Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has had a fantastic season in 2024 and will look to keep things rolling against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. He ranks as the overall RB3 for the year, and that's also come with splitting most of his touches with David Montgomery (knee), who recently got injured and is done for at least the regular season. Last week without Montgomery, Gibbs received 23 carries, rushed for 109 yards, and added four catches for 45 receiving yards and scored a touchdown. Gibbs is a must-start in all fantasy formats versus San Francisco in Week 17. He is one of the most electric players in the NFL, and he plays on one of the best offenses in the league. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence as RotoBaller's No.1 overall ranked player in Week 17.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a productive game in the team's win at the Chicago Bears in Week 16. The talented running back rushed 23 times for 109 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown and added four catches for 45 receiving yards. Gibbs lived up to high expectations after holding onto the lead-back role in this matchup with fellow Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) missing this game. Gibbs has been very effective with Montgomery out of the lineup and he looks like one of the top fantasy running backs for championship week next week. The 23 carries are a very positive sign for his future outlook as those were a season-high. If he gets that many looks (23 carries and five targets), he is going to be very hard for opposing defenses to contain.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the clear-cut number-one option in the team's backfield now that David Montgomery will miss time with a knee injury. The versatile running back has a nice matchup in Week 16 at the Chicago Bears. The Bears allow the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and Gibbs should have a strangle-hold on carries for the Lions. Craig Reynolds and even Sione Vaki could factor in a bit in the backfield but Gibbs should get a heavy workload against a beatable defense. Everything is lining up for a big day for Gibbs who should be heavily involved in the passing game as well. Count on the talented running back for big numbers in the fantasy playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba recorded a huge dud in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. JSN caught three of six targets for 32 yards. The Seahawks could not get anything going on offense, and JSN suffered as a result. Quarterback Geno Smith only threw for 160 passing yards which limited the output of Seattle's pass catchers. He also missed Smith-Njigba on a couple of easy throws across the middle that would have boosted JSN's output. Smith-Njigba still led the team in targets this week as he continues to operate as the No. 1 in this offense. The dud is not concerning considering how well he had been playing recently and that the Seahawks' offense struggled as a whole. It is disappointing timing in the middle of the fantasy playoffs. For fantasy managers with championships in Week 18, Smith-Njigba should be able to bounce back against the Los Angeles Rams next week.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in another great position to succeed in Week 17. The Seahawks will travel to Chicago to face the Bears this week. The Bears started the season as one of the best passing defenses, but they have faltered lately. This matchup is a lot better than the raw numbers would suggest. JSN has been a target hog for several weeks and that should not change in a must-win game for the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba has racked up 1,089 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season. He has scored 18.3 or more PPR fantasy points in six of his last seven games. He is on a complete tear and should be a valuable addition to championship lineups this week.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was excellent in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. JSN caught eight of 12 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. The effort earned him his first 1,000-yard receiving season of his career and bumped his touchdown total to six for the season. The effort marked a continued breakout for JSN this season. He enters fantasy championship weekend fresh off two straight 12-target games. That kind of volume will continue to bring excellent fantasy performances. The Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives at this point and will need all hands on deck moving forward. They will travel to play the Chicago Bears in Week 17. The Bears are fresh off allowing Jared Goff to throw the ball all over the yard in Week 16. As such, the Seahawks' passing offense should have plenty of success this week. Expect JSN to continue this breakout next week.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers hauled in 11 of 13 targets for 99 yards in Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie was at it again on Sunday, leading his team in targets, receptions, and yards. No other Raiders pass-catcher registered more than five receptions or six targets. It was another standout performance from Bowers, who registered his fourth game of 10 or more catches. The 22-year-old has already smashed Sam LaPorta's year-old reception record of 86 (101) and stands just nine yards shy of tying Mike Ditka's 63-year-old receiving yardage record (1,076). Astounding. He'll have a good shot at exceeding said record in Week 17 when Las Vegas lines up against the New Orleans Saints on the road next Sunday. Bowers is a locked-in TE1.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. They have one of the worst pass defenses in the last 25 years in terms of passing Expected Points Added per play allowed. That statistic attempts to measure how impactful each play is for the opposing offense. JAX thus allows a ton of big and crucial plays, and does that often. With the team's QB1, Aidan O'Connell (knee) set to return from injury, Bowers will have his preferred signal-caller back in the lineup, and should be fed a healthy dose of targets. This will be another chance for the stellar rookie to shine, and fantasy managers should not leave him out of their lineups in any leagues with tight end slots in starting lineups. He should be started in all leagues this week, as he's primed for a monster game.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers was targeted just six times and caught three passes for 35 yards in the Monday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was starting in place of the injured Aidan O'Connell (knee), simply did not look the rookie sensation's way many times. Ridder has struggled throughout his career, and one way he could have had a better game is if he had thrown it to his TE more. Bowers is still elite, but fantasy managers will be hoping O'Connell can return to action in Week 16. He shouldn't be benched for any reason, but obviously, his ceiling is much lower with Ridder at QB. The Raiders will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the second-worst overall pass defense in the last 25 years, so the rookie TE should bounce back next week.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was plenty involved in the Packers' victory over the New Orleans Saints by a score of 34-0 in Week 16. Kraft caught three of four targets for 63 yards, highlighted by a 30-yard catch in the second quarter to get the ball deep into Saints' territory, which set up the Packers' third touchdown of evening. Kraft's 63 yards and four targets were second on the team for the evening, and he also chipped in with a direct snap that went for two yards rushing. With Kraft as involved in the offense as he is, he's become a solid low-end TE1 for fantasy managers this season. He'll remain in the starting conversation for Week 17, as well, when the Packers head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in a divisional showdown.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had his worst fantasy performance in the past four games and looks to right the ship against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. Kraft has been a solid tight end option for fantasy managers this season but laid an egg last week as he caught both targets for just 34 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. With Romeo Doubs making his return from concussion protocol, the pass-catching group got a bit more crowded with Doubs adding back into a group that features Kraft, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks. Not only that, but Jordan Love and the Packers have featured the run game more prominently. Kraft is going to have to make his opportunities count when he gets them, but he has an excellent matchup with the Saints on tap as the Saints are a middle-of-the-pack defense against fantasy tight ends on the season. Consider Kraft a low-end fantasy TE1 for Week 16.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had a pedestrian night at the office in the Packers' 30-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. Kraft did not see a lot of volume, as he only had two passes come his way. He caught both for 34 yards as he was lost in the shuffle with Romeo Doubs (concussion) returning as another pass-catching weapon for quarterback Jordan Love. Kraft's fantasy value has been solid for much of the season so to leave this dud in the fantasy playoffs is a bit disappointing. The Packers head back home to Lambeau Field and will take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, where fantasy managers hope he is able to put forth more production. Consider Kraft a low-end fantasy TE1 for that matchup.

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.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams stayed atop the NFC West with a 19-9 road win against the Jets, although the veteran's passing totals were not impressive. Stafford threw for 110 yards with a touchdown and an interception while completing 14 of his only 19 pass attempts. Neither offense was very productive in the cold in New York City, but Stafford did just enough to get the Rams their fourth straight victory. He and the Rams come home to finish the regular season with games against the Cardinals and Rams.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off a rough showing, throwing for only 160 yards and completing 59.3% of his attempts in the Thursday night win over the 49ers. He also failed to throw a touchdown after hurling two in each of his previous three games heading into Week 15. The Rams are clinging to the top spot in the NFC West, although the team will need a win over the New York Jets to enhance their chances of making the postseason. Unfortunately, Stafford will have his work cut out for him, with the Jets allowing only 13 passing touchdowns this season. Granted, the signal-caller still has some value, at least in multi-quarterback fantasy formats. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a big day out of Stafford in Week 16.

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson should be avoided in all fantasy leagues ahead of Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. While Johnson did vulture numerous touchdowns from D'Andre Swift earlier in the year, that hasn't happened as much lately due to his reduced snap counts, as well as the fact that he missed multiple weeks due to a concussion. In fact, while the 23-year-old scored six touchdowns over eight games from Week 4 through Week 12, he has not found the end zone since then. He mustered just one carry against the Detroit Lions last week and should not be viewed as a legitimate fantasy option as long as Swift stays healthy.

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) practiced in full for the second straight day this week and is on his way towards clearing the league's concussion protocol and returning to action this Sunday in Week 16 against the division-rival Detroit Lions. Johnson has missed the team's last two games due to a concussion but is trending in the right direction to return this weekend. He still needs final clearance from an independent neurologist later this week, though, to get the final green light to play. Even if Johnson is active against the Lions on Sunday, he won't have any real standalone fantasy value with a lot on the line in leagues this weekend. He's been the clear backup behind D'Andre Swift on game days and hasn't been a reliable producer, although he has chipped in six rushing touchdowns. Perhaps if Chicago's offense was more reliable.

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) was listed as a full participant for the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Despite the estimated practice participation, it appears that Johnson has made notable progress through the league's concussion protocol and will have a chance to play in Week 16 against the division-rival Detroit Lions on Sunday after missing each of the last two games due to a concussion that he suffered in the Week 13 loss to the Lions. If the 23-year-old clears the concussion protocol later this week and is active this weekend, he won't be a realistic starting option in fantasy football as the clear backup behind D'Andre Swift in Chicago's lackluster offense. In his second NFL season in 2024, Johnson has seen just 48 rushing attempts for 139 yards (2.9 yards per carry) and has added 11 receptions for 88 yards in 11 games.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Tillman was able to get through some limited practice sessions this week, but it wasn't enough to clear him for this weekend. Now, Tillman will miss his fifth game in a row due to a concussion. The absence of Tillman should mean that Michael Woods II should start alongside Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy. Woods was held without a catch last week and he hasn't done much with his other starts. Fantasy managers can look elsewhere for help ahead of this Week 17 contest.

Cleveland Browns wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (knee, shin) and Cedric Tillman (concussion) were both limited during practice again on Thursday. This was the second day in a row that the Browns' top two receivers logged limited sessions, which suggests they have a real chance to suit up in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins. Jeudy has not yet missed a game this season, catching 72 passes for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns while ranking as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, Tillman was coming on strong before suffering a serious head injury. The second-year receiver has missed four consecutive games. Ever since Amari Cooper was traded, Tillman had been averaging 5.2 catches, 66 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. While both pass-catchers have garnered significant fantasy appeal at points throughout this season, their intrigue has dwindled ahead of Week 17. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been less than inspiring under center, linking up with Jeudy just twice for 20 yards last week. Both Jeudy and Tillman have decent upside, but they'll drop to the bottom of the WR3/FLEX tier as long as Thompson-Robinson remains under center.

Cleveland Browns wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (knee, shin) and Cedric Tillman (concussion) were both limited during practice on Wednesday. Jeudy has not yet missed a game this season, catching 72 passes for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns while ranking as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, Tillman was coming on strong before suffering a serious head injury. The second-year receiver has missed four consecutive games and could be in danger of missing a fifth. Ever since Amari Cooper was traded, Tillman had been averaging 5.2 catches, 66 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. While both pass-catchers have garnered significant fantasy appeal at points throughout this season, their intrigue has dwindled ahead of Week 17. The primary reason for their reduced value is Cleveland's recent decision to bench Jameis Winston for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, shifting from an offense centered around launching the football and making risky throws to implementing a more composed, run-oriented scheme. Jeudy had one of his worst games of the season in Thompson-Robinson's first start last week, catching just two passes for 20 yards. As the Browns' offense continues to stall and its quarterback lacks dependability, Cleveland's receivers may continue to struggle. Both Jeudy and Tillman have decent upside, but their extremely low floors drop them to the bottom of the WR3/FLEX tier in most leagues.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely was incredibly efficient with his only target of the night on Christmas. He registered one reception for a nine-yard touchdown on one target during the 31-2 blowout over the Houston Texans. The game script called for a lot more carries on the ground (43) compared to pass attempts (17). While both tight ends continue to be viable options for Lamar Jackson, they don't always produce fantasy-relevant games at the same time. Likely will look to find the end zone again in their regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely put up a respectable performance in Week 16 and ended up as the TE9 in half-PPR formats. He saw a 66% snap share and 13% target share against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 17, he'll go up against a Houston Texans team that is one of the tougher teams against the position, allowing 8.2 fantasy points per game. Justice Hill (concussion) and Nelson Agholor (concussion) have both been ruled out though, and Zay Flowers (shoulder) is considered questionable. That means Likely may see a bigger target share and lineup at some more wideout spots in this matchup, making him a bit of a risky play.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely corralled all three of his targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third-year pro scored his fifth TD of the season -- matching his career-best mark from a year ago. His score was a nine-yard walk-in off a nifty misdirection in the first quarter. With quarterback Lamar Jackson brandishing low passing volume again, Likely was stuck with another low target-total outing. However, his yardage mark, target, and reception total were third most on the offense behind wide receiver Zay Flowers and fellow tight end Mark Andrews. While the 24-year-old is tough to trust for fantasy, he's flashed his upside when called upon in a featured role. Likely and the Ravens will square off against the Houston Texans next Wednesday in a road tilt.