CINCINNATI BENGALS
12/25/2025

The Bengals host the Arizona Cardinals this week at Paycor Stadium.

This looks an old-fashioned shootout so play your Bengals, regardless of whether you are playing for a championship or fifth place.
QB Joe Burrow played well last week after being blanked by the Ravens. I fully expect Burrow to be among the top three or four quarterbacks in the league this week.

Now, that may be a bit of a stretch because the last four weeks the Cardinals defense has played well, allowing just two top 12 finishes to quarterbacks. Still I am running Burrow out there regardless of the defense.
RB Chase Brown had a big day last week against the Dolphins and Arizona has not played well against backs recently. The Cardinals have allowed five top 24 finishes to backs over the last four weeks. That means at least one team has had a second back finish in the top 24 for a given week. Brown could be a league winner this week so run him out there with confidence.
RB Samaje Perine is a sneaky play given how bad the Cardinals have been against running backs. He is worthy of your lineup for sure. He is used both in run game and pass game and the Bengals will pass a lot.

WR Ja’Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins are no brainers. Granted, the Cardinals have been tough against the passing game recently so there is risk but these guys are capable going bonkers against any defense. Despite the success the backs may have, you still have to play these two.

As we have discussed over the year, none of the other wideouts on this team are worth play in any situation. WR Andrei Iosivas will get a catch or two but nothing worth running him out there. Surely your bench is not that shallow, right?
TE Mike Gesicki is in a good spot to post some points. Arizona does not play well against tight ends and Gesicki is the likely tight end target hog for the Bengals.
TE Tanner Hudson could get a touchdown in this one so if you do not have one of the big tight ends and just want a touchdown, Hudson is your guy.
PK Evan McPherson continues to be a must play. The Bengals offense when on is really good but head coach Zac Taylor is chicken enough to go for field goals when he should let Burrow and Company go for it.

On the defense side there are several good options in this one. DB Jordan Battle is a secondary leader while DE Myles Murphy is picking up steam as the season nears an end.
LB Demetrius Knight and DE Shemar Stewart are decent plays. QB Jacoby Brissett is taking a goodly amount of sacks and while the Bengals are not exactly sack masters they should be able to get home a time or two.

End.

Mark Huber

---

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
12/24/2025

Hey there Colts’ fans! Here are my thoughts as the 8-7 Colts limp into Christmas weekend for their final home game by hosting the streaking 11-4 Jacksonville Jaguars.

LAST WEEK: A defensive debacle on MNF as Brock Purdy and the 49ers pounded the undermanned Colts 48-27. Rivers was solid, especially in the mental part of quarterbacking the team, but they simply had no answer on defense. The game was actually a 7-point affair midway through the 4th quarter, but a late TD and then a pick-six in desperation time made the score more lopsided than the game perhaps was. The healthier and more talented team eventually won, but kudos to the Colts for their pluckiness. The loss puts them on the precipice of elimination after being the #1 seed at the season’s midpoint.

INJURIES: After weeks of the defensive and quarterback injuries taking center stage, this week the team had to suffer through catastrophic losses on the O-line. With both tackles out already, they lost starting OC Tanor Bortolini (on the third play) and RG Dalton Tucker (in the second half), leaving only one starting lineman in front of an immobile grandfather at quarterback. They did a great job of limiting pressure, although their run blocking was less than stellar. Backup DE JT Tuimoloau also left the game early. Backup QB Anthony Richardson has been practicing in a limited capacity, so if he gets better vision and the Colts are eliminated, it would not surprise me to see him get some work and maybe even start the week 18 game. On defense, DL DeForest Buckner made a return against his former team, but the secondary duo of CB Charvarius Ward and CB Sauce Gardner remain sidelined.

QUARTERBACK: QB Philip Rivers looked better this week and definitely took a few more shots downfield, but it is still obvious that his arm lacks the deep strength it needs to be a viable threat as a passer. He also was brilliant in his adjustments at the line of scrimmage – a testament to his veteran recognition skills as well as to his cerebral approach to the game and preparation in a short time frame. But these amazing accomplishments made him a slightly-above-average fantasy quarterback this week. While he gets a much easier challenge this week in a more beatable secondary, and he likely will have a favorable game script to necessitate throwing, I would find it hard to believe that anyone that is playing in a fantasy championship game is considering him as a starter. He is a viable guy in 2-quarterback systems though, for sure.

RUNNING BACK: This week RB Jonathan Taylor gets the Jags who have been among the best at limiting the fantasy running back; no other back has topped 63 rushing yards yet, and Taylor managed only 74 in a loss a few weeks back. In any case, Jacksonville boasts the best run defense in the league with just 87 rushing yards against per game.While Taylor has crushed Jacksonville when playing in Indy over his career, each of those games were under very different circumstances, although often in late-season scenarios. Amazingly, he is averaging over 180 YPG against the Jags in Lucas Oil Stadium in his career! Nonetheless, it is hard to get excited about him having that ceiling day this week with all the other injuries on offense, but he surely is a must-start in all systems for your championship week.

WIDE RECEIVER: Rivers will be spreading it around too much to make any receiver a must-start option. The short game may make WR Josh Downs (9 targets this week) a decent #3 or #4 in PPR systems, as he could get peppered with short passes; he has been the leading target among receivers for the last two weeks. He was targeted deep on the first play from scrimmage, but WR Michael Pittman seemed to be an afterthought all game. Pittman did have a nice game in week 13 versus the Jaguars, but that was with QB Riley Leonard as the passer and he got a ton of targets that game (and few since). While he has a great history against Jacksonville and he might rebound this week, for me he is too risky of a starter as more than a #4. Similarly, expecting a repeat of WR Alec Pierce’s stunning 2-TD game when Rivers can’t throw far downfield is a pipe dream. Even with a high volume for Rivers possible this week, I would not feel great about any of these guys.

TIGHT END: TE Tyler Warren was a leading option with 9 targets this week, and was Rivers’ top target in his first game as well, so there is surely going to be possibilities. However, those 15 targets the last two weeks combined have only yielded 6 catches for 49 yards. He has a shot, but he is a risk for sure as they still have yet to connect despite a strong effort. He is a decent risk for upside in PPR because the Jaguars have been very generous to the fantasy tight end all season. They have been very strong in recent weeks, including their limitation of Warren in week 13 to 2 catches for 15 yards.

KICKER: The Jaguars have allowed the fewest FGAs in the NFL and among the lowest scoring by opposing fantasy kickers, although they have allowed 2 FGs in each of their last three games. Grupe also has hit multiple FGs in each of his three games as a Colt, including several longer ones. Also he has yet to miss a kick as a Colt, hitting 7-7 FGs and 7-7 PATs. With him kicking ta home and indoors in December, he is a very safe guy with a decent floor, but perhaps not as high a ceiling as a negative game script may negate some decisions to take three points. Solid, but unspectacular option for streamers.

DEFENSE:A week after limiting the powerful Seahawks without a TD, this week they were no more resistance than a wall of shaving cream (remember those old commercials?). This defense is not just beat up, but aside from last week’s aberration they can’t stop anyone right now. To make it worse, the Jaguars have been rolling everyone, including the league’s best defense in Denver last weekend. There is no way I would even consider this unit this week, even in 16-20 team leagues.

OVERALL: Ever since Halloween, the Colts have gone 1-6 while the four closest key competititors for the playoffs have each gone 6-1 or 7-1…and a few of those lone losses were to each other! The wheels have come off this wagon big time and everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. They have played a truly difficult schedule, and since the season’s midpoint they have seemed to hit every team at their hottest moments. Coupled with some crippling injuries…this season never had a chance. Now this week the Jags are vying for the #1 overall seed and the bye while the Colts’ playoff hopes are on life support at best. And in fact, if the Texans win on Saturday night, the Colts will kick off on Sunday already having been eliminated. I have no doubt they will play hard, but they are simply overmatched right now and are looking likely to get curb-stomped this weekend by a team that is on a roll. Jaguars in an easy one, 33-17.

That is all for this week from the Crossroads of America, and the home of the “world’s largest Christmas tree” (or so they say). Good luck to anyone playing in their league championship game this weekend…and a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

End.

Chris Rito

---

DENVER BRONCOS
12/23/2025

Jacksonville 34 Denver 20

The Jacksonville Jaguars played the role of "streak-busters" handing the Denver Broncos a 34-20 loss at Mile High. QB Trevor Lawrence looked like a league-winner as he Lawrence continued his scorching December run with: Passing: 279 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT; Rushing: 1-yard TD run.) He has now accounted for 14 touchdowns over his last four games. WR Parker Washington exploded for a career-high 145 yards and a TD on 6 catches. RB Travis Etienne Jr. had a solid PPR day although yardage was tough to find, he salvaged his day with a 10-yard receiving TD. K Cam Little added two field goals and four PATs.
QB Bo Nix had a frustrating but decent one for fantasy. He threw for 363 yards and 1 TD, but a late interception and a lost fumble dropped his ceiling and most of his damage came while trailing. Rookie RB RJ Harvey provided the highlight of the game with a 38-yard pinball TD run to start the second half. He’s clearly emerging into the back Denver envisioned when they drafted him. WR Courtland Sutton had a usual Sutton day—53 yards and a TD.

Denver @ KC

The Christmas night matchup between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs has been turned upside down. What was supposed to be a heavyweight AFC West battle is now a game defined by major injuries and an emerging backfield in Denver with the fantasy championships (Week 17) on the line. The Kansas City Chiefs are a Fantasy Nightmare with Patrick Mahomes (ACL/LCL) and backup Gardner Minshew (Knee) both ruled out. The Chiefs are expected to start QB Chris Oladokun who has been in the system for years but has no NFL starts. TE Travis Kelce and WR Xavier Worthy’s ceilings take a massive hit. Expect Kelce to sees double-digit targets of about five-yard. Worthy becomes a "boom-or-bust" play on "bust" emphasis on bust if Oladokun can’t hit the deep ball. RB Isiah Pacheco: is the only reliable fantasy asset with KC likely to lean on the run (high-volume RB2). The Chiefs D/ST remain a solid play.

With JK Dobbins on IR, the backfield belongs to the rookie RB RJ Harvey and he is a must-start. of this game. Harvey is emerging as a bell-cow, showing elite pass-catching chops and "home run" speed. QB Bo Nix has been a top-10 fantasy QB in December. He’s using his legs more (4 rushing TDs this month). He is a high-end QB2 with QB1 upside because of his rushing floor. WR Courtland Sutton remains the "Red Zone King" for Denver. He doesn't need 100 yards to be relevant; if Nix is near the goal line, he’s looking for #14.

Fantasy Outlook

Start QB Bo Nix, RB RJ Harvey, WR Courtland Sutton and the Bronco defense.

Orangeman’s Take

Sean Peyton’s game plan against Jacksonville was not good and the problem was exacerbated by him abandoning the run game that was successful early, dropped passes and bad execution. Vance Joseph’s game plan was so bad; it was like having no plan at all. The defensive players exacerbated the problem with poor coverage and unbelievably poor tackling. The NFL is plagued by bad officiating and this game was poorly officiated against both teams. The good news is that Denver still controls their own destiny, beginning on a short turn around in KC and followed by a big game at home against the surging Chargers. They need to swallow the humbling defeat, learn from it, and do their jobs and take care of business.

Happy Holidays to All!

End.

Charles Rives

---

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
12/24/2025

Last week, the Chargers defeated the Cowboys easily by the score of 34-17. This week, things get more difficult, as the 11-4 Chargers take on the 10-5 Houston Texans in L.A. This report will be a review of last week’s win, and a preview of the Texans at Chargers game.

QB: We saw vastly improved numbers from QB Justin Herbert, who went 23-29 for 300 yards, 2 TDs, no INTs, and 8 carries for 42 yards and a rushing TD. While he scored over 30 fantasy points, in his prior 5 starts, in my league, he scored an average of 10.68 fantasy points per week, which is abysmal. Houston has perhaps the league’s toughest defense, so I’m not expecting eye-popping numbers from Herbert.
RB: The injury bug hit the Chargers again, with RB Kimani Vidal carrying 5 times for 11 yards (2.2 YPC average) before exiting the game with a neck injury. Vidal was DNP on the Wednesday practice and is considered day-to-day. Given the injury and tough opponent, I’d sit Vidal regardless of his status. RB Omarion Hampton carried 16 times for 85 yards and had 1 catch for 10 yards. Based on the stout Texans’ defense, he’s a strong RB2.

WR: Not only has WR Quentin Johnston done next to nothing for weeks now, but he was questionable with a groin injury and didn’t even getfull practice the prior Friday, so I suggested benching him. So, what does he do against a soft Cowboys’ defense but lead the team in receiving with 4 receptions for 104 yards and a TD. Go figure. WR Tre Harris is getting more looks with 4 catches for 54 yards and no TDs. WR Keenan Allen had 5 catches for 44 yards and no TDs. WR Ladd McConkey had 4 catches for 43 yards and a TD. I expect the Texans to mostly shut down the Chargers offense, so Harris should not be owned. Johnston is a boom/bust WR3 or FLEX and a caution play. In fact, they’re all caution plays with McConkey as a soft WR2 and Allen as a WR3.

TE: I’m not quite sure what happened to TE Oronde Gadsden, who had been putting up top ten numbers at the tight end position. Last week, he caught 1 for 7 yards and that’s against a poor pass defense. So, I wouldn’t expect much from a strong defense. Bench him.

PK: It was an ok performance from PK Cameron Dicker, who was 2-2 on FGs (long of 37) and 4-4 on extra points. I don’t think this will be a high scoring affair, but if I owned Dicker, I’d probably start him anyway.

DEF: In short, the Chargers have a strong defense, but I’m not expecting a lot against a strong Texas offense. I think that you can probably find a better option this week.

Good luck with your games and Happy Holidays!

End.

Brad Willis

---

DALLAS COWBOYS

The report for this week has not yet been released.

---

NEW YORK GIANTS

The report for this week has not yet been released.

---

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

The report for this week has not yet been released.

---

CHICAGO BEARS
12/24/2025

Week 16: A Christmas Miracle. Bears 22, Packers 16
With the Bears down 16-6 with about five minutes left in the game, it appeared as though the Grinch had stolen Christmas again. The Bears were clearly overly amped up for the game and had made one mistake after another. My dad had already left the living room in disgust. I was miserable as I sat in front of the TV, clicker in hand, waiting for the final nail in the Bears’ coffin so I could change the channel. But suddenly, in a game where everything had seemingly gone wrong for the Bears, everything went right. And a game that was mostly unbearable to watch gave us the most unbelievable ending. Unbearlievable indeed.

This game reminded me of the Minnesota game at Soldier Field from last year. Chicago was down by eleven when QB Caleb Williams threw a late TD pass and two-point conversion, the Bears recovered an onside kick, Williams led a field goal drive to tie the game in the final seconds… but the Bears weren’t able to win the game in OT. Last season, Caleb got the Bears into position to win late multiple times, but either he would falter or his teammates would let him down. Or both. This season, Williams and the Bears have managed to finish the job more often than not, and it’s been incredible to watch.

Quarterback
Williams completed 19 of 34 passes for 250 yards and two TDs and ran three times for 30 yards. For most of the game, Caleb and the Bears just couldn’t get anything going offensively. But with the game on the line, Williams made two insane throws for the tying and winning TDs. The fact that both games against the Cheeseheads came down to the Bears needing a TD on fourth down in the final minute shows just how close these two teams are.

I think Kurt Warner hit the nail on the head on NFL Gameday Morning on Sunday when he said that the Bears still need to be more efficient in the passing game. They can’t expect to struggle for three quarters and then pull a rabbit out of a hat in the fourth quarter every time. Does it make sense that Caleb can be pinpoint accurate on two difficult fadeaway TD passes but can’t hit easy throws at times? Not really. But I’ll say this for him: the guy is special. As he told a reporter in no uncertain terms last week, he can make any throw. And when it’s crunch time, he is cooler than the other side of the pillow. That’s why they call him “The Iceman”.

Running back
RB D’Andre Swift had 13 carries for 58 yards and caught both of his targets for 12 yards. RB Kyle Monangai had nine carries for 50 yards and caught three of his four targets for 43 yards. Trailing for much of the game (and having so little time of possession), there wasn’t much time to get the ground game going.

Wide receiver WR D.J. Moore caught five of his seven targets for 97 yards and a TD and had one run for 12 yards. The guy was absolutely gassed at times late in the fourth quarter as the Bears were trying to rally, which made his game-winning catch TD in OT even more impressive. Nixon from GB was draped all over Moore, but he still managed to make the grab and survive the ground. Moore’s “F the Packers always” quote from his postgame interview was gold, as was the cheese grater hat he wore in the locker room after the game.

The fact that Moore beat Nixon for the winning score was poetic justice after Nixon hammered Moore with a cheap shot earlier in the game. Nixon was also the one who picked off Williams at the end of the game at Lambeau, so there was all kinds of justice being meted out on Saturday night. How did I react after Moore’s game-winner? Remember Tiger Woods’ reaction after he sent the 2008 U.S. Open to a playoff with a birdie on 18? That was me in a nutshell.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus caught two of his five targets for 33 yards but had another big drop. Undrafted rookie free agent WR Jahdae Walker was another one of the heroes on this night, reeling in the tying TD on fourth down in the final seconds of regulation. I figured that he would be active for this game because of the injuries at wideout, but I didn’t expect that he was going to be WR3 over WR Devin Duvernay. A preseason standout, Walker is a great story of a guy who has worked hard and has brought good vibes and the energy of a kid in a candy store from Day 1. It’s easy to root for guys like that.

Tight end TE Colston Loveland hauled in three of his four targets for 30 yards. TE Cole Kmet caught two of his three targets for 14 yards.

Defense/Special teams
The defense had trouble stopping the run all night, and that got even worse when Malik Willis entered the game after DE Austin Booker knocked Jordan Love out. But this unit refused to break once the Packers reached the red zone, keeping them out all five times. CB Nahshon Wright, snubbed for the Pro Bowl this week, had a big forced fumble on one of those drives.

Kicker PK Cairo Santos hit three long field goal attempts and his lone extra point despite howling winds that shook the goal posts at times. He also hit a perfect onside kick that the Bears recovered to keep them alive. For his efforts, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Week 17: Bears at 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
The Bears now head to Santa Clara to take on the Niners in a Sunday night showdown with big potential playoff seeding implications.

Quarterback
The 49ers have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points/game to quarterbacks. After seeing the offensive explosion the Niners put on the Colts on Monday night, I think this game could turn into a shootout. Philip Rivers was able to throw for 277 yards and two scores against San Fran. I have Williams as an above-average play this weekend, but keep an eye on the health status of the receivers..

Running back
San Fran is middling (16th) in fantasy points/game allowed to tailbacks. The Niners were able to hold Jonathan Taylor to 46 yards and a TD on 16 carries on Monday night. I have Swift as a solid flex play, as I think he’ll catch a few passes in this one (Taylor had three catches for 33 yards on Monday). I have Monangai as an average flex. If the Bears fall behind by quite a bit, I don’t know how many carries Monangai will get, and Swift is a much better receiver.

Wide receiver
The Niners have allowed the 14th-most fantasy points/game to wideouts. Alec Pierce had 4-86-2 against them on Monday night, with Josh Downs notching 5-65. WR Rome Odunze (foot) hasn’t practiced this week and seems unlikely to play. WR Luther Burden III (ankle) was limited on Wednesday but says he expects to play. Duvernay (illness) DNP on Wednesday. Moore is a strong play this week in a potential shootout, especially if Odunze is out again. If Burden is active, I have him as a slightly above-average play. If Burden is out, Zaccheaus is an average play, with Walker a very deep league option.

Tight end
San Fran has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points/game to tight ends. Their nine TDs allowed to tight ends is third-most in the league. I have Loveland as an above-average play this weekend, with Kmet an average play.

Defense/Special teams LB T.J. Edwards (glute) DNP on Wednesday, while Wright (hamstring), S Kevin Byard (ankle), and CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee) all were limited. Brock Purdy had five TD passes on Monday night, and Christian McCaffrey is always a problem. George Kittle tore up the Bears when these two teams played last year (6-151), though he’s iffy with a sprained ankle for this game. Considering the potential of a shootout and the banged-up Bears secondary, I have this unit as an average play at best this weekend.

Kicker
The Niners have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points/game to kickers. I’d look elsewhere this weekend.

Merry Christmas everyone!

End.

Richard Fung

---

DETROIT LIONS
12/24/2025

Lions at Vikings

QB: There were a few head scratching plays from QB Jared Goff on Sunday. But the bottom line is that he ended up putting up big fantasy numbers against the Steelers as the game script did not unfold as expected. I was thinking it would be a grinder but the second half turned into a bit of a shootout and once the Lions got down two scores in the second half they threw the ball a lot, and Goff ended up 34 of 54 for 364 yards with 3 TDs and no turnovers, although there were a few throws that were almost picked off. Goff was sacked three times and one of those was for a safety as Goff held the ball too long. This week it’s a trip to Minnesota for a Thursday game. The Vikings beat the Lions in week 9 and they did it by sacking Goff five times with their plan to pressure him up the middle. Goff has 284 yards in that game as they were playing from behind. The Lions’ playoff hopes are slim at this point but they are still alive which should be enough motivation to bring a better effort this time. I expect a close game and solid numbers from Goff this week.

RB: The Steelers took control of Sunday’s game in the third quarter as they held the ball for about 14 minutes to Detroit’s 1. Then when Detroit fell behind by two scores they abandoned the running game in the fourth. It hadn’t been effective anyway but it was still a shock to see the Lions as a team only run for 15 yards. They are supposed to have one of the best running back duos in the league but after pounding teams on the ground the last two seasons, it just hasn’t been there consistently in 2025. The better teams have been able to limit the explosiveness of RB Jahmyr Gibbs. He ran 7 times for 2 yards, but he caught 10 passes for 66 yards and a TD to make his fantasy owners happy. RB David Montgomery got his lowest snap count of the season as Gibbs stayed in with the Lions passing the ball in desperation mode. Montgomery only ran for 14 yards on 4 carries. Minnesota limited Gibbs in the first meeting this year You still have to play him in all formats of course because like we just saw if he isn’t running he will get you PPR points. Montgomery would be a pretty shaky play this week. I will say this. The Lions are usually pretty good about correcting issues from the previous week so I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a concerted effort to stick with the running game this week.

WR/TE: Unlike the previous game the Lions did a better job of spreading the ball around against the Steelers, even getting their unknown tight ends involved. Heck, Jim Nantz wasn’t even pronouncing the name of TE Anthony Firkser correctly. He called him Firsker. That’s how you know we are dealing with unheard of players. Anyway, Firkser caught 4 for 40 and TE Shane Zylstra added 3 for 20. And if you had to guess which receivers scored touchdowns you wouldn’t have guessed WR Kalif Raymond and WR Isaac TeSlaa, but hey it was just one of those weird games. Raymond caught 4 for 62 with the TD and TeSlaa had 4 for 52 with a TD. As for the studs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown was held to 4-54 and WR Jameson Williams led the way with 70 yards on 5 grabs. Keep an eye on St. Brown’s status as he is on the injury report this week with a knee. It’s a short week so of course those are estimations as they aren’t really doing much actual practice. It’s probably nothing considering he finished the game on Sunday and he’s proven to be a guy to can tough it out. The latest word I have heard from the local media is that he is trending toward playing.

K/DST: It was an uneventful day on Sunday for PK Jake Bates with 6 points. Dan Campbell went for it from the 3 yard line early in the game which was not a surprise but Bates lost a chance there. The Lions defense was disappointing getting gashed by the Steelers. How in the world did they allow the Steelers to run for 230 yards? Yes they have been hit by injuries at the safety position and that hurt them in run support but can someone explain to me what the problem is with the front seven? It’s one thing to get torched by the Rams, but to get torched by the Steelers? That’s hard to explain. When it comes to the matchup this week, the Lions will be facing a Minnesota team that is down to their third quarterback. So even with the discouraging results from recent weeks, the Lions defense might be worth consideration in fantasy this week depending on your format or situation.

Good luck to all as we reach the end of the fantasy season.

End.

James Hintz

---

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The report for this week has not yet been released.

---

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
12/24/2025

The Seattle Seahawks are now 12-3 and heading to Carolina still riding the emotional high from one of the greatest fourth-quarter comebacks in franchise history—a grueling overtime classic against the Rams. But with the #1 seed in the NFC is now theirs to lose, this Week 17 matchup is critical.

This contest is another that has "trap game" written all over it. It’s a road game sandwiched between those intense, physical rivalry matchups against the Rams and next week’s finale against the 49ers. Looking past the Carolina Panthers would be a mistake. They are a dangerous team fighting for their playoff lives. Carolina’s playoff hopes could be dashed mid-game depending on the score of the Buccaneers game, which is being played at the same time.
QB - In the win over Los Angeles, QB Sam Darnold threw for 270 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Darnold's clutch fourth-quarter performance against the Rams was a complete reversal from the ugly game he had against the Colts. And even just the second half v. first half last week. This week offers an excellent opportunity to build on the positive and quiet the narrative that he is still "seeing ghosts."
Against the Panthers, Darnold should find friendly skies. Carolina possesses a weak pass rush, which will afford him ample time to operate from a clean pocket. This protection is critical not just for executing the offense, but for allowing Darnold to continue building the confidence and rhythm he found late in the Rams game. The matchup is excellent, but Darnold's inconsistency makes him a somewhat risky fantasy start. He's a high-upside play who could reward managers handsomely, but the floor remains lower than you'd like for a championship week. His success will ultimately be built upon the foundation of Seattle's running attack. RB - Seattle wants its offensive identity to be rooted in a powerful running game, and this matchup against a vulnerable Panthers run defense is a litmus test opportunity. The Panthers' 22nd-ranked run defense is particularly vulnerable between the tackles, creating a clear path for the Seahawks to control the clock and impose their will on the ground. The running back committee of RB Kenneth Walker III and RB Zach Charbonnet stacks up perfectly against Carolina. Walker handles the lead duties and volume. Charbonnet gets the red-zone upside. This is a week to confidently deploy both Seattle backs. Kenneth Walker III is a strong, volume-based RB2. Zach Charbonnet is a high-end Flex play with a clear path to finding the end zone, especially if Seattle builds an early lead. The ground game should create opportunities for Seattle’s receiving weapons. WR - The expected time in the pocket for Sam Darnold directly translates to opportunities for Seattle's now duo of dynamic wide receivers. With Carolina's pass rush unlikely to disrupt his rhythm, Darnold should have the ability to work through his progressions and find his playmakers downfield. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the undisputed primary target in this passing attack. His connection with Darnold has been potent, and against a suspect secondary, he is a clear must-start player in all formats. WR Rashid Shaheed is a high-upside "boom" candidate and a fantastic sleeper play. He has a history of terrorizing the Panthers, and the numbers back it up: he has at least one catch of 40+ yards in each of his last two games against Carolina. Their physical corners are susceptible to speed, making Shaheed a constant deep threat. WR Cooper Kupp profiles as a boom/bust option this week. While he is always a threat to score, his production may be limited if Seattle establishes an early lead and leans on the ground game to run out the clock. He's a risky start whose fantasy output is highly game-script dependent. TE - TE AJ Barner is talented, but his fantasy production is often inconsistent. This week, however, presents a uniquely favorable opportunity. The Panthers' linebackers are extremely poor in coverage. This creates a significant mismatch in the middle of the field. Barner’s crucial 26-yard touchdown against the Rams showcased his ability to exploit the seams, giving him a perfect opportunity to attack Carolina's specific linebacker coverage woes. For managers in deep leagues or those in need of a high-upside replacement, Barner is a solid "flyer." He has a legitimate chance for a decent reception total and is a prime candidate to find the end zone.
K - PK Jason Myers has shirked his role as a dream killer, game choker and is firmly positioned as a key point-scorer. It is a weird feeling for a long-time ‘Hawks fan. Given the high probability of scoring opportunities, Myers is a high-floor, must-start option for fantasy championships.
D -
The Seahawks' defense is the backbone and identity of this team. Over the last two months, they have been playing at a championship level, ranking as the #1 EPA defense in the entire NFL. This unit is elite, featuring the league's #2 ranked run defense and a pass rush that can overwhelm opponents.
This week, they face a dream matchup against the Carolina offense. But despite having lots of flaws overall, the Panthers are surprisingly dangerous on third downs. I think the coaches are just really good at coming up with packages that can catch defenses off-guard in these situations, but somehow cannot do the same thing on the other downs. Seattle's focus will be on not getting outcoached in situational play, but the overall advantages for this team D are overwhelming and QB Bryce Young falters against top-tier defenses. Seattle's devastating pass rush and sticky secondary will make Young's life miserable all afternoon. Seattle’s #2 ranked run defense will shut down the Panthers' running back duo of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, forcing Carolina into predictable passing situations. Seahawks team D is must start with a massive sack and turnover potential and are one of the top defensive plays on the board.
Prediction
While the Seahawks are, by every measure, the much better team, the situational context makes this a dangerous game. With a massive showdown against the 49ers looming next week this is another potential "trap game." Despite that risk, the Seahawks' overwhelming advantages on both sides of the ball—particularly their dominant defense—will be far too much for the Panthers to overcome.
Seattle: 31
Panthers: 17
Go Hawks!
End.

Rick Watts

---

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The report for this week has not yet been released.

---