NFL Player News

Loveland did decline to say definitively that he’ll be out on the field when training camp begins, but there’s no real reason to be worried about his shoulder as we enter August. Loveland will likely face snap challenges in his rookie year with Cole Kmet retaining a real role in Chicago’s offense. Still, it’s undeniable that the rookie has major upside at a tough position for fantasy production.

Higgins was the first player to find the end zone on Saturday. The rookie wide receiver took off on a post route, on 3rd-and-1 during the Texans’ opening drive, dusting Chargers CB Donte Jackson, sans safety help, as he broke inward. The Texans’ offensive line kept QB C.J. Stroud clean, giving Stroud time to plant and throw an accurate pass, hitting Higgins in stride as he pulled away from his coverage defender en route to a 75-yard score. Higgins is a viable FLEX starter in Week 18 against the Colts.

Stroud scored his first touchdown of the day on the Texans’ opening drive, taking advantage of the clean pocket provided to him by his blockers by connecting with rookie WR Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard post-route touchdown. Stroud again took advantage of the Chargers’ preoccupied safeties, this time standing tall in the pocket as two pass rushers hurdled toward him, by connecting with rookie WR Jaylin Noel for a 43-yard post-route touchdown. Stroud nearly connected with Noel for a 26-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but he was hit by a pass rusher mid-throw, resulting in a badly underthrown pass. The win earns the Texans (11-5) a playoff spot, though the AFC South standings have not yet been finalized, with the Jaguars (11-4) sitting in first. Stroud is a back-end QB1 against the Colts next week.

Credit goes to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler for sharing the good news. While we would prefer Fannin to be 100.0 percent healthy, the 21-year-old tight end remains a locked-in TE1. Over the last three weeks, he has notched finishes as the half-PPR overall TE1 and overall TE2, operating as the Browns’ No. 1 pass catcher.

Huntley is a low-end QB2 with starting QB Lamar Jackson sidelined by a back contusion suffered against the Patriots last week. The Packers field a talented pass defense, albeit with an injury-weakened defensive line. Huntley lacks the upside requisite for starting consideration in single-quarterback re-draft leagues.

Packers starting QB Jordan Love (concussion) was ruled out on Friday, and reports indicated Willis was expected to get the start despite being sick and nursing a throwing-shoulder injury. Willis is indeed the team’s Week 17 starter and can be treated as a QB2 with intriguing rushing upside. Appearing in three games this season, Williams completed 12-of-14 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 13 times for 63 yards.

Watson practiced fully on Tuesday and Wednesday before being downgraded with an illness on Friday. Fortunately, the Packers’ No. 1 wide receiver is good to go. Both the Packers (9-5-1) and Bears (11-4) have secured playoff spots, though the exact seeding has not yet been determined. The Packers declared QB Jordan Love, DL Collin Oliver, OL Zach Tom, WR Savion Williams, DL Nazir Stackhouse and DL Barryn Sorrell inactive for Week 17 against the Ravens. Packers S Evan Williams (knee) is active. As expected, QB Malik Willis (shoulder/illness) gets the start.

The back contusion Jackson suffered last week against the Patriots will keep him sidelined in Week 17. The Ravens (7-8) trail the Steelers (9-6) in the AFC North playoff hunt. Jackson’s absence is extremely unfortunate. Backup QB Tyler Huntley is barely on the QB2 radar. He does not need to be started in single-quarterback re-draft leagues.

Henderson came into the weekend listed as questionable for the team’s Week 17 game against the Jets but has since been cleared by an independent neurologist. Expect no limitations as he forms a committee with established veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. Henderson’s per-touch upside keep him in the upside-RB2 discussion for fantasy Championship week.

Hollins played a large role for the Patriots due to his willingness and ability to block in the run game, something that isn’t likely to be made up for outside of a drastic shift to heavier rates of 12-personnel. Austin Hooper could see a significant role the rest of the way, starting in Week 17 against the Jets. That said, he isn’t likely to carry enough upside to be of use in fantasy circles.

How much he will play remains to be seen after the Packers locked up a playoff berth with Detroit’s loss on Christmas. That said, the Packers can still clinch the NFC North with consecutive wins and consecutive losses by the Bears, which is the difference between home and road games to kick off the postseason.