Bears TE Cole Kmet (knee) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Packers. He was a full-go in Friday’s practice, so he should play. Kmet went catch-less on just 13 snaps last week but is seemingly healthier now.
Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Packers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday. Herbert’s absence would presumably leave Chicago’s backfield to Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman, who has not played the past two weeks.
Packers RB A.J. Dillon (thumb, neck) is out for Sunday’s regular-season finale vs. the Bears. That should leave RB Aaron Jones in a workhorse role in this must-win game.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s finale vs. the Browns. He’ll wind up missing five games and parts of a few others in a disappointing 2023 campaign. We’ll see if Cincinnati lets Higgins hit the free-agent market this offseason. He’ll be replaced by some combination of WRs Trenton Irwin and Andrei Iosivas this weekend.
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill will start Sunday's finale vs. the Jaguars, HC Mike Vrabel said. Rookie Will Levis (foot) will be the No. 3 QB for the game. Tannehill has some DFS tournament appeal against a pass-funnel Jacksonville defense that ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.
Chiefs WRs Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Kadarius Toney (hip, ankle) are out for Sunday's game vs. the Chargers. Rice would presumably be playing if this game meant anything, but we'll track his status during next week's prep for the Wild Card Round. Kansas City will have WRs Justin Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Richie James, Mecole Hardman, and Justyn Ross available on Sunday.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (ribs) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Panthers. He put in a full practice on Friday, and HC Todd Bowles confirmed that Mayfield will play on Sunday. The rib issue adds just a little risk to Mayfield’s Week 18 fantasy profile.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) will be listed as questionable and might wind up as a game-time decision for Sunday's tilt with the Titans, HC Doug Pederson said Friday morning. “Today will be a big day for him," Pederson added." He’s progressing good. ... If he's good to go, he's good to go. If he's out there, he's rolling." We'll keep you updated on Lawrence's status. His availability would presumably be good news for Jacksonville's offense, although Lawrence would be tough to trust in fantasy lineups with the throwing-shoulder injury.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur said Thursday that TE Luke Musgrave has a realistic chance to play vs. the Bears this weekend. Musgrave has been out since suffering a lacerated kidney back in Week 11. He's been limited in practice so far this week. We'll see how Musgrave is listed on the final injury report tomorrow. He wouldn't be a Week 18 fantasy option but would put a significant dent in TE Tucker Kraft's value.
Saints TE Juwan Johnson (chest) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (ribs) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He figures to gut it out for this weekend's must-win game vs. the Panthers, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Colts RB Zack Moss (forearm) is listed as questionable for Saturday night’s game vs. the Texans. He put in full practices on Wednesday and Thursday, so we’re expecting him to play. Moss isn’t much of a fantasy option but figures to siphon at least a few touches from RB Jonathan Taylor.
Texans WR Noah Brown (back) is out for Saturday night's game vs. the Colts. WR Robert Woods (hip) is listed as questionable but didn't practice all week. WRs Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie might be forced into significant roles in this must-win game.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (calf) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. He played through this injury last week, so this is very likely a case of Flowers getting some rest in a meaningless finale. He should be ready for Baltimore's playoff opener in a couple of weeks. WR Odell Beckham (rest) has been ruled out for Week 18. The Ravens will trot out some combination of WRs Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Laquon Treadwell, and Tylan Wallace with QB Tyler Huntley.
Ex-Jets RB Dalvin Cook is expected to sign with the Ravens ahead of the playoffs, according to multiple reports. That's a sensible addition for a Baltimore backfield down to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill as meaningful contributors. We'll see how Cook fits in. But unless Ravens coaches say so, there's no reason to expect Cook to leap ahead of either Edwards or Hill in role. Cook averaged just 4.5 carries and 1.0 receptions per game across 15 appearances this year with a Jets offense that hasn't been good. His 3.2 yards per rush and 5.2 yards per catch both sit well below his career marks in those categories. If you're playing playoff fantasy football, you can stash Cook late. We like the Ravens' chances of making a deep run. Just don't expect big things from Cook.
Browns WR Amari Cooper (heel) said Thursday that he's feeling better every day and expects to be ready for the Wild Card playoff game next weekend, according to insider Scott Petrak. Cooper won't play in Sunday's meaningless finale vs. the Bengals, but it sounds like he's ok to draft in your playoff fantasy contests.
Colts CB Kenny Moore II (back) graduated to a full practice Wednesday. He started the week with a limited Tuesday workout after missing last Sunday's win over the Raiders. It looks like Moore should return for this Saturday's clash with the Texans. He made a decent 6 tackles (including 5 solos and 1 tackle for loss) against Houston back in Week 2. You can find Moore in our Week 18 DB rankings.
Texans Edge Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and Edge Jonathan Greenard (ankle) missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of Saturday's game against the Colts. Anderson missed the first two practices last week but then played and produced in the win over the Titans. We'd bet he'll be ready for Week 18. Greenard missed last week. We'll see what the week's final injury report (Thursday afternoon) says for each player.
Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and LB Elandon Roberts (pec) put in limited practices Wednesday. It marked the first workout for Fitzpatrick since he left Week 15 with the injury. Roberts also practiced for the first time since leaving Week 16 early. We'll see whether the defensive starters are ready to play Saturday against the Ravens.
Rams HC Sean McVay announced Wednesday that certain starters won't play at all in the regular-season finale. He did not include WR Puka Nacua in that group. So what's the plan? Nacua sits 3 receptions and 28 yards shy of NFL rookie records in both categories. And it sounds like McVay wants to get him there. "I think you'd like to be able to see him get an opportunity to do something special and then be smart with him," the coach told reporters Wednesday. What's that mean? Expect Nacua to get early opportunities to reach those marks. And as soon as that happens, expect the team's leader in targets, catches, and receiving yards (by wide margins) to hit the bench. A 3-30 receiving line doesn't offer much fantasy help, so we'd lean away from playing Nacua in Week 18 lineups if you can help it. WRs Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell and TE Davis Allen look like the best receiving bets for the Rams this week -- though we're all basically guessing at exactly how the Carson Wentz-led offense will look.
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