Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Lions today, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Mattison got in just a limited practice on Friday and won't be at 100% today, Pelissero confirms. "Expect Minnesota to keep riding Ty Chandler," Pelissero adds. Mattison isn't a viable Week 16 fantasy play. His return puts just a slight dent in Chandler's Week 16 outlook.
ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that there's "optimism" that Texans QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) will be back for Week 17. Stroud remained sidelined in practice all last week but "has begun to make some progress" through the protocol, according to Schefter. We'll track the rookie's status this coming week. QB Case Keenum starts vs. the Browns today.
Bills WR Stefon Diggs managed just 5 catches for 29 yards in Saturday's win over the Chargers. He made some nice contested catches in this one, but the real story is a multi-week downtrend in production. In fact, Diggs hasn’t cracked 90 yards since Week 6. And he’s gone three straight games without a score. Josh Allen fired off only 21 passes, while the Bills ran a subpar 52 plays on the night. Diggs also watched as Gabe Davis (4-130-1) popped off for a couple of explosive plays. Note: Per Pro Football Focus, Diggs played his second-lowest snap share of the season. (His lowest mark came in Week 15.) We’ll see if there’s any news out of Orchard Park on Diggs this coming week. But it’ll be tough to keep him out of lineups for an upcoming matchup with New England.
Bills RB James Cook carried 20 times for 70 yards in Saturday’s win over the Chargers. He didn’t see a target, as Josh Allen attempted only 21 passes. Cook also lost a fumble late in the game, although he wasn’t benched. Leonard Fournette mixed in for 5 carries (0 targets) in his 2023 debut. Fournette – and Latavius Murray – each handled one goal line carry, matching Cook’s total. But it was Allen who popped in a pair of short-range rushing scores. A solid New England run D awaits in Week 17, but Cook will remain a near must-start.
Bengals RB Joe Mixon struggled in Week 16 vs. the Steelers, logging just 41 rushing yards on 11 carries in the contest. Saturday’s outcome marks the second consecutive game in which the veteran has failed to reach 50 rushing yards and spells some concern about his chances at rebounding in the fantasy championship. He’ll be set to square off against a Chiefs defense that ranks as the ninth-toughest RB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed and should be best considered as an RB2 candidate.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins secured 5 of 8 targets for 140 receiving yards, including an 80-yard TD, in Week 16’s loss vs. the Steelers. After a very rocky start to 2023, Higgins has come alive of late, logging three consecutive games with at least 60 receiving yards and a trio of scores over the past two weeks. The veteran’s fantasy value in Week 16 will be somewhat contingent upon whether or not teammate Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder) is able to return to the lineup. Regardless, Higgins will face a stout Chiefs defense (seventh-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed) and should be thought of somewhere within the WR2/WR3 range.
Steelers RB Najee Harris tallied 19 carries for 78 rushing yards and a TD in Week 16 vs. the Bengals. His teammate Jaylen Warren also saw a healthy amount of involvement, totaling 8 carries for 24 yards with 5 catches for 30 receiving yards on the contest. He also tied for the team lead in targets (6) on Saturday with WR George Pickens. The Pittsburgh duo will again be worth starting as flex options in Week 16 going up against a fairly neutral Seahawks front (14th-best RB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed).
Steelers WR George Pickens hauled in 4 of 6 targets for 195 receiving yards and 2 TDs vs. the Bengals in Week 16. His yardage in Saturday’s contest ranks as the third-highest single-game total in 2023 to date and also marks the fourth time this season that Pickens has exceeded 100 receiving yards. The second-year wideout has struggled to find consistency all season, though it’s possible he and QB Mason Rudolph will be able to build upon their newfound rapport in Week 17 vs. the Seahawks (13th-best WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed). Pickens will be worth considering as a WR3/flex option.
The Seahawks expect RB Kenneth Walker III (shoulder) to play Sunday against the Titans. He missed two of three practices during the week before returning to a limited Friday workout. But HC Pete Carroll previously said he expected Walker to be ready. We'll check for confirmation ahead of Sunday's kickoff. Walker gets an upside matchup against a Tennessee defense missing star DT Jeffery Simmons.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins are "optimistic" WR Tyreek Hill (ankle) will play Sunday against the Cowboys. The team reportedly still wants to check him pregame before making a "final decision." We'll be watching for updates on Hill in the morning, but we'd also plan to play him if active.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Texans WR Nico Collins (calf) is expected to play Sunday against the Browns. That matches what Collins said earlier in the week. He's still not as attractive an option as usual because of C.J. Stroud's absence and a challenging matchup with the Browns. But Collins should at least be available.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (foot) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the 49ers. He put in full practices on Friday and Saturday, so Flowers can be trusted in Week 16 fantasy lineups. We'll let you know if something changes with his status.
Colts WR Michael Pittman has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Falcons. Pittman cleared concussion protocol on Friday but was experiencing symptoms again when the team arrived in Atlanta, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. We'll track Pittman's status this coming week and see if he can make it back for next Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. His absence leaves Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and D.J. Montgomery as Indianapolis' top three WRs against the Falcons.
Bills RB Ty Johnson (shoulder) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Chargers. RB Leonard Fournette is making his Buffalo debut in this one, joining James Cook and Latavius Murray in the backfield. Cook remains a strong fantasy play. Fournette and Murray are only options on the Saturday DFS slate.
The Eagles have removed WR DeVonta Smith (knee) from the injury report. He'll be fine for Monday's matchup with the Giants. Currently, he projects as a top-20 WR.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (quad, illness) is listed as questionable for Monday's game vs. the Chiefs. He was sidelined on Thursday, limited in Friday's practice, but then out again on Saturday. It's unclear if the quad or illness kept him out today. Interim HC Antonio Pierce said early in the week that he expected Jacobs to play against Kansas City, but we certainly wouldn't consider him a lock to be out there. Fantasy owners hoping to start Jacobs would ideally have RB Zamir White rostered as insurance.
Raiders TE Michael Mayer (toe) is out for Monday's game vs. the Chiefs. The rookie didn't practice all week. His absence leaves Austin Hooper as Vegas' top TE. Hopefully you don't need to go there in fantasy lineups.
Bengals TE Irv Smith is a healthy scratch for today's game vs. the Steelers. He's totaled four catches on six targets over the last five games, so there's very little fantasy impact here. Perhaps TE Tanner Hudson picks up a few extra routes.
Bills RB Leonard Fournette will make his 2023 debut tonight against the Chargers. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo expects the veteran to get “some run” behind James Cook. Of course, Cook is coming off a career-best game vs. Dallas, so any work Fournette takes is likely to come from Latavius Murray or Ty Johnson. Ultimately, we’re not expecting Fournette to turn into a fantasy asset down the stretch.
The Chiefs have ruled RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) and WR Kadarius Toney (hip) out for Monday's game against the Raiders. Toney's averaging 2.1 receptions and 13.0 receiving yards per game for the season and shouldn't have been in anyone's fantasy plans. McKinnon has scored in two straight games and three of the past four but remained a weak bet for touch volume. His absence can only help solidify returning RB Isiah Pacheco as a strong play this week.
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