The Raiders designated TE Darren Waller (hamstring) and WR Hunter Renfrow (oblique) to return from IR. Both guys will return to practice this week and are eligible to be activated for Sunday's game vs. the Patriots. Waller averaged 6.0 targets, 4.0 catches, 44 yards and .3 TDs over the first 4 weeks of the season, ranking 12th among TEs in half-PPR points during that stretch. Renfrow has played in 6 games so far this season and averaged 4.8 targets, 3.5 catches, 32 yards and 0 TDs. His half-PPR scoring average in those games lands him 102nd among WRs. We wouldn't use Renfrow in Week 15 fantasy lineups. Waller will be a risk/reward, low-end TE1 if he plays this weekend.
Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) has been designated to return from IR. He'll be back at practice today, and we'll see if he's able to play vs. the Texans on Sunday. Hardman racked up 17 catches on 22 targets for 226 yards and 3 TDs in his last 4 games before landing on IR.
Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) admitted that he's not yet back to 100%. “It’s still not me all the way yet, and I’m going to continue to get better,” Dobbins said. “Hopefully those 100-yard games will turn into 200-yard games. I’m going to keep getting healthier.” As a reminder of his upside and talent: Per SI’s Albert Breer, the Ravens believed Dobbins would “contend” for the rushing title prior to his 2021 ACL tear. An excellent schedule makes him a potential difference-maker down the stretch.
SI’s Albert Breer believes Bucs QB Tom Brady is unlikely to return to Tampa Bay next season. While Breer doesn’t shut the door on a return to Tampa, note that Brady will enter free agency in a few months. The 45-year-old has shown signs of decline this year. Through 13 games, he’s posted career-lows in YPA (6.2) and TD rate (2.9%). He’s currently the QB13 in fantasy thanks in large part to a league-leading 579 attempts. See where he sits in our Week 15 rankings.
"Expectations" are that Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (shoulder) will return for Sunday's game vs. the Bears, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. "And if not, almost certainly Christmas Eve at the Cowboys," McLane adds. So it sounds like Goedert isn't quite a lock to make it back for Week 15 fantasy lineups. We'll keep you updated on his status throughout the week.
Seahawks RB Ken Walker (ankle) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice. That puts him on track to return for Thursday night's showdown vs. the 49ers. It's a brutal matchup against the 3rd toughest defense in terms of adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. But Walker's projected volume keeps him in the RB2 mix.
Texans HC Lovie Smith wouldn't say for sure whether both QB Davis Mills and QB Jeff Driskel would play vs. the Chiefs this weekend, but it sure sounds like he's leaning in that direction. “I thought it was effective,” Smith said. “Two different flavors, and that’s always tough for a defense to prepare with what we were doing with them. As far as what we’re going to do this week going forward, we started evaluating and seeing what we need to do against another good division-leading Kansas City football team. We’ll see how that goes, but both quarterbacks were productive." Mills and Driskel split snaps right down the middle in last week's loss to the Cowboys. Mills completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT. Driskel was more Taysom-Hill lite, going just 4-for-6 for 38 yards and a TD passing but running it 7 times for 36 yards. Of course, neither guy is an option at QB in any fantasy setup. But Driskel has TE eligibility on some platforms, putting him in play as a Week 15 flier.
49ers QB Brock Purdy (oblique) was listed as a limited participant in what was a light practice on Tuesday. HC Kyle Shanahan wouldn't say for sure whether Purdy will start Thursday night's game vs. the Seahawks but did say that the oblique injury is more of a pain-tolerance issue. Purdy told the media that he's able to run but hasn't tried to throw since Sunday. We'll get another update on his status tomorrow. QB Josh Johnson would start against Seattle if Purdy can't.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he's been told WR Deebo Samuel (knee, ankle) is expected to be out "three-ish" weeks. Missing 3 weeks would put Samuel back for Week 18. The Score's Jordan Schultz reportedly on Monday that Samuel has a chance to return for Week 17. That seems to be the range we're looking at for Samuel's return, which means he might be back for the championship game for most fantasy leagues.
Rams HC Sean McVay admitted Tuesday that he'd be "hard-pressed" to envision WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) playing again this season. There's no reason for the 4-9 Rams to push Kupp back from a significant high-ankle sprain that required surgery. You can cut Kupp from redraft rosters if you've been hanging on.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (ankle) was limited in Tuesday's practice. He got a bit banged up in Sunday night's loss to the Chargers but was able to play through it. Hill should be fine for Saturday night's game vs. the Bills.
Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson (hip) did not practice on Tuesday. HC Mike McDaniel labeled him "day-to-day" on Monday, but Wilson certainly seems to be in danger of missing Saturday night's game vs. the Bills. We'll update his status again tomorrow.
The Browns didn't practice on Tuesday, but WR Amari Cooper (hip) was listed as "DNP" on the estimated injury report. Cooper admitted that he aggravated his hip injury on the first play of last week's game. He ended up playing his usual snap allotment but caught just 2 of 7 targets. We'll track Cooper's status over the next few days, leading up to Saturday's game vs. the Ravens.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (knee) did not practice on Tuesday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that Jackson's "most realistic return date" is Week 16, so we're not expecting him to play vs. the Browns on Saturday. QB Tyler Huntley (concussion) got in a limited practice on Tuesday, which gives him a shot to be cleared by Saturday. We'll update Baltimore's QB situation again tomorrow.
Packers RB Aaron Jones was on the field for Tuesday's post-bye-week practice, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Jones was unable to make it through the Week 13 win over the Bears, but it looks like he'll be available for Monday night's game vs. the Rams. We'll get Green Bay's first official practice report of the week on Thursday.
An MRI on Cardinals QB Kyler Murray's right knee confirmed a torn ACL. That ends Murray's 2022 season and gives him just about 9 months to get ready for the start of the 2023 campaign. We'd consider him iffy for Week 1 -- and unlikely to have his usual rushing ability until much closer to the end of 2023. Murray just signed a 5-year, $230.5 million deal in July that ties him to Arizona through the 2028 season. He's not realistically cuttable until after the 2026 season.
The NFL last week fined Saints EDGE Cameron Jordan -- as well as 2 coaches and the franchise -- for allegedly faking an injury late in the Week 13 loss to the Buccaneers. But the team and player both say MRI the next day revealed a mid-foot sprain in Jordan's left foot that he has been getting treated for through the bye week. We'll see about Jordan's status for Sunday's game against the Falcons, but he returned to that Bucs game. So we'd bet he'll be ready to play.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Browns WR Amari Cooper aggravated his hip injury on the 1st play of Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Within that context, it's positive that he played on and trailed Donovan Peoples-Jones by just 5 routes for the lead among WRs. Of course, Cooper also managed just 2 catches among 7 targets. We'll see what practice participation and his coaches say about him this week.
Cardinals DL Zach Allen left Monday night's game (who didn't?) against the Patriots with a hand injury. We'll keep an eye on his status this week for IDP lineups. Allen delivered a sack and a pass deflection before leaving. It was his 2nd game in a row with 1 of each. Allen has 10 QB hits over his past 5 games. Denver presents an upside Week 15 matchup if Allen is ready.
Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson broke his right wrist in Sunday's win over the Browns, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. He finished the game before revealing his injury to the training staff. HC Zac Taylor said Monday that he's not yet ready to put Hendrickson on IR. We'll see whether the pass-rusher can play with the wrist casted. It seems wise to bet on Hendrickson missing at least Week 15, though. Baby says Joseph Ossai would likely start in Hendrickson's absence. We've liked the upside on the 22-year-old since he arrived as a 3rd-round pick last year.
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