Browns WRs Elijah Moore (concussion) is active for today’s game vs. the Bengals. He’s cleared concussion protocol but still might not play much with Cleveland having nothing to gain today. WR Marquise Goodwin (knee) is inactive, leaving the Browns with WRs Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and James Proche alongside Moore.
Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke (ankle) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Saints. That puts QB Desmond Ridder back under center for a game Atlanta needs to win to have a shot at a playoff berth. Ridder, of course, would be a weak fantasy play.
Jaguars WR Christian Kirk (groin) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Titans. He was seemingly close to making it back for this one and will likely be able to play next weekend if Jacksonville takes the AFC South with a win today.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee, hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Titans. He was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable, so it’s fair to assume he’ll be playing at less than 100% in this one. Jones at least gets a potential target boost with WR Christian Kirk out.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (right shoulder, left finger) is active for today’s game vs. the Titans. He reportedly isn’t in danger of doing additional damage to that shoulder but will be playing through pain today. Lawrence obviously comes with a lot more risk than usual in Week 18 fantasy lineups.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Browns. He’ll be replaced by some combination of WRs Trenton Irwin and Andrei Iosivas. Neither is a reliable fantasy option.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (ankle) will not play vs. the Falcons today, according to insider Nick Underhill. The team held out hope that Kamara would improve enough over the weekend but he's evidently not well enough to suit up. Underhill also reports that RB Kendre Miller (ankle, illness) will be active today for the first time since Week 9. The rookie figures to mix in a bit, but we’re expecting RB Jamaal Williams to handle the majority of the backfield work.
Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is expected to play vs. the Packers today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herbert was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday, so he comes with elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups. We'll see whether RB D'Onta Foreman is active for this one after missing the last two games.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee, hamstring) "should play" vs. the Titans today, while WR Christian Kirk (groin) is "less certain," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We'll get Jacksonville's inactives around 11:30 am ET, but it sure sounds like Kirk will be operating at far less than 100% if he ends up playing. We'd try to avoid him in season-long fantasy lineups. He's a risky DFS play, even at deflated price tags.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) is "trending in the right direction" and has a "good chance" to play vs. the Titans today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Lawrence's availability will reportedly come down to pain tolerance, so it'd be a surprise at this point if he doesn't play. We'll get Jacksonville's inactives around 11:30 am ET.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is not expected to play today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It sounds like Pacheo will be active but only used in an emergency with the Chiefs having nothing to gain vs. the Chargers. RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine will handle backfield duties.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms that Saints TE Juwan Johnson (chest) is "good to go" for today's game vs. the Falcons. With 19 targets over the last two weeks, Johnson finds himself safely inside the top 10 of the Week 18 TE Rankings.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (ankle) remains a game-time decision for today's tilt with the Falcons, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He did very little this week. But they'll hold out hope," Rapoport adds. We're not projecting Kamara to play but will get New Orleans' inactives around 11:30 am ET. RB Jamaal Williams will take over lead duties if Kamara is out.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (ankle) is not expected to play vs. the Bills tonight, NFL Network reports. Waddle returned to a limited practice on Friday but never seemed likely to play in this one just two weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain. He is expected to be ready for next week's playoff opener, per NFL Network, although he's unlikely to be at 100%.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle) is not expected to play vs. the Bills tonight, NFL Network reports. Mostert is expected to be ready for next week's playoff opener. But his absence tonight should mean another big workload for RB De'Von Achane, who handled 14 carries and five targets with Mostert out last week.
The Chiefs are expected to play TE Travis Kelce long enough vs. the Chargers today to get him the 16 yards he needs for 1,000 total, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'd be Kelce's eighth straight 1,000-yard season. Expect Kelce to be pulled as soon as he gets those 16 yards, with the Chiefs having nothing to play for today. Kelce still isn't a recommended Week 18 fantasy play, although this news is a knock against TE Noah Gray's viability.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 81 receiving yards and a TD in Week 18 vs. Ravens. The veteran ends this season with a career-low in receptions (51) and the second-fewest receiving yards (717) he’s logged to date, though a good deal of this can be attributed to the four games missed due to a hamstring injury. Johnson will play next season at 28 years old in the final year of his contract. Unless the Steelers make a change at QB this offseason, there’s no reason to value Johnson any higher than as a WR3 in dynasty formats.
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren saw a diminished workload in Week 18 vs. the Ravens. The second-year back tallied 33 rushing yards on 9 carries, along with 5 catches for 17 yards as a receiver in the contest. Though he played second fiddle on Saturday, Warren posted very solid production this season (nine games of 10+ PPR points) in a near-50/50 workshare with teammate Najee Harris. Warren also logged nearly twice as many targets (74) as Harris (38) in 2023, further solidifying himself as the preferred option in the Pittsburgh backfield for managers in half- or full-PPR formats. Look for him to continue yielding high-end RB3/low-end RB2 level value in 2024.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers believe Edge T.J. Watt suffered a Grade 3 sprain to his left MCL in Saturday's win over the Ravens. Watt reportedly wanted to re-enter the game after sustaining the injury, but the team would not let him. He'll have further testing to confirm what is typically a multi-week injury. If the Steelers make the playoffs -- they need some help Sunday -- we'll see whether Watt can return for the opener.
Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it's believed to be an MCL tear. That would seem to make Watt unlikely to play in the playoffs, if Pittsburgh qualifies.
Texans WR Robert Woods (hip) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Colts. He joins WR Noah Brown (back) on the inactive list. That leaves WRs Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie behind No. 1 WR Nico Collins. TE Dalton Schultz could play an expanded role in the passing game tonight.
Search
