Fantasy News

Devonta Freeman fumbles at the goal line in loss to New Orleans.

Freeman rushed 11 times for 36 yards and caught two passes for 20 yards. It was the second-straight week that he fumbled at the goal line, but this time it cost the Falcons, as the Saints recovered and never slowed Atlanta back in the game. Freeman is a really good player, but the Falcons would probably do better with Tevin Coleman receiving the majority of the work in the backfield. Fortunately for those relying on the starter in Week 17, things shouldn’t change against Carolina, where Freeman will be more of an RB2 their elite defense.

12/25/17 - 02:21 PM ET

Travis Benjamin gets one touch in Week 16.

Benjamin had a -4-yard carry on his lone touch against the Jets. He’s a risky fantasy option to conclude the regular season next weekend.

12/25/17 - 02:19 PM ET

Matt Ryan, Falcons can’t clinch a playoff spot against the Saints.

Ryan was 22/36 for 288 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed twice for seven yards. Atlanta would have clinched a playoff berth and set themselves up to win the division in Week 17 against Carolina with a win, but New Orleans controlled the game throughout and won 23-13. However, it’s worth nothing that the Saints were on the good end of the worst officiated game of the year, including a would-be touchdown by Julio Jones that was inexplicably not overturned and led to zero points for the Falcons. They still control their own destiny next Sunday for a playoff spot, but things won’t be easy against the Panthers. Consider Ryan a quality QB1.

12/25/17 - 02:19 PM ET

Branden Oliver can’t get much going in Week 16.

Oliver didn’t find much room to run while mixing in behind Melvin Gordon against the Jets, carrying eight times for nine yards. Oliver would enter starting consideration if Gordon’s ankle injury keeps him out for Week 17, but we expect Gordon to play.

12/25/17 - 02:19 PM ET

Melvin Gordon hits 1,000-yard milestone on Christmas Eve.

After he was injured at the end of last season just three yards short of 1,000 for the season, this was a nice Christmas Eve for Gordon in a win over the Jets, as he hit 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his three-year career. In the victory, Gordon carried 19 times for 81 yards and a touchdown along with three receptions for 47 yards. Gordon did suffer an ankle injury at the end of the game, but we’d expect him to be OK. The workhorse back will be an obvious RB1 in Week 17 against Oakland.

12/25/17 - 02:17 PM ET

Brandin Cooks held in check against versus Buffalo.

Cooks caught just two passes for 19 yards, barely passing his 2/17 line from a couple weeks ago. He was able to pass 1,000 receiving yards for the third-straight year, and Cooks will look to pad those stats in the regular-season finale against the Jets. Put him back in the WR1 ranks in all leagues after a rough stretch of matchups.

12/25/17 - 02:15 PM ET

Philip Rivers throws one touchdown in Week 16.

Rivers went 22/40 for 290 yards and one touchdown in the Christmas Eve over the Jets. Overall, Rivers played very well, picking up chunk plays throughout the game even if his completion percentage suffered a bit. The Chargers are now still alive for the playoffs with a win, so Rivers should be locked in against the Raiders in Week 17. He’s a QB1 option.

12/25/17 - 02:14 PM ET