Bengals TE Hayden Hurst (calf) practiced in a limited fashion all week and is listed as questionable for Saturday's showdown vs. the Patriots. Should the TE receive the green light to play in Week 16, he is best viewed as a mid-TE2 option. There are likely better options available for fantasy managers looking to advance in the playoffs though.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) does not carry an official injury designation for Week 16's game vs. the Patriots. Higgins has spooked fantasy managers a handful of times this season by disappearing in games, but he fully practiced back-to-back days to end the week. Consider the third-year player a low-end WR1 in Saturday's contest.
Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable for Week 16 vs. the Bengals. WR DeVante Parker (concussion) has been ruled out. Meyers is in the WR3/flex conversation in a neutral matchup on Saturday. The Patriots don't throw the ball a ton, but Meyers is usually a decent bet on a weekly basis for a modest target total.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) logged limited participation in practice all week and is officially listed as questionable for Week 16's game vs. the Bengals. The same goes for RB Damien Harris (thigh) this week. It's good to see both backs at least practiced somewhat this week. Fantasy managers should still keep a close eye on the final word for these guys ahead of kickoff on Saturday. Rookies Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris are names to keep an eye out for on the waiver wire just in case, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves just yet. Should Stevenson suit up, we consider him a top-10 play at the position.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant (knee) is officially listed as questionable for Week 16 vs. the Chiefs. HC Pete Carroll said Thursday that he anticipates Fant will be able to play on Saturday. The Chiefs' defense ranks as the 8th-best matchup for opposing TEs in adjusted fantasy points allowed in 2022. As such, Fant is best considered a high-end TE2 candidate.
Seahawks WR Marquise Goodwin (wrist, ankle) is expected to play vs. the Chiefs per HC Pete Carroll despite being officially listed as questionable for Week 16. With WR Tyler Lockett out with a finger injury, Goodwin is a decent bet to fill the WR2 role opposite D.K. Metcalf. Consider Goodwin a solid WR3/flex candidate in your lineups.
Both RB Kenneth Walker (ankle) and RB DeeJay Dallas (ankle) are "likely to play" in Week 16 according to Seahawks HC Pete Carroll on Thursday. Dallas falls out of fantasy consideration with the news that his rookie teammate also seems good to go vs. the Chiefs. Walker has been dealing with this ankle issue for a few weeks now but is still considered a high-end RB2 candidate in what is a generally neutral matchup for fantasy purposes.
Saints WR Chris Olave (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 16 vs. the Browns. With Olave inactive and WR Jarvis Landry landing on IR due to an ankle injury, not many Saints players warrant fantasy consideration in Saturday's game. TE Juwan Johnson could theoretically see a boost in opportunity. However, the weather in Cleveland is expected to be nasty. RB Alvin Kamara is about the only Saints player fantasy managers can count on in any meaningful way in this contest.
Bears WR Chase Claypool (knee) is listed as doubtful for Week 16 vs. the Bills on Saturday. Teammate Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) did not practice all week and has been ruled out for the contest. The only Bears pass-catcher worthy of fantasy consideration this week is TE Cole Kmet. That said, the weather conditions in Chicago likely will not be great, and the Bills' defense is the single-worst matchup for opposing TEs in adjusted fantasy points allowed. Keep all of this in mind as you set your lineups.
Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) was listed as “non-injured/rest” on the injury report all week and does not carry an injury designation for Week 16 vs. the Falcons. No major update here, but as a matter of good housekeeping, we're just letting you know he's good to go. Dobbins has gone for 120+ rushing yards twice since returning in Week 14. We're not predicting another gigantic performance, but it's worth mentioning that given the third-year back has only played in 6 games this season because of his knee issue. Consider Dobbins a low-end RB2/solid flex option in your lineups.
The forecast for tonight’s Jaguars-Jets game calls for light rain early, potentially getting heavier throughout the night. The bigger concern is the wind. We’re looking at sustained 15-20 mph winds with gusts of 30+ mph. It's ugly weather that figures to impact the passing and kicking games — while also possibly pushing both teams to run more than they would in better conditions. We’ve updated our Jaguars and Jets projections for the forecast.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (toe) is officially active for tonight’s game vs. the Jets. We’re not worried about the toe, but the Jets’ 4th-ranked QB defense and tough weather conditions have pushed Lawrence down the Week 16 Rankings.
Jets DT Quinnen Williams (calf) is active for tonight’s game vs. the Jaguars. See where he lands in the Week 16 DL Rankings.
Jets RB Zonovan Knight (ankle) is active for tonight’s game vs. the Jaguars. He was listed as questionable but put in a full week of practice, so we’re not expecting the ankle to be much of an issue. RB James Robinson is a healthy scratch again for Jacksonville, also suggesting confidence in Knight’s health.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (toe) will play in Thursday's Week 16 game vs. the Jets, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The Jets' defense ranks as the 4th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs this year. That fact coupled with the expected weather conditions of tonight's game knocks Lawrence down a peg into high-end QB2 territory.
Saints WR Jarvis Landry is heading to IR with his ankle injury. The 30-year-old will end up playing in just 9 games this season, averaging only 2.8 catches and 30 yards per. Landry will hit free agency in March but doesn't figure to draw a ton of interest and isn't a great bet for significant 2023 fantasy value.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid suggested Thursday that WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) won't be ready to play vs. the Seahawks this weekend. "I'm not sure he's where he need to be," Reid said. We'll see if Hardman can make it back for Week 17. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson have been running as Kansas City's top 3 WRs lately.
Patriots HC Bill Belichick refused to commit to QB Mac Jones as his starter the rest of the way when asked on Thursday. Jones has been bad for most of the season and bottomed out with 112 passing yards on 3.6 yards per attempt vs. the Raiders last week. It's possible that we see QB Bailey Zappe again this year -- but you should be trying to avoid this passing game in fantasy lineups.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Ravens QB Tyler Huntley will be the starter in Week 16 vs. the Falcons. The possible return of Lamar Jackson will have to wait another week. Though the Falcons' defense presents the 8th-best matchup for QBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed, Huntley is nothing more than a low-end QB2 consideration in superflex leagues. Huntley is 32nd among qualified QBs in PFF passing grade and ranks as the QB24 in fantasy since Week 13. Fantasy managers likely have better options for their lineups.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni announced on Thursday morning that QB Garnder Minshew will start Week 16's game vs. the Cowboys on Saturday. Jalen Hurts (shoulder) did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday and will now have some time to heal further. The Cowboys' defense ranks as the 3rd-toughest matchup for opposing QBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season. We don't consider Minshew a ceiling play in fantasy lineups this week, but he could still be considered a streaming option/QB2 in superflex leagues.
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