December 24, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Wednesday that safety Budda Baker (concussion) came in this week with concussion symptoms and is now in the league's concussion protocol, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Baker played 68 defensive snaps in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but the 29-year-old suffered a head injury and is now up in the air to be active for a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention, so expect them to be cautious in bringing Baker back for the final two games of the 2025 regular season. If Baker misses this weekend's game against the Bengals, Kitan Crawford would be in line to start at free safety for the Cardinals. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues should be searching for backup options if Baker is ruled out.
--Keith HernandezSource: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
December 24, 2025
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (back) is headed to season-ending Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to a source. The Raiders also placed star tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) on IR. Chinn hasn't missed any games with a nagging back injury, but the Raiders have decided to shut the 27-year-old defensive back down with two games remaining in the season. Chinn will end up finishing his first year in Vegas with a healthy 114 tackles (63 solo), one sack, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 15 starts. The Raiders' defense will be more vulnerable on the back end to close out the season with Chinn out, beginning with a Week 17 matchup this weekend against the visiting New York Giants.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
December 24, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back
Bhayshul Tuten (finger) was spotted wearing a non-contact jersey during the portion of practice on Wednesday that was open to the media, according to Demetrius Harvey of Jaguars.com. Tuten will likely be listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report, the first of Week 17. The 23-year-old change-of-pace back missed the Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos after having surgery for a finger injury, but his return to the field this week suggests he might be in play to return this Sunday for a divisional clash against the Indianapolis Colts.
Travis Etienne Jr. remains Jacksonville's clear lead back, but Tuten has shown flashes of explosiveness out of the Jags' backfield in his first 14 NFL games. The fourth-rounder has 284 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 78 carries and has added 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores. If Tuten is back in the fold on Sunday against Indy, he'll be flex-worthy in fantasy championship matchups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jaguars.com - Demetrius Harvey
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) has officially been ruled out for the Week 17 divisional game on Christmas Day on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Mariota injured his hand and quad in Saturday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's unclear if Mariota will be cleared to play in next week's regular-season finale against the Eagles. With Mariota out on Christmas Day, veteran journeyman
Josh Johnson will make his first start in the NFL since late in the 2021 season. For what it's worth, head coach Dan Quinn said he's hoping that Mariota will be ready to return in Week 18 for the rematch against Philly. The 32-year-old has been serviceable as a QB2 in fantasy football in 11 games (eight starts) this year with
Jayden Daniels injured, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven picks.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Josh Johnson will make the start on Christmas Day on Thursday versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala.
Jeff Driskel will serve as the backup with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) unable to play following his injury on Saturday night in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Normal starter
Jayden Daniels (elbow) has already been shut down for the rest of the year. This will be Johnson's first NFL start since Week 17 of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Ravens. The 39-year-old journeyman went 5-for-9 passing for 43 yards and an ugly interception in Week 16 after taking over for the injured Mariota. The matchup this week against Dallas' porous defense is friendly, but Johnson still won't be much more than a desperation QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues with everything on the line in championship matchups.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
December 24, 2025
When asked whether quarterback
Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) injury timeline impacts decisions on
Kirk Cousins going forward, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday, "Anything can happen. We will for sure discuss all of the options when the end is near." Penix needed full reconstructive surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee that is likely to keep him out to start the 2026 season. The 25-year-old signal-caller has undergone three reconstructive surgeries on his ACL, dating back to his days in college, leading the Falcons to likely reconsider their future at the QB position this offseason. Veteran Kirk Cousins is finishing out the year as the team's starter, but he can opt out of the last two years of his four-year, $180 million contract. If Cousins leaves, the Falcons could be in trouble without any first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
December 24, 2025
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that wide receiver
Drake London (knee) will practice this week, but still with "some type of modifications," according to Terrin Waack of AtlantaFalcons.com. "He's Drake. He's productive. I look forward to him getting better this week," Morris said. After a four-game absence due to a PCL sprain in his knee, London returned in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals to play a season-low 69% of the offensive snaps. The 24-year-old caught just three passes on eight targets for 27 yards in the 26-19 victory. It appears that he's still not 100% with his knee injury, but he will be active on Monday night to face the Los Angeles Rams, and London should see more action in his second game back. Before his injury, Atlanta's WR1 was averaging 6.7 catches and 90 receiving yards in nine games.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
December 24, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion) will practice again on Wednesday but remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Love was listed as limited on the team's first injury report of the week on Tuesday after he was forced from Saturday night's loss to the Chicago Bears with a concussion. The 27-year-old signal-caller appears to be making some progress, but he's still very much up in the air to be cleared to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 on Saturday. Backup
Malik Willis (shoulder) is also questionable to play after getting injured after he replaced Love in Week 16 in Chicago. If both Love and Willis aren't able to play against Baltimore, the Packers would be forced to go with
Clayton Tune under center this weekend. Love's status could be a game-time decision on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
December 24, 2025
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Los Angeles Rams "very well could shut down" wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) for the final two regular-season games. Head coach Sean McVay already said that Adams is doubtful to play on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, and a team source told Fowler that "it wouldn't be a surprise" to see Adams also miss the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The Rams' goal is to "ensure Adams is 100 percent for the first week of the playoffs." Adams is currently considered week-to-week after aggravating his hamstring injury on Dec. 14 against the Detroit Lions. The Rams held him out of last Thursday's overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect to have him the rest of the way.
Konata Mumpfield, along with star
Puka Nacua, could be the biggest beneficiary in L.A.'s passing attack if Adams misses two more games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
December 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Omarion Hampton told ESPN's Dan Graziano that Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys was the "best he has felt" since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for seven games from Week 6 to Week 13. Across three games since returning, the 22-year-old has recorded 227 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 48 touches. The Chargers held Hampton under 25 offensive snaps in each of his first two outings back from injury, but bumped his playing time up to 35 snaps in Week 16 against Dallas. Hampton could be in line for an even larger bump in playing time in Week 17 against the Houston Texans, as fellow Chargers back
Kimani Vidal (neck) is considered day-to-day due to a neck strain. Hampton has been a dynamic player when healthy this season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 5.1 yards per touch across eight games played. He profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 with upside, even in a tough matchup in Week 17 against Houston.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Dan Graziano
December 24, 2025
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old suffered an orbital fracture in pre-game warmups that has had him on Injured Reserve since mid-October. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup quarterback in Indianapolis behind
Daniel Jones (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. With both Jones and Richardson Sr. unavailable, the Colts brought 44-year-old quarterback
Philip Rivers out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to save their season. Rivers has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 397 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions across two starts and appears to be in line to make his third start in Week 17. It's unclear whether Richardson Sr. will return this season or whether he would take the starting job away from Rivers once activated.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - James Boyd
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Dylan Sampson (hand) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Sampson has missed each of Cleveland's last two games due to calf and hand injuries. The 21-year-old has mostly been used in a part-time role as a receiver out of the backfield so far in 2025. However, with Browns RB1
Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) suffering a season-ending injury in Week 16, Sampson has an opportunity to take over as the team's lead back. Across 13 games this season, Sampson has racked up 375 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 72 touches. The Browns also have
Raheim Sanders and
Trayveon Williams as backfield options who can help fill in for Judkins. If active, Sampson could be a solid flex option for fantasy managers in his Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
December 24, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero notes that Bowers has been battling a lingering knee injury since Week 1, and the 2-13 Raiders are now focused on making sure their star tight end is fully healthy for 2026. Across 12 games this season, the 23-year-old recorded 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets. With Bowers sidelined, Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer is likely in line for a spike in both playing time and target share. Across a two-game stretch in Weeks 6 and 7 with Bowers inactive, Mayer recorded six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. For fantasy managers now left scrambling to fill the tight end position, Mayer could be a solid streamer in Week 17 against the New York Giants.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
December 24, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) is not expected to return to practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. The 29-year-old has missed Cleveland's last two games due to a knee injury, and his availability for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to be in question. Across 12 games this season, Njoku has recorded 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. In his absence, Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. has seen a spike in production. With Njoku going down early in Week 14, Fannin Jr. has recorded 19 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets over the last three weeks. If Njoku remains sidelined against the Steelers, Fannin Jr. can be viewed as a must-start fantasy tight end in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
December 24, 2025
Across 15 games this season, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Konata Mumpfield has recorded just eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets. However, the 23-year-old saw a spike in playing time in Week 16 with star Rams wideout
Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined by a hamstring injury, and recorded three catches for 40 yards on eight targets. Rams head coach Sean McVay has said that Adams is likely to remain out for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, so Mumpfield could spend another week as the team's WR2 alongside
Puka Nacua. Los Angeles uses more two and three-tight end personnel groupings than just about any team in the NFL, which limits Mumpfield's playing time even with Adams out. In Week 16, Mumpfield played 46% of the Rams' offensive snaps. Still, he could be a flex option for deep-league fantasy managers in Week 17.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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