December 28, 2025
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a fractured and dislocated right ankle and has a chance to return late in the playoffs if San Francisco were to advance, per Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Warner has been on Injured Reserve since suffering the injury in Week 6. The 29-year-old is widely considered one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL, as he was named a first-team All-Pro in four out of five seasons between 2020 and 2024. Warner recorded 28 solo tackles and two forced fumbles across six games before getting injured in 2025. His return would obviously provide a huge boost for the 49ers' defense, even if he's not quite at full strength. San Francisco has a chance at the number one seed in the NFC heading into Week 17, so they may only need to win one playoff game before potentially welcoming Warner back.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo
December 28, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) was placed on Injured Reserve before his team's Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants, ending his 2025 season. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report that the 28-year-old will undergo surgery to repair his injured meniscus. Perhaps most importantly, Rapoport states that Crosby wanted to finish the season on the field, and the team's decision to place him on Injured Reserve will cause him to "evaluate his future with the Raiders." Crosby has played all seven of his NFL seasons with the Raiders, recording 69.5 sacks, 133 TFLs, and 164 QB hits across 110 career games. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 15th-best edge defender in the NFL out of 112 qualified players at the position for his work in 2025. If Crosby were to request a trade out of Las Vegas over the offseason, he would surely generate significant interest around the league.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo
December 28, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Darnell Washington (forearm) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of his team's Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The 24-year-old recorded two receptions for 15 yards on two targets before exiting the game. Washington entered the week with 29 catches for 349 yards and a touchdown on 41 targets across 15 games this season. With Washington sidelined, Steelers tight ends
Jonnu Smith and
Pat Freiermuth could both see more playing time and work in the passing game. Pittsburgh tight end
Connor Heyward could see the field more as well, although he has been used more as a blocker and on special teams so far in 2025.
--Will BradySource: Pittsburgh Steelers - Burt Lauten
December 28, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed (concussion) is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return to his team's Week 17 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Shaheed recorded one catch for eight yards on one target before exiting the game. The 27-year-old had hauled in 13 catches for 178 yards on 24 targets across seven games with Seattle entering the week. If he is unable to return, Seahawks wideouts
Dareke Young and
Jake Bobo would likely see an uptick in playing time. Seattle wide receivers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and
Cooper Kupp will remain the team's top options in the passing game and could both see a slight increase in target share.
--Will BradySource: Seattle Seahawks
December 28, 2025
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is questionable to return to his team's Week 17 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a rib injury. Waddle recorded one rush attempt for seven yards but was not targeted as a receiver before exiting the game. If he is unable to return, Dolphins wide receivers
Malik Washington,
Cedrick Wilson Jr., and
Theo Wease Jr. will all likely see an uptick in playing time and target share. Miami running back
De'Von Achane could play an even larger role in the team's passing game for the remainder of Week 17 as well.
--Will BradySource: Miami Dolphins
December 28, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. (calf) was able to return to Sunday's AFC South clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars after being designated as questionable. The veteran caught one of his two targets before leaving the game with discomfort in his leg, but he returned later in the first half. Pittman quickly developed chemistry with starter
Daniel Jones (Achilles), which led to eight top-25 finishes among PPR receivers in the first 13 games of the season, but he has taken a backseat in the weeks since Jones was lost for the year. From a fantasy perspective, he's difficult to rely upon with the Colts playing out the string.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Indianapolis Colts
December 28, 2025
The Cleveland Browns said that rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Shedeur Sanders earlier in the game to give Cleveland the lead, but departed a short time later. Fannin was originally listed as questionable to play due to a groin injury and appears to have aggravated the injury again in the early stages of Sunday's game. The Bowling Green product has been one of the best rookies in the 2025 draft class, as he leads Cleveland with 70 catches, 701 yards, and five touchdowns.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Cleveland Browns
December 28, 2025
The Carolina Panthers ruled out tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) from returning to Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. In an ugly scene, Sanders was engaged as a blocker when running back
Rico Dowdle fell into the back of his leg. The Panthers quickly ruled Sanders out, leaving
Tommy Tremble likely to see an increase in snaps. The second-year tight end from Texas was having a so-so year from a receiving perspective with 29 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown in 12 games as a secondary pass-catcher for quarterback
Bryce Young.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Carolina Panthers
December 28, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Travis Kelce will use the offseason to evaluate whether to keep playing or to retire, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The future Hall of Famer has been non-committal about playing past 2025. At age 36, Kelce will have to weigh a possible return to the field, which could see the Chiefs begin next season without quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) as he rehabs from an ACL injury. While not at his former level, Kelce has still been rock-solid from a fantasy perspective with more than 100 targets, 73 catches, 839 yards, and five touchdowns through 16 games, which is good enough for third among PPR tight ends before Sunday's games.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NFL Network
December 28, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts could turn back to rookie quarterback
Riley Leonard in their season finale at Houston, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Leonard played briefly when
Daniel Jones (Achilles) suffered his season-ending injury at Jacksonville, during which he completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards and an interception. The Colts, however, brought
Philip Rivers out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to save the season. Despite Rivers playing fairly well, the Colts are eliminated from playoff contention, and the 45-year-old obviously isn't part of the team's long-term plans. From a fantasy perspective, Leonard won't hold much value with a week left in redraft leagues, but a full-game showcase could make him worth a look in dynasty formats.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NFL Network
December 28, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) is likely to return in Week 18 next Sunday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson suffered a back bruise in the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots and was held out of Saturday night's blowout win over the Green Bay Packers. The two-time MVP's back injury doesn't seem too serious, but the Ravens will probably only start him next weekend if the Steelers lose to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to force a winner-take-all division battle in the Week 18 regular-season finale next weekend. If Jackson does return next weekend to face the Steelers, expect the Ravens to continue to lean heavily on running back
Derrick Henry, who went over 200 rushing yards with four touchdowns against Green Bay. Jackson has been a big disappointment in 2025 for fantasy managers while battling through various injuries. He'll be more of a low-end QB1 in DFS if the Ravens are still playing for something in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 28, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus (illness) has been added to the injury report and is officially questionable to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. Zaccheaus was not on the injury report earlier this week, so it appears that he picked up the illness sometime over the last 36 hours. The Bears also added
DJ Moore (illness) to the injury report, creating plenty of chaos for fantasy managers. There are a lot of moving parts in Chicago with
Luther Burden III healthy, Zaccheaus and Moore questionable, and
Rome Odunze (foot) ruled out. If Moore is inactive, Zaccheaus should get onto the fantasy radar as a solid WR3/flex option. However, we won't get a clear answer on their statuses until 6:50 p.m. since the Bears and 49ers play on Sunday Night Football. Managers rolling the dice on Moore or Zaccheaus should also have a backup plan from the Bears, 49ers, Rams, or Falcons in case either receiver gets ruled out at the last minute.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bears Communications
December 28, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
DJ Moore (illness) has been added to the injury report and is officially questionable to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. Moore was not on the injury report earlier this week, so it appears that he picked up the illness sometime over the last 36 hours. Bears-49ers kicks off at 8:20 p.m., creating a challenging situation for fantasy managers. If managers choose to keep Moore in their lineup, they should roster another option from the 49ers, Bears, Rams, or Falcons in case Moore gets ruled out prior to kickoff. If he plays, though, he has high upside. He enters this week as a fantasy WR2 with
Rome Odunze (foot) ruled out and
Olamide Zaccheaus (illness) listed as questionable.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bears Communications
December 28, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) had an injury scare in last week's win over the Cleveland Browns, but X-rays came back negative, and he's active in Week 17 versus the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Allen put in a full practice late this week and won't have any limitations during Sunday's game against Philly, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It's great news for fantasy managers who are hoping that Allen can carry them to a title this weekend. It won't be easy, though, as the Eagles' defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs this season. In the last five weeks, they've given up the third-fewest fantasy points to the position. Allen is a freak of nature, though, and he could easily be a league-winner this weekend in a game that could become a shootout as the Bills and Eagles continue to play for playoff seeding in their respective conferences.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 28, 2025
Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson (chest) is officially active on Sunday as the team gets set to take on the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. Dodson was unable to practice on Wednesday, but he was limited on Thursday and returned to a full practice on Friday, clearing him to play this weekend. Fantasy managers in IDP formats will want to keep the 27-year-old in their starting lineups as the Dolphins look to play spoiler and knock the Bucs from playoff contention. Dodson has been a top-10 fantasy linebacker this year, accumulating a career-high 116 tackles (68 solo), a career-high four sacks, nine tackles for loss, six QB hits, an interception, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 14 starts for Miami. Fantasy managers should stay away from the Dolphins' defensive unit in Week 17.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Dolphins
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