Fantasy Football News
Justin Herbert Has A Good Matchup For Week 17
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has a good matchup against the New England Patriots defense in Week 17. The Bolts and Pats will play on Saturday afternoon in New England, where Herbert will look to build on his overall QB7 against the Broncos in Week 16. Herbert looked much healthier last week, showing much more mobility on his injured ankle. He did not appear on the injury report at all heading into this game, his first time totally off the report in weeks. With running backs Gus Edwards (ankle) out and J.K. Dobbins (knee) questionable at best, the Chargers may need to rely on the passing game even though they are favored in this game. Herbert has a nice ceiling in this one and a fairly high floor as well.
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Puka Nacua Remains A Top-Five WR
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua continues to establish himself as one of the top fantasy wide receivers on a weekly basis due to his heavy volume and high ceiling, regardless of game script. The former BYU Cougar has at least seven catches in six of his last seven games and has totaled 15 catches for 153 yards the last two weeks, even though the Rams have been in low-scoring run-heavy contests. Nacua has at least eight targets in every full game he has played this season and should be heavily involved as the Rams come home to face the Cardinals. He didn't face Arizona earlier this season, but the Cardinals have allowed four WR touchdowns in the last four weeks and an average of 144.1 receiving yards per game to the position. Nacua is RotoBaller's WR4 this week, making him a must-start in most formats on Saturday night.
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Terry McLaurin Back At Thursday's Practice
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. McLaurin might need to practice in full on Friday to avoid an injury designation for the weekend, but he has a pretty good shot to play now on Sunday in the Week 17 contest versus the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. The 29-year-old pass-catcher needs to stay in all fantasy lineups as well. He'll carry a four-game touchdown streak into this Sunday's contest. In that same span, he's caught 25 of his 30 targets for 308 yards and six total touchdowns. In the last five weeks in half-PPR scoring, McLaurin ranks as the WR10 overall. McLaurin has been thriving in 2024 as impressive rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' No. 1 target.
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Matthew Stafford Is A Fringe Starter Against Arizona
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the Rams into a big divisional matchup on Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals. Stafford has had back-to-back down games but led the Rams to low-scoring road wins over the 49ers and Jets. In his last home game, he lit up the Bills for 320 passing yards and two touchdowns and is averaging 252.8 passing yards per game in his seven home games this season. On the year, the veteran has 20 passing touchdowns and just eight interceptions and has reached over 3,500 yards. He only managed 216 yards and no touchdowns in Week 2 against the Cardinals, but the Rams' offense is in a much healthier place coming into this rematch. The Cardinals have allowed eight quarterback touchdowns in the last four weeks and have been eliminated from playoff contention. While he isn't a locked-in must-start option anymore, Stafford is RotoBaller's QB13, making him a fringe starter in standard formats for Week 17.
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Kenny Pickett Practices In Full On Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. Meanwhile, starter Jalen Hurts (concussion) missed his second straight day of practice this week. Pickett said he doesn't expect to have any limitations for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. "Something I'll have to deal with," Pickett said. The former Steelers QB could have to deal with it in his first start of the season if Hurts is eventually ruled out with his concussion. The 26-year-old wasn't terrible in relief of Hurts last week, but he wasn't able to lead the team to a win against the division-rival Washington Commanders, going 14-for-24 for 143 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Pickett shouldn't be considered as anything more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he's forced to start, but he at least has some high-end offensive weapons to work with.
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A.J. Brown Limited On Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee, rest) was listed as a limited practice participant on Thursday. Brown injured his left knee in practice last Thursday and was spotted wearing a soft brace on it after practice. As long as the 27-year-old can practice again on Friday, though, there's a good chance he'll be removed from the final injury report entirely. Fantasy managers shouldn't really be all that concerned about Brown's knee, but rather quarterback Jalen Hurts' head, as he remains in the concussion protocol and is in danger of missing this weekend's game. Brown's value as a high-end WR1 in fantasy could take a significant hit if backup QB Kenny Pickett (ribs) is forced to make his first start of the year against Dallas. Still, even after Hurts left last Sunday's loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders early, he still finished with eight catches on a season-high 15 targets for 97 yards and a touchdown.
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Davante Adams Misses Practice Again On Thursday
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (hip) missed practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Adams is now firmly in danger of missing the Week 17 contest against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but he'll have a shot of suiting up if he can return to the practice field on Friday. The good news for fantasy managers is that Adams and the Jets play in the early window on Sunday, so we should know early that day whether he'll be active. The 32-year-old veteran has hit his stride in the last four games, scoring in each contest while bringing in 30 of his 48 targets for 441 yards and five total touchdowns as quarterback Aaron Rodgers' clear favorite target. So if Adams is active this weekend, there's no reason you should be benching him in most formats despite fellow wideout Garrett Wilson clamoring for more targets.
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Limited Again On Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest) put in a second straight limited practice on Thursday this week. Valdes-Scantling might need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable designation on the final injury report, but he still has a pretty good chance of being active this Sunday to take on the visiting Las Vegas Raiders in the Big Easy. MVS had a three-game stretch that came out of nowhere from Weeks 10-13 where he had seven catches on 10 targets for 232 yards and four touchdowns, but that small hot streak came to a quick end once quarterback Derek Carr (hand) was injured in Week 14. He caught two of seven targets for 64 yards with rookie Spencer Rattler starting in Week 15 before he was inactive this past Monday in the loss to the Packers. With Chris Olave (concussion) on track to make his return this week, MVS should be ignored if he's back in Week 17.
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Juwan Johnson Stays Limited On Thursday
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Johnson may need to be a full-go on Friday to avoid a questionable tag on the final Week 17 injury report, but he has a pretty good shot of being active this Sunday when the team hosts the Las Vegas Raiders. The 28-year-old has been on the injury report for weeks with his foot injury but hasn't missed any time, so it's obviously not all that serious. The last two weeks with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler running the offense, Johnson has caught only four passes on five targets for 39 yards and no touchdowns. The Saints have a plus matchup this weekend against the Raiders, but with Derek Carr (hand) trending toward missing a third straight game, we can't realistically recommend Johnson as a TE1 play in one of the worst offenses in football.
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Derek Carr Still Missing From Practice
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand) was listed as a non-participant in practice yet again on Thursday. Carr fractured his left (non-throwing) hand in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants but has missed the last two contests. The 33-year-old veteran signal-caller is battling hard to try and play before the end of the regular season, but with just two games left, it's unlikely we'll see Carr again. Rookie Spencer Rattler has been in over his head the last two weeks as the replacement for Carr, but to be fair, he has very little to work with on a banged-up offense. Rattler is on track to make his third straight start this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders if Carr is ruled out, which he likely will be on Friday's final injury report. If Carr doesn't make it back the next two weeks, he'll finish with a disappointing 2,145 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 starts.
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No Practice For Alvin Kamara Again On Thursday
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (groin) was listed as a non-participant in practice again on Thursday. Kamara injured his adductor back in the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders and hasn't practiced or played since. Although the 29-year-old does want to return in the final two weeks of the regular season, the Saints have no incentive to push their star RB back onto the field, so fantasy managers still battling for a trophy in 2024 shouldn't expect to have him available this Sunday in Week 17 when the team takes on the Las Vegas Raiders. Kendre Miller served as the lead back on Monday night but did very little in a loss to the Green Bay Packers in which the Saints couldn't score at all. Kamara will need to practice in some fashion on Friday to avoid being ruled out for a second straight week. We wouldn't count on it.
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Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave Remain Limited On Thursday
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Green Bay Packers tight ends Tucker Kraft (hip) and Luke Musgrave (ankle) remained limited during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on their status during Friday's final injury report, as it will likely clarify their availability heading into the weekend. Kraft suffered this hip injury during Monday evening's victory over the New Orleans Saints, but seeing him continue to participate in a limited capacity is a positive sign. Musgrave returned from his ten-game absence on Monday evening and is continuing to have his practice snaps monitored. In his return, Musgrave saw just one target, as Kraft continued to operate as the TE1 in Green Bay. If either tight end cannot suit up, Ben Sims would move up the depth chart but would not be a viable option in the fantasy playoffs. If Kraft can avoid an injury designation, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 facing the Minnesota Vikings.
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Brenton Strange Remains Limited On Thursday
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (shoulder) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Friday's session as Strange may carry an injury designation into the weekend if he cannot update to full participation. After enjoying an impressive 11-catch 73-yard performance in Week 15 against the New York Jets, Strange had a disappointing showing last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders as he brought in just two of his four targets for 22 yards. If Strange can suit up on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, fantasy managers should view him as a high-end TE2 as the Titans have defended opposing tight ends quite well, allowing the sixth-fewest PPR points to the position this season.
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Chris Olave Logs Another Full Practice On Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) logged his second straight full practice of the week. Olave has been on the injured reserve since suffering his second concussion of the season during Week 9. Olave returned to practice last week but was only a limited participant. However, seeing him open the week as a full participant in back-to-back sessions puts him in a good position to return to action on Sunday. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Friday's session, as he may be able to avoid an injury designation. Despite battling numerous injuries this season, Olave tallied at least 80.0 receiving yards in four of the eight games he played in. If he can suit up, he should be viewed as a decent flex option, given that he will be the lone proven pass-catching option in a depleted New Orleans offense.
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Tua Tagovailoa Remains Limited On Thursday
According to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Fantasy managers should monitor his status in case he cannot update to full participation on Friday. Tagovailoa has been dealing with this hip injury for a few weeks but has yet to miss any time due to it. After throwing for 300+ yards in each game during Weeks 12 through 14, Tagovailoa has struggled over his past two games, averaging just 205.5 yards per game. Given his current struggles, fantasy managers should consider finding an alternative option, especially during the fantasy championships. He has a tough matchup ahead of him on Sunday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns, who have allowed the 11th-fewest PPR points to opposing QBs.
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Nick Folk Sidelined Again On Thursday
According to Turron Davenport of ESPN, Tennessee Titans kicker Nick Folk (abdomen) did not practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Folk did not suit up last weekend and is in danger of missing his second-straight contest. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status on Friday in case he is able to practice in some capacity. However, the 40-year-old will likely face an uphill battle to return to action this weekend. Across 14 games this season, Folk has posted an impressive 95.5% FG conversion rate and has gone a perfect 25-for-25 on extra points. Brayden Narveson will get the starting nod if Folk cannot play on Sunday. However, given the inconsistencies of the Tennessee offense, both kickers should not be in your starting lineup in the fantasy playoffs.
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James Conner Questionable For Week 17
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The lead back sustained the injury during last weekend's game against the Carolina Panthers. Conner remained a limited participant during practice, which is a promising sign. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to kickoff as No.2 running back Trey Benson (ankle) is also listed as questionable. Over his past three games, Conner has averaged an impressive 26.5 PPR points per game and found the end zone four times over this stretch. If Conner is active, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him in all formats as an RB2. If both Conner and Benson cannot play, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas would operate in a committee and are viable flex options.
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Tee Higgins Questionable For Saturday
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Denver Broncos. Higgins remained a limited participant throughout the week but was unable to avoid an injury designation. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to Saturday's tilt. Over the past three weeks, Higgins has found the end zone three times and averaged a strong 15.4 PPR points per game. He has seen 8.5 targets per game during this span and tallied 59.5 yards per contest. Despite battling numerous injuries throughout the season, Higgins has scored an impressive seven touchdowns across ten games. Fantasy managers should start him in all formats if he can play despite facing a tough Denver secondary that has allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
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Drake London Limited On Thursday, Expects To Play
According to Tori McElhaney of the Atlanta Falcons, wide receiver Drake London (hamstring) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice. However, the top wideout noted that he expects to be ready for Sunday night's tilt against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers should monitor his status on Friday in case he faces a setback, but they should plan on starting him this weekend. Last weekend, with rookie Michael Penix Jr. under center, London saw eight targets but could only bring in five of them for 59 yards before exiting early with this hamstring injury. Over his past six contests, London has seen 9.5 targets per game and averaged 71.0 yards per game. He should be considered a solid WR2 in all formats facing the Commanders, who have allowed the 15th-most PPR points to opposing wide receivers this season.
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Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst Listed As Questionable For Week 17
Los Angeles Chargers tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (illness) are listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the New England Patriots. Dissly has been unable to suit up the past two weeks but was able to log a full practice on Thursday afternoon, which is a promising sign. Hurst returned from injured reserve last weekend but could only practice once this week (in a limited capacity) due to an illness. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring their status before Saturday's kickoff. Dissly has shown flashes of potential throughout the season, as he averaged a solid 10.8 PPR points per game during Weeks 7 through 11. If Dissly can suit up, he should see a majority of the opportunities. If Hurst can also suit up, both will limit each other's ceiling. If both tight ends are eventually ruled out, Stone Smartt would get the starting nod and would be a viable low-end TE1 in deeper 14+ team formats.
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Justin Herbert
• QB
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Chargers
