January 1, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) remained sidelined from his team's practice on Thursday as he battles a stress fracture in his foot. The 23-year-old has not played since Week 13, and it appears he could be trending towards missing a fifth straight game in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions. Across 12 games before getting injured, Odunze had recorded 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns on 90 targets. In his absence, Bears rookie wideout
Luther Burden III (quad) has emerged as a key contributor in the Chicago passing game. Veteran wide receiver
DJ Moore has also seen his role increase, recording three of his six touchdown receptions this season in the last three weeks. The Bears have already locked up the NFC North crown and will be either the number two or number three seed in the NFC playoffs, so the team has little incentive to rush Odunze back for its regular-season finale.
--Will BradySource: Chicago Bears
January 1, 2026
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (hand) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. McCarthy did not play in the Christmas Day win over the Detroit Lions in Week 17 due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. However, after putting in a full practice on Thursday, the second-year signal-caller is trending towards returning to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday. McCarthy's return would send
Max Brosmer back to the bench. If McCarthy is active this weekend, he'll try to end his 2025 season on a strong note after plenty of ups and downs in what was essentially his rookie campaign. At best, McCarthy should be considered a low-end QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues if he suits up against the Packers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Minnesota Vikings
January 1, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Luther Burden III (quad) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday's injury report after being limited in practice on Wednesday due to a quad injury. Barring a setback, the 22-year-old appears to be trending towards playing in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions. With Bears wideout
Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined by a foot injury in recent weeks, Burden III has emerged as a breakout player in his team's offense. Across three games played without Odunze since Week 14, Burden III has recorded 18 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Odunze has yet to practice this week, so he could be trending towards missing his fifth straight contest in Week 18. If active, Burden III profiles as a high-end fantasy WR2 in a favorable matchup against Detroit on Sunday.
--Will BradySource: Chicago Bears
January 1, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Austin is trying to work his way back after being held out of the Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The 26-year-old might need to upgrade to a full practice session on Friday to avoid taking a questionable tag into Sunday night's big divisional game to decide the AFC North against the Baltimore Ravens.
DK Metcalf will be suspended again in Week 18, so Austin will have the opportunity for an expanded role in Pittsburgh's passing attack if he's active. Still, even if Austin plays on Sunday evening, fantasy managers probably won't consider him a very attractive WR4/flex in his return from injury. Austin has caught 28 passes for just 317 yards and two scores on 48 targets in 13 games in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
January 1, 2026
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) remained sidelined from his team's practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Njoku has not played since suffering a knee injury in Week 14 and may be at risk of missing his fourth straight game in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Across 12 games this season, the 29-year-old has recorded 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. Fellow Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) has also yet to practice this week as he battles a groin injury, so Cleveland could be without its top two players at the position on Sunday. If both Njoku and Fannin Jr. are unable to go, Browns tight ends
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella would likely share playing time in Week 18 against the Bengals.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
January 1, 2026
Tennessee Titans rookie tight end
Gunnar Helm (toe) missed his second straight practice this week on Thursday with a toe injury, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Helm has yet to practice this week and was seen with a boot on his right foot. The 23-year-old is trending in the wrong direction to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday versus the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. If Helm were held out this weekend, it would open the door for tight end
Chig Okonkwo to have clear TE1 fantasy value in Week 18. Helm has had a bigger role in Tennessee's offense in the second half of the season, but he still hasn't been much more than a low-upside, touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in deeper fantasy leagues in the Titans' inconsistent offense. If he doesn't play on Sunday, Helm will finish his first year in the NFL with a 44-357-2 line in 16 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt
January 1, 2026
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor (neck) was unable to practice again on Thursday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Taylor has yet to practice this week and hasn't played since suffering a neck injury back in Week 14. With the Jets having nothing to play for to close out the season, the 21-year-old is probably a long shot to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. It's looking like Taylor will finish his first year in the NFL with 44 receptions for 369 yards and one touchdown on 65 targets. It didn't help the first-rounder's cause that the Jets got poor play from the quarterback position all year long. Fantasy managers will want to continue ignoring the tight end position in New York for the final week of the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
January 1, 2026
Cleveland Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) missed his second straight practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Fannin Jr. exited early from Cleveland's Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers after re-aggravating a lingering groin injury. The 21-year-old could be trending towards sitting out the Browns' Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fannin Jr. has been arguably the most reliable pass-catcher in Cleveland so far this season, recording 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets across 16 games played. Fellow Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has also yet to practice this week, meaning the team may be without its top two tight ends on Sunday. If both Fannin Jr. and Njoku are inactive, Browns tight ends
Blake Whiteheart,
Brenden Bates, and
Sal Cannella could all see an increase in playing time in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Daniel Oyefusi
January 1, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Kincaid's status for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Jets is still up in the air after he was inactive for last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Fellow TE
Dawson Knox (knee) has been limited so far this week as well. Although Buffalo can still technically move up to the No. 5 seed for the playoffs with a win this Sunday, the coaching staff is debating whether they will rest some of their starters against the Jets. Kincaid is typically a pretty safe bet as a TE1 in fantasy football, but with his status up in the air going into Week 18, he's shaping up as a risky fantasy play. Quarterback
Josh Allen's (foot) status is also worth watching going into the weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 1, 2026
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back) said he will "100%" play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Jackson practiced in full on Wednesday and was on the practice field for a second straight day on Thursday. The two-time MVP will return this weekend after missing the Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers with a back contusion that he suffered in the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots. Jackson has not been very healthy in 2025, and the results have shown, as he hasn't been a top-10 fantasy QB. He looks to be the healthiest he's been in a while, though, going into the AFC North title game, and he'll be squaring off against a Steelers defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. There's some hope that Jackson can bounce back as a QB1 in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
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.
UPDATE: Henry was limited in Thursday's practice.--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
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