Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 5, 2025, 1:00 ET
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Network: CBS
Writer: Matt LaMarca (@MattLaMarca on Twitter)
Houston Texans
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud: Sit, QB2
The Texans are in a bit of an odd spot this week. They’re already locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC, so they technically have nothing to play for. However, the team will be looking to get the bad taste out of their mouths after last week’s embarrassing showing vs. the Ravens. They managed just two points in a 29-point loss, so DeMeco Ryans will play the starters vs. the Titans. There’s no guarantee that they play the full game, but C.J. Stroud will at least start the game at quarterback.
Stroud has unfortunately been unable to duplicate his success from his rookie season. He’s taken a step back in virtually every category across the board, and his average of 14.1 points per game is just the 27th-highest at quarterback. That makes him tough to trust as anything other than a QB2, especially if he doesn’t see the full four quarters.
Running Back
Joe Mixon: Start, RB2
Dameon Pierce: Sit
Joe Mixon has been a slam-dunk RB1 all season, but he carries just a bit of additional risk this week. He’s one of the top candidates to get a little extra rest on Sunday, especially if the offense has a few solid drives early. Still, it’s impossible to ignore his workload with the starting unit. He’s handled 78% of the team’s carries when in the lineup this season, and he’s also been very involved in the passing attack. The result is an average of 16.9 fantasy points per game, which is the fifth-best mark among all running backs. The Titans are also an above-average matchup, so Mixon should be successful for as long as he’s on the field.
Dameon Pierce hasn’t played much behind Mixon, but he could see a few additional opportunities in a meaningless game. That said, it’s unlikely he sees enough work to enter the fantasy conversation.
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins: Start, WR2
John Metchie: Sit
Like Mixon, Nico Collins also moves down a tier in a game that he might not see the conclusion of. Collins has been the team’s clear top receiver all season, even before the injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. He has a 27% target share and 38% air yards share, and he’s been WR6 in terms of 0.5-PPR scoring. He’s talented enough to take care of business in limited playing time, and he’s a WR1 if he plays the full game.
The injuries to Diggs and Dell have allowed some of the Texans’ other receivers to enter the conversation. John Metchie got the most opportunities among their secondary options last week, running a route on 82% of the team’s dropbacks. He also garnered a healthy 25% target share, and he finished with five grabs for 48 yards. That gives him a smidge of appeal vs. the Titans, but he hasn’t displayed enough consistency to warrant a spot in your starting lineup.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz: Sit, TE2
Dalton Schultz has had some viability in the past, but he simply hasn’t gotten the job done for fantasy players this season. He has found the paint in two of his past four games, and he’s had 14 total targets over the past two weeks. However, he finished with just two grabs for 21 yards last week vs. the Ravens. Add in the uncertainty about playing time, and you can probably do a bit better at the position.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Mason Rudolph: Sit, QB2
It hasn’t mattered if it’s been Mason Rudolph or Will Levis this season; you simply don’t want to start the Titans’ quarterback. Rudolph has averaged just 233.2 passing yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions in his five starts, and he’s yet to crack the top 10 at the position in any week. He has had a relatively solid floor, but he doesn’t bring enough upside to the table to warrant a start.
Running Back
Tony Pollard: Start, RB2
Tyjae Spears: FLEX Option, RB4
Julius Chesnut: Sit
While some players are trying to make the playoffs in Week 18, others are simply trying to get paid. That’s the case with Tony Pollard this week. Pollard has some viable contract incentives in play vs. the Texans: he can earn $250,000 with 83 rushing yards and an additional $200,000 if he scores two touchdowns. The Titans have nothing else to play for this week, so why not try to get Pollard some extra ched? His case for a start would be even greater if Tyjae Spears is out of the lineup, and he’s been unable to practice so far this week with a concussion.
If Spears can suit up, he would likely form some sort of committee with Pollard. His role has grown in recent weeks, culminating with a season-high 72% of the carries last week. That number might not be quite as high if the team is committed to getting Pollard paid, but he would still warrant some flex consideration if he’s active.
Julius Chestnut would likely take over as the team’s No. 2 RB if Spears is ruled out. However, he hasn’t provided much value when Spears has been sidelined so far this season. Pollard has served as a true workhorse in those contests, racking up 85% of the snaps and 74% of the carries. Chestnut has been at 17% in both departments, so don’t expect him to get in the mix.
Wide Receiver
Calvin Ridley: FLEX Option, WR3
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: Sit, WR5
Calvin Ridley hasn’t had an issue getting opportunities this season. He leads the team with a 24% target share, and he’s been among the best receivers in the league in terms of air yards. Unfortunately, the Titans’ subpar QB play has made that moot. He’s still a quality flex option or WR3, but his ceiling is a bit capped.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has made a living this season off touchdowns. He has just 28 receptions this season, but nine of them have gone for touchdowns. That’s an unsustainable pace, and in weeks where he doesn’t find the paint, he’s very unlikely to return value. He’s more of a bench receiver than a starter.
Tight End
Chig Okonkwo: Streaming Option, TE2
Chig Okonkwo just narrowly misses the top 10 at the position for me this week. He’s seen a nice uptick in opportunities of late, posting a 27% target share over his past three outings. He’s finished as a top-10 scorer at the position in two of three weeks, so you could do a lot worse at tight end.