Do you have something to play for in week 17? Maybe you just aren't ready to hang up your pads for the 2019 season and want to get in some DFS. Whatever your reason, week 17 is going to be as weird as usual. Here are some backfields to monitor as the weekend approaches.
Mike Boone , RB MIN - The sure fire championship winning waiver add ended up in a three way rotation and game scripted out of his presumed role. He only logged 33% of the RB snaps. There's no telling what could happen week 17 with the injuries in the backfield. It's not a great spot for speculation.
Gus Edwards , RB BAL - The Gus Bus is getting into gear after a Mark Ingram injury. Edwards is a natural replacement for Ingram and he's seen plenty of work all year. He saw 30 snaps compared to Justice Hill's 13. It's a gravy role in a top offense.
Damien Williams , RB KC - We were reminded of why Williams was such a high draft pick this summer in the Chiefs-Bears game. He rushed for a solid 16-65 and went 3-27-1 through the air. His speed in the passing game is deadly. If he can keep earning about half of the KC snaps that's enough for his explosiveness to make an impact.
Kerryon Johnson , RB DET - The coaching staff was true to their word about being smart with Johnson and his role upon returning from IR. He played 16 snaps and rushed 10 times for 42 yards. I'd expect a slight uptick in his work for this week. It's TD or bust for fantasy.
Jordan Wilkins , RB IND - Marlon Mack had a day against the Panthers weak run defense (16-95-1) but Wilkins did plenty of damage himself (9-84-1). That efficiency could continue against Jacksonville. The Jaguars waived the white flag on 2019 weeks ago.
Travis Homer, RB SEA - After Chris Carson was injured Homer absorbed most of his snaps. This is likely a footnote as Seattle has brought in both Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin to plug their backfield leaks.
Matt Breida , RB SF - We talk about a 49er back every week. This week it's for a lack of work. Breida logged zero snaps the week after having a case of the fumbles. He could also be less than 100% healthy. It's hard to see him remain in Kyle Shanahan's doghouse but he's there for the moment.
James Conner , RB PIT - Let this serve as your reminder not to pay a premium for Conner in 2020. His running style is super effective but just takes too big a toll on his body. Conner left this game after 9 snaps with a thigh injury.
Player News
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports there are “multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne.”
Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts.
Broncos signed third-round pick WR Pat Bryant to a four-year contract.
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth $6.6 million in total. Sean Payton compared aspects of Bryant’s game to those of Michael Thomas in his post-draft press conference and there are at least a few similarities in their profiles. Bryant stands at 6'2/204 and ran a 4.61-second Forty at the combine. Thomas measured in at 6'3/212 and clocked a 4.57-second Forty. Though the two have similar physical characteristics, Thomas was known for his proficiency from the slot while Bryant primarily played on the outside as a field-stretcher at Illinois. Bryant’s transition to slot duties may take some time, but third-round draft capital makes him worth a shot in dynasty leagues.
Colts EDGE Samson Ebukam (Achilles) said he is expected to be cleared for training camp.
Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles in training camp last year and did not play in the 2024 season. He broke out in 2023 with a career-high 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He now has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a rebound season as he stares down free agency in 2026