January 1, 2026
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (shoulder) missed a second straight practice on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, per the team's official website. Achane is firmly up in the air to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots, unless he can return to the practice field on Friday. Not having the 24-year-old available this weekend would be a huge blow to fantasy managers still competing for a championship, as Achane is the RB6 in half-PPR scoring this year, with 1,350 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 238 carries in 16 games. He's added 67 receptions for another 488 yards and four touchdowns through the air. If Achane is not cleared,
Jaylen Wright would be a plug-and-play RB2 in fantasy football, with rookie
Ollie Gordon II also seeing an increased role in Miami's backfield as the backup.
--Keith HernandezSource: MiamiDolphins.com
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal (neck) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday. Vidal started the week with a limited showing in practice on Wednesday. A full session on Thursday suggests that he's ready to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday in Denver against the division-rival Broncos. Meanwhile, rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle) has yet to practice this week, and
Hassan Haskins has been limited as he works his way through the NFL's concussion protocol. L.A.'s backfield is in flux entering the weekend, but if Hampton is held out, Vidal figures to be the team's lead back in Week 18. The 24-year-old would receive a volume boost, but expectations would need to be tempered in an offense led by backup quarterback
Trey Lance against a stout Denver defense. Fantasy managers need to check back on Friday for more clarity on this backfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Hampton spent time on Injured Reserve earlier this year after fracturing his ankle. The 22-year-old hasn't had a setback that we know of, so this could just be the Chargers being cautious as they look to get their players healthy going into the playoffs next week. The Chargers already announced that they will sit quarterback
Justin Herbert for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Denver Broncos, and Hampton could join him on the sidelines. Meanwhile,
Kimani Vidal (neck) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday. The Bolts' backfield is in flux, to say the least, with
Hassan Haskins working his way through the concussion protocol. Check back on Friday, but all signs are pointing to Hampton being held out in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey (back) was removed from the Week 18 injury report on Thursday and will play on Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. McCaffrey has dealt with a bit of back stiffness in the final month of the regular season, but it hasn't been a serious issue, and he'll be fine this weekend as the Niners look to secure the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The 29-year-old is coming off a second straight 100-yard rushing game in the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, in which he had 23 carries for a season-high 140 yards and one touchdown on the ground. CMC added 41 receiving yards on four catches. He remains the do-it-all focal point of San Fran's offense and is a must-start, high-end RB1 in all fantasy leagues in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Jennifer Lee Chan
January 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is listed as questionable on the final injury report for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan. Pearsall missed yet another game in Week 16 due to knee and ankle injuries, but he returned in the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears and looked great, securing five of his eight targets for 85 yards. The 25-year-old also played 81% of the offensive snaps. Pearsall didn't look to aggravate either of his injuries on Sunday night, so he should be on the right side of questionable to play against the Seahawks this weekend in a game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. It's not an ideal matchup for fantasy, but if Pearsall is active, he'll be in play as a WR3/flex.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Jennifer Lee Chan
January 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kittle missed the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears with a mid-to-low ankle sprain, but he's feeling better and said this week that he "absolutely" plans to play on Saturday as the Niners seek the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Fantasy managers will want to check back on the 32-year-old's status on Saturday, but if he's active, as expected, he needs to be locked into all starting lineups. Kittle has found the end zone seven times in 10 games played in 20225, and in the first meeting against the Seahawks on Sept. 7, he had four catches for 25 yards and his first touchdown of the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Jennifer Lee Chan
January 1, 2026
There is a possibility that the Chicago Bears will look to trade wide receiver
DJ Moore this offseason, potentially to the Las Vegas Raiders in a package that would include All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. The Raiders are heading into a full rebuild in 2026 and could use a receiver for their expected No. 1 overall pick of a quarterback. Meanwhile, the Bears need an elite pass-rusher. The 28-year-old Moore has not been a great fit in Chicago's offense in 2025 in head coach Ben Johnson's first season. After a 1,000-yard season in 2023 in his first year in the Windy City, Moore has regressed over the last two years and currently sits at 49 catches for 671 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games played. The emergence of rookie receiver
Luther Burden III late this year certainly could make Moore expendable this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: Ben Devine
January 1, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee, ankle) appears to be trending towards playing in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Chicago Bears, according to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit. St. Brown said that outside of every-game injury risk, "there's no concern of exacerbating his current injuries." The 26-year-old wideout didn't practice on Wednesday, but his return to the field on Thursday suggests he'll be active this weekend for fantasy managers still playing for a title. He played through knee irritation in the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday and caught eight of 13 targets for 68 yards as one of the lone bright spots for the team's offense. As St. Brown looks to finish his 2025 season strong, fantasy managers should consider him a must-start WR1 against Chicago if he's active on Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pride of Detroit - Jeremy Reisman
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Blake Corum (ankle) was seen working off to the side during the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Corum sprained his ankle in the second quarter of Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons and never returned. The 25-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, putting his availability in question for the Week 18 regular-season finale this weekend against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Backfield mate
Kyren Williams is also dealing with an ankle injury, but he was limited in Wednesday's practice. The Rams are already locked into either the No. 5 or No. 6 playoff spot in the NFC, so they won't push Corum to play against Arizona if he's not ready. If he's active, he could see a smaller share of the backfield touches in Week 18, making him a shaky RB3/flex option in fantasy right now.
UPDATE: Corum officially was listed as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
January 1, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles tight end
Dallas Goedert (knee) was listed as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Goedert still has another day to get back on the practice field, but things aren't looking good for his availability on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Washington Commanders. In addition to the 30-year-old's injury, the Eagles are leaning towards resting key starters this weekend, which means there is a good chance that Goedert won't be active. It was already announced that quarterback
Jalen Hurts will sit out in favor of
Tanner McKee. Fantasy managers need to prepare to go in another direction at the tight end position in Week 18. If Goedert is ruled out on Friday,
Grant Calcaterra and
Kylen Granson will battle for targets from backup QB Tanner McKee.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Eagles
January 1, 2026
Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Dak Prescott will start Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Giants, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. However, Prescott is not sure if he will play the whole game, with the expectation being that
Joe Milton III will get some action to close out the year. The Cowboys plan to play their starters this weekend, but it looks like they might not play a full game, which obviously now makes Prescott a shaky QB1 option for anyone still playing for a fantasy championship in Week 18. Prescott is having one of the best seasons of his career, and he's been especially efficient of late. The 32-year-old veteran currently leads the league in completions (397), passing attempts (589), passing yards (4,482), and yards per game (280.1) in 16 starts. This news makes Prescott much more risky in the season finale.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) resumed practicing on Thursday for the first time since Week 15, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Adams is still unlikely to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals this weekend, but this is a sign that the 33-year-old Pro Bowler is ready to make his return for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. Adams aggravated an ongoing hamstring injury in Week 15 and has missed the last two games, resulting in more work behind
Puka Nacua for receivers
Xavier Smith (chest) and
Konata Mumpfield, as well as tight ends
Colby Parkinson and
Terrance Ferguson. Adams is on track to return to become a serious touchdown threat for quarterback
Matthew Stafford next weekend.
UPDATE: Adams was officially limited on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
January 1, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Tanner McKee will be his team's starter under center in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles are locked into either the number two or number three seed in the NFC playoffs, so it appears the team is opting to rest starting quarterback
Jalen Hurts and potentially several other starters against Washington. A sixth-round pick out of Stanford in the 2023 NFL draft, McKee has appeared in three career NFL games, all with the Eagles. His last start came in Philadelphia's final game of the 2024 season against the New York Giants, and McKee completed 27 of 41 pass attempts for 269 yards and two touchdowns. However, he could struggle in Week 18 if he's mostly surrounded by other backups on offense for the Eagles.
--Will BradySource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
January 1, 2026
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) remained sidelined from his team's practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. Kamara has missed five consecutive games after suffering a sprained MCL in Week 12 and appears unlikely to return for the team's Week 18 finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Across 11 games before getting injured, the 30-year-old recorded 657 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 164 touches. Fellow Saints running backs
Kendre Miller (knee) and
Devin Neal (hamstring) are both on Injured Reserve, so the team is currently quite shorthanded at the position. Second-year back
Audric Estime functioned as New Orleans' lead back in Week 17, with running back
Evan Hull and tight end
Taysom Hill mixing in as well. Assuming Kamara remains sidelined, Estime profiles as a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Katherine Terrell
January 1, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) has yet to practice this week, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that "it is now setting up for (Allen) to rest" during Buffalo's Week 18 matchup against the New York Jets. Allen has been playing through a lingering foot injury, and would almost certainly be suiting up if the game had more serious playoff implications, but Buffalo is locked into an AFC Wild Card spot and can only impact its seeding with a win over the Jets. Across 16 games this season, Allen has completed 69.3% of his pass attempts for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He's also been a force with his legs, rushing for 579 yards and 14 touchdowns on 112 attempts. If Allen does indeed sit out in Week 18, veteran quarterback
Mitchell Trubisky would be in line to make the start for the Bills. Trubisky has appeared in 12 games over the last two seasons for Buffalo, but has not started a game since the 2023 season, when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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