NFL Player News

With Josh Jacobs playing through a rib issue, Barber’s eight touches were his most since September. Although Jacobs is likely nowhere close to 100 percent health, we would not expect Barber to cut too deeply into his Week 18 workload against the Chargers since the Raiders need a victory to reach the postseason.

CEH was waived by the Chiefs earlier this week. He began the year on the non-football injury list and was activated a month and a half into the season. He was a healthy scratch in every game after that before being cut. With Alvin Kamara banged up, the Saints are in need of some depth at running back. Kendre Miller would draw the start if Kamara misses Week 16. Edwards-Helaire would mix in for backup duties with Jamaal Williams if he can get up to speed in time.

Pickens is likely heading toward his third consecutive missed game. The per-game timeline exaggerates his absence though; Pickens is just 13 days removed from his actual injury date, having suffered the Grade 2 strain on December 5th. While he could attempt to play through the issue this week, a Week 17 return appears far more likely.

There’s nothing worse than a mid-week addition to the injury report, especially for a player with an injury history as extensive as Bateman’s. The Ravens play on Saturday meaning their first injury report of the week dropped yesterday. Bateman was not on it. With Diontae Johnson excused from the team this week and Nelson Agholor in concussion protocol, the Ravens may be down to Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker in three-receiver sets for Week 16’s game versus the Steelers.

The Bengals listed him as limited with both “not injury related-rest” and the knee issue. Despite the contradiction, it’s just a maintenance day for Higgins. He will be good to go by the end of the week and remains in the WR2 ranks for his upcoming matchup with the Browns.

Burrow got the same maintenance treatment for last Wednesday’s practice and was cleared from the report entirely by Friday. He’ll do the same this week. Still not technically eliminated from the playoffs, Burrow and the Bengals offense are playing with their lives on the line this week. Expect another QB1 outing from Burrow when he takes on the NFC North rival Browns.

Surtain is ready to torment the Chargers’ perimeter wide receivers after practicing in full all week. The talented coverage defender infrequently covers the slot, logging just 54 slot snaps to 706 perimeter snaps this season. Chargers slot receiver Ladd McConkey should largely avoid Surtain on Thursday night.

Njoku didn’t practice at all last week, but the team still listed him as questionable, giving him a shot at turning things around over the weekend. As expected, Njoku was ultimately held out of Sunday’s game. He could return to practice later this week, but his odds of suiting up as of Wednesday are slim. Jordan Akins will draw the start if Njoku remains sidelined but is not on the fantasy radar for Week 16.

McLaughlin led Broncos running backs with seven carries in Week 15 and tied for a positional-high three targets before being forced from play. His Week 16 absence consolidates the backfield touch dispersal, moderately increasing Javonte Williams and Audric Estime’s flex-viability.

Ertz left Week 15’s game with a brain injury and did not return. Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters after the game that Ertz is in the league’s concussion protocol. A DNP to start the week means we aren’t likely to see the veteran tight end on Sunday. Rookie Ben Sinnott could finally see some reps with Ertz sidelined, though his role is too ambiguous for fantasy managers to rely on in the semifinal round.

Dissly is still working his way back from the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 14. Initial reports had him missing a couple of weeks, so this isn’t much of a surprise. Stone Smarrt will draw the start versus Denver. Smartt caught 5-of-6 targets for 50 yards in Week 15 and went for 54 yards in the previous game. He is a mid-range TE2 for Week 16.