The Commanders named QB Jacoby Brissett the Week 17 starter. Brissett has provided a spark over the past two weeks, totaling 224 yards and 3 TDs on a 78.3% completion rate. We’re not excited about the former Colt as a fantasy starter – especially against the 49ers. But Brissett raises the outlook for Washington’s WR corps, most notably Terry McLaurin. See where he and Brissett sit in our updated Week 17 rankings.
The Patriots have downgraded TE Hunter Henry (knee) from questionable to out for Sunday's game against the Broncos. His absence would seem to be good news for Mike Gesicki, and it might mean a boost in playing time. But Henry and Gesicki don't play exactly the same position. Gesicki has run 71.7% of his pass snaps from the slot so far, according to Pro Football Focus, plus another 19% out wide. Henry has spent 48.1% in the slot; 43.5% inline. TE Pharoah Brown might be the more direct playing-time beneficiary of Henry's absence. Henry'scoming off season highs in targets, catches, and yards, which probably inflates the perception of what he's leaving available. Before last week, Henry was averaging just 4.0 targets and 2.7 receptions per game. Neither Gesicki nor Brown looks all that attractive for fantasy use.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) remained sidelined all week and is out for Sunday night’s game vs. the Broncos. That means another start for RB Ezekiel Elliott. We’ve seen his ceiling and floor the past two games: 140 total yards and a score in Week 14; 46 scoreless yards in Week 15.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game vs. the Broncos. He only got in a limited practice on Friday. We’re not expecting Henry to play, and he’d be a shaky fantasy starter if he does.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. He never returned to last week's game after going down and is certainly in danger of missing Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. That'd leave New England with TEs Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown. Neither would be a viable fantasy play.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry suffered a left knee injury in the second half of Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs and is officially questionable to return. He caught seven of nine targets for 66 yards and a score before exiting. We'll update Henry's status when we know more.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) is not listed on the final Week 15 injury report. He’ll be back for Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs. Douglas has averaged 7.6 targets and 5.2 catches over his last five games – although very little of that came with QB Bailey Zappe. WRs DeVante Parker (knee), JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle), and Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) are all listed as questionable. Those guys shouldn’t be in your Week 15 fantasy plans.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs. He remained sidelined in practice all week and doesn’t look particularly close to a return. Ezekiel Elliott will get another game as feature back this weekend after racking up 22 carries and eight targets on a 91% snap rate last week.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) got in a limited practice on Wednesday -- his first since being concussed in Week 12. We'll see if the rookie can get cleared for Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. If he does, he'll be in the WR4 mix as the favorite to lead New England in targets.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. Reportedly dealing with a high-ankle sprain, he's unlikely to play vs. the Chiefs this weekend. That'd again leave RB Ezekiel Elliott in a true workhorse role. Zeke racked up 22 carries and eight targets on a 91% snap rate last week.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers. He remained sidelined in practice all week, so he still has lots of work to do to clear the protocol for Week 15. WR Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) has also been ruled out for Thursday night. DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton figure to operate as New England's top three WRs in Pittsburgh. Parker is the best bet for targets but is no better than a WR4 in an offense implied for only 12.5 points.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) remained sidelined for Tuesday's practice. He has virtually no chance to be cleared in time for Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers. Douglas' absence will again leave DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton as New England's top three WRs.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. A source tells Schefter that Stevenson is expected to miss "a few weeks." High-ankle sprains generally cost RBs 4+ games, so don't be surprised if Stevenson misses the rest of the season. He's droppable in most fantasy leagues without an IR spot. Stevenson's absence will leave Ezekiel Elliott as New England's clear lead back -- in a true test of whether pure volume can support a fantasy RB. New England has RBs Jamycal Hasty and Ty Montgomery behind Elliott on the active roster, with RB Kevin Harris on the practice squad.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report. It means he still has a lot of work to do to clear the concussion protocol in time for Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers. We'll update Douglas' progress again tomorrow.
The Athletic's Jeff Howe reports that the "initial belief" is that Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson "will miss time, possibly multiple games," with the ankle injury he suffered in the Week 13 loss to the Chargers. Stevenson is scheduled for additional testing on the ankle on Monday, so we should get another update on his status then. But fantasy owners should plan on being without Stevenson for at least Week 14 -- and potentially the rest of the fantasy season. His absence leaves Ezekiel Elliott as New England's lead back and an unexciting but-useable fantasy play.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson took over the Washington backfield in Sunday's loss to Miami after Brian Robinson Jr. left with a hamstring injury. Gibson finished with a 56% snap share, his second-highest mark of the year. He carried 10 times for just 35 yards, though, adding a 4-37 receiving line on 5 targets. Chris Rodriguez trailed him for 7 carries, but that included rushing on the final three plays of a 45-15 defeat. Washington now gets a Week 14 bye, so we'll see about Robinson's status for the Week 15 clash with the Rams. If he's out, expect Gibson to contend for an RB2 spot in the Week 15 rankings. Rodriguez isn't worth fantasy attention for most formats at this stage of the season.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Chargers. He had to be helped off the field and headed straight to the locker room. We'll update Stevenson's status when we know more.
Update: Stevenson is officially questionable to return with an ankle injury.
Update: Stevenson has been ruled out.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson has garnered his three largest touch counts of the season over his past three games. That has meant just 11, 9, and 9 touches, not necessarily a relevant level of usage for most fantasy formats. But receptions are driving those numbers. Gibson has caught five passes in three of his past four games and returned from a toe injury last week to regain the backfield receiving lead from Brian Robinson Jr. Sunday finds Washington entering the game as 9.5-point underdogs to Miami, which points to pass-friendly game conditions. That doesn't make Gibson a strong fantasy option. But it does give him some sneaky upside in a week with six teams on bye. See where Gibson lands in our Week 13 RB rankings.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) missed practice all week and is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Chargers. WR Kayshon Boutte (shoulder, illness) is also out. That leaves New England with WRs DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor. You could take a shot on Parker, Smith-Schuster, or Thornton in DFS, but you shouldn’t mess with the situation in season-long fantasy leagues.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. We'll keep an eye on his progress through the protocol, but the rookie is unlikely to play vs. the Chargers this weekend. That'd leave DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster as New England's likely top two WRs.
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