Browns WR Amari Cooper exploded in Week 16 vs. the Texans, hauling in 11 of 15 targets for a career-high 265 receiving yards and 2 TDs. The veteran’s yardage total on Sunday ranks as the highest recorded mark in 2023, and his 51.5 PPR points stand as the second-highest score single-game score this season. TE David Njoku didn’t post the same kind of eye-popping numbers as Cooper did in this contest (6 catches, 44 yards), though he did find the end zone and extended his TD streak to three games. Both players will have their work cut out for them in Week 17 against the Jets (third in pass defense DVOA), but the strong rapport they’ve built with QB Joe Flacco should be enough to propel fantasy managers toward securing a championship. Start Cooper and Njoku next week confidently.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne carried a season-low six times for a season-low 12 yards in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. He added just 19 more yards on 3 receptions (among 3 targets). That marked Etienne's third straight game with 35 rushing yards or fewer. Etienne gets a positive rushing matchup with Carolina in Week 17 but will be tough to get excited about even in that spot. Check back to see where he lands in our updated Week 17 RB rankings.
Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley racked up 6 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. That marked his biggest production since Week 11 against the Titans. That followed three straight games of 53 receiving yards or less for Ridley. So do we ignore it as an outlier? No. Ridley has drawn 9+ targets in three straight games and 8+ targets in five of the past six. He was bound for some regression. Next comes a Panthers defense that has allowed the third-fewest PPR points to WRs on the season. But Carolina sits just 17th in pass-defense DVOA and allowed TD receptions to Packers WRs Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in Sunday's loss to the Packers. Ridley figures to land in WR2 territory in the final Week 17 rankings.
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield threw for 283 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday's win over the Jaguars. He completed 74.3% of his passes, Mayfield's second straight game with at least 74% completions. It was also his third straight game with at least 2 TDs and seventh among the past nine games. Mayfield gets the Saints in Week 17. He completed 78.1% of passes for 246 yards and 3 TDs in their Week 4 meeting. Mayfield sits inside the top 12 in our early Week 17 QB rankings.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton sustained a concussion in the first quarter of Sunday night's game vs. the Patriots. He'll finish this one without a catch. This is the first documented concussion for Sutton. We'll track his progress through the protocol this coming week.
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin drew a team-high 11 targets in Sunday's win over the Jaguars. He caught six for 78 yards. Godwin trailed WR Mike Evans in receptions and yards and watched Evans catch both of the team's passing TDs. This marked the third straight game in which Godwin drew 11+ targets and led the team. He's a comfy PPR option for a Week 17 home date with the Saints.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson rushed a team-high 12 times for 72 yards in Sunday's win over the Colts. He added team highs in targets (10), receptions (7), and receiving yards (50). That followed his 7-carry, 1-catch Week 15 but marked his fourth game of 19+ touches among the past six contests. Robinson didn't find the end zone, watching RB Tyler Allgeier log the team's only rushing score. That came from 31 yards out, though. Robinson got all four RB opportunities from inside the 10-yard line for the game. That's good. It's less good that Allgeier garnered 9 carries and Cordarrelle Patterson 7 to Robinson's 12. Week 17 takes the Falcons to Chicago to face a defense that ranks third in rush DVOA.
Colts rookie WR Josh Downs drew a team-high 9 targets in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, 24.3% of the team total. WR Michael Pittman's absence obviously helped. Downs caught six (team high) but managed just 39 yards (6.5 per catch). That makes seven straight games of 43 yards or less for Downs. He's not especially attractive for a Week 17 date with the Raiders, whether Pittman's back or not.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor took over the rushing in his return Sunday against the Falcons, claiming 18 of 21 Indianapolis RB carries (85.7%). He managed just 43 yards (2.4 per rush). Taylor also ran just 14 routes in a game that saw QB Gardner Minshew attempt 37 passes and take 6 sacks. RB Tyler Goodson beat Taylor 2-1 in targets and logged the team's only RB catch. It seems goofy from here that Taylor wouldn't garner more of the receiving work. That has been a lighter area for him most of the season. But for that to continue even when No. 2 RB Zack Moss is out seems odd. Perhaps it was related to Taylor coming off thumb surgery. We'll watch for any indication Taylor's receiving usage will improve for Week 17. He also gets a weaker run D in the Raiders (22nd in rush DVOA compared with Atlanta at No. 10).
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (quad, illness) is a "true game-time decision" for Monday afternoon's meeting with the Chiefs, according to CBS' Tracy Wolfson. Jacobs wound up getting in only a limited practice on Friday this week. We'll look for further updates on his status and get Vegas' inactives around 11:30 am ET tomorrow. Zamir White will get another game as lead back if Jacobs is out.
Bears TE Cole Kmet battled through a knee injury for much of Sunday's win over the Cardinals. He played just one snap across Chicago's final two possessions, according to insider Brad Biggs. Kmet still came away from this one with a career-high 107 receiving yards, but we'll need to keep a close eye on his status throughout the coming week.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle was knocked out of Sunday's win over the Cowboys by a third-quarter shin injury. He also missed some time earlier in the game after getting poked in the eye. We should learn more about the shin injury on Monday.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence injured his right shoulder in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Bucs and did not return. "When I landed, I knew something, something was off," Lawrence said afterward. HC Doug Pederson said that Lawrence will have the shoulder evaluated on Monday. We should learn more then. QB C.J. Beathard went 11 of 15 for 94 yards and a score in relief of Lawrence today and will start vs. the Panthers next week if Lawrence is out.
Dolphins S Jevon Holland (knees) is inactive for today's game against the Cowboys. Expect Brandon Jones to start in his place. Jones is a solid fill-in if you had been hoping to get Holland back. CB Xavien Howard (hip) is active after hitting the day questionable.
Jaguars S Andre Cisco (groin) and CB Tyson Campbell (quad) are active for today's game against the Buccaneers. Each remained limited in practice all week and carries some risk, but use them as planned if you've waited for either player.
Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr. (calf) is active for today's game against the Jaguars. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson injured his right knee in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Lions and was ruled out just a short time later. We'll look for further updates on the severity of the injury and Hockenson's timetable for return.
Cardinals WR Greg Dortch (shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Bears. He only got in a limited practice on Friday and would be very tough to trust in fantasy lineups.
Bears RB D’Onta Foreman (personal) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Cardinals. That leaves Chicago’s backfield to Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert. We don’t know exactly how work will be divvied between them, but they both have enough upside against Arizona’s 31st-ranked RB defense to consider as RB3 or flex plays. See where Johnson and Herbert sit in the Week 16 RB Rankings.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (quad) is active for today’s game vs. the Cardinals. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then limited again on Friday, adding some risk to his Week 16 fantasy outlook. But Kmet still sits inside the top 10 in the Week 16 TE Rankings.
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