NFL Player News

“I would fully embrace it,” Allen said when asked about Brady returning as OC after serving in that role for the season’s final month and a half. “I love Joe. I love what he brings to this team, to our offense, the juice that he has, the passion that he has for football. How much preparation he’s put into a tough situation these last seven to eight weeks. Yeah, I would fully embrace it.” Under Brady, the Bills turned into one of the NFL’s run heaviest offenses. Buffalo was 8 percent below its expected drop back rate with Brady calling plays after the team fired Ken Dorsey. A run-first Bills offense in 2024 would change the fantasy dynamics of every Buffalo skill position player.

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.

London was upgraded to a full participant in Friday’s practice before being cleared for Week 17. He left the Falcons’ Week 16 win over the Giants with the knee issue and did not return, though that was largely because Atlanta already had the game in hand. London is back in the WR2 ranks for his date with Washington this week.

Richardson was a DNP all week, making it highly unlikely that he would play in Week 17’s game against the Giants, but Steichen is clearly leaving the door open. Joe Flacco has worked all week with the starters and would be in line to make his fifth start of the season, which would provide a boost to all Colts playmakers in the fantasy championship. History isn’t on Richardson’s side with three-straight DNPs on the ledger, but like Steichen, we’ll wait and see how things go in the coming days. The team officially lists Richardson as questionable for Week 17.