charvarius Ward Dec 29 2:00am ET
Charvarius Ward

The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams unit has its work cut out for it in Week 17 as they host the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Last week in Miami, the Niners D/ST allowed 29 offensive points while recording zero sacks and zero turnovers. Detroit's offense is second in the NFL in yards per game first in offensive points per game. Besides RB David Montgomery (knee) and WR Kalif Raymond (foot) being ruled out, the Lions offense is at full strength. For San Francisco, defensive backs Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle) and Charvarius Ward (personal) are questionable. Regardless, there might not be a single D/ST unit that would be a good idea to start against Detroit, much less a mediocre one coming off a negative-point performance. Choose a different D/ST in championship week, the Niners are RotoBaller's 27th-ranked option.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Dec 29 1:40am ET
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody will kick off to the Detroit Lions on Monday night in Santa Clara. Last week in Miami, Moody went one of two on field goal attempts, making a 21-yarder in the second quarter before missing from 41 in the third. The missed field goal caused head coach Kyle Shanahan to spike his tablet in frustration, but he later offered comments in support of Moody. The former third-round pick has struggled with accuracy this season, checking in at 76.7% while the league is averaging 83.8% overall. It's worth noting that Moody has pretty extreme splits -- a perfect 15-of-15 at home and a dismal 8-of-15 on the road. He is a perfect 25-for-25 on extra points overall. Detroit's defense is middle-of-the-pack by yardage, so normally San Francisco would be expected to get Moody at least a couple of opportunities, but the Niners are down to their third left tackle, and starting right tackle Colton McKivitz (knee) is questionable. Also, a scenario in which a high-powered Detroit offense builds a lead that incentivizes the 49ers to go for it on fourth down in field goal range is possible. The weather isn't expected to be a factor on Monday night. Moody is RotoBaller's K20 in its Week 17 rankings.

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James Conner Dec 29 1:30am ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) never returned to the game after re-injuring his knee in the first quarter. It appeared as though Conner got twisted up on during a fourth-down rushing attempt in the first quarter. After that run, we saw Conner being attended to on the sideline by athletic trainers, and he never re-entered the game. Conner ended the game with just four carries for four yards and two receptions for four receiving yards. This caps a tough ending to the season for James Conner's fantasy managers, and his status for Week 18 is up in the air. Given that the Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention, it may be an uphill battle for Conner to play in Week 18 when the Cardinals host the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Michael Carter Dec 29 1:30am ET
Michael Carter

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter recorded 70 rushing yards on 13 attempts in the 13-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Carter stepped in for starting running back James Conner (knee), who went down with a knee injury in the first quarter. Carter rushed the ball well and made a few plays in the passing game that helped keep the Cardinals' offense afloat. With Conner's absence, it looks like Carter will be the featured back moving forward, with the statuses of Conner and rookie Trey Benson still unknown. The Cardinals will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, and given that they are eliminated from playoff contention, it is reasonable to expect Carter to see more playing time next week, especially if Conner doesn't suit up.

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Kyler Murray Dec 29 1:10am ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray passed for 321 yards in a 9-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Despite throwing two interceptions late in the game, Murray played well in a bounce-back performance after the loss to the Carolina Panthers. Murray's official stat line was 33 completions on 48 attempts for 321 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. While Murray operated the offense at a high level, the Cardinals struggled with field position and red zone efficiency, which were the main factors in the offense scoring only nine points. With running back James Conner (knee) not returning after a first-half injury, the Cardinals were forced to rely on Murray's rushing ability more, and he rushed for 32 yards on four carries. This was a solid fantasy performance for those who played Murray during their championship weeks. The Cardinals and Murray will look to end the season on a high note with a win against the 49ers in Week 18.

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Davante Adams Dec 29 12:20am ET
Davante Adams

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (hip) is anticipated to suit up for Sunday's AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills. The wideout is dealing with a hip issue and didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Although he logged a limited session on Friday, it still wasn't enough to avoid a questionable designation for Week 17. Adams has been on a roll of late, finding the end zone five times in the last four games. With Aaron Rodgers looking for his 500th career touchdown, Adams has plenty of motivation to score versus the Bills. Assuming the 32-year-old gets the official green light to suit up, he's a must-start in all fantasy formats.

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Demario Douglas Dec 29 12:10am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught four of his five targets for 49 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. It was a peculiar game for Douglas, who had one catch for one yard and another catch for a loss of two yards along the way. Nevertheless, he salvaged and even boosted his fantasy value with a big 39-yard touchdown reception. The score came on a free play after a Los Angeles defender had jumped offside. Douglas, who has at least three catches in each of his last eight games, will rank as a low-end WR3 option for Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

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Kayshon Boutte Dec 29 12:10am ET
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught four of his five targets for 28 yards during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. Just one week removed from the best game of his career and his second NFL touchdown, Boutte came back down to earth against the Chargers. He still tied for the team lead in targets and catches, but he finished second to DeMario Douglas in total yards and saw his fantasy value slide after failing to find the end zone. Boutte, a second-year receiver out of LSU, remains the No. 2 fantasy receiver in New England but drops to the low-end WR4 tier for Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

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George Kittle Dec 29 12:00am ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle will clash with the Detroit Lions at home on Monday Night Football. Last week in Miami, Kittle hauled in eight of nine targets for 106 yards. Kittle has been an excellent fantasy asset this season, no doubt occupying the TE slot for more than a few teams fighting for a championship this week. He is the leader at the position in half-PPR points per game (13.7), and just 3.9 points off the total pace set by Las Vegas Raiders rookie phenom Brock Bowers despite Kittle missing two games to injury. Detroit's pass defense ranks sixth-worst in terms of yardage but is the single stingiest defense to tight ends in fantasy at 6.4 points allowed per game. Regardless, Kittle has been too steadily productive all year to start worrying about matchups. Fire up Kittle as a top-2 option in Week 17.

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Antonio Gibson Dec 29 12:00am ET
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He was unable to convert his lone target into a reception. Gibson had just six carries for 10 yards midway through the fourth quarter, but he padded his stats with some big runs during garbage time, including a 20-yard gain. The 26-year-old operated as the Patriots' lead back over Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed just two times for one yard. Stevenson found himself relegated to the backup role after a costly fumble in Week 16, which led to an increase in volume for Gibson. The 26-year-old boasts a solid 4.6 yards per carry this year, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3 heading into Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

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Rhamondre Stevenson Dec 29 12:00am ET
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for one yard on two carries during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He also failed to catch his lone target. Stevenson had operated as the Patriots' primary running back for the entire season, but he was relegated to the backup role this Saturday after a costly fumble back in Week 16. It's unclear if the 26-year-old's benching is a one-time, temporary matter or if he'll remain the No. 2 option behind Antonio Gibson for next week's season finale against the Buffalo Bills, too. Until we get more clarity on the Patriots' backfield situation, Stevenson should be viewed as a mid-to-low RB4 option in fantasy football.

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Drake Maye Dec 28 11:50pm ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown, and one lost fumble during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He also took four sacks and rushed six times for 32 yards on the ground. The rookie quarterback missed one drive as he was evaluated for a head injury, but he was able to return. However, he didn't play very well upon re-entering the game. He did take advantage of a free play by throwing a deep touchdown strike to DeMario Douglas, but other than that big play, his passing performance was uneventful. He now has five lost fumbles over his last eight games, and a total of 13 turnovers during that span. The UNC product continues to impress as a runner, but he needs to clean up the turnovers before fantasy managers can legitimately consider starting him in single-quarterback leagues.

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Deebo Samuel Dec 28 11:40pm ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will line up across from the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara on Monday night. Last week in Miami, Samuel Sr. broke out of a miserable five-game slump by gathering seven of nine targets for 96 yards and a touchdown through the air, with five carries for 25 yards on the ground. Detroit's defense versus opposing fantasy wide receivers has been vulnerable -- they represent the sixth-most generous to the position in half-PPR formats. Samuel Sr.'s floor may be too low for many fantasy managers to stomach in their lineup for championship week as he averaged 3.3 half-PPR points during the aforementioned slump. However, last week's performance showed that he still has a chasable ceiling, especially for fantasy gamers entering Sunday needing a comeback. Samuel Sr. is being ranked as a low-end WR2 in Week 17.

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Jauan Jennings Dec 28 11:10pm ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings gets the Detroit Lions at home on Monday night to close out Week 17. In last week's loss to Miami, Jennings caught four of six targets for 51 yards. Jennings has done a good job filling in for the IR-dwelling star receiver Brandon Aiyuk this season, leading the team in targets in each game he's played since Week 6 -- until last week when Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle led with nine targets apiece. Detroit's defense has been vulnerable to opposing wide receivers, ranking as the sixth-leakiest defense to the position. The Lions' dangerous offense figures to keep San Francisco's foot on the gas pedal in this one, giving the Niners' No. 1 receiver a safe floor and an appealing ceiling. Jennings is a solid WR2 at worst, with a top-12 finish within the reasonable range of outcomes.

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Isaac Guerendo Dec 28 10:40pm ET
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) will return from a one-week absence when the team hosts the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Before missing last week's contest against Miami, Guerendo took 16 carries for 57 yards and caught four of four targets for 18 yards versus the Rams. The week before that, the fourth-rounder out of Louisville popped off for 25.8 half-PPR points against Chicago. Detroit has a quality rush defense, having allowed the fourth-fewest points per game to opposing running backs this season. Most recently, they held the Bears to 59 yards and no touchdowns on the ground. It's worth noting that San Francisco is down to their third-string left tackle and could be missing starting right tackle Colton McKivitz (knee), who is questionable. Consider Guerendo a back-end RB2 in Week 17.

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Jaleel McLaughlin Dec 28 10:10pm ET
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for 69 yards on ten carries in Saturday's 30-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He'd add seven yards on 2-of-2 receiving. The second-year back saw one more carry than rookie Audric Estime and handily out-gained him by 45 yards. However, with the game picking up pace in a wild fourth quarter, the Broncos' rushing attack fell by the wayside late. McLaughlin is the most dynamic RB on this squad, but Denver has favored leaning on the pass this year with rookie QB Bo Nix adjusting to the big leagues so well. The former undrafted free agent will get a much more challenging task in Week 18 when his team lines up against their division-rival Kansas City Chiefs.

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Marvin Mims Dec 28 9:50pm ET
Marvin Mims

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. reeled in 8-of-8 targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns in his team's 30-24 OT loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He lost one yard on his lone carry and returned one kick for 27 yards. The second-year wideout was used primarily in the short area of the field, as six of his receptions went for nine yards or fewer. However, his 25- and 51-yard TD strikes would account for most of the damage done, with both tying the game in the fourth quarter. After an abysmal start to the season, Mims Jr. has seen his involvement in Denver's offense increase -- compiling two 100-plus-yard outings over his last four appearances. The Oklahoma product will get a far stiffer test in the season's final week against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

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Courtland Sutton Dec 28 9:40pm ET
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton brought in 5-of-9 targets for 55 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 30-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was targeted just twice in the first half -- converting one for a gain of seven yards. However, the 29-year-old was much more involved after halftime. He'd haul in a six-yard TD on the Broncos' first possession of the third quarter and was targeted three times on their final drive of regulation (2/29) as they marched down the field to send it to OT. Sutton has seen his reception and yardage output scale back over the last three weeks, but he's still grabbed two scores and remains heavily involved as rookie quarterback Bo Nix's preferred option (24 targets). He and the Broncos will line up against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 with a spot in the playoffs on the line.

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Brock Purdy Dec 28 9:40pm ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will face the Detroit Lions at home for Week 17's Monday night matchup. Last week in Miami, Purdy threw a career-high 40 passes, completing 26 of them for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also led the team in rushing yards with 26, indicating San Francisco's backfield depletion more than anything. This week, rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) has no injury designation which should be a boon to the 49ers offense. The Niners' offensive line won't be at full strength. They're down to their third-string left tackle and starting right tackle Colton McKivitz (knee) is questionable. Detroit's defense is healthy and ranked as the 12th most generous to opposing fantasy quarterbacks in Yahoo default scoring. Look for a game script similar to last week, as San Francisco tries to keep pace with an electric Lions offense. Purdy is a low-end QB1 for fantasy championship week.

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James Conner Dec 28 9:40pm ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is questionable to return to Saturday night's meeting with the Los Angeles Rams. The 29-year-old came into this weekend battling through a knee injury he picked up in Week 16's loss to the Carolina Panthers and apparently isn't entirely over it. Per the broadcast, he's available on the sidelines to reenter the contest. Conner gained four yards on four carries and another four through the air on 2-of-3 receiving before his exit. Backfield mate Michael Carter figures to handle most of the backfield touches with the veteran out of the lineup. DeeJay Dallas could mix in as a change of pace behind him.

From RotoBaller