

Mon Dec 22 1:48pm ET
Field Level Media
Several NFL teams will be watching in earnest when the San Francisco 49ers travel to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night in a game chock full of playoff implications for both conferences to close out Week 16.
The 49ers (10-4) have clinched a playoff spot, but they also sit in third place in the NFC West, looking up at the Seahawks (12-3) and Rams (11-4). Seattle pulled out a 38-37 overtime win against visiting Los Angeles on Thursday night.
The Colts (8-6) find themselves in a more precarious situation in the other conference, sitting as the "last team out" of the seven-team AFC playoff picture. They are 1 1/2 games behind the Houston Texans (10-5) and 2 1/2 back of the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) in the South.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers are a consensus 5.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 74% of the spread-line money. San Francisco's -275 moneyline has drawn 80% of the money and 84% of the total bets.
The 49ers have covered the spread in five consecutive road games in which they entered as the favorites.
The 46.0 total points line has seen the Under draw big wagers with 81% of the money wagered, although the Over has been backed by 67% of the total bets.
PROP PICKS
--49ers RB Christian McCaffrey Anytime TD (-205 at BetRivers): McCaffrey has scored at least one touchdown in each of San Francisco's past six games as favorites. He also has reached the end zone at least once in seven of his past nine games overall.
--49ers TE George Kittle 50+ Receiving Yards (-266 at DraftKings): Kittle has benefitted with Brock Purdy back under center and has hauled in at least 67 receiving yards in each of his past five games. That includes 88 yards on nine targets last week. This has been the most popular player prop at the book.
INSIDE EDGE
Purdy leads the NFL with a 54% completion rate on passes thrown 20+ yards this season, according to Inside Edge's Remarkable engine. Meanwhile, McCaffrey leads all NFL running backs with an average of 58.6 receiving yards per game.
THE NEWS
A win over the Colts would serve three purposes for the 49ers: It would clinch a playoff spot, move them into a tie for second place in the division with the Rams and keep them within one game of the West lead.
While watching the competition beat up on each other is fun, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan assured this week that earning a fifth straight win is the top priority.
He recognizes that doing it even against a 44-year-old starting quarterback -- Colts substitute starter Philip Rivers -- won't be easy.
"You don't out-athletic a really good defense," Shanahan said. "You've got to be able to get rid of the ball. Some people have it and some people don't. Whether it's vision, whether it's arm-throwing angles, whether it's mental processing or whether it's just your feel and clear mind in the pocket, when things are moving fast at an elite level, athletically, it's really hard to get away from (athletic defenders).
"It's about getting rid of the ball and letting someone else do it."
Indianapolis finishes its regular season with matchups against the Jaguars (home) and Texans (road), giving the Colts -- like the 49ers -- an opportunity to make the playoffs. However, their margin for error is zero as they must win their three remaining games and receive some help.
The Colts managed just one touchdown last week in an 18-16 loss at Seattle as Rivers started in place of injured Daniel Jones. Even so, Indianapolis offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter believes the veteran's impact on the attack should increase on a week-to-week basis.
"It was really fun to talk about different concepts with him and different ways to attack a defense, different ways he saw (the Seattle game) and how we could sort of build that into the weekly game plan as we got going with our weekly planning (for the 49ers)," Cooter said. "Real fun to be able to talk ball with him."
The interconference matchup is also a rare head-to-head between two of the league's most productive running backs -- San Francisco's McCaffrey and Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor leads the NFL with 1,443 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. McCaffrey has 14 total TDs and he is just 19 yards behind Taylor (1,761-1,742) when rushing and receiving yards are combined. They rank second and third in the league in yards from scrimmage, trailing only the Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Robinson.
Taylor carried a heavy load (25 carries, three catches) in Rivers' first start last week. He hasn't topped 87 rushing yards in the Colts' past four games (all losses) after going for 102 or more five times as the team got off to an 8-2 start.
McCaffrey, meanwhile, has rushed for touchdowns in four straight games, which coincides with Purdy's return from a toe injury. They connected through the air a total of 16 times in wins over the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns before hooking up just once in a 37-24 blowout win over the Tennessee Titans last week.
INJURY REPORT
The 49ers will not have receiver Ricky Pearsall available on Monday after he sustained knee and ankle injuries last week. Pearsall sat out practice on Thursday, as did offensive lineman Spencer Burford (knee/ankle), defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (knee) and linebacker Nick Martin (concussion).
The Colts had three players miss the Thursday practice because of injuries who have now been listed as out for Monday night: cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), wide receiver Anthony Gould (foot) and tackle Bernhard Raimann (elbow).
PREDICTION
While Rivers immediately brought a firm grasp of reading defenses and a competitive fire to the Colts' fledgling offense last week, his lack of arm strength was also readily apparent. With little threat of being beat vertically, San Francisco's defense can focus its attention on Taylor. Indianapolis' strong defense can keep the game interesting for a while, but the 49ers will steadily pull away by the second half. --49ers 27, Colts 16
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback Josh Johnson will get the "lion's share" of the starter's reps at practice this week, according to JP Finley of NBC Sports Washington. Johnson was forced into action on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles when fellow quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand) exited early with a hand injury. The 39-year-old went five-for-nine for 43 yards with one interception. Entering the 2025 season, Johnson earned the QB3 job in Washington after outperforming Sam Hartman during the preseason. After an injury-riddled season, Johnson is trending toward being the Commanders' starting quarterback on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys. On a short turnaround, Mariota's availability remains unclear for Week 17, and Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. It is worth noting that Washington recently signed quarterback Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals' practice squad to add depth to their quarterback room.
From RotoBaller
The Indianapolis Colts have activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) from Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Buckner will play in tonight's game against his former team after missing an extended period of time due to a neck injury. The 31-year-old captain will not only solidify the Colts' defensive front but also provide a much-needed veteran presence in the locker room after the team lost both Daniel Jones and Sauce Gardner in recent weeks. Before exiting Week 9 early, Buckner had tallied 42 tackles and four sacks this season. As a result of Buckner being activated, the Colts have waived quarterback Brett Rypien.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders are signing quarterback Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Driskel served as Washington's QB3 last season and knows how to operate in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. This move adds much-needed depth to an injury-plagued quarterback room in Washington. With Marcus Mariota's (hand) availability unclear and Jayden Daniels being sidelined for the rest of the season, Driskel could be forced to slide into the QB2 role. Washington is playing on a short week and will be facing off against division rival Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. On a quick turnaround, Washington likely wanted to bring in someone who has been around their offense to back up Josh Johnson.
From RotoBaller
Ja'Tavion Sanders had a quiet fantasy day, but was a notable contributor in the Panthers' narrow 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers. The Carolina TE had two receptions for nine yards, but also caught his first touchdown pass since Week 10 of the 2024 season. Sanders played the most snaps of all Panthers TEs (57%) and totaled 8.9 PPR points, his highest fantasy total since Week 2. The Panthers will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. Seattle ranked 18th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the TE position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 16. Although Sanders has a decent matchup against Seattle, he does not see enough volume to consider him in Week 17. Weeks 2 and 10 are the only two times this season that Sanders had 5+ targets in a game. Fantasy players should ignore Sanders and the other Carolina TEs for the fantasy football championship in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) was back on the field Sunday during Houston's 23-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old had six carries for 33 yards and had one catch for nine yards. Despite rookie running back Woody Marks (ankle) being ruled out, Chubb's workload was limited as Jawhar Jordan led the backfield with 15 carries. Chubb has now gone six straight games without seeing double-digit touches and has only been able to find the endzone once during that stretch. It is worth mentioning that Chubb is coming off a rib injury, and the Texans could have been slow to roll him back into the offense. Chubb still profiles as a goal-line back that can still get work in the red zone. With Mark's availability uncertain for Week 17, Chubb is worth targeting off the waiver wire in deep standard leagues.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz had a decent day in the 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lutz converted two of three field goal attempts, with the longest coming from 54 yards out, and converted both PAT attempts. His eight points on the day could've been 11 had he not hit the right pole of the uprights on his first field goal attempt from 44 yards out in the first quarter. It was a tough break and a slight shift in momentum, as neither team had scored yet in the game, with five minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Still a confident kicker with plenty of reliability, Lutz will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17, in which he went five for five field goals and converted his lone PAT when he last faced them in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt saw a decreased workload in Week 16 with the return of teammate Chris Rodriguez Jr., but was still productive, scoring his second touchdown in as many games. Croskey-Merritt toted the rock just eight times (25 yards) in Washington's 29-18 loss to the Eagles on Saturday -- ten fewer carries than he sported a week ago in Rodriguez's absence. However, he still played clearly ahead of Jeremy McNichols in the rushing attack, despite the latter pacing him in snaps 15-11. The 24-year-old may not garner the same upside he did at the beginning of the campaign, but fantasy managers in a pinch can turn to him for low-end flex production when Washington squares off with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Rico Dowdle had nine carries for 29 yards in the Panthers' 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. The Carolina RB also added four receptions for 14 receiving yards, totaling 8.3 PPR points. Dowdle has cooled off in the last four starts, averaging 10.5 PPR points per game during that span. For the second consecutive week, Dowdle outperformed Chuba Hubbard, who finished Week 16 with 34 scrimmage yards and 4.4 PPR points. Despite the workload being split between Dowdle and Hubbard, Dowdle logged the most snaps (57%). In Week 17, the Panthers face the Seattle Seahawks. In the last four weeks leading up to Week 16, the Seahawks ranked seventh in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. Fantasy players who have their championship in Week 17 cab consider reserving Dowdle due to the tough matchup.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton once again showed his dominance in the wide receiver room during the 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Leading the team in all receiving categories, Sutton ended with six catches on 12 targets for 86 yards and one touchdown. Sutton did drop a touchdown in the back of the endzone that could've been critical in the Broncos' chances to keep the win streak alive, but he still had a superb day and passed the eye test. Quarterback Bo Nix was also able to put up a career high in passing yardage with 352 in this game, which bodes well for Sutton's fantasy floor if the passing offense can maintain that production. Sutton will face the Chiefs in Week 17, in which he should be a must-start.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin gets a bump in snap share during the 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Ending the day with five targets for four catches and 66 yards with zero touchdowns, the most notable piece is that Franklin found himself on the field for 64% of the Broncos' offensive snaps. After seeing snap percentages of 53%, 26%, and 50% in each of the three games since the Week 12 bye, this is an encouraging sign that he could be more involved for the rest of the season. Rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant suffered a concussion in the final minutes of this game and likely won't be available for the Week 17 Thursday Night Football matchup with the Chiefs, potentially projecting more opportunities for Franklin in that game.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey turned in the most efficient game of his season in the Week 16 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harvey had a stellar day with several explosive plays, leading to seven rushes for 50 yards and a touchdown, adding four catches on five targets for 71 receiving yards. Averaging 11 yards per touch is no easy task, but Harvey continues to impress and did this against a defense that was dominant against the run, with the lowest average rushing yards allowed per game coming into Week 16 at just 86.3. On a short week against the defeated Kansas City Chiefs, Harvey should be able to redeem himself from his Week 11 dud when he last faced them.
From RotoBaller
Chuba Hubbard had another quiet outing in the Carolina Panthers' 23-20 win against the Buccaneers. The Carolina RB had six carries for 27 yards while also adding one reception for seven yards. Hubbard finished the game with 4.4 PPR points, his lowest fantasy total since Week 11. Rico Dowdle also outperformed Hubbard with 43 scrimmage yards and 8.3 PPR points. Even though the workload was split between the two RBs, Hubbard logged fewer snaps (41%). In Week 17, the Carolina Panthers will face the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle ranked seventh in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the RB position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 16. Due to the rough matchup against Seattle and inconsistent volume, Hubbard is off the fantasy radar for Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix put up a new career high in passing yards with 352 in the 34-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. In a matchup where it was expected that the passing game would be relied upon, Nix did all he could to give the Broncos a prime opportunity to extend their win streak to 12 straight. Nix completed 28 of 47 pass attempts for 352 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and added 11 rushing yards on four carries. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was the favorite in targets with 12, and did have one critical drop that could've been a second touchdown for Nix. While the fantasy numbers were mediocre for a semifinal matchup, Nix should find himself in a bounce-back spot against the defeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Bryce Young completed 21-of-32 attempts for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Carolina Panthers' 23-20 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Carolina QB also added 20 yards on four carries, totaling 17.6 Fantasy points. It was the fourth time in the last five games that Young registered more than 15 Fantasy points, but he has reached the 20-point mark only three times in 2025. In 14 games played this season, Young has averaged 14.4 Fantasy Points Per Game. In Week 17, the Panthers will face the NFC's top-seeded team, the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle ranked second in Fantasy Points Per Game Allowed to the QB position over the last four weeks leading up to Week 16. If your fantasy football championship is in Week 17, Young should be avoided due to the matchup and his overall inconsistency for the year.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams recorded five receptions for 70 yards on nine targets in his team's 29-24 Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the 24-year-old's production against Pittsburgh is a bit of a let-down relative to his performance in recent weeks, Williams continues to be a featured piece of the Detroit offense. He's earned at least nine targets in four straight games and has recorded at least 70 receiving yards in five out of his last six outings. For the season, Williams has now hauled in 57 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 targets across 15 games. With its defense struggling mightily, Detroit figures to continue to find itself in pass-heavy game scripts down the stretch of the season. Williams should continue to have opportunities to put up numbers in his final two matchups of the season against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17 and the Chicago Bears in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears notched his best outing of the 2025 season in Sunday's 26-9 home win against the Kansas City Chiefs, totaling 105 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Spears' 18 touches in Week 16 are the most he'd handled all campaign, and it marked the fourth time in his last six appearances that he'd commanded at least five targets. Moreover, it was the first time he'd seen double-digit carries. While it's likely the uptick in work came from Tennessee deftly handling a visiting Chiefs squad, there's no denying the Tulane product is a talented athlete. For now, Spears is better suited for deep leagues, but his work in the receiving game keeps him in the range of a low-end flex in PPR formats. At the very least, he boasts high-end handcuff appeal. Tennessee gets an exploitable Saints' defense in Week 17.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa had the most productive game of his young career in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. The 23-year-old has hauled in just 12 receptions on the season, but five of them have gone for touchdowns. Lions quarterback Jared Goff attempted 54 passes against Pittsburgh, which partially explains TeSlaa's spike in production. Still, TeSlaa's usage has been trending upwards in recent weeks. He's played at least 55% of Detroit's offensive snaps in four consecutive games after failing to reach that mark in any of the team's first 11 games of 2025. TeSlaa's relatively limited target and reception volume overall make him tough for fantasy managers to trust, but he's established himself as a contested-catch weapon and has scored a receiving touchdown in three out of the last four weeks.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a miserable day as a rusher in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording just two rushing yards on seven attempts. However, the 23-year-old saved his production with his work out of the backfield as a receiver, hauling in 10 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. Gibbs has now been held to 43 rushing yards or fewer in three straight games and four out of his last six contests. Still, his involvement in the passing game provides a relatively safe PPR floor. Across six games since Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury, Gibbs has recorded 40 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns on 51 targets. He's racked up 1,662 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns across 15 games this season and remains a must-start fantasy running back heading into his Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Raheim Sanders projects to garner a considerable workload over the season's remaining few weeks after teammate Quinshon Judkins (leg, knee) went down with a severe injury in Week 16. Judkins suffered a gruesome lower-leg injury during Sunday's 23-20 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills. In his stead, Sanders and backfield mate Trayveon Williams split snaps dead evenly (20-20), with the former handily out-touching the latter 11-3 on the ground. However, Williams was the preferred option in the receiving game, boasting four targets (4/38) to Sanders' one. That said, Dylan Sampson (hand) figures to occupy the receiving role once healthy, and it's likely he'd pick up a few more carries than Williams did working in his stead. Sanders may not see as many opportunities on the ground as Judkins has, but he's trending up in a Cleveland offense that's moved the ball much better with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders under center.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff found his way to a productive stat line in Week 16, completing 34 of 54 pass attempts for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over his last three games, the 31-year-old has now recorded 1,011 passing yards and seven touchdowns without a turnover. With the Lions' defense and run game both struggling, Goff has turned into one of the league's highest-volume passers in the second half of the season. Across eight games since Detroit's Week 8 bye, Goff is averaging 38 pass attempts per contest. As long as he continues to find himself in pass-heavy game scripts, Goff should be able to provide solid fantasy production without elite efficiency. The Lions will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in Week 17.
From RotoBaller