If your season long league’s season plays out until Week 17 you’re going to have to maneuver past some obstacles as you try to determine which RBs to include in your lineups this week. DFS players will have the luxury of having all RBs at their disposal as they create their lineups, but even they will have to make careful and wise choices.
As this article is being written, there is speculation as to how much playing time, if any, Rams RB Todd Gurley will get in a meaningless Week 17 matchup against the Cardinals. Fellow RB Darrell Henderson has missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. Malcolm Brown could see some extended playing time out of the Rams backfield, but this is a situation that should be carefully monitored, and probably avoided.
The Steelers need a win in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. They play against the Ravens who will be resting many of their starters but, it looks like there’s a good chance James Conner may be sidelined with a thigh injury in Week 17. Jaylen Samuels has consistently been playing more snaps per game than Benny Snell Jr., but neither player has been lighting it up this season. Snap counts aside, if Conner is out Samuels, Snell and Kerrith Whyte Jr. should split time, making the Steelers backfield one to ignore in fantasy this week.
Last week many fantasy football players were hoping that Vikings RB Mike Boone could lead their teams to a fantasy championship, but unfortunately he was sitting on the bench by the end of his Week 16 matchup against the Packers. It’s looking like Vikings RB Dalvin Cook may miss another game this week and Alexander Mattison is still limited due to his ankle injury. With the Vikings locked in as the number six seed, we may again be treated to a running game consisting of Boone, Ameer Abdullah and C.J. Ham . Stay away!
Will Seahawks RB Travis Homer be this week’s version of Mike Boone ? If you believe Pete Carroll, the Seahawks are going to lean on Homer heavily this week. With Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise hitting the IR this past week, Carroll might have no choice but to turn to Homer in Week 17. The Seahawks signed Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin this week but with both being on the wrong side of 30 and inactive so far this season, it’s unlikely that they’ll have a big impact against the 49ers. Homer had a college career six yards per carry average and would be a more intriguing option if he wasn’t facing the Niners who need a win to clinch the NFC West and a first round bye.
The Chiefs backfield has many moving parts and continues to be one to be wary of. Damien Williams is finally healthy, and led the Chiefs in snaps played in Week 16. He rushed for 65 yards (4.06 YPC) and added three catches for 27 yards, as well as a receiving TD. LeSean McCoy , who was a healthy scratch in Week 16, may be called back into action with the Chiefs having had to send Spencer Ware to the IR this past week. Darwin Thompson will also likely steal a few carries this week as the Chiefs try to clinch a first-round bye.
There are still plenty of good options for you to choose from as you set your season long and DFS fantasy lineups heading into Week 17.
Ezekiel Elliott is a must start every week, and he’ll be trying to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs against a Redskins team that is giving up the third most fantasy points per game to RBs this season.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders will also be trying to lead his team into the playoffs this week. He has scored TDs in his last two games. Sanders is an effective runner (4.72 YPC over his last five games) and receiver (23 catches and two receiving TDs in his last five games).
Niners RB Raheem Mostert has scored at least one TD in five straight games and takes on the Seahawks, who’ve given up the fifth most fantasy points per game to RBs over the past four weeks.
Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake has been on fire of late, scoring six TDS and rushing for 303 yards over the past two weeks. He’s averaged 5.25 YPC in his seven games as a Cardinal, and takes on a Rams team that is playing out the string this week.
Team | Primary RB | Change of Pace | 3rd Down Back | Handcuff | IR/PUP/Susp./Holdout/Injured |
Arizona Cardinals | |||||
Atlanta Falcons | Quadree Ollison/Brian Hill | Ito Smith on IR | |||
Baltimore Ravens | |||||
Buffalo Bills | |||||
Carolina Panthers | |||||
Chicago Bears |
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Cincinnati Bengals |
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Cleveland Browns | |||||
Dallas Cowboys |
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Denver Broncos |
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Detroit Lions | Tra Carson on IR *Scarbrough inactive WK 15 due to a rib injury | ||||
Green Bay Packers |
| *Shoulder injury – watch his progress | |||
Houston Texans |
| Lamar Miller on IR | |||
Indianapolis Colts | |||||
Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Alfred Blue on IR | |||
Kansas City Chiefs | LeSean McCoy was a healthy scratch Wk 16.Spencer Ware &Darrel Williams on IR | ||||
Los Angeles Chargers | |||||
Los Angeles Rams | Malcolm Brown | ||||
Miami Dolphins | Kalen Ballage on IR | ||||
Minnesota Vikings |
| *Watch Dalvin Cook s’ and Alexander Mattison’s progress as game time approaches. | |||
New England Patriots |
| James Develin on IR | |||
New Orleans Saints |
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New York Giants | Javorious Allen |
| Javorious Allen | ||
New York Jets | Le’Veon Bell | ||||
Oakland Raiders | *Watch Jacobs’ progress (shoulder) as game time approaches. | ||||
Philadelphia Eagles | Darren Sproles IR, *Jordan Howard has missed the last fivegames-watch his progress as game time approaches. | ||||
Pittsburgh Steelers | *Watch Conner’s progress (thigh) as game time approaches | ||||
San Francisco 49ers | Jerick McKinnon on IR | ||||
Seattle Seahawks | Chris Carson , C.J. Prosise &Rashaad Penny on IR | ||||
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
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Tennessee Titans | |||||
Washington Redskins | Derrius Guice on IR |
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.