Texans QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) put in a limited practice on Wednesday. HC Demeco Ryans said that Stroud is in stage four of the five-stage protocol. “It was encouraging to see him," Ryans said. "I think it just lifts everybody’s spirits to see him back doing well and still progressing in the right direction. So, happy about that.” Stroud is seemingly trending toward being cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the Titans, but we'll keep you updated on his progress
Titans QB Will Levis (ankle) was a full-go in Wednesday's practice. That should have him on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Texans. Levis has finished better than QB15 in only one of his eight starts. He's only in play in 2-QB and Superflex leagues.
Bears WR Darnell Mooney (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He self-reported concussion symptoms after last week's win over the Cardinals, HC Matt Eberflus said. Mooney is now unlikely to play vs. the Falcons this weekend. Hopefully you weren't counting on him in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. He battled through this knee issue last week but certainly isn't a lock to play vs. the Falcons on Sunday. We'll update Kmet's status again tomorrow.
Bears RB D'Onta Foreman (personal) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. That should put him on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons -- and return Chicago's backfield to an ugly three-man committee.
The Patriots placed RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) on IR. He'll end up missing the final five games of the season. Stevenson got off to a brutally slow start this year, averaging just 60 total yards over his first eight games. He got rolling over his final three healthy games, though, averaging 91 rushing yards per game on 5.5 yards per carry plus 4.0 catches and 21.7 receiving yards per game. We'll see what New England adds to the backfield this offseason, but Stevenson figures to play a significant role again in 2024. Ezekiel Elliott will finish out this season as the Patriots' lead back. See where he sits in the Week 17 RB Rankings.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Broncos QB Russell Wilson expects to be cut in March. Wilson has reportedly known for nearly two months that Denver planned to move on after the season. The team reportedly told him a benching would come at some point if he refused to defer the injury guarantee that's been reported as a key to Wilson's benching. Clearly he refused. Wilson has played better than last year. And at 35, he's likely to find another home. Will he get another starting gig? We'll see. The Broncos, meanwhile, have no long-term answer. (It's not Jarrett Stidham.) They currently hold the 14th overall pick in Round 1, then no Round 2 selection.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. That gives him a shot to return for this weekend's game vs. the Bills, although Henry would be just an emergency fantasy play. We'll keep you updated on his progress.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is on the Week 17 injury report with a left thumb and quad. He was limited in Wednesday's practice. We've heard nothing to suggest that Tagovailoa is in danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Ravens, but we'll keep an eye on his status over the next few days.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. Baltimore is on a short week after Monday night's big win over the 49ers, so we're guessing this is more of a rest day for Flowers. We'll see if he gets back on the practice field tomorrow.
Browns K Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Jets. Riley Patterson will kick in his place but is not a strong fantasy option with Cleveland's implied total at just 21 points.
Browns WR Amari Cooper is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Jets. He's on the injury report with "rest" and a heel. We'll look for more information on Cooper and get Cleveland's inactives around 6:45 pm ET tomorrow. Cooper, of course, is coming off a monster Week 16 but draws the league's No. 1 WR defense on Thursday.
Jets K Greg Zuerlein (quad) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Browns. Austin Seibert will kick for New York is Zuerlein is unable to give it a go. You should not be messing with this situation in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel confirmed on Wednesday that WR Jaylen Waddle has a high-ankle sprain. "It's tough to rule him out for this week [due to his toughness]," McDaniel added. "It's a high ankle sprain. It's not overly severe. But [high-ankle sprains] are tough when you make a living on cutting." We'll track Waddle's status over the next few days, but consider him unlikely to play against the Ravens on Sunday.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence said he won't do much at Wednesday's practice with his right shoulder "still sore but feeling better," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Lawrence reportedly said he can't yet say whether he'll be ready to face the Panthers on Sunday. We'll keep track of the QB's progress throughout the week.
Update: Lawrence officially did not practice on Wednesday.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos will be benching QB Russell Wilson in favor of Jarrett Stidham for the season's final two games. You might remember Stidham playing the same role last year for the Raiders, who benched Derek Carr. And the reasoning on Wilson looks the same. Wilson is already guaranteed $39 million for 2024, but another $37 million would become guaranteed if Wilson can't pass a physical in March. So the Broncos don't appear to be done with Wilson like the Raiders were with Carr. Rather, they're trying to maintain some "financial flexibility," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Even if they'd like to trade Wilson, his contract basically prevents such a move. According to Spotrac, Denver would absorb $85 million in dead cap by unloading Wilson. So expect him to be the 2024 starter. As for the final two weeks of this year, Stidham will likely present a passing downgrade. WR Courtland Sutton has been just about the only usable piece for most fantasy football leagues lately, though. His injury leaves Jerry Jeudy as the expected Week 17 target leader. You'll find him low in WR3 territory in our Week 17 rankings.
Giants QB Tyrod Taylor will start this weekend's game vs. the Rams, HC Brian Daboll said. Taylor played reasonably well in relief of QB Tommy DeVito in Philadelphia on Monday, throwing for 133 yards, one TD, and one INT in the second half. He completed 64% of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt with two TDs and 0 INTs in starts against the Bills and Commanders earlier this season. Taylor is just a low-end QB2 for Week 17, but he should bring more stability to the offense than DeVito.
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 Buccaneers started LB K.J. Britt in place of Devin White once again Sunday against the Jaguars. But Britt played just 3 snaps for the team while White took the other 63. That followed three straight inactive games for White and two weeks of at least 90% playing time for Britt. The down stretch for White started with an injury but then included the LB reportedly telling the team he couldn't go in Week 15 after being told Britt would keep getting playing time. Back in his old role against Jacksonville, White delivered cross-category production. He tallied a meager 4 tackles (2 solos) but added a half-sack among 2 QB hits, plus an INT among 2 passes defensed. According to FOX Sports' Greg Auman, co-DC Kacy Rodgers said before the game that White and Britt would both play "big roles" in the game. That it only proved true for White and he delivered a nice performance should mean a similar role in Week 17. You'll find White back in our LB rankings this week.
Monday night’s game vs. the 49ers gave fantasy managers a chance to see how the Ravens would split their RB workload after rookie Keaton Mitchell sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Week 15. Baltimore ended up favoring Justice Hill, who saw a team-high 13 touches and logged his second-highest snap share (62%) of the season. Teammate Gus Edwards was also involved (70 total yards, 1 rushing TD) and saw all three of the Ravens’ RB touches from inside the five-yard line on Monday night, per PFF. Managers looking ahead to Week 17 can feel good about starting both Hill and Edwards as RB3/flex options, though it’d be better to lean toward Edwards if you’re picking between them. They’ll be set to face a Dolphins defense that ranks as the sixth-toughest matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed, though Miami is tied for seventh-most red zone rushing TDs allowed (14) this season. Banking on Edwards, the goal-line option, is the more optimal play.
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