NFL Player News

Bell (6'2/241) is arguably the most unique tight end prospect in the class. He began his career at South Carolina and broke out in his second season with 30 catches for 497 yards and five scores. Then, in 2022, the Gamecocks split his reps evenly between running back and tight end, slashing his receiving output to 231 yards and two scores. He added 261 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. After transferring to Florida State for his final season, Bell picked up where he left off as a tight end, totaling 503 yards and two touchdowns on 39 grabs. He posted an 8.43 RAS at the combine, highlighted by a 4.61-second 40. Bell doesn’t have the size take on defensive linemen as a blocker and even improvements in his technique can’t change that simple fact. His uncanny ability to turn short catches into long gains makes him a great weapon out of the slot and he is a Swiss Army Knife out of the backfield. The Patriots will need to be creative if they want to get the most out of him.

“Ekeler doesn’t remember walking off the field or anything until getting into the ambulance going to the hospital. The veteran RB said he had similar memory loss after Week 3 concussion at Cincy,” writes The Athletic’s Ben Standig. Ekeler added: “Am I more susceptible to a third now that I’ve had two and the severity of mine? It’s a learning process for me because I’ve never had anything this bad and twice in the same season.” Ekeler will remain on injured reserve until Week 18 at the earliest. He’s talking like a man who isn’t sure he’ll come back even for a potential Commanders playoff game.

Vaughn had already been on the 49ers practice squad earlier this year, so it’s not surprising they went back to him with their two main backs suddenly on injured reserve. There is no reason to jump the gun on adding Vaughn to your fantasy team. The 27-year-old veteran has not had an NFL carry this season yet.

The Broncos had to either activate Reynolds off IR or end his season, so instead they let him go free. Reynolds’ two-year contract makes it unlikely he’ll be claimed off waivers. The 29-year-old will be free to sign with whoever he wants if he makes it off waivers. His short-lived Broncos career ends with a 12/183/1 line in five games.

Abanikanda will join Issac Guerendo as a healthy member of the San Francisco 49ers running back room. The Pittsburgh product had a 22/70/0 rushing line in six games last season and will probably be worked in slowly behind Guerendo and perhaps practice-squad back Patrick Taylor. No reason to go wild on Abanikanda off waivers, Guerendo is the one you want for fantasy purposes.

Merriweather was lost in a roster crunch in November, and the Buccaneers are bringing him back with Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards dealing with injuries. He has two career starts and 24 tackles in 25 games with the Bucs so far in his career.

He did not escape the protocol, per Matt LaFleur. This is likely headed towards a questionable tag for Doubs tomorrow as he races to clear protocol. He’d be a FLEX play against the Lions on Thursday night if he managed to get on the field. If not, his absence will raise target shares and expectations for Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson.

He did speak with the media, which is usually a likely sign that a player will be suiting up. We expect Jacobs to be more likely to carry no status on Wednesday than be on the questionable line. Jacobs will make the RB1 line against the Lions on Thursday Night Football assuming he is able to play.

The wideout — not to be confused with the cornerback DJ Turner of the Bengals — likely finishes his age-27 season with a career-high 16/158/1 triple slash line. (The Raiders could technically bring him back for Week 18, we don’t expect them to.) The 2021 UDFA out of Pittsburgh will be a restricted free agent in 2025. It is hard to predict what the Raiders will do with him given the fact that we’re not sure who will sit in the head coach or general manager chair in 2025, but Turner has been a Raider long enough to have played for Jon Gruden.

“He’s been a strong presence in the locker room but the production these past two seasons in Dallas have fallen well short of the expectation,” Yousuf writes. Cooks produced a 54/657/8 season in 2023, but has missed much of this year with a knee infection and has just a 12/107/2 line in five starts. Cooks is a free agent at the end of the season and, entering his age-32 season, is likely closer to not being a big part of an NFL offense ever again than he is of a rebound year in 2025.

Highsmith has missed three games with the ankle injury, matching the three games he missed from Weeks 4-6 with a groin injury. He somehow avoided injured reserve both times. Highsmith has three sacks in six games, along with 10 quarterback hits, and should be a boost for Pittsburgh’s pass defense against Jameis Winston.