Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson returned in Week 17 after a two-game absence due to calf and hand injuries, recording 27 scrimmage yards on 14 touches against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite his inefficient day against the Steelers, Sampson could be in line for a more productive Week 18 in an easier matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle, leg) suffering a season-ending injury in Week 16, Cleveland split backfield touches in Week 17 between Sampson, Raheim Sanders, and Trayevon Williams. Sanders led Browns running backs in snap share, but Sampson earned more touches (14) than Sanders and Williams combined (11). If Sampson remains the leader of the Cleveland backfield committee in Week 18, he should post better results. Fantasy managers in leagues with 12 or more teams should consider targeting Sampson on the waiver wire heading into the final week of the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Across 13 games this season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has recorded 563 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 137 touches. The 26-year-old has not recorded more than 34 rushing yards in a game or scored a rushing touchdown since Week 8. However, Pacheco maintains a consistent role in the Kansas City offense, averaging over 11 touches per game over the last three weeks. Pacheco appears to have wrestled the RB1 role for the Chiefs away from fellow back Kareem Hunt, as he's earned double the touches of Hunt over that same three-game period. Kansas City has been consistently chasing points during its ongoing five-game losing streak, which limits opportunities to run the football. However, the Chiefs could have a chance to play with a lead in their Week 18 matchup against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. In fantasy leagues with 10 or more teams, Pacheco could be a running back worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.

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Across four games since signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen has recorded eight receptions for 74 yards on 11 targets. While the 35-year-old's overall numbers are modest, he has seen an uptick in usage lately. With Steelers wideouts DK Metcalf (suspension) and Calvin Austin III (hamstring) sidelined in Week 17, Thielen earned five targets in the team's 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Thielen also played 86% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, most among Pittsburgh wide receivers. Austin III has a chance to return for the team's Week 18 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, but Metcalf will remain on the shelf. In PPR fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Thielen could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.

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Chuba Hubbard had four carries for 12 yards in the Carolina Panthers' 27-10 defeat in Week 17. He added six yards on three receptions and finished the game with 2.8 PPR Points. It was his lowest fantasy total since Week 10, and it was his third consecutive week with less than 5.0 PPR points. Carolina faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 in an important game to determine the NFC South title. Tampa Bay ranked 15th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the RB position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 17. In Week 16 against the Buccaneers, Hubbard had six carries for 27 yards and 4.4 PPR points. Hubbard's volume is too inconsistent to warrant a roster spot if you are still playing in Week 18, and he does not deserve any DFS consideration. Since Week 9, Hubbard had double-digit carries in only one game and eight or fewer carries in each of his last three. Hubbard remains off the fantasy radar for those playing in Week 18 despite the importance of this game against Tampa Bay. There is no need to handcuff him anymore if you roster Rico Dowdle. Cut Hubbard if you still have him on the roster and want to block your opponent from picking up certain players.

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Xavier Legette caught one pass for three yards in the Carolina Panthers' 27-10 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. The Carolina WR finished the game with 1.3 PPR points. It was his fifth consecutive game with fewer than 6.0 PPR points scored. In Week 18, the Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a winner-take-all game for the NFC South title. The Buccaneers ranked sixth in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the WR Position in the last four weeks leading up to Week 17. In Week 16 against Tampa Bay, Legette had one reception for 12 yards and 2.2 PPR points scored. Legette has seen 5+ targets in only three games since Week 5, and he has averaged 4.3 targets per game this season. Legette is not a consideration for those still playing in Week 18 or DFS bargain hunters. He doesn't have much dynasty appeal, either.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado had five carries for 11 yards in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. Demercado also had two catches for nine yards on three targets. The 26-year-old had another quiet performance despite playing in a favorable matchup on Sunday. Heading into Week 17, the Bengals' defense had surrendered the most fantasy points to running backs this season. Demercado has not been the same fantasy running back since returning from his ankle injury and has played a supporting role in the Cardinals' backfield to Michael Carter. Going into Week 18, Demercado and the Cardinals offense will look to end the season on a high note against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (ankle) is considered questionable to return for Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Corum limped to the sideline after a two-yard carry in the second quarter and was taken to the locker room. He is uncertain to return with a right-ankle injury. Before exiting, Corum rushed the ball six times for 18 yards on the ground. His absence should mean a larger role for Kyren Williams in the backfield. Ronnie Rivers figures to see more chances as the backup, too, with Corum out of the mix for now. With the Rams down big to begin the second half, it's probably unlikely that we'll see Corum again on Monday night, and the Rams could choose to keep him sidelined for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals as well.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett went 21-for-37 for 212 yards with two touchdowns in his team's 37-14 Week 17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Arizona's pass-happy offense stalled despite going against a bottom-tier pass defense. Brissett threw for under 215 yards and finished outside of QB1 territory for a second straight week, marking the first time since taking over the offense. From Week 6 to Week 15, Brissett was the QB3 overall in all fantasy football and averaged 21.2 fantasy points per game. The 33-year-old veteran has averaged 14.05 fantasy points over his last two games. Brissett seems to have found himself in a valley with his play during the fantasy football playoffs, but he will look to climb out of it in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich had his best performance of the season during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dulcich hauled in five of his six targets for 58 yards and a touchdown in the win. The 25-year-old has now finished with 40 receiving yards or more in four straight games, even though fellow TE Darren Waller remains healthy. Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers is set to make his third straight start in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The rookie signal-caller has connected with Dulcich eight times in two games. The expectation is that this trend will continue against the division-rival New England Patriots this Sunday. Dulcich isn't a great streaming option, but he is worthy of a look in deeper leagues this weekend.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had seven carries for 29 yards in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. Carter also had two catches for 14 yards on four targets. The 26-year-old has been the lead running back in the Cardinals' backfield after the team has seen season-ending injuries to James Conner (foot), Trey Benson (knee), and Bam Knight (ankle). However, Carter had under 50 total scrimmage yards in the perfect fantasy matchup. Heading into Sunday, the Bengals' defense had allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season. Carter and the Cardinals' offense will look to bounce back in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams to close the regular season.

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Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor tied for the team lead in receptions and targets during Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints. The rookie wideout hauled in four of his seven targets for 37 yards and snagged a touchdown in the defeat. Ayomanor has seen his role in the offense increase with the Titans down a few wideouts due to injuries to close out the season. Over the last two games, Ayomanor has secured seven receptions for 95 yards and one score. He figures to continue getting the ball thrown his way in the Week 18 regular-season finale. There's not great upside here, but Ayomanor should at least offer deep-league value for the final game against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden found the end zone for the first time since Week 8 during Saturday's loss to the Houston Texans. The rookie tight end was able to salvage his fantasy value with a one-yard touchdown. He finished the game with three receptions on six targets for 32 yards and the one score. His value has been inconsistent this season, and it's not going to get any better in Week 18 in the regular-season finale on the road against a tough Denver Broncos defense. The Chargers are expected to rest most of their starters in Week 18, which includes quarterback Justin Herbert. Backup Trey Lance will take over under center, which will be a downgrade for the entire offense. It's unclear how much Gadsden is going to play, and having a backup QB throwing the rock around isn't going to do him any favors. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for TE help in Week 18.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth finished with his second-highest total in yardage during Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns. Freiermuth hauled in three of his five targets for 63 yards in the loss. He saw 70 percent of the offensive snaps, which is the most for him since Week 3. The increased playing time was because Darnell Washington (forearm) was forced to leave the game. Washington suffered a broken forearm during that game, so he won't play in the regular-season finale. Freiermuth figures to play a bigger role alongside Jonnu Smith during the Week 18 matchup against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Freiermuth has seen four or more targets in three straight games coming into this one. He's worthy of looking at as a TE2 streamer for the regular-season finale.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that a nine-month recovery is expected for Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) after he underwent ACL surgery on his injured left knee on Monday. Parsons suffered the season-ending injury in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos when he came down awkwardly on his left knee while rushing the passer. The 26-year-old is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season, but all in all, it's good news that Parsons suffered a clean tear of his ACL and that no other ligaments were affected. Parsons will cost a little less in IDP fantasy football formats next year because of his injury, but he'll still be worth rostering as an elite defender. The five-time Pro Bowler was on his way to a new career-high in sacks before his injury, finishing with 12.5 sacks and 41 total tackles in 14 games in his first year in Green Bay. Parsons has at least 12 sacks in all five of his NFL campaigns.

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Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) is considered "up in the air" for the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Watt missed a third straight game in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns after having surgery to fix a partially collapsed lung in early December. Reports have varied as far as his potential availability for this Sunday's game, in which the winner wins the AFC North division, and the loser goes home. Head coach Mike Tomlin has said that Watt won't return to game action until he can practice in full for an entire week, so the 31-year-old's practice status will be closely monitored this week. If Watt is active Sunday night versus Baltimore, he surely won't be at 100% and will most likely be on a pitch count.

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Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday that it "seems like it's going well with Rashid Shaheed" after he suffered a concussion in Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers, but the team won't know if he'll make it through the league's concussion protocol until later in the week, according to Curtis Crabtree of FOX 13 Seattle. It will all depend on the 27-year-old's ability to practice this week, but with the Week 18 divisional clash against the San Francisco 49ers coming this Saturday, we don't like Shaheed's chances of suiting up. Shaheed has been more of an asset on special teams for Seattle since they acquired him at the trade deadline from the New Orleans Saints. He has caught 14 of his 25 targets for 186 yards and no touchdowns in his eight games with the Seahawks. Cooper Kupp and tight end AJ Barner will have bigger roles on offense behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba if Shaheed can't get cleared for Week 18.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) is officially active for Monday Night Football against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. As expected, London will be active to close out Week 17 action after returning to the field for last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old wideout missed Weeks 12-15 with a sprained PCL in his left knee and played 69% of the offensive snaps in Week 16, catching three of his eight targets for only 27 yards. Fantasy managers will be hoping that London sees the field more on Monday against the Rams, although he wasn't able to practice in full at all last week from Thursday through Saturday. London checks in as the WR7 this year in terms of half-PPR fantasy points per game (15.1). His presence on the field for the second straight week will make life more difficult for tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who went off for 11 catches, 166 yards, and three TDs in Week 15.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring), who came into Monday night listed as doubtful, is officially inactive versus the hosting Atlanta Falcons in Week 17. It will be the second straight game that Adams will miss due to a lingering left-hamstring injury. The 33-year-old veteran is expected to be held out in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals as well. In last Thursday night's crazy overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield stepped up in Adams' absence behind star receiver Puka Nacua to combine for five catches and 97 receiving yards. In addition to Smith and Mumpfield, tight ends Davis Allen, Terrance Ferguson, and Colby Parkinson should remain more involved in the passing attack. Adams is fully expected to be ready to return for the wild-card round of the postseason.

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The Carolina Panthers' offense was virtually non-existent in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, with quarterback Bryce Young throwing for only 54 yards on the day. Wide receiver Jalen Coker caught both of his targets for only 16 yards, but that was good enough to lead the team. The dud performance broke a string of six straight games in which Coker had at least three receptions. In Weeks 13, 15, and 16, the 24-year-old pass-catcher had a combined 11 receptions on 15 targets for 181 yards and two touchdown grabs as he appeared to be trending towards becoming the No. 2 WR behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. The entire Carolina offense should bounce back this weekend in the Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a trip to the postseason on the line. Don't count out Coker being a serviceable WR4/flex option in deeper fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Atlanta Falcons have declared OT Mike Jerrell, RB Nate Carter, LB Josh Woods, WR Malik Heath, WR Casey Washington, DE Kentavius Street and CB Mike Hughes inactive for Week 17.

From TheHuddle