NFL Player News

Limited to just one game by a severe neck injury last season, Bartell entered Week 1 as the Raiders’ starting left corner. He’s now in line to miss as much as two months. He’ll be replaced by Pat Lee. Bartell was having a rough game in Monday’s loss before going down. Bartell had missed only two games in five years before getting hurt in Week 1 last season.

Watson did not practice this week, though Matt LaFleur said the door is still open for him to suit up on Sunday. That, however, looks like a long-shot heading into the weekend. Assuming Watson is out, Dontayvion Wicks will return to the starting rotation versus the Vikings. Wicks will be a boom/bust WR4 for Week 17.

Strange remained limited through the Jaguars’ first two practices but practiced in full on Friday. The Jaguars prudently take a conservative approach to injuries by limiting their skill position players’ weekly workloads. Strange remains a volatile TE1 against the Titans.

Beat reporter Rob Demovsky observed Watson sporting cleats on Friday but Watson apparently did not even participate in the Packers’ pre-practice stretching session. Fantasy managers should expect Watson to again receive a DNP designation. He is unlikely to play although Demovsky also reports that “Matt LaFleur said the door is ‘still open’ for Christian Watson to play Sunday.” Should Watson miss the game, his absence would slightly elevating the target-earning potential for all featured Packers pass catchers.

Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is listed as questionable. Smith missed Week 16 with the foot issue but is back in action for Minnesota’s NFC North showdown with the Packers. The veteran safety has two interceptions and nine pass breakups this year.

Alexander’s practice participation worryingly decreased with each day that passed in Week 17 and Matt LaFleur told reporters yesterday that he expects Alexander to miss yet another game. The Packers’ No. 1 CB will be missed in an expectedly high-scoring game against the rival Vikings.

Nabers called himself a “game-day decision” earlier this week and he appears to be just that as the practice week comes to a close. The Giants’ star receiver was unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday before managing to participate in just a limited capacity on Friday. Nabers’ game-breaking traits keep him in the must-start column, if active, but he is clearly playing at less than 100.0 percent. He profiles as a WR2 with a wider-than-normal range of outcomes for Week 17.

Matthew Wright was signed to the Titans practice this week and will kick for the Titans on Sunday. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for streaming upside.

Zuerlein was placed on injured reserve back in November after suffering a knee injury in Week 8 against the Patriots. Zuerlein struggled before landing on IR, converting on just 9-of-15 field goals while making 13-of-14 extra points; now he’ll hope to end the season on a strong note over the final two weeks. Now 37, Zuerlein is on the back nine of his pro career, but still showed plenty of long-distance abilities as recently as 2023 when he converted on 5-of-6 field goals from 50-plus yards.

Tillman returned to practice last week for a handful of limited sessions. He remained limited this week and is still in the league’s concussion protocol as he works his way back from the brain injury he suffered in Week 12. Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore will continue to soak up targets in his absence.

Njoku tweaked his knee in Week 16 against the Bengals and failed to practice at any point this week. With the Browns easily out of the playoff hunt, there’s no reason to rush the ailing tight end back. His status for Week 18 is now up in the air as well. Jordan Akins will start in his place this week but is not on the fantasy radar.