Patriots RB Damien Harris (hamstring) "should be good to go" for today's game vs. the Bills, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Harris hasn't played since hurting his hamstring in the 1st Buffalo game back in Week 13. He was limited in practice this week. There's elevated risk here. But with RB Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID) out, Harris could be in for a big workload today if that hamstring holds up.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that there's "some optimism" Washington RB Antonio Gibson (toe) will be able to play vs. the Cowboys tonight. Gibson remains a game-time decision, Rapoport adds. The late kickoff makes this a tough situation for fantasy owners. We won't get Washington's inactives until 7 pm ET. If you're hoping to use Gibson, add RB Jaret Patterson as the fall-back option if Gibson ends up inactive.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Lions QB Tim Boyle is expected to start vs. the Falcons today. QB Jared Goff remains on the COVID list. Boyle threw for a whopping 77 yards on 3.35 yards per attempt back in Week 11 -- although, in his defense, that game was played in crappy weather. Still, Boyle is a significant downgrade for Detroit's offense today.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Rams today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Thielen was left off the final injury report on the Vikings' website, but he's evidently actually listed as questionable. Regardless, it sounds like he'll be available for Week 16 fantasy lineups. Thielen was limited in practice all week coming off the December 5 high-ankle sprain, so he brings a lower floor than usual.
Texans WR Brandin Cooks was not activated from the COVID list and will miss Sunday's game vs. the Chargers, ESPN's Field Yates reports. Cooks' absence leaves WR Nico Collins as the best bet for targets in Houston -- but he's only in play in DFS tournaments.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Colts. Christian Kirk, A.J. Green and Antoine Wesley will serve as Arizona's top 3 WRs, just as they did last week.
Cardinals RB James Conner (heel) is inactive for tonight's game agains the Colts. That leaves Arizona's backfield to Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. Edmonds should handle the bulk of the work and is a strong fantasy play tonight.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Chargers WR Mike Williams will miss at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID Saturday, meaning that he's unvaccinated. That'll knock Williams out for at least the team's Week 17 game as well. Josh Palmer should fill in vs. Houston. Jalen Guyton will likely be back in time for Week 17, though.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Colts LB Darius Leonard tested positive for COVID and is unvaccinated. That means he'll not only miss tonight's game against the Cardinals, but also Week 17. That makes Leonard droppable in most redraft IDP leagues. E.J. Speed sits behind him on the depth chart. We'd try to find a sturdier fantasy option for the final 2 weeks of the fantasy season, though.
The Colts have placed WR Zach Pascal on the COVID list, knocking him out for tonight's game against the Cardinals.
The Colts have placed LB Darius Leonard and S Khari Willis on the COVID list, knocking them out for tonight's game against the Cardinals. Those are significant losses for the Colts D -- especially Leonard -- but perhaps even more so for IDP lineups.
The Chargers have placed WR Mike Williams on the COVID list. It's his 2nd stint this year, but the 1st came as a close contact. He's out for Sunday's game against the Texans. With Jalen Guyton already on the COVID list, Josh Palmer should be the #2 WR alongside Keenan Allen. He carries intrigue from at least WR4 territory. We wouldn't be shocked to see him rank among the top 25 WRs by the end of the week.
Browns DE Myles Garrett is active for today's game against the Packers. He figures to be affected by the groin injury that kept him from practicing this week, but it's tough to sit an active Garrett in IDP leagues.
The Rams have activated RB Cam Akers from IR. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, however, that the team did so go help him receive pension credit for the season. A player apparently needs to be on the active roster for at least 3 games. Schefter adds that Akers is not expected to play in the regular season but could "contribute this post-season." Any level of involvement would be impressive for Akers after he suffered an Achilles' tendon tear in July. We wouldn't bet on him for significant fantasy impact even in NFL playoffs leagues, though.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) did not travel with the team to Cincinnati and is out for Sunday's game vs. the Bengals. With QB Tyler Huntley on the COVID list, Baltimore is down to QB Josh Johnson, who signed with the team just 11 days ago. Johnson is 35 and has made just 8 NFL starts -- none since 2018. He did get some action with the Jets earlier this season, completing 27 of 41 passes for 317 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT in relief of QB Mike White in a wild Thursday nighter vs. the Colts. Johnson might not be a downgrade from Huntley as a passer, but this is still a tough spot considering how little time he's had with the Ravens.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne has cleared the league COVID protocol and will be available for Sunday's game against the Bills. It's still a negative matchup for his fantasy outlook, though. We wouldn't be looking to use Bourne in fantasy football lineups unless you need to.
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler announced via Instagram that he tested positive for COVID still on Saturday and will miss Sunday's game against the Texans. That positions Justin Jackson to lead the backfield in a high-upside matchup. He will share work -- to an unclear degree -- with Joshua Kelley and perhaps Larry Rountree, though. So don't overrate the certainty of Jackson's fantasy outlook.
Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill has cleared the COVID protocol and is ready to face the Steelers on Sunday, according to multiple reports. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the team is also expected to activate TE Travis Kelce from the COVID list today but that he has not yet cleared the protocol. The move is "in case" he clears Sunday before game time. Continue to plan as though you won't have Kelce in your fantasy football lineup.
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley tested positive for COVID on Saturday morning and will miss Sunday's game against the Bengals. There's still a chance that Lamar Jackson plays, but he was expected to back up Huntley if active. Josh Johnson is now expected to start, 11 days after joining the Ravens.
Washington RB Antonio Gibson (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game vs. the Cowboys. He didn’t practice all week and seems to be in real danger of missing this one. We’ll look for an update on his status on Sunday morning. If Gibson can’t play against Dallas, Washington would be down to RBs Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams.
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