ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that there's "optimism" that Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) will play vs. the Chiefs today. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport calls Chase "likely" to play. He'll go through a pregame workout before a final decision is made. We won't get Cincinnati's inactives until a little before 3 pm ET, so fantasy owners hoping to start Chase should have a replacement from the late games rostered as insurance.
Chiefs RBs Isiah Pacheco (concussion, shoulder) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) are expected to play vs. the Bengals today, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms. Cleared from his concussion, Pacheco should be ready for something close to his usual role in this one. He's inside the top 10 of the Week 17 RB Rankings.
Seahawks RB Ken Walker (shoulder, illness) is expected to play vs. the Steelers today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But the team also has some concerns about a shoulder injury that was aggravated last Sunday at Tennessee," Schefter adds. It sounds like there's some risk that Walker's touches are scaled back today, or that the shoulder issue knocks him out of this game. We're moving Walker down the Week 17 RB Rankings a bit.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf (back) is expected to play vs. the Steelers today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Metcalf missed the final two practices of the week, but HC Pete Carroll didn't express any concern about his availability for this one on Friday. Metcalf seems safe to keep in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (illness) is expected to play vs. the Chargers today, while WR Marvin Mims (hamstring) is not, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mims seemingly hurt his hamstring on Thursday and then did not practice on Friday. With WR Courtland Sutton (concussion) also out, the Broncos are down to Jeudy, Brandon Johnson, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, and Phillip Dorsett at WR. Jeudy is the only viable play in season-long fantasy leagues.
Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play vs. the 49ers today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But the team wants to see how he feels in pre-game warmups before making any decisions," Schefter adds. We'll get Washington's inactives around 11:30 am ET, but it sounds like it'll be QB Sam Howell back under center today. He's been so bad the past two weeks that he's been benched for Brissett. Howell would be tough to trust even as a QB2 in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (illness) is expected to play vs. the Eagles today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Murray only got in a limited practice on Friday, but he's unlikely to be impacted by his illness today.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (illness) is expected to play vs. the Bucs today, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kamara didn't practice on Friday and is listed as questionable, but he should be ready for his usual role in this one.
Rams WR Puka Nacua (hip) is expected to play vs. the Giants today, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms. Nacua is listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice with what HC Sean McVay labeled hip "tightness." But McVay also said that he fully expected Nacua to play. We're not projecting the hip to be a factor today.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard posted another disappointing game in Week 17 vs. the Lions, accumulating 49 rushing yards on 16 carries. This performance ends his fantasy season on a skid of three consecutive games with fewer than 10 PPR points and is pretty emblematic of the year he had in a broad sense. In his first season as Dallas’ unencumbered lead back, Pollard accumulated an average of 76.9 scrimmage yards per game and 4.27 yards per opportunity, both down from his averages of 86.1 scrimmage yards and 5.94 yards per opportunity in 2022. It’s pretty difficult to argue that he holds RB1 value in dynasty formats at this point. Between his downturn in production and the fact that he’ll enter the free agent market at 27 years old, his future prospects will hinge on where he lands in 2024 and what type of role he’s able to secure, whether it be back with the Cowboys or elsewhere.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb became the fifth WR this season to record at least 200 receiving yards in a game in Week 17 vs. the Lions. The talented wideout ended Saturday’s contest with 13 catches, 227 yards, and a TD that amounted to 40.2 PPR points. Lamb trails only Tyreek Hill with four games of 30+ PPR points in 2023, second among WRs. This achievement just goes to highlight just how utterly dominant he’s been this year. Entering his age-25 season in 2024, Lamb is showing no signs of slowing down and should be thought of as one of the elite dynasty WRs.
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown tallied 6 catches for 90 receiving yards and a TD in Week 17 vs. the Cowboys. Saturday’s contest marks the tenth game this season in which the third-year wideout cleared at least 90 yards in a game. For context, St. Brown had only recorded four such games in each of his prior two seasons (eight in total). He ends the 2023 fantasy season with a career-high average of 20.2 PPR points per game and has given managers no reason to question his standing as a top-tier dynasty asset entering the new year. See where he lands among fellow wideouts in our current dynasty rankings.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta hauled in 7 of 12 targets for 84 receiving yards in Week 17’s loss vs. the Cowboys. Though the primetime contest didn’t end in Detriot’s favor, the rookie’s pass-catching efforts made history. LaPorta tied the rookie TE reception record of 81 set by Eagles TE Keith Jackson in 1988 on Saturday and has a good chance to stand alone with just one more catch in Week 18 vs. the Vikings. It’s also worth noting that his average of 14.1 PPR points per game this season ranks first among rookie TEs over the past ten seasons. If you have any doubts about LaPorta entering the 2024 season, don’t. He is firmly entrenched as our dynasty TE2 and should be considered as an early-round pick in season-long formats next year.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (calf) is expected to play vs. the Dolphins on Sunday, according to insider Jordan Schultz. Flowers only got in a limited practice on Friday this week, so he'll carry a bit more risk than usual in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (concussion, shoulder) is expected to play vs. the Bengals on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's surprising that Pacheco was able to get cleared after sustaining a concussion on Monday. But if he's active tomorrow, he should be ready for his usual role against a bad Cincinnati run defense. Pacheco is a RB1 for Week 17, while RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire would now be a desperation fantasy play.
The Chiefs activated WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) from IR, setting him up to play vs. the Bengals on Sunday. Hardman will add some depth to Kansas City's WR corps but isn't a realistic fantasy play. He averaged 2.5 targets, 2.0 catches, and 10 receiving yards across four games with the Chiefs earlier this season.
Packers LB De'Vondre Campbell (neck) is doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Vikings. He hasn't practiced at all the past two weeks and posted on social media last week that he wouldn't play hurt anymore. We'll see if he can get over the hurt by Week 18. Isaiah McDuffie gets another start in Campbell's place this week.
Chiefs CB L'Jarius Sneed (calf) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals. He missed the entire practice week, though, and looks risky as an IDP play even if active. We already knocked him way down our Week 17 DB rankings ahead of Friday's practice and would try not to use him if possible.
Chargers LB Kenneth Murray is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Broncos with a shoulder injury. He's officially doubtful after following a limited Wednesday workout with two missed practices. This would be Murray's first missed game of the season, which makes it tough to know exactly what the fill-in plan looks like. We wouldn't play a Chargers LB beyond Eric Kendricks if you can help it.
Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss a second straight game with his knee injury. He has yet to practice since sustaining the injury. This will be the sixth missed game among the past nine for Fitzpatrick, leaving a severely depleted safety corps to face the Seahawks. Eric Rowe started in Fitzpatrick's place last week, collecting 7 tackles (3 solo) and an INT against the Bengals. He's still tough to use in Week 18 IDP lineups after just one start.
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