December 29, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Tank Dell (knee) is "making outstanding progress, working extremely hard, and preparing for next season," league sources told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Dell tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL in Week 16 last year against the Kansas City Chiefs. There was never a realistic chance that he'd play for Houston in 2025, but if he continues to make progress and avoid setbacks in his rehab, the 26-year-old wideout could be back on the field next year. Dell required multiple surgeries for his knee injury, which initially looked like it might have been career-threatening. He still has a ways to go, though, and it's possible Dell won't ever be the same player he was before the injury. For fantasy purposes, we'll have a clearer picture of whether Dell might be a key contributor to the Texans' offense once training camp begins next summer.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
December 29, 2025
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that the team is still having talks on their quarterback situation going into the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend versus the division-rival Houston Texans, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. The Colts plan to figure it out on Tuesday and make an official announcement on Wednesday between veteran
Philip Rivers and rookie
Riley Leonard. The Colts brought Rivers out of retirement following
Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles tear. The 44-year-old has been serviceable under center for Indy, throwing for 544 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions, but he went 0-3 in his three starts, and the Colts have been eliminated from the playoffs. With the Colts now looking ahead to the future, it makes sense for them to give Leonard a chance to showcase himself in the final game of the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
December 29, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that quarterback
Geno Smith (ankle) doesn't have a high-ankle sprain, but the injury is still significant, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Smith left in the second half of Sunday's loss to the New York Giants and never returned. It was initially reported that the 35-year-old signal-caller suffered a high-ankle sprain, although Carroll has refuted that. Still, with one week left in the 2025 season, it seems unlikely that Smith will play in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Smith has been a massive failure in his first year with the Raiders, going 2-13 in his 15 starts with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions. Backup
Kenny Pickett will most likely get the start this weekend in a meaningless game against KC.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
December 29, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) is considered day-to-day with his knee injury for the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday versus the division-rival Chicago Bears, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN. St. Brown has been dealing with irritation in his knee, but he played through it in the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings that eliminated the team from postseason contention. The 26-year-old caught eight of his 13 targets for 68 yards on a day in which Detroit's offense could hardly move the ball at all. The Lions don't have anything left to play for but pride this weekend, which means they probably won't push St. Brown to play if he's not 100 percent. As of right now, it sounds like St. Brown will be ready to play, but fantasy managers who have something still on the line will want to keep a close eye on his practice status throughout the week. Rookie
Isaac TeSlaa had another touchdown last Thursday and would benefit even more if St. Brown sits out the season finale.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Eric Woodyard
December 29, 2025
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that quarterback
Dak Prescott will play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the division-rival New York Giants, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Neither the Cowboys nor the Giants has anything to play for in the final game of the 2025 season, but Dallas will run out their starters to close things out. The 32-year-old Prescott is having one of the finest seasons of his career, as he heads into Week 18 with 4,482 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on the year. He has added 178 rushing yards and two rushing TDs. Since the team's Week 10 bye, Prescott is averaging 300 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He is the QB4 in overall fantasy points and should be considered a must-start for anyone still playing for something in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris
December 29, 2025
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that the team is still playing for the AFC South division, so they will play their starters this Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The Texans had a big win over the hosting Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday in Week 17, but they'd need a win versus the Colts and a Jacksonville Jaguars loss to the Tennessee Titans this Sunday to win the division. If both the Texans and Jaguars win in Week 18, the Texans would be locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture, which would mean they'd be on the road against either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round of the postseason. Fantasy managers should be safe to start the likes of quarterback
C.J. Stroud, receiver
Nico Collins, and rookie running back
Woody Marks against the Colts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
December 29, 2025
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that quarterback
Lamar Jackson's (back) status for Sunday's game at the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 is "to be determined," according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I think we'll know a lot more on Wednesday," Harbaugh said. Jackson was sidelined in Week 17 in the win over the Green Bay Packers due to a back contusion that he suffered in the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots. The Ravens obviously want the two-time MVP available in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC North this Sunday night, but Jackson's status will be determined later this week. The 28-year-old was feeling better late last week, but he missed practice all week. If Jackson is unable to play against the Steelers,
Tyler Huntley would make another start after going 16-for-20 for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Packers, adding 60 rushing yards on eight carries.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
December 29, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was a late inactive for the team's Week 17 Christmas loss to the Cowboys, clearing the path for rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt to put up 105 yards and two scores on the ground. With roster crunches ratcheting up during the fantasy playoffs, there's a real chance that Rodriguez may be available on some waiver wires this week, making him a must-add in any league with a Week 18 championship game. While Croskey-Merritt has looked brilliant at times this year, Washington has repeatedly shown that, when healthy, they prefer Rodriguez to handle the majority of their groundwork. Rodriguez has cracked double-digit points in Half-PPR formats in three of his last six games played, and should slot in as a low-end RB2/flex in a plus matchup with the Eagles in Week 18.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 29, 2025
Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver
Isaac TeSlaa has caught touchdowns in four of his last five games, and he needs to be rostered in any leagues with a Week 18 fantasy championship. With the Lions now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and
Amon-Ra St. Brown seemingly banged up late in the team's Christmas Day loss to the Vikings, TeSlaa should see additional run against a Bears defense that just allowed almost 500 yards in a Monday Night loss to the 49ers. On the season, Chicago has been the fourth most favorable fantasy matchup for opposing wide receivers, and with TeSlaa currently rostered in less than a quarter of redraft leagues, he is one of the first names fantasy managers should be checking the waiver wire for ahead of any meaningful Week 18 games.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 29, 2025
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver
Jayden Higgins got things started in Saturday's Week 17 win over the Chargers with a 75-yard touchdown strike from
C.J. Stroud less than two minutes into the game. Four minutes later, it was Higgins' college teammate and fellow rookie
Jaylin Noel on the receiving end of a 43-yard touchdown. While neither contributed much during a second half that saw the Texans struggle to maintain drives, Higgins, who finished the day with two catches for 88 yards and the aforementioned score, is still the player to roster heading into any Week 18 fantasy championships. While Saturday was easily his best performance of the season, he has strung together usable weeks in the past, including a stretch from Weeks 8-12 that saw him finish with double-digit points in Half-PPR formats in three of five games. Against a reeling Indianapolis defense in Week 18, Higgins has the potential for one more meaningful flex performance as a plug-and-play option available on most waiver wires.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 29, 2025
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Noel caught three of four targets for 54 yards in a Week 17 win over the Chargers, while hauling in his first touchdown since Week 5. The Texans' offense came out of the gates looking unstoppable, as
C.J. Stroud connected with both Noel and fellow Iowa State rookie
Jayden Higgins on long first-quarter touchdowns. Unfortunately, things stalled after that, and they managed only two field goals the rest of the way, casting into doubt how things will look in a Week 18 divisional matchup with the Colts. Noel's 14% target share on Saturday marked the first time he cracked double digits since Week 8, but against a Colts defense that has struggled to defend the pass, he could be in play as a desperation flex start that is readily available on most waiver wires.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 29, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) is progressing in his injury recovery, and the swelling has come down in his throwing hand, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his right hand that kept him out of the team's Week 17 win over the Lions. Still, there remains a possibility that he could return for the final game of the season, a Week 18 divisional matchup with the Packers. McCarthy has had a rough showing in his first year as a starter, making
Justin Jefferson one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy this season. That said, in any leagues with a Week 18 championship, the return of McCarthy is the only way fantasy managers should consider starting Jefferson one last time. In the two games started by undrafted rookie
Max Brosmer, Minnesota has averaged 161.5 total offensive yards, with Jefferson finishing as the WR94 and WR48.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Kevin Seifert
December 29, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) will not return this season, league sources told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The expectation all along has been that Mixon would not return at all in 2025, but now it's official. The Texans haven't released many details on the nature of Mixon's foot/ankle injury, but we know that he hasn't played since back in the spring. The 29-year-old remains on the Non-Football Injury list. At this point, it's fair to wonder if he'll be effective at all if he's able to make it back and play in 2026. The Texans will continue to move forward with rookie
Woody Marks as their primary ball-carrier, with veteran
Nick Chubb and rookie
Jawhar Jordan backing him up heading into the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
December 29, 2025
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he thinks rookie first-round left tackle Will Campbell (knee) will resume practicing this week, which is the first week he's eligible to have his 21-day practice window opened, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. The 21-year-old probably will not be activated from Injured Reserve to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Miami Dolphins this Sunday, but the Patriots could get him back during the playoffs. The fourth overall pick out of LSU made 12 starts for New England in his first year in the NFL before landing on IR. Getting Campbell back for the postseason would be great news for a Patriots offense that is clicking on all cylinders.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
December 29, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) is considered a "long shot" to play in Week 18 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night with the AFC North title on the line, a source with knowledge of the situation told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "Never say never, but not an ideal timeline to be fully cleared," the source said. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Watt won't play until he has a full week of practice as a full participant. Watt had surgery on Dec. 12 to fix a partially collapsed lung and has missed the last three games. The 31-year-old pass-rusher's lung was punctured during a defective dry-needle procedure. A report on Sunday suggested that Watt would make it back for Week 18 or the first round of the playoffs if Pittsburgh qualifies, but that might not be the case now. Not having one of the most disruptive defensive players available against Baltimore would be a huge loss for the Steelers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
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