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FFL: Week 16 | NFL: Week 16

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (hand) ruled out vs. Giants

Sun Dec 21 3:26pm ET
Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his right hand and was ruled out for the remainder of the game against the New York Giants on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

McCarthy, the Vikings' first-year starter, appeared to injure his hand near the end of the first half. He was hit hard by Giants pass rusher Brian Burns and fumbled the ball. Giants safety Tyler Nubin returned the fumble for a touchdown.

McCarthy completed 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards and an interception before his injury. He also ran for a 12-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the first half.

Rookie Max Brosmer replaced McCarthy.

The Vikings also lost running back Jordan Mason (ankle) and center Ryan Kelly (concussion), who were ruled out before the start of the second half.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 16

Player Notes
Tetairoa McMillan Dec 21 7:20pm CT
Tetairoa McMillan

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan led the team in receiving in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, snagging six of 10 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. The rookie first-rounder bounced back after three straight games with two catches or fewer. His 10 targets were his most in a game since his season-best performance in Week 11 against the Falcons, where he caught eight of 12 targets for 130 yards and two scores. The Panthers' WR1 continues to build his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has 65 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 targets while playing all 15 games. McMillan will face a good test next week against the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Davis Dec 21 7:10pm CT
Isaiah Davis

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis made the most out of his increased playing time on Sunday. Davis has seen more involvement down the stretch of the season and is taking full advantage of it. On Sunday, Davis rushed the ball three times for eight yards, while hauling in all four of his targets for 52 yards in the loss to the New Orleans Saints. These are promising numbers from Davis, who has been a non-factor throughout most of the season. The 23-year-old remains behind Breece Hall in the pecking order, so his fantasy value outlook isn't great. Davis won't be a recommended starting option for the difficult matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Dec 21 7:10pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins hauled in all three of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins. Higgins earned his fewest targets in a game since Week 8, but has now scored eight touchdowns in the past seven games. The 26-year-old wideout has put together a fantastic season, totalling 49 catches (84 targets) for 720 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. His 10 touchdowns have matched a career high with two games remaining. He'll project favorably again for another potential shootout next week against the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Dec 21 7:10pm CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers brought in all five of his targets for 33 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 16 loss against the Houston Texans. The tight end started the afternoon off strong and had a touchdown early in the second quarter, but then mainly fell quiet for the rest of the game. Still, Bowers was able to bounce back from his disappointing Week 15 performance and post 14.3 PPR fantasy points, which is close to his season-long average. Bowers and the Raiders face the New York Giants at home in Week 17, which is a bottom-10 matchup for tight ends. Nonetheless, Bowers is a TE1, and fantasy managers should continue to have him in their lineups.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Hamilton Dec 21 7:10pm CT
Kyle Hamilton

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) is active for the Sunday night contest against the New England Patriots. Hamilton was a late addition to the injury report after hurting his ankle in practice this week. He got in a limited practice session on Friday, and it appears he's feeling well enough to play on Sunday. This is excellent news for the Ravens' defense as Hamilton has been a star for them. He has 87 tackles, seven passes defended, and one sack heading into this Week 16 contest.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 21 7:00pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard handled 21 carries for 102 yards in Sunday's 26-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Pollard continues his strong stretch of production and has now rushed for at least 100 yards in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. It still resulted in a relatively empty fantasy line as the 28-year-old didn't find the end zone, and he didn't catch a pass for just the third time this season. Tyjae Spears also saw more usage than usual, recording a season high 18 touches for 105 total yards and a rushing touchdown. Pollard has been one of the best runners in the league recently and will look to keep rolling in next week's matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Dec 21 7:00pm CT
Cam Ward

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward completed 21 of 28 passes for two touchdowns to go with four carries for nine yards as a runner in Sunday's 26-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Ward has now thrown two touchdowns in three consecutive games and has accounted for two total touchdowns in four of the past five outings. The No. 1 overall pick had zero such games over the first 10 weeks of the season. Sunday's performance was also his highest completion percentage (75%), yards per attempt (8.1), and passer rating (122.3) in a game this season. He'll draw a tougher matchup next week against the New Orleans Saints and will profile as a QB2 in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pat Bryant Dec 21 7:00pm CT
Pat Bryant

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (undisclosed) was involved in a scary play during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bryant took a massive hit over the middle during the final minute of the contest. He remained on the field and was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher. The nature of the injury is unclear at the moment, but fantasy managers should get more updates on his status soon. He hauled in five of his eight targets for 42 yards in the loss. As already mentioned, Bryant's injury is unknown, but his status is up in the air for the Christmas matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs next week.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Dec 21 6:50pm CT
Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough hit a milestone during Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the New York Jets. The second-round rookie has been impressive since taking over under center, and his success continued on Sunday. Shough completed 32-of-49 passing attempts for a career-high 308 yards and a touchdown in the win. He added eight rushing yards on two attempts. The Saints have a banged-up offense right now, but that hasn't stopped Shough from making plays. The rookie quarterback will take a three-game winning streak into a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Dec 21 6:50pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears was heavily involved in the offensive game plan on Sunday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Spears has been quiet lately, but made a splash against Kansas City on Sunday. Spears carried the ball a season-high 13 times for 52 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in all five of his targets for 53 additional yards through the air. This was by far Spears' best performance of the season to date. Sadly, his fantasy value is inconsistent with Tony Pollard in the mix as well. Pollard carried the ball 21 times during Sunday's win. Spears figures to go back to being mainly the receiving back for next week's contest versus the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Ashton Jeanty Dec 21 6:50pm CT
Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty once again dominated the Raiders' backfield, turning his 24 rushing attempts into 128 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans. The electric rookie also had a 60-yard touchdown reception, putting up 31.8 PPR fantasy points for managers brave enough to start him against the stout Texans defense. This is Jeanty's second 100-yard rushing game this season, and he almost certainly will keep his bell cow role as the season comes to a close in two weeks. The Las Vegas Raiders will host the New York Giants in Week 17, whose defense is a top-three matchup for opposing running backs. Fantasy managers should feel confident in starting Jeanty in Week 17 in all formats.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Dec 21 6:30pm CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown delivered another great performance in Sunday's 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins, handling 12 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches (four targets) for 43 yards and two more scores as a receiver. It marked the 25-year-old's first career three-touchdown game and fifth career game with multiple scores. Brown has been on a tear in the second half of the season, ranking as the RB5 in PPR points per game (20.5) after ranking as the RB33 (10.1) in Weeks 1-7. Brown will maintain his high-end RB1 status for Week 17's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Dec 21 6:20pm CT
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson was involved in a big way during Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Johnson has been a consistent option all season, but posted one of his best performances of the season on Sunday. The 29-year-old hauled in eight of his nine targets for 89 yards in the victory. Both the receptions and yardage were season-highs for Johnson, while quarterback Tyler Shough threw for a season-high 308 yards. Clearly, Johnson and Shough have built some strong chemistry together over the last few weeks. Johnson should remain in the mix as a TE1 for next week's matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Dec 21 6:20pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring) is listed as questionable to return for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Austin was forced to exit in the fourth quarter due to a hamstring injury. Given it's already late in the game, it wouldn't be shocking to see Austin remain out for the rest of the contest. Before leaving, Austin hauled in his lone target for eight yards. If he remains out, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Scotty Miller could see increased playing time for the final quarter of the game. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on his status following the game.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Dec 21 6:00pm CT
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston returned to action in a big way during Sunday's 34-17 win against the Dallas Cowboys. Johnston sat out last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs due to a groin issue. He returned from his one-game absence here and posted a massive performance. Johnston hauled in four of his five targets for 104 yards and a touchdown in the victory. The 24-year-old has been inconsistent over the last few months. This time, Johnston excelled as he posted his first 100-yard performance of the season. He'll draw a tough matchup against the Houston Texans' defense next week. His deep threat ability will certainly keep him on the fantasy radar in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Dec 21 6:00pm CT
George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens bounced back with a massive performance during Sunday's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before this game, Pickens was held to under 40 receiving yards in each of his last two contests. Pickens rebounded with a massive performance against the Chargers' defense in Week 16. He hauled in seven of his nine targets for 103 yards and a touchdown in the loss. This marked the fifth time this season that Pickens has surpassed 100 yards in a single game. The 24-year-old has been elite with 88 receptions, 1,342 yards, and nine touchdowns heading into the Week 17 matchup against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Dec 21 5:50pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow needed a bounce-back game after throwing two interceptions during last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow delivered a massive performance for fantasy managers during Sunday's 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins. The 29-year-old completed 25-of-32 passing attempts for 309 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for six yards on two attempts during Sunday's victory. He connected with Tee Higgins for a nine-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He would later find running back Chase Brown for two short-yardage scores in the third quarter. Burrow would finish off his day with a 17-yard touchdown to Mike Gesicki in the fourth quarter. Burrow is back to his elite ways and will get a promising matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Dec 21 5:50pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was once again a tough player to stop during Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Chase has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a disappointing season for the Bengals. On Sunday, Chase hauled in nine of his 11 targets for 109 yards in Sunday's 45-21 victory over the Dolphins. This marked the third time in the last four games that Chase has surpassed the 100-yard mark in a game. The return of quarterback Joe Burrow has certainly helped boost his play in the previous four contests. Chase is one of the best wideouts in the league and will continue to be an elite fantasy option for next week's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

Max Brosmer Dec 21 5:50pm CT
Max Brosmer

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer entered the game due to injury on Sunday and helped his team secure a 16-13 victory against the New York Giants by completing seven of nine passes for 52 yards. The undrafted rookie was called upon after starter J.J. McCarthy (hand) sustained his third injury of the year and did not return. For Brosmer, Sunday was markedly better than a four-interception disaster at Seattle in Week 13, as he and the Minnesota running game were able to move the ball just enough to kick what became the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. McCarthy's availability for a Christmas Day game against the Lions is unknown, but even if he doesn't play, it would be beyond risky to depend on Brosmer in any fantasy format, especially this deep into the season.

From RotoBaller

Trayveon Williams Dec 21 5:40pm CT
Trayveon Williams

Cleveland Browns running back Trayveon Williams came in after rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle, leg) exited early with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula during Sunday's Week 16 loss against the Buffalo Bills. The veteran back caught all four of his targets for 38 yards and ran the ball three times for 17 yards, but saw fewer rush attempts than rookie running back Raheim Sanders. The Cleveland Browns will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, who are a tough matchup for opposing running backs. With rookie running back Dylan Sampson (hand) still managing an injury and Judkins almost certainly missing the rest of the season, Williams should profile as the primary passing-down back in the upcoming gritty AFC North matchup.

From RotoBaller