Jake Ferguson Downgrades to DNP on Thursday
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (calf) was unable to practice on Thursday due to a calf injury, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. It's a downgrade for Ferguson, who was listed as limited in Wednesday's practice. Mid-week downgrades usually are a bad sign, so fantasy managers need to keep a close eye on the 26-year-old's status on Friday. If he is unable to play on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, Luke Schoonmaker will likely be Dallas' top pass-catching tight end. Ferguson has been an excellent value pick for fantasy managers who waited to draft him, as he currently ranks as the TE2 in half-PPR points thanks to 75 catches on 90 targets for 554 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games played. Only Arizona's Trey McBride has more touchdowns than Ferguson in 2025. Fantasy managers who have been riding with Ferguson all year need to make sure they have a backup plan ready for this weekend.
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Jalen McMillan Making his Season Debut in Week 15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) will make his 2025 season debut in Week 15 on Thursday Night Football versus the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. McMillan was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but was listed as questionable to play this week. The 24-year-old second-year wideout suffered multiple fractures and ligament damage in his neck in a preseason game in August, but he's finally ready to contribute down the stretch for Tampa. With veteran Mike Evans (collarbone) also back for the first time since breaking his collarbone in Week 7, the Bucs' receiving corps is finally back to full strength for the first time this year. McMillan had a pretty big role in the offense to close out his rookie campaign with Chris Godwin Jr. on the shelf, and he finished with a 37-461-8 line in 13 games. However, in a crowded WR room this year and with limited snaps likely coming in his first game back, McMillan won't be a recommended fantasy play against Atlanta.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton Ruled Out Against Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee), who was listed as doubtful for Week 15, has officially been ruled out for Thursday night's contest against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Otton suffered a knee injury in the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints and will miss this week's game on a short week after missing practice Monday through Wednesday. The 26-year-old's next opportunity to play will come in Week 16 versus the division-rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21. With Otton sidelined on Thursday night, Payne Durham and Devin Culp figure to share snaps at the TE position for the Bucs. Fantasy managers should be looking to avoid the Bucs' TE situation with Otton out this week. Otton has recorded 46 receptions for 430 yards and no touchdowns on 66 targets through 14 weeks in 2025.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kyle Pitts Sr. Officially Active on Thursday Night
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee), who was listed as questionable, is officially active for the Thursday night divisional game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. Pitts was expected to play all along in this one, but it's now official. The 25-year-old will have more upside for fantasy managers for at least another week, too, with receiver Drake London (knee) set to miss a fourth straight game. In the last two weeks with London sidelined with a PCL sprain in his knee, Pitts has drawn 18 targets, catching 13 of them for 172 yards. He has only one touchdown on the year, which came way back on Sept. 28, but Pitts should be one of quarterback Kirk Cousins' top targets against a Tampa defense that has allowed the 12th-most half-PPR points to TEs in the last five weeks.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Mike Evans Officially Active on Thursday Night
As expected, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) is active for the Thursday night game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. It's excellent news for a Buccaneers team desperate for a win as they look to keep their lead in the NFC South division over the Carolina Panthers. The 32-year-old Evans has played in only four games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury and a broken collarbone. The future Hall of Famer had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons coming into this season, but he'll be extremely volatile for fantasy managers in his first game back following a long layoff. Evans will be on the field on Thursday, but he's expected to be on a snap count, which will make him extremely risky in starting fantasy lineups in what is the first week of the playoffs in most leagues. Keep in mind that Evans wasn't cleared to take contact in any of the practices he was involved in after rejoining the team last week.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
MarShawn Lloyd Listed as a Limited Participant Again on Thursday
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf) was listed as a limited participant for the second straight day at Thursday's practice, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Lloyd's 21-day practice window was opened last week, and he was a limited participant all week, but he wasn't quite ready to return for the Week 14 game against the Chicago Bears. The 2024 third-round pick has yet to play in a game this season, but he could be ready to make his season debut in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos. With Josh Jacobs (knee) missing consecutive practices and trending in the wrong direction to play, Lloyd could end up having a role in Green Bay's backfield alongside Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks if he is activated from IR for Sunday's game.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Matthew Golden Listed as Limited Again in Thursday's Practice
Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden (wrist) was a limited participant again in Thursday's practice session, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Golden has been held back by a nagging wrist injury for a few weeks now, and it contributed to him barely playing on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The rookie first-rounder played just 9.4% of the offensive snaps and saw one target. It was by far his lowest snap share of the season, with his previous low being the last game he played in Week 11 against the New York Giants. It's difficult to see Golden's role ticking back up with Jayden Reed returning from injury in Week 14, and the Texas product can't be trusted by fantasy managers in a tough Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos on the road.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Jayden Reed Limited Again on Thursday
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday, ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports. Reed returned in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears after missing 10 games due to a broken collarbone and a fracture in his foot. The dynamic wideout hauled in all four of his targets for 31 yards while adding two carries for 22 yards as a runner. The 25-year-old only played 49% of the snaps, but that should be expected in his first game back after missing a significant chunk of time. The Packers' passing attack remained very spread out with 10 different players earning at least one target against the Bears, with Reed tying Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave for the most targets at four. Assuming he plays, Reed's snaps and usage should continue to trend up in the Week 15 matchup with the Denver Broncos, where he'll rank as a boom-or-bust WR3/flex in fantasy in a difficult road matchup.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Keaton Mitchell Upgraded to Full Participant on Thursday
Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice session after being limited on Wednesday. Mitchell is coming off his most efficient performance of the season on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rushing for 76 yards on six carries. The speedy running back exited early in the game due to a knee injury, but it's been considered minor after the MRI results came back clean. Mitchell's full participation on Thursday is a good sign that he should be good to go for the Week 15 divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mitchell's role has been limited in Baltimore's offense, even with Justice Hill (neck) on Injured Reserve, but he still holds value as a high-upside handcuff to Derrick Henry.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman Limited in Thursday's Practice
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) was added to the Week 15 injury report and was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to an ankle injury. Bateman has had an underwhelming season and hasn't been very involved in Baltimore's offense lately. The 26-year-old wideout has just one game with more than two receptions this season, which came back in Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions, when he hauled in five of seven targets for 63 yards and one of his two touchdowns on the year. Bateman appeared on the injury report last week with an ankle issue as well, but he registered two full practices and played on Sunday against the Steelers. Bateman will profile as a low-upside, deep-league flex option if he's active in Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who he went catchless against two weeks ago on Thanksgiving night.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Another Limited Practice for Olamide Zaccheaus
Chicago Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) was limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week with a hamstring injury that he picked up in the Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Zaccheaus' status is worth monitoring this week because of the fact that Rome Odunze (foot) is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot that caused him to miss last week's game. With Odunze out, the 28-year-old Zaccheaus played 79% of the snaps and caught two passes on three targets for seven yards and his second touchdown of the year. Even if Odunze misses another game, Zaccheaus will be more of a touchdown-dependent WR5/flex in deeper fantasy leagues. He has 37 receptions on the year for 280 yards in 13 games. Fantasy managers are better off rolling with rookie receiver Luther Burden III as a flex play if Odunze sits out again this weekend against the Browns.
Source: Bears Communications
Source: Bears Communications
Parker Washington Limited in Thursday's Practice
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (hip) was listed as limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Washington suffered a hip injury in Week 13 and did not play in last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts. The 23-year-old will probably need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to avoid either a questionable tag or being ruled out entirely for the second straight week when the team faces the visiting New York Jets this Sunday. Now that Brian Thomas Jr. is back from a sprained ankle, Washington profiles as Jacksonville's WR3. When he returns, he'll also have to contend with tight end Brenton Strange, who has been a big part of the passing attack since coming off Injured Reserve. If Washington is back in Week 15, fantasy managers should have better WR4/flex options. Competition for targets will be stiff for Washington, and they are in a matchup that probably won't force them to throw the ball all that often.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jordan Addison Stays Limited on Thursday
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (Achilles) stayed limited in practice on Thursday. It's the second straight day this week that Addison has had his reps capped due to an Achilles injury, so the 23-year-old might need a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable designation going into the Sunday night showdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The former 23rd overall pick in 2023 out of USC went over 50 receiving yards in last week's blowout win over the Washington Commanders for the first time since Oct. 19, catching four of his seven targets for 62 yards. Addison has been highly inconsistent with a low floor in a Vikings offense that has really struggled this year under second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. However, he has some upside potential as a WR3/flex in Week 15 (if he plays) against a Cowboys defense allowing a league-high 255.2 passing yards per game.
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Source: Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson Upgrades to Limited Practice
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shin) upgraded to a limited practice participant on Thursday. Hockenson was unable to practice on Wednesday due to a shin injury, so it's a step in the right direction for the 28-year-old to be able to play on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. If Hockenson were unable to play this weekend, Josh Oliver, who scored twice in last week's blowout win over the Washington Commanders, would be more attractive as a deep-league TE streamer. Hockenson caught his third touchdown of the season in Week 14, but it came on only two receptions for 12 yards on three targets. He's been pretty hard to trust as a fantasy option in 2025 with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling and missing plenty of time due to injuries. Hockenson has gone over 50 receiving yards just once in 13 games this year, making him a low-end TE2 in fantasy if he plays against Dallas.
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones Sr. Still Managing a Shoulder Injury
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Jones suffered a shoulder injury in Week 9 and has been on the injury report ever since, but he continues to serve as the Vikings' primary RB. The 31-year-old could be cleared from the Week 15 injury report entirely if he can upgrade to a full showing on Friday. In the last five contests, Jones has 67 touches to Jordan Mason's 37. He saw 14 carries (second-most this year) for 76 yards in last week's 31-0 rout of the Washington Commanders. Jones should be good to go for this Sunday night's game on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. It's a good matchup, as Dallas has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR fantasy points to opposing RBs per game in 2025. Jones should be on the RB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers this week.
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Source: Minnesota Vikings
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