Studs and Duds: Week 17

Mon Dec 29 3:57am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Henry has game for the ages


We certainly got some fireworks in many of the fantasy championship games this week. There were some monster performances, including two players topping 40 points in their games. We had several big running back games as well, including four other backs topping 25 points for the week. It wasn’t all great, though, because some big-time fantasy players didn’t show up this week, causing many fantasy teams that led all season to come up short in their big games. Here is to hoping you weren’t one of those owners.

Cowboys 30, Commanders 23

Fantasy Stud: Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Chris Rodriguez had an illness and was ruled out before the game, giving Croskey-Merritt another start at running back. He took advantage with a huge game, rushing 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. This was his second 100-yard game of the season. He has 15-plus fantasy points two of three games, scoring 22.5 in this one. He is making a strong case for one more start this last week of the season.

Fantasy Dud: CeeDee Lamb. Lamb didn’t have a terrible game but didn’t play up to his standards, especially for championship week for his fantasy owners. Lamb had five receptions for 46 yards, scoring just 9.6 fantasy points. It was the first game all season with fewer than double-digit fantasy points in a game.

Game Notes: Josh Johnson got the start and was 15-of-23 for 198 yards without a touchdown or an interception. It was a pretty ho-hum showing in a favorable matchup.

Javonte Williams hurt his shoulder and was unable to finish the game. He ran 13 times for 54 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt.

Vikings 23, Lions 10

Fantasy Stud: Isaac Teslaa. There was little offense in this game, but Teslaa was a bright spot. He had three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. He has now found the end zone two straight and four of five games. Teslaa has emerged as a top red-zone target for the Lions this year, finding the end zone on almost a regular basis.

Fantasy Dud: Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions had a lot of duds in this one, but Gibbs tops the list. The elite fantasy back failed to hit double-digit fantasy points. He ran 17 times for 41 yards and caught two passes for 23 yards. Gibbs had his worst showings of the season at bad times, failing to score double-digit fantasy points two of his last three games.

Game Notes: Jared Goff had a really rough game, turning the ball over five times. He was 18-of-29 for 197 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Goff also lost three fumbles.

Max Brosmer threw for just 51 yards in a starting role for the Vikings. He was 9-of-16 for 51 yards.

Broncos 20, Chiefs 13

Fantasy Stud: R.J. Harvey. Harvey was one of the few bright spots offensively for the Broncos. He ran 14 times for 43 yards. Harvey was a bigger fantasy factor in the passing game, catching five passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. Harvey scored 18.6 fantasy points. He has scored touchdowns five straight games.

Fantasy Dud: Courtland Sutton. Sutton had four receptions for 40 yards. He had just eight fantasy points after two straight games with 20-plus points. He had at least 12 fantasy points four consecutive games. It was a down showing at a poor time for his fantasy owners. You just expected much better from Sutton in the one, especially with the Chiefs secondary all beat up.

Game Notes: Chris Oladokun was 13-of-22 for 66 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t too impressive in his first NFL start.

Travis Kelce had five receptions for 36 yards. He has five or more receptions three of five games.

Texans 20, Chargers 16

Fantasy Stud: Jayden Higgins. Higgins had just two receptions but made the most of them. Higgins caught two passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. He scored a season-high 16.8 fantasy points. It was the first time he had double-digit fantasy points since Week 13. Higgins had less than seven points three straight games before this big showing.

Fantasy Dud: Nico Collins. It was a tough match but you still expected more from Collins. He had just three receptions for 57 yards. He had just 8.7 fantasy points, giving him fewer than double-digit points two straight games. Collins has performed poorly in recent weeks, which likely did in a lot of his fantasy owners.

Game Notes: Woody Marks returned from his ankle injury and looked good. He ran 19 times for 71 yards and caught a pass for four yards.

Omarion Hampton got a ton of touches but didn’t produce big yardage totals. He ran 14 times for just 29 yards but did find the end zone. He also caught eight passes for 31 yards, giving him 22 total touches for 60 yards.

Ravens 41, Packers 24

Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. Henry had one of the all-time greatest fantasy championship game performances. He is going to carry a lot of fantasy teams to championships all by himself. Henry ran 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns. He didn’t even catch a single pass and still scored 45.6 fantasy points. It was quite the performance from Henry.

Fantasy Dud: Josh Jacobs. Jacobs was a huge bust in this one, playing sporadically despite being active for the game. He had just four rushes for three yards and a catch for no gain. His terrible fantasy game did in a lot of his fantasy owners. It was a bad time for Jacobs to be a no show.

Game Notes: Malik Willis had a great game in a starting role for the Packers He was 18-of-21 for 288 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team in rushing, running nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Christian Watson had his first 100-yard game of the season. He had five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown on six targets.

Bengals 37, Cardinals 14

Fantasy Stud: Chase Brown. Brown had a big game. He hit the 100-yard rushing mark and scored two touchdowns. He ran 22 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Brown also caught three passes for 40 yards. Brown scored 29.1 fantasy points after having 32.9 his previous game. Brown has been a league winner down the stretch.

Fantasy Dud: Michael Carter. Carter got most of the work in running back but few touches. He ran seven times for 29 yards and had two receptions for 14 yards. You expected a lot more from the Cardinals starting back in what looked like a favorable matchup for him.

Game Notes: Ja’Marr Chase found the end zone for the first time since Week 7. He had seven receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Trey McBride had 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth game this season with double-digit receptions.

Browns 13, Steelers 6

Fantasy Stud: Harold Fannin. Fannin didn’t even finish the game, playing just in the first half, but was the only touchdown scorer in the game. He had two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. It was his second straight game with a touchdown and fourth in his last five games. Fannin has been a difference maker for fantasy teams his rookie season.

Fantasy Dud: Dylan Sampson. Sampson did lead the team in carries but did next to nothing with his chances. He ran 11 times for 27 yards and caught three passes for no gain. He led the backfield in carries but showed he is a hard fantasy player to trust at this point of the season. Sampson has a long way to go.

Game Notes: Aaron Rodgers was held out of the end zone. He was 21-of-39 for 168 yards without a touchdown or an interception.

Jerry Jeudy topped 50 yards for the first time since Week 14. He led the Browns in receiving, finishing with five receptions for 54 yards on seven targets.

Seahawks 27, Panthers 10

Fantasy Stud: Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet had maybe his best game of the season. He ran 18 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. He has scored touchdowns two straight games and four of six, having 11 total touchdowns on the season.

Fantasy Dud: Tet McMillan. McMillan was apparently battling some sort of illness but was able to play and get near his usual snaps. The problem was he caught just a pass for five yards. It was a terrible time for McMillan to have his worst game of the season for fantasy owners.

Game Notes: AJ Barner found the end zone for a second straight game. He had three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had nine receptions for 72 yards. He has at least seven receptions four straight games.

Patriots 42, Jets 10

Fantasy Stud: Drake Maye. Maye didn’t even play a full game because the Patriots were up so big, but that didn’t stop him from posting huge numbers once again. Maye was 19-of-21 for 256 yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. Maye was nearly perfect in the game, missing on just two passes. It was quite the showing.

Fantasy Dud: TreVeyon Henderson. He didn’t play badly but wasn’t much help to fantasy teams in the Patriots huge win. He ran 19 times for 82 yards and didn’t catch a single pass. He scored just 8.2 fantasy points, giving him fewer than double-digit fantasy points two straight games.

Game Notes: Breece Hall produced big despite his team getting killed. He ran 14 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 18 yards.

Stefon Diggs reached the 100-yard mark for the second straight game. He had six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown on six targets.

Dolphins 20, Bucs 17

Fantasy Stud: Chris Godwin. Godwin started a little slow but posted some big numbers late in the game. He finished with seven receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game of the season. He has found the end zone two of his last three games.

Fantasy Dud: Bucky Irving. Irving had a disappointing finish to his fantasy season. He ran nine times for just 19 yards. He did catch five passes but managed just 14 yards on those catches. It makes three straight games for Irving failing to reach nine fantasy points. Irving really sputtered for fantasy teams late in the year.

Game Notes: Greg Dulcich led the Broncos in receptions. He had five receptions for 58 yards.

Jalen McMillan had his best game of the season, hitting the 100-yard mark. He had seven receptions for 114 yards on nine targets.

Jaguars 23, Colts 17

Fantasy Stud: Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence continued his hot ways, scoring 26.75. He didn’t have a passing touchdown but ran in two. He was 23-of-37 for 263 yards with two interceptions. He ran in two scores, though. Lawrence has 26-plus points three straight games.

Fantasy Dud: Michael Pittman. Pittman caught just two passes for 16 yards. He struggled to do much. Losing Daniel Jones really impacted Pittman’s season. He has fewer than eight fantasy points three straight games. We wouldn’t get too down on him over his poor finish. He should be just fine next year.

Game Notes: Parker Washington led the Jaguars in receiving yards for the second straight game, hitting the 100-yard mark. He had eight receptions for 115 yards on 10 targets.

Jakobi Meyers had six receptions for just 39 yards. He has at least four receptions seven straight games.

Saints 34, Titans 16

Fantasy Stud: Chris Olave. Olave continued his red-hot ways, catching eight passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Olave scored 25.9 fantasy points, scoring 20-plus points three straight games. He has reached the 100-yard mark two straight. Olave is having a career-best season.

Fantasy Dud: Taysom Hill. There was a lot of hope for Hill this week after all his usage last week but he was barely on the field in this one. He ran three times for no gain and didn’t catch a pass. He just showed once again you never know what you will get from Hill on a weekly basis.

Game Notes: Chig Okonkwo scored a touchdown for the second straight game. He had three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.

Audric Estime served as the lead back for the Saints and had a strong game. He rushed 14 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Giants 34, Raiders 10

Fantasy Stud: Wan’Dale Robinson. Robinson racked up the work for the Giants, catching 11 passes for 113 yards. It was his first game all season with double-digit receptions. He scored 22.3 fantasy points. Robinson went over 1,000 yards for the season after this big performance.

Fantasy Dud: Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty had maybe his best game of the season last week, giving fantasy owners high hopes for Week 17. Jeanty was quiet, though, rushing 16 times for 60 yards. He also caught just two passes for 13 yards. Jeanty failed to hit double-digit fantasy points.

Game Notes: Geno Smith was knocked from the game late because of an ankle sprain. He was 20-of-28 for 176 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions before getting hurt.

With Brock Bowers out, Michael Mayer led the way in the passing game for the Raiders. He had nine receptions for 89 yards.

Eagles 13, Bills 12

Fantasy Stud: Josh Allen. Allen took some time to get his points but got them in the end. He was 23-of-35 for 262 yards without a touchdown or an interception. He ran seven times for 27 yards and two touchdowns. So despite not throwing a touchdown, Allen still managed 26.8 fantasy points in a game that featured little offense.

Fantasy Dud: Saquon Barkley. There were a lot of duds in this one, but Barkley probably was the biggest disappointment. He had a great matchup and was coming off a huge game, but ran 19 times for just 68 yards and didn’t catch a pass. It was kind of a fitting end to his disappointing fantasy season.

Game Notes: Brandin Cooks was the leading receiver for the Bills. He had four receptions for 101 yards.

A.J. Brown had five receptions for 68 yards on seven targets. He has at least five receptions two straight games and six of seven games.

49ers 42, Bears 38

Fantasy Stud: Brock Purdy. There were tons of studs in this game but we’ll give it to Purdy, who scored five touchdowns. Purdy was 24-of-33 for 303 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He also ran in two scores. Purdy had 40.95 fantasy points, which was a season high for him. Purdy has three straight games with 30-plus points, carrying many fantasy teams to big playoff wins.

Fantasy Dud: D.J. Moore. There was a ton of offense in this one but Moore had another one of his disappearing acts. He caught just a pass for seven yards in a game the Bears topped 300-passing yards. Moore scored just 1.7 fantasy points after having two straight games with 20-plus points. His production has been all over the map this season.

Game Notes: Luther Burden returned from his ankle injury and had his best game as a pro. He finished with eight receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. He did suffer some sort of injury on the last play of the game, though, which will be something to keep an eye on going forward.

Jake Tonges got the start at tight end with George Kittle out. Tonges played great in that starting role, catching seven passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 18

Player Notes
Travis Kelce Jan 4 2:20am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will look to finish out the season on a high note in a Week 18 matchup against a middle-of-the-road Las Vegas Raiders' defense. While Kelce hasn't been the fantasy superstar we've grown accustomed to for quite some time now, even at 36 years old, he's enjoying a productive season. Chris Oladokun's inexperience undoubtedly caps some of Kelce's ceiling, although the former didn't look totally overmatched in Week 17's loss to Denver. Moreover, Kelce led the team in yards (36), targets (six), and receptions (five) in that contest. This Sunday, he'll face a Raiders' defense that's been roughly league average. They'll also be without star defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee). With the veteran still a focal point, fantasy managers can rely on Kelce as a back-end TE1 for the matchup. He'll officially land as RotoBaller's PPR TE12 for his meeting with Las Vegas.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Warren Jan 4 2:10am ET
Tyler Warren

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren presents as a low-upside option for Week 18's road clash with their division-rival Houston Texans. For all intents and purposes, Warren has had an excellent rookie campaign, hauling in 71 passes for 791 yards and four touchdowns on 104 targets -- all second-best on the team. That said, the Penn State alum's production has slowed following the team's Week 11 bye, as he's surpassed 30 receiving yards just twice on six occasions. It's a stark contrast to the first ten weeks of the year, when he failed to do so just once. Favorably, Warren has remained a featured part of the offense with veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers at the helm. Still, he'll carry a less-enticing ceiling than usual when they face off with the best defense in the league on a yards-per-game basis (274.4). Warren ranks as RotoBaller's PPR TE14 ahead of this weekend's games.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Jan 4 1:50am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will be difficult to recommend for fantasy in his final outing of the regular season against the visiting Washington Commanders. Brown has had a weird year. After an ice-cold start, he's rebounded nicely over the back half of 2025. Across his last seven games, the 28-year-old has notched double-digit targets in five of them, compiling 595 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, head coach Nick Sirianni is on record stating he'd be resting many of the team's key starters for Sunday's matchup with the Commanders. While Sirianni did not specify who would be sitting, it's worth noting that Brown didn't suit up for Week 18 of 2024. If the veteran does wind up playing, he'd be an excellent bet for fantasy. However, with uncertainty surrounding his playing time, it's best that owners look elsewhere for help in the season's final week.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Jan 4 1:40am ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) carries excellent upside in Week 18 despite facing off with a solid New Orleans Saints defense at home. The fifth-year pro had been on a tear over the last month until his dud last weekend. In the four games prior, Pitts seemed unstoppable, averaging 23.6 PPR fantasy points per game. He was the TE1 across Weeks 13-16, and it wasn't really close. However, the former fourth-overall pick saw his production dip in Week 17 (2/16). While that may be due to a knee injury he picked up earlier in the week at practice, indeed, he doesn't carry the same upside with wide receiver Drake London (knee) back in the fold. If Pitts plays this weekend, fantasy managers will find it difficult to bench him, particularly with teammate Darnell Mooney (knee) also questionable for the contest. Whether Mooney is active or not, the 25-year-old's status should be monitored leading up to kickoff, considering his ranking as RotoBaller's PPR TE5.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Jan 4 1:20am ET
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is a strong fantasy asset for this Sunday's home matchup with the Miami Dolphins. The 32-year-old veteran is coming off a second straight 100-yard outing and is having a nice season overall, despite eclipsing 60% of the team's snaps just twice in 16 appearances. In Week 18, he's positioned for another useful performance as the Pats vie for first place in the AFC. While Miami has, on paper, been one of the tougher units against fantasy wideouts, quarterback Drake Maye has been excellent in 2025 and carved up the Fins back in a 33-27 Week 2 win. Diggs' 4/32 line in that outing may not be encouraging, but his recent involvement is, notching at least six catches and 101 yards in three of his last six games. He'll rank as RotoBaller's PPR WR15 for the season's final week.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Jan 4 12:00am ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren saw his second-lowest snap count of the season during last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns. Warren rushed the ball 12 times for 64 yards, but he was only on the field for 32 percent of the offensive snaps. Fellow back Kenneth Gainwell saw a season-high 68 percent of the offensive snaps last week. Gainwell has played well for the Steelers during the second half of the season and has earned himself a larger role in this offense. He figures to split up the workload with Warren again during the regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. The loss of playing time is concerning and makes Warren a more volatile RB2 fantasy option for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Jaxson Dart Jan 4 12:00am ET
Jaxson Dart

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is looking to finish his rookie campaign on a high note. Interim head coach Mike Kafka said that he'll play the starters despite this being a meaningless game for both teams. This is good news for Dart, who will have a plus matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense. Last week, Dart only threw for 207 passing yards, but he salvaged his fantasy value with nine carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. As long as the Giants don't limit Dart, he should offer QB1 upside as a dual-threat option against a below-average defense in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Higgins Jan 4 12:00am ET
Jayden Higgins

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins is coming off arguably his best performance of the season. Higgins hauled in two passes for 88 yards and a touchdown during last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll look to top that performance versus the Indianapolis Colts in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The Texans will play their starters with a chance to win the AFC South with a victory and a Jaguars' loss to the Titans. Higgins hasn't been a consistent fantasy option during his rookie season, which makes him difficult to trust in Week 18. He has big-play ability, but he can also give fantasy managers close to nothing. He hauled in five receptions for 65 yards during his last meeting with the Colts. Fantasy managers should consider Higgins a boom-or-bust WR4/flex option for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Jan 3 11:50pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is looking to bounce back after throwing three interceptions during last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers should give Stafford a break, considering he has been one of the best QBs in the league this season. He'll look to end the regular season on a strong note versus the Arizona Cardinals, a defense that he threw for 281 yards against with three touchdowns during their first meeting in Week 14. Head coach Sean McVay said that the starters are going to play in this game. That thinking could change if the 49ers beat the Seahawks on Saturday night, which would lock the Rams into the sixth seed for the NFC playoffs. For now, fantasy managers should view Stafford as a top-tier option, assuming he plays his normal workload.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Jan 3 11:50pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has surprised many with his solid play under center this season. The 33-year-old has thrown for 3,123 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions through 13 games this season. He'll look to continue his success during the regular-season finale versus the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. During their last meeting, Brissett threw for 271 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in Week 14. Brissett has thrown for multiple touchdowns in four of his last five games. The Cardinals aren't having much success in the win category with him under center, but Brissett is putting up strong numbers. Fantasy managers should continue to trust Brissett as a high-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Ashton Jeanty Jan 3 11:50pm ET
Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty needs 112 yards in Week 18 to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his rookie campaign. Jeanty has been finding more success on the ground lately, with 188 rushing yards over his last two games. He figures to continue being the workhorse back during the regular-season finale versus the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. He could have trouble finding room to run with the Chiefs having a top-10 run defense this season. Jeanty has big-play upside, though, which keeps him in RB2 territory despite a tough matchup. The Raiders figure to go run-heavy with quarterbacks Kenny Pickett or Aidan O'Connell under center.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Jan 3 7:10pm ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) is active ahead of Saturday's Week 18 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle is back in action this week after sitting out in Week 17 due to an ankle sprain. The expectation is that Kittle will have a full workload despite being limited in practice this week. Kittle is expected to see a larger target share with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) ruled out for Saturday's game. The 32-year-old is a must-start and is ranked second among all tight ends behind only Trey McBride in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Jan 3 7:00pm ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye put together his best performance of the season during last week's win over the New York Jets. Maye threw for 256 yards with five touchdowns and was pulled from the game in the middle of the third quarter. The 23-year-old likely won many fantasy managers championships with that performance, but he's not done yet. Maye heads into a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. The Patriots are expected to play their starters as they still need to win for seeding purposes. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Patriots pull Maye again if it's a blowout, but he's too valuable to avoid for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Jan 3 6:50pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will play in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants on Sunday. It's unclear whether Prescott will play the entire game, given that neither team is playing for anything beyond draft position. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Cowboys let Joe Milton III play some to finish out the season. The Cowboys have little incentive for Prescott to play an entire game and risk injury. Given the uncertainty, fantasy managers might want to look elsewhere for quarterback help this weekend. If he plays the whole game, Prescott is an elite option, but the unknown makes him a risky choice.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Jan 3 6:50pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is officially inactive ahead of Saturday's Week 18 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks. Pearsall was questionable coming into this game, but will sit out due to an ankle sprain and a PCL injury. The absence of Pearsall should mean increased looks for Jauan Jennings and George Kittle. There's a chance that Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne see a larger target share, but they remain inconsistent options. Jennings and Kittle are the best DFS options with Pearsall sidelined for the regular season finale.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Jan 3 6:30pm ET
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has been a reliable piece of the offense all season, recording 40 catches (54 targets) for 488 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. Both of those scores have come since he was activated off Injured Reserve in Week 12, and he's recorded at least three receptions in five of six games during that time. The 25-year-old tight end will look to finish out the season strong in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the 15th most PPR points per game to tight ends this season. Strange caught his first touchdown of the season in Jacksonville's first meeting versus the Titans in Week 13 and will look for a repeat performance as the Jaguars aim to lock down a division title.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Jan 3 6:30pm ET
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has enjoyed a breakout campaign in his age-29 season, setting career highs in targets (98), receptions (74), and yards (828) entering Week 18's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson has recorded at least four catches in seven straight games and in 12 of 16 contests on the year. His 35 receptions since Week 10 rank fifth most among tight ends. New Orleans is dealing with multiple injuries on offense, particularly at wide receiver, with Chris Olave (illness) and Devaughn Vele (shoulder) both out for this game. The Saints' available wide receivers on Sunday are Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis, Ronnie Bell, and Samori Toure, which sets Johnson up to see a heavy dose of targets. With how well rookie QB Tyler Shough has been playing and plenty of targets up for grabs, Johnson ranks as RotoBaller's TE3 for Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Gainwell Jan 3 6:30pm ET
Kenneth Gainwell

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell has been one of the best fantasy values in PPR leagues this season, recording 62 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. His 62 catches trail only Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and De'Von Achane at the running back position. The 26-year-old back continues to split touches with Jaylen Warren, but has maintained a strong fantasy profile due to his high-value touch role. Despite Pittsburgh's only legitimate receiving threat in D.K. Metcalf (suspension) missing last week's game against the Browns, Gainwell totalled his fewest yards from scrimmage (38) since Week 10. The former Philadelphia Eagle should be expected to bounce back in a pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens to decide the AFC North. Baltimore ranks middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to running backs, and Gainwell caught six balls and found the end zone against them back in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Jan 3 6:30pm ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

The New York Giants have placed wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (ribs) on Injured Reserve, ending his season. Robinson put together a career season in what could be his final year in New York as an upcoming free agent, hauling in 92 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns on 140 targets. The 24-year-old wideout's per-target efficiency rebounded to 7.2 this season after a poor 5.0 mark last season, and he has remained one of the top target earners in the league since being drafted in 2022. The former second-rounder is one of only 12 wide receivers since 2022 with multiple seasons of 140+ targets. With Robinson ruled out, the Giants will rely on Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins as the top wideouts in Week 18's divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. At the same time, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt (illness), and Gunner Olszewski are also likely to see increased playing time.

From RotoBaller

AJ Barner Jan 3 6:30pm ET
AJ Barner

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner has picked up his play over the last few weeks. Barner has taken over as the primary tight end in this offense with Elijah Arroyo (knee) being sidelined since Week 15. Since then, Barner has hauled in 10 receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The 23-year-old has been making the most of his increased playing time. He should be able to offer at least high-end TE2 value for the upcoming Week 18 matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks need to win to secure the No. 1 seed, so Barner should see a full workload.

From RotoBaller