Studs and Duds: Week 17

Mon Dec 30 10:20am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Higgins comes up huge Week 17


It was a fitting end to the season with several huge performances from fantasy players once again. It made for some high-scoring fantasy championships. We had a receiver top 40 points and eight other players had 30 or more fantasy points. The only bad news with those big scorers were some of them weren’t in fantasy lineups because they were fringe players. But if you took a chance them, you likely won big! Hopefully, your championship games turned out well and you were able to take advantage of some of these big performances.

Chiefs 29, Steelers 10

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. Kelce was down the last few weeks but came back in a big way in Week 17. He had eight receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce scored 22.4 fantasy points, topping 20 points for the first time since Week 10. Some might think his season is a little down, but he is three catches shy of 100 and has four games with 20-plus fantasy points.

Fantasy Dud: George Pickens. There was hope for Pickens to return to the lineup and have one of his huge games in his first game back, but that didn’t happen. He was targeted seven times but caught three passes for just 50 yards. He scored just eight fantasy points, which wasn’t a big help for fantasy owners at all.

Game Notes: Patrick Mahomes had a three-touchdown performance, finishing 29-of-38 for 320 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He has two straight games with 26-plus fantasy points.

Xavier Worthy found the end zone for the third straight game. He had eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Ravens 31, Texans 2

Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. It was fitting for Henry to have another one of his huge performances during championship week. He ran 27 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Henry also caught two passes for 18 yards. Henry had 24.5 fantasy points, his highest total since Week 9. It was his seventh game this season with 20-plus fantasy points. A move to Baltimore was a great one for Henry, posting huge numbers on a consistent basis.

Fantasy Dud: Joe Mixon. The entire Texans offense was a dud but Mixon led the way, considering his production throughout the season. The Ravens really held him in check, though. Mixon rushed nine times for just 26 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards. Mixon had a season-worst 5.9 fantasy points. 

Game Notes: Lamar Jackson attempted just 15 passes and ran four times but produced huge numbers once again despite his limited workload. He was 10-of-15 for 168 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. Jackson rushed four times for 87 yards and another touchdown.

Mark Andrews found the end zone for the fifth straight game. He had two receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Seahawks 6, Bears 3

Fantasy Stud: Seahawks defense. The Seahawks defense had a completely dominating performance, holding the Bears to just three points and 179 total yards of offense. Seattle had seven sacks and an interception in the game. The Seahawks scored double-digit fantasy points in nearly every fantasy format. This unit has taken a huge step forward this year and becoming a top weekly fantasy starter.

Fantasy Dud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. There were duds across the board for both teams in this one, but Smith-Njigba tops the list for us. He had been producing such great numbers lately that this performance was really unexpected. He had just three catches for 32 yards. This game broke a streak of 70-plus yards seven straight games.

Game Notes: Caleb Williams had his struggles, missing on some throws once again. He was 16-of-28 for just 122 yards and failed to score a touchdown.

D.J. Moore had six receptions for 54 yards, giving him at least six catches seven straight games.

Chargers 40, Patriots 7

Fantasy Stud: Ladd McConkey. McConkey is clearly the top target in the Chargers passing game. He had eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets. He has scores two of three games. He is over 1,000 yards for the season. McConkey is going to be a top player in this offense for years to come. The best is likely yet to come for the talented rookie.

Fantasy Dud: Hunter Henry. Henry failed to catch a pass for the first time all season. He was targeted two times in the game. Henry has been consistent in this offense nearly all season but didn’t show up in Week 17. He had at least four catches five straight games before this one.

Game Notes: J.K. Dobbins returned from his knee injury and looked good. He ran 19 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for seven yards.

Justin Herbert continued his great play, going 26-of-38 for 281 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Herbert has multiple scores three straight games.

Bengals 30, Broncos 24

Fantasy Stud: Tee Higgins. Higgins had a game-winning fantasy performance. He had an absolutely monster game, catching 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. There was even some thought he might not play in this game because of his ankle injury. Higgins had season highs across the board, scoring 41.1 fantasy points. He has been huge down the stretch, having scores three straight and six of the last seven games he has played.

Fantasy Dud: Chase Brown. Brown wasn’t awful but wasn’t great, either. He had 20 carries for just 67 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards. You were hoping for a bigger week from him in such a crucial week of games. Plus, he had a chance to score late in the game but pulled up at the goal line to take more time off the clock. He also hurt himself on that play, injuring his ankle. He didn’t return to the game, which was insult to injury for his fantasy owners because the game ended up going to overtime.

Game Notes: Mike Gesicki had double-digit receptions for the first time all season. He had 10 receptions for 86 yards on 12 targets.

Marvin Mims continued to show some signs of life after a terrible start to his season. He had a season-high eight receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets.

Rams 13, Cardinals 9

Fantasy Stud: Trey McBride. McBride picked a good time to finally find the end zone, scoring his first touchdown of the season. It was a long time coming for all his fantasy owners. He had a huge game, catching 12 passes for 123 yards and a score. He scored a season-best 30.3 fantasy points. McBride has double-digit receptions three of six games.

Fantasy Dud: James Conner. Conner was able to play but aggravated his knee injury and left the game early. He had four carries for just four yards before getting hurt once again. He also had two receptions for four yards. Conner burnt all the fantasy owners that used him in Week 17.

Game Notes: Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 129 yards. Nacua has double-digit receptions two of four games.

Cooper Kupp had just a catch for 29 yards. Kupp has just four receptions for 53 yards his last three games. He has been targeted just nine times during that three-game stretch.

Jaguars 20, Titans 13

Fantasy Stud: Brian Thomas. Thomas continued his great rookie season, catching seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Thomas scored a touchdown for the third straight game. He had 23.9 fantasy points, topping 20 points for the sixth time this year. Thomas is nearing 1,200-receiving yards for the year, which is impressive considering the passing woes of the Jaguars this season.

Fantasy Dud: Chig Okonkwo. Okonkwo wasn’t terrible but you expected much better after his last two monster performances. He had five receptions for 42 yards in this one, putting up some pretty mediocre numbers. Okonkwo had 17 receptions his last two games.

Game Notes: Tyjae Spears had a solid showing in a starting role for the Titans. He ran 20 times for 95 yards and caught three passes for eight yards. He even left the game early because of a concussion so his numbers could have been even better.

Mac Jones had his best showing in a starting role for the Jaguars. He missed on just seven passes, going 15-of-22 for 174 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.

Bucs 48, Panthers 14

Fantasy Stud: Baker Mayfield. Mayfield had a huge, huge performance. He was nearly flawless, going 27-of-32 for 359 yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. Mayfield scored a season-high 38.15 fantasy points. Mayfield is having another huge season, having 42 total touchdowns and nearly 4,300-passing yards. He has been a solid No. 1 fantasy quarterback all season.

Fantasy Dud: Rachaad White. White was one of the few Bucs that didn’t produce big fantasy numbers. He had six carries for just 30 yards and a catch for four yards. You expected much better from White in a game the Bucs scored nearly 50 points and racked up a ton of yards offensively. He is taking a backseat to Bucky Irving more and more, though.

Game Notes: Bucky Irvin had another big-time performance, racking up 190 total yards. He ran 20 times for 113 yards and caught four passes for 77 yards.

Adam Thielen reached the 100-yard mark for the second time in four games. He had five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Eagles 41, Cowboys 7

Fantasy Stud: DeVonta Smith. Smith had a really impressive showing, catching six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100-yard games two of three and touchstones three of four games. Smith has been a little up and down this year but produced plenty of big games like this along the way.

Fantasy Dud: Cooper Rush. Rush was starting to gain some fantasy value with his play of late, but he came back down to earth in this one. He was 15-of-28 for 147 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Rush showed why it is hard to trust a player like this at this time of the fantasy season.

Game Notes: Kenny Pickett was knocked from the game because of an injury. He looked pretty good before leaving, though, going 10-of-15 for 143 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. He also ran in a score, giving him two total scores.

Saquon Barkley went over 2,000-rushing yards for the season in this game. He ran 31 times for 167 yards and caught two passes for two yards.

Giants 45, Colts 33

Fantasy Stud: Drew Lock. There were just 1.1 percent of teams that used Lock on our site but for those owners, great work. He had the game of his career and one of the best fantasy games for a quarterback this season. He was 17-of-23 for 309 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran in a score, giving him five total touchdowns. Lock scored 37.45 fantasy points.

Fantasy Dud: Tyrone Tracy. Tracy got his work but didn’t produce big numbers. He ran 20 times for just 59 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards. Tracy failed to reach double-digit fantasy points, scoring just 9.3 points. He has failed to reach double-digit points two of three games.

Game Notes: Malik Nabers had another big game, finishing with seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers has at least seven receptions three straight games and four of five.

Jonathan Taylor had multiple touchdowns for the second straight game. He ran 32 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100-yard games three straight.

Bills 40, Jets 14

Fantasy Stud: Josh Allen. Allen played his usual solid football, scoring three more touchdowns. Allen was 16-of-27 for 182 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He ran in a touchdown, rushing five times for 17 yards and a score. Allen has three-plus scores four of five games. He is having another MVP season.

Fantasy Dud: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a poor showing, throwing for just 112 yards with two interceptions. He also failed to score a touchdown. Rodgers scored a horrible 3.6 fantasy points, his lowest total of the season. He had 20-plus points two of three games before this terrible performance.

Game Notes: Garrett Wilson was a bright spot for the Jets, catching seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Wilson has scores two of three games.

James Cook scored a touchdown for the third straight week. He had 15 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Raiders 25, Saints 10

Fantasy Stud: Jakobi Meyers. Meyers had five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. He scored 17.1 fantasy points. It was his first touchdown since Week 8. Meyers has been good as the top target for the Raiders, though, having double-digit fantasy points five of six games.

Fantasy Dud: Kendre Miller. Miller started but didn’t last long, going down with a concussion. He ran three times for just three yards before getting hurt. And he caught a pass for 16 yards. Miller was a huge bust for any owner that used him in what looked like a favorable matchup for him.

Game Notes: Ameer Abdullah continued his late-season surge, having his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. He ran 20 times for 115 yards and caught three passes for 32 yards.

Brock Bowers had seven receptions for 77 yards. He is up to 108 catches and 1,144 yards on the season, having arguably the best rookie season for a tight end.

Dolphins 20, Browns 3

Fantasy Stud: Jerry Jeudy. His team lost but Jeudy produced big numbers, finishing with 12 receptions for 94 yards. He didn’t score a touchdown but managed 21.4 fantasy points. He was targeted 18 times in the game, catching a season-high 12 passes. Jeudy has double-digit receptions two of three games.

Fantasy Dud: Devon Achane. Achane had his second-worst fantasy game of the season, scoring just 5.8 fantasy points. He ran 10 times for just 25 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards. He was used sparingly in the second half, so you have to wonder if he was battling some sort of injury. Either way, his poor game likely did in a lot of fantasy owners.

Game Notes: Tyler Hunter got the start and played a very good game, going 22-of-26 for 225 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team in rushing, running seven times for 52 yards and another touchdown.

Tyreek Hill was iffy to play but played and had his third 100-yard game of the season. He had nine receptions for 105 yards on nine targets.

Vikings 27, Packers 25

Fantasy Stud: Sam Darnold. Darnold continued his resurgence, showing up big in a crucial game for the Vikings. He was 33-of-43 for 377 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He has two straight three-score games and hit that mark three of four games. Darnold has 36 total touchdowns on the season to 12 interceptions.

Fantasy Dud: Jordan Love. Love struggled some in this big division game, failing to throw for even 200 yards. He was 19-of-30 for 185 yards and a touchdown. Love scored just 15.85 fantasy points. He has failed to reach 20 fantasy points four straight games and five of six. He is not having near the fantasy season most hoped.

Game Notes: Jordan Addison scored a touchdown for the second straight game and has scores six of nine games. Addison has 13-plus points four straight games.

Romeo Doubs had a season-high 11 targets, catching seven passes for 58 yards. He has 14-plus fantasy points two of three games.

Commanders 30, Falcons 24

Fantasy Stud: Jayden Daniels. Daniels had some big-time performance once again, playing more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie quarterback. He was 24-of-36 for 227 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. Daniels led the Commanders in rushing, running 16 times for 127 yards. Daniels scored 35.5 fantasy points, giving him 30-plus fantasy points four of five games.

Fantasy Dud: Terry McLaurin. McLaurin was completely shut down in this one, catching a pass for five yards. He had a tough matchup but you still expected better from him based on his performances throughout this season. McLaurin had touchdowns four straight games before this one.

Game Notes: Olamide Zaccheaus continues to emerge as a big factor in the Commanders passing game. He had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Bijan Robinson had multiple touchdowns for the second straight game. He had 17 rushes for 90 yards and two touchdowns.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Kyle Pitts Dec 9 1:40pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. has impressed second-year offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who on Tuesday told the media that his 25-year-old pass catcher has made huge strides since last season. Pitts has been the TE12 in Half-PPR formats, and his 631 receiving yards through 13 games have already surpassed what he was able to do in a full 17-game slate in 2024. Unfortunately, the endzone has still eluded him, as his Week 4 touchdown against the Commanders still stands as his lone score on the year. Heading into the fantasy playoffs, Pitts provides a reliable floor, having now hit at least six receptions and 80 yards in back-to-back games. He is RotoBaller's TE4 in a Week 15 road matchup against the Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Elic Ayomanor Dec 9 1:30pm CT
Elic Ayomanor

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor caught his first touchdown since Week 3 during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. Ayomanor finished with just the one catch for 14 yards on three targets, but it was good to see him find the end zone again after an eight-game drought. The rookie fourth-rounder has held down a full-time role for the Titans this season, playing 81.5% of the snaps in 11 games. He's had a decent season, considering how poor the Titans' offense has been, totaling 30 receptions for 353 yards and three touchdowns on 67 targets. He missed the Week 12 game due to a hamstring injury and has faded in Tennessee's passing attack since the Week 10 bye, recording four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. While his target share gives him a decent floor, Ayomanor still profiles as a flex option in deep leagues in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Dec 9 1:30pm CT
Cooper Kupp

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished Week 14 as the WR19 in half-PPR formats, but it came largely on the back of a walk-in touchdown that helped to mask his low volume. Kupp has rarely been taken off the field this year, but in a passing offense run almost entirely through Jaxon Smith-Njigba, he has failed to earn more than four targets in six of his last seven outings, and Sunday's touchdown marked only his second in a Seahawks uniform. Across 12 games this season, he has topped 40 receiving yards only three times, and only once since Week 6. While fantasy managers may have relied on him throughout the year as an injury or bye week replacement, it is unlikely he finds a way into any starting lineups for the fantasy playoffs, and he is best left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Tim Patrick Dec 9 1:20pm CT
Tim Patrick

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick had five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown on six targets during Sunday's win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. Patrick posted season-best marks in catches and yards while scoring his third touchdown of the year. The 32-year-old wideout saw an uptick in snaps with Parker Washington (hip) out of the lineup, playing 65.6% of the offensive snaps, his second-highest mark of the season. Patrick was acquired by the Jaguars from the Detroit Lions before the start of the regular season, and while he hasn't played a massive role, he's earned at least four targets in three of the past four games. Patrick still profiles as more of a deep-league option, but that could change if he stacks another performance like this. He'll be worth considering as a deep-league flex play in Week 15 against the New York Jets if Washington misses another game.

From RotoBaller

Ben Sinnott Dec 9 1:10pm CT
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott is in line for more opportunities after Zach Ertz (knee) unfortunately suffered a torn ACL during Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Sinnott has played just 26.9% of the snaps for Washington this season, operating as the team's third tight end behind Ertz and John Bates. The second-year tight end has been solid as a blocker, but he hasn't seen many opportunities as a receiver with Ertz still clearly being a useful pass-catcher. Sinnott, a 2024 second-round pick, has strong athletic traits and should be expected to slot in as Washington's top receiving tight end for the rest of the season. In 29 career games, he's hauled in all nine of his targets for 69 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded a reception for eight yards on Washington's opening drive against the Vikings, but there's also a possibility that he splits reps with Colson Yankoff. Sinnott is the better bet between the two because of his draft capital, and he profiles as a low-end TE2 for the Week 15 game against the division-rival New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Washington Dec 9 12:50pm CT
Darnell Washington

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that tight end Darnell Washington is in the league's concussion protocol. Washington hauled one one catch for 12 yards in Pittsburgh's win over the Baltimore Ravens before leaving with a concussion on Sunday. The 24-year-old has been operating as the Steelers' TE1 over the previous three weeks, playing 71.7% of the snaps and recording eight receptions for 134 yards on 11 targets. In the first nine games, Washington played only 56.9% of the snaps with 14 receptions (21 targets) for 142 yards and a touchdown. The third-year tight end will need to clear the protocol to suit up for the Week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. If Washington is ruled out, Pat Freiermuth would be the primary beneficiary, with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward also seeing an uptick in playing time.

From RotoBaller

Olamide Zaccheaus Dec 9 12:10pm CT
Olamide Zaccheaus

Chicago Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus had more opportunities in the team's offense in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers with Rome Odunze sidelined by a foot injury. Zaccheaus played a healthy 79% of the offensive snaps, which was his second-highest total of the year, and he found the end zone for just the second time in 2025 in a 28-21 loss. However, despite seeing more snaps, Zaccheaus was targeted a mere three times and caught two passes for seven yards. Rookie Luther Burden III didn't score a touchdown for the Bears, but he was more productive with Odunze inactive, catching four of a team-high six targets for 67 yards at Lambeau Field. Zaccheaus has not had more than two catches in a game since Week 9. The 28-year-old pass-catcher might be worth a look off the waiver wire this week if Odunze misses another game, but fantasy managers should still temper expectations going into Chicago's Week 15 matchup against the Browns. Zaccheaus is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Dec 9 12:00pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears was overshadowed by Tony Pollard in Sunday's 31-29 victory over the hosting Cleveland Browns in Week 14. Pollard had 25 carries for a whopping 161 yards and two touchdowns as he shredded Cleveland's defense on a snowy afternoon in Ohio. Still, Spears managed to touch the ball 12 times (eight carries, two receptions) and led the team with 28 receiving yards. The 24-year-old averaged just 2.4 yards on the ground and ran for 19 yards. Spears' eight carries and 12 total touches were the most he's seen since Oct. 26 against the Indianapolis Colts. It was a rare day for the Titans' offense where they could afford to give both Pollard and Spears plenty of work. That might not be the case in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, but Spears' continued involvement as Tennessee's pass-catching back gives him some deep-league flex value in PPR fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 9 11:50am CT
D.K. Metcalf

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that wide receiver DK Metcalf (stomach) is "moving in the right direction" and that he doesn't think it'll "jeopardize" his availability for Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Metcalf experienced stomach pains that resulted in a hospital visit in Baltimore following Sunday's big win over the Ravens. The 27-year-old wideout was taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution, and he was cleared to leave the hospital to fly back to Pittsburgh on Monday. We'll keep a close eye on Metcalf's status this week, but barring a setback, it sounds like he'll be available for fantasy managers in a strong matchup in Week 15 -- the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. Metcalf will look to keep his momentum going if he's available on Monday after his second 100-yard game and a season-high 148 receiving yards in Sunday's win over the Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Dec 9 11:30am CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was dropped in a lot of fantasy leagues when backfield mate Bucky Irving returned in last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals. With Irving back in the fold, White played only 38% of the offensive snaps in Week 13, his lowest number since Week 3. The 26-year-old had only two carries for seven yards against Arizona and caught all three of his targets for 22 yards. However, White was more involved in the upset loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, playing 49% of the snaps while seeing 11 rushing attempts for 53 yards. He caught one pass for a two-yard gain. Irving had four more carries than White, but White was more effective, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. No. 3 back Sean Tucker saw seven carries for 29 yards. White will still be involved in Tampa's backfield and appears to be the RB2, but his limited opportunities in the passing game now make him mostly a bench stash in fantasy leagues as long as Irving stays healthy the rest of the way.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Dec 9 11:20am CT
Tank Bigsby

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby played only one snap on offense in the Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 13. In Monday night's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers to close out Week 14, Bigsby was on the field for seven plays and had one carry for a gain of four yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Since the team's Week 9 bye, Bigsby hasn't been on the field for more than eight offensive plays in a struggling Eagles offense. The 24-year-old hasn't had more than one carry in the last three games. His nine-carry, 104-yard game in the 38-20 win over the New York Giants back on Oct. 26 seems like ages ago. Will Shipley has been used in obvious passing downs behind starter Saquon Barkley, too, which has left a very minimal role for Bigsby. At best, he's a deep-league handcuff for those who have Barkley rostered.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Davis Dec 9 11:10am CT
Isaiah Davis

Across 13 games so far in 2025, New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis has recorded 277 scrimmage yards on 43 touches. Davis has served as the Jets' RB2 behind Breece Hall since Week 4, when second-year back Braelon Allen (knee) suffered a knee injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The Jets have given almost all of their backfield work to Hall, as Davis has logged more than four touches in a game just twice this season. Davis has zero standalone value for fantasy managers as long as Hall remains healthy. However, if Hall were to get injured, Davis would be in line to dominate backfield touches in New York. As fantasy managers hit the playoffs in most league formats, Davis could be worth stashing in a bench spot just in case Hall gets hurt. The Jets will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots over the next three weeks.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Dec 9 10:40am CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) was spotted at practice on Tuesday, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. The veteran wideout has been on Injured Reserve since Week 7 with a broken collarbone, but he practiced in a limited capacity on Monday and was apparently on the field in some capacity on Tuesday. Evans could make his return in his team's Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Multiple injuries have limited Evans to just four games so far in 2025. Across those contests, he's recorded 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown on 32 targets. While Evans would likely re-assume his WR1 status in Tampa Bay upon his return, the Buccaneers could choose to work him in slowly, given his extended absence. Fantasy managers should check back throughout the week to see if he's able to get in a full practice before Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Dec 9 10:40am CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) was spotted at practice on Tuesday, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. McMillan was listed as a limited practice participant on Monday's injury report ahead of Tampa Bay's Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. The 24-year-old has yet to play in 2025 after suffering a neck injury in the preseason that led to him being placed on Injured Reserve. Across 13 games as a rookie in 2024, McMillan recorded 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets. Upon his return, McMillan will join a crowded wide receiver room in Tampa Bay that includes Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, and could also be getting back veteran Mike Evans (collarbone) in Week 15. Given his long injury layoff and Tampa Bay's wealth of pass-catching options, McMillan may see limited playing time in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Riley Leonard Dec 9 10:30am CT
Riley Leonard

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (knee) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 PCL sprain, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Leonard was forced into action in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after Colts QB1 Daniel Jones (Achilles) suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Leonard completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 145 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception against Jacksonville. With Leonard's status in doubt, Jones sidelined, and quarterback Anthony Richardson (eye) on Injured Reserve, the Colts are bringing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers in for a workout on Tuesday. Journeyman signal-caller Brett Rypien would be the only competition for Rivers if the Colts bring him out of retirement and Leonard is not healthy enough to play. While Leonard would likely be the team's preferred option, this knee injury may force Indianapolis to resort to desperate measures.

From RotoBaller

Jason Pierre-Paul Dec 9 10:23am CT
Jason Pierre-Paul

Free-agent DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Dolphins) signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad Tuesday, Dec. 9.

From TheHuddle

Keaton Mitchell Dec 9 10:20am CT
Keaton Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee injury, but his MRI results came back clean, and his knee injury is considered minor, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. It's positive news for the speedy running back, and it seems he will avoid missing any time. Mitchell was in the midst of his best game of the season before leaving on Sunday, posting six carries for 76 yards, including a 55-yard rush. With Justice Hill (neck) on Injured Reserve, the 23-year-old has seen his opportunities increase behind Derrick Henry, though Rasheen Ali continues to be used on passing downs as well. Mitchell remains one of the higher upside handcuff options in fantasy football and should be stashed on benches just in case.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Dec 9 10:20am CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Across 13 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 72 carries for 328 yards and two touchdowns. While Robinson Jr. has been efficient with his touches, the 26-year-old has not recorded more than nine carries or 53 rushing yards in any game. As long as star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey remains healthy, Robinson Jr. will stay in a supporting role. However, if McCaffrey were to suffer an injury, Robinson Jr. would immediately vault into being a must-start fantasy running back. As the fantasy season winds to a close, Robinson Jr.'s lack of standalone value is less important. In all leagues with 12 or more teams, Robinson Jr. should be a waiver wire target heading into his Week 15 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Samaje Perine Dec 9 10:20am CT
Samaje Perine

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has had a meaningful role in the offense over the past two weeks, playing 38.5% of the snaps while handling 20 carries for 70 yards with three receptions (three targets) for 20 yards. However, he's been firmly behind starter Chase Brown, who has played 62.9% of the snaps with 27 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 catches for 47 yards and another touchdown on 11 targets. Perine is a trusted veteran in pass protection and has familiarity with the Bengals offense, so he should maintain a healthy role behind Brown. His usage would tick up if Brown were to miss time, but his current value is just limited to deeper formats as a handcuff.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Dec 9 10:10am CT
Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rushed for two touchdowns in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and completed 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards with an interception while adding seven carries for 55 yards. It wasn't Shough's best day as a passer, but he made some big-time plays with his legs, including a 34-yard score in the third quarter, before adding a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Saints the lead for good. The rookie second-rounder has shown real flashes in his five starts and firmly belongs in the QB2 discussion moving forward for fantasy football. In Week 15, the 26-year-old faces a Carolina Panthers team that he already beat back in Week 10, when he completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. It may not be as easy the second time he faces them, but Shough is worth adding and starting in superflex formats.

From RotoBaller