NFL Player News

No surprises here as JuJu was unable to practice this week. The veteran wideout has been sidelined since Week 7 with the hamstring issue and doesn’t appear particularly close to returning. DeAndre Hopkins remains tethered to the coveted Rashee Rice role going forward.

After missing last week’s game against the Panthers with an ankle injury, Benson returned to log three limited practices this week and will officially be listed as questionable heading into the game. If active, Benson could make for an interesting streaming option if James Conner (knee, questionable) cannot play, but Benson wouldn’t have any standalone value if both backs are active.

It was reported earlier that Conner was making “good” progress on his rehab from a knee injury he suffered in last week’s loss to the Panthers. After being limited in all three practices this week, Conner will have a chance to play in Week 17’s game against the Rams, but fantasy managers will want to have other backup plans in place. Conner should be a strong volume play against the Rams if he suits up, but it’s hard to know how much this knee issue may hinder his on-field performance.

Higgins was limited in practice throughout the week and will now carry a questionable status into a pivotal matchup against the Broncos. Higgins exited Week 16’s game with an apparent ankle injury but returned a few plays later and finished out the game. Assuming this is the same injury, we would expect him to be on the field Saturday, but his status will be one to monitor when teams announce inactives 90 minutes before kickoff.

This news comes from Pickett, who spoke with the media after practice. The third-year quarterback is dealing with a rib injury he picked up in last week’s loss to the Commanders but said the injury is something he will “have to deal with.” Jalen Hurts (concussion) appears unlikely to start Week 17 against the Cowboys after missing his second-straight practice. Pickett drawing the start against the Cowboys means both A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith will receive significant downgrades for the fantasy football championships.

Dean was a healthy participant on Wednesday before worryingly showing up with “knees” in the injury column on Thursday. We need more information to concretely project him to miss Week 17 but the development is certainly a net negative. The Panthers’ passing attack would have a far easier time moving the ball downfield if the Buccaneers’ No. 1 CB is sidelined.

Shepard is trending toward a Week 17 absence though he does still have Friday to participate in some capacity. The Buccaneers’ pass-catching corps is short-staffed with Cade Otton (knee) also sidelined through two practices. Should both players sit, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan would dominate targets against the Panthers.

Fantasy managers still fighting for championships in Week 17 are in shambles. After battling through a shoulder injury for weeks, the Cowboys have opted to shelve Lamb for the remainder of the season in what is the most pivotal matchup of the year for fantasy managers. The team released a statement following the decision, saying, “Additional examinations and scans this week on Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out’ for the remaining two games of the season.” Despite his injury and the loss of Dak Prescott midway through the season, Lamb still performed at a high level for the Cowboys. His season ends with a line of 101-1194-6 on 152 targets and three 100-yard performances. Lamb’s 11.8 YPR on the season set a new career low, but the decrease can be attributed to the switch from Prescott to Cooper Rush, as the offense became much more limited with Rush under center. Lamb is not expected to undergo surgery at this time but will instead look to go through rehab and treatment for his shoulder.

Technically, Walker could return after a four-game stay on injured reserve but the Seahawks would have to first secure a playoff spot before winning two playoff games without him for this to be the case. It is likely his season is over. Walker rushed 153 times for 573 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 46-of-52 targets for 299 yards and one touchdown in 2024. He has one year remaining on his rookie contract.

Otton begins Week 17 the same way he began Week 16; with two missed practices. Otton managed to practice in a limited capacity last Friday before being ruled out for Week 16. His Week 17 status could still go either way but his lack of progress is concerning. Fantasy managers should expect him to miss another game.

Duggar did not practice on Tuesday or Wednesday but was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday. The veteran safety played through an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Bills, but the quad injury appears to be something new. In addition to Duggaer, the Patriots also listed safety Jabrill Peppers, LB Sione Takitaki, and offensive tackle Caedan Wallace as questionable, while ruling out cornerback Marcus Jones (hip).