Bears RB D’Onta Foreman (personal) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Cardinals. That leaves Chicago’s backfield to Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert. We don’t know exactly how work will be divvied between them, but they both have enough upside against Arizona’s 31st-ranked RB defense to consider as RB3 or flex plays. See where Johnson and Herbert sit in the Week 16 RB Rankings.
Browns K Dustin Hopkins is officially questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the Texans with a left hamstring injury. Cleveland just went for two points after their latest TD, so it doesn't look like Hopkins is available the rest of the way.
Vikings LB Jordan Hicks (shin) is active for today's game against the Lions. Minnesota activated him from IR Saturday, and it appears Hicks is ready to reclaim his role. There's some risk to playing him right away following a four-game absence, but we're willing to take that shot in LB2 range of the Week 16 LB rankings. Rookie LB Ivan Pace Jr. (shoulder) is active as well after turning up questionable with a late-week shoulder injury. He filled in well for Hicks but now carries a playing-time question with Hicks back. Pace sits in LB3 territory of our rankings. DT Harrison Phillips (back) is also active but sits lower in our DL rankings than usual. There is tackle upside against a Detroit offense that likes to run.
Bears RB D'Onta Foreman (personal) is not expected to play vs. the Cardinals today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. No word yet on Foreman's status for Week 17 and beyond. His absence will turn Chicago's backfield from a three-man committee to a two-man committee with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. We don't know exactly how work will be divvied between them, but they're both in the RB3 mix now against Arizona's 31st-ranked RB defense.
Vikings LB Jordan Hicks is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions. He put in full practices all week, in his first action following four weeks on IR for compartment syndrome after a shin injury. Hicks tweeted a hype video Friday pointing to his return, but it ended with the message "soon." So we'll have to see whether Hicks will play. If he does, we'd assume he'll play at least near his usual role and carry intriguing IDP upside. We've had Hicks in our Week 16 LB rankings but will continue to track his status. Fellow LB Ivan Pace Jr. popped up on the injury report Friday with a shoulder issue that limited his practice. He's also questionable. DT Harrison Phillips (back) is questionable after managing just one limited practice for the week. You should lean away from using him if possible. The defense will miss CB Byron Murphy (knee). The matchup with Detroit's high-ceiling offense doesn't look attractive regardless of who's active (or not).
Bears RB D’Onta Foreman (personal) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Cardinals. He returned to a limited practice on Friday after sitting out on Thursday. We’ll look for more info on Foreman’s situation but won’t get Chicago’s inactives until a little before 3 pm ET on Sunday. Foreman’s absence would make RBs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson more attractive fantasy plays in a plus matchup.
The Vikings are opening the 21-day practice window for LB Jordan Hicks this week. Hicks missed the past four games after needing surgery to relieve compartment syndrome following a shin injury on Nov. 12. it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to play this Sunday against the Lions, but that's at least a possibility. "Jordan is the heart and soul ... on our defense," HC Kevin O'Connell said Monday, according to the team website. "We've gotta get him some reps this week and see where he's at ... and if we can have him available, I think it'll be a real bonus for us this week." O'Connell also spoke about how good Hicks is at communicating the calls and ensuring everyone on the defense is in the right spot. That would seem to indicate he'll reclaim the green dot from LB Ivan Pace Jr. and take over calling plays in the defensive huddle. But O'Connell also said Pace has "been great" at filling in for Hicks there and talked about them working side by side. We'd bet the veteran Hicks will reclaim the playing-time lead at the position for a team fighting to reach the playoffs -- assuming he's physically ready to do so. We can't know for sure, of course, how Minnesota will sort out LB playing time until the next game that includes both Hicks and Pace -- or at least until coaches indicate the expected hierarchy. Hicks has scored as a top-10 LB in fantasy points per game this season, so he's worth a look if available on your waiver wire this week. Don't quit on Pace just yet, though, if he has been helpful in your format. And the undrafted rookie remains an upside dynasty asset.
Browns TE David Njoku continues to be QB Joe Flacco’s favorite target. The veteran pass-catcher ended Week 15’s win vs. the Bears with 10 catches on 14 targets for 104 receiving yards and a TD. Sunday’s contest is the second time in Njoku’s career that he exceeded the 100-yard mark (2021 Week 5). WR Amari Cooper was also heavily involved, hauling 4 of 8 targets for a team-high 109 receiving yards, including the 51-yard TD catch that tied the game up late in the fourth quarter. Both players are set up nicely to build on this success next week vs. the Texans (28th in pass-defense DVOA) and should be trustworthy starters in the fantasy playoffs.
Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reports that Browns S Grant Delpit might land on IR this week for a groin injury that's expected to cost him multiple games. Going on IR, of course, would cost him at least the final four contests of the regular season. If the Browns elect not to place Delpit on IR, it'll indicate they want to leave open the possibility of him returning. Either way, his 2023 season looks done for redraft IDP rosters. If you're playing for a fantasy championship in Week 17, will you want to start Delpit in his potential first game back from a two-week groin injury? (Same question if you play into Week 18.) Ronnie Hickman was Cleveland's only full-time safety for Sunday's win over the Jaguars, filling in after Juan Thornhill got ruled out pregame with a calf injury. D'Anthony Bell filled in after Delpit left. Hickman, an undrafted rookie, tallied just 2 tackles and a pass breakup. Bell -- a 27-year old with 20 career tackles -- collected 3 solos. It's certainly possible either guy finds numbers this Sunday against the Bears. But this isn't the time of year to take a chance on near-complete unknowns in your fantasy football lineup. Look for a more-proven replacement if you're losing Delpit.
Update: The Browns placed Delpit on IR on Wednesday.
Browns TE David Njoku recorded his first career multi-TD game in Week 14 vs. the Jaguars. The veteran ended the contest with 6 receptions on 8 targets for a team-high 91 receiving yards. Though he flopped last Sunday vs. the Rams, Njoku has been on a roll of late and has seen at least 6 catches and 50 receiving yards in four of his last five games. He should be locked into fantasy lineups as a TE1 next week going up against the Bears (fifth-best TE matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed).
RB D'Onta Foreman led the Bears' backfield in Sunday's win over the Lions, coming off the team's Week 13 bye. Foreman handled 11 of 15 RB carries (73.3%) and all 3 of the HB targets. He doubled both Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert in routes and played 55% of the offensive snaps. Foreman should be considered the leader heading into Week 15's visit to Cleveland. HC Matt Eberflus said ahead of the Detroit game that he'd be willing to ride the hot hand, so we'll see if the usage changes at all before projecting beyond Week 15. If Foreman does lead again, he could be a difference maker for a high-upside matchup with the Cardinals in Week 16. Johnson and Herbert are mere bench stashes for now.
Browns TE David Njoku (knee) is not listed on the final Week 14 injury report. He only got in a limited practice on Friday but is evidently good to go for this weekend’s game vs. the Jaguars.
Browns TE David Njoku (knee) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. He's taken every Wednesday off since Week 8, but this is the first time he's also missed Thursday. We'll see if Njoku gets on the field tomorrow and how he's listed on the final injury report for this weekend's game vs. the Jaguars.
Bears RB D'Onta Foreman (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. That puts him on track to play vs. the Lions this weekend. Foreman, Roschon Johnson, and Khalil Herbert haven't played a healthy game together since Week 1, so it's tough to project what this backfield will look like on Sunday. Johnson dominated playing time last time out, registering a 75% snap rate, making him the best bet among these three. But it's a backfield to ideally avoid, especially against Detroit's 11th-ranked RB defense.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (groin) is not listed on the final Week 13 injury report after putting in a full practice on Friday. He should be ready for his usual role vs. the Texans this weekend.
Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion) is out for this weekend’s game vs. the Rams. The team confirmed on Friday that QB Joe Flacco will start that one. The 38-year-old isn’t a good option at this point of his career – but he should prove to be at least a slight upgrade over Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be ready to go for this weekend's game vs. the Texans, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (groin) did not practice on Wednesday. HC Sean Payton said afterward that he expects Jeudy to practice later this week, which would seemingly put him on track to play vs. the Texans on Sunday. We'll keep you updated on Jeudy's status.
Monday's MRI revealed no structural damage in Browns Edge Myles Garrett's injured left shoulder, according to multiple reports. HC Kevin Stefanski called Garrett day-to-day and indicated he's optimistic for Garrett's chances of playing Sunday against the Rams. We'll watch Garrett's status throughout the week, and you should make sure to have an insurance option. But it sounds like we'll have Garrett for IDP lineups.
Bears RB D'Onta Foreman (ankle, shin) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Vikings. RBs Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer are dressed for Chicago. Herbert should handle the majority of the early-down work, with Johnson spelling him on passing downs in particular.
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