🏆 It's On! Plus: Team Up With Footballguys To Give Back Up To $10k

Plus - Sam Howell Expected To Start For Commanders  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 12/31/23 ​[Unsubscribe |]( [Read Online]() | [Join]( | [GO PRO](=)​ Howdy {NAME}[,](=)​ Here. We. Go. It's Championship Weekend for tons of folks and we're right here for you. Plus check out the info below as Footballguys is putting up to $10,000 in matching donations for you to give to your favorite cause. Cecil Lammey has the News and Notes you need. Let's Go. J What's New At Footballguys - [The Footballguys $10k Give-Back](=) - Win or lose, Fantasy Football is awesome. And the Fantasy Football community is awesome. And we have an awesome way for you to say thanks and support some great causes. And here's the big news - Footballguys will help amplify your contribution by matching up to $10,000 in donations. You pick the charity, and we'll join you. We've partnered with our good friends Scott Fish and John Bosch at [Fantasy Cares](), and their company is handling all the administration. They're an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, so all donations are tax-deductible. Maybe you want to say thanks to a favorite player who helped you win this year by donating to the player's favorite charity. Or maybe say thanks to Footballguys if we helped by donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Or even more likely, maybe you just want to celebrate a sweet 2023 Season of Fantasy Football by backing your favorite cause from the huge list of options we have. Again, your gift goes even further as all your donations in this Give Back campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Footballguys, up to $10,000 total. Donate today. Let's team up to show just how awesome our fantasy community is. [Click here for details.](=) Inside This Issue [] - [WAS: Sam Howell expected to start](#article-1) - [JAX: C.J. Beathard to start Week 17's game](#article-2) - [HOU: C.J. Stroud to start in Week 17's game](#article-3) - [KC: Isiah Pacheco cleared, expected to play](#article-4) - [CIN - WR Ja'Marr Chase In Question](#article-5) - [HOU: Nico Collins loves big role](#article-6) - [TB: Mike Evans facing tough test?](#article-7) - [KC: Mecole Hardman set to be activated](#article-8) - [BUF: Stefon Diggs has worn out Patriots](#article-9) - [DEN: Russell Wilson was approached by team about contract](#article-10) [] 1. WAS: Sam Howell expected to start [Source: Click2Houston.com - Aaron Wilson]( Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell is expected to start in Week 17, as QB Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) is not expected to play due to a hamstring injury, per source on Saturday, Dec. 30. Our view: Brissett was named as the starter, but a hamstring injury popped up for him on Thursday in practice so the team is back to Howell. This is an odd development to be sure. The Commanders should have gone to Brissett at least a couple of weeks ago, but they didn't even though he's come in for an ineffective Howell and looked good. Now, Howell is the starter and Brissett may not even be healthy enough to be the backup. At this time, Jake Fromm (freshly activated from the practice squad) is in line to be Howell's backup in Week 17. [Back to Top](#top) [] 2. JAX: C.J. Beathard to start Week 17's game [Source: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe]( Jacksonville Jaguars QB C.J. Beathard will start Week 17's game against the Carolina Panthers. Our view: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) is out for Week 17 against the Panthers. Lawrence has been battling through various injuries over the last month or so. He's played with or through most of those injuries, but this shoulder injury needed more time to heal. [Back to Top](#top) The Footballguys $10K Give-Back = Win or lose, Fantasy Football is awesome. And the Fantasy Football community is awesome. And we have an awesome way for you to say thanks and support some great causes. And here's the big news - Footballguys will help amplify your contribution by matching up to $10,000 in donations. You pick the charity, and we'll join you. We've partnered with our good friends Scott Fish and John Bosch at [Fantasy Cares](), and their company is handling all the administration. They're an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, so all donations are tax-deductible. Maybe you want to say thanks to a favorite player who helped you win this year by donating to the player's favorite charity. Or maybe say thanks to Footballguys if we helped by donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Or even more likely, maybe you just want to celebrate a sweet 2023 Season of Fantasy Football by backing your favorite cause from the huge list of options we have. Again, your gift goes even further as all your donations in this Give Back campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Footballguys, up to $10,000 total. Let's team up to show just how awesome our fantasy community is. [Donate Today](=) ​ [] 3. HOU: C.J. Stroud to start in Week 17's game [Source: NFL.com - Grant Gordon](=) Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud will start Week 17's game against the Tennessee Titans. Our view: Stroud has cleared concussion protocol, and he'll be back out there for the Texans after missing the last two games. The Texans are fighting for a playoff spot, and having Stroud out there gives them the best chance of making the postseason. [Back to Top](#top) [] 4. KC: Isiah Pacheco cleared, expected to play [Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport](=) Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (concussion, shoulder) has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to play against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to sources Saturday, Dec. 30. Our view: Good news for Pacheco but it muddies the water for fantasy GMs with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. We still think Edwards-Helaire sees the bulk of the work. [Back to Top](#top) [] 5. CIN - WR Ja'Marr Chase In Question [Source: Chris Roling - Yahoo]() Chris Roling reported: "I'm getting (range of motion) back," Chase said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "It's going to come down to tolerating pain from a hit, for real. If anything, that will be the biggest test. You can't test that pregame. You'll hurt yourself before you play. We'll find out." Chase added this about how the team still being alive in the playoff race plays a part, too: "It's up to me making the decision. Be in the right mindset to play. My body. Mindset. All of the above." Our view: The Bengals kick off Sunday at 4:25 PM ET at Kansas City. The later start makes it tricky. Roling at Yahoo wrote it seems like Chase will give it a go. He's certainly amped up the smack talk with Chiefs. But if Chase is your guy, make sure you have some pivot options if he's not able to go. [Back to Top](#top) [] 6. HOU: Nico Collins loves big role [Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport]( Houston Texans WR Nico Collins has logged nine-plus targets six times this season, and in those games, he is averaging 7.2 receptions for 125.7 receiving yards and has scored five times. Our view: Collins (calf) was removed from the Week 17 injury report and will play against the Titans. With CJ Stroud back out there starting, the Texans' offense should be more robust as they push for a playoff berth. We like Collins as a low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 for Fantasy GMs playing for the championship in Week 17. [Back to Top](#top) [] 7. TB: Mike Evans facing tough test? [Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell]( Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans faces the New Orleans Saints in Week 17, and Evans hasn't had a 100-yard receiving game against the Saints since 2018. Our view: Evans does struggle against Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, and this has been one of the best matchups we've seen in the NFL. When the two teams played back in Week 4, Lattimore and his Saints teammates limited Evans to three catches for 40 yards. The Saints shut down Lattimore with an ankle injury around Thanksgiving, so we won't see these two titans clash in Week 17. However, even though the Saints are still tough defensively we like Evans as a high-end WR2 with upside in championship week. [Back to Top](#top) Help Footballguys Get Even Better in 2024 I've long said there's not a smarter group of Fantasy GMs on the planet than our Footballguys Premium Subscribers. We'd like to hear from you about your experience with our in-season tools and features. We'll put your insights to work as we improve our offerings for the 2024 season. And as a thank you, we'll randomly pick five people who complete the survey who and give them a 2024 Footballguys Hall Of Fame Subscription. [Take the Survey](=) ​ [] 8. KC: Mecole Hardman set to be activated [Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler]() Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) will be activated off injured reserve for Week 17, per source on Saturday, Dec. 30. Our view: The Chiefs need all the help they can get at the wide receiver position with Kadarius Toney out of action and Skyy Moore on Injured Reserve. We'll see how Hardman works into the mix with guys like Rashee Rice and Justin Watson ahead of him in the pecking order. [Back to Top](#top) [] 9. BUF: Stefon Diggs has worn out Patriots [Source: ESPN - Eric Moody]( Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs faces the New England Patriots in Week 17, and since joining the Bills, Diggs has averaged 10.1 targets against the Patriots. Our view: Diggs has seen his targets decline over the last two weeks. He had 11 targets in Week 14, but since then he's had five targets (versus Dallas) and eight targets (versus the Chargers). We should see Diggs get double-digit targets this week against the Patriots, making him a strong WR2 with upside for Fantasy GMs. [Back to Top](#top) [] 10. DEN: Russell Wilson was approached by team about contract [Source: Denver7 Sports - Troy Renck]( Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson revealed that the team approached him during their Week 9 bye and told him that he would be benched for the remainder of the year if he did not surrender the injury guarantee in his contract. Wilson declined to make any contract changes and led the Broncos to three consecutive wins following the bye week, before eventually being replaced by QB Jarrett Stidham after losing three of the last four games. Our view: The dirty secret in the NFL is that it's all about "fit" between a quarterback and the system he's in. Wilson does not fit what Sean Payton wants to run, and that's been completely obvious for most of the year. Stidham is in against the Chargers on Sunday, and we should see Payton's offense more true to design. It's the fantasy championship, so we're not relying on Stidham whatsoever, but don't be surprised if he posts better numbers than some think. [Back to Top](#top) That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J [avatar] Joe Bryant Guide ​ ​ [[twitter]​]([[facebook]​](=)[[discord]​]([[youtube]​]([[instagram]​]( = Written By Joe Bryant. News by Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign Up here](​ ​[Advertise with us](and get your brand in front of 600,000+ football fans [GO PRO](=) [PODCASTS]() [COMMUNITY]( [SHOP]( [CONTACT US]( You’re subscribed as [{EMAIL}](=) . [Unsubscribe here]( Copyright @ 2023 Sportsguys, LLC. 118 N Peters Road, Suite 208. Knoxville, TN 37922 ​[Opt-out of preference based advertising](=)​ ​