As we close out the season, the most interesting stories of week 17 aren’t necessarily the standouts for 2023 but those who are vying for snaps in 2024.
QUARTERBACKS
Week 17 saw CJ Stroud return, and Aidan O’Connell made a case to start next season. Sean Clifford threw his first pass, and Jaren Hall got a start.
Aidan O’Connell, Raiders
Week 17: 30-47, 299 yards, 2 TDs | 3 yards
2023: 299-473, 1974 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs | 10 yards, 1 TD
O’Connell had another solid game in his quest to be considered as a starter in 2024. While the Raiders came up short, every win means a worse draft pick and a higher likelihood that O’Connell gets a longer leash. He’s thrown just one interception since week eleven compared to seven touchdowns.
CJ Stroud, Texans
Week 17: 24-32, 213 yards, 1 TD | 4 yards
2023: 193-312, 3844 yards, 21 TDs, 5 INTs | 147 yards, 3 TDs
Stroud is back in the lineup and leading the Texans to another win. His stats this week weren’t fantastic, but a big game wasn’t essential, with Houston winning 26-3. He will round out one of the most impressive seasons for a rookie quarterback next week.
The Rest of Week 17
- Bryce Young – Panthers – 19-32, 112 yards, 1 INT | 2 yards
- Jaren Hall – Vikings – 5-10, 67 yards, 1 INT | 4 yards
- Sean Clifford – Packers – 1-1, 37 yards | -2 yards
- Will Levis – Titans – 2-6, 16 yards
RUNNING BACKS
As the year comes to an end the picture of 2024 is beginning to take shape. Three rookie backs stand out while a group of others are positioning themselves for increased roles.
De’Von Achane, Dolphins
Week 17: 14 carries, 107 yards | 4 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD
2023: 92 carries, 743 yards, 7 TDs | 25 catches, 197 yards, 3 TDs
Achane was the lone bright spot in a tough matchup with Baltimore. He had his fourth 100-yard game of his young career and his most-yard total yards since week five.
Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Week 17: 15 carries, 75 yards | 3 catches, 11 yards
2023: 200 carries, 948 yards, 4 TDs | 51 catches, 384 yards, 3 TDs
Robinson needs just 52 yards to start his career with a 1,000-yard season. He looks to finish as a top-twelve fantasy back with just seven scores. That number should increase in future seasons.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos
Week 17: 8 carries, 44 yards | 3 catches, 18 yards
2023: 72 carries, 404 yards, 1 TD | 31 catches, 160 yards, 2 TDs
There will be some big changes in Denver. However, the backfield looks to be led once again by Javonte Williams. McLaughlin may get more touches next year with Samaje Perine a release candidate. He has just $1.5 million in dead money and would save the Broncos $3 million.
Roschon Johnson, Bears
Week 17: 7 carries, 21 yards, 1 TD | 3 catches, 38 yards
2023: 76 carries, 332 yards, 2 TDs | 33 catches, 209 yards
Johnson is another back who is likely due for more carries next year. Healthy for most of the year, Johnson led the Bears running backs in snaps, but he had fewer carries than both Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman. Foreman is set to hit free agency and is unlikely to return.
The Rest of Week 17
- Jahmyr Gibbs – Lions – 15 carries, 43 yards | 1 catch
- Tank Bigbsy – Jaguars – 10 carries, 32 yards
- Chris Brooks – Dolphins – 4 carries, 12 yards
- Chase Brown – Bengals – 3 carries, 5 yards | 2 catches, 23 yards
- Israel Abanikanda – Jets – 2 carries, 3 yards | 2 catches, 28 yards
- Zach Charbonnet – Seahawks – 2 carries, 2 yards | 5 catches, 39 yards
- Eric Gray – Giants – 1 carry, 2 yards | 1 catch, 6 yards
- Deuce Vaughn – Cowboys – 2 carries, 2 yards | 1 catch, 10 yards
- Tyjae Spears – Titans – 6 carries, 0 yards | 4 catches, 29 yards
- Emari Demercado-Cardinals | 1 catch, 9 yards
WIDE RECEIVERS
Trey Palmer finally showed up, and the race for the number two wide receiver is wide open.
Rashee Rice, Chiefs
Week 17: 5 catches, 127 yards
2023: 79 catches, 938 yards, 7 TDs
The Chiefs wideouts are so bad it’s tough to know whether Rice’s great year is real and can be replicated. He will finish the year amongst the top rookies in catches, yards, and touchdowns, leading the Chiefs wideouts in all three by a considerable margin.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Week 17: 5 catches, 118 yards
2023: 101 catches, 1,445 yards, 5 TDs
Nacua is heading to his first Pro Bowl and shouldn’t slow down next year. One of the bigger rookie surprises is that he’s gone from fifth-round flyer to early-rounder in startups.
Zay Flowers, Ravens
Week 17: 3 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD
2023: 77 catches, 858 yards, 5 TDs
Flowers looks like the WR1 the Ravens have been searching for. He had as efficient of a game as you can have, with three catches on three targets for 106 yards and a score. He closes out the fantasy year with 19+ points in four of his last five games.
Jayden Reed, Packers
Week 17: 6 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD
2023: 60 catches, 681 yards, 7 TDs
Reed was absent last week but is back to having another great week. The Packers wideout group looks clouded as ever with Bo Melton leading the way catching six balls for 105 yards and a score. At this point, other teams need to be looking to see who they release at the end of the next training camp.
Trey Palmer, Buccaneers
Week 17: 4 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD
2023: 37 catches, 375 yards, 3 TDs
I’ve been waiting for this game. I own Palmer in every league, and he’s consistently been present but not stellar. He will head into 2024, finishing with two of his best games. He started every game this season and, despite not putting up great numbers, could retain the role with Mike Evans a free agent and Russell Gage a potential cap casualty.
The Rest of Week 17
- Josh Downs – Colts – 2 catches, 53 yards
- Tre Tucker-Raiders – 2 catches, 36 yards
- Michael Wilson – Cardinals – 4 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD
- Xavier Gipson – Jets – 4 catches, 33 yards
- Demario Douglas – Patriots – 3 catches, 31 yards
- Quentin Johnston – Chargers – 3 catches, 29 yards
- Jordan Addison – Vikings – 3 catches, 28 yards
- Jason Brownlee – Jets – 2 catches, 28 yards
- Jalin Hyatt – Giants – 3 catches, 25 yards
- Malik Heath – Packers – 1 catch, 13 yards
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seahawks – 1 catch, 12 yards, 1 TD
- Cedric Tillman – Browns – 1 catch, 8 yards
- Xavier Hutchinson – Texans – 2 catches, 8 yards
- AT Perry – Saints – 1 catch, 5 yards
- Jake Bobo – Seahawks – 1 catch, 4 yards
TIGHT ENDS
Tucker Kraft is clouding the Packers tight end situation. Sam LaPorta is flirting with a 1,000-yard and 10 TD season, and you have to watch Elijah Higgins.
Dalton Kincaid, Bills
Week 17: 4 catches, 87 yards
2023: 66 catches, 589 yards, 2 TDs
Kincaid was in a race for the top tight end spot before LaPorta distanced himself at the end of the year. Still, his stats are an excellent rookie season, and he is settled into a terrific offense for a tight end. You can see him growing old with Josh Allen.
Sam LaPorta, Lions
Week 17: 7 catches, 84 yards
2023: 81 catches, 859 yards, 9 TDs
LaPorta ran away with the top rookie tight end spot this year. His nine touchdowns were the best in the league. With injuries and age, he’s likely to be the TE1 in next year’s startups.
Tucker Kraft, Packers
Week 17: 6 catches, 48 yards
2023: 26 catches, 303 yards, 2 TDs
Kraft needs 38 yards to pass Musgrave’s yardage for the year. I wish he would have dropped just a bit farther in the draft and ended up in New England or Cincinnati, where he could have been more of a focus.
The Rest of Week 17
- Elijah Higgins, Cards – 2 catches, 21 yards
- Will Mallory, Colts – 1 catch, 19 yards
- Julian Hill, Dolphins – 1 catch, 9 yards
- Ben Sims, Packers – 1 catch, 6 yards
- Brenton Strange, Jaguars – 1 catch, 1 yard
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