The Browns on Monday activated RB Kareem Hunt off the COVID list. He likely would have missed the Week 16 game with an ankle sprain anyway, and we'll have to watch that situation to see whether Hunt will be ready to play next Monday night at Pittsburgh. Cleveland also activated DE Jadeveon Clowney and S Ronnie Harrison -- among others -- from the COVID list, which should clear them to play Week 17.
The Texans on Monday placed RB David Johnson on the COVID list. That's probably good news for fantasy, as Johnson was already inactive with a quad injury Sunday against the Chargers. That helped pave the way for Rex Burkhead's blowup. Burkhead should be in line for another feature role next Sunday at San Francisco -- albeit, a much worse rushing matchup.
The Titans have placed WR Julio Jones and WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the COVID list. We'll see whether either guy can make it back for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, but neither should be in your Week 17 fantasy football plans. Tennessee also placed EDGE Bud Dupree on the list Monday. We'll see whether any more Titans get added through the week.
The Jaguars on Monday placed TE Dan Arnold on the COVID list. He had been designated last week to return from IR. This likely will knock him out for Sunday's game in New England, even if his injured knee is ready. James O'Shaughnessy remains Jacksonville's #1 TE.
The Chargers on Monday added 7 more players to the COVID list. That group included S Nasir Adderley, starting CBs Chris Harris Jr. and Michael Davis, and S Alohi Gilman, who filled in for Derwin James in Sunday's loss to the Texans. We'll see about the status for all of them as the week progresses.
The Buccaneers on Monday placed WR Mike Evans on the COVID list. He missed Sunday's win over the Panthers with a hamstring injury that has yet to allow him to return to practice. So it's not clear whether Evans would be available for Week 17 even if he clears the league COVID protocols. We'll see where this week goes, but don't plan to have Evans available for your fantasy football lineups.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is dealing with a bruised shoulder and is considered "week-to-week," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "It will be challenging" for him to play against Cincinnati this Sunday, Schefter adds. It sounds like we should expect Darrel Williams to start, with Derrick Gore as the #2 RB. Expect Williams to land among the top 15 RBs in our Week 17 rankings.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni told reporters Monday that RB Miles Sanders will miss Sunday's game against Washington with the broken bone in his left hand but that the team is not placing him on IR. That obviously means they hope to get him back within the next 3 games. It's nice to have him ruled out early for Week 17, though, so we can drop Sanders from most redraft fantasy football rosters. We'll need to see whether RB Jordan Howard is ready to play after sustaining a stinger in Sunday's win over the Giants. That injury makes Boston Scott the top early option on waivers.
Washington HC Ron Rivera said Monday that QB Taylor Heinicke will start this weekend's game vs. the Eagles but that QB Kyle Allen will "probably" play. Heinicke has bottomed out in his last 2 appearances, completing just 38.3% of his passes for 5.2 yards per attempt. This is obviously a situation to avoid in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Washington has activated LB Cole Holcomb from the COVID list. That should have him ready to face the Eagles on Sunday. Holcomb collected 10 tackles in the Tuesday-night loss at Philly in Week 15.
Bucs WR Breshad Perriman has been activated from the COVID list. He'll likely be a starting outside wideout for the Bucs vs. the Jets this weekend if WR Mike Evans isn't able to return from his hamstring injury.
The Lions on Monday placed WR Josh Reynolds on the COVID list. Unless we learn that he's a close contact, this should knock Reynolds out of any Week 17 fantasy-lineup consideration -- even if he makes it back in time for the game.
The Lions on Monday activated QB Jared Goff from the COVID list. He should be ready to face the Seahawks on Sunday.
Bears WR Allen Robinson has been activated from the COVID list. He figures to siphon a few targets from WR Darnell Mooney and TE Cole Kmet this weekend, but A-Rob isn't a fantasy option vs. the Giants.
Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians says EDGE Shaq Barrett sprained the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Sunday's win over the Panthers. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Tampa hopes to get Barrett back for the playoffs. That means you can dump him from IDP redraft rosters.
Panthers DE Brian Burns has tested positive for COVID. In addition, the Panthers sent players home Monday after what HC Matt Rhule called a "somewhat significant" number of positives, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. We'll see who else lands on the COVID list ahead of the Week 17 visit to New Orleans. We'll also see whether Burns has time to make it back from the list before Sunday.
Rams LB Ernest Jones left Sunday's win over the Vikings with a left ankle injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the team believes he suffered a high-ankle sprain. The early word is that he's "week to week," which means he'll almost certainly miss at least this Sunday's game at Baltimore. With Jones leaving early, Troy Reeder led Rams LBs in playing time at 86%. He'll be a solid-to-good option for IDP lineups in Week 17.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders broke a bone in his left hand in Sunday's win over the Giants, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Sanders will reportedly have further testing today to determine whether he can play through the injury. If he can't, then Jordan Howard and Boston Scott would likely be in line to share lead-RB duties for Sunday's visit to Washington.
X-rays on Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire's collarbone came back clean, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. So CEH dodged a broken collarbone, which would have ended his season. But he's still scheduled for an MRI on Monday, so he's not out of the woods yet. Stay tuned.
Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians says EDGE Shaq Barrett suffered a "minor" MCL injury in Sunday's win over the Panthers, according to the team website. We'll see whether the injury threatens his Week 17 status.
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