The Atlanta Falcons are placing kicker Younghoe Koo (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to a source. In a corresponding move, the Falcons have signed kicker Riley Patterson off the Cleveland Browns practice squad and onto their 53-man active roster. Koo is now out for the rest of the season and would be unavailable to kick in the wild-card round of the playoffs if the Falcons get into the postseason. The 30-year-old suffered an undisclosed injury in the Monday night win over the Las Vegas Raiders and will now go on the shelf. Normally a very reliable kicker, Koo struggled with accuracy in 2024, making 25 of his 34 field-goal attempts, although he made all 26 of his extra points. Patterson will now fill in heading into a Week 16 contest against the New York Giants. With rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. making his first career start, fantasy managers will want to steer clear of Patterson.

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The Arizona Cardinals are opening kicker Matt Prater's (knee) 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Prater had surgery in October to fix the meniscus in his left knee and will be back on the practice field for the first time since Week 6. Given the 40-year-old veteran's long absence, there's no guarantee that he will return to game action this Sunday in Carolina versus the Panthers. If the Cardinals like what they see from Prater in practice this week, though, they'll have to activate him from IR by Saturday if they want him as their placekicker this weekend. Chad Ryland has filled in for Prater the last 10 games and has made 22 of his 26 field-goal attempts and all 18 of his extra-point tries. Prater will be a risky fantasy play if he returns, while Ryland should be considered a streaming option in deeper leagues if Prater is held out.

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New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (elbow, heel) is expected to practice on Wednesday and will make the start in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Lock injured his left elbow and heel in the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints and was inactive for the Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old was in a walking boot last week but appears to have made enough progress to return to the starting role this weekend. In his two starts in Weeks 13 and 14, Lock was underwhelming, going 42-for-81 for 405 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble, but he did add 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries. While Lock probably gives the Giants offense a little more upside than Tommy DeVito, he's nothing more than a desperation QB2 play for fantasy managers in superflex leagues without any other options.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston will serve as the backup to Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the Week 16 game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. This was expected to be the case when the Browns named Thompson-Robinson as the starter early this week. The Browns benched Winston after he threw three interceptions in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In seven starts this year after replacing Deshaun Watson (Achilles), Winston threw for 2,038 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 12 interceptions and also losing two fumbles. Thompson-Robinson didn't look all that much better in relief last weekend, but the Browns will change it up for at least this week. The matchup is a nice one for DTR in just his fourth career NFL start, but at best, he'll be a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues in the playoffs.

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The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they have officially placed running back Nick Chubb (foot) on season-ending Injured Reserve. Tight end Brenden Bates was signed to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move. Chubb suffered a broken left foot in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and will close out his season for the second straight year on IR due to injury. The good news is the 28-year-old will not require surgery, but it's the second straight offseason he will be rehabbing an injury after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee during a gruesome injury early in 2023. The four-time Pro Bowler will be an unrestricted free agent next March, so he could have already played his last down in Cleveland. Coming off his major knee surgery, Chubb looked sluggish this year, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry in eight games. It's fair to wonder how much he has left after these injuries.

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Cleveland Browns running back David Njoku (hamstring) is not expected to take part in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Njoku injured his hamstring in the Week 14 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and did not play in last Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns are hopeful that the 28-year-old tight end can return to play this Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but a DNP to open the week isn't a great sign. However, Njoku still has two more days to return to practice, which would give him a chance to play this weekend. After slow going early in the year with quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) leading the offense, Njoku's fantasy stock was boosted when Jameis Winston took over. However, Winston was benched in Week 15, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start in Week 16. If Njoku returns this weekend, he may not have as much chemistry with DTR.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) underwent surgery on Tuesday to fix his left AC joint sprain and is expected to return for spring workouts, according to head coach Doug Pederson. The Jaguars had to wait for Lawrence to clear the league's concussion protocol before he was cleared to go under the knife for his shoulder injury. The 25-year-old former first overall pick was placed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 4 and will obviously miss the rest of what was an extremely disappointing season in his fourth year in the league. In single-QB leagues next fall, fantasy managers will be avoiding Lawrence everywhere after he completed only 60.6 percent of his 284 pass attempts for a career-low 2,045 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 starts. He finished as the QB7 in 2022 and as the QB12 a year ago before bottoming out in 2024.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (shoulder) underwent surgery on Monday to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder. It was already announced that Engram would miss the rest of the 2024 season with his injury, but head coach Doug Pederson said he is expected to be back for spring workouts. The 30-year-old was placed on Injured Reserve last weekend, officially ending his season. After a career year in 2023 with the Jags in which he caught 114 passes for 963 yards and four touchdowns, Engram finishes 2024 with 47 catches, 365 receiving yards and only one touchdown in nine starts. It just wasn't meant to be for Jacksonville this year, and it didn't help Engram's cause that quarterback Trevor Lawrence couldn't stay healthy. Engram will be heading into the final year of his three-year, $41.25 million extension in 2025.

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New York Jets running backs Breece Hall (knee) and rookie Braelon Allen (back) are both sitting out of Wednesday's walkthrough practice and are being evaluated. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reports that Hall is further along with his injury than Allen, according to interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, which means Hall is more likely to play in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Rams. Hall did not play in the Week 14 loss to the division-rival Miami Dolphins but was active this past Sunday in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, carrying the ball nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown while catching both of his targets for an extra 21 yards. Allen and Isaiah Davis combined for seven carries. The 23-year-old was not efficient but saved his fantasy day with a TD. He should be able to suit up this Sunday against the Rams, and if he does, he'll be more of a low-end RB2 for fantasy managers.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) will not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Pierce suffered a concussion early in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday and is in the league's concussion protocol. His status is firmly up in the air for a divisional tilt in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. Pierce will have several more days to work through the protocol and will need clearance from an independent neurologist later this week in order to be active on Sunday. If the 24-year-old doesn't get the green light to play this weekend, rookie Adonai Mitchell would step into a starting role in three-wide sets next to Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. However, in Indy's low-volume passing attack, Mitchell wouldn't come recommended as a flex option for fantasy managers in their league's semifinal matchup.

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Dynasty | The Falcons will start Michael Penix Jr moving forward. Dynasty Analysis: The key here is "moving forward," which likely means the Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta is over after less than one season. The Falcons shocked most of the world when they drafted Penix in the top ten after signing Cousins this off-season, but it turns out that may not have been crazy after all since Cousins has struggled mightily over the past month. Penix's value is on the rise while Cousins' is going to sink rapidly this off-season.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has been removed from the injury report. Johnston was listed as a non-participant on Monday, but Daniel Popper of The Athletic clarified that the Chargers had intended to list offensive lineman Zion Johnson, not Quentin Johnston. As of Tuesday, Johnston remains a full-go in practice and is not dealing with any injury. He'll suit up in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) said he's unsure if he'll be back with the team in 2025 but wouldn't be opposed to sticking around. "I don't know what the future holds but I definitely got a home in Houston, and I love those guys over there. They're good people," Diggs said. The 31-year-old veteran is out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 8. The four-time Pro Bowler played in eight games in his first season with the Texans before his injury and caught 47 passes on 64 targets for 496 yards and three touchdowns as an every-week starting wideout in fantasy. However, his overall upside was limited due to the presence of Nico Collins, which could force Diggs to pursue an opportunity with another team on the open market in free agency. Diggs' market could depend on how his recovery from ACL surgery is coming along in the offseason.

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The Atlanta Falcons are benching quarterback Kirk Cousins heading into their Week 16 game against the New York Giants in favor of first-rounder Michael Penix Jr., according to head coach Raheem Morris. Despite signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason, the Falcons are turning the page as they try to secure a playoff spot in the final three weeks. In the last five games, the 36-year-old Cousins has really struggled, throwing only one touchdown and nine interceptions. He went 11-for-17 for only 112 yards with a touchdown and interception in Monday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cousins leads the NFL with 16 interceptions and has failed to give the Atlanta offense the boost he was expected to provide. Penix, 24, has lots of upside as the eighth overall pick, but he's raw -- he's played in two games and has gone 3-for-5 for 38 yards. The strong-armed lefty will be a low-end QB2 with upside.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) remained a limited participant during Tuesday's practice session. This is now back-to-back limited practice sessions for Herbert with a matchup against the Denver Broncos on Thursday. Herbert has been banged up since suffering an ankle injury in Week 14. Despite that, Herbert played on Sunday and is expected to suit up in Week 16 as well. The 26-year-old clearly isn't 100 percent healthy right now and has a short week against a strong secondary. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Herbert to be much more than a QB2 for Week 16.

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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) was designated to return from the injured reserve on Monday. Hurst only missed the minimum of four games after being placed on the injured reserve in late-November. The 31-year-old was able to get through a full practice on Tuesday. That is great news, but it still seems unlikely that Hurst will be able to suit up for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos. Fellow tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) has missed back-to-back practice sessions and is likely to sit out another week. That being said, Stone Smartt figures to be in line for another start after a five-catch performance on Sunday. He could be an interesting TE2 option for fantasy managers lacking depth at tight end.

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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) did not participate in practice on Tuesday. This is now back-to-back missed practice sessions for Dissly who missed last week's game with a shoulder injury. At this rate, fantasy managers should expect Dissly to sit out of Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos. Fellow tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) was designated to return from the injured reserve on Monday. Hurst practice in full on Tuesday, which gives him a chance to play on Thursday. Otherwise, Stone Smartt figures to get another start after a five-catch outing on Sunday.

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Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo (undisclosed) reportedly hurt himself a bit during Monday's game, according to head coach Raheem Morris. It doesn't sound like too serious of an injury, but fantasy managers should stay tuned for another update on Wednesday. Koo made his lone extra point attempt and connected on 2-of-3 field goal attempts in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Possibly, the injury was part of the reason Koo missed his field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Regardless, fantasy managers will have to wait another day or two before getting a better update. Fantasy managers who have Koo rostered might want to get a backup plan in place in case he misses the Week 16 matchup against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been named the starting quarterback moving forward, according to head coach Raheem Morris. This news comes a day after the 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Kirk Cousins was able to pull together a victory, but has one touchdown and nine interceptions over the last five games. The Falcons playoff hopes are quickly evaporating so they've decided to make a change at quarterback. Penix helped lead the Washington Huskies to an undefeated season and a trip to the National Championship game in 2023. Afterwards, the Falcons used the No. 8 overall selection on Penix in this year's draft. That seemed like an odd decision at the time given they'd just signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. The hope is that a change at quarterback will jumpstart this offense. Penix will get a plus-matchup in his first career start against the New York Giants in Week 16. Although, fantasy managers can't be certain what they'll get right away, which makes Penix a risky streaming choice in the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers TE Will Dissly (shoulder), CB Cam Hart (concussion), OG Zion Johnson (ankle), DB Elijah Molden (knee) and DL Otito Ogbonnia (pelvis) did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Also, QB Justin Herbert (ankle) and LB Denzel Perryman (groin) were limited and CB Kristian Fulton (knee) and TE Hayden Hurst (hip) practiced in full.

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