Congratulations if you started Rams RB Kyren Williams in your fantasy championship. The second-year back exploded in Week 17 vs. the Giants, tallying 101 scrimmage yards with 3 rushing TDs on 22 touches. Those who remained patient with Williams in dynasty or picked him up off the waiver wire in season-long leagues were handed a player who ranked second among RBs in PPR points per game (21.2) with a massive average of 23 touches per game in 2023. It’s fair to proclaim him as a true “league winner” this season despite missing four games due to a high ankle sprain. He’ll assuredly be treated as a bonafide RB1 in 2024, regardless of format.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce was held to 3 catches for 16 yards against the Bengals on Sunday. Kelce was unable to get open in what should have been a smash match-up, drawing only 4 targets. Kelce still finishes the fantasy season (for most leagues) tied for the position lead in PPR points per game. But that comes with his lowest scoring average since 2016. Kelce's 14.7 points per contest fall nearly 4.0 short of last year's average. It's no surprise for the 34-year-old to be trending downward at this point. It's fair to wonder, however, how much the season-opening knee injury and then a Week 5 ankle sprain limited him. Kelce probably shouldn't be drafted so far ahead of the rest of the position in 2024, but it's tough to knock him too far when a disappointing year still has him tied for the scoring lead. We'll be very curious to see where he goes in early best-ball drafts. Kelce's likely to be a tough sell in dynasty leagues this offseason.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco ran 18 times for 130 yards and added 7 catches for 35 yards and a TD. When healthy, Pacheco has been the focal point of the Chiefs offense. His speed and receiving ability was on display against Cincinnati. Pacheco led the team in targets and receptions and caught Patrick Mahomes' only scoring toss of the game. Pacheco has likely secured the starting job for at least 2024 and remains under contract through 2025. That said, Pacheco might have to share more work in 2024 than he has with Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire this season. There's potential for Pacheco to be overrated in early best-ball drafting. We'll have our initial 2024 rankings out before the end of the playoffs to help you position him appropriately.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes completed 21 of 29 passes for 245 yards and a TD in Sunday's win over the Bengals. It wasn't a bad outing -- though he did lose a fumble -- though he finished just 24th among fantasy QBs by ESPN scoring. That knocks him down to QB12 in fantasy points per game for the year. The Chiefs almost have to improve their pass-catching corps for 2024. We'll see exactly how they go about doing so. If Mahomes' early best-ball draft position sits anywhere near his 2023 finish, then he'll be a value. We'd bet he'll still go inside the top 5 at the position, though. At that level, it's probably worth going light on Mahomes in early drafts. We certainly don't have any long-term concern for his fantasy value.
Bills WR Stefon Diggs remained a non-factor in Sunday’s close win over New England. Diggs managed only 26 yards, meaning he’s now been held under 50 in four straight. Note: Josh Allen really struggled through the air with only 169 yards on 15-of-30 passing. After the game, HC Sean McDermott was asked if Diggs’ dip in production was concerning. “It is. I mean, he’s our No. 1 receiver,” McDermott said. “Whether teams are trying to take him away or they’re getting the ball spread around and things we can do better offensively. I know this, anytime a quarterback is going through his progression, that’s the right way to go through it, right? And the ball finds the open player, so he’s going to be fine.” OK. Diggs will close out the regular season at Miami, but the real question is where to slot him in 2024 rankings following a second-half slump. We’ll have 2024 redraft rankings/projections available before the Super Bowl.
Bears WR D.J. Moore posted 9 receptions on 13 targets for 159 yards and a score in Week 17 against the Falcons. The veteran wideout ended Sunday with his fifth game this season with 100+ receiving yards, an achievement that marks a career-best for Moore. He’s also on track to post a personal high in PPR points per game (17.3 through Week 17) and already surpassed bests in yardage (1,300) and TDs (8). The addition of Moore proved to be a boon for Chicago’s offense and QB Justin Fields, though the latter’s future still hangs in the balance. Regardless of whether Fields returns as the Bears’ starter, Moore should be considered as a high-end WR2 in dynasty formats. It would be nice if Fields came back, however. It would save Moore from having to play with his 10th different starting QB since entering the league in 2018.
Bears QB Justin Fields completed 20 of 38 passes for 268 yards and a TD in Sunday’s win vs. the Falcons. He also ran for a score and tallied 45 rushing yards on 11 carries in the contest. Though he missed 4 games due to a thumb injury, Fields ranks second among QBs in rushing yards (630) through Week 17 and helped fantasy managers with seven top-12 weekly finishes in four-point per passing TD scoring in that span. It’s evident that he can be a difference-making player, but the largest question looming over him this offseason is still whether or not he’ll be the Bears’ QB in next season. Chicago holds the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and could opt to either part ways with Fields or continue to build the offense around him. It’s reasonable to view him as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in dynasty at this stage, though we’ll be anxiously awaiting clarity surrounding his future. Where he suits up next year will have a sizable influence on how he’s viewed moving forward.
Falcons WR Drake London had a difficult go in Week 17, catching just 4 of 10 targets for 56 receiving yards vs. the Bears. The second-year wideout ends the fantasy season, having posted six top-30 weekly finishes in PPR scoring, two of which were top-5 performances. London didn’t have a terrible season by any means, but he only saw a bump in PPR points per game from 10.5 in 2022 to 11.1 this year. The bulk of his troubles come from inconsistent volume (6.7 targets per game) and the poor QB play from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Still, he’ll be entering his age-23 season in 2024 and did manage to put up consecutive seasons of 800+ receiving yards. London has a chance to see Atlanta make a QB upgrade in the offseason. Such a move would help his case of potentially elevating his value above being a low-end WR2 in dynasty formats, but we’ll have to remain in ‘wait-and-see’ mode on that front.
Bengals RB Chase Brown had just three rushes for 5 yards and 2 catches for 23 yards in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. Those 5 touches marked a slight dip vs. last week but a bigger decrease from Brown's previous three games. Joe Mixon, meanwhile, rebounded from two straight 13-touch games to dominate Brown 25-5 in that category. Brown hadn't reached the point of being usable in lineups in most fantasy formats, and that should continue for Week 18. We'll see whether Cincinnati decides to cut Mixon for cap savings ahead of next season. If so, Brown could get a shot at competing for the top job in 2024. But don't treat him as the likely 2024 starter for dynasty purposes or early best-ball drafting. Keep in mind we're talking about a fifth-round pick who had just 5 total touches before December.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson posted 15 carries for 75 rushing yards in Week 17 vs. the Bears. The rookie was also able to haul in 3 of 4 targets for 11 yards as a receiver in the contest. Though Robinson’s debut campaign had its complications, he’s on pace to become the 17th rookie RB to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards in a season since 2013 and sits as the RB12 overall in PPR scoring. It’s not quite the dominant “2016 Ezekiel Elliott” first season that fantasy managers had hoped for, but it’s encouraging enough to remain optimistic about Robinson as a high-end RB1 in dynasty formats. The biggest potential boon for his value would be if Atlanta chose to move on from HC Arthur Smith after the season and allowed Robinson the opportunity to take on a larger workshare instead of splitting with teammate Tyler Allgeier. Be sure to keep up with us on that front as we head into 2024.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dominated the Dolphins with 321 yards and 5 TDs in Week 17. The five scores tied a career high, and he did so on only 21 pass attempts. Isaiah Likely (2), Zay Flowers, Justice Hill, and Patrick Ricard accounted for Jackson’s TDs against a previously surging Miami defense. Baltimore clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so Jackson – and other key starters – might rest Sunday vs. Pittsburgh.
Bengals RB Joe Mixon ran the ball 21 times for 65 yards in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. He added 4 receptions for 22 yards and a TD. Mixon has been losing work to Chase Brown over the previous four weeks, but out-touched Brown 25-5 in this game. The Bengals have a potential out to cut Mixon after this season. If that happens, the soon-to-be 28-year-old (in July) would be no guarantee to find a new starting gig. Mixon's best bet for 2024 fantasy value would likely be to stick in Cincinnati.
Bengals QB Jake Browning completed 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards and a TD in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. He also ran for 32 yards a TD, which helped power a QB7 fantasy finish for the week. He gets an even tougher matchup in Week 18 against the Browns, who entered Week 17 as the third-toughest QB-scoring matchup by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Expect Browning to remain outside the top 12 in our Week 18 QB rankings. Longer-term, Browning has likely established himself as a solid backup to Joe Burrow. He'll be an exclusive-rights free agent after the season, meaning he'll have to stick with Cincinnati unless then Bengals don't want him anymore.
Packers WR Jayden Reed is questionable to return to Sunday night's game vs. the Vikings with a chest injury. He's been dealing with this issue since Week 12. Reed had a big first half, catching six of eight targets for 89 yards and two TDs. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Reed has been ruled out.
Coming off a season-high 312 passing yards on a season-high 8.7 yards per attempt in Week 16, Panthers QB Bryce Young crashed back to earth in the Week 17 shutout loss to the Jaguars. He completed 19 of 32 passes (59%) for 112 yards (3.5 YPA), 0 TDs, and one INT. That against a Jacksonville defense that entered the week 29th in passing yards allowed. It was Young's 10th game of the season with fewer than 200 passing yards; his ninth under 6.0 yards per pass attempt; and his seventh without a passing TD. It's been a worrisome rookie season for the first overall pick. He's had little help from his coaching staff, offensive line, or pass catchers. But he's also done very little to elevate the offense. Young will be buried in the 2024 redraft QB rankings. And he's closer to a sell-low than a buy in dynasty.
Vikings WR Jordan Addison (ankle) is active for tonight’s game vs. the Packers. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported this morning that the team originally believed Addison would miss multiple weeks with this injury and that he’ll need to be monitored throughout this game. The rookie is a risky fantasy play.
Packers WRs Christian Watson (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest, ankle) are inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Vikings. Jayden Reed is back after missing last week and should lead this WR corps tonight. Romeo Doubs joins Reed as Green Bay’s top two WRs, with Malik Heath, Bo Melton, and Samori Toure behind them.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa didn't sound concerned about his injured left shoulder after Sunday's loss to the Ravens. “Shoulder’s good," he told the media. "Just sore.” We'll tentatively expect Tagovailoa to play vs. the Bills next weekend but keep a close eye on his status throughout the week.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. returned from missing Week 16 with a shoulder injury to regain control of the team's receiving in Sunday's win over the Raiders. Pittman posted an unimpressive 5-46 receiving line on 7 targets. But he drew a target on 30.4% of the team's pass attempts and claimed 33.3% of Colts completions. WR Alec Pierce took his lone catch for a 58-yard TD to lead the team in receiving yards. Rookie WR Josh Downs followed with 53 yards on just 2 receptions. QB Gardner Minshew attempted just 23 passes, completing 15 for 224 yards on a day that found Indy running on more than half of its offensive plays. Pittman looks like the only startable Colts pass-catcher for most fantasy formats in Week 18. Indy faces Houston, which allowed Pittman 8 receptions back in Week 2. Pittman also caught 8+ passes in six straight full outings before the Week 15 game he left early.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith was on crutches and had his right foot in a boot after Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. Teams often put injured ankles in walking boots after games, so this doesn't necessarily mean that Smith is dealing with a significant injury. But he might be. We should get an update on his status within the next 24 hours.
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