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FFL: Playoff Week 4 | NFL: Week 17

Steelers LBs T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig practice again Friday

Fri Dec 26 3:07pm ET
Field Level Media

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt participated in practice all week, leaving the decision of whether to play him Sunday at Cleveland in the hands of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

Watt and Nick Herbig were on the field Friday for the third consecutive day.

But Watt was not made available for his usual Friday media session, a possible indication he's not fully cleared to play this week.

Watt, 31, hasn't played in the past two games after sustaining a partially collapsed lung while undergoing a dry needling treatment on Dec. 10 that was intended to stimulate muscle recovery. He had surgery the following day to stabilize and repair the lung.

He has seven sacks in 13 games in 2025.

With Watt out and Herbig fighting a hamstring injury, Tomlin said the team trusts Jack Sawyer will be ready to go if needed after he stepped up the past two weeks.

"Love the work that Jack gave us," Tomlin said. "Certainly, love the work that Alex Highsmith gave us, although we anticipated it from him. But (Jeremiah) Moon as well. Schematically and strategically, you don't replace T.J. and Herbig. We understood that."

If the Steelers clinch a playoff berth on Saturday night by virtue of the Green Bay Packers beating the Baltimore Ravens, Watt and several others could be held out Sunday afternoon at Cleveland.

If the Ravens win at Green Bay, the Week 18 finale between AFC North rivals in Pittsburgh decides the division.

Tomlin said the questions with Watt are not football-related but "medical" in nature, limiting his insight on the matter. From a strictly football standpoint, Tomlin said Watt appears to be fully healed.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 17

Player Notes
Josh Allen Dec 26 2:20pm CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (foot), who has been trending in the right direction with a foot injury, was a full participant during Friday's practice and carries no injury designation into a Week 17 matchup with the defending champion Eagles. Allen was seen receiving attention during the Bills' Week 16 win over the Browns, but never missed a snap, and had been viewed as a long shot to miss any time with the injury. With his status now official, Allen is RotoBaller's QB3 for fantasy championship weekend, and he should be viewed as a trusted start, even against an Eagles defense that has held opposing quarterbacks almost four points below their season-long average.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Dec 26 2:20pm CT
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had another clutch showing in their 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Nix had a mediocre day through the air, completing 26 of 38 pass attempts for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but elevated his overall fantasy day with a new season high in rushes, taking nine carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. Before the second half, Nix had no touchdowns and one interception. The Broncos have now won 12 of their last 13 games, and only three of those games were decided by more than one score. In Week 18, the Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers to end the regular season.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Dec 26 2:20pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton struggled in the 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Coming off two back-to-back WR1 consensus outings, Sutton was held to four catches on 10 targets for 40 yards and zero touchdowns as the Chiefs' defense keyed on restricting the passing game. Sutton did lead the team in receiving yards and targets, but the lone passing touchdown from quarterback Bo Nix went to rookie running back RJ Harvey to win them the game in the final minutes. While this outing was a disappointment for fantasy managers who started Sutton in Week 17, his performance still allowed him to surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. The Broncos will face the Los Angeles Chargers at home in Week 18.

From RotoBaller

Troy Franklin Dec 26 2:20pm CT
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin saw another dropoff in snap share during the 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. After posting an uptrend in snaps with 50% in Week 15 and 64% in Week 16, Franklin was only on the field for 38% of snaps in Week 17 despite not having to compete with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant (concussion) for snaps. Franklin still caught all four of his targets for a modest 17 yards and no touchdowns. The Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, and Franklin will seemingly remain a volatile option until otherwise noted.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Dec 26 2:20pm CT
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey stole the show again in the Week 17 20-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Harvey had 14 carries for 43 yards and added a team-leading five catches on six targets for 33 yards with a receiving touchdown in the final minutes that won them the game. This touchdown marks Harvey's 12th of his rookie season and came on a play that displayed elite chemistry with quarterback Bo Nix. Harvey and the Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18 as they look to clinch the top seed in the AFC with another win.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Dec 26 2:00pm CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Jets, as an abdominal injury has kept him from practicing this week. Hollins was one of seven Patriots players ruled out on Friday, along with fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte (concussion). With two of New England's most reliable downfield threats set to miss the game and DeMario Douglas (hamstring) carrying a questionable tag of his own, Stefon Diggs and tight end Hunter Henry could be in line for staggering target shares. Meanwhile, rookie Kyle Williams, who caught a 37-yard touchdown pass in Sunday night's comeback win, becomes an upside-driven desperation flex against a Jets defense that has struggled against the pass.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Dec 26 1:50pm CT
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion) has been ruled out of the team's Week 17 matchup with the Jets after suffering a concussion late in a Week 16 win over the Ravens. Boutte was injured on a controversial deep pass that resulted in no pass interference call, and he will now be held out of at least one more game as he works through the league's concussion protocol. Fellow receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) has also been ruled out for Sunday, leaving Drake Maye without his two most reliable downfield threats, but potentially putting rookie Kyle Williams in a position to build upon his late-season momentum. Williams caught a critical 37-yard touchdown in New England's comeback win on Sunday night, and he could be in line for his highest snap share of the season with Boutte and Hollins already ruled out, while DeMario Douglas (hamstring) is questionable with a hamstring injury.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Dec 26 1:40pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Jets. The first-year back was spotted at Friday's practice, no longer donning the red non-contact jersey he wore to begin the week. Henderson will still need to officially clear the NFL's concussion protocol after exiting the team's Week 16 win over the Ravens with a head injury, and fantasy managers should check back when New England releases their final injury report of the week, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. Henderson finished as the RB3 on the week when the Patriots last faced the Jets in Week 11, and he becomes a must-start if active. Should he miss Sunday's game, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson slots in as a high-end RB2 who could be asked to handle substantial volume.

From RotoBaller

Dylan Sampson Dec 26 1:30pm CT
Dylan Sampson

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (hand) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Steelers as he continues to work back from the hand injury that has kept him out of the last two games. With fellow first-year back Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) done for the year after undergoing surgery following a brutal Week 16 injury, the Browns' running back depth chart has been one to monitor heading into fantasy title games. It was undrafted rookie Raheim Sanders who saw the bulk of the carries following Judkins' injury. He finished the day with 12 touches for 46 yards, while veteran Trayveon Williams was also mixed in to the tune of seven opportunities. If Sampson is able to suit up against the Steelers, he will likely be given starter's reps, but things could quickly devolve into a committee approach. Should Sampson miss another game, Sanders at least carries desperation flex appeal into an otherwise unfavorable matchup.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. Dec 26 1:20pm CT
Harold Fannin Jr.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) sustained a groin injury during Friday's practice and is now being listed as questionable for the team's Week 17 matchup with the Steelers. He had been RotoBaller's TE3 for championship weekend, but his status is now up in the air. Fannin had seen a 20+ percent target share in seven of his last nine games, hitting a 30 percent share twice in the previous five, but the groin injury now calls into question how he might be used even if he is able to suit up. This is another tough blow in a week that has already seen Brock Bowers placed on Injured Reserve and George Kittle likely to head into Sunday night as a game-time decision, leaving fantasy titles to be potentially won or lost by some unlikely suspects at the position.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Dec 26 12:50pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) will "likely be a game-time decision" for Sunday night's contest against the Chicago Bears, according to 49ers President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch. Kittle exited their Week 16 victory with a mid-to-low ankle sprain but remains in play to suit up this weekend. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status during Friday's practice, as the star tight end was unable to take the practice field on Wednesday and Thursday. Before suffering the injury on Monday, Kittle turned in a stellar showing, catching seven of his eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Since Week 10, Kittle has averaged 20.0 PPR points per game and has found the back of the end zone five times. If Kittle were to sit out, Jake Tonges would carry viable streaming upside in deeper 14-team leagues as a risky TE2.

From RotoBaller

Matt Prater Dec 26 12:40pm CT
Matt Prater

Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 41-year-old was unable to step on the practice field this week and will now miss his second-straight contest due to this quadriceps injury. Instead, fantasy managers should expect Michael Badgley to get the starting nod once again. Prater has served as a reliable kicking option for the Bills this season, going 18-for-20 on field goals and 43-for-46 on extra point attempts. Last weekend, Badgley went 1-for-1 and hit two of his three extra points during their victory over the Cleveland Browns. Badgley profiles as a risky option for those in standard formats this weekend, facing the Eagles, who have allowed the 14th-fewest PPR points to opposing kickers.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 26 12:30pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) remained absent during Friday's practice session. Njoku has yet to step on the practice field this week and is trending toward missing his third-straight contest. Managers should monitor his status on Friday's final injury report, but given that he has yet to practice this week, suggests he will face an uphill battle to suit up on Sunday. Before suffering this knee injury, Njoku averaged just 4.3 PPR points per game over his last five games (Week 10 through 14) and caught just 1.2 passes per game. While he has been sidelined, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has seen his production increase. Over his last three, Fannin has averaged a stellar 19.0 PPR points per game and would profile as a must-start TE1 if Njoku misses his third-straight game.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Dec 26 12:20pm CT
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (teeth) was spotted at Friday's practice, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Brown has been unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a dental procedure, but seeing him back at practice on Friday puts him back on track to suit up on Sunday. Managers should monitor his status on Friday's final injury report later this afternoon, in case he faces a setback. After averaging just 11.2 PPR points per game over his first eight games of the campaign, the 28-year-old wideout has taken a massive step forward, totaling 19.8 PPR points per game with four touchdowns over his last six contests. If healthy, Brown remains a must-start WR1 in all formats despite facing a tougher Buffalo Bills secondary that has allowed the 10th-fewest PPR points to opposing WRs.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Dec 26 12:10pm CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) remains absent during Friday's practice, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. The team's veteran wideout has been unable to practice all week after suffering this abdominal injury during their victory over the Ravens last weekend. Given that he has yet to step on the practice field, Hollins will likely face a difficult challenge to suit up for Sunday's contest against the Jets. Managers should keep a close eye on his status on Friday's final injury report, but given his current trajectory, he will likely sit out. Over the last two games, Hollins has seen his target share climb sharply, seeing 8.5 targets per game and tallying an average of 55.0 yards per game. If Hollins were to sit out, managers should expect Stefon Diggs to operate as the clear WR1 while tight end Hunter Henry earns an uptick in opportunities.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Dec 26 12:00pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) was spotted at Friday's practice without a red non-contact jersey. This is an excellent sign for the second-round rookie as he appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's contest against the New York Jets. Henderson exited their Week 16 contest with a concussion and opened the week as a limited participant in each of the first two sessions. However, given that he is now taking contact, suggests he could be in a good position to clear the league's protocol before Sunday. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status, as he would carry high-end RB2 upside facing a Jets defense that allows the fifth-most PPR points to opposing RBs. If he is unable to play, Rhamondre Stevenson would carry must-start RB2 value.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Dec 26 11:20am CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon notes that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) is steadily progressing while dealing with a lingering heel issue. The Ohio State alum has battled a heel injury for the better part of a month now. After a few weeks of no practice, Harrison returned to the field in Week 16 to log three limited sessions before also having his reps capped in the Cards' 26-19 loss to the Falcons last Sunday, in which the second-year pro recorded his lowest snap total of the campaign. Per Gannon, Harrison "had a good day of work" on Thursday, and appears to be trending toward playing again in Week 17. However, it's unclear if he'll still be on a snap count. As it stands, fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 23-year-old ahead of his outing with Cincinnati this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Dec 26 11:10am CT
Josh Allen

According to head coach Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (foot) will play in Sunday's home matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Allen suffered a foot injury in Week 16's 23-20 win over the Browns. Despite not missing any time on the field during the game because of it, the fantasy stalwart has been a limited participant for the first two days of practice this week. Regardless, it sounds like Allen won't be in danger of missing any time and should again slot in as a high-end QB1 play, even in an outing against a staunch Eagles' defense. On the off-chance he isn't ready to rock in Week 17, Mitchell Trubisky would lead the Bills against the visiting Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Mason Taylor Dec 26 11:00am CT
Mason Taylor

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (neck) will be unavailable for Sunday's divisional clash with the visiting New England Patriots. The rookie is set to miss his third straight game after suffering a neck injury in Week 14's 48-20 loss to the Jaguars. Unfortunately for Taylor, he's yet to log even a limited practice since picking up the issue. With the 21-year-old missing again, teammate Jeremy Ruckert will play a majority of snaps at the position for Gang Green, while Jelani Woods and Stone Smartt mix in behind him. None of them projects to be particularly involved enough to matter for fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Dec 26 10:50am CT
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely had some big hopes and expectations entering this season after breaking out in a handful of games last year. He had a bunch of "almost big plays" this season, but ultimately, he's cracked the TE1 level twice and TE2 once. Now, the Ravens are probably operating without Lamar Jackson (doubtful - back), and even Mark Andrews has struggled to produce much over the last few weeks. Likely is riding two straight goose egg weeks into a Week 17 matchup with the Green Bay Packers who are eighth against tight ends in the last four weeks. The fourth-year pro projects as the TE27 on RotoBaller's rankings, which means there are better options on the waiver wire for fantasy managers looking for a streamer in their playoff matchup.

From RotoBaller