Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans Week 17 Game Preview

I feel like this is going to be one of those classic, old-school divisional rematches. It’ll be a slugfest everywhere but on the scoreboard. And, credit to both coaches, it’s tough to call.

The Titans, with all of the injuries to their defense, have allowed just two teams over 30 points this season. Their offense has had to navigate around the absence of a few key players, too. But still, they’ve kept games within a score for better or worse over their last five (they’re 3-2 over this stretch). Houston is in a similar spot.

C.J. Stroud hasn’t seen the field in a few weeks. However, the Texans are 1-1 with Case Keenum and still in the postseason picture (along with most of the AFC). Let’s hope Houston’s QB1 can get through the protocol in time, but if not, there are a couple of fantasy plays worthy of monitoring for Week 17.

For Tennessee, they’ve also got a QB situation on their hands. Will Levis was able to get in a limited practice last Friday (with his leg heavily wrapped), but Ryan Tannehill retook the starter role against the Seahawks. While the results don’t show it, the offense had one of its best outings efficiency-wise. And it’s not like Tannehill had to sling it a bunch of times in order to keep things moving.

Only 156 passing yards don’t really help us in fantasy land. Well, unless they only went to one player. The Titans relied on their running game and put the spotlight on Derrick Henry. His volume puts him in the low-end RB2 discussion, with Tyjae Spears as a flex consideration in PPR leagues.

However, with the Texans still playing solid run defense, Tannehill might need to look downfield a bit more this weekend.

It took us long enough to get here, but ‘getting Chiggy with it’ might be a thing in the finale of the fantasy season. Chigoziem Okonkwo, not any of the WRs, led the receiving corps with six targets from Tannehill. And not just short-area throws. The sophomore TE had a 40.2% air-yard share (for reference, DeAndre Hopkins was at 32.8%). Chiggy’s bump in opportunity makes him and Hopkins the only viable fantasy options for those still hunting for a championship. If we see more passing from Tannehill (or if Levis makes it back), expect those two to benefit.

On the Texans’ side, Keenum’s Week 15 debut went about as expected. HC Mike Vrabel threw everything he had at the backup QB (30.0% blitz rate, pressured him on 45.0% of his dropbacks) and forced Keenum into tough decisions. However, after the rough start, Keenum’s play volume actually increased from his then to his back-and-forth bout with the Browns.

Now, to be clear, nobody’s playing Keenum for a fantasy title. Well, if you are, I’m so sorry. But his pass-catchers should at least be a consideration. And the Titans’ secondary can be lucrative for fantasy production, assuming Keenum can upright long enough to get the ball out of his hands.

While WRs grade out as the better matchup, don’t forget about Devin Singletary. He has eight targets from Keenum over the last two games and has supplanted Dameon Pierce as the lead back for Houston.

I figured Pierce would at least have a role in short-yardage situations, but Singletary has snatched those, too. So, if you’re looking for a mid-range RB2, Singletary has the inside track, especially after notching 170 scrimmage yards against them in their first meeting. And for the other pass-catchers, we’ve got a few options.

Nico Collins returned from his calf injury to earn six targets from Keenum. Should Stroud return, Collins should slide into the low-end WR2 ranks, given his rapport with Stroud throughout the earlier parts of the season. Otherwise, we should focus on the short and intermediate options for production.

Noah Brown led the squad with a 25.9% air-yard share on seven targets from Keenum. Dalton Schultz was first in total looks with 11. With Keenum averaging 7.7 and 6.4 air yards per attempt in his two starts, it’s clear that pressing the ball downfield isn’t a part of the game plan. As a result, fantasy managers should prioritize either of these two if looking for points in this game.