The Texans on Wednesday placed WR Brandin Cooks and K Ka'imi Fairbairn on the COVID list. HC David Culley has said that LB Eric Wilson -- who also landed on the COVID list Wednesday -- is the team's only unvaccinated player. So Cooks and Fairbairn have a chance to return for Sunday's game against the Chargers. You should plan as though you won't have either guy available, though.
The 49ers have ruled RB Elijah Mitchell out for Thursday night's game at Tennessee with his knee injury. Jeff Wilson Jr. dominated backfield work in Sunday's win over Atlanta, with Deebo Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo the only 2 other Niners to handle more than 1 carry.
Panthers HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday that QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) will play vs. the Bucs this weekend. QB Cam Newton will start and have a "major role," Rhule added. It's completely unclear how snaps will be divvied between the 2 QBs, making the situation an easy avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups.
Panthers WR D.J. Moore (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. He battled through this injury last weekend, posting a 6-48 line on a 91% snap rate in the loss to Buffalo. He should be available for this Sunday's game vs. the Bucs, but we'll keep an eye on him.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison has been activated from the COVID list. He'll be back to give RB Dalvin Cook a few breathers in Sunday's game vs. the Rams.
Broncos HC Vic Fangio confirmed on Wednesday that QB Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. QB Drew Lock will make his 1st start of the season in that one. The 3rd-year QB is the polar opposite of Bridgewater: big-armed, aggressive but inaccurate. We'll see exactly what Lock means for Denver's WRs, but we'd try to avoid Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick in Week 16 fantasy lineups.
The Steelers on Wednesday placed LB Devin Bush on the COVID list. That likely knocks him out for Sunday's game at Kansas City. Bush's absence wouldn't be a big loss for either the Pittsburgh defense or IDP lineups, though. Robert Spillane figures to start next to Joe Schobert if Bush is out.
Jaguars TE Dan Arnold (knee) has been designated to return from IR. He was expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee suffered in Week 12, so we'd be surprised if he was ready to play vs. the Jets on Sunday. But we'll keep an eye on the situation.
Browns TE Austin Hooper has been activated from the COVID list. He'll be back for Saturday's game vs. the Packers. WR Jarvis Landry remains on the COVID list as of Wednesday afternoon.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is not experiencing COVID symptoms, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That improves the vaccinated Kelce's chance of being cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the Steelers. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation.
Titans WR A.J. Brown (chest) is trending toward returning for Thursday night's game vs. the 49ers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He's looking pretty good," Rapoport added. "If all checks out well in practice, if it continues to head in this direction, we probably are gonna see Brown on the field" on Thursday. Tennessee desperately needs Brown back with WR Julio Jones likely out again with more hamstring trouble. Brown would come with more risk than usual in his first action since Week 11 -- but he'd also bring huge upside to fantasy lineups.
The Buccaneers expect LB Lavonte David to miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a foot sprain in Sunday night's loss to the Saints, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The team is reportedly "hopeful" that David can make it back during the playoffs. Kevin Minter will step up to a full-time role in the meantime.
Washington RB Antonio Gibson suffered a toe injury in the 1st quarter of Tuesday night's game vs. the Eagles and is officially questionable to return. Gibson injured a toe last December that bothered him throughout this past offseason -- although it's unclear if this is the same toe. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Gibson returned in the 2nd quarter.
The Bucs are set to sign RB Le'Veon Bell, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Bell appeared in 5 games for the Ravens earlier this season -- and looked washed up, mustering just 2.7 yards per carry. The Bucs are expected to be without RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring) for the rest of the regular season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, so Bell provides some depth. He might immediately slot in ahead of RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn. But Bell isn't a threat to RB Ronald Jones and won't be a fantasy option without a Jones injury.
Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde (concussion) has been placed on IR, ending his season. RB James Robinson racked up 18 carries and 6 targets with Hyde out last week and should be a workhorse the rest of the way.
The Bills on Tuesday placed WR Cole Beasley on the COVID list. Beasley, of course, was vocally opposed to getting vaccinated over the summer, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has confirmed that Beasley will miss at least 10 days. So he's out for Sunday's game at New England. Isaiah McKenzie will likely take over his role in the slot.
The Packers on Tuesday placed WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the COVID list. His status for Saturday's game against the Browns is not yet clear.
Washington has placed RB J.D. McKissic on IR for the neck injury that stemmed from the same hit that gave him a concussion. With 4 games left in the season -- including tonight's visit to Philadelphia -- McKissic is likely done for the year. That elevates Jaret Patterson to the #2 spot on the depth chart behind Antonio Gibson, who should see workhorse touches the rest of the way. Washington also elevated QB Kyle Shurmur from the practice squad ahead of the Eagles game. He'll back up Garrett Gilbert.
Arrowhead Pride reports that Chiefs K Harrison Butker will miss Sunday's game on the COVID list. The fact that we know that already means he's not vaccinated and is required to quarantine for at least 10 days. We'll see about the rest of this week's K.C. positives.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett did not make it back from the COVID list in time to face the Rams tonight. He, RB Alex Collins and CB D.J. Reed are the biggest names who failed to test out and will miss the game. Seattle has elevated RB Josh Johnson from the practice squad to fill a roster spot. D.K. Metcalf should see increased target share, with Freddie Swain and Dee Eskridge expected to join him as the top 3 wideouts.
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