Chiefs TE Travis Kelce did not clear COVID protocols and is out for today's game vs. the Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kelce should be back for Week 17. His absence leaves Noah Gray and Blake Bell as Kansas City's TEs. Gray is the preferred fantasy option but would be a desperation play. WR Tyreek Hill should dominate Chiefs targets today.
The Rams "plan" to have RB Cam Akers (Achilles) back for the playoffs, GM Les Snead told NFL.com. It'd cap a remarkable recovery from Akers' mid-July Achilles tear. We'd be surprised if Akers had a big role in the playoffs -- but he'd turn Los Angeles' backfield into a 3-man committee alongside Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson.
Saints DE Marcus Davenport is questionable for Monday night's game against the Dolphins, with shoulder and knee injuries. He managed limited practices all week, though, and played his normal snap allotment in last week's win over the Buccaneers. We'd bet on Davenport playing. The late kickoff, however, obviously adds risk to waiting on him in your IDP lineup. Consider securing Saints DT David Onyemata -- or another available starter from the game -- as insurance if you plan to use Davenport.
The Giants are expected to bring back HC Joe Judge and QB Daniel Jones for the 2022 season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It's a head scratcher considering that duo has had very little success. The Giants are 10-20 since Judge took over in 2020, while Jones' play has been consistently inconsistent since arriving as the 6th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. If the Giants indeed stick with these guys for 2022, it'll be tough to get excited about the offense for fantasy purposes.
Panthers QB Sam Darnold could play a "substantial amount" vs. the Bucs today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. QB Cam Newton will get the start but Darnold is expected to enter "within a few series," per Rapoport. "Playing time will be determined based on the success Darnold is having." This is obviously a situation to avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups. Rapoport adds that Darnold could cement himself as the starter for the final 2 games of the season based on his performance today.
Texans RB David Johnson (quad) is not expected to play vs. the Chargers today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That'll leave Royce Freeman as the #2 RB behind Rex Burkhead.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney (oblique) has a "good chance" to play vs. the Eagles today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We haven't see Toney since Week 11 due to a couple of different injuries and a trip to the COVID list. He wasn't activated from the COVID list until Thursday and only got in a limited practice on Friday. We'd stay away from Toney is Week 16 fantasy lineups.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Bucs today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore is listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. But he was able to play through this injury last week, catching 6 of 11 targets for 48 yards.
Patriots RB Damien Harris (hamstring) "should be good to go" for today's game vs. the Bills, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Harris hasn't played since hurting his hamstring in the 1st Buffalo game back in Week 13. He was limited in practice this week. There's elevated risk here. But with RB Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID) out, Harris could be in for a big workload today if that hamstring holds up.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that there's "some optimism" Washington RB Antonio Gibson (toe) will be able to play vs. the Cowboys tonight. Gibson remains a game-time decision, Rapoport adds. The late kickoff makes this a tough situation for fantasy owners. We won't get Washington's inactives until 7 pm ET. If you're hoping to use Gibson, add RB Jaret Patterson as the fall-back option if Gibson ends up inactive.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Lions QB Tim Boyle is expected to start vs. the Falcons today. QB Jared Goff remains on the COVID list. Boyle threw for a whopping 77 yards on 3.35 yards per attempt back in Week 11 -- although, in his defense, that game was played in crappy weather. Still, Boyle is a significant downgrade for Detroit's offense today.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Rams today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Thielen was left off the final injury report on the Vikings' website, but he's evidently actually listed as questionable. Regardless, it sounds like he'll be available for Week 16 fantasy lineups. Thielen was limited in practice all week coming off the December 5 high-ankle sprain, so he brings a lower floor than usual.
Texans WR Brandin Cooks was not activated from the COVID list and will miss Sunday's game vs. the Chargers, ESPN's Field Yates reports. Cooks' absence leaves WR Nico Collins as the best bet for targets in Houston -- but he's only in play in DFS tournaments.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Colts. Christian Kirk, A.J. Green and Antoine Wesley will serve as Arizona's top 3 WRs, just as they did last week.
Cardinals RB James Conner (heel) is inactive for tonight's game agains the Colts. That leaves Arizona's backfield to Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. Edmonds should handle the bulk of the work and is a strong fantasy play tonight.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Chargers WR Mike Williams will miss at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID Saturday, meaning that he's unvaccinated. That'll knock Williams out for at least the team's Week 17 game as well. Josh Palmer should fill in vs. Houston. Jalen Guyton will likely be back in time for Week 17, though.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Colts LB Darius Leonard tested positive for COVID and is unvaccinated. That means he'll not only miss tonight's game against the Cardinals, but also Week 17. That makes Leonard droppable in most redraft IDP leagues. E.J. Speed sits behind him on the depth chart. We'd try to find a sturdier fantasy option for the final 2 weeks of the fantasy season, though.
The Colts have placed WR Zach Pascal on the COVID list, knocking him out for tonight's game against the Cardinals.
The Colts have placed LB Darius Leonard and S Khari Willis on the COVID list, knocking them out for tonight's game against the Cardinals. Those are significant losses for the Colts D -- especially Leonard -- but perhaps even more so for IDP lineups.
The Chargers have placed WR Mike Williams on the COVID list. It's his 2nd stint this year, but the 1st came as a close contact. He's out for Sunday's game against the Texans. With Jalen Guyton already on the COVID list, Josh Palmer should be the #2 WR alongside Keenan Allen. He carries intrigue from at least WR4 territory. We wouldn't be shocked to see him rank among the top 25 WRs by the end of the week.
Search
