Fantasy Football News & Latest NFL Updates | Shark Bites

Lions HC Dan Campbell said Wednesday that TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is "coming along" in his recovery from a Week 18 knee injury. "He's gotten better," Campbell added. "He feels better than he did this time last week. It's encouraging." LaPorta drew just three targets in the Wild Card win over the Rams. But he scored a TD, played 80% of the offensive snaps, and ran a route on 80% of pass plays. We'll track his practice participation this week, leading up to Sunday's game against the Bucs' 27th-ranked TE defense.

Rams RB Kyren Williams had surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand, HC Sean McVay said Wednesday. Williams hurt his left hand in the fourth quarter of the Wild Card loss to the Lions. We'll look for more details on the procedure and timeline for return. Williams could miss some of the offseason program, but this injury shouldn't impact his 2024 campaign.

The Browns have fired OC Alex Van Pelt and RBs coach Stump Mitchell. Van Pelt has been Cleveland's OC since HC Kevin Stefanski was hired in 2020; Mitchell started his Browns tenure in 2019. We'll see who replaces those guys, but we wouldn't expect sweeping changes to the offense considering Stefanski has always had a big say in the operation.

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice. He'll play -- and be ready for a full workload -- vs. the Packers on Saturday night. McCaffrey sits clear atop the RB Rankings for the Divisional Round.

The Bills released RB Leonard Fournette from the practice squad. He was not elevated for the Wild Card win over the Steelers, so the news isn't a big surprise. Buffalo will continue to roll with RBs James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Latavius Murray. The 29-year-old Fournette's NFL career is on the ropes.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's practice. “We’ll see how it goes," HC John Harbaugh said when asked whether Andrews could play vs. the Texans on Saturday. We'll continue to track his progress.

The Saints fired OC Pete Carmichael, as well as senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell and WRs coach Kodi Burns. New Orleans finished a solid 14th in total yards and ninth in points scored this past year, but the organization is evidently looking for some fresh blood after employing Carmichael since 2009. We'll see who the Saints tab as their new OC.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (ankle, ribs) is active for tonight's game vs. the Eagles. He never seemed to be in danger of missing this one, although he won't be at 100% after getting in just two limited practices this week.

Texans WR Noah Brown has been placed on IR with the shoulder injury he suffered in Saturday's Wild Card win over the Browns. He'll miss the rest of the postseason. Brown flashed a few times during the 2023 season but was unable to string together more than a handful of healthy games at a time. The 28-year-old is due to hit free agency in March.

The Rams believe TE Tyler Higbee tore his right ACL when he took a direct shot to that knee from Lions S Kerby Joseph in Sunday night's Wild Card loss, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Higbee is scheduled for an MRI on Monday. If the torn ACL is confirmed, Higbee will be up against it to be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. The 31-year-old is signed with the Rams for two more seasons. Fifth-round rookie TE Davis Allen flashed a bit down the stretch this year and will have an opportunity to earn a bigger role in 2024, although the Rams are likely to add to the position this offseason.

Update: The ACL tear has been confirmed. HC Sean McVay said that Higbee also tore the MCL in his right knee.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said at Sunday's season-ending press conference that the team still has a "ton of confidence" in QB Deshaun Watson. Injuries limited Watson to just six games this season -- the last of which was a broken glenoid in his throwing shoulder that required surgery in November. “He’s doing great in rehab," Stefanski said. "I’m confident he’ll be ready to roll this spring. He’s chomping at the bit, but he’s doing everything he’s supposed to do when it comes to what the doctors are telling him and as he rehabs through this, but he’ll be ready to roll.” Watson's recovery from that surgery is one question heading into 2024. But the bigger one is his ability at this point. Watson put more bad than good on tape this past year, finishing with a 61.4% completion rate and 6.5 yards per attempt. QB Joe Flacco was much more productive in the same offense down the stretch. Watson can't be considered more than a QB2 in early fantasy drafts. We'll track his rehab.

Rams TE Tyler Higbee (shoulder) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Lions. He was limited in practice all week and carries some re-injury risk. But this is a plus matchup against Detroit's 24th-ranked TE defense.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Rams. He'll reportedly play with a brace on that injured knee and probably won't be close to 100%. You're likely banking on a TD if you use LaPorta in fantasy football tonight.

Packers RB A.J. Dillon (thumb, neck) is inactive for today's Wild Card game vs. the Cowboys. That should leave RB Aaron Jones in a workhorse role, with RBs Patrick Taylor and Emanuel Wilson behind him.

Packers WR Christian Watson (hamstring) is active for today's Wild Card game vs. the Cowboys. He was reportedly a true game-time decision after a limited week of practice. When Watson returned from his first hamstring injury of the season back in Week 4, he played just 46% of Green Bay's offensive snaps. It's certainly possible that he's on a limited snap count again today.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Lions TE Sam LaPorta (knee) is "trending in the right direction to play" vs. the Rams tonight. "Very limited in practice, LaPorta will likely wear a brace," Rapoport adds. LaPorta will certainly be at less than 100% and a strong candidate to be on a snap count if he does end up active for this one. We'll get Detroit's inactives around 6:45 pm ET tonight.

Packers WR Christian Watson will test his injured hamstring in pre-game warmups before a decision is made on his availability for today's Wild Card game vs. the Cowboys, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "For the first time in a month, there is some optimism that he can go," Rapoport adds. "But the workout is key." We'd expect Watson to be on some type of snap count if he does end up playing. We'll get Green Bay's inactives around 3 pm ET today.

Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (ankle) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Chiefs. He's still just three weeks removed from his high-ankle sprain, so don't expect Waddle to be at 100% for this one. He was limited in practice all week.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle) is active for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Chiefs. He got in three limited practices this week, so we're expecting him to be ready for something close to his usual role.

Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (hip, ankle) is inactive for tonight's Wild Card game vs. the Dolphins. Hopefully he wasn't part of your playoff plans. WR Justyn Ross (hamstring) is also inactive.