The New Orleans Saints announced on Thursday that rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler will make the start on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. This was the expected decision from the Saints after they benched Jake Haener for Rattler in the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders. Derek Carr (concussion, hand) is unlikely to play again this year, especially with the Saints unlikely to make the playoffs, so Rattler should start each of the team's final three games of the season. The 24-year-old almost led the Saints to a remarkable comeback against Washington last Sunday, going 10-for-21 for 135 yards and a touchdown. In three starts earlier in 2024, the rookie out of South Carolina completed 59.6% of his passes with a touchdown and two picks. He'll have a tough matchup in Green Bay, and with the lack of weapons around him, he'll be a low-end QB2 play, at best, in fantasy.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is officially off the Week 16 injury report and is officially good to play on Saturday versus the Houston Texans in Week 16. Mahomes went down late in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns with what the team was calling a mild high-ankle sprain, but he surprisingly was able to practice in full all week from Tuesday through Thursday and will suit up against Houston on Saturday. The two-time MVP most likely won't be as fleet of foot in and outside of the pocket, though, making him more of a midrange QB2, at best, against the Texans this weekend. Mahomes enters the week as the QB9 on the season in overall fantasy points but just hasn't had the previous upside he's had in recent years given all the injuries to KC's receivers. The good news is Mahomes will be getting Marquise Brown (shoulder) in Week 16.

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Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) practiced in full for the second straight day this week and is on his way towards clearing the league's concussion protocol and returning to action this Sunday in Week 16 against the division-rival Detroit Lions. Johnson has missed the team's last two games due to a concussion but is trending in the right direction to return this weekend. He still needs final clearance from an independent neurologist later this week, though, to get the final green light to play. Even if Johnson is active against the Lions on Sunday, he won't have any real standalone fantasy value with a lot on the line in leagues this weekend. He's been the clear backup behind D'Andre Swift on game days and hasn't been a reliable producer, although he has chipped in six rushing touchdowns. Perhaps if Chicago's offense was more reliable.

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Per the NFL's Tom Pelissero, the Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled out wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for this Saturday's divisional clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Pickens has been shelved since popping up as a late-week addition on the team's Week 14 injury report and will miss his third straight contest. It comes as no surprise, considering he put together another week's worth of DNPs ahead of the outing. With the 23-year-old inactive again, wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III will work as Pittsburgh's top two options at the position. Mike Williams, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek will rotate in behind them. In Week 15, Williams led that trio by five snaps (15).

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James Boyd of The Athletic reports that Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (hip) is not practicing on Thursday. It's the second straight day he'll be tagged with a DNP. The eighth-year veteran suffered his injury late last week, missing Friday's practice, but could still participate in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos. However, he played on a season-low percentage of snaps (30%). Considering Alie-Cox played after a late-week DNP last week, it's feasible he could do so again in Week 16. Still, it'd be good if he could log at least a limited session ahead of this Sunday. If he is inactive, teammate Will Mallory projects to pick up some more snaps working in behind Kylen Granson and Drew Ogletree.

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The Houston Texans D/ST looked to be a top-10 fantasy option in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but the promising prognosis for quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is good news for everything but Houston's fantasy outlook. Instead of backup quarterback Carson Wentz, it's business as usual for the 13-1 Chiefs, making the Texans' Saturday at Arrowhead significantly more difficult. Kansas City's offense has run the most plays in the league and ranks inside the top 10 in passing touchdowns, first downs, fewest fumbles lost, and scoring percentage. Even though the Texans have been a productive fantasy defense, this matchup can and should be avoided.

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New York Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns (ankle, neck) will not practice Thursday for the second straight day. However, per head coach Brian Daboll, he will play this Sunday when his team squares off against the Atlanta Falcons in a road tilt. ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported the news. The star pass-rusher sustained his ailments in Week 15's 35-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Fortunately, though, it appears he's on track to suit up in Week 16 with a few days of rest under his belt. The 26-year-old currently leads his team with 13 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups, ranking second in sacks (eight). Burns has yet to miss a game thus far in 2024, leading all Giants' edge-rushers in snaps.

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According to ESPN's Ben Baby, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (rest, knee) is not practicing on Thursday. The news comes one day after the wideout was able to log a limited session. It's a concerning development for the 25-year-old, who picked up the issue in his team's win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. While he'll still get another chance to elevate his practice status on Friday, fantasy managers may want to prepare a contingency plan in case Higgins can't suit up for Week 16's bout with the visiting Cleveland Browns. If the Clemson product cannot play, fellow wideout Andre Iosivas would operate as the Bengals' de facto No. 2 WR with rookie Jermaine Burton working in behind him.

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Per head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) will "most likely end up playing" this Saturday against the Houston Texans. Matt McMullen of the team reported the news. According to McMullen, wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) also has a good chance to play. It's excellent news for the Chiefs as, at the point of Mahomes' injury, he appeared to be a candidate for missed time. With Kansas City still battling for a first-round bye, they're getting healthy at the right time. The 27-year-old will get a tough matchup against a visiting Texans defense that's allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game to opponents (196.9).

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NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill thinks there's a good chance New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (groin) doesn't play on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16. Kamara suffered an adductor injury in the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders, and all signs are pointing to him being held out this week. The Saints just signed Clyde Edwards-Helaire as RB depth earlier this week. Kamara has gone for tests on his injured groin, but interim head coach Darren Rizzi has declined to say if it's a minor or major injury. Underhill says himself to run out and grab Kendre Miller off the waiver wire if he's available in your league if you have Kamara rostered. We'll have a better idea of Kamara's status after the Saints begin practicing this week, but there's at least a good chance he'll miss Week 16 and potentially more, depending on how serious his groin injury is.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol on Thursday and was seen wearing a black non-contact jersey on the practice field. Ertz is getting work in, but he's not practicing with the rest of the team for the second straight day. With just one day left of practice this week, he's on the wrong side of questionable for the Week 16 game this Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Ertz was in line for more targets in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints with receiver Noah Brown (kidney) now out for the season, but he was injured in the second quarter last Sunday and never returned. With the 34-year-old veteran potentially missing Week 16, fantasy managers need to be looking in another direction at the TE position. We'd suggest avoiding John Bates and rookie Ben Sinnott in D.C., as the two will likely end up sharing snaps if Ertz is out.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (hamstring) was not seen at the portion of Thursday's practice that was open to the media. Njoku injured his hamstring in the Week 14 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and sat out of last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He has yet to practice since suffering the injury, suggesting he's tracking toward missing a second straight game this weekend against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. With Njoku out last Sunday, backup Jordan Akins was on the field more but only caught three of four targets for 30 yards. Njoku had become a must-start TE1 in fantasy before his injury due to excellent chemistry with quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston is now benched in favor of Dorian Thompson-Robinson, so if Njoku is able to play this weekend, he'll be a more volatile TE1 option.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) did not practice on Thursday due to a foot injury and was wearing a walking boot in the locker room. Bateman popped up on the Week 16 injury report on Wednesday and was listed as limited in practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually bad news, and that's especially the case for Bateman after he was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday. The Ravens receiving corps could be thinned out on Saturday in a tough matchup against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers if both Bateman and Nelson Agholor (concussion) cannot play. Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker could be thrust into bigger roles alongside Zay Flowers and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely in the passing game. The 25-year-old Bateman is in the midst of a career year in 2024, but fantasy managers could be without him in semifinal matchups this week.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee) was practicing on Thursday during the portion open to the media. Mayfield was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday while tending to a knee issue, but the fact that he's back out there on Thursday means that he should be good to go for Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The 29-year-old is having a second straight strong season in Tampa in 2024 and is on pace for his second straight 4,000-yard season. He has already thrown a career-high 32 touchdown passes after going for four scores against a stout Los Angeles Chargers defense in the Week 15 win. Mayfield will be facing a Cowboys defense that has found their footing a bit of late after being decimated by injuries this year, but they've still allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position in the last five weeks. Mayfield is locked in as a top-10 fantasy QB.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) was seen wearing a knee brace and was not seen working on Thursday at the portion of practice open to the media. Otton is set to open Week 16 preparation with two DNPs, putting him firmly in danger of missing the game this Sunday night versus the Dallas Cowboys. Otton has one more day to get back on the practice field, but at this point, a questionable tag might be the best-case scenario. And if that's the case, he'll be one to avoid in fantasy lineups with the Bucs not playing until Sunday evening. The 25-year-old was quarterback Baker Mayfield's go-to target when receiver Mike Evans missed some time with a hamstring, but since Evans returned, Otton has seen his ceiling and floor drop drastically. He caught two of three targets in last week's win over the Chargers for 24 yards. Payne Durham and Ko Kieft could split TE duties if Otton is out this week.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) was seen doing some agility work off to the side during the team's practice on Thursday. Pierce is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday and is missing his second straight practice on Thursday. He still has one day left to try and get on the practice field, but as things look right now, Pierce is trending toward being inactive in Week 16 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. If that's the case, rookie Adonai Mitchell would see a bigger role in three-wide sets alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. However, we still wouldn't consider Mitchell an intriguing flex play in fantasy if Pierce is out while going up against a Titans defense that has allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers in 2024.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is practicing on Thursday after resting his back on Wednesday. Pittman has been managing a back injury of late, but he managed to play 96 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and caught six of his nine targets for 58 yards while losing a crucial fumble in the second half. The 27-year-old has at least five receptions and seven targets in each of the last four games, but he hasn't found the end zone since Oct. 13 and only has one 100-yard game in 2024. Pittman's fantasy stock has taken a hit this year in Indy's low-volume passing attack and with young quarterback Anthony Richardson struggling with accuracy and consistency. The good news is that one of Pittman's two TDs on the year came against the division-rival Titans in their first meeting, although they also allow the third-fewest PPR points to receivers.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman (foot) and Nelson Agholor (concussion) were both missing from practice on Thursday. Agholor was working on a side field but is unlikely to play on Saturday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers after not practicing on Tuesday or Wednesday. Bateman, meanwhile, popped up on the Week 16 injury report on Wednesday and was listed as limited. We'll have to wait and see how the Ravens list Bateman on Thursday's final injury report, but a DNP on the final day of practice isn't a good sign for his availability this weekend. If both Bateman and Agholor are ruled out, it will mean more targets for both Zay Flowers and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, with receivers Tylan Wallace and Devontez Waker seeing bigger roles in the passing game as well. Against a tough defense, quarterback Lamar Jackson's struggles against Pittsburgh could continue.

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When asked if he would like to run it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, quarterback Russell Wilson said, "Hopefully, I love it here. It's cool. Hopefully we're going to win a Super Bowl." Wilson is playing for a league-minimum salary of $1.2 million with the Steelers in 2024 after the Denver Broncos guaranteed him $39 million this year. He'll become a free agent after the 2024 season, though, and has proven this year in Pittsburgh that he still has what it takes to win in the NFL as a starter. The 36-year-old veteran got a late start to the year due to a lingering calf issue, but he replaced Justin Fields when he was fully healthy and hasn't looked back, completing 64.7% of his passes for 1,912 yards, 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions in eight games. The eight-time Pro Bowler ranks as the QB15 in average fantasy points per game. With his top wideout George Pickens (hamstring) potentially missing a third straight game, Wilson is shaping up as a low-end QB2 despite a good matchup versus Baltimore this week.

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that tight end Brenton Strange (shoulder) suffered an AC joint sprain last week in the loss to the New York Jets but that he will be fine to play in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Strange was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. With Evan Engram (shoulder) out for the year, Strange is Jacksonville's top pass-catching tight end option for the remainder of the regular season. He stood out right away in the loss to the Jets, catching 11 of his 12 targets from quarterback Mac Jones for 73 yards. Going into the Week 15 game, Strange had just 31 targets all season long. Jones leaned heavily on Strange last week and could continue doing so in the final three games of the year, giving Strange TE1 upside for the remainder of the fantasy playoffs. He'll look to soak up targets yet again this Sunday in an excellent matchup against the two-win Raiders.

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