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| Sunday, December 24, 2023 |
| You don't need a long intro here, we all know why you opened this email: To set your lineup for Sunday's games. We've got my updated rankings and the latest injury news to help you out there, but I do have a bit of programming to note: We won't have a newsletter tomorrow morning like we usually do. We'll be back Tuesday with Week 17 rankings and waiver-wire targets, but with the Christmas holiday, we're taking a day off before getting back to it. |
| Alright, now let's get to what you need to know for Sunday. And, if you have any more questions, you can head to Twitter and use the hashtag "#AskFFT", where our whole team will be answering questions all morning. Then, at 11:30 a.m. ET, the whole FFT team will be live on the FFT YouTube channel until kickoff answering all of your questions in the chat: |
| Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | RB | WRDave Richard's Lineup DecisionsWeek 16 Position Previews: QB | RB | WR | TE Jamey, Dave, Heath's RankingsMy Week 16 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TECheat Sheets: PPR | Non-PPR |
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| QB rankings and injury updates |
| The injury news at QB is a bit of a mixed bag. C.J. Stroud (concussion) wasn't able to get cleared and will miss his second game in a row, though there is some hope he'll be able to return next week. Case Keenum will start for the Texans again, and it's a downgrade for the offense, but not a bottoming-out. The situation is similar in Tennessee, where Will Levis (ankle) is out, but will be replaced by the capable Ryan Tannehill -- who might not even be a downgrade for the offense at this point. Zach Wilson (concussion) is also out for Sunday, with Trevor Siemian replacing him. I wouldn't be shocked if Siemian was at least decent this week against a Commanders defense that seems to leave a guy wide open 30 yards down the field at least once every week. |
| The good news at QB comes in Seattle and Jacksonville, where Geno Smith (groin) and Trevor Lawrence (concussion/ankle) have both been cleared. Smith has a solid matchup against the Titans and should be an upgrade on Drew Lock, while Lawrence received clearance Saturday and traveled with the team. Barring an unexpected setback, he should be in there against a very good matchup with the Buccaneers -- both Smith and Lawrence are on the cusp of QB1 status, and their presence is good news for their entire offenses. |
| Jalen Hurts vs. NYGJustin Fields vs. ARI Dak Prescott @MIALamar Jackson @SF Patrick Mahomes vs. LV Brock Purdy vs. BALTua Tagovailoa vs. DAL Jared Goff @MINKyler Murray @CHI Jordan Love @CAR Trevor Lawrence @TBBaker Mayfield vs. JAXGardner Minshew @ATLGeno Smith @TEN Joe Flacco @HOURussell Wilson vs. NECase Keenum vs. CLE Tommy DeVito @PHINick Mullens vs. DET Sam Howell @NYJ Aidan O'Connell @KCRyan Tannehill vs. SEABryce Young vs. GB Taylor Heinicke vs. INDBailey Zappe @DENTrevor Siemian vs. WAS |
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| RB rankings and injury updates |
| We'll start out with who isn't expected to play this week: Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), Brian Robinson (hamstring), Zack Moss (forearm), Jerick McKinnon (groin), and D'Onta Foreman (personal) are all not expected to play at this point. Ezekiel Elliott is in the RB2 conversation with Stevenson out, as is Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) in his expected return from a two-game absence. Jonathan Taylor (thumb) is also back from his three-game absence and is in the RB1 range with Moss out. I'd prefer to avoid Washington's backfield, with both Antonio Gibson and Chris Rodriguez in the RB3/4 range of the rankings. |
| The toughest spot to figure out there is Chicago. We've seen little consistency in how they've used their backs recently, but with Foreman expected to be out, we'll see a consolidated backfield split, at least. I'd expect rookie Roschon Johnson to be the lead back for the Bears , but I think it's fair to keep expectations in check; he played 74% of the snaps in Week 12 and turned that into 10 carries, five targets, and 12.5 PPR points. He should have a similar role this week, and it is a good matchup, but I can't rank him much higher than the RB3 range given how little we've seen from him. Khalil Herbert is more of a "pray-for-a-touchdown" play. |
| We've still got some questions about whether Josh Jacobs (quad), Kenneth Walker (shoulder), Alexander Mattison (ankle), and A.J. Dillon (thumb) are going to play, but those aren't complicated situations at this point. If Walker and Jacobs play, you start them; if they don't Zamir White and Zach Charbonnet belong in the RB2/3 range. Mattison and Dillon seem likely to be the smaller part of a platoon in their backfields if they play, behind Ty Chandler and Aaron Jones, respectively, and I wouldn't view either as much more than a desperation RB3. |
| Christian McCaffrey vs. BALBijan Robinson vs. IND Rachaad White vs. JAXJahmyr Gibbs @MIN Raheem Mostert vs. DAL Jonathan Taylor @ATLTravis Etienne @TBTony Pollard @MIAIsiah Pacheco vs. LV Saquon Barkley @PHIDerrick Henry vs. SEA Breece Hall vs. WAS De'Von Achane vs. DALD'Andre Swift vs. NYGTy Chandler vs. DETEzekiel Elliott @DEN Josh Jacobs @KC Chuba Hubbard vs. GBAaron Jones @CARJavonte Williams vs. NE James Conner @CHIDavid Montgomery @MINKenneth Walker @TEN Devin Singletary vs. CLEJerome Ford @HOU Gus Edwards @SF Antonio Gibson @NYJRoschon Johnson vs. ARITyjae Spears vs. SEATyler Allgeier vs. IND Zach Charbonnet @TEN D'Ernest Johnson @TBAlexander Mattison vs. DETChris Rodriguez Jr. @NYJKhalil Herbert vs. ARI Kenneth Gainwell vs. NYGMiles Sanders vs. GB Justice Hill @SF Kareem Hunt @HOUTrey Sermon @ATL Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LVDalvin Cook vs. WAS Samaje Perine vs. NE Dameon Pierce vs. CLERico Dowdle @MIAZamir White @KC Melvin Gordon @SFJaleel McLaughlin vs. NE |
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| WR rankings and injury updates |
| Two of the biggest names on the injury report for Week 16 at WR, Tyreek Hill (ankle), Nico Collins (calf), are in line to return from their injuries Sunday. Hill is right back in the top five of the position in what we're hoping will be a shootout against the Cowboys, while Collins is in the WR2 range while playing with a backup QB. There's some risk here, but Collins' upside makes it worth chasing, in my eyes. |
| A lot of the other injuries for Week 16 at WR are probably guys I'd steer clear of otherwise. Zay Flowers (foot) is a decent WR3 in PPR if he plays, but with that game kicking off Monday night, it might be tough to risk it. Similarly, I'm probably trying to avoid Jayden Reed (toe) and Zay Jones (hamstring), both of whom are questionable, but aren't enough of a sure thing that I want to take the right. There's upside with both if they're active, but right now, we just don't know. |
| Beyond those guys, we've got a bunch of relevant names either ruled out or doubtful, including Michael Pittman (concussion), who suffered a setback in his recovery after being cleared. Christian Watson (hamstring) is doubtful, Marquise Brown (heel) is out, as are Kadarius Toney (hip), Skyy Moore (knee), and JuJu Smith-Schuster. |
| CeeDee Lamb @MIATyreek Hill vs. DALAmon-Ra St. Brown @MIN AJ Brown vs. NYGJustin Jefferson vs. DET Jaylen Waddle vs. DAL DJ Moore vs. ARIDeebo Samuel vs. BAL Davante Adams @KCMike Evans vs. JAX Garrett Wilson vs. WAS Rashee Rice vs. LVAmari Cooper @HOU Devonta Smith vs. NYGBrandon Aiyuk vs. BALNico Collins vs. CLE Terry McLaurin @NYJDK Metcalf @TEN DeAndre Hopkins vs. SEA Courtland Sutton vs. NEChris Godwin vs. JAX Drake London vs. INDCalvin Ridley @TB Jordan Addison vs. DET Tyler Lockett @TENJakobi Meyers @KC Dontayvion Wicks @CARCurtis Samuel @NYJZay Flowers @SF Elijah Moore @HOUAdam Thielen vs. GB Wan'Dale Robinson @PHI Brandin Cooks @MIARomeo Doubs @CAR Demario Douglas @DENJaxon Smith-Njigba @TEN Michael Wilson @CHI Odell Beckham @SFJerry Jeudy vs. NEJosh Downs @ATL Jahan Dotson @NYJDarius Slayton @PHI Jonathan Mingo vs. GB DeVante Parker @DENAlec Pierce @ATL Noah Brown vs. CLEMichael Gallup @MIA Darnell Mooney vs. ARI Rondale Moore @CHINick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. SEA |
| TE rankings and injury updates |
| We've got a couple of tight ends ruled out for Week 16, but you shouldn't be relying on Hunter Henry (knee) and Michael Mayer (toe) at this point anyway. Cole Kmet (quad) is expected to play, and he's in the low-end TE1 range of the rankings if he does. |
| Travis Kelce vs. LVTrey McBride @CHI Sam LaPorta @MINTJ Hockenson vs. DET David Njoku @HOU Evan Engram @TBGeorge Kittle vs. BAL Isaiah Likely @SFJake Ferguson @MIACole Kmet vs. ARI Darren Waller @PHIDallas Goedert vs. NYG Dalton Schultz vs. CLE Kyle Pitts vs. INDLogan Thomas @NYJ Jonnu Smith vs. INDCade Otton vs. JAX Tucker Kraft @CAR Mike Gesicki @DENTyler Conklin vs. WAS Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. SEABrevin Jordan vs. CLE Kylen Granson @ATL Noah Fant @TEN |
| Flex top 100 rankings |
| Christian McCaffrey vs. BALCeeDee Lamb @MIATyreek Hill vs. DALAmon-Ra St. Brown @MINAJ Brown vs. NYGBijan Robinson vs. INDTravis Kelce vs. LVJustin Jefferson vs. DET Rachaad White vs. JAXJahmyr Gibbs @MINRaheem Mostert vs. DALJaylen Waddle vs. DALJonathan Taylor @ATLDJ Moore vs. ARITravis Etienne @TBDeebo Samuel vs. BALTony Pollard @MIADavante Adams @KC Mike Evans vs. JAXIsiah Pacheco vs. LVSaquon Barkley @PHITrey McBride @CHIGarrett Wilson vs. WASRashee Rice vs. LVDerrick Henry vs. SEAAmari Cooper @HOUBreece Hall vs. WASDe'Von Achane vs. DAL D'Andre Swift vs. NYGSam LaPorta @MINTJ Hockenson vs. DETTy Chandler vs. DETDavid Njoku @HOUEzekiel Elliott @DENDevonta Smith vs. NYGEvan Engram @TBJosh Jacobs @KCBrandon Aiyuk vs. BAL Chuba Hubbard vs. GBAaron Jones @CARNico Collins vs. CLETerry McLaurin @NYJJavonte Williams vs. NEJames Conner @CHIDK Metcalf @TENDeAndre Hopkins vs. SEACourtland Sutton vs. NEDavid Montgomery @MIN George Kittle vs. BALChris Godwin vs. JAXDrake London vs. INDCalvin Ridley @TBKenneth Walker @TENJordan Addison vs. DETDevin Singletary vs. CLEJerome Ford @HOUIsaiah Likely @SFTyler Lockett @TEN Jakobi Meyers @KCDontayvion Wicks @CARGus Edwards @SFCurtis Samuel @NYJZay Flowers @SFElijah Moore @HOUJake Ferguson @MIAAdam Thielen vs. GBWan'Dale Robinson @PHIBrandin Cooks @MIA Romeo Doubs @CARRoschon Johnson vs. ARICole Kmet vs. ARIDemario Douglas @DENDarren Waller @PHIJaxon Smith-Njigba @TENAntonio Gibson @NYJMichael Wilson @CHITyjae Spears vs. SEADallas Goedert vs. NYG Odell Beckham @SFDalton Schultz vs. CLEJerry Jeudy vs. NETyler Allgeier vs. INDZach Charbonnet @TENKyle Pitts vs. INDJosh Downs @ATLLogan Thomas @NYJJahan Dotson @NYJJonnu Smith vs. IND D'Ernest Johnson @TBCade Otton vs. JAXJonathan Mingo vs. GBAlexander Mattison vs. DETDeVante Parker @DENAlec Pierce @ATLNoah Brown vs. CLEChris Rodriguez Jr. @NYJTucker Kraft @CARKhalil Herbert vs. ARI Kenneth Gainwell vs. NYGMiles Sanders vs. GB |
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