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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine remains an appealing deep league option despite playing second fiddle to lead rusher Chase Brown in the team's ground attack. Perine posted another solid outing in Cincinnati's 45-21 thrashing of the Miami Dolphins, racking up 25 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries, and another 16 more on 2-of-3 receiving. It was the veteran's second rushing score of the campaign, as he continues to enjoy an elevated workload in the back half of the season. In four games since returning from an ankle injury, Perine has hovered around 40% of the Bengals' snaps, while averaging 12 opportunities per appearance. Even with Brown boasting a majority of the backfield touches, fantasy managers can turn to the 30-year-old as a sound flex asset, or in a pinch in shallower formats. They'll get a porous Cardinals' rush defense in Week 17.

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Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (hand) is poised to handle a starting role moving forward following the injury to teammate Quinshon Judkins (leg, knee) in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Sampson has been inactive over the past two weeks due to calf and hand issues -- the latter of which kept him out of Week 16's matchup. With Judkins out for the remainder of the season, the 21-year-old will slide into Cleveland's RB1 role when back to full strength. Sampson has proven more than capable of occupying a sort of scatback role. However, it's worth noting that it's unclear whether he'd operate as a workhorse or split early-down touches with teammates Trayveon Williams and Raheim Sanders. As it stands, Sampson should at least get the bulk of the backfield work, and slots in as an intriguing low-end RB2/high-end flex play for the remainder of the season. That is, so long as he gets over his ailing hand.

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that Brady Cook will remain the team's starting quarterback, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Cook has started each of New York's last two games after taking over for veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the middle of the Jets' Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. An undrafted rookie out of the University of Missouri, Cook has struggled in his first taste of NFL action. Across three games (two starts), he's completed 59.2% of his pass attempts for 527 yards, one touchdown, and six interceptions. However, there's little incentive at this point in the season for the 3-12 Jets to do anything but attempt to improve their 2026 draft pick, which may be the reason why Glenn is sticking with Cook under center. Heading into a difficult Week 17 matchup against the New England Patriots, fantasy managers should avoid Cook and may want to move away from Jets running back Breece Hall as well.

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Despite spending most of the season off his team's active roster, Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan has emerged as a major contributor over the last two weeks. With Texans RB1 Woody Marks (ankle) battling an ankle injury, Jordan has recorded 188 scrimmage yards on 37 touches over his past two games. Despite veteran back Nick Chubb making his return in Week 16 from a rib injury that sidelined him in Week 15, Jordan worked as Houston's lead back. In Week 16, Jordan out-snapped Chubb 30 to 21 and out-touched him 17 to seven. If Marks remains sidelined for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jordan could see another game with a heavy workload. Jordan is worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 17, just in case Marks is unable to make his return.

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Dating back to Week 10, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai has recorded double-digit touches in six straight games. While the 23-year-old remains stuck in a backfield time share with veteran running back D'Andre Swift, the Bears have shown a willingness to force-feed the ball to both players every week. Monangai has rewarded his team with efficient rushing as well. Across 15 games this season, he's logged 731 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 155 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per rush attempt. Swift remains the lead back in Chicago, but just barely. Monangai has played at least 41% of his team's offensive snaps in five straight games. In that five-game stretch, Swift has recorded 70 carries while Monangai has logged 68. As long as the split between the two backs remains close to even, the Bears' rushing offense is powerful enough to support production from two players. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Monangai is a priority waiver wire target heading into his Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

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New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has seen his workload fall off in recent weeks, as he's recorded double-digit carries in just one game since Week 8. However, Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson (head) was forced to leave New England's Week 15 win over the Baltimore Ravens early after suffering a head injury, which may open an opportunity for Stevenson. The 27-year-old had a solid game against Baltimore in Henderson's absence, recording 71 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 10 touches. While he's struggled to be efficient as a rusher this season (3.7 yards per carry), Stevenson's numbers look better when his work as a receiver is factored in. He's racked up 693 yards from scrimmage on 140 touches, good for an average of five yards per touch. If Henderson is unable to play in Week 17 against the New York Jets, Stevenson could dominate backfield touches in a favorable matchup. In fantasy leagues where he is available, Stevenson is worth targeting on the waiver wire while Henderson's availability is in question.

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