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
December 23, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney continued to be an afterthought in the Atlanta offense, drawing just two targets in Sunday's 26-19 win over the Cardinals. The 28-year-old converted both targets into receptions for 24 yards, but is firmly behind
Drake London (knee),
Kyle Pitts Sr., and
Bijan Robinson in the receiving pecking order, giving him little fantasy relevance. Even when London was absent the last four weeks, he failed to carve out a consistent role, with
David Sills V finding more success than the 5-foot-11 receiver in those contests. The veteran wideout does have a favorable matchup in Week 17 against a Rams defense that is bottom 10 in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, so he could be a deep league dart throw for managers desperate enough to need his services, but it is probably a situation to avoid if possible.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) was not present for the media access portion of Tuesday's practice as he continues to recover from the concussion that kept him out of the team's Week 16 loss to the Titans. The Chiefs face a shortened week as they prepare for a Christmas night divisional matchup with the Broncos, making Thornton likely to miss a second consecutive game if he can not return to practice on Wednesday. Already down two quarterbacks, with fourth-year pro
Chris Oladokun prepared to make his first career start against a dominant Denver defense, all Kansas City offensive pieces can be ignored for fantasy championship weekend.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Pete Sweeney
December 23, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) was targeted eight times in Sunday's 26-19 win over the Cardinals, but was only able to convert three of them into receptions for 27 scoreless yards. It was the 24-year-old's first game back from injury after missing four straight contests, and despite the high target volume, he was only on the field for 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps after averaging 92 percent prior to the injury. For those managers who were able to advance despite the poor performance, the 6-foot-4 wideout draws a favorable home matchup in Week 17 against a Rams defense that is much more generous against the pass than it is against the run. Managers should monitor the practice reports throughout the week, but assuming he's got his legs under him now, London figures to be on the field for more snaps on Monday Night Football and should once again be a WR1.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
December 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) led the team in receptions and receiving yards and tied for the team lead in targets in Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts. Kittle recorded seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, setting a new season high in receiving yards and making his second trip to the end zone in as many weeks. Unfortunately, Kittle suffered an ankle injury during the game that forced an early exit in the third quarter. By Kittle's own reckoning in post-game comments, he avoided a high-ankle sprain, but his status for Week 17 is unknown at this point. If Kittle is unable to go against the Bears,
Jake Tonges and
Luke Farrell would split the load at tight end. When Kittle was on injured reserve earlier this season, Tonges posted a 22-209-2 line during Kittle's five-game stint on injured reserve.
--Dan StephensSource: KNBR
December 23, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice (concussion) was not seen at Tuesday's practice as he continues to work through the league's concussion protocol. Rice missed the team's Week 16 loss to the Titans after suffering a violent hit from the Chargers' Tony Jefferson in Week 15. With the Chiefs slated to face the Broncos on Christmas night, Rice's absence during the shortened week of preparation does not bode well for his availability come Thursday. Already down two quarterbacks, with
Chris Oladokun set to make his first career start, Rice would likely be best kept on the bench even if healthy. Facing an implied point total of just 11.5 points, no Kansas City starters project to factor into many fantasy championships this season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Pete Sweeney
December 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings took yet another trip to the end zone in Week 16, extending his streak to a fourth game. He has at least one touchdown in six out of the 49ers' last seven games. In Monday night's 48-27 win over the Colts, Jennings caught five of his six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown. The yardage was the most Jennings turned in since the 71-yard game he recorded in Week 10. Jennings' fantasy value has been largely touchdown-dependent, as he has averaged just 3.8 receptions and 43.5 receiving yards per game in 2025. Jennings has been one of
Brock Purdy's preferred targets, though, and the receiver has a promising matchup in Week 17. In the fantasy football championship round, San Francisco will host the Chicago Bears, who have allowed the second-most touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in 2025.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
December 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren suffered an as-yet-unspecified injury in the team's Week 16 win over the Lions, and head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday that he will be limited to begin the week. Tomlin did note that he is optimistic about Warren's availability for Pittsburgh's Week 17 matchup with the Browns. Warren is coming off a career-high 143 rushing yards and an RB4 finish in Half-PPR formats, but fantasy managers will need to monitor the team's Wednesday injury report for additional information. Assuming a return to health, Warren should be viewed as a high-upside RB2/Flex against a Cleveland defense that he collected 63 total yards against in a Week 6 victory.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Nick Farabaugh
December 23, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) has been ruled out for the team's Week 17 Christmas Day matchup with the Lions. McCarthy underwent an MRI after being knocked out of the team's Week 16 win over the Giants, revealing a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. Undrafted rookie
Max Brosmer, who came on in relief on Sunday, is expected to make his second career start on Thursday. His previous start came in a disastrous Week 13 loss to the Seahawks, in which he threw four interceptions and zero touchdowns. Fantasy managers who have survived a rough season from All-Pro wide receiver
Justin Jefferson and managed to reach their fantasy championship face another tough decision, with Jefferson best left on the bench despite coming off his first top-24 finish at the position since Week 11.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
RADIO
