December 31, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) is not participating in Wednesday's practice session, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Wicks suffered a concussion in the second quarter during last Saturday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. The 24-year-old is trending towards missing his third game of the season after opening this week with a DNP. He's had a relatively quiet season in a crowded Packers wide receiver room, catching 30 of his 46 targets for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. Both of his scores came on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions, when he recorded a season high of six receptions for 94 yards. The third-year wideout has been below 50 receiving yards in every other game this season. If Wicks is ruled out for the regular-season finale versus the Minnesota Vikings, rookie
Matthew Golden and
Bo Melton should see more opportunities.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Matt Schneidman
December 31, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown (illness) did not take part in practice on Wednesday because he was under the weather, according to the team's official website. Brown should be feeling better by the weekend and should be able to suit up for the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are out of the playoff picture, but they have every intention of playing their starters to try and finish strong. Despite Cincy's disappointing season, the 25-year-old Brown has been a strong contributor for his fantasy managers, carrying the ball 219 times for 947 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in 16 starts. He's added a career-high 65 receptions for 419 yards and four more TDs on 82 targets. Brown will be looking to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career, giving him plenty of incentive to finish strong for his fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bengals.com
December 31, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave (illness) was sick on Wednesday and missed practice, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Olave isn't feeling well this week, but he should be fine and ready to go by Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Even with a less-than-ideal situation at quarterback in New Orleans this year, Olave has been a must-start WR1 in fantasy football on a weekly basis. The 25-year-old pass-catcher is currently the WR6 in half-PPR scoring with 100 receptions on 156 targets for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games in 2025. He's on an impressive run of late, too, catching 24 of his 36 targets from rookie QB
Tyler Shough for 352 yards and four touchdowns in the last three games. As long as Olave is active this weekend, he should be in all starting fantasy lineups against Atlanta in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
December 31, 2025
The Los Angeles Rams have designated tight end
Tyler Higbee (ankle) to return from Injured Reserve. Higbee was placed on IR after sustaining an ankle injury in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, but he will now return to practice and will have a chance to return for the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18. Before his injury, the 33-year-old played a limited role in the Rams' offense, catching 20 of his 30 targets for 190 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
Colby Parkinson benefited the most from Higbee's absence, totalling 24 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns over the past six games. Higbee should step back into the TE1 role when he returns, though the emergence of Parkinson and rookie
Terrance Ferguson could impact his playing time.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Los Angeles Rams
December 31, 2025
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor (neck) is not participating in Wednesday's practice, Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports. Taylor has missed three consecutive games after suffering a neck injury in Week 14's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and is trending in the wrong direction to open the practice week ahead of the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills. The rookie second-rounder has had a solid first campaign, snagging 44 of his 65 targets for 369 yards and a touchdown in 13 games. The 21-year-old tight end is likely to be held out again with the Jets having nothing to play for this weekend, setting up
Jeremy Ruckert,
Jelani Woods, and
Stone Smartt to handle the tight end reps in Week 18. None of the three project to be relevant for fantasy purposes.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Zack Rosenblatt
December 31, 2025
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that he hopes tight end
Sam LaPorta (back) will be ready by training camp next summer, according to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News. LaPorta wouldn't have been able to return for the playoffs if the Lions had made it, with Campbell adding, "he's improving, but yet he's not completely healed." The 24-year-old tight end underwent surgery after injuring his back in Detroit's Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders. The Iowa product was in the midst of another great season before going down, hauling in 40 of his 49 targets for 489 yards and three touchdowns. LaPorta should be close to fully recovered by training camp and will again profile as a borderline top-five tight end option in fantasy football for 2026.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Nolan Bianchi
December 31, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte (concussion) is back at practice in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. Boutte suffered a concussion during Week 16's win over the Baltimore Ravens and was held out of last week's game against the New York Jets. The 23-year-old's return to practice on Wednesday is a positive sign that he is making progress in his recovery and should give him a shot to return in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins, though he will need to clear the league's concussion protocol first. The third-year wideout has been a valuable weapon in the Patriots' explosive passing attack, catching 31 of his 42 targets for 527 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. With
Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Injured Reserve, Boutte could be in line for an increased role if he can play in the regular-season finale.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Evan Lazar
December 31, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Tanner McKee is expected to start under center in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Washington Commanders as the Eagles rest some of their starters, a source told Tim McManus of ESPN. McKee, a sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023, is expected to start in place of
Jalen Hurts, who will be rested in advance of the playoffs next week. In spot duty in Philadelphia, McKee has gone 33-for-48 for 356 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions in two seasons. He's seen action in three games in 2025, going 3-for-3 for 33 yards. With the Eagles also likely resting other key skill players on offense against Washington, McKee could be hard-pressed to move the football consistently on Sunday, even against a poor Commanders defense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
December 31, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Wednesday that he expects quarterback
Kenny Pickett to start at quarterback on Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in the Week 18 regular-season finale in place of the injured
Geno Smith (ankle), according to Levi Edwards of Raiders.com. However, Carroll also suggested that
Aidan O'Connell could split time with Pickett this weekend. The 27-year-old Pickett flopped in his lone start for the Raiders this year in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, going 15-for-25 passing for 64 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Even in a meaningless game in Week 18, the matchup against the Chiefs' defense won't be the best for fantasy purposes, especially if Pickett shares snaps with O'Connell. Fantasy managers should stay away from Pickett.
--Keith HernandezSource: Raiders.com - Levi Edwards
December 31, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that quarterback
Geno Smith (ankle) will not play on Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "I hate closing the door on any opportunity, but it's going to be really hard for him," Carroll said. Smith suffered a serious ankle injury in the Week 17 loss to the New York Giants and won't suit up for a meaningless contest to close out the regular season. With the 35-year-old veteran wrapping up a brutal first year in the desert, backup
Kenny Pickett is expected to start this weekend.
Aidan O'Connell could also end up splitting time with Pickett against KC. Smith was one of the worst starting QBs in football in 2025, completing 67.4% of his 448 pass attempts for 3,205 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-leading 17 interceptions in 15 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
December 31, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, and head coach John Harbaugh said "he looked good," according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Jackson suffered a back contusion in the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots and didn't suit up for last Saturday's win over the Green Bay Packers. However, with the Ravens having a shot to win the AFC North this Sunday night by beating the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the team is now optimistic that Jackson can return in Week 18. The 28-year-old two-time MVP's status is worth monitoring the rest of the week, but as of now, it looks like he's angling to make his return. Jackson has not looked like his elite dual-threat self in 2025, though, while battling through multiple lower-body injuries. He enters Week 18 play tied for the QB16 ranking with 17.5 fantasy points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
December 31, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers discussed his future with the media on Wednesday and left open the possibility that he could return for another year, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "Listen, I'm thinking about this week. I'm 42 years old, and I'm on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent. That will give me a lot of options if I still want to play... maybe one or two," Rodgers said. The future Hall of Famer said he's enjoyed his experience this year with Pittsburgh, but he will discuss his future with his wife in the offseason. Rodgers' decision about whether to continue playing into 2026 will likely depend on how this year ends with the Steelers. Rodgers will square off against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens this Sunday night to decide the AFC North winner. The loser's season will be over.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
December 31, 2025
Buffalo Bills kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. The Bills only held a walkthrough practice on Wednesday, but Prater's full participation is a sign that he could return to action as the team's placekicker for the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend against the division-rival New York Jets. The 41-year-old veteran has missed the last two games with a right-quad injury. Prater has been solid for fantasy football managers in 2025 in his first year with the Bills when he's been healthy, making 90% of his 20 field-goal attempts while going 43-for-46 on his extra-point tries in 14 games. However, with the Bills potentially resting key pieces on offense this weekend, Prater won't come highly recommended for starting lineups in Week 18 if he makes his return.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
December 31, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dawson Knox was limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Knox should be good for the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival New York Jets, but it's unclear if the Bills will rest some of their banged-up players as they get ready for the start of the postseason next week. With fellow TE
Dalton Kincaid (knee) sidelined in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Knox caught all five of his targets, but he was held to only 30 receiving yards and did not find the end zone. The 29-year-old has had a low fantasy ceiling again in 2025, with Kincaid serving as quarterback
Josh Allen's favorite pass-catching TE target. It's unclear what the Bills' plan is this weekend for their starters, making Knox a streaming TE option to avoid for now.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
December 31, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to his knee injury. Kincaid was unable to play in Sunday's one-point loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles due to his knee injury, but it's a good sign that he's limited in the first practice of Week 18. However, the Bills may decide to rest key starters this weekend against the division-rival New York Jets, including quarterback
Josh Allen (foot), so Kincaid might not be all that attractive for fantasy managers if he's healthy enough to return to action this weekend. Fellow TE
Dawson Knox (knee) is also managing a knee injury and was limited in Wednesday's practice. Despite missing several games this year with knee and hamstring injuries, Kincaid is Buffalo's second leading receiver with 36 catches for 523 yards and a team-high five touchdowns.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
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