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
December 28, 2025
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) is officially active for Sunday's contest against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17. Although the Colts have officially been eliminated from the playoffs, Gardner will make his return to the field on Sunday after missing the last three games due to a calf injury. It's a notable boost for the Colts' defense as they go up against quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, who has been on a tear in his last four games (12 touchdowns, no interceptions). There's a good chance that Gardner will follow receiver
Jakobi Meyers around, which could open up more pass-catching opportunities for
Brian Thomas Jr. and
Parker Washington, who had a career day last Sunday in the win over the Denver Broncos. Gardner's return this weekend won't suddenly make the Colts' defense/special teams unit worth starting in fantasy football lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Colts
December 28, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
Tyler Goodson (ankle) will not play in Week 17 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars due to an ankle injury. Goodson won't play on Sunday despite returning to a full practice on Friday. The Colts have officially been eliminated from postseason contention, and therefore won't rush the 25-year-old back onto the field. With Goodson inactive against the Jags, the Colts will roll with rookie
DJ Giddens and
Ameer Abdullah as RB depth behind starter
Jonathan Taylor. Goodson, in his third year in the NFL in 2025, has only eight rushing attempts in 10 games for 21 yards on the ground for Indy. He's added two receptions on three targets for another eight yards as a pass-catcher. Goodson can continue to be ignored in all fantasy football formats for the final two weeks of the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Colts
December 28, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals tight end
Noah Fant (ankle) is officially active on Sunday to face the visiting Arizona Cardinals in Week 17. Fant will return to action this weekend in a meaningless game after missing last week's blowout win over the Miami Dolphins due to an ankle injury. Even in a plus matchup against the Cardinals, fantasy managers should have much better TE2 streaming options to choose from in Week 17, even in deeper leagues. The 28-year-old Fant just won't have enough opportunities while continuing to work behind
Mike Gesicki at the position in Cincy. Fant has a total of 33 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns on 39 targets in 13 games (six starts) in his first year with the Bengals. He hasn't had more than one catch in a game since Nov. 16, and he has not gone over 44 receiving yards in a single contest in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Bengals
December 28, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
DeMario Douglas (hamstring), who was listed as questionable for Week 17, is officially active on Sunday as the team takes on the division-rival New York Jets. Douglas has been hard to trust for fantasy managers in 2025 in his third year in the NFL, as he's caught 28 passes on 41 targets for only 408 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games played. However, he should be set up for a much bigger role this weekend with
Kayshon Boutte (concussion) out and
Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Injured Reserve.
Stefon Diggs and
Kyle Williams figure to be New England's top two wideouts on Sunday in a plus matchup, but don't sleep on Douglas as the starting slot receiver in deeper fantasy football formats as a sneaky flex play. The 25-year-old pass-catcher has an opportunity to go over 50 receiving yards for only the third time this season.
--Keith HernandezSource: New England Patriots
December 28, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Sterling Shepard (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Miami Dolphins. Shepard has now been inactive for back-to-back weeks and is the odd man out in a receiver room that also features
Mike Evans,
Chris Godwin Jr.,
Emeka Egbuka,
Jalen McMillan,
Tez Johnson, and
Kameron Johnson. Even if one of those receivers were to suffer an injury, Shepard would still be too far down the pecking order to make a fantasy impact next week. He can be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Rick Stroud
December 28, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback
Dillon Gabriel (shoulder) injured his left shoulder at some point during the week and has been ruled out for the Week 17 divisional clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. With Gabriel inactive,
Bailey Zappe has been elevated to the 53-man active roster from the practice squad and will serve as rookie
Shedeur Sanders' backup this weekend. The 25-year-old Gabriel ended up making six starts for Cleveland in his first year in the NFL in 2025, but he was largely mediocre while failing to push the ball downfield. Gabriel's reign as the team's starting QB ended in Week 11 when he suffered a concussion, opening the door for Sanders to take over. In his six starts, the Oregon product completed 58.9% of his passes for 918 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions while adding 86 rushing yards. Gabriel is expected to compete for the starting gig next year with Sanders and
Deshaun Watson (Achilles).
--Keith HernandezSource: Cleveland Browns
December 28, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson (hand) is officially active for Cleveland on Sunday as they take on the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Sampson missed two practices this week due to his hand injury, but he was able to return on Friday and is now ready to take over as the team's top RB with fellow rookie
Quinshon Judkins (leg) done for the season after suffering a gruesome injury in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. Behind the 21-year-old will be
Trayveon Williams and
Raheim Sanders vying for touches in the Browns' backfield. Sampson hasn't been very efficient as a runner in his first NFL season, as he's averaging only 2.6 yards per carry on 44 rushing attempts in his 13 games played. He's been more prolific as a pass-catcher, taking 28 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns. But for the added volume alone this Sunday, he has upside as an RB3/flex in fantasy in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cleveland Browns
December 28, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Mason Tipton (groin) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Tennessee Titans. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. Tipton is sidelined just one week after posting season-highs in targets (five), catches (four), and yards (29). His absence creates more inconsistency throughout the depth chart behind
Chris Olave. With
Rashid Shaheed traded away,
Brandin Cooks released,
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on injured reserve, and Tipton inactive, look for Kevin Austin to step up as the Saints' No. 2 receiver. Olave and
Juwan Johnson are the only New Orleans pass-catchers who should be started with full confidence.
--Andersen PickardSource: New Orleans Saints
December 28, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin), who was considered questionable to play on Sunday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, is officially active in Week 17. The 21-year-old didn't have any setbacks with his groin injury in his return to practice on Friday and is ready to go as the Browns try to play spoiler against Pittsburgh in the second-to-last game of the 2025 season. Fellow TE
David Njoku (knee) is missing yet another game for Cleveland, too, so Fannin should once again be one of rookie quarterback
Shedeur Sanders' top targets in the passing game. Fantasy managers might be a little more hesitant to consider Fannin a TE1 due to his injury, but he's expected to be full-go on Sunday in terms of his snap count. In half-PPR scoring this year, Fannin checks in as the TE6 with 70 catches on 105 targets for 701 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. Start him in Week 17.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cleveland Browns
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