Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki hasn't been the most reliable fantasy option throughout the 2024-25 campaign. To be fair, he's had some productive outings, although they have been few and far between. However, the 29-year-old is coming off a potent performance, catching 10 of his 12 targets for 86 yards in the Week 17 overtime win over the Denver Broncos. With the Bengals looking to secure a spot in the postseason, Gesicki could remain more involved than normal, especially if Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) and Chase Brown (ankle) don't suit up. Yet, if either of those guys play, Gesicki's ceiling will come crashing down heading into the Week 18 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Khalil Herbert has barely seen any action since being traded by the Chicago Bears in November. He's appeared in seven games for the Bengals this season. However, he has only eight carries for 45 yards and one catch for seven yards to show for it. But with Chase Brown (ankle) questionable for the Week 18 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Herbert may take over as the No. 1 option out of the backfield. The 26-year-old was once one of the most promising young backs in the National Football League, giving him some upside on Saturday. Still, his presence in any fantasy lineup isn't without risk.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been a top fantasy option all year, leading all wideouts in catches (117), yards (1,612), and touchdowns (16). With Cincinnati still alive for the postseason, the former LSU Tiger will need to be at his best in Week 18 versus the Steelers. Chase played well enough when the Bengals met the Steelers on December 1, catching six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Granted, it wasn't his best performance. However, Chase may need to see more targets this time around, especially if Tee Higgins (knee, ankle), who is questionable, doesn't suit up. But even if Higgins is on the field, Chase is a must-start, obviously. He's also worth considering for all DFS contests, despite his hefty rostering cost.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist, knee) was limited during practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, he's was a full participant in Friday's session. The Bengals still have a chance to make the playoffs, so it would have taken a lot to keep the signal-caller off the field in Week 18 against the Steelers. While some other things need to happen that are outside of the team's control regarding their postseason chances, Burrow will do all he can to pick up another win. Without question, he's been an MVP-caliber quarterback all year, leading the league in passing yards (4,641). Burrow also ranks first in touchdowns (42), with the former LSU Tiger tossing at least three of them in each of his previous eight games. While there's a chance Chase Brown (ankle) and Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) won't be in uniform on Saturday night, Burrow remains a top fantasy option for the remaining redraft participants as well as DFS managers.

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San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest, illness) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. If Pearsall cannot upgrade to full participation at Friday's practice, he could carry a questionable designation into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The first-rounder is coming off the best game of his rookie season in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions, when he set season-highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (10) and receiving yards (141) while catching his second touchdown of the year. There's a chance fellow wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) doesn't play this weekend, which would thrust Pearsall into the WR2 role behind Jauan Jennings. However, with backup QB Joshua Dobbs getting the start, Pearsall would still be an unreliable, boom/bust WR4/5 in fantasy.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday after the team opened his 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve. It's good progress for Goedert for sure, but it doesn't mean the Eagles will actually activate him from IR by Saturday so that he can play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Giants. Philadelphia is already locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs, and head coach Nick Sirianni already said the team will be resting key starters, including quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) and the NFL's leading rusher in running back Saquon Barkley. Not only will Goedert be potentially facing a limited snap count if he's active on Sunday, but he could also be taking passes from third-string QB Tanner McKee if Kenny Pickett (ribs) doesn't play.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) has yet to practice in Week 18 after missing a second straight day on Thursday. Spears suffered his second concussion of the year in the Week 17 loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday and is fully expected to be held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Houston Texans. Lead back Tony Pollard (ankle) missed last week's game and could also be held out this weekend despite being limited in practices this week, meaning Julius Chestnut could lead Tennessee's backfield in Week 18. The 23-year-old Spears looks likely to end his sophomore season in the NFL with 84 carries for 312 yards (3.7 yards per tote) while catching 30 of 35 targets for 224 yards and one TD in 12 games. It was a step back from his rookie production as he operated mainly as the change-of-pace option behind Pollard all year.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (ankle) practiced on a limited basis on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Pollard was inactive for the first time this year in the Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and is up in the air to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Houston Texans. He did not practice at all last week, so the 27-year-old's ankle is apparently feeling much better, although there's no guarantee the Titans will play him in a game that only matters for their draft positioning in 2025. Backfield mate Tyjae Spears (concussion) has yet to practice this week and is unlikely to play this weekend, too, so if Pollard misses a second straight game to close out the year, look for Julius Chestnut to lead Tennessee's backfield against Houston. If Pollard is active, he's only 83 yards away from reaching 1,100 yards on the year for a $250,000 bonus.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Tagovailoa was held out of the Week 17 win over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday due to a hip injury and is up in the air to play this Sunday in the another must-win game in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Jets. For what it's worth, head coach Mike McDaniel said on Wednesday that the team was preparing for the Jets as though Tyler Huntley will make a second straight start. The 26-year-old's status for Week 18 will likely come down to how much he does in practice on Friday, although he could also end up being a game-time decision on Sunday afternoon. Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this year due to another concussion and is currently the QB14 in half-PPR points per game (17.8). He's a shaky fantasy option this week.

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After being limited in practice on Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday. Kittle is battling through multiple injuries with one final game left this year, but his ability to practice in full on Thursday means he should be able to gain clearance to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Although the 31-year-old's fantasy value will take a hit if he plays this weekend with quarterback Joshua Dobbs getting the start over Brock Purdy (elbow), Kittle will still be in play as a TE1 for lineups as the top-scoring TE in half-PPR scoring this year thanks to catching 76 of his 91 targets for 1,079 yards and a league-high eight TDs. If Kittle plays, he figures to be Dobbs' favorite target, especially if receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) is held out.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) practiced in full all week, has been cleared from the league's concussion protocol and will play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The Ravens removed Agholor from Thursday's final injury report. Baltimore will get a boost to their receiving corps this weekend as they look to lock up the AFC North title with a win, with Agholor returning to his No. 3 duties behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. The 31-year-old did score his second touchdown of the year in the Week 8 loss to the Browns, but he won't be a recommended flex play for fantasy lineups and could be subject to a curtailed snap count in his first game since Week 15. In his second year in Baltimore, Agholor has only 14 receptions, 231 yards and two TDs in 14 games played.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (foot) was unable to join the team at practice for the second straight day this week. Abdullah put up a career-high 115 rushing yards in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints but apparently picked up a foot injury in the process that now has him questionable to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The 31-year-old RB will probably need to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being ruled out entirely. The former second-round selection has seen more involvement in the Raiders backfield in the back half of the season due to injuries to Alexander Mattison and Zamir White and has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, but it has amounted to only 311 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Abdullah has mainly been a deep-league flex option in PPR leagues. If Abdullah cannot play against LA, look for rookie Dylan Laube to back up Mattison on Sunday.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday after suffering a right-elbow injury at the end of the Sunday night loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 17. Although Purdy's injury is considered minor and he hasn't officially been ruled out yet, the Niners have already announced that backup Joshua Dobbs will get the start in a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Expect the 25-year-old Purdy to be officially ruled out on Friday's final Week 18 injury report. If the former seventh-rounder has played his last game of the 2024 season, he'll finish with a career-low 65.9% completion percentage with 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 starts. It was a step back from his breakout in 2023, but Purdy was also missing key weapons on offense for most of the year due to injury.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) picked up his second straight DNP this week after not practicing with the team on Thursday. Samuel is dealing with multiple injuries following Sunday night's loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 17 and is now firmly up in the air to play this Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals in the Week 18 regular-season finale with nothing on the line for either team. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs has already been named the starter with Brock Purdy (elbow) likely to be shut down, so Samuel's already shaky fantasy value will take another hit if he actually suits up this weekend. The 28-year-old has scored in back-to-back weeks, but on Sunday night he only caught one pass for five yards and had three carries for 16 yards. Samuel will be a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex if he faces Arizona in the regular-season finale.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand) missed his second straight practice of the week on Thursday as he continues to rehab from a broken left (non-throwing) hand that he suffered in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants. Carr has held out hope all along that he'd be able to return before the end of the regular season, but it's looking increasingly likely that he'll miss his fourth straight game in Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 33-year-old veteran signal-caller has dealt with more injuries in 2024 and is going to finish with only 2,145 passing yards, a career-low 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 starts in his second year in New Orleans. With Carr most likely being ruled out on Friday, rookie Spencer Rattler will close out the year as the Saints' starter under center.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) was upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday after he was listed as limited on Wednesday. Hill has been managing a wrist injury pretty much all year, but it hasn't sidelined him for a single game. He should put in another full practice on Friday before being cleared from the final Week 18 injury report. Fantasy managers should consider Hill a must-start WR1 this week with many other starting wideouts around the league set to be rested in the regular-season finale. Miami still has a shot at a playoff berth with a win over the division-rival New York Jets and a Denver Broncos loss, so they will be playing all their healthy starters. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) out in last week's win over the Browns, Hill caught all nine of his targets from Tyler Huntley and went for 105 yards -- just his third 100-yard game of the year.

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New Orleans Saints running backs Alvin Kamara (groin) and Kendre Miller (concussion) both missed practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Kamara suffered an adductor injury in the Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders and hasn't practiced or played since. The 29-year-old continues to say he wants to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that's looking more and more unlikely by the day. Miller, meanwhile, suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and is also trending toward sitting out the final game of the season. If both Kamara and Miller are ruled out for Week 18 on Friday's final injury report, look for the Saints to mostly lean on Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the backfield, with Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims serving in backup roles.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (shin, shoulder) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Irving continues to be listed on the team's injury report with various ailments, but he should be able to suit up in a must-win game in Week 18 versus the division-rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday. In his first 16 NFL games, Irving has really been impressive, especially when considering he's shared backfield touches with both Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The 22-year-old leads the team in carries (188), rushing yards (1,033) and touchdowns (seven) while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Irving has been the most productive Tampa RB in 2024 and will be a must-start RB1 for any fantasy managers still playing for a championship. Against the Saints on Oct. 13, Irving had 14 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) were both held out of practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. Both Brown and Smith have played through their respective injuries of late and are just getting additional maintenance heading into a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. The Eagles are already locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed, so they have nothing to gain by playing their starters this weekend. As such, head coach Nick Sirianni has already confirmed the team plans to rest starts against the Giants. Brown and Smith will most likely be rested as well, meaning fantasy managers in DFS should avoid them on Sunday. Philly's offense could be led by third-string QB Tanner McKee, so avoiding the Eagles entirely in Week 18 is probably the best play.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) was listed as limited again in the team's second practice of the week on Thursday. Jones suffered an apparent quadriceps contusion in the second half of their Week 17 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers and never returned to the contest. However, the 30-year-old veteran's injury isn't considered serious, and he has a shot to play in the Week 18 divisional showdown on Sunday against the Detroit Lions that will decide not only the NFC North champions, but the No. 1 overall seed in the conference for the postseason. Jones could get a questionable tag going into Sunday night's game if he's limited again on Friday, but we're expecting him to suit up and play his usual number of snaps as Minnesota's starter. At worst, Jones will be a low-end RB1 in fantasy. He had 14 carries for 93 yards and a TD in the first meeting against Detroit.

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