Congratulations and good luck to those that made their respective fantasy championships! COVID-19 is running rampant through the week, and it'll be tough to predict who's actually able to play come Sunday. However, I've highlighted a few players who will be solid fill-ins for players already ruled out, and I've also added some dynasty tips for fantasy managers looking toward the future.
RISING
E.J. Speed, LB 
Speed was thrust into a starting role on Christmas Day after Darius Leonard tested positive for COVID-19. The third-year linebacker was outstanding, recording nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass breakup while playing every defensive snap. Because Leonard isn't vaccinated, he'll sit out Week 17, too. If you managed to win without Leonard in the semifinal, Speed is a waiver-wire add who can finish the championship run.
Markus Bailey, LB 
The Bengals' linebacker corps has endured a slew of injuries, making Bailey a starter in the Week 16 win over the Ravens. Bailey recorded a 76 percent snap share and a season-high eight tackles (four solo). The 2020 seventh-round pick was an intriguing prospect who dropped in the draft after tearing his ACL as a senior at Purdue, but he'll audition for a future role over the final couple of games with Logan Wilson (shoulder) highly questionable.
Landon Collins (foot) is done for the season, and Reaves has played at least 85 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the last two games. He can struggle in
Congratulations and good luck to those that made their respective fantasy championships! COVID-19 is running rampant through the week, and it'll be tough to predict who's actually able to play come Sunday. However, I've highlighted a few players who will be solid fill-ins for players already ruled out, and I've also added some dynasty tips for fantasy managers looking toward the future.
RISING
E.J. Speed, LB
Speed was thrust into a starting role on Christmas Day after Darius Leonard tested positive for COVID-19. The third-year linebacker was outstanding, recording nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass breakup while playing every defensive snap. Because Leonard isn't vaccinated, he'll sit out Week 17, too. If you managed to win without Leonard in the semifinal, Speed is a waiver-wire add who can finish the championship run.
Markus Bailey, LB
The Bengals' linebacker corps has endured a slew of injuries, making Bailey a starter in the Week 16 win over the Ravens. Bailey recorded a 76 percent snap share and a season-high eight tackles (four solo). The 2020 seventh-round pick was an intriguing prospect who dropped in the draft after tearing his ACL as a senior at Purdue, but he'll audition for a future role over the final couple of games with Logan Wilson (shoulder) highly questionable.
Landon Collins (foot) is done for the season, and Reaves has played at least 85 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the last two games. He can struggle in coverage sometimes. However, he's registered 22 tackles (15 solo) in that stretch. I'd take Kamren Curl or Bobby McCain over Reaves because their usage is more guaranteed, but Reaves has enough upside to appeal to deeper formats.
Azeez Ojulari, LB 
The rookie second-round pick has stacked up eight sacks through 15 games, and his opportunity is quite intriguing in Week 17. The Bears' offensive line is brutal. QB Justin Fields has been sacked on a league-high 11.8 percent of dropbacks, and even QB Nick Foles was sacked four times in Week 16 in his spot start. Ojulari has a strong opportunity no matter who's under center this week.
This recommendation is geared more toward dynasty formats. With DeShon Elliott (biceps) out for the rest of the season and set to be a free agent in March, Stephens – a rookie third-round pick – has a chance to become a starting safety in 2022. He has flashed upside this season in coverage and in the run-stopping game, and he's averaged six tackles over the last five games.
FALLING
Jermaine Carter, LB 
Carter played just 31 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 16 and was out-snapped by Frankie Luvu (47 percent). Even though Shaq Thompson (COVID-19 protocol) may be out in Week 17 against the Saints, it's hard to trust any linebacker in this group. I wouldn't hang my fantasy championship hopes on any of these players, and even Thompson slides down a few spots in the rankings if he misses a full week of practice but manages to play.
Harold Landry, LB 
After starting off red-hot with 10 sacks through the first 10 games, Landry has cooled off recently with one sack over five contests. The Week 17 matchup against the Dolphins isn't very favorable, either. QB Tua Tagovailoa has many faults behind an awful offensive line, but he rarely gets sacked. Through 10 starts, he's been sacked on 4.1 percent of dropbacks (second-fewest in the league).
Matt Milano, LB 
Milano has posted five or fewer tackles in three of the last four games, and he's averaging just 5.6 tackles per game this season. He has shown an ability to have splash games – he has three games with nine tackles this year – but it's tough to predict when those will surface. Most teams can't afford to run against the Bills, either, meaning Milano will lose some ceiling this week.
K'Lavon Chaisson, LB 
Even with LB Josh Allen (COVID-19 protocol) out last week, Chaisson recorded a 54 percent snap share – a season high. Chaisson managed to produce two tackles (two solo), bringing his total to 31 stops and one sack this season. Holding out hope for Chaisson is akin to a scratch-off lottery ticket. You might as well pick up a rookie with hopes they develop this offseason. Much like Kenneth Murray, it's time to move on.
