NFL Player News

With Rome Odunze out for a second consecutive game, Moore was a little more involved against the Browns in Week 15. While Luther Burden led the team in targets, catches and yards, Moore’s two-touchdown game carried the day in fantasy. The 28-year-old receiver made an excellent catch on his second touchdown, which came between two defenders. Moore is still tough to trust in the fantasy playoffs, but he could be usable if Odunze is out again in Week 16 against the Packers.

Vele flew too high, winning multiple contested catches in Week 15 against the Panthers. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound wide receiver will now miss Week 16 after picking up a shoulder injury last week. Ideally, Vele returns in time to play in at least one more game and continues to carve out a role as a possession receiver in the Saints’ offense for next year. Saints WR Chris Olave became QB Tyler Shough’s go-to receiver only after Vele left last week’s contest.

Otton missed Week 15 with the knee issue. He was listed as doubtful after getting in a lone limited practice to end the week. It was a short turnaround to Thursday’s game, making it almost impossible for the banged-up tight end to play. He has a better shot of suiting up this week. With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka all healthy, Otton will not be on the fantasy radar for Week 16.

Evans will likely have his reps limited during practice over the next few weeks. Making his triumphant return from the broken collarbone he suffered in Week 7, Evans was as good as anyone could have hoped on Thursday. He earned 12 targets, six of which were caught for 132 yards. Evans immediately returned to the No. 1 role in the Bucs offense and made the most of his many opportunities. He is in line for a WR2 ranking for Week 16 against Carolina.

Saints rookie RB Devin Neal (hamstring) has been starting in Kamara’s stead, but Neal has already been ruled out this week. That leaves RB Evan Hull and RB Audric Estime to potentially compete for the starting role. Estime notably outplayed Hull last week. If Kamara can return, expect him to handle a sizable workload. The Saints face the lowly Jets this week.

Helm led the Titans in all receiving categories last week on the back of a 4/49/1 line through the air. A limited practice shouldn’t be an issue for him this early in the week. Assuming he is removed from the injury report by Friday, Helm will have some TE2 appeal for Week 16.

Jefferson hasn’t been a fantasy option this year, but he has soaked up targets for a struggling Tennessee offense. Jefferson was targeted five times in Week 15, one of which should have been a long touchdown, but Cam Ward overthrew Jefferson. His absence would free up a few more looks for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike.

Neal exited after scoring a four-yard touchdown against the Panthers last week. It is an unfortunate development for the rookie running back. Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) was not present during the portion of practice open to media, leaving the Saints with RB Evan Hull and RB Audric Estime. Saints head coach Kellen Moore notably got Estime involved in space on three combined screen passes and checkdowns. Although he is on the practice squad, he is worth stashing. He outplayed Hull last week.

Reed is a mid-week addition to the practice report, though not for an injury-related reason. Players tend to play after missing practice for personal reasons, so we aren’t panicking just yet. Assuming he gets back on the field tomorrow, Reed will be good to go as a low-end WR3. If he misses the final session of the week, there will be some risk of him not suiting up versus the Bears.

It sounds like Watson will play at less than 100.0 percent health. The 26-year-old wide receiver acknowledged that the Packers are “at the point in the season where you [have to] fight through some stuff.” Watson could aggravate the new injury by falling hard in-game, but he should be available for WR3 and offers his typical, big-play-based ceiling as the Packers (9-4-1) challenge the Bears (10-4) for control of the NFC North. Watson was promisingly limited at Wednesday’s practice after resting on Tuesday.

Johnston was a late addition to the injury report last week. He didn’t appear on the report until Friday, when the team listed him as questionable after a limited practice. His return to practice puts him on the right side of questionable for Week 16. The LA passing game has sputtered since the team lost Joe Alt. Johnston, as the primary deep threat, has been significantly impacted. Even if he is active for Week 16, Johnston will be stuck in the WR4 ranks.