Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday. This isn't exactly an ideal start for the week for the second-year wideout. Be sure to check back for updates regarding his status for Week 18 vs. Jets as the week unfolds.
Jets QB Mike White (ribs) practiced fully on Wednesday. Assuming nothing changes, White is set to be the starter for Week 18 vs. the Dolphins. We'll let you know if conflicting information arises at any point this week.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (knee) opened the week listed as a DNP on Wednesday's practice report. Ravens HC John Harbaugh said, "I’m just going to leave all that stuff alone and focus on the game and have the guys ready for the game," when asked about Jackson. That's not a particularly encouraging quote to hear from a coach about their QB. Fantasy managers should probably expect backup QB Tyler Huntley to once again get the nod in Week 18 vs. the Bengals.
If the Bengals beat the Ravens -- and they're currently 7-point favorites -- in the early slate of games on Sunday, the Chargers will clinch the AFC's #5 seed and have nothing to play for vs. the Broncos in the late slate. And it sure sounds like there's a chance that HC Brandon Staley will rest starters in that case. "Once we find out about that game, then we'll make the appropriate decisions moving forward," Staley said Wednesday. The Chargers are notably 2.5-point underdogs right now, suggesting the oddsmakers are at least baking in some chance of starters not playing. We'll continue to keep an eye on the situation, but guys like QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams carry elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups.
Bills TE Dawson Knox (hip) practiced fully on Wednesday. We'll keep an eye on him just in case. Starting the practice week in full bodes well for his chances to play in Week 18 vs. the Patriots.
Bills QB Josh Allen (ankle, elbow) practiced fully on Wednesday. The 2-time Pro Bowler has played in every game this season despite his nagging ailments. We'll keep track of his health in case anything changes, but we feel good about his chances of playing in Week 18 vs. the Patriots.
Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday. This same injury has plagued Meyers for a few weeks now. He's yet to miss a game because of it, so we feel pretty good about Meyers' availability for Week 18 vs. the Bills. We'll keep track of this in case anything changes.
Titans WR Treylon Burks (groin) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday. We'll see if the rookie is able to work up to full participation tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for further clarity surrounding Burks' availability for Week 18 vs. the Jaguars on Saturday.
Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham (right elbow) practiced fully on Wednesday. This is certainly a step in the right direction considering Stidham only managed to log limited participation on Tuesday. We'll keep an eye on this situation in case anything changes. For now, it sounds like Stidham will be under center in Week 18 vs. the Chiefs on Saturday.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, oblique) did not practice on Wednesday. The team's official website characterizes Jacobs' absence from practice as a personal day. Thursday's injury report will shed more light on whether or not the veteran will be able to suit up for Saturday's Week 18 game vs. the Chiefs. We'll keep an eye on this as more information becomes available.
Chiefs WR Skyy Moore (hand) upgraded to limited practice on Wednesday. This is a good sign for the rookie after not practicing on Tuesday. We'll have a better idea of Moore's status and how it affects the Chiefs' WR corps for Week 18 vs. the Raiders tomorrow. Check back for further updates.
49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) has been designated to return from IR. He's been out since spraining an MCL in Week 12. We'll see if he's ready to play vs. the Cardinals this weekend. A healthy Mitchell figures to slide back in as San Francisco's #2 RB behind Christian McCaffrey.
Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) has been activated from IR, putting him in line to play in Saturday's regular-season finale vs. the Raiders. Hardman has been out since Week 9. He'd be a flier in Week 18 fantasy lineups but is certainly in play for NFL Playoffs fantasy contests.
Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury conceded Wednesday that QB Kyler Murray (knee) "probably" won't be ready for the start of the 2023 season. Murray underwent surgery Tuesday to reconstruct his ACL and repair meniscus damage in his right knee. We're just about 8 months from the start of the 2023 campaign; this is an injury that usually takes 9+ months to return from. Early fantasy drafters should be operating under the assumption that Murray misses at least the first few games. The PUP list, which would cost him the first 6 games, is a real possibility. Kingsbury also said that QB Colt McCoy isn't playing this weekend to protect him from injury, suggesting that he might be Plan A to replace Murray early next season. McCoy is signed for 2023 with a reasonable $5 million cap hit.
The Cardinals have already ruled WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) out for this week. Without Hopkins last Sunday, TE Trey McBride and WR Greg Dortch tied for the lead with 25% target share apiece. WR Marquise Brown checked in 1 target behind them. Week 18, however, will find a much tougher defense in San Francisco. Check our Week 18 fantasy football rankings to see where everyone has landed.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera announced rookie QB Sam Howell as the Week 18 starter vs. Dallas. It’ll be the 5th-round pick’s first career start. Howell's a poor bet to perform as a useful QB2, but take note that he posted 828 rushing yards -- 69 per game -- in his final season at UNC.
Bears QB Justin Fields will miss Week 18 with a hip injury. Per HC Matt Eberflus, an MRI showed a hip strain for the young QB. In his place, Chicago will roll out Nathan Peterman. The 28-year-old owns a career completion rate of 52.5% on 141 attempts. The Vikings defense figures to be a chalky option in DFS formats.
The Cowboys waived WR James Washington. A broken right foot suffered on August 1 kept Washington out until Week 14. He ended up going catchless on 15 offensive snaps over the last 4 games, quickly getting passed on the depth chart by WR T.Y. Hilton. Dallas will head into the playoff with CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Noah Brown and Hilton as its top 4 WRs.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms that Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his right pinkie in last week's loss to the Patriots. The finger is not broken, though, and "whether he can play this week will come down to swelling and if he can grip the ball well enough to throw," Rapoport adds. We'll keep an eye on Bridgewater's progress over the next few days, leading up to Sunday's must-win game vs. the Jets. If Bridgewater can't go, QB Skylar Thompson will get the start. Miami signed QB Mike Glennon to the practice squad on Wednesday.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley plans to play starters in Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. A win would lock up the AFC's #5 seed for the Chargers, meaning a Round 1 game vs. the Jaguars or Titans. A loss would open the door for the Ravens to take the #5 seed with a win over the Bengals. That'd push the Chargers down to #6 and mean a Round 1 game vs. Cincinnati. “Our approach is definitely going to get shot to win this ballgame and play as well as we can play heading into the playoffs,” Staley said. “I think that there’s certainly an advantage to be in the No. 5-seed, from where I stand, so we’re going to try and get there.” Staley did add that he'd consider sitting banged-up players. But, as of now, we're projecting full playing time for QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
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