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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Playoff Week 2 | NFL: Week 16

Cardinals RB James Conner (knee) banged up vs. Panthers

Sun Dec 22 7:44pm ET
Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals standout running back James Conner injured his right knee during Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Conner exited in the third quarter while enjoying a huge game with 166 scrimmage yards. He had 117 yards and one touchdown on 15 rushes and caught four passes for 49 yards.

Conner, 29, also reached 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season. His total sits at a career-best 1,090.

Conner has topped 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games and six times this season.

Whether the two-time Pro Bowler will be healthy for Saturday's game against the host Los Angeles Rams isn't yet known.

Also, the Cardinals (7-8) were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Panthers and that could prompt the team to hold Conner out for the final two games.

Conner recently signed a two-year, $19 million extension through the 2026 season.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 16

Player Notes
Travis Etienne Dec 22 7:50pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was out-touched by teammate Tank Bigsby and didn't do much with the touches he got in a 19-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 25-year-old back finished with nine carries for 22 yards and two catches for 15 yards. Etienne Jr. was overshadowed by Bigsby, who received 12 carries, caught one pass, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry compared to Etienne Jr.'s 2.4 yards per carry. Etienne Jr. had been more involved in the passing game the last few games, but his involvement dropped across the board in Week 16. Given the hot-hand approach the Jaguars seem to be using, it is hard to trust him in any must-win fantasy matchup. Etienne Jr. will look to be more involved in Week 17 when the Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Dec 22 7:50pm CT
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp only had three catches on three targets Sunday for 24 yards in the Rams' win over the Jets on Sunday afternoon. The Rams relied heavily on Kyren Williams and the ground game, leaving Kupp with limited work while Matthew Stafford totaled just 110 passing yards. In his 11 games this season, Kupp has caught 66 passes for 681 yards and six touchdowns. It was a step forward from his performance last week without a catch, but he's gone quiet at the worst time for fantasy owners while Puka Nacua has taken over as the focus of the passing attack.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Dec 22 7:40pm CT
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant caught three of six targets for 50 yards in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. Fant earned six targets after earning seven in Week 15. He did a lot more with his receptions this week than he has in recent weeks. It was great to see since Fant had not exceeded 26 receiving yards since Week 7. If you made it this far in the fantasy playoffs with a rag-tag rotation of tight ends, then Fant could be on the radar in Week 17 in Chicago. Still, he is realistically a TE2 due to his lack of touchdown upside and the usual lack of yardage. Tread lightly with Fant despite the solid effort.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Dec 22 7:40pm CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was solid for fantasy in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. Smith tossed two interceptions, but he managed 314 passing yards and just his second three-touchdown game of the season. Smith also attempted 43 passes this week which was his highest total since Week 6. The volume led to fantasy fun for Smith and the various Seahawk pass catchers. The Vikings presented a great matchup for Seattle's passing game so the output is not surprising. However, the interceptions continue to be a problem for Smith. The two picks on Sunday marked his 14th and 15th of the season. It is a huge reason why the Seahawks are falling out of playoff contention. Still, Smith is a solid QB2 over the final weeks of the season. That is especially true in Week 17 when the Seahawks travel to face a Bears team that just got torched by Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Dec 22 7:40pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) was limited to 31 yards on eight carries in Seattle's Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He also brought in an eye-popping eight receptions for 28 yards. Walker left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. He was tackled at the goal line and got his foot caught up in a pile of defenders. Walker was just returning from a calf injury that had sidelined him for two weeks. While not much is known about the injury, Walker was ruled out for the rest of the game relatively quickly. He is slated to undergo imaging on the injured ankle this week. Fantasy managers counting on Walker for championship weekend will need to pay close attention to this injury. If it is a minor ankle sprain, then Walker has a solid matchup in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. If it is more severe, then fantasy managers may once again be looking for a replacement. Be prepared for another Zach Charbonnet game in Week 17. However, with the Seahawks in dire need of a win, Walker could push to play on the bum ankle.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Dec 22 7:40pm CT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was excellent in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. JSN caught eight of 12 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. The effort earned him his first 1,000-yard receiving season of his career and bumped his touchdown total to six for the season. The effort marked a continued breakout for JSN this season. He enters fantasy championship weekend fresh off two straight 12-target games. That kind of volume will continue to bring excellent fantasy performances. The Seahawks are fighting for their playoff lives at this point and will need all hands on deck moving forward. They will travel to play the Chicago Bears in Week 17. The Bears are fresh off allowing Jared Goff to throw the ball all over the yard in Week 16. As such, the Seahawks' passing offense should have plenty of success this week. Expect JSN to continue this breakout next week.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 22 7:40pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf caught his first touchdown since Week 7 in Seattle's Week 16 loss to the Vikings. Metcalf got off to a fast start with 57 yards and the touchdown. However, he was quiet in the second half and was not heard from as quarterback Geno Smith started spreading the ball around. It looked momentarily as if Metcalf was headed towards a monster fantasy day. Even so, seeing Metcalf find fantasy relevance again was encouraging. He earned seven targets which was his highest since Week 9. Metcalf's poor catch percentage continues to be concerning though. He only caught three passes. He will look to improve upon this week in Week 17 when the Seahawks visit the Bears. Seattle is fighting for their playoff lives and will need all hands on deck.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Dec 22 7:40pm CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught eight of his nine targets on Sunday in New York and led the team with 56 receiving yards. While that total isn't impressive overall, he did have 45.9% of Matthew Stafford's total of 110 passing yards on a down day for the Rams' offense in the cold. Nacua didn't get into the end zone or hit 100 receiving yards for the second straight week, but he continues to get enough receptions to remain a strong play in PPR leagues. He has totaled 861 yards on 69 catches in his 10 games this season. He and the Rams come home for matchups against the Cardinals and Seahawks to close out the season.

From RotoBaller

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Dec 22 6:40pm CT
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine had two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-30 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. The situation with Westbrook-Ikhine is getting increasingly complicated, as it previously seemed that when he could find the end zone, he was a very promising fantasy option. His six-yard touchdown reception was the first time he has found the end zone since Week 13. It also took a while for him to get involved, with his score coming midway through the fourth quarter. Currently, no Tennessee wideout is a reliable start for fantasy playoffs, but Westbrook-Ikhine, in particular, should be downgraded as an option solely for deeper leagues in the future. The 27-year-old is a boom-or-bust FLEX in a plus matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Jordyn Brooks Dec 22 6:40pm CT
Jordyn Brooks

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (knee, quadriceps) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the 49ers. The 27-year-old has had a fantastic game, totaling seven tackles and a sack. However, the Dolphins put this game out of reach, so IDP managers shouldn't expect to see him back on the field. But Miami will need him back on the field in Week 17 versus Cleveland. If he's not out there, Duke Riley could see more work.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Ridley Dec 22 6:20pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley hauled in three catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in a Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The looks of these stats can be a bit deceiving. However, Ridley's 38-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter did a lot of the heavy lifting for his final numbers. He saw just five targets for the game-;which was second-most for Tennessee, but still an underwhelming amount for an offense's WR1. Nevertheless, it was Ridley's first time finding the end zone in six weeks, revitalizing some hope for fantasy managers. He's a WR2/WR3 for Week 17 as the Titans head to Jacksonville.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Dec 22 6:20pm CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo caught nine receptions for 81 yards in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, which was good for most on the team in both stats. Okonkwo set a new season high for targets in Week 16, leading the team with 11-;more than double the next-highest. This surpasses his previous single-game high, 10 last week against the Bengals. Okonkwo is bursting onto the scene late in the year, appearing to be Mason Rudolph's favorite option in the passing game. It's worth monitoring Tennessee's quarterback situation in the future, but if this duo can stick together, it feels very promising for Okonkwo. Fantasy managers can view him as a TE1/TE2 for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. The 25-year-old is on the streaming radar and borderline TE1 in a plus matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Baylon Spector Dec 22 6:20pm CT
Baylon Spector

Buffalo Bills linebacker Baylon Spector (calf) is doubtful to return to Sunday's meeting with the Patriots. The 26-year-old has had the best season of his career, totaling 37 tackles and a sack in 10 games leading up to Week 16. He suffered a calf injury, so he'll likely miss the remainder of the contest, meaning Dorian Williams should see more snaps.

From RotoBaller

Kyren Williams Dec 22 6:20pm CT
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams racked up 122 rushing yards and a touchdown on his 23 carries on Sunday and added one catch for seven receiving yards in the road win over the New York Jets in Week 16. He was the focal point of the Rams' offense in the cold in New York and carried the load in the 19-9 road victory. He didn't break any big plays, and his longest run of the day was just 13 yards. However, he continues to post big totals almost every week. He is up to 1,243 rushing yards on the year and 15 total touchdowns in his 15 games this season. Next week, he'll have a good matchup against the Cardinals at home on Saturday night.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Dec 22 6:13pm CT
Keenan Allen

Dynasty | Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had nine catches for 143 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Allen has been disappointing from a fantasy perspective for most of the year, but this was a vintage performance. His 13 targets led the team and his 100-yard output was amazingly the first of his season. His dynasty value has started to sink this year and it's hard to see it rising much this off-season with his age. However, today certainly indicated Allen still has some juice left.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tyjae Spears Dec 22 6:10pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears took 10 carries for 27 yards and two touchdowns while catching three passes for 39 yards on four targets in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Spears notably out-carried his backfield counterpart Tony Pollard, being given valuable red zone touches that led to his pair of scores. He's also proving to be an impact player for PPR leagues, with 11 targets and 126 yards through the air combined in the last two weeks. Spears maintains his status as an RB2/RB3 going into Week 17 as fantasy playoffs continue, and he faces a Jaguars defense that gives up the fifth-most points against opposing running backs this season.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 22 6:10pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard managed just eight carries for 35 yards on the ground in Sunday's 38-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He added five receiving yards off of two catches. Pollard successfully converted a two-point conversion in the third quarter, but only after backup RB Tyjae Spears found the end zone on an 11-yard TD run. It was an absolute nightmare for fantasy managers relying on Pollard for a playoff run, and hands should be hovering over the panic button as Spears gets increasingly involved in the offense. It's starting to feel like Pollard is the worst of the two options in the Titans backfield from now on and should be seen as an RB2/RB3 heading into Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Dec 22 6:10pm CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee scored a dramatic touchdown to help the Rams get a road win over the Jets on Sunday. He finished with just one catch for 11 yards on two targets while playing limited snaps, but he took his one catch into the end zone with a leaping score that snapped a 9-9 tie in the fourth quarter. Higbee had been sidelined since tearing his ACL and MCL last year in their playoff loss to the Lions. He is expected to be the Rams' top tight end option going forward and should build up to a full workload as the Rams finish the season with home divisional games against the Cardinals and Seahawks. Still, he'll be a shaky, touchdown-dependent TE play in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Dec 22 6:10pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) is unlikely to return to Sunday's meeting with the Minnesota Vikings. He missed the last two games because of an calf injury and wasn't a lock to play in Week 16. However, Walker was active and has played well, amassing 31 yards off eight carries and catching eight passes for 28 yards before exiting with an ankle injury. Of course, the concern is if he'll be ready to go when the Seahawks play the Bears in Week 17, assuming he doesn't return on Sunday. If Walker isn't out there, Zach Charbonnet would be on tap for more opportunities out of the backfield.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Dec 22 6:10pm CT
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams stayed atop the NFC West with a 19-9 road win against the Jets, although the veteran's passing totals were not impressive. Stafford threw for 110 yards with a touchdown and an interception while completing 14 of his only 19 pass attempts. Neither offense was very productive in the cold in New York City, but Stafford did just enough to get the Rams their fourth straight victory. He and the Rams come home to finish the regular season with games against the Cardinals and Rams.

From RotoBaller