Fantasy Fallout: Week 17

By: Billy Gabelman (StatATL) and Mike Johnson (Mjohnson86)

Welcome to the Monday edition of the Daily Dose newsletter, our “Fantasy Fallout” day. In this article, you will get a quick rundown of the relevant things we learned from the week’s games from Thursday through Sunday. 

We won’t talk about every single player and we usually won’t spend time on studs who go nuts (no one needs to be told to start Saquon Barkley right now!), but rather, the idea is to update you on usage trends, injuries, and other relevant things to help your decisions with your teams.

Chiefs @ Steelers

• Patrick Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three TDs as the Chiefs beat the Steelers 29-10 to lock up the #1 seed in the AFC. They will likely rest both offensive and defensive starters next week.

• Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco left the game in the second half with a rib injury and did not return. With the Chiefs having nothing to play for in Week 18, I would expect Pacheco to sit.

• Jaylen Warren barely out-touched Najee Harris, 16-15, but outgained him by a 112-81 margin. Warren has been much more effective with his touches as the season has gone on and should continue to have a solid role.

• George Pickens returned after missing the previous two games but was held to just 50 yards on three catches. He’s a strong start next week against the Bengals’ weak secondary.

Ravens @ Texans

• Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to a dominating 31-2 to victory over the Texans and set the NFL career QB rushing record (passing Michael Vick) in the process. 

• Derrick Henry continued his dominating season, accounting for 165 total yards and a TD on 29 touches. No pass catcher had more than two receptions as Lamar Jackson only attempted 15 passes.

• The Houston offense struggled in its first game this year without both Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs as C.J. Stroud threw for 185 yards on 31 attempts. Operating as the WR2, John Metchie led the team in targets (with eight). 

Seahawks @ Bears

• The Seahawks had placed RB Kenneth Walker on injured reserve with an ankle injury prior to the game, thus leaving Zach Charbonnet to lead the backfield. He converted 18 touches into 76 yards as the Seahawks did enough to defeat the Bears, 6-3.

• Caleb Williams threw for only 122 yards, which marked the eighth time this season he failed to surpass 200 passing yards. It was also the seventh time he failed to account for a TD. DJ Moore led the way with 54 yards on six receptions, but any Bears WR is hard to trust with that level of inefficiency at QB.

• With the Rams’ win Saturday and the Commanders’ victory over the Falcons on Sunday night, the Seahawks have been eliminated from the playoffs.   

Chargers @ Patriots

• Justin Herbert threw for 281 yards and three TDs as the Chargers routed the Patriots 40-7 in Foxboro. The win secured a playoff berth for Los Angeles.

• J.K. Dobbins returned from injured reserve and immediately picked up where he left off, turning 20 touches into 83 yards and a TD. 

• Ladd McConkey led the Chargers with eight catches for 94 yards and two TDs on 10 targets. McConkey has gone for at least 83 yards in five of the last six games and remains a focal point of the LAC offense.

• Antonio Gibson led the NE backfield with 12 carries for 63 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson only saw two total touches as HC Jerod Mayo had been vocal about his fumbling issues. With nothing to play for next week (except the No.1 overall pick), I would expect Gibson to once again see the lion’s share of the backfield work. 

Broncos @ Bengals

• Joe Burrow continued his strong season, throwing for 412 yards and three TDs (all to Tee Higgins) as the Bengals defeated the Broncos, 30-24, in overtime to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

• Tee Higgins (11-131-2), Ja’Marr Chase (9-102-0) and Mike Gesicki (10-86-0) all saw 12 or more targets as Burrow attempted 49 passes.

• Bengals RB Chase Brown injured his ankle in the fourth quarter and did not return. A situation to monitor, as the Bengals have to beat the Steelers next week to have a shot at the postseason.

• Marvin Mims exploded for 103 yards and two TDs on eight receptions. Mims and Courtland Sutton (5-55-1) were the only Broncos to have more than two receptions, despite Bo Nix attempting 31 passes. This is the second time in the past four weeks that Mims surpassed 100 receiving yards.  

Cardinals @ Rams

• Cardinals RB James Conner suited up despite a knee injury but had just four carries before being shut down for the day. With the Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention, I would expect Conner to miss Week 18. Michael Carter ran for 70 yards on 13 carries in Conner’s absence.

• Puka Nacua had 129 receiving yards on 10 receptions and has out-targeted Cooper Kupp seven out of the last eight weeks. He’s definitely established himself as the primary weapon for the Rams. 

• The Rams’ 13-9 victory, coupled with Sunday’s results, had them punch their ticket to the 2024 postseason, despite a sluggish affair against Arizona

• Trey McBride finally scored a TD, to go along with 12 receptions and 123 yards. 

Cowboys @ Eagles

• Jalen Hurts missed the game, but the Eagles stomped the Cowboys, 41-7, on the back of Saquon Barkley’s 167 yards rushing. He surpassed 2,000 rushing yards on the season and is only 101 back from Eric Dickerson’s all-time record. It’s yet to be seen if Barkley suits up next week.

• The Eagles only attempted 19 passes, but DeVonta Smith exploded for 120 yards and two TDs, his strongest fantasy performance of the season.

• The Cowboys shut down star WR CeeDee Lamb for the season prior to the game and struggled to generate much on offense, as Cooper Rush only threw for 147 yards.  

Panthers @ Bucs

• Baker Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five TDs as the Bucs dominated the Panthers, 48-14. The victory, coupled with Atlanta’s OT loss to the Commanders on Sunday night, has Tampa Bay in the driver’s seat to win the NFC South. They host the struggling Saints in Week 18.   

• Bucky Irving dominated the TB backfield, turning 20 carries into 113 yards while adding another 77 through the air. 

• Mike Evans had another strong outing, converting eight receptions into 97 yards and two TDs on nine targets. He is a top-5 WR option next week against the Saints in a must-win game..

• Adam Thielen posted another strong day, surpassing 100 receiving yards to go along with two TDs. Sunday marked his third game with 99 or more receiving yards in the past five weeks. 

Jets @ Bills

• Josh Allen accounted for three TDs as the Bills routed the Jets, 40-14. They secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC and have nothing to play for next week. I’d expect them to sit some starters next week to gear up for the playoffs.

• Aaron Rodgers struggled mightily, throwing for only 112 yards (and adding two INTs) before being benched for Tyrod Taylor once the Jets were down 40-0.

Colts @ Giants

• Drew Lock led the Giants to a 45-33 victory over the Colts and eliminated Indy from the playoff race. Lock threw for 309 yards and four TDs and added a rushing TD in what was easily the best game of his career.

• The game was also a career best for rookie WR Malik Nabers, who posted 171 receiving yards and two TDs on just eight targets. 

• Anthony Richardson missed the game with a foot injury, but Joe Flacco filled in admirably, throwing for 330 yards and two TDs. Both Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman each topped 100 receiving yards with a TD.

• Jonathan Taylor posted another strong game on the ground, rushing for 125 yards and two TDs on 32 carries. 

Raiders @ Saints

• Brock Bowers’ seven catches for 77 yards gave him 108 receptions for 1,144 yards on the season, eclipsing Mike Ditka’s 1961 rookie TE mark and Puka Nacua’s record of 105 catches by a rookie at any position. A truly special season for Bowers despite Las Vegas’ 4-12 record. 

• Ameer Abdullah led the Raiders backfield with 115 yards rushing on 20 attempts and added 32 yards through the air. He’s likely to lead the Raiders’ backfield again in Week 18.

• The Saints lost their fifth straight game and haven’t put up 20 points since Week 11. The offense has been a mess without Derek Carr, and more recently, Alvin Kamara. Newly acquired Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the backfield with 20 rushing yards on five carries and Kendre Miller suffered an injury.

Titans @ Jags

• Brian Thomas Jr.’s strong rookie season continued, as he amassed 91 receiving yards and a TD on seven receptions as Jacksonville defeated Tennessee, 20-13.

• Tony Pollard missed the game and Tyjae Spears led the TEN backfield with 95 rushing yards on 20 touches. He added eight yards through the air on three receptions before leaving in the second half with a possible concussion.   

Dolphins @ Browns

• Miami QB Tyler Huntley stepped in for Tua Tagovailoa and played very well as the Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive. Huntley’s rushing ability makes him a viable fantasy option, and he could have another big game in Week 18 against a lame-duck Jets defense that is already on vacation.

• Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill had nine receptions for 105 yards as the dominant option with Jaylen Waddle out once again. Hill is finishing the year strong and has a chance for another big game in Week 18.

• Miami RB De’Von Achane split work with others more than usual in a game that the Dolphins were in control of and playing on a wet surface. I would expect a bounce-back game in Week 18 and not sweat the one dud.

• Browns RB Jerome Ford hurt his ankle in the first half and  returned for just one snap in the third quarter before exiting for good. D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong split the work in his absence. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled once again, but WR Jerry Jeudy had a big game thanks to massive usage with 18 targets. The Browns have close to the worst possible matchup against the Ravens in Week 18 on Saturday.

Packers @ Vikings

• The Packers didn’t get the memo about the need to throw the ball more and get it out quickly against a blitz-happy and run-stuffing Vikings defense, as they had only a 45% pass rate in a game that they trailed in for the majority of. They’ll need to figure out their passing game if they want to go anywhere in the playoffs.

• Sam Darnold continued to play at an elite level, passing for over 350 yards and three touchdowns and helping four different Vikings WR/TEs have usable fantasy weeks.

• Vikings RB Aaron Jones suffered a quad contusion and lost work to Cam Akers, who scored a touchdown and had a game-sealing catch on the Vikings’ final drive. We will want to watch the status of Jones heading into Sunday’s showdown with the Lions.

Falcons @ Commanders

• Falcons RB Bijan Robinson had a massive first half before the Falcons were unable to sustain drives and barely got on the field in the second half. Robinson should be in store for a massive workload in a must-win game against the Panthers’ putrid run defense in Week 18.

• Rookie QB Michael Penix threw his first career touchdown pass to TE Kyle Pitts on fourth down late in the game to force overtime. It was the best moment of Penix’s young career and of Pitts’ otherwise mostly miserable season. WR Drake London led the team with 13 targets and was clearly a preferred target for Penix.

• Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was incredible as Washington locked up a playoff spot. TE Zach Ertz continued to be a solid option and had two touchdowns, including the game-winner, while WR Olamide Zaccheaus continued to dominate in the WR2 role with eight receptions, 93 yards from scrimmage, and a first-quarter touchdown.

Join us Tuesday for a Week 18 Team Motivation Breakdown!