Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett will start in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys as Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol. While Pickett also appeared on the injury report this week due to a rib issue sustained in last week's game, he has since been cleared to play. In Week 16, Pickett completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 143 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also contributed 13 rushing yards on three attempts. Pickett's Week 16 performance left much to be desired, ranking 27th in yards per attempt and 28th in passer rating. Despite his struggles, Dallas offers room for optimism, as their defense has allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game since Week 11. Still, the Eagles are likely to lean heavily on their rushing attack and defensive play, positioning Pickett more as a game manager than a fantasy asset. Consider him a risky QB2 option.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will aim to build on his recent performance when the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. Brown earned a season-high 15 targets in last week's game, as backup quarterback Kenny Pickett leaned heavily on Browntargeting him on over 60% of his passes, showing trust in the star receiver. Despite opening this week on the injury report (knee/rest), Brown was cleared to play on Sunday. The matchup against Dallas is promising, as the Cowboys have given up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Known for his dominance in man coverage, Brown could exploit a defense that struggles in this area. Dallas ranks 22nd in pass defense, allowing 223.7 passing yards per game, and has surrendered 23 passing touchdowns in 2024. Regardless of who is under center for Philadelphia, Brown remains a WR1 in Week 17.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will look to lead the Eagles offense in Week 17 as they host the Dallas Cowboys in a pivotal divisional matchup. Barkley is coming off a strong 150-yard performance and remains the focal point of Philadelphia's ground game. With Jalen Hurts questionable due to a concussion, the Eagles could lean heavily on Barkley to control the tempo against a Dallas defense that struggles in run defense, ranking last in the NFL in EPA (expected points added). Barkley's high workload and explosive play potential make him a must-start option in all formats this week. Expect another strong outing from Philadelphia's star running back against a struggling Cowboys team.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley has a minimal chance of playing in Week 17 with Tua Tagovailoa (hip) questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Cleveland Browns. We saw him start in place of Tagovailoa after he suffered a gruesome concussion back in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. He cracked 10 fantasy points in his three starts just once, and the offense looked abysmal. The matchup in Cleveland this week presents harsh conditions with a 50% chance of rain and 25+ mph gusts at kickoff. It seems Tua should be fine for this game, but even if he's not, Huntley is best left on benches for Week 17.

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Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) has been placed on injured reserve, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move will effectively end Hubbard's season with two weeks remaining on the schedule. Hubbard enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, running with the opportunity to lead Carolina's backfield. He finishes the year with 1,195 rushing yards, 171 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Not only did he take over the backfield from Miles Sanders, but he also allowed the Panthers to be patient with the debut of Jonathon Brooks, who recovered from a torn ACL only to re-injure himself in his third NFL game. Hubbard, who ranks 12th among running backs in fantasy points (PPR), played well enough to earn a four-year contract extension during the middle of the season, signifying that the Panthers want him to be a centerpiece of their offense long-term. He should remain the Panthers' primary running back when he returns healthy in 2025, ranking as a high-end RB2 option in fantasy football. Meanwhile, for the final two games of the 2024 season, the Panthers will likely rely on some combination of Raheem Blackshear, Velus Jones Jr., and Mike Boone out of the backfield. There's also a slight chance that Sanders could return from IR for next week's season finale. Without a clear backfield alignment, it's risky to start any Panthers running back in fantasy football for Weeks 17 and 18.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver River Cracraft has been mostly a nonfactor in 2024. After suffering a shoulder injury in the preseason, Cracraft was activated off IR in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams. With the injury to Jaylen Waddle (knee), Cracraft saw his first targets of the season in Weeks 15 and 16, totaling two receptions on four targets for 12 yards. With Waddle questionable and having a chance to suit up, he will likely continue to see limited opportunities. To make matters worse, rain is in the forecast for their matchup against the Cleveland Browns. He should be left on benches for championship week.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers delivered a hot stretch of high-volume performances before coming down to earth with just two receptions against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. He'll look to bounce back with more targets and receptions in Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints. Meyers ranks as the overall WR23 in PPR leagues since the Davante Adams trade, totaling 48 catches, 570 yards, and one touchdown during that eight-game span. While Meyers' involvement and productivity has been good (for the most part), his lack of touchdowns is clearly lowering his fantasy ceiling. This has always been an issue for Meyers, even dating back to his time in New England. He didn't score his first career touchdown until his third season with the Patriots, and he has just two scores through 13 contests this year. Fortunately, he's about to take on a Saints defense allowing the sixth-most catches, fifth-most receiving yards, and seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024. Even without significant touchdown upside, Meyers' role and favorable matchup should get him into the low-end WR2 tier for fantasy football in Week 17.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker continues to see the field at a very high rate, but his production has been suboptimal lately. Just last week, Tucker played 92 percent of the Raiders' offensive snaps but caught just two passes for 41 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has just six catches for 66 yards over his last three games, ranking as the overall WR81 in PPR leagues during that span. While Tucker does have higher upside this week against a Saints defense allowing the sixth-most catches, fifth-most receiving yards, and seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024, his recent track record makes him tough to trust in lineups, especially as we reach the heart of the fantasy playoffs. Tucker can be benched in most fantasy formats, and even in deep leagues, he's nothing more than a mere dart throw.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison remains on the fantasy radar given his ability to catch passes and score touchdowns. The 26-year-old had previously been benched in favor of Sincere McCormick, but after McCormick landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Mattison returned to his starting job last Sunday. The 26-year-old mustered just 2.3 yards per carry against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he made an impact (especially in PPR leagues) with seven targets, four catches, and 29 receiving yards. He also scored a touchdown. Fantasy managers should be excited to watch Mattison perform against a New Orleans Saints defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. In addition to remaining an impactful touchdown scorer and pass catcher, Mattison could see his ground efficiency improve given that the Saints have allowed a staggering 4.9 yards per carry. He remains a mid-range RB3/FLEX play this Sunday in New Orleans.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah has quietly been one of the more impactful running backs in fantasy football over the last two weeks, and he'll look to build on his hot streak during this Sunday's Week 17 contest against the New Orleans Saints. Over the Raiders' last two contests, Abdullah has played fewer than half of the offensive snaps but still managed to total 46 rushing yards, 12 catches, 105 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Despite operating as the Raiders' No. 2 running back, he ranks as the overall RB11 in PPR leagues during that two-week span. While we can't bank on Abdullah finding the end zone for a third week in a row, we do like his odds against a Saints defense that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns in 2024. Plus, he should continue to thrive as a pass-catcher, which has been Abdullah's specialty throughout his entire career. New Orleans is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024, and managers could certainly justify deploying him as a mid-range RB3 amidst his hot stretch of games.

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Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (left knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's Week 17 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. The veteran kicker is currently on injured reserve. While there was some optimism about his status when the Cardinals recently opened his 21-day practice window, the team shut down any speculation about a potential Week 17 return by ruling him out on Thursday. With Prater set to remain sidelined following a week of limited practices, the Cardinals will deploy Chad Ryland as their primary kicker once again this weekend. The 25-year-old has exceeded expectations so far, going 25-for-29 on field goals and 21-for-21 on extra points.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has seen an increased role with the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jaylen Waddle (knee) being banged up. He produced his best performance in Week 15 with five receptions on six targets for 52 yards. This week, Miami travels to take on the Cleveland Browns, who have struggled to defend wide receivers. However, the weather conditions at kickoff will be less than ideal, with the forecast projecting a 50% chance of rain and 25+ mph wind gusts. With Waddle having a shot to play, Washington should remain on the bench in Week 17.

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Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers remains a top fantasy football option given his high volume and productivity. The rookie should continue to be started in all leagues ahead of his Week 17 matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Bowers ranks first among tight ends in fantasy points this year, and he's coming off a big game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he caught 11 of 13 targets for 99 yards through the air. In fact, he was so productive that he vultured opportunities from wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who finished last week with a season-low two catches. Even in a slightly tougher matchup against the Saints, who are allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2024, we expect that Bowers will continue to feast. For the most part, he has proven that he is already matchup-proof, routinely posting top fantasy performances. He should be started in all leagues as the fantasy playoffs continue.

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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is expected to play against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Conner picked up the injury during last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers in which he totaled 117 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Rapoport notes that it's encouraging to see Conner suit up with the Cardinals already eliminated from playoff contention, but he'll be playing at less than 100 percent on Saturday. As a result, he might drop to the RB2 tier in fantasy football. At the same time, Trey Benson (ankle), who is also listed as questionable, could earn additional opportunities out of the backfield.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph comes into Week 17's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars from a turbulent performance against the Indianapolis Colts, where he threw two touchdowns and three interceptions. Rudolph has proven to be serviceable overall, with multiple scores in each of his last three appearances and tallying his second-highest passing yard total last Sunday with 252. He's also slinging the ball, accounting for 60 passing attempts in less than a game-and-a-half since returning to action. Coming up for Rudolph is a Jaguars defense giving up the most points to opposing QBs in fantasy this season. While the last meeting between these teams ended in a low-scoring 10-6 final score, Rudolph is still an enticing option for Superflex or 2QB leagues.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) is expected to play against the Denver Broncos in Week 17 despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Higgins' season has been interrupted by numerous injuries, but he has been able to produce consistent results recently. He has been available for each of the Bengals' last five games, catching 29 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns during that span. He has been able to carve out a large role for himself and remain an impactful fantasy contributor despite playing behind superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Fantasy managers should view Higgins as a low-end WR2 this Saturday against the Broncos, who have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to non-slot receivers over the last six weeks.

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The Dallas Cowboys defense has taken a major step forward over the past month as they have become healthier. In last week's win over Tampa Bay, they totaled four sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. This week, they get the luxury of facing turnover-prone quarterback Kenny Pickett. With the unit looking a lot more like 2023's version of the Dallas defense in recent weeks, they are a startable option against the Eagles in fantasy championship week.

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey remains one of the hottest kickers in the league following an impressive Week 16 performance in which he drilled three field goals from beyond 50 yards. Aubrey's leg has kept Dallas in many games this season and more of the same should be expected this week against a tough Philadelphia defense. The matchup could not be tougher, as Philadelphia has allowed the least amount of points to opposing kickers this season. Aubrey can be started given his ability to consistently drill 50+ yard field goals, but beware that this is a tough matchup and that there are safer options out there.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (finger) was a limited participant in practice all week, entering Sunday's matchup with a questionable status. Given that he was able to practice all week, Tolbert should be good to suit up for the shorthanded Cowboys who will be missing star receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) for the remainder of the season. With Lamb out, the pecking order in the receiving room is questionable. Tolbert likely slots in behind veteran Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson, putting him back on the fantasy radar. With that being said, he is a desperation flex option against Philadelphia's seventh-ranked secondary.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver/return specialist KaVontae Turpin has gotten involved on the ground in recent weeks, carrying the ball three times in last week's win over Tampa Bay. Given the lack of playmakers with CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) now sidelined, Mike McCarthy may scheme up more creative ways to get the ball into the hands of the speedster. The 28-year-old has caught 27 balls for 351 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 13 times for 69 yards on the season. Against Philadelphia's seventh-ranked secondary, Turpin is no more than a desperation dart throw with a very low floor. His usage will be worth monitoring.

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