The 49ers have activated RB Elijah Mitchell from IR. He has been out since suffering an MCL sprain in Week 12, Mitchell's 2nd knee sprain of the season. He carried 18 times in his previous return from IR, that one following a 9-week layoff. We'd still rather not bet on Mitchell in fantasy football lineups in his 1st game back. He's an interesting option for playoff fantasy football leagues, though. We'll have rankings for that format after the Week 18 games.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirms that Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (shoulder) is expected to play vs. the Giants tomorrow. "He threw the ball extremely well in practice this week, and they're confident that he won't re-injure himself," Garafolo says. He adds that the "ideal scenario" is that the Eagles build a big lead and are able to pull Hurts from tomorrow's game. That's the cap on Hurts' Week 18 fantasy ceiling -- but he remains a strong play in season-long leagues.
Vikings TE Irv Smith has been activated from IR, putting him on track to play vs. the Bears on Sunday. He's been out since going down with a significant high-ankle sprain in Week 8. Smith's return is a boost to Minnesota's passing game, but he's unlikely to be a big fantasy factor in the postseason behind TE T.J. Hockenson.
Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman is inactive for Saturday’s matchup with the Raiders. Out since Week 9, Hardman should return for the postseason.
Chiefs K Harrison Butker (back) is active for today’s meeting with the Raiders. He missed practice on Thursday before returning on Friday. It’s been a down year for the 27-year-old. But given the Chiefs’ implied total of 30.5, Butker is a fine streaming option.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, oblique) is active for today’s game against Kansas City. Jacobs is the NFL’s leading rusher, and he’ll look to pad his lead in a friendly matchup. Just be aware that the Raiders — now out of the postseason picture — could take a long look at rookie Zamir White.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 TV in Houston, the "standing trade request" by Texans WR Brandin Cooks "is expected to be worked on and, in all likelihood, accommodated this offseason." Such a move certainly wouldn't come as a surprise after the way this season played out between the team and the wideout. Cooks added that he, his agent and GM Nick Caserio "have a good working relationship." The Texans don't appear likely to give Cooks away for less than they believe he's worth. And he still has 2 years left on his contract. The coming season carries a particularly large dead-cap number ($34.2 million) should Cooks move on. So there remains little motivation on the team side to make a move, other than to pacify the player. It's tough to judge how much Cooks has left off this season, which has found him post a career-worst 6.8 yards per target. In addition to his conflict with team management, Cooks has dealt with injuries and poor QB play. He'll still be 29 until next September, though. And the dip in production plus uncertainty with his future should mean a low price on the dynasty trade market this offseason. We wouldn't mind taking a run at the perennially productive vet. Given his big salary and advanced age, we'd bet that a team acquiring Cooks is likely to be a contender with a quality QB. See where Cooks sits in our dynasty rankings.
Packers RB Aaron Jones (ankle, knee) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Lions. Jones looked healthier last week than he has in a while, ripping off 111 yards on 14 carries. There's no holding back in Sunday night's must-win game vs. the Lions, who rank 19th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA over the last 5 weeks.
Packers WR Christian Watson (hip) logged limited practice all week and doesn't carry an official injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Lions. Battling through a hip injury, Watson managed just 1 catch on 5 targets and a 60% route rate last week. He has an awesome matchup on Sunday night vs. Detroit's 26th-ranked WR defense. It's a little tough to trust him in lineups considering the mixed bag of practice results this week. Consider the rookie a low-end WR2.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel (ankle, knee) practiced fully to end the week and doesn't carry an injury tag in anticipation of Week 18 vs. the Cardinals. We'd be surprised if Samuel saw a full workload coming off a 3-week absence in the game the 49ers should control. But he's always capable of making his fantasy day with 1 big play. As such, consider the veteran a low-end WR3/flex option with some risk.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (knee, ankle) doesn't appear on the team's final injury report. He should be all set to go for Week 18 vs. the Cardinals. McCaffrey has dealt with these issues for several weeks now without missing a game. The 49ers still have a shot at NFC's #1 seed, so we're expecting CMC to play as long as he's able. McCaffrey is obviously an elite fantasy play vs. the Cardinals' 30th-ranked RB defense.
Cardinals RB James Conner (knee, shin) has been officially ruled out for Week 18 vs. the 49ers. Given that the 49ers' defense ranks as the single-toughest matchup for opposing RBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season, we don't believe any other Cardinals RB is worthy of fantasy consideration this week. You can avoid this backfield altogether.
Seahawks TE Noah Fant (knee) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't appear with an official injury designation ahead of Week 18. The veteran has mustered just 4 catches on 6 targets over the past 2 weeks. TE Colby Parkinson actually ran more routes (28 to 21) and tallied more targets (7 to 3) last week. We consider Fant a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes. There are likely better options available.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (shin) is officially listed as questionable for Week 18 vs. the Rams. Though he was quiet last week in his return from injury, the veteran wideout averaged 7.7 targets per game through Week 15 with a 23.5% target share that ranks 2nd on the team. He's a fairly integral part of this 'Hawks passing attack and should be a high-end WR3/flex candidate should he suit up on Sunday.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker (ankle, illness) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Rams. The Seahawks aren't backing off Walker down the stretch: He's carried a whopping 49 times over the past 2 weeks. He should be in for heavy volume again this Sunday with the 'Hawks 6.5-point home favorites against the Rams. Consider the rookie a solid RB1 in your fantasy lineups.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) logged full practice on Friday and doesn't carry an injury tag ahead of Week 18 vs. the Chargers. Jeudy ranks as the WR8 overall in PPR since Week 13 with 39 targets in that span. The Chargers' defense presents a tough draw, ranking 5th-best in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA over the last 3 weeks. Volume alone should keep Jeudy within WR2 consideration in fantasy lineups this week.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (thigh) practiced fully all week and doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Week 18 vs. the Commanders. Pollard is once again a top-10 RB candidate for fantasy managers this week. Though the Commanders' defense ranks as the 2nd-worst matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs over the course of the whole season, it's important to note that they're 30th in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA since Week 15. The matchup isn't nearly as bad for Pollard as season-long data would suggest.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) has been ruled out for Week 18 vs. the Cowboys. RBs Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson figure to carry the workload on Sunday. The Cowboys' defense rank as the 4th-toughest matchup for opposing RBs in adjusted fantasy points allowed this season. It would've been tough to trust Robinson or Antonio Gibson, who underwent foot surgery on Thursday, in this game for fantasy purposes. We feel even more skittish about the backups. Neither Williams nor Patterson is anything more than speculative RB3/flex consideration.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders (knee) practiced fully on Friday and doesn't carry an injury tag ahead of Week 18 vs. the Giants. The soon-to-be free agent has struggled significantly over the last 3 weeks, but this upcoming matchup presents a good "get right" opportunity. Though the Giants' defense ranks 3rd-best in Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA over the last 4 weeks, Sanders torched them for 144 yards and 2 TDs in Week 14. Consider Sanders a low-end RB1 in Week 18.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (right shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion all week and is officially questionable for Week 18 vs. the Giants. The Eagles could secure the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win on Sunday. The sense of urgency to win might be enough to see Hurts back under center for the first time since Week 15. Hurts ranks 3rd among QBs in rushing yards per game (54.9), and last he played the Giants in Week 14, he posted 30.4 points. We consider him a top-5 QB in Week 18 if he gets the green light.
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