Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is off the injury report and good-to-go for Wednesday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The top wideout in the Steel City has been sidelined for the past three games with a hamstring injury. While he was sidelined, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson saw an uptick in opportunities. Before the injury, Pickens was enjoying a nice string of performances with Russell Wilson under center. Since Wilson took the starting job in Week 7, Pickens had averaged a strong 16.0 PPR points per game with 81.2 yards per game. This was a nice improvement over the 10.2 PPR points he averaged during the first six games of the campaign. He should be locked into all lineups as a WR2 on Wednesday facing the Chiefs who have allowed the 15th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Pacheco was expected to be the team's starting running back upon returning from the injured reserve, but that has not been the case over the last few games. The 25-year-old took a backseat to Kareem Hunt in Week 16 against the Texans. Hunt handled more carries and catches while finding the endzone in last week's contest. Pacheco will have to hope the split leans more in his direction this week against the Steelers, who rank 11th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Pacheco is ranked RB35 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a flex option this week. It will be difficult for fantasy managers to trust either running back in the Chiefs backfield if they continue to split opportunities.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Hunt has been splitting opportunities with Isiah Pacheco since his return from the injured reserve, but the split has favored Hunt. The veteran running back handled 11 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 against the Texans. Hunt also caught two passes for 24 yards in last week's contest. Despite being the older back, the Chiefs have decided to lean on Hunt instead of Pacheco. Hunt will hope this usage against the Steelers, who rank 11th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, placing him outside the RB2 range this week. Fantasy managers will have a tough time trusting Hunt in the fantasy playoffs.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is off the injury report and ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Mahomes was listed on the injury report with an ankle injury but practiced fully all week and has been removed ahead of the matchup. The 29-year-old had a good game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, passing for 260 yards with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. Despite entering last week's contest with an alleged high-ankle sprain, Mahomes had his third-highest rushing total of the season. The Chiefs quarterback will look to continue his production this week against the Steelers, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season. Mahomes is ranked QB18 in our RotoBaller rankings, putting him outside of QB1 range in a difficult matchup. Fantasy managers may need to consider other options at the quarterback position.

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Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) underwent X-rays on his ribs after the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders. Pickett was forced into action on Sunday when starter Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion and didn't return to the game. The 26-year-old former Steeler went 14-for-24 for 143 yards with a touchdown and interception in the loss. With both Hurts and Pickett now up in the air to play in Week 17 against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, it's possible the Eagles will have to rely on third-stringer Tanner McKee as the starter this weekend under center. That would obviously be a very bad situation for fantasy managers counting on running back Saquon Barkley or receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. We'll be keeping a close eye on Philly's QB situation leading up to Sunday's contest.

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New York Jets rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu (foot) is heading to Injured Reserve and will have season-ending foot surgery after getting hurt in the Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. More specifically, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Fashanu is dealing with a plantar-fascia injury. The 22-year-old first-rounder out of Penn State ends what had been a strong rookie season early after he settled in as the team's starting left tackle in place of Tyron Smith after he injured his neck in November. With Fashanu now done for the final two games of the regular season, expect Max Mitchell to take over on the left side of the offensive line as the blind-side protector for quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee). Fashanu is expected to make a full recovery and should be ready to go for the team's workouts next spring.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Kelce had another disappointing performance last week, catching five passes for 30 yards on seven targets. The 35-year-old finished third on the team in targets but was fifth in receiving yards. Kelce will look to be more efficient against the Steelers, who rank 22nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce is ranked TE8 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a mid-tier TE1 option this week. Fantasy managers who made it this far in the fantasy playoffs have done so despite Kelce, but hopefully, he can score for the first time since Week 10.

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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur delivered some good news on wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) on Tuesday after he injured his knee in Monday's blowout victory over the New Orleans Saints. "We got good news on him. It's more just a bruise. It's when the guy fell on him on the sideline. Still gotta be able to function. We'll see how he practices this week & see where we're at," LaFleur said. Watson's status for the Week 17 divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings will be determined by his practice participation this week. The 25-year-old avoided a serious injury, though, which is a sigh of relief for the Packers for a player that has dealt with his fair share of injuries early in his career. In a crowded relief corps in Green Bay, Watson hasn't been a top-50 fantasy wideout with 29 receptions, 620 yards and only two touchdowns in 2024. If he plays on Sunday, he'll be a shaky WR4/flex in fantasy.

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New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (undisclosed) will not take part in the team's practice on Tuesday. The Giants are practicing on Tuesday this week and will be taking Wednesday off for Christmas. It's early in the week, so the Giants are likely just giving their star wideout some extra rest heading into a Week 17 tilt on Sunday versus the visiting Indianapolis Colts. The 21-year-old first-rounder has battled several lower-body injuries in recent weeks but hasn't missed any time, so we'd expect him to be good to play this weekend as the unquestioned top wideout for the G-Men. Despite the awful mess at quarterback for the Giants with Drew Lock still the starter, Nabers has seen 28 targets over the last two weeks and has caught 17 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. For fantasy managers battling for a trophy this week, Nabers is a must-start in lineups.

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New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) will not participate in Tuesday's practice. The Giants are holding a practice on Tuesday and taking Wednesday off for Christmas this week. It's early in the week, but Tracy's status is worth watching closely heading into a Week 17 matchup on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after he aggravated his ankle injury in the Week 16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. If the 25-year-old isn't able to play this Sunday, Devin Singletary would be in line for lead-back duties, giving him RB3/flex appeal against a Colts defense that has been gashed on the ground all year. Tracy had only 26 rushing yards on seven carries against Atlanta but salvaged his fantasy day with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown through the air. He's shaping up as a risky RB3/flex in fantasy this week due to his injury and New York's lousy offense under quarterback Drew Lock.

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New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (shoulder) will start again in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Lock made the start in the blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, but his availability was in question for this week after he underwent an MRI exam on his right shoulder on Monday. Apparently everything checked out fine with Lock's throwing shoulder, so he'll make his fourth start of the year this weekend. The 28-year-old has not looked good at all in his three starts for the G-Men, completing 53.33% of his 120 pass attempts for 615 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions while also losing two fumbles. He has run for 117 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but nobody that advanced to a fantasy championship should be using Lock as a QB2 in superflex leagues.

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Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) have both already been ruled out for Saturday's Week 17 divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson will miss his second straight game, while Williams will sit out on Saturday night after injuring his knee in the overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. With the Cardinals being eliminated from playoff contention with their loss on Sunday, they don't have any incentive to put any injured players out on the field for the final two weeks of the regular season. Arizona missing both their left and right tackles against the Rams this weekend is bad news for their offense, and they could also be without lead running back James Conner (knee) as well. It should at least give fantasy managers pause when deciding to start quarterback Kyler Murray.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) is still in the league's concussion protocol but is advancing well. Pierce suffered a concussion in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and was unable to play in the Week 16 win over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. The 24-year-old is recovering, but he'll need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist later this week to have a shot at returning to action for the Week 17 game this Sunday at the New York Giants. The matchup against the two-win Giants is a great one for the Colts offense this weekend, but Pierce would be a pretty shaky WR4/5 for fantasy managers in a low-volume passing attack if he's cleared to play. Quarterback Anthony Richardson only attempted 11 passes in the win over the Titans. When active, Pierce is Indy's WR3 behind Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers designated safety Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday by opening his 21-day practice window. Whitehead is now eligible to return to practice with the team this week, but it doesn't guarantee that he'll come off IR to play in Week 17 on Sunday against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. The 27-year-old was put on IR in late November due to a ruptured pectoral muscle, but he's nearing a return and would give the Bucs secondary a needed boost as they try to win the NFC South division in the final two weeks of the regular season. Whitehead started the team's first 11 games before getting injured, recording 76 tackles (47 solo) and three pass breakups in his return to Tampa in 2024. The Bucs defense is ranked as a top-10 defensive unit for their matchup against Carolina in Week 17.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is in wait-and-see mode for the team's upcoming Week 17 game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. Conner injured his knee in the overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, but not before putting up strong numbers with 19 touches for 166 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals were eliminated from postseason contention with their loss on Sunday, which means the Cardinals aren't going to rush the 29-year-old back this weekend if he's not ready. Conner's status will likely depend on how much he can do in practice this week. Trey Benson (ankle) missed the Week 16 game and Emari Demercado (back) is on Injured Reserve, so if Conner is ruled out, the Cardinals could be down to DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter in their backfield against LA on Saturday.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) said he's "hoping for the best" regarding the knee injury he suffered in the Monday night blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. Watson was injured early in the first half when a defender fell on him at the end of a run. He returned to the game in the first half but eventually was seen being looked at by the medical staff on the sideline and didn't return to action in the second half. Watson is getting his knee examined on Tuesday, putting his status up in the air for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The 25-year-old didn't catch his only target and rushed two times for 23 yards in Monday's game. Already a shaky touchdown-dependent WR4/flex in a crowded wideout room in Green Bay, fantasy managers in championship matchups shouldn't be planning on using a banged-up Watson this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) is listed as questionable for the team's Week 17 game on Wednesday on Christmas Day versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones didn't practice on Sunday or Monday after straining his calf in Saturday's win over the Houston Texans in Week 16. On a short week, the 30-year-old defensive stalwart might not be able to go, so fantasy managers in IDP formats need to have a backup on hand in case the Chiefs rule him out on Christmas morning. Jones being absent this week would be good news for quarterback Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense as they look to get things turned around after a disappointing Week 16 loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. If Jones plays, he could be subject to a limited snap count as well, making him even more risky as a starting option in fantasy.

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee) is uncertain to play in Week 17 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday due to a knee injury he suffered in the Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said he's betting on Rodgers to play, but he's not committing to it early in the week. With the Jets already eliminated from playoff contention, Rodgers isn't going to take any chances with his health in a meaningless game for the team. If he is ruled out for Sunday's game, journeyman QB Tyrod Taylor would make his first start of the year for Gang Green, which would be a downgrade for receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson in fantasy. We'll have a better idea of the 41-year-old's status for Week 17 once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday. The future Hall of Famer has been better of late, but he's no more than a QB2 in fantasy if he plays.

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Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder) appears ready to return to the lineup on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens, and with ample opportunity within the Texans' offense. Wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) joined Stefon Diggs (knee) on injured reserve, opening the way for other receivers behind top target Nico Collins. However, starting Metchie, even against a Ravens defense in the bottom five against fantasy receivers, is a massive risk for managers in fantasy Super Bowls this week. In addition to rostering receiver Robert Woods, Houston added Diontae Johnson off waivers on Monday. Replacing Dell might be a committee approach.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson is off the fantasy radar when the Steelers take on Kansas City on Christmas Day. The veteran has played more than 70% of the Steelers' snaps the past three weeks, but that seems likely to change with top receiver George Pickens (hamstring) likely to return to the lineup. The Chiefs' defense ranks in the middle of the pack against fantasy receivers, but it's difficult to see Jefferson getting enough action in a run-loving Pittsburgh offense when competing for targets with Pickens, receiver Calvin Austin III, and tight end Pat Freiermuth.

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