January 1, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown (illness) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday due to an illness, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. It's the second straight day of practice that Brown has missed this week, leaving fantasy managers to wonder if he'll play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. We'll know more about the 25-year-old's status on Friday. If the Bengals hold Brown out in a meaningless game this weekend,
Samaje Perine and rookie
Tahj Brooks would split the work in Cincy's backfield in a less-than-ideal matchup against Cleveland. There's plenty of personal incentive for Brown to play in Week 18, though, as he currently sits at 947 rushing yards on the season. Brown is probably plenty motivated to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
January 1, 2026
New England Patriots tight end
Hunter Henry (knee) is back on the practice field on Thursday, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. Henry began Week 18 preparation with a DNP on Wednesday, but now that he's back on the field, he should at least be on the right side of questionable for Sunday's regular-season finale against the division-rival Miami Dolphins. The Patriots are still battling for the top seed in the AFC and a first-round bye, so the 31-year-old should be in line for regular playing time in a plus matchup this weekend if he's active. Henry has scored in back-to-back games for fantasy managers while catching nine of his 10 targets for 84 yards. Fantasy managers should consider him a top-five tight end in Week 18 even though he had just one catch for nine yards on three targets in the first meeting against the Dolphins on Sept. 14.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
January 1, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte (concussion) shed his non-contact jersey at practice on Thursday and appears to have cleared the league's concussion protocol, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. Boutte missed the blowout win over the New York Jets in Week 17, but as long as he gains clearance from an independent neurologist, the 23-year-old appears to be on track to play on Sunday against the division-rival Miami Dolphins in the Week 18 regular-season finale. In his last game in the Week 16 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Boutte had one catch on three targets for 16 yards, and he's had back-to-back games with just one catch. Boutte has been outside the top 50 wideouts this year in half-PPR points per game, making him a volatile flex option for fantasy lineups this weekend if he makes his return, even in a plus matchup against Miami.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mass Live - Mark Daniels
January 1, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield (knee, shoulder) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Mayfield is nursing knee and shoulder injuries, but he will be active as the Bucs look to win the NFC South this weekend with a win over Carolina and a loss by the Falcons to the Saints. The 30-year-old won't be a very inspiring QB1 option for fantasy managers still playing for something in Week 18, although he is coming off a 346-yard passing effort with two touchdowns in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the first meeting against the Panthers two weeks ago, Mayfield threw for only 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. After four straight games without multiple passing TDs, Mayfield has two TD passes in two of his last three games.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
January 1, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt (illness) has yet to practice this week due to an illness after not practicing again on Thursday, according to Chiefs Digest's Matt Derrick. Hunt, who has ceded more backfield work to
Isiah Pacheco in recent weeks, could be in danger of missing the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders unless he can practice on Friday. Even if Hunt can get cleared to play on Sunday, fantasy managers should consider him a low-upside RB4/flex for starting lineups in an offense that is being run by third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun to close out the season. If Hunt is ruled out for Week 18, Pacheco would be a more attractive RB3/flex play for fantasy managers in deeper leagues still trying to win a championship. Hunt hasn't had double-digit carries in the last three games for KC.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs Digest - Matt Derrick
January 1, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy (illness) is missing a second straight practice this week on Thursday due to an illness, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. Worthy still has one more day to practice on Friday, but heading into a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, it's fair to wonder if the 22-year-old will be active.
Rashee Rice (concussion) is on season-ending Injured Reserve as well, so if Worthy is inactive this weekend, the Chiefs would be down to
Marquise Brown,
JuJu Smith-Schuster, and tight end
Travis Kelce as their top pass-catchers with third-string quarterback
Chris Oladokun running the offense. With Rice out in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Denver Broncos, Worthy failed to catch any of his three targets to give his fantasy managers a donut in Week 17.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs Digest - Matt Derrick
January 1, 2026
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Rashod Bateman (illness) missed his second straight day of practice this week on Thursday with an illness, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun. Bateman will probably have to return to practice on Friday to avoid being ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night in a game that will decide the AFC North. For fantasy football purposes, the 26-year-old Bateman can be ignored either way, as the former first-rounder has been very quiet after a career year in 2024. He enters Week 18 action with just 19 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns on 38 targets in his fifth year in the NFL. Bateman has more than two catches in a game only once this year, and that was all the way back on Sept. 22, when he had five grabs for 63 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Jonas Shaffer
January 1, 2026
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) is practicing for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Jackson was a full practice participant on Wednesday and looks ready to start Sunday's AFC North title game versus the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the Week 18 regular-season finale. A back contusion kept Jackson from playing in last Saturday night's win over the Green Bay Packers, but he appears to be ready to return for a huge game this Sunday evening. The 28-year-old two-time MVP has not looked like an elite dual-threat fantasy QB in 2025, so fantasy managers playing for a title may be hesitant to throw him back into starting lineups this weekend. In the first meeting with Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, Jackson threw for 219 yards, one touchdown, and an interception against the Steelers, adding 43 rushing yards and only his second rushing TD of the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
January 1, 2026
For a second straight day this week, New York Giants wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson (ribs) was not spotted at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Robinson is now firmly up in the air to suit up for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. In a meaningless game, don't be surprised if both Robinson and tight end
Theo Johnson (illness), who also missed last week, are held out. The 24-year-old Robinson is coming off a season-high 11 receptions on 14 targets for 113 yards in the Week 17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he had three catches for 19 yards the week prior. Robinson has been money for fantasy managers in PPR leagues in 2025, but they might be without him in Week 18. Check back for Robinson's status on Friday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
January 1, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) was not seen at the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Although Allen's foot injury isn't considered serious, he has yet to practice as the team begins preparations for the division-rival New York Jets in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday. The Bills are only playing for seeding purposes in the AFC playoff picture this weekend, and it's unclear yet whether they plan to rest any ailing starters like Allen. As of right now, though, fantasy managers with a championship on the line in Week 18 should be concerned that Allen might be rested. If active, the 29-year-old would be a must-start in all fantasy lineups against the lackluster Jets defense. If the Bills decide to hold Allen out,
Mitchell Trubisky would make his first start of the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
January 1, 2026
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson (illness) will miss another practice on Thursday due to illness, according to interim head coach Mike Kafka. Johnson missed last week's win over the Las Vegas Raiders due to an illness and is trending towards missing a second straight game to wrap up the 2025 season unless he can return to practice on Friday. If the 24-year-old has played his last game this year, he'll wrap up his second season in the NFL with 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets. Johnson became the team's top pass-catching tight end this year and should have his fantasy arrow pointing upward as a potential TE1 target for fantasy managers going into the 2026 campaign. If Johnson is ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys,
Daniel Bellinger will have more pass-catching opportunities.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday - Evan Barnes
January 1, 2026
Carolina Panthers running back
Rico Dowdle (toe) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to the team's official website. Although
Chuba Hubbard isn't going to go away in Carolina's backfield, the 27-year-old Dowdle has earned RB1 duties for the Panthers. In an all-important game this weekend that will decide the winner of the NFC South, Dowdle will be on the RB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers. He has certainly slowed down since a strong stretch earlier this year when Hubbard was out with injury, and he hasn't found the end zone in the last two games. In the first meeting with the Bucs two weeks ago, Dowdle had nine carries for 29 yards and caught four passes for 14 yards. Since the team's Week 14 bye, Dowdle has 160 scrimmage yards and a TD on 45 touches.
--Keith HernandezSource: Panthers.com
January 1, 2026
New York Jets running back
Breece Hall (knee) was seen on the practice field on Thursday after he missed Wednesday's practice with a knee injury, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Hall picked up a knee injury in last week's blowout loss to the New England Patriots, but his return to practice on Thursday suggests he'll have a shot to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Isaiah Davis (concussion) also missed practice on Wednesday, so New York's backfield is a bit in flux heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Despite another disappointing year for Gang Green in 2025, Hall posted the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career on a career-high 243 carries over 16 games. If he's active in Week 18, Hall will firmly be in the RB2 mix for fantasy football against Buffalo.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Brian Costello
January 1, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that left tackle Tristan Wirfs (toe) is questionable to play in Saturday's divisional clash against the Carolina Panthers in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Wirfs didn't play in last week's upset loss to the Miami Dolphins, but he could be on the right side of questionable for this week's big game after practicing in limited fashion on Wednesday. The 26-year-old's status is key for a game on Saturday that will decide the winner of the NFC South division. The loser will miss the playoffs. In a must-win game this weekend, it would be a surprise if quarterback
Baker Mayfield doesn't have his blind-side protector available.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
January 1, 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (concussion, shoulder) has cleared the league's concussion protocol, but he will not make the start in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, according to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated. While Love won't start this weekend, Huber says that he could end up backing up
Clayton Tune versus Minnesota.
Malik Willis (shoulder) is dealing with a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. For added QB depth, the Packers signed
Desmond Ridder to their practice squad on Wednesday. Love should be ready to rock for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week, but fantasy managers still playing for something will be without him for another game.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - Bill Huber
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