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
Deshaun Watson Dec 4 2:50pm CT
Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns opened up quarterback Deshaun Watson's (Achilles) 21-day practice window this week, but league sources are telling CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones that it's a long shot that he will suit up this year. And unless the Browns want to take on a dead salary cap hit of more than $80 million in 2026, he'll likely be back on the roster next year. Watson tore his right Achilles on Oct. 20 of last year and had surgery within a week. During his recovery, he re-ruptured his Achilles and underwent a second surgery on Jan. 9. Cleveland signed Watson to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in March 2022, but he has started only 19 of a possible 63 (and counting) regular-season games for the Browns. Trading Watson is not an option, but they could release him after this year and designate him as a post-June 1 cut, although that would result in a dead cap hit of almost $81 million. If he's back in 2026, Watson will be competing for the starting gig with at least Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Dec 4 2:40pm CT
Justin Herbert

The Los Angeles Chargers remain optimistic that quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) will be able to play on Monday night in Week 14 against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles despite having surgery to fix a metacarpal fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand on Monday, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. "We're really optimistic Justin's going to play," offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. Herbert told reporters after having surgery earlier this week that he plans to play in Week 14, and all signs point to the 27-year-old signal-caller being active. Herbert is as tough as they come in the NFL. After a strong start to the 2025 season that featured five touchdown passes in the first two games, Herbert has thrown only two TD passes with two picks and just 232 passing yards in the last two contests. Going against a strong Eagles defense in Week 14 with a suspect offensive line in front of him, fantasy managers should downgrade Herbert to high-end QB2 status.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Dec 4 2:40pm CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Falcons say that London remains day-to-day, but he has yet to practice this week and looks headed toward a third straight absence due to a sprained PCL that he suffered in Week 11. The 24-year-old has been doing some running on the side, though, and there is one more day for him to return to the practice field. Receiver David Sills V has scored a touchdown in both games that London has missed, but it has come on just four receptions (seven targets) and 31 yards. Darnell Mooney had three catches, a season-high 74 yards, and a TD in Week 12 with London out, but he caught just two passes for 25 yards in the Week 13 loss to the Jets. Mooney and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. will see most of the targets in the passing game for Atlanta if London is ruled out again this weekend against the Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 4 2:20pm CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) missed a second day of practice this week with a foot injury on Thursday, putting his status firmly up in the air for a crucial Week 14 matchup against the division-rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It's a new injury for Odunze, who has played through ankle and heel issues in 2025. Perhaps it's the reason why the 23-year-old has gone into a slump after a strong start to his sophomore campaign. The former first-rounder scored five touchdowns in the first four games of the year, but he has just one trip to the end zone since (back in Week 10). In the last three contests, Odunze has just seven catches on 21 targets for 102 yards. His fantasy stock as a WR3/flex with upside has taken a hit, especially now that there's an injury concern to boot. If Odunze is not active in Week 14, DJ Moore, rookie Luther Burden III, and Olamide Zaccheaus would operate in three-wide sets for the Bears offense.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Monangai Dec 4 2:20pm CT
Kyle Monangai

Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai (ankle) was upgraded to a limited participant in Thursday's practice session after missing Wednesday, according to the team's official website. Monangai returned to practice on Thursday and should be good to go for Sunday's pivotal matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The rookie seventh-rounder has scored in four consecutive games and has emerged as a viable flex play in Chicago's dominant run game. Monangai has totalled 53 carries for 229 yards and four touchdowns, along with one reception (three targets) for 14 yards over the past four games as he splits carries with D'Andre Swift.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Dec 4 2:20pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

As expected, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist) returned to practice on Thursday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Rodgers suffered three fractures in his left (non-throwing) wrist in Week 11 and sat out of Week 12. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer returned in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills, going 10-for-21 for 117 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. Although Rodgers was beaten up in the Week 13 loss, he's fully expected to take the field this Sunday for a big divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens. With limited options at his disposal in the passing game beyond receiver DK Metcalf, Rodgers has been the QB22 in overall fantasy points in 2025 through 13 weeks, with 2,086 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Against a Ravens defense that has stiffened in the second half of the season, Rodgers will be a QB2/3 in fantasy while playing through a broken left hand.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Dec 4 2:10pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (clavicle) was back at practice on Wednesday and Thursday and has a "real chance" to make his return in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Evans has missed five games after suffering a broken clavicle during Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss against the Detroit Lions, but he is on track to be activated from Injured Reserve and play on Sunday. The 32-year-old wideout recorded 14 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown on 32 targets in four games before being placed on IR, and he would immediately slot in as the Bucs' top option in the passing game alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and rookie Emeka Egbuka. Evans should be scooped up immediately if he's somehow available on your league's waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Dec 4 2:00pm CT
Josh Palmer

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee, ankle) was listed as a non-participant for Thursday's practice session, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN reports. Palmer is trending in the wrong direction to play in Sunday's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals after beginning the week with two missed practices. The 26-year-old hasn't played a big role for the Bills when healthy, collecting 18 receptions for 272 yards and zero touchdowns on 29 targets in eight games. With Palmer's limited impact and Keon Coleman's disappointing second season, the Bills have signed multiple free agents off the street for wide receiver help, bringing back Gabe Davis and recently signing a speed threat in Brandin Cooks after he was released by the New Orleans Saints. Davis and Cooks could see the field more on Sunday if Palmer does not play, but they are both deep-league dart throws, at best.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Dec 4 1:40pm CT
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) is practicing again on Thursday, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Kincaid was also listed with a knee injury on Wednesday's practice report while continuing to work back from the hamstring injury he suffered during Buffalo's Week 10 loss at the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old tight end appeared close to returning last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers after practicing in a limited capacity all week, but he was ultimately held out. Kincaid has a good chance of returning in Week 14 versus the Cincinnati Bengals after a three-game absence, but more will be known about his status after Friday's practice. He has been productive in the limited number of games he's played this season and would project as a borderline TE1 for Week 14 if he suits up.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 4 1:30pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) was unable to practice this week due to an ankle sprain, and a return next week against the Los Angeles Rams is considered the more "realistic expectation," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. St. Brown is currently listed as questionable for Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, and while it's possible he is still able to play, the team is unsure of his status. It's tough to expect the star wideout to suit up after not practicing during the week, but St. Brown is pushing to play a week after suffering a low-grade ankle sprain on Thanksgiving Day. It was initially reported that the 26-year-old would miss one to two weeks with the injury, and that timeline still seems to be accurate as of now. St. Brown's status for Thursday night will be known soon, and if he's unable to go, Jameson Williams would be in line to lead Detroit's passing game, with rookie Isaac TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy also seeing increased opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Dec 4 1:13pm CT
Mark Andrews

Dynasty | The Ravens have signed tight end Mark Andrews to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: Andrews gets a three-year, $39.3 million extension that will keep him in Baltimore through the 2028 season. This is a surprising deal to say the least as Andrews is having the worst year of his career. It almost feels like a move made to say "thanks for your career." Regardless, Andrews will now likely finish his career in Baltimore. The deal won't save his crumbling ADP and may even seal his fate as a move to another team could have helped.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. Dec 4 1:10pm CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Arizona Sports' Tyler Drake. Both Harrison and Greg Dortch (chest) have not practiced this week, so the Cardinals could be missing two of their top wideouts in Week 14 against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 23-year-old Harrison missed Weeks 11 and 12 following an appendectomy, but he returned last weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to catch six of his seven targets for 69 yards. He'll have one more chance to practice on Friday. If both Harrison and Dortch aren't cleared to face the Rams, Michael Wilson will pretty much be a lock for double-digit targets in the passing game, and tight end Trey McBride will also have an incredibly high ceiling. Receivers Xavier Weaver and Andre Baccellia would be in line for a boost in snaps as well.

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Lamar Jackson Dec 4 1:00pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday due to an ankle injury, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Jackson is on the injury report for the second straight week with an ankle injury, and it's concerning that he was downgraded from limited to a DNP this week. The 28-year-old two-time MVP has been limited in each of the last three weeks with ankle, knee, and toe ailments, but he has not missed any games. Jackson might not be in danger of missing a big divisional game this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he'll need to return to practice on Friday. A hamstring injury cost Jackson several games earlier this season, and he just hasn't looked like himself as a runner in 2025. Jackson hasn't scored on the ground since Week 1 and has 31 rushing attempts for 98 yards and no TDs since returning from his hamstring injury in Week 9. He's still a must-start at QB in fantasy, but he's dropped from the elite ranks at the position to the midrange tier going into Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Trey Benson Dec 4 1:00pm CT
Trey Benson

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) was not seen practicing in the portion open to the media on Thursday, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Benson has now missed five straight practices, dating back to last week, making it more unlikely that he comes off Injured Reserve to play this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. If the 23-year-old second-year RB misses yet another game, Bam Knight figures to once again do most of the heavy lifting after he had 11 carries for a season-high 62 yards while adding three catches for a season-high 36 yards and a touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Emari Demercado (ankle) is trending in the right direction to return this weekend, though, so he could steal valuable backfield touches from Knight. Benson should be stashed in all fantasy football leagues, but he's running out of time to contribute with the fantasy playoffs looming.

From RotoBaller

Woody Marks Dec 4 12:40pm CT
Woody Marks

Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks (ankle) is back at practice on Thursday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Marks did not practice on Wednesday, but head coach DeMeco Ryans said the 24-year-old is expected to be fine to suit up in Week 14 on Sunday Night Football versus the Kansas City Chiefs. With veteran Nick Chubb lacking explosiveness, Marks has been the better upside play in fantasy football in Houston's backfield this year. The fourth-rounder out of USC has had double-digit carries in each of the last seven games, including at least 16 rushing attempts the last three weeks. Marks had a season-high 19 carries in last week's win over the Colts, producing 64 yards while also catching one pass for three yards. The Chiefs aren't an ideal matchup for Marks -- they've allowed only eight TDs to the position all year -- but for the volume alone, Marks is at least a low-end RB2 for fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Carter Dec 4 12:40pm CT
Jalen Carter

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) will not play on Monday night in Week 14 against the hosting Los Angeles Chargers after undergoing a procedure on Monday on both of his shoulders, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN. Carter is undergoing treatment on both of his shoulders and will be considered week-to-week. The former ninth overall pick in 2023 wants to be as close to 100% as possible for a playoff run. Carter is not expected to go on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old interior defensive lineman has recorded 32 tackles, two sacks, and six pass breakups in his 11 games played for Philly this year. With Carter out for potentially a couple of games, the Eagles will look for Byron Young to step up on their D-line. Carter's injury will be good news for a struggling Chargers' offensive line, although they could still have plenty of issues protecting quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) on Monday night.

From RotoBaller

Samaje Perine Dec 4 12:20pm CT
Samaje Perine

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine missed two games due to an ankle injury, but he returned in the Thanksgiving night win over the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday and had one fewer carry than starter Chase Brown in the 32-14 victory. Perine surprisingly had a season-high 14 rushing attempts in his return from injury, but he didn't do much with the additional opportunities, gaining just 39 yards on the ground (2.8 yards per carry) while also losing his second fumble of the year. The 30-year-old veteran added two receptions for 15 yards. Now that he's back to full health, Perine should continue to work as Cincy's RB2 behind Brown, but fantasy managers can't bank on him seeing double-digit carries again as the Bengals head into a Week 14 date with the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. At best, Perine is a handcuff for Brown in deeper fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slay Dec 4 12:10pm CT
Darius Slay

Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay informed the Buffalo Bills that he is contemplating retirement and will not report to the team after he was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The 34-year-old veteran defensive back was cut by Pittsburgh on Tuesday after he was a healthy scratch in Sunday's loss to the Bills. In 10 games with the Steelers this year, he had 36 tackles (28 solo) and three pass breakups. The Bills were hoping to beef up their secondary with the addition of Slay for the remainder of the season, but it looks like that may not happen now. Buffalo's defense is allowing the fewest passing yards per game (163.2) through 13 weeks of the season. If this is it for Slay, the former second-rounder by the Lions in 2013 out of Mississippi State will finish his 13-year NFL career with 655 tackles (544 solo), one sack, 28 interceptions, and 163 pass breakups in 187 regular-season games with Detroit, Philly, and Pittsburgh.

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Dontayvion Wicks Dec 4 12:00pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) had by far his best game of the season in last Thursday's Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions, catching six of his seven targets for a season-high 94 yards and his first two touchdowns of the year. The 24-year-old injured his calf in Week 7 and missed Weeks 8 and 9. He's now listed on Green Bay's Week 14 injury report with an ankle injury, and he was limited in Wednesday's practice. It's something to keep an eye on for fantasy managers who are considering streaming Wicks as a WR4/flex against a Bears defense that has allowed the eighth-most half-PPR points to opposing WRs. Wicks will be very boom/bust as he looks for a second straight big game. Keep in mind that Wicks had not gone over 44 receiving yards in a game this year before his outburst last Thursday. Additionally, both Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) and rookie Matthew Golden (wrist) may be active in Week 14, which would mean more competition for targets for Wicks.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Dec 4 11:50am CT
Parker Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (hip) is back at practice on Thursday, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. It's good news for Washington, who was unable to practice on Wednesday after picking up a hip injury in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans. The 23-year-old isn't out of the woods just yet, but he'll at least have a chance to play this weekend for a huge divisional matchup against the visiting Indianapolis Colts. The former sixth-rounder caught only one pass for 26 yards in Week 13, a week after going for five catches, 71 yards, and a TD in the Week 12 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. Washington has had a couple of very nice games for fantasy managers this year and has developed solid chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but his fantasy ceiling will be lower now that Brian Thomas Jr. has returned from an ankle sprain. If Washington cannot play against Indy, Tim Patrick is expected to serve as the team's WR3 behind Thomas and Jakobi Meyers.

From RotoBaller