Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion, illness) was listed as a non-participant in the first Week 18 practice on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Rasheen Ali (hip) was listed as limited. Hill suffered a concussion in Week 16 and was unable to play in last week's blowout win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day on Wednesday. Head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that the team was expecting the 27-year-old to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, but it appears that Hill hasn't quite passed the league's concussion protocol. Derrick Henry is Baltimore's clear lead back, but with Hill still not practicing, the rest of the team's backfield is up in the air heading into the matchup against the Browns. Hill will need to practice on either Wednesday or Thursday to have a shot at playing on Saturday. If he's out again, Keaton Mitchell should be the RB2.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal) was a full practice participant on Tuesday in the team's first practice of the week as they prepare to face the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that he expected Fields to play this weekend after he missed the last two games due to an abdominal injury. Fields should be active on Saturday as Pittsburgh looks to win and hope for a Baltimore Ravens loss in order to win the AFC North division. Even if the 25-year-old Fields is active in Week 18, he'll merely be the backup to starter Russell Wilson under center and won't belong in any starting fantasy lineups. Since Wilson took over as the starting QB in Week 7, Fields has attempted just one pass and has seven rushing attempts for 58 yards on the ground.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Michael Woods II (knee) is on the Week 18 injury report and was listed as limited in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. Woods apparently picked up a minor knee injury in the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in which he played 68 of the team's 79 offensive snaps on his way to just one reception for three yards on four targets. The 24-year-old should be able to suit up in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens this Saturday and will have an elevated role again with Cedric Tillman (concussion) closing out the year on Injured Reserve. Despite what should be an expanded role in a good matchup, it's impossible to recommend Woods in any kind of fantasy format with the Browns expected to play both quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe in a meaningless game for the team. Woods has only seven catches in five games in 2024.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of Week 18 on Tuesday. Thompson-Robinson is dealing with a minor calf injury, but it shouldn't prevent him from being active in the regular-season finale this Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Jameis Winston (shoulder) was also limited, but he is expected to serve as the emergency third QB for the third straight week as Cleveland plays out the string in a disappointing season. DTR has not looked good while starting the last two games for the Browns, going 44-for-81 for 327 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while also losing a fumble. In a game that means nothing to the Browns, they are expected to play both Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe against Baltimore. Neither QB will be recommended in DFS lineups on Saturday.

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According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (thigh) was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report. Last weekend, the 29-year-old logged 49 defensive snaps and tallied four tackles and two sacks but did not show any signs of an injury. Fantasy managers in IDP formats should continue to monitor his status throughout the week in case he is unable to return to practice. Since Week 12, Garrett has tallied 22 total tackles (17 solo) with seven sacks, one deflection, and one forced fumble. If Garrett cannot suit up on Saturday, James Houston and Cameron Thomas should see an uptick in opportunities against the Baltimore Ravens.

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According to Jay Morrison of BengalsTalk.com, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist/knee) was a limited participant during Tuesday's walkthrough practice session. Burrow has been dealing with both of these injuries throughout the season but has yet to miss any time due to them. Last weekend, Burrow led the Bengals to a victory over the Denver Broncos to keep them alive in the AFC playoff picture. In this game, Burrow threw for 412 yards and three scores. The former No.1 overall selection has thrown at least three passing scores in eight straight games. During this span, he has tallied 28 total scores while averaging 331.0 passing yards per game. Fantasy managers should continue to view Burrow as a high-end QB1 in all formats on Saturday when he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) practiced in full on Tuesday. Agholor has been sidelined over the past two weeks with a concussion. Even though he has not officially passed the league's concussion protocol, seeing him return to full participation early in the week puts him in a great position to return on Saturday to face the Cleveland Browns. Before his injury, Agholor has been deployed as the No.3 wide receiver in the Baltimore offense. Over his past seven contests, the wideout found the back of the end zone twice but only saw an average of 1.7 targets per game over this stretch. If he can return this weekend, Tylan Wallace would likely see a drop in snaps.

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According to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram, Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (ankle) was held out of the team's walkthrough on Tuesday. The 25-year-old left Sunday's game early with an ankle injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status closely leading up to Saturday's game. Before exiting early, Ford tallied 22 yards on six attempts. During Weeks 15 and 16, Ford performed very well as the lead back, tallying 88.0 yards per game with a strong 21.3 PPR points per game. During this stretch, he averaged an impressive 9.8 YPC. In addition, No.2 running back Pierre Strong (concussion) was also unable to practice. If both running backs cannot suit up this weekend, D'Onta Foreman will likely lead the backfield against the Baltimore Ravens.

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According to Jay Morrison of BengalsTalk.com, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee) opened the week as a limited participant during Tuesday's practice. Higgins was limited in practice leading up to Week 17, but this injury did not seem to limit his play. In this game, he caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns during their overtime victory over the Denver Broncos. Since Week 11, Higgins has been one of the most valuable wide receivers from a fantasy perspective, averaging a stellar 22.3 PPR points per game. During this six-game stretch, the Clemson product has found the end zone seven times and averaged 86.2 yards per game. Fantasy managers should monitor his status throughout the week but should expect him to be a full-go for Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (ribs) was limited on Tuesday due to a rib injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week in case he remains limited during practice. During their Week 17 tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs, Warren logged 11 attempts and brought in five passes for 112 total yards. This was his second straight game, logging at least double-digit rushing attempts. In addition, Warren saw more offensive snaps than Najee Harris for the second straight contest as well. Before this two-game stretch, Warren averaged 8.6 attempts per game since Week 6, while Harris dominated the snaps. Going forward, fantasy managers should expect Warren to have a slightly higher ceiling than Harris, especially in PPR formats, given his elite pass-catching abilities.

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The Arizona Cardinals placed rookie running back Trey Benson (ankle) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, so he will not be available to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers. The third-rounder from Florida State will end up missing the final three games of his rookie season. As James Conner's primary backup in his first year in the NFL, Benson finished with 63 carries for 291 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown while catching six passes for 59 yards. Conner was pulled from last week's loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night due to a knee injury and could also be rested in a meaningless game this weekend, which would put DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter in line to split the backfield workload for Arizona. Benson is a solid hold in keeper leagues, although he could be in line for a backup role again in 2025 if Conner stays healthy.

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The New York Jets announced on Tuesday that they placed kicker Greg Zuerlein (knee) and safety Chuck Clark (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve, so they will not be available to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The team also signed defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis and linebacker Jamin Davis to the active 53-man roster, signed offensive lineman David Sharpe to the practice squad, signed kicker Greg Joseph to the active roster and released kicker Anders Carlson. The Jets activated Zuerlein from IR last week, but he didn't attempt a kick in the Week 17 loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills and apparently had a setback with his left knee. The 37-year-old veteran made only nine of his 15 field-goal opportunities and went 13-for-14 on extra points when healthy, so he'll likely be cut this offseason.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) was listed as a non-participant during Tuesday's walkthrough practice as the team begins preparing for a big must-win Week 18 showdown against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Brown suffered a mild right high-ankle sprain in Saturday's overtime victory over the Denver Broncos. The Bengals are hopeful that the 24-year-old will be available as their lead back in the regular-season finale, but there's no guarantee that will happen if Brown can't practice much this week. Through 17 weeks, Brown has been the RB11 in half-PPR scoring thanks to 990 rushing yards and seven rushing scores on 229 carries. He's added 54 receptions for 360 yards and another four TDs through the air, making him a must-start in fantasy on a weekly basis. If he cannot go this Saturday in a tough matchup, Khalil Herbert would be Cincy's RB1.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) was listed as a non-participant on the team's estimated practice report on Tuesday. The Browns didn't actually hold a full practice. Njoku injured his knee in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals and didn't practice at all last week before being ruled out of the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The fact that the 28-year-old still isn't able to practice is not a good sign for his availability for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, although he still has two more days to get back on the field. Still, the Browns have nothing left to play for but pride, so it would not be a surprise to see them hold Njoku out to end the season. Akins set season-highs in catches (six), targets (eight) and receiving yards (49) in the loss to Miami, but he'll be nothing more than a TE2 sleeper in Week 18 if Njoku is out again.

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The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday, according to a NFL insider Josina Anderson. Elliott asked for the Cowboys to release him before the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders. After a year with the New England Patriots, Elliott returned to Dallas in 2024 but was a shell of his former self in Dallas' backfield. Rico Dowdle eventually took over lead-back duties, as expected, and Zeke had a career-low 3.1 yards on his 74 rushing attempts as he nears the end of his NFL career. In addition to his 74 carries (also a career-low), he had 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns while adding 12 receptions for 69 yards in 15 games in his ninth year in the league. It's been several seasons now that Elliott has lacked any real kind of burst on the ground. If he lands with a team for the playoffs, he's likely to serve as RB depth.

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If the New England Patriots retain head coach Jerod Mayo for a second season in 2025, The Athletic's Chad Graff mentions Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach and former NFL quarterback Josh McCown as an option to join Mayo's staff in New England as the offensive coordinator. McCown has been one of the best position coaches in the league in 2024 and has helped quarterback Sam Darnold lead the Vikings to an amazing 14-2 record. The former NFL QB also helped coach and mentor current Patriots QB Drake Maye in high school. McCown is in a good situation in Minnesota right now, but perhaps Mayo would be able to sell McCown on a young and talented QB that he's familiar with. All of this could be a mute point if the Patriots fire Mayo as the head coach following the Week 18 regular-season finale. And if Mayo is retained, there's no guarantee current offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt would be fired.

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Despite the fact that the Los Angeles Rams could fall from the No. 3 seed to the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff picture with a loss in the Week 18 regular-season finale to the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, head coach Sean McVay said that resting starters this weekend is "probably the direction that we'll go." The Rams have rested their starters with a playoff berth already secured throughout McVay's tenure as the head coach. McVay said he's looking forward to getting players like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie running back Blake Corum extended playing time. It means that fantasy managers still playing for a championship shouldn't be counting on Rams players like quarterback Matthew Stafford, receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp and running back Kyren Williams in their lineups in Week 18.

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Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) is in the concussion protocol, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. The 26-year-old rushed five times for 33 yards and caught three of his five targets for 15 yards in the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Running back Jerome Ford (ankle) was banged up in Week 17, and his status for Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens is to be determined. Cleveland signed John Kelly to the active roster from the Chargers' practice squad, so it could be D'Onta Foreman and Kelly leading the backfield this weekend.

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Veteran pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue is being waived by the New England Patriots on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The 29-year-old posted nine tackles and two QB hits for the organization since joining the team in November. Ngakoue has posted 70.5 career sacks in 134 games since entering the NFL in 2016, but his production has fallen off a cliff since his 9.5-sack season in 2022. However, a team that qualified for the postseason might be interested in bringing him in as a rotational rusher.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) suffered a right-elbow contusion in the Monday Night Football loss to the Detroit Lions. The 2022 seventh-round pick is unlikely to play in the team's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, but no long-term issues are expected. Purdy regressed this season after a fantastic 2023 campaign, throwing for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions en route to the 49ers missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. After Purdy exited the Week 17 game, backup Joshua Dobbs completed three of his four passing attempts for 35 yards and rushed for a seven-yard touchdown. He'll likely draw the start in the Week 18 finale and could have fantasy or DFS upside if key 49ers' pass-catchers are active.

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