NFL Network's Mike Garafolo calls it an "uphill battle" for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) to play vs. the Packers on Sunday. The team was reportedly hoping to get Jackson on the practice field on Thursday, but he wasn't able. Jackson hasn't been ruled out for Week 15, but fantasy owners should now be preparing to be without him. We're removing Jackson from the Week 15 QB rankings and adding QB Tyler Huntley.
The Seahawks on Thursday placed WR Tyler Lockett and RB Alex Collins on the COVID list. That almost certainly knocks out both players for Sunday's game against the Rams. Rookie Dee Eskridge and Freddie Swain look like the next 2 WRs up, but each is obviously a giant step down from Lockett. His absence figures to boost D.K. Metcalf's target outlook. Collins' absence takes 1 challenger away from Rashaad Penny in a backfield that remains a little crowded (with Adrian Peterson potentially returning from injury).
Broncos RB Javonte Williams did not practice on Thursday after his knee "kind of swelled up," per HC Vic Fangio. That doesn't sound good -- but Fangio said that he still expects Williams to play vs. the Bengals on Sunday. We'll get another update on his status tomorrow.
Browns TE David Njoku has been activated from the COVID list. So he'll be available for Saturday's game vs. the Raiders. Cleveland, of course, will likely be without WR Jarvis Landry and TE Austin Hooper for that one. We'll see if TE Harrison Bryant (ankle) is able to make it back for Saturday.
Lions TE T.J. Hockenson will miss the final 4 games of the season after undergoing thumb surgery on Thursday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Hockenson is expected to make a "complete recovery in time for the offseason program," Schefter adds. His absence leaves behind a team-high 7.0 targets per game. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who's tallied 12 targets in 2 straight, looks like the biggest beneficiary.
Ravens OC Greg Roman said Thursday that QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) "could go down to the wire" for this weekend's game vs. the Packers. “He’s getting treatment around the clock," Roman added. "He’s a good healer but we’ll just have to see what the doctors say.” Fantasy owners would be in a tough spot if Jackson ends up as a game-time decision because that game doesn't kick off until 4:25 pm ET on Sunday. Jackson, of course, will also carry a lower ceiling and floor if he plays at less than 100%.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle has been placed on the COVID list. He's a long shot to be cleared in time to play vs. the Jets on Sunday. His absence would leave WR DeVante Parker and TE Mike Gesicki as the clear top 2 options in Miami's passing game -- assuming they avoid the COVID list. QB Tua Tagovailoa's Week 15 fantasy stock takes a sizable hit without Waddle.
NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti hears that Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) "won't get a full workload" against the Chiefs tonight. He's experiencing "more soreness than originally expected," Bisciotti adds. We'll look for more clues on exactly how much action Ekeler will see tonight. He could get 60-70% of his usual volume and still be worth using in fantasy lineups. But you shouldn't be expecting a ceiling game from him tonight.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Chiefs tonight. Ekeler got in 2 limited practices this week and is listed as questionable. Pelissero confirms that Ekeler is "banged up" but "the plan is to give it a go in a huge game against Kansas City." Ekeler will come with more risk than usual in Week 15 but would be extremely tough to keep out of fantasy lineups.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is set for surgery to repair a torn MCL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Hopkins is expected to be sidelined for 6 weeks, so he'll probably need Arizona to reach the NFC Championship to have a chance to play again this season. The last 2 games Hopkins missed, the Cardinals used A.J. Green and Antoine Wesley as their primary outside WRs, with Christian Kirk in the slot.
The Jaguars fired HC Urban Meyer. He didn't even last a year in Jacksonville. Meyer's performance was embarrassing both on and off the field. Darrell Bevell -- who has 15 years of experience as an OC -- will take over as interim HC. Meyer's departure can only be good news for Jacksonville's offense, although we still wouldn't go too crazy investing in Jaguars down the stretch.
The Chiefs have ruled CB L'Jarius Sneed out for Thursday night's game against the Chargers, as he continues to deal with the murder of his older brother. His absence should give CB Mike Hughes a 2nd straight start. Hughes claimed AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 14 after tallying 9 tackles (8 solo), 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery he returned for a 1st-quarter TD. He'll carry IDP upside against the Chargers -- though with a ceiling likely somewhere short of that stat line.
Chargers S Derwin James is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Chiefs because of the hamstring injury that kept him out on Sunday. James put in limited practices Tuesday and Wednesday, but HC Brandon Staley says they want to work him out pregame to see if he's ready to play. We'll update James' status about an hour-and-a-half before kickoff.
Bucs RB Leonard Fournette (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. He seemed to make it out of last week's overtime win over the Bills just fine, and we haven't heard anything to suggest that Fournette is in danger of missing Sunday night's game vs. the Saints. He can stay penciled into fantasy lineups for now. But Fournette owners would be wise to roster RB Ronald Jones as insurance.
49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (concussion, knee) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice. It's unclear if it's the concussion, knee or both that's keeping him off the practice field. Regardless, he's iffy for this weekend's game vs. Atlanta. Check back tomorrow for another update.
Eagles RBs Miles Sanders (ankle) and Jordan Howard (knee) were limited in Wednesday's practice. Both guys appear on track to play vs. Washington this weekend. It'll likely be a 3-man committee backfield with Sanders, Howard and Boston Scott.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (foot) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday. It's a surprise after HC Mike McCarthy said that Pollard would take part in the walkthrough-style practice. His availability for Sunday's game vs. the Giants remains uncertain.
Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde is in the concussion protocol and did not practice on Wednesday. He's been eating into RB James Robinson's workload lately, so Hyde' absence vs. the Texans on Sunday would be a small boost to Robinson's fantasy stock.
Patriots RB Damien Harris (hamstring) remained limited in Wednesday's practice. He seems to be trending toward playing vs. the Colts on Saturday night, but we'll see what Harris does on Thursday and how he's listed on the final injury report.
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Chiefs. He got in limited practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. HC Brandon Staley labeled him a game-time decision, which is a little surprising after Staley expressed little concern about Ekeler's status earlier in the week. We'll find out whether he's playing around 7 pm ET tomorrow. If not, we'd likely see a 3-man committee with RBs Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree. Jackson would be the best fantasy bet -- but just a RB3 or flex play.
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