Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields (abdominal), LB Patrick Queen (rest), S DeShon Elliott (hamstring), CB Donte Jackson (back) and DT Cameron Heyward (rest) did not practice Tuesday, Dec. 17. DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin) was limited at practice. The Steelers conducted a walkthrough Tuesday so this is an estimation.

From TheHuddle

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) was a full participant at practice Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Fantasy Spin: A bit of a surprise considering there were reports of this being a potential multi-week injury, Mahomes is on track to play, barring a setback. Mahomes has just three QB1 performances this season, and the Texans have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game (13.6) over the last five weeks. Managers should consider Mahomes as a QB2 option this week.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (rest) was a limited participant at practice Tuesday, Dec. 17. The Texans conducted a walkthrough so this is an estimation.

Fantasy Spin: It's a bit surprising to see Mixon not listed with an ankle injury, but that should signal that will be ready to go against a tough Kansas City Chiefs run defense. Monitor his status throughout the week, but Mixon is still a starting asset in all formats as long as he's active.

From TheHuddle

Baltimore Ravens WR Nelson Agholor (concussion), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) and WR Diontae Johnson (personal) did not practice Tuesday, Dec. 17. OLB Adisa Isaac (hamstring), S Sanoussi Kane (hamstring) and S Ar'Darius Washington (ankle) were limited at practice. CB T.J. Tampa (ankle) was a full participant. The Ravens held a walkthrough Tuesday so this is an estimation.

From TheHuddle

Kansas City Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner (concussion) and OT D.J. Humphries (hamstring) did not practice Tuesday, Dec. 17. C Creed Humphrey (ankle), PK Harrison Butker (knee) and OT Jawaan Taylor (knee) were full participants at practice.

From TheHuddle

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins may be in danger of losing the starting job after head coach Raheem Morris told reporters 'We still have to go through that process,' when asked about who the starter will be Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Fantasy Spin: This would be a massive shake-up to the Falcons offense, but Cousins hasn't been playing well enough over the last month. With first-round pick Michael Penix waiting in the wings, he could be in line to make his first career start soon. That would likely lead to a slight downgrade for Drake London and Bijan Robinson considering the unknown Penix would bring.

From TheHuddle

The Tennessee Titans are expected to start Mason Rudolph at quarterback against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. This means 2023 second-round pick Will Levis is headed to the bench. Levis has committed 14 turnovers in just 11 games this season and has thrown for just 12 touchdowns. Rudolph has played in five games for Tennessee this year, completing 63% of his passes for 1,015 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. The quarterback change does not dramatically affect the fantasy football outlooks for Tennessee's offensive weapons, but the offense could sustain more drives with the veteran under center.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is signing with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The former Denver Bronco and Philadelphia Eagle was a fourth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft and has hauled in 54 of his 74 targets for 546 yards and four touchdowns in 30 career games. He was once viewed as a future fantasy football producer at the scarce TE spot, but it would be a surprise if he entered the fantasy football radar anytime soon.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) returned to practice last Friday and could be ready to make his season debut against the Houston Texans on Saturday in Week 16, according to head coach Andy Reid. The former Baltimore Raven and Arizona Cardinal has not played during the regular season after undergoing shoulder surgery in the preseason. It's tough to know what to expect from him in fantasy football if he suits up, but he's likely to be eased into action ahead of the postseason push. Additionally, Patrick Mahomes (ankle) could sit out Saturday's contest, meaning veteran Carson Wentz would draw a start. "Hollywood" is worth picking up in deep leagues, but he's too risky to start in critical fantasy football playoff matchups if he gets the green light for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) missed the Monday Night Football contest against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury, but head coach Antonio Pierce said the second-year pro is "trending upward to playing" against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. The 26-year-old has completed 86 of his 136 passing attempts for 899 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in six games this season. However, he will draw a juicy matchup against the No. 1 fantasy-friendly defense for QBs if he can suit up on Sunday. That said, with no teams on a bye, fantasy managers can likely find better options in single-QB leagues. He could have a quality spike week for two-QB and Superflex fantasy managers who are depending on him.

From RotoBaller

The Washington Commanders signed tight end Tyree Jackson to the practice squad on Tuesday, according to team reporter John Keim. With Zach Ertz (concussion) in the concussion protocol, the team might need another body at the position ahead of the Week 16 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson, who played quarterback in college at Buffalo, last played in 2021. He appeared in nine games for the Philadelphia Eagles and caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. Needless to say, he is not expected to be on the fantasy football radar even if he's elevated to the active roster for Sunday's NFC East showdown. Rookie Ben Sinnott will start at tight end if Ertz cannot play.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is not taking part in Tuesday's practice, but he is on the side field getting a workout in. The rising star has missed each of the last two games with a hamstring injury. Since Russell Wilson took over for Justin Fields in Week 7, Pickens has posted at least 12.9 half-PPR fantasy points in four of six games. The third-year pro out of Georgia will be set up for a big game if he can return in Week 16. The Steelers are set to face a Baltimore Ravens defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. If he cannot play, Calvin Austin III and Mike Williams are the next up on the depth chart, but neither is a safe option in the fantasy football playoffs. Fantasy managers should monitor Pickens' status throughout the rest of the week.

From RotoBaller

There aren't any apparent concerns for Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (thigh), who was seen limping slightly late in the Week 15 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Love took a shot to his thigh but doesn't expect him to be limited in practice preparation for the team's Week 16 contest on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. The 26-year-old didn't miss a single snap against Seattle and finished 20-for-27 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. Love is averaging 218 yards per game with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his last four games and should be considered at least a low-end QB1 for fantasy managers in the semifinals in most leagues in a favorable primetime matchup against New Orleans this week.

From RotoBaller

The Atlanta Falcons didn't need to throw the ball much to defeat the lowly Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on Monday Night Football to close out Week 15 action. On a night where quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted only 17 passes and threw for 112 yards, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught one of his three targets for a gain of 14 yards. It was a disappointing performance in a great matchup after McCloud set season-highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (11) and receiving yards (98) in the Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He also had 95 receiving yards the week prior. The 28-year-old is Atlanta's clear No. 3 wideout behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney, but with the way the Falcons' offense has struggled this year, he's not a realistic weekly flex play for fantasy managers. Keep in mind that Cousins has thrown one touchdown in the last five games.

From RotoBaller

After being benched in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday following three interceptions, Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston will lose the starting job to Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the upcoming Week 16 contest against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Winston gave the Browns offense a notable jolt after Deshaun Watson (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury in Week 8. The 30-year-old veteran signal-caller threw for 2,038 yards and 12 touchdowns in his seven starts, but he also added 12 picks and two fumbles. Winston will be a free agent after the season, and the Browns understandably prefer to get a look at the younger Thompson-Robinson for the final three games of the year. With a great matchup against Cincy, DTR will be in play as a QB2 for those desperate in superflex leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet once again was an afterthought in the team's lackluster offense in the Monday night loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, catching his only target for a pickup of 14 yards. Kmet was on the field plenty -- he played 93 percent of the offensive snaps on the evening -- but rookie quarterback Caleb Williams continued to rely mostly on his three receivers in Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze. In the last three games, Kmet has just four receptions on four targets (he didn't have a target in Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers) for 40 yards and no touchdowns. He hasn't scored a touchdown since a two-TD performance in Week 6 and has 16 receptions for 159 yards and no TDs in six games since the team's bye. Fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs should look for a better TE option in Week 16 when Chicago faces the division-rival Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Browns are making a change at quarterback heading into their Week 16 divisional contest against the Cincinnati Bengals and will go with Dorian Thompson-Robinson after benching Jameis Winston in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to league source. The Browns benched Winston after more turnover issues, as he tossed three interceptions and was pulled in the fourth quarter. Thompson-Robinson also threw a pick of his own against a tough Chiefs defense and finished 4-for-9 for 18 yards passing late in the game. The Browns will hope DTR can take better care of the football in a plus-plus matchup against a soft Bengals defense this weekend. It will be the 25-year-old's fourth NFL start. While the matchup is a nice one, fantasy managers shouldn't consider Thompson-Robinson as anything more than a low-end QB2 with a bit of upside in superflex leagues in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer had very minimal involvement on offense in the team's 30-12 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Homer had an increased role again with Roschon Johnson still out with a concussion, but it didn't amount to much in a Bears offense that once again was unable to move the football with much consistency. As the backup to D'Andre Swift, Homer had only three carries and gained seven yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Homer played 25 percent of the offensive snaps on Monday, compared to a 69 percent snap share for Swift. Even if Johnson remains out for Week 16 versus the division-rival Detroit Lions, fantasy managers shouldn't have Homer anywhere near a starting lineup, let alone even on a roster in the fantasy playoffs. The 26-year-old has six carries for 23 yards in 10 games in 2024.

From RotoBaller

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (concussion, hand) underwent more testing recently and is at least a few weeks away from being able to withstand contact, according to sources. With only three weeks remaining in the regular season (two weeks in most fantasy leagues), it's unlikely that we'll see Carr on the field again for the Saints this year. In addition to a concussion that he sustained in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants, Carr fractured his left (non-throwing) hand in two places. New Orleans is currently 5-9 and is a long shot to make the postseason. Jake Haener got the start in place of Carr in the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders and went 4-for-10 for 49 yards and an interception before being benched for rookie Spencer Rattler. The Saints haven't announced a starter for Week 16 against the Packers on Monday night, but it's expected they'll stick with Rattler.

From RotoBaller

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says there is a "possibility" that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is unavailable to play this coming Saturday in Week 16 action against the Houston Texans after suffering what the team is calling a mild high-ankle sprain in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns. Mahomes is being considered week-to-week with an injury that can sideline some players anywhere from four to six weeks. The two-time MVP, though, has a reputation as a very quick healer, so he's not being ruled out for Saturday's game, although on a short week with the Chiefs up two games over the Bills for the top spot in the AFC playoff picture, it won't surprise anyone if Carson Wentz makes the start under center for KC against Houston. And with the Chiefs facing another quick turnaround in Week 17 on Christmas Day next Wednesday, it's possible Mahomes misses two games.

From RotoBaller