5 bold predictions (week 17)

Featuring Jonathan Taylor, Brian Thomas Jr., and more.

December 26, 2025

Yooo!

Hope you made it through an ugly Christmas slate with your fantasy championship dreams still in tact.

I ended up making it to the finals in two leagues, and after yesterday’s games, I have a 66% win probability in one league and a 47% chance in the other.

In the 66% league, I have Fannin and Kittle, who both might not play now. So there’s a very real chance my championship lineup could include Kyren Williams AND Blake Corum.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I also have Puka Nacua, and my opponent has Matt Stafford.

Fun stuff.

Alright, now let’s dive into 5 bold predictions for week 17.

Giddy up.

RB - Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)

  • Stevenson has recently taken a backseat to TreVeyon Henderson but has been efficient in his last two games, combining for 14 carries and 101 yards against the Ravens and Bills.

  • With Henderson potentially limited due to a concussion, Stevenson may be forced to carry the load for the Patriots in a game where they are double-digit favorites against the Jets, suggesting potential for increased rushing volume.

  • The article predicts Stevenson will finish as a top-10 running back, particularly appealing given the Jets rank 30th in fantasy points allowed to running backs, creating a favorable matchup for a strong performance.

RB - James Cook (BUF)

  • James Cook III has been one of the best fantasy values this season, but Week 17 presents a potentially challenging matchup against the Eagles with a tight 1.5-point spread. His previous success has largely come from positive game scripts where Buffalo was playing from ahead.

  • THE BLITZ projects Cook to have 18.1 carries, 1.8 receptions, and 102 yards, but cautions that the close game and slow pace might limit his typical ground production. His pass-game usage has historically been unimpressive, which could further impact his fantasy output.

  • The Bills' low implied team total of 21.5 points suggests Cook may struggle to deliver the kind of high-impact performance fantasy managers have grown accustomed to throughout the season.

TE - Elijah Higgins (ARI)

  • Elijah Higgins is boldly predicted to finish as a top-15 tight end in half-PPR formats in Week 17, following a breakout performance against the Falcons where he scored 12.6 half-PPR points. His underlying data is intriguing, with a 75.8% route participation rate, 22.6% target share, and 0.28 targets per route run.

  • Higgins faces an extremely favorable matchup against the Bengals, who have allowed a league-high 18.6 half-PPR points per game to tight ends this season. His previous week's performance included seven receptions, 91 receiving yards, and a notable 21.1% first-read rate.

  • The article suggests Higgins could be a valuable pickup, especially for fantasy managers waiting on news about George Kittle's availability. His potential to capitalize on the Bengals' vulnerable tight end defense makes him an intriguing streaming option for Week 17.

RB - Jonathan Taylor (IND)

  • Jonathan Taylor is facing a challenging matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, with experts advising managers to temper expectations. While he shouldn't be benched entirely, Taylor has cooled off significantly since his hot start earlier in the season.

  • After a strong beginning where he had five 100+ yard games in the first 10 weeks, Taylor has struggled since the Week 11 bye. He has failed to reach 100 yards on the ground in any game during that period, indicating a potential decline in performance.

  • The Jaguars present a particularly tough challenge, boasting the league's best run defense by allowing just 87.3 yards per game and the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Experts predict Taylor is likely to finish as an RB2 again.

WR - Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX)

  • Brian Thomas Jr. is characterized as potentially the biggest fantasy football bust this year, with the article acknowledging he might have disappointed many draft investors.

  • The article predicts Thomas will finish as a top-15 wide receiver, primarily due to a promising matchup against the Colts, a defense that recently struggled against the 49ers' passing game and ranks 29th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.

  • Thomas has historically performed well against the Colts, with the article noting he has consistently achieved at least 80 yards in three previous games against this defense, suggesting potential for a bounce-back performance.

Will BTJ finish as a top-15 WR this week?

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That’s all for tonight!

See ya pizza,

Joe

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