Unsigned Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Titans HC Mike Vrabel declined to name a starting QB for Week 18 after Thursday night's loss to the Cowboys. Joshua Dobbs looked like a functional NFL QB for most of that game, finishing 20-of-39 for 232 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. "It was a great opportunity to evaluate Josh, and we'll make a decision going forward," Vrabel said. "I thought he did some good things, and obviously a couple of throws he'd like to have back. We'll see where things are here in a couple of days." Dobbs threw for just 2 fewer yards against Dallas than QB Malik Willis TOTALED in his 3 starts. We're guessing the Titans roll with Dobbs in next weekend's must-win game vs. the Jaguars, but we'll keep you updated.

The Titans placed QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle) on IR on Thursday. That makes the AFC Championship his earliest possible return this season. We'll see if the Titans roll with QB Malik Willis or QB Joshua Dobbs in next Sunday's must-win game vs. the Jaguars.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (shoulder) practiced fully again on Thursday. He should be in line to suit up in Week 17 vs. the Commanders. Hunt is nothing more than a deep-league flex option against a Commanders defense that ranks as the 3rd-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Titans QB Joshua Dobbs will start Thursday night's game vs. the Cowboys, according to multiple reports. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggests that QB Malik Willis is sitting to ensure that he's healthy for next weekend's must-win game vs. the Jaguars. Dobbs joined the Titans off the Lions' practice squad on December 21. This will be his first NFL start. You should stay far away from the Titans passing game in Week 17 fantasy lineups.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (shoulder) was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday. We'll keep you in the loop if anything changes that could affect his status for Week 17 vs. the Commanders.

Broncos RB Latavius Murray (NIR/rest) received the day off from practice on Wednesday. It's not unusual for veterans to sit out Wednesday practices, so no need for alarm. We'll check back on Murray's status for Week 17 vs. the Chiefs tomorrow.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Wednesday that he expects WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) to return for this weekend's game vs. the Broncos, barring a setback. Hardman has been out since Week 9. He was emerging as a significant piece of the offense before going down, averaging 5.5 targets, 4.3 catches, 57 yards and .75 TDs over his last 4 games. It's unclear how big a role he'll play in his first game back, though, leaving him as a shaky Week 17 fantasy play.

The switch to QB Nick Foles did not work Monday night against the Chargers. The veteran backup tossed 3 INTs and took 7 sacks in the loss, compiling only 143 yards on 17-of-29 passing. TE Jelani Woods led the receiving with 43 yards, while WR Michael Pittman Jr. was the only Colt to catch more than 3 passes. Interim HC Jeff Saturday still said after the game that he has "no reservations" about switching to Foles and that he still plans to start the vet for the final 2 games.

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette said in a since-deleted tweet that he's been playing through a Lisfranc injury. Fournette was on the injury report with a foot in Week 14 but hasn't been listed the past 2 weeks. And he just went for 162 total yards on 29 touches in Sunday night's win over the Cardinals. We'll keep an eye on Fournette this week, but it doesn't seem like this foot issue will impact his role in Week 17.

Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette dominated the backfield work in Sunday night's OT win over the Cardinals. He carried 20 times for 72 yards, vs. just 7-36 rushing for RB Rachaad White. Fournette also caught a team-high 9 passes for a team-high 90 yards, tying WR Chris Godwin for the target lead at 10. White caught all 4 of his targets for 17 yards, including the team's lone offensive TD. Fournette played 20 more snaps than White and will be the better bet among Bucs RBs for a Week 17 home date with the Panthers.

Rams RB Cam Akers racked up 118 yards and 3 TDs on 23 carries in Sunday's beatdown of the Broncos. The numbers mark big jumps over his previous season highs. Akers has scored 6 rushing TDs over his past 4 games, though, and topped 5.0 yards per carry in 2 straight games. He now looks much more attractive as a Week 17 fantasy football option at the Chargers than we would have expected even heading into Week 16. RB Malcolm Brown added 19 yards on 2 carries. RB Kyren Williams rushed 6 times for 18 yards.

Broncos RB Latavius Murray (foot) is active for today’s game vs. the Rams. He got in 2 limited practices this week and was listed as questionable, but we haven’t heard anything about him being limited in this one.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon scored from 9 yards out among his 3 catches for 31 yards in Saturday's win over the Seahawks. That marks his 4th straight game with at least 1 TD and his 6th TD over that span. McKinnon totaled just 8 touches for 38 yards in this one, so he's still not a safe bet if he doesn't get TD luck. Week 17 holds a rematch with the Broncos, who allowed McKinnon 7-112-2 receiving line in their Week 14 meeting. Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco added 58 yards on 14 carries, plus a catch for 32 yards.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Titans QB Ryan Tannehill had tightrope surgery this week in Alabama to treat his high right ankle sprain. The "best-case scenario" for Tannehill's situation is a 3-week return, which would give him a shot to play in Week 18. We wouldn't bet on him for fantasy football lineups in leagues that play through the final week of the regular season.

Broncos RB Latavius Murray (foot) was a limited practice on Friday and carries a questionable injury designation for Week 16's game vs. the Rams. On Thursday, Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett said that multiple players, including Murray, were held out of practice due to the turf surface. The game will be played on a turf field at SoFi Stadium, and Hackett believes the limited exposure was best. Definitely an odd quote but it does provide some context. Murray is the RB16 overall in PPR scoring since Week 11 largely on the back of heavy usage. That said, the Rams are the 7th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs in 2022. Murray is best viewed as a flex option in Week 16.

Cowboys WR T.Y. Hilton will play vs. the Eagles on Saturday, owner Jerry Jones said Friday. "He should impact us immediately. I expect him to be involved and counted on," Jones added. We'll see how big a role Hilton ends up playing in his Dallas debut, but he's not a realistic Week 16 fantasy option.

Broncos RB Latavius Murray (foot) did not practice on Thursday after logging limited participation the day before. We consider Murray an RB3/flex option in Week 16 vs. the Rams. As such, if you have safer options who play in Saturday games, you may want to pivot there. The schedule handed fantasy managers so many Saturday games this week that the waiting game may prove to be difficult on this front.

Saints WR Jarvis Landry is heading to IR with his ankle injury. The 30-year-old will end up playing in just 9 games this season, averaging only 2.8 catches and 30 yards per. Landry will hit free agency in March but doesn't figure to draw a ton of interest and isn't a great bet for significant 2023 fantasy value.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid suggested Thursday that WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) won't be ready to play vs. the Seahawks this weekend. "I'm not sure he's where he need to be," Reid said. We'll see if Hardman can make it back for Week 17. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson have been running as Kansas City's top 3 WRs lately.

Titans insider Paul Kuharsky hears that QB Ryan Tannehill is "very likely" done for the season with an ankle injury that may require surgery. Tannehill has hurt this right ankle twice this season -- but was surprisingly allowed to re-enter last week's loss to the Chargers. His absence leaves QB Malik Willis at the controls the rest of the way. The rookie made 2 starts the first time Tannehill went down, TOTALING 135 passing yards on 26 attempts. Tennessee will go as run-heavy as possible with Willis, tanking the fantasy value of pass catchers like TE Chig Okonkwo and WR Treylon Burks.