December 23, 2025
The New England Patriots signed veteran free-agent running back
Elijah Mitchell to their practice squad on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mitchell quickly latches on with another team after the Kansas City Chiefs waived him last weekend. Patriots rookie RB
TreVeyon Henderson suffered a concussion in Sunday night's win over the Baltimore Ravens and is in danger of missing the Week 17 game against the New York Jets, so the Pats will bring in Mitchell to give the team more RB depth at the end of the regular season. If Henderson doesn't clear the league's concussion protocol by this Sunday, Mitchell could be elevated to the active 53-man roster to serve as the RB3 behind
Rhamondre Stevenson and
D'Ernest Johnson. Unless Stevenson also misses time with an injury, Mitchell is unlikely to become a major contributor in New England's offense. He was active for just one game with KC this year and didn't have a single rushing attempt.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) was a non-participant during Tuesday's practice. Mariota has missed two straight practices after he was forced to exit early during Saturday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to injury. Mariota is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Thursday's Christmas matchup versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. If he sits out,
Josh Johnson figures to make his first start of the season. The Commanders have also signed
Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad to add depth at the position. The fantasy value of the Commanders' pass-catchers would be downgraded if Johnson is forced to start in Week 17. As of right now, fantasy managers shouldn't be planning on having Mariota available on a short turnaround in Week 17.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf will miss the remainder of the regular season after the league upheld his two-game suspension. Metcalf was suspended after a confrontation with a fan during Sunday's win against the Detroit Lions. The 28-year-old appealed his suspension but was unsuccessful as the league upheld the decision on Tuesday. The Steelers will now be without their top wideout for the final two games of the regular season.
Adam Thielen and
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) should see larger roles in the receiving game. Also, running back
Kenneth Gainwell could take on an even larger role as he has tallied five or more receptions over each of his last three games. If Austin can move past his hamstring injury, he could hold WR3 upside in deeper leagues in a tilt against the Browns, as he should take on the WR1 role in the offense.
--Andy WebbSource: Ian Rapoport
December 23, 2025
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Philip Rivers will remain the starting quarterback for the Week 17 matchup against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Tuesday that Rivers would make his third straight start this weekend. The 44-year-old has earned himself another start after a promising outing during Monday's blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Rivers has performed fairly well against two tough teams and will get at least one more start with the Colts technically still in playoff contention. The veteran signal-caller will be on the lower end of the streaming radar for this Sunday's game against the streaking Jags. In Monday night's loss to San Fran, Rivers went 23-for-35 passing for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 23, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) didn't participate during Tuesday's walkthrough. Allen is dealing with a foot issue that he suffered during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. It seems like the issue is still bothering him a few days afterwards, but fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried, as the expectation is that Allen will still be able to suit up for the Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the injury report throughout the week in case the superstar QB faces any type of setback. The absence of Allen would certainly be devastating to many fantasy managers playing in their championship games this weekend, given his elite weekly ceiling. If Allen were to miss Sunday's game, veteran
Mitch Trubisky would take over QB1 duties in Buffalo.
--Andy WebbSource: Chris Brown
December 23, 2025
Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason (ankle) is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Thursday's Christmas matchup against the division-rival Detroit Lions. Mason suffered an ankle injury during last week's win over the New York Giants. Mason has been a non-participant during the first two practices of the week. He's considered a long shot to suit up for Week 17 as a result. The absence of Mason would mean that
Aaron Jones Sr. should see more work as the lead back in Minnesota. His fantasy value will certainly be on the rise, while
Zavier Scott should see more chances as the backup as well. Fantasy managers should check back for more updates, but they should be prepared for Mason to miss this divisional clash on a short week.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) was forced to make an early exit from Monday's win over the Indianapolis Colts. The good news is that Kittle appears to have avoided any serious issues. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Kittle suffered a mid-to-low ankle sprain during Monday's blowout victory at Indy. His status for the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears is up in the air right now. The 49ers will monitor Kittle during practice throughout the week before making a final decision. Fantasy managers will need to check back throughout the week for more updates on his status.
Jake Tonges would be in line for increased playing time if Kittle is forced to miss any action, and he'd be in play as a TE2 streamer in deeper leagues if Kittle is unable to face Chicago on Sunday night.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Demarcus Robinson caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the team's 48-27 win over the Colts on Monday night. Robinson finished the game with two catches for 22 yards and the score on two targets. Outside of the trip to the end zone, Robinson did not benefit from
Ricky Pearsall's (knee, ankle) absence from the game. Instead, Robinson appears to have slipped back behind
Kendrick Bourne on the depth chart, seeing a 44% snap share to Bourne's 70% share. Given his lack of involvement in the offense all season, fantasy football managers shouldn't read too much into Robinson's touchdown on Monday. It is too early to know Pearsall's status for Week 17, but even if he is held out, Robinson should not be relied on in the fantasy football championship round.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
December 23, 2025
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that quarterback
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will not be activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list before his activation window closes, ending his 2025 season. The much-embattled Browns quarterback has not appeared in a game since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Watson struggled across seven games in 2024, completing 63.4% of his pass attempts for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Previous reports have suggested that Cleveland may look to move on from Watson at the end of the 2025 season. If that's the case, the 30-year-old will finish his three-year stint with the Browns having played 19 games with an average of 6.0 yards per pass attempt, 19 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Browns have utilized the rookie quarterback combination of
Shedeur Sanders and
Dillon Gabriel for most of 2025, although neither has proven to be the team's unquestioned franchise quarterback for the future.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 23, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Luther Burden III (ankle) was not spotted at practice on Tuesday, per Michal Dwojak of Bears Insider. Burden III was inactive for Chicago's Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers due to an ankle injury, and may be in danger of missing his team's Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers as well. Across 13 games this season, Burden III has hauled in 36 catches for 479 yards and a touchdown on 47 targets. He appeared to be emerging before getting hurt, as he had earned 19 targets across a three-game stretch from Week 13 through Week 15. If Burden III remains sidelined against San Francisco, wideouts
Olamide Zaccheaus and
Jahdae Walker will likely soak up additional playing time alongside veteran wide receiver
D.J. Moore. Chicago is also dealing with an injury to wideout
Rome Odunze (foot), so the team's depth at the position is being tested.
--Will BradySource: Bears Insider - Michal Dwojak
December 23, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) was missing from his team's practice on Tuesday, per Michal Dwojak of Bears Insider. Odunze has been sidelined for three weeks as he battles a stress fracture in his foot. While Chicago will not release an official injury report until Wednesday, Odunze could be tracking towards a fourth straight missed game in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers. Across 12 games in 2025, the 23-year-old has recorded 44 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns on 90 targets. Chicago was also without rookie wideout
Luther Burden III (ankle) in Week 16, leaving the team thin at wide receiver. If Odunze remains sidelined in Week 17, veteran wideout
DJ Moore profiles as the team's clear number one pass-catcher, and wide receivers
Olamide Zaccheaus and
Jahdae Walker could both see increased playing time.
--Will BradySource: Bears Insider - Michal Dwojak
December 23, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks (ankle) was spotted on the practice field on Tuesday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Marks missed his team's Week 16 win against the Las Vegas Raiders due to an ankle injury that forced him to exit early in Week 15. It appears Marks could be trending towards making his return in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Across 14 games this season, the 24-year-old has recorded 788 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 188 touches. Marks had emerged as the feature back in Houston before getting hurt, recording at least 16 touches in every game from Week 10 through Week 14. If he were to remain sidelined, the Texans would likely turn to the combination of
Jawhar Jordan and
Nick Chubb for backfield snaps in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: KPRC 2 Houston - Aaron Wilson
December 23, 2025
With Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) ruled out with a hairline fracture in his hand, rookie signal-caller
Max Brosmer is in line to make his second start of the season in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day. Brosmer's first start of 2025 was a disaster, as he completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 126 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions in Minnesota's 26-0 Week 13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, the 24-year-old was much better after taking over for McCarthy in Week 16. He completed seven of nine pass attempts for 52 yards and avoided turning the ball over, helping the Vikings hold on for a 16-13 win over the New York Giants. Brosmer's second start will be against a far easier opponent than his first, as the banged-up Lions have allowed at least 27 points in five straight games. Still, fantasy managers may want to downgrade Minnesota's offensive weapons heading into Week 17.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
December 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin went "out of his way to point out" wide receiver
Roman Wilson as a player who could step up in the wake of wideout
D.K. Metcalf's two-game suspension for punching a fan during the team's Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions, per Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show. Wilson has seen limited usage so far this season, recording 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets across 12 games. However, with Metcalf suspended and fellow wideout
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) battling a hamstring injury, the Steelers are now quite thin at the wide receiver position heading into their Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. In addition to Wilson,
Adam Thielen,
Marquez Valdes-Scantling,
Scotty Miller, and
Ben Skowronek are all candidates to see increased playing time at wide receiver in Pittsburgh.
--Will BradySource: The Pat McAfee Show - Mark Kaboly
December 23, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair his fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Judkins suffered the injuries in Week 16 and has now been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season. Across 14 games, the 22-year-old recorded 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries. Judkins also hauled in 26 receptions for 171 yards on 36 targets. While Judkins' rookie season is done, he looks like the feature back of the future in Cleveland, provided he can make a full recovery from this most recent setback. With Judkins sidelined, the Browns will likely turn to the running back combination of
Dylan Sampson (hand),
Raheim Sanders, and
Trayveon Williams. Sampson has missed each of the last two weeks with calf and hand injuries, but he could be the team's lead back if he can return in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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