NFL Player News

Like T.J. Hockenson (knee, injured reserve), Risner was ruled out earlier Thursday. The hope is that he is ready for Week 9. Joining Risner and Hockenson on the shelf are QB Brett Rypien, CB Akayleb Evans, CB Dwight McGlothern, RB Myles Gaskin, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, LB Blake Cashman and OT Walter Rouse.

Lock practiced in full over the last two days and remained setback-free. The errant-armed slinger resumes his starting role in what could be a fantasy-friendly situation for the Falcons’ D/ST unit. Malik Nabers remains a talent-based WR2 regardless of the QB but Lock cannot be started in single-QB leagues. He should be considered a borderline QB2/3.

Starting right guard Robert Hunt is also questionable with an illness as a bug is going around the Panther’s facility. Carolina will be in a bind if both starting linemen are out for Week 16, but players rarely miss games because of illnesses. We fully expect both bigs to suit up versus Arizona.

Moore was limited for the first two practices fo the week because of the concussion. He was upgraded to a full session on Friday, meaning he should be cleared over the weekend. With Xavier Legette ruled out and Jalen Coker listed as questionable, Moore could be the team’s No. 2 receiver this week. If that’s the case, Moore would creep into the WR4 ranks versus Arizona.

Coker missed a few games with a quad injury but returned for a breakout performance last week with 110 yards and a score. He wasn’t on the team’s first injury report this week but was added as a limited participant on Thursday. It’s possible he reaggravated the quad issue in practice. A limited session on Friday means the issue can’t be too severe, but he remains a true game-time call for Week 16.

This was expected after head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday Legette was likely to miss Week 16. The first-round rookie did not practice this week and may be forced to miss Week 17 as well. He can be cut in all redraft formats. Fellow wide receivers Jalen Coker and David Moore are listed as questionable. Expect plenty of targets for Adam Thielen this week.

Backup interior lineman Ryan Bates was ruled out while starting left tackle Braxton Jones is questionable. Stop us if you’ve heard this before. The Bears could be down multiple starters along the offensive line this week.

In what is hopefully a precautionary move, the Giants downgraded Nabers from a Thursday FP to a Friday LP. Given his removal from the injury report, it is likely the team allowed Nabers to leave practice early to receive treatment on his lower-body issues. Fantasy managers can start him as a high-upside WR2.

Johnson was added to the injury report after being held out of practice on Friday. Players typically don’t miss games because of illnesses, but the late addition does put Johnson at an increased risk of missing Week 16. Johnson has seven pass breakups and two interceptions this season.

O’Connell’s return provides the requisite stability for Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers to return reliable fantasy value against the bottom-barrel Jaguars pass defense. O’Connell himself could flirt with mid-tier QB2 numbers in this fantasy-friendly matchup. He practiced in full on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Fellow backup running back Travis Homer is listed as doubtful. Johnson was stealing goal line work from D’Andre Swift before suffering a concussion that sidelined him for two weeks. He should reclaim that role in Week 16 while also seeing some work on passing downs, putting him on the RB3/4 border. His return puts Swift at risk of falling out for the RB2 ranks versus Minnesota.