Vikings TE Irv Smith (ankle) has been designated to return from IR. He's been out since going down with a significant high-ankle sprain in Week 8. Minnesota, of course, swung a deal for TE T.J. Hockenson since then. Smith's return could be a slight boost to the Vikings passing game, but he won't be a fantasy factor in the regular season or playoffs, barring a Hockenson injury.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Wednesday that he expects WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) to return for this weekend's game vs. the Broncos, barring a setback. Hardman has been out since Week 9. He was emerging as a significant piece of the offense before going down, averaging 5.5 targets, 4.3 catches, 57 yards and .75 TDs over his last 4 games. It's unclear how big a role he'll play in his first game back, though, leaving him as a shaky Week 17 fantasy play.
ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that he'd be "surprised" if Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (shoulder) played against the Saints this weekend. "The impression I get from talking to people about this situation is that the Eagles believe they will have Hurts back before their first playoff game, but they still aren't sure about the extent to which the injury will affect him once he does return," Graziano adds. We'll get Philadelphia's first practice report of the week this afternoon. QB Gardner Minshew certainly played well enough in last week's loss to the Cowboys to instill confidence in the Eagles.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel announced Wednesday that QB Teddy Bridgewater will start Sunday against the Patriots. He also confirmed that QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Packers. It's the 3rd concussion of the season for Tagovailoa, which makes it fair to wonder whether the starter will make it back for Week 18. We'll see about everything beyond this week. Bridgewater got 2 other games of prominent duty this year, throwing 3 TDs and 3 INTs in portions of games against the Bengals and Vikings. He sits in QB2 range in our Week 17 fantasy football rankings.
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (shoulder) is expected to miss his 2nd straight game Thursday against the Titans. He did some work on the side during Tuesday's practice but likely need more time before he's game ready. Rookie Damone Clark started in LVE's place against the Eagles but played just 69% of the defensive snaps and logged 4 total tackles. Veteran LB Anthony Barr has played 2 of his 4 largest snap snares all season the past 2 weeks. He has topped out at 7 total tackles, though, and has exceeded 4 solos just once (Week 15). We wouldn't bother with any Cowboys LB other than Micah Parsons for IDP lineups in most cases.
The Commanders will start QB Carson Wentz on Sunday against the Browns. According to multiple reports, HC Ron Rivera told the team his decision Wednesday morning. Wentz relieved Taylor Heinicke in Saturday's loss to the 49ers, completing 75% of his throws for 123 yards (7.68 per attempt) and a TD. His last start came in the Week 6 win at Chicago in which Wentz broke a finger and required surgery. Washington threw the ball a lot more with Wentz behind center, averaging 42 pass attempts across his 5 healthy outings compared with 30.1 over Heinicke's 8 full games. Of course, the offense also barely had RB Brian Robinson Jr. for that stretch. We'd expect more of a rushing lean vs. those 1st 5 weeks -- but also likely some more willingness to throw. It's not an exciting fantasy offense either way. Wentz's time this season has been bad for WR Terry McLaurin's target share. He drew just 16% over the 1st 6 games, compared with 27.8% in Heinicke's full outings.
Broncos EDGE Randy Gregory and Rams G Oday Aboushi had their suspensions reduced to fines on appeal. The league suspended both players 1 game for fighting after Sunday's game. But they'll both be available to their teams for Week 17 now.
The Seahawks placed TE Will Dissly on IR with a knee injury, ending his regular season. Dissly has averaged 2.5 targets per game this season, so his absence is just a slight boost to TE Noah Fant's fantasy value.
Cowboys WR Noah Brown (foot) was again listed as a full practice participant on Tuesday. It looks like Brown will be healthy for Week 17 vs. the Titans. Though the Titans are the best matchup for opposing WRs in fantasy points allowed this season, Brown is not a viable fantasy option outside of the deepest of leagues. His spot in the pecking order of the Cowboys' passing attack is simply too low to trust in your fantasy championship game(s).
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (thigh) did not practice on Tuesday. With Week 17's game vs, the Titans coming up on Thursday, it'll be crucial that Pollard logs some activity on Wednesday. Check back tomorrow for more updates. RB Ezekiel Elliott would see a potential boost if Pollard were to be absent, so this is one we'll surely be keeping an eye on.
As expected, Chargers S Derwin James won't be suspended for the hit that got him ejected from Monday night's win over the Colts. The play did put him -- as well as WR Ashton Dulin -- into the concussion protocol, though. So James will have to pass through that before getting back onto the field. We'll see whether he can do so ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams.
The Raiders confirmed Tuesday that they'll shut LB Denzel Perryman for the final 2 games after he dislocated his left shoulder in Saturday night's loss at Pittsburgh. Undrafted rookie Luke Masterson looks like the best bet to lead Vegas LBs in playing time after seeing 84% playing time against the Steelers. Masterson has delivered 10+ tackles in 2 straight contests, so he'll carry tackle upside Sunday against the 49ers.
Tennessee's Week 18 game against the Jaguars will determine the AFC South champion. The Titans can't get a Wild Card spot, which makes their game vs. the Cowboys on Thursday night meaningless. Jim Wyatt of the team's official website believe the Titans will hold out some starters out of that one. The big question, of course, is whether that will include RB Derrick Henry. We'll keep you updated on the situation. If Henry is held out, rookie Hassan Haskins would step in as Tennessee's lead back and enter the RB3/Flex conversation.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown played a season-low 66% of the offensive snaps in Sunday night's loss to the Bucs. We figured that was due to the groin injury that had him questionable coming in. But Brown said that he was being disciplined by HC Kliff Kingsbury after showing up late to a team meeting. We're expecting Brown to get back to full playing time in Week 17 but will keep an eye on the situation.
Cardinals DE J.J. Watt announced Tuesday morning that he'll be retiring at the end of this season. That will end a 12-year career that included 5 All-Pro selections, 3 Associated Press defensive player of the year honors and a spot on the Hall of Fame's All-2010s team. We'll see how Arizona replaces him for 2023 after what's been a strong rebound season for Watt.
The Colts leaned on errant passing of QB Nick Foles, for some reason, despite hanging close with the Chargers into the 2nd half of Monday night's loss. RB Zack Moss got just 7 carries in the 1st half, compared with 18 dropbacks for Foles. Moss averaged 5.3 yards on those attempts, with RB Jordan Wilkins mixing in for a 4-yard run. But Moss got just 5 more carries for the game, finishing with a 12-65 rushing line (5.4 per attempt). Wilkins logged the only other RB carry. RB Deon Jackson drew 3 targets, catching them for 9 yards. Moss and Wilkins garnered a target apiece. It was a puzzling approach with a clearly struggling QB and against what has been a soft run defense most of the year. We'll see whether the Colts try to get Moss going more against the Giants in Week 17. Someone should tell them that the Giants are allowing 5.3 yards per RB rush for the season.
The switch to QB Nick Foles did not work Monday night against the Chargers. The veteran backup tossed 3 INTs and took 7 sacks in the loss, compiling only 143 yards on 17-of-29 passing. TE Jelani Woods led the receiving with 43 yards, while WR Michael Pittman Jr. was the only Colt to catch more than 3 passes. Interim HC Jeff Saturday still said after the game that he has "no reservations" about switching to Foles and that he still plans to start the vet for the final 2 games.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for just 235 yards on 24-of-31 passing in Monday night's win at Indianapolis. It was his lowest yardage total since Week 10 (at San Francisco) and his 2nd-fewest attempts of the season. L.A. leaned run over a 2nd half it controlled. Herbert dropped back 22 times vs. 12 designed runs in the 1st half. For the game, he logged just 5 more dropbacks (36) than team run plays (31). We'd bet on a Week 17 rebound in passing volume against a Rams defense that sits 7th in Football Outsiders' run-defense DVOA and 21st against the pass.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen dominated the receiving work in Monday night's win over the Colts. He racked up 11 catches for 104 yards on 14 targets, 45.2% of the team's total pass attempts. WR Mike Williams and RB Austin Ekeler tied for 2nd with 4 targets apiece on a limited passing night. Williams caught all 4 for 76 yards. The Chargers get a home date with the Rams in Week 17, a matchup that has been near-neutral for WR scoring on the year.
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler scored both of his team's TDs in Monday night's win over the Colts. He logged his 2nd most carries of the season (18) for 67 yards (3.7 per rush), adding 4 catches for 12 yards among 4 targets. RB Joshua Kelley chimed in 9 carries for 33 yards and a 9-yard reception. Ekeler has now drawn double-digit carries in 4 straight games, the 1st stretch this year that has seen him do so. A Week 17 meeting with the Rams holds a defense that has played the run tougher than the pass, but that has been true of the past 3 opponents as well. Ekeler, of course, shouldn't be a candidate to sit out of your Week 17 fantasy football lineups.
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