Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard has been on a heater the last three games, scoring three touchdowns, rushing for 367 yards (6.12 YPC), and averaging 18.6 fantasy points per game during this stretch. It's by far the best stretch of the season for him, as in the previous 13 weeks, he had only rushed for 582 yards (3.88 YPC) and two touchdowns. Because of the recent surge in production, Pollard has worked his way up the running back ranks to become more of a lower-end RB2 compared to the RB3 rankings, where he has been a majority of the season, considering he is playing about 50 percent of the team's snaps, and splitting work with Tyjae Spears. The young Titans offense as a whole has looked much better the last few weeks, so it should not come as a surprise that Pollard's production has been better of late as well. Week 17 presents a mediocre matchup, as the Saints rank 17th overall in fantasy points allowed to the running back position, keeping Pollard in the low-end RB2 ranks. RotoBaller ranks him as the RB22 for the week.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey returned to the end zone last week, leading the team with six targets, but a repeat performance will be difficult on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Houston's secondary is arguably the best in the NFL, ranking first in EPA/Pass and allowing the fewest passing yards per game. While McConkey remains Justin Herbert's primary target, the Texans' elite pass rush, which is tied for sixth in sacks, will likely force Herbert into quick, low-ADOT throws. This defensive pressure mirrors the conditions that led to McConkey's recent dud games rather than his productive outing against a porous Dallas secondary. While his target floor remains decent, the matchup significantly limits his big-play potential. He is a touchdown-dependent WR3 for the fantasy finals.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen remains a steady veteran presence, but his fantasy upside is evaporating at the worst possible time. Last week, Allen caught all five of his targets, yet his 47% snap share underscores a concerning trend as he continues to split routes with rookie Tre' Harris. This week's matchup against the Houston Texans is the toughest possible test, as the Texans rank second in completion percentage allowed and third in interception rate. With Houston allowing the fewest passing yards per game and consistently pressuring the quarterback, the aging veteran may struggle to find open windows in a game script expected to be a defensive slog. Fantasy managers in championship matchups should look for higher-upside alternatives. He is merely a low-end WR4/FLEX option this week.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett enters Week 17 as a QB1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who allow the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season. Week 16 was underwhelming for Brissett, as he threw for only 203 yards and one touchdown with an interception. Before Week 16, Brissett had finished as a QB12 or better on the week in nine consecutive contests since he took over as the starter in Week 6, and he deserves a pass for his poor showing in Week 16, where he only scored 11.62 points. Looking forward to Week 17, he should be fired up with confidence as Marvin Harrison Jr. is back from injury and should help the offense even more, combined with his rapport with Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, which has allowed Brissett to elevate his play and make both of those players tremendous fantasy assets during the second half of the fantasy season. On the season as a whole, Brissett has thrown for 2,911 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 12 games played. RotoBaller ranks Brissett as the QB9 this week.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton continues to separate himself as the most dynamic option in the backfield, recording an 85-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys. Averaging 5.3 yards per carry, Hampton was far more explosive than teammate Kimani Vidal, who is now dealing with a neck injury. Even if Vidal is active, the Chargers are likely to lean on Hampton against a Houston Texans defense that is more vulnerable on the ground than through the air. Houston ranks fifth in fewest rushing yards allowed, but has shown cracks against physical, efficient runners recently. With the Chargers needing to protect Justin Herbert from Houston's fierce pass rush, a heavy dose of Hampton is expected. He is a high-end RB2/FLEX option for championship week.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco starting quarterback Brock Purdy tore up the Indianapolis Colts' defense on Monday Night Football to put a bow on Week 16, and now enters Week 17 ranking as a mid-tier QB1 in the final weekend for some fantasy managers in the fantasy playoffs. Week 16 was his best game of the season; he dominated in primetime, finishing with five touchdown passes and 295 yards, finishing as the QB1 in fantasy for the week. His rapport with all pass catchers, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle (ankle), and Jauan Jennings, was all on display. He even hit Demarcus Robinson on a touchdown pass as well. Since his return from the toe injury in Week 11, Purdy has scored 17 or more fantasy points in four of his last five starts and has finished as the QB10 or better in three of those five. With another decent matchup on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, Purdy should be fired up into starting lineups confidently as we look forward to Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert enters Week 17 fresh off a massive 300-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys, but fantasy managers should prepare for a steeper climb this Saturday. While Herbert thrived behind a clean pocket last week, he now faces a Houston Texans unit that ranks first in EPA/Pass and second in both completion percentage allowed and pressure rate. The Texans' pass rush, led by Will Anderson Jr., poses a significant threat to a Chargers offensive line that remains in shambles with Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) ruled out. Given that Houston has allowed the fewest passing yards per game, Herbert may need to replicate his recent rushing success to salvage his fantasy floor. Despite his elite talent, the lack of protection and the opponent's lockdown secondary cap his ceiling in the championship round. He is a mid-range QB2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn continues to regularly deliver for the Texans and his fantasy owners, so he's a strong starting option kicking indoors on Saturday afternoon against the Chargers. The 31-year-old from Hawaii made all three of his field goals last week from 55, 50, and 49 yards and also knocked through all three of his extra points. He's 36-for-40 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points. The Texans rely on their defense and usually take points whenever possible, leading to plenty of attempts for Fairbairn. He is the No. 6 K in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings, so even though the game against the Chargers is expected to be lower-scoring, he remains a strong starter in standard-sized leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk is coming off one of his best games of the season last week against the Raiders, as the veteran played his most snaps (39) since Week 9 and had his most targets (5) since Week 12. He'll have a tougher matchup this week against the Chargers on Saturday and is a high-risk play for fantasy purposes since his role is still extremely shaky. He finishes second on the team in receiving yards and tied for second in targets last week, though, so it's possible he'll continue to trend up as the Texans continue their playoff push. Since he only has 25 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown this season, Kirk is a high-risk option in this tough matchup in Los Angeles, and he's just the No. 67 WR in RotoBaller's rankings. He can be left on the bench or waiver wire in most leagues, but it is worth monitoring his involvement to see if last week's performance was a matchup-based outlier or the start of a trend.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has remained his team's clear go-to option at receiver this season, but he's only a fringe WR1 this week in a tough Saturday afternoon matchup against the Chargers. Collins has hauled in 68 of his 116 targets this season for 1,060 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and he has at least three catches in every game he has played this season. Last week against the Raiders, he had four catches for 59 scoreless yards, but he found the end zone twice in the previous week against the Cardinals. He's still C.J. Stroud's favorite target both in the open field and near the goal line, so he always brings upside, even in tough, low-scoring games like is expected this week. The Chargers have only allowed eight WR touchdowns all season, but did give up two last week to the Cowboys. Collins is the No. 9 WR in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings, so he should be started as a top option in most formats, even with slightly tempered expectations.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins has made good progress throughout his rookie season, climbing the depth chart and locking in as the team's top option across the field from Nico Collins. However, he only has one catch in each of his last two games, so he'll be a long-shot play this week, when his team takes on the Chargers in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Higgins has scored four touchdowns this season and hauled in 37 catches for 414 yards. He is only the WR 56 in RotoBaller's rankings for this week, though, so his recent quiet games have dropped him out of consideration as a flex play in standard-sized leagues.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb has been a regular part of the team's running back rotation this season, but his role in Week 17 against the Chargers is a little murky. Woody Marks is ready to return from an ankle injury after missing Week 16, and Jawhar Jordan had a nice breakout while Marks was injured. With both Marks and Jordan in the mix this week, carries could be hard to come by for Chubb. He could still be utilized as a short-yardage specialist since he is an effective between-the-tackles option, but he doesn't have the explosiveness he showcased earlier in his career. He'll be a touchdown-dependent flex long shot this week in a tough matchup, and he's only the No. 53 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, making him best left on the bench or waiver wire if possible this week.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan has impressed the last two weeks, but he's high-risk this week since his role is uncertain as his team visits the Chargers on Saturday afternoon. The 26-year-old broke out in his NFL debut in Week 15, taking 15 carries for 101 yards against the Cardinals. He followed that up last week with 15 more carries but only for 53 yards, but he saved his fantasy day with five catches for 17 more yards. Both of those big games came after Woody Marks (ankle) left with an injury, but Marks is ready to return this week. Jordan and Nick Chubb will likely continue to mix in for the Texans, but Marks was the primary running back before his injury and will likely resume that role moving forward. The Chargers have been good against the run this season, and Jordan is only the No. 52 RB in RotoBaller's Week 17 rankings. He's a desperation play who should still be involved, but he's best left on your bench this week if possible.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is in a tough matchup on Saturday afternoon against the Chargers, but he has shown enough momentum to still be a strong option in two-QB formats or in deep leagues this week. Stroud only threw for 187 yards and a touchdown last week in a narrow win over the Raiders, but he looked much better with 260 yards and three touchdowns the previous week against the Cardinals. Stroud has led his team to four straight wins since returning from a concussion, and the Texans have won seven straight overall to put themselves in a prime position to make the playoffs. While defense and a conservative offensive strategy have been the main reasons for their success, Stroud has shown enough play-making upside to still be the No. 17 QB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him a solid QB2.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) missed last week's game against the Raiders after sustaining an injury in Week 15 against Arizona, but he had full participation in practice and has no injury status for this week, indicating he should be a full go in Week 17. The Texans are in a tough matchup against the Chargers in what is expected to be a low-scoring contest on Saturday afternoon, but Marks should step back into a significant role. Before his injury, Marks had set a season-high with 26 carries for 68 yards against the Chiefs and scored a touchdown as a receiver. The rookie now has five touchdowns on the season and seems to have taken the lead role in the backfield, although Jawhar Jordan and Nick Chubb will also likely remain involved. Since the Chargers have been good against the run and he's still in a committee, Marks is the RB No. 32 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 17, since he is a high-risk RB3 or flex option with touchdown-dependent upside.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) failed to practice again on Thursday as the team prepares to take on the hosting New York Jets in Week 17. Hollins had one of his better games of the campaign in New England's 28-24 victory over Baltimore last Sunday, reeling in 7-of-9 targets for 69 yards. However, he presumably picked up the issue in the win, despite leading the Pats' WR room in snaps. With teammate Kayshon Boutte (concussion) following the same practice regimen as the veteran, and DeMario Douglas (hamstring) limited with an injury of his own, New England is in danger of being down several critical offensive pieces. As it stands, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III are the only other active wideouts without a designation.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity for the second straight day ahead of Sunday night's matchup with the hosting San Francisco 49ers. The 22-year-old was deemed inactive for Week 16's win over the Packers after failing to practice at all leading up to the outing. However, Burden stringing together two limited sessions would seemingly put him on track to suit up on the road against San Francisco. If the rookie can get himself cleared to play in Sunday's game, he'd be in store for another significant workload, considering teammate Rome Odunze (foot) is trending toward not playing. In the event that neither plays, fantasy managers can fire up DJ Moore as a strong play against an exploitable 49ers' pass defense. Fellow wideouts Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahdae Walker would slot in behind him.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has yet to return to practice, listed as a non-participant for the second consecutive session as the team gears up for a divisional matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. The veteran has missed Cleveland's previous two games as he recovers from a knee injury sustained in Week 14's loss to the Tennessee Titans. That Njoku hasn't been able to practice in even a limited capacity since suffering the issue suggests he's trending toward missing his third straight appearance, paving the way for fellow TE Harold Fannin Jr. to retain a featured role in the passing game in his stead. As it stands, if Njoku is inactive again, teammates Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates will continue working in behind the rookie.

From RotoBaller

Per the team, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (shoulder, illness) is officially questionable for the team's Week 17 clash with the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Watson has dealt with a shoulder injury for a few weeks now, but was able to participate fully for Green Bay's first two practices of the week. However, the 26-year-old was a late addition to the report, picking up an illness that led to his being listed as a non-participant on Thursday. Unfortunately, this puts his availability for the Pack's Saturday night matchup in doubt, making him a volatile WR3/flex if active. If Watson is unable to suit up, teammates Matthew Golden and Dontayvion Wicks would see an uptick in snaps behind Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs in the passing game.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt posted 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a Christmas day loss to the Cowboys. Dynasty Analysis: Unbelievable. Chris Rodriguez was a late scratch and "Bill" took advantage, providing what's going to be one of the most surprising stat lines of championship week. He had scored in the past two games but few expected him to post his second best fantasy day of the year after he had been essentially phased out of the offense in recent weeks. After all, this was just the seventh game all season where he had more than ten carries. Regardless, anyone who dropped him into their lineup and hoped for the best against a suspect Dallas defense didn't exactly get a lump of coal this morning.

From Dynasty League Fantasy