NFL Player News

The deal comes with a fifth-year option for 2027. New England landed a No. 1 corner and one of the Combine’s top performers in Gonzalez, a three-year Pac-12 starter with 99th% RAS. The No. 17 pick repped with the Patriots’ first-team defense at OTAs and is expected to start Week 1 opposite LCB Jonathan Jones.

Watson awkwardly landed on a red zone target and sat on the turf for a few minutes before getting up and out of a blowout MNF game against the Saints. Practice reports will be key, but it doesn’t seem like Watson will be in any danger of missing time from this update.

Greenlaw only played portions of two games for the 49ers — admittedly playing fairly well against the Rams — but struggled with discomfort as he came back from a torn Achilles. The 28-year-old will be a free agent in 2025 and should draw plenty of interest around the NFL, though ultimately the contract he signs may come down to the medicals. If this is it for Greenlaw in 2025, he finishes with nine tackles in two starts.

The 49ers are desperately looking at practice squads and free agents after losing two more linemen last week and finding out that Williams isn’t coming back this year. Williams finished with a 49ers-low 85.6 PFF blocking grade in 649 snaps this season. He’s due a $21.9 million cap figure in 2025 and figures to be the 49ers starting left tackle assuming that the heel and ankle injuries don’t require any serious offeseason surgeries. Week 17 could be another week under pressure for Brock Purdy and the gang as they try to deal with Detroit.

Banks has an MCL sprain and Moore had a quadriceps strain. Aaron Banks wraps up the third of four years on his rookie deal with a career-best 65.4 PFF blocking grade and will likely profile as a starting guard in the final year of his contract next season. Moore will be a free agent this offseason and has played well in limited time in each of the last two years, he could be an intriguing low-cost addition for a team looking for a swing tackle, or perhaps a team looking to give him a chance to start.

He’s also “trending well,” per Shanahan. It could be a one-game cameo as starter for Patrick Taylor if Guerendo is able to play against the Lions. Guerendo would profile as a borderline RB2 with the potential of negative game script against Detroit’s explosive offense looming.

With Dustin Hopkins struggling mightily, the Browns could turn to Szmyt as early as Week 17 against the Dophins. Hopkins, who missed an extra point last week in a loss to the Bengals, has made just 16 of his 25 field goal attempts in 2024. Szmyt would not be a fantasy option in Week 17.

Lock, who sustained a shoulder injury last week against the Falcons, will draw another start for the miserable Giants in their second to last game of the season. Lock in Week 16 threw for 210 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions for touchdowns against Atlanta. The Colts defense is an elite fantasy option in Week 17 against Lock and the turnover-prone New York offense.

Arizona will be without both of its starting tackles this week after being eliminated from postseason contention in Week 16 against the Panthers. It’s bad news for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense, and it makes the Rams defense an interesting fantasy option off the waiver wire. The Cards headed into Week 17 have what Pro Football Focus grades as the NFL’s fifth best pass-blocking offensive line.

The 41-year-old Rodgers, who has struggled with various lower body injuries all season, sustained another knee injury last week against the Rams. Rodgers has toughed it out in another lost season for the Jets, but with no reason to play, he could rest against Buffalo. That would leave Tyrod Taylor as the Jets’ starter. The move would be a marked downgrade for Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson against the Bills.

Conner exited Arizona’s Week 16 game against the Panthers with a knee issue and did not return, leaving the lead back role to Michael Carter. The Cardinals, who were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to Carolina, plays Saturday night against the Rams. It could be an uphill climb for Conner to get ready for Week 17. Carter should be picked up in most fantasy leagues in the coming days.