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Cowboys release veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott

Tue Dec 31 6:14pm ET
Field Level Media

With one game left in their season, the Dallas Cowboys waived veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott on Tuesday afternoon.

The team said it made the move to allow Elliott a chance to latch on with a playoff team should he clear waivers.

The Cowboys (7-9) aren't part of the playoff picture and conclude their season against the visiting Washington Commanders on Sunday.

"Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement. "As I have said many times previously, Zeke's impact as one of the greatest to ever play with the Star on their helmet will never change and is etched in our record books and history forever. We thank him, love him and wish him the absolute best."

Elliott ranks third in Cowboys history with 8,488 career rushing yards, behind only Tony Dorsett (12,036) and the NFL all-time leading rusher in Emmitt Smith, who had 17,162 of his 18,355 yards in a Dallas uniform.

"Even though nothing is imminent, Zeke is excited about the possibilities and is grateful," Rocky Arceneaux, Elliott's agent, said in a statement. "He's got a lot of good football left in him, and will remain a Dallas Cowboy for life."

Elliott, 29, has rushed for just 226 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries this season while also catching 12 passes for 69 yards. The nine-year pro gained at least 979 yards in each of his first six seasons before his yardage began to spiral downward.

Elliott had 876 rushing yards in 2022 before the Cowboys released him following the season. He played for the New England Patriots in 2023 and rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns.

This season, Elliott returned to Dallas. He rushed for 40 yards in the season-opening victory against the Cleveland Browns but has reached 30 just twice more all season.

Rico Dowdle leads Dallas with 1,007 rushing yards this season.

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Player Notes
Ezekiel Elliott Dec 31 11:13pm ET
Ezekiel Elliott

Dynasty | The Dallas Cowboys have cut running back Ezekiel Elliott. Dynasty Analysis: Once thought of as the lead back this season, Elliott just didn't show he had enough left in the tank to produce for the Cowboys and was eventually replaced by Rico Dowdle. On the year, he posted just 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns on a career low 3.1 yards per carry. Elliott is just 870 yards short of 10,000 for his career (a feat only 32 running backs have ever achieved), but it's fair to wonder if he has enough left in the tank to get there. He may have a line on joining a contender, but he's someone to let go of in dynasty leagues at this point.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Ben Skowronek Dec 31 9:50pm ET
Ben Skowronek

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) was a limited participant in practice to open the week on Tuesday. It appears that Skowronek is headed in the right direction following his absence from last Wednesday's game due to a hip issue. There appears to be a good chance that Skowronek can get back on the field for Saturday's regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Skowronek has mainly been playing on special teams, but did see his role as a receiver increase when George Pickens was sidelined. However, Skowronek is too far back on the depth chart to have viable fantasy value heading into Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Cole Holcomb Dec 31 9:40pm ET
Cole Holcomb

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee) had his 21-day practice window opened on Tuesday. Holcomb last played in Week 9 of the 2023 season when he suffered an extremely serious knee injury. There was speculation that Holcomb's career could be over, but now he appears to be headed in the right direction. A limited practice on Tuesday gives hope that Holcomb might be able to suit up for Saturday's regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. If active, Holcomb would likely be on a snap count, but getting him on the field at all would be a great feel-good story.

From RotoBaller

Rasheen Ali Dec 31 9:30pm ET
Rasheen Ali

Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (hip) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice session. Ali appears to be still dealing with a hip issue that forced him out of action early during Wednesday's Week 17 contest. Normally, his status doesn't mean much, but fellow back Justice Hill (concussion, illness) missed Tuesday's practice and is in danger of sitting this weekend. If Hill sits, Ali would be the primary backup to Derrick Henry in the backfield. It probably wouldn't result in anything noteworthy, but an increased snap count could give Ali a chance to prove himself.

From RotoBaller

Charlie Kolar Dec 31 9:30pm ET
Charlie Kolar

Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) was a full participant during Tuesday's practice session. Kolar was designated to return from the injured reserve on Monday after missing the last four games due to a fractured forearm. The fact Kolar was able to get through a full session on Tuesday is good news ahead of Saturday's game against the Cleveland Browns. The organization is hopeful that Kolar will be available for the regular season finale. There probably won't be much fantasy value from him given he's the third string back, but Kolar is solid depth at the tight end spot.

From RotoBaller

Denzel Ward Dec 31 9:20pm ET
Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward (shoulder) didn't suit up for Tuesday's walkthrough. This news comes after Ward was forced to exit early during Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. Ward injured his shoulder in the first half and didn't return to the game. As a result, Ward has begun the week on the sideline, but has plenty of time to get ready before Saturday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. The loss of Ward would be a significant hit to this secondary. He has 48 tackles, 19 passes defended, and two interceptions this season. The Browns have no incentive to win, so we'll see if they let their All-Pro corner suit up for the regular season finale.

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Justice Hill Dec 31 8:00pm ET
Justice Hill

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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Justin Fields Dec 31 8:00pm ET
Justin Fields

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.

From RotoBaller

Michael Woods II Dec 31 7:50pm ET
Michael Woods II

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.

From RotoBaller

Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dec 31 7:40pm ET
Dorian Thompson-Robinson

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.

From RotoBaller

Myles Garrett Dec 31 7:00pm ET
Myles Garrett

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.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Dec 31 6:50pm ET
Joe Burrow

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.

From RotoBaller

Nelson Agholor Dec 31 6:40pm ET
Nelson Agholor

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.

From RotoBaller

Jerome Ford Dec 31 6:30pm ET
Jerome Ford

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.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Dec 31 6:20pm ET
Tee Higgins

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.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Dec 31 6:10pm ET
Jaylen Warren

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.

From RotoBaller

Trey Benson Dec 31 5:40pm ET
Trey Benson

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.

From RotoBaller

Greg Zuerlein Dec 31 5:40pm ET
Greg Zuerlein

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.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Dec 31 5:30pm ET
Chase Brown

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.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 31 5:30pm ET
David Njoku

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.

From RotoBaller