NFL Player News

Claypool caught four passes for 41 yards on six targets against Kansas City on Sunday.

Claypool was Pittsburgh's most efficient wide receiver Sunday, but he saw fewer targets than Diontae Johnson (nine) and Ray-Ray McCloud (eight), who respectively produced 51 and 25 yards with their usage. Claypool might have more work to do to get out of coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse, but McCloud's reliably poor returns might give reason for the Steelers to reconsider any punitive playing time reductions to Claypool in the future. The Steelers face the Browns -- against whom Claypool caught four passes for 45 yards and ran for 16 yards on two carries when he saw them in Week 8 earlier this year -- in Week 17.

Newsome caught a 10-yard pass in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

After playing 66 percent of the snaps in Week 15 against the Vikings, Newsome was active but saw less playing time with Marquise Goodwin (foot) returning to the lineup. Although he could be active against the Giants in Week 17, he won't be a recommended fantasy option.

Byrd caught one pass for 11 yards in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Byrd actually won the game for the Bears by catching a two-point conversion in heavy traffic with less than a minute remaining in the contest. Otherwise, he was fourth on the team with three targets, and with Marquise Goodwin (foot) having returned to the lineup, Byrd broke a trend that saw him average five targets over the last four weeks. It's likely his role in the offense remains minor in Week 17 against the Giants.

Johnson caught six passes for 51 yards and one touchdown on nine targets against Kansas City on Sunday.

The touchdown occurred late during garbage time in a game during which the Steelers were pummeled 36-10, and Johnson lost a fumble without being touched earlier in the game, but the rougher points in his Sunday performance can be excused given the difficulty of the circumstances. Ben Roethlisberger couldn't get anything going against the Chiefs defense, and Johnson had only moderate success as a result. Johnson's sky-high target rate gives him a good chance to come through again for his fantasy investors even if Roethlisberger struggles against Cleveland in Week 17. The wideout caught six passes for 98 yards on 13 targets against Cleveland in Week 8 this year.

Goodwin caught two passes for 23 yards in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

With Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery seeing more than half of Nick Foles' passing attempts, there was very little left to go around, and Goodwin was one of five Bears to see two or three targets. With four or fewer targets in all but one game he's played this season, he'll have the potential for a low-floor scoring performance in Week 17 against the Giants.

Metcalf caught two of five targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Bears.

It was another low-volume performance for Metcalf, but he did manage to score his first TD since Week 8 by hauling in a 41-yard strike from Russell Wilson in the first quarter. Metcalf hasn't topped 60 receiving yards in eight straight games, giving him little momentum heading into a Week 17 clash with the Lions, but he needs 146 yards over the Seahawks' last two contests for his second straight 1,000-yard season.

Hill caught two passes for 19 yards on two targets against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

It's possible that Hill's inability to practice this week (illness) left him with a decreased presence in the game plan, though the ease with which the Chiefs won (36-10) might have also played a role. The Chiefs put the Steelers away easily even without using Hill, but to beat the Bengals in Week 17 the Chiefs will likely need to reappoint Hill as their workhorse receiver. With that, a return to high-level fantasy production for Hill becomes more likely than not.

Lockett caught three of six targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Bears.

On a snowy day in Seattle, the Seahawks' passing game was mostly quiet, leading to one of Lockett's worst performances of the season. The veteran wideout is on the cusp of a couple milestones, however, as he needs only five more receiving yards and one touchdown to set new career single-season highs in both categories, giving him something to play for in Week 17 against the Lions even with the Seahawks eliminated from postseason contention.

Watkins secured all three targets for 43 yards in the Eagles' 34-10 win over the Giants on Sunday.

Watkins checked in second behind DeVonta Smith in receptions and receiving yardage, and while his perfect catch rate was a highlight, he did get whistled for holding on what would have been a Dallas Goedert touchdown grab early in the third quarter. The speedy second-year wideout has multiple receptions in all but one game this season, but he hasn't topped four catches in any one contest. Watkins lines up for a favorable matchup on paper against a suspect Washington secondary in Week 17.

Gage brought in four of five targets for 39 yards in the Falcons' 20-16 win over the Lions. He also lost a fumble.

The veteran gave way to Kyle Pitts as the linchpin of the pass-catching corps for the week, but Gage still checked in as a distant runner-up to the rookie tight end in receptions, receiving yards and targets. Gage has no fewer than four catches in six consecutive games going into a Week 17 road matchup against the Bills.