NFL Player News

Beat writer Matt Barrows’ depth chart is based on where players lined up in offseason practices. Rookie Quinton Patton is listed as the No. 3 “Z” receiver behind Anquan Boldin and Ricardo Lockette. It would be a major blow to Jenkins’ career if he couldn’t beat out Williams, but we expect him to dispatch the special teamer. Patton is the bigger threat as Jenkins attempts to nail down a starting job in the absence of Michael Crabtree.

Rapoport’s graphics team wrote that Jackson was “likely” to play in Week 18, but the man himself didn’t go that far. For now, we will consider him questionable for the Ravens’ upcoming date with the Steelers. Baltimore needs the Steelers to lose today to stay alive in the AFC playoff hunt. It’s hard to imagine Jackson missing a play-in game next week if that does happen. Things could change if the Ravens are eliminated by a Steelers win later today.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports this morning that Kittle will test out his ankle in warmups. While that may still happen, all signs point to the superstar tight end getting Week 17 off. Jake Tonges will draw the start in his place. Tonges is a low-end TE2 for the final week of the fantasy football season. Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall should also see an uptick in targets with Kittle sidelined.

Pearsall logged three limited practices this week before being listed as questionable. He has been dealing with the knee issue all year and the ankle injury on top of that certainly hasn’t helped. Pearsall’s return couldn’t have come at a better time with George Kittle expected to miss Week 17. With targets up for grabs in the 49ers offense, Pearsall will be a high-risk WR4 versus the Bears.

Tuten was limited in practice throughout the week after recently undergoing surgery on his finger. The team downgraded him to out over the weekend. He has a shot at returning in Week 18 to get in some reps before the playoffs. Travis Etienne will see the bulk of the carries versus Indianapolis this week, putting him in the RB1 mix.

Rapoport added that Kittle is intent on testing out his ankle. He didn’t mention whether or not the 49ers wanted him to give it a go. Kittle didn’t practice once this week, which is typically a sign that a player won’t suit up. It sounds like Kittle is pushing to play, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the team forces him to take the week off. If Kittle is ultimately inactive, Jake Tonges would take over the starting job for Week 17. Tonges would have some TE2 appeal in a possible shootout with Chicago.

Jeanty isn’t dealing with any injuries right now. The Raiders are simply tanking so effectively that Schefter felt the need to mention he won’t be getting the day off. Vegas has already shut down Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby. Both players had been playing through their respective injuries for weeks. The Raiders’ game versus the Giants today will determine the No. 1 overall pick, making Week 17 the perfect time for the team to put the pair of star players on ice. With no injuries of note this year, the Raiders couldn’t find a reason to do the same for Jeanty. Coming off a 188-yard, two-score explosion in Week 16, Jeanty is back in our RB1 good graces versus New York.

Harrison Jr. played through the heel issue last week. He was on a pitch count for that game as well, taking the field for 29-of-47 offensive snaps. MHJ was largely subbed out on running plays. He still logged a route rate of 79 percent. The biggest change in the offense with his return was the decline of Michael Wilson, who had been putting up WR1 numbers in MHJ’s absence. Wilson was relegated to field-stretching duties, though he did manage to find the end zone on one of his two grabs. MHJ is barely a WR5 after seeing just three targets last week. Wilson isn’t much higher in the ranks, having also seen three looks in Week 16.

Reed picked up the overwhelming majority of the yards on a 30-yard pass from Malik Willis. The 25-year-old was second among Packers’ receivers in targets behind the six to Christian Watson, but he picked up just 11 yards on his other three receptions. Reed and the Packers will finish off the regular season against the Vikings in Week 18.

Doubs did most of the damage on a 40-yard connection in the first quarter with Malik Willis that set up a touchdown pass to Christian Watson. The 25-year-old played fiddle between Watson and Jayden Reed for the rest of the contest, but fantasy managers at least got the one long reception. He’ll be back at it in Week 18 against the Vikings.

Jacobs was off the injury report after dealing with knee and ankle issues in previous weeks, but whether it was due to those ailments, a faltering offensive line or a great effort from the Baltimore front — likely a combination of all three — the 27-year-old tailback was able to get nothing done. The Packers have nothing to play for in Week 18 against the Lions, so no one should be surprised if it is Emmanuel Wilson (3/16) who gets most of the touches in that contest.