Fantasy Football News

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said on the radio that running back Antonio Gibson will start over Rhamondre Stevenson in the Week 17 contest against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise given Stevenson's fumbling issues. Stevenson only played 32 of the team's 73 plays on offense in last week's loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills and finished with 60 yards and a touchdown, but he also lost his third fumble of the year. Gibson saw a 59 percent snap share , had 10 carries for 28 yards and recovered his fumble. Even though Gibson will be the "starter" in Week 17, we'd expect Stevenson to still be involved. At best, fantasy managers playing for a title this weekend should consider Gibson an RB3/flex in a bad matchup. The Bolts defense has only allowed seven touchdowns to RBs through 15 games in 2024.

Carolina Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young has looked much better late in the season after being benched early on for veteran Andy Dalton. While Young is on the rise heading into a Week 17 divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, he'll be without star running back Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee), who was placed on Injured Reserve. Outside of that, though, Young is set up nicely in his second meeting against a Tampa defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs in 2024, including 4,004 passing yards and 24 total touchdown passes. In the first meeting against the Bucs on Dec. 1, Young had a season-high 298 passing yards and a touchdown in the overtime loss. In the last five weeks, Young has been a top-10 fantasy QB with 1,255 passing yards, six touchdowns and three picks. He's still a QB2 in fantasy, but there's reason to believe he could have another decent game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free-agent outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett on Friday. Barrett will be joining Tampa's 53-man active roster on Saturday in his return to the team. The 32-year-old veteran linebacker played with the Buccaneers from 2019-2023 and was named to two Pro Bowls in his tenure with the organization. He is unlikely to play on such quick notice in Week 17 when the team takes on the division-rival Carolina Panthers, but Barrett should be ready to go by the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. And if Tampa ends up holding on to win the NFC South division, Barrett will provide veteran depth at linebacker into the postseason. Barrett has not played at all in 2024 but had 52 tackles (33 solo), 4.5 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown and three fumble recoveries in 16 starts for the Bucs a year ago.

The Carolina Panthers placed running back Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Saturday, meaning both Mike Boone and Raheem Blackshear will be splitting the backfield work for the final two games of the season. Boone is currently on the team's practice squad, but he'll surely be promoted to the active 53-man roster before Sunday's contest against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. The 29-year-old Boone has only seen seven carries for 22 yards in the four games he's been active with Carolina this year. While he's now going to see much more run the final two weeks, desperate fantasy managers shouldn't expect much out of him the close things out, especially with the Panthers facing a Buccaneers defense this weekend that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to RBs in the last five weeks.

The Carolina Panthers placed lead running back Chuba Hubbard (calf, knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Saturday, meaning that Raheem Blackshear will now be elevated to a prominent role in Carolina's backfield for the final two weeks of the season. The 26-year-old is currently the only healthy RB on the Panthers' roster, but the team will surely elevate Mike Boone from the practice squad for the Week 17 contest on Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers that had been riding Hubbard's excellent season could now pivot to Blackshear, although he shouldn't be viewed as much more than a last-minute RB3/flex pivot in a matchup against a Tampa defense that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to RBs in the last five weeks. Blackshear's role will grow for sure, but he could also be splitting valuable touches with Boone.

New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle, quadriceps) is officially active on Saturday as the team gets prepared to face the visiting Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. Meanwhile, free safety Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) has been ruled out. Dugger continues to play through an ankle injury and recently picked up a quad issue, but he will be active as the Pats look to pull the upset on a Chargers team looking to lock themselves into a wild-card spot in the AFC. The 28-year-old Dugger has 70 tackles (47 solo), one sack, eight tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in 11 starts for the Pats this year and is in play as a starting defensive back in IDP fantasy leagues this weekend now that he's officially active. Peppers will be missing his second straight game and will give way to Dell Pettus and Marte Mapu in New England's secondary.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) is active for the Week 17 game against the New England Patriots on Saturday, but fellow tight end Hayden Hurst (illness) has been ruled out. Both tight ends were questionable on the final Week 17 injury report. Dissly will return after missing the last two games due to a shoulder injury. Hurst has mainly been a blocking TE for the Bolts, so him being out shouldn't really open up a ton more targets for Dissly. Dissly hasn't really been on the fantasy radar in 2024, outside of being a TE streamer during bye weeks, so fantasy managers playing for a championship this week should probably avoid him as a TE2. He could be eased back into the offense and will most likely being sharing playing time with Stone Smartt. Dissly only has one touchdown on the year and is averaging 5.3 half-PPR points per game, which makes him the TE31 in fantasy.

As expected, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) is officially active for the Week 17 game on Saturday at the New England Patriots after he was activated from Injured Reserve on Friday. In addition to Dobbins coming back, the Chargers will be without Gus Edwards (ankle). Edwards being out is good news for Dobbins, although the Bolts could still ease Dobbins back into the flow alongside rookie Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins. The 26-year-old Dobbins has operated as LA's clear lead back when healthy, though, and has a team-best 766 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on a career-high 158 carries already in 2024 through 11 games. Dobbins is returning to a favorable matchup as well, with the Patriots defense being a top-10 matchup for opposing RBs this year. He'll be more risky in his first game back from a four-week absence, but Dobbins should at least be in play as an RB3/flex in fantasy.

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will aim to continue his reliable production in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. While Elliott has struggled from beyond 50 yards this season, hitting just one of seven attempts, his success from shorter distances and the high-scoring nature of the Eagles' offense have kept him fantasy relevant. He ranks fifth in the league with 40 extra points made, a testament to Philadelphia's efficiency in the red zone. Elliott has posted back-to-back double-digit fantasy performances, providing a solid floor for managers in need of a dependable kicker. With the Eagles expected to put up points against a Cowboys defense that has shown vulnerabilities, Elliott remains a strong option heading into this divisional matchup.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra has struggled to make an impact in recent weeks and remains off the fantasy radar as the team prepares to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. Calcaterra hasn't surpassed three receptions or 22 receiving yards in any of his last three starts and failed to draw a single target against Washington in Week 16. While Calcaterra has been on the field plenty, logging over 88% of the snaps and running 92 routes over the last three games, his involvement in the passing game has been nearly nonexistent. With Kenny Pickett under center and the Eagles opting to lean on their star receivers, Calcaterra offers little upside. Even with Dallas's struggles in red-zone defense, he remains a firm sit and is not a viable streaming option for Week 17.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith will look to bounce back in Week 17 when the team hosts the Dallas Cowboys. Smith caught six of his seven targets for 51 yards in Week 16, failing to score for the first time in three games. Despite being a steady presence in the Eagles' passing game, his production has fluctuated due to the team's run-first tendencies and recent quarterback uncertainty. Smith has amassed 197 yards and two touchdowns on 21 catches over his last three outings. The matchup against Dallas presents an opportunity, as the Cowboys rank poorly in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. However, with Jalen Hurts out with a concussion, Smith's ceiling will depend on the efficiency of backup Kenny Pickett. Fantasy managers should consider Smith a low-end WR2/Flex for Week 17.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) 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 Brown targeting him on over 60% of his passes, showing trust in the star receiver. Despite opening this week on the injury report, 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.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.