Bengals DL Sam Hubbard (calf) is questionable for Monday night's game against the Bills. He remained limited in practice all week after missing last Saturday's game. Hubbard might be worth a shot if his game weren't the last of the weekend. As it is, it will be difficult to wait for him in IDP lineups -- especially without knowing whether an active Hubbard might see a more limited role than usual. Try to avoid him.

Vikings TE Irv Smith (ankle) has been designated to return from IR. He's been out since going down with a significant high-ankle sprain in Week 8. Minnesota, of course, swung a deal for TE T.J. Hockenson since then. Smith's return could be a slight boost to the Vikings passing game, but he won't be a fantasy factor in the regular season or playoffs, barring a Hockenson injury.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon rushed 16 times for 65 yards (4.1 per rush) in Saturday's win over the Patriots. He added 7 receptions for 43 yards among 9 targets (tied for 2nd on the team). The efficiency wasn't great, but it was nice to see Mixon clearly leading the backfield in both phases. He goes up against the Bills in Week 17.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow went 40-of-52 passing for 375 yards and 3 TDs (plus 2 INTs) in Saturday's win over the Patriots. Cincinnati dropped back on 65.5% of offensive plays despite jumping to a big early lead, facing a defense that has played the run tough. Burrow's scores went to WR Trenton Irwin (2) and WR Tee Higgins, who led the team with 128 yards on 8 catches. WR Ja'Marr Chase matched Higgins forr the reception lead, going for 79 yards. Cincinnati hosts the Bills in Week 17.

Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt (shoulder) is active for today's game against the Patriots.

The Bengals have ruled DE Sam Hubbard (calf) out for Saturday's game against the Patriots. EDGE Trey Hendrickson, however, will play after missing last week with a fractured left wrist. We'll see how effective he is with 1 good arm. Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt (shoulder) is questionable for the game.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) does not carry an official injury designation for Week 16's game vs. the Patriots. Higgins has spooked fantasy managers a handful of times this season by disappearing in games, but he fully practiced back-to-back days to end the week. Consider the third-year player a low-end WR1 in Saturday's contest.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) logged full participation in practice on Wednesday. This is a big improvement over the limited participation the wideout recorded yesterday. Higgins seems likely to suit up for Saturday's game vs. the Patriots. Check back tomorrow for the final injury report for Week 16.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) practiced in a limited fashion on Tuesday. The third-year wideout has been hounded by this issue all season. Higgins is still considered a WR1 option despite the tough Week 16 draw vs. a Patriots defense that ranks as the 8th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. We’ll keep an eye on his status as the week unfolds ahead of Saturday’s game.

Bengals DE Sam Hubbard injured his left calf in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the team expects Hubbard to miss "a few weeks" with the "hope" that he can make it back for the playoffs. Cincinnati was already missing EDGE Trey Hendrickson on Sunday, after he fractured a wrist the previous game. We'll see who's starting at those end spots for a Week 16 visit to New England.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon only managed to record 21 yards on 11 carries in Sunday's win vs. the Buccaneers. Fortunately, Mixon made up for the less-than-stellar effort by adding 5 catches and 33 yards in the receiving game. Teammate Samaje Perine did not find much success either with 7 carries for 24 yards and one catch for no gain. Week 16's showdown against the Patriots will be difficult next week, as the Pats D ranks as the single-most difficult matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs this season. As such, fantasy managers advancing in the playoffs should temper expectations for Mixon moving forward.

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase logged 7 catches on 13 targets for 60 yards, leading all Bengals receivers in those categories in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. Chase also found the end zone in Week 15, in addition to teammates Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and TE Mitchell Wilcox. Both Boyd and Higgins wound up with 5 catches apiece. While no one besides Chase cracked the 50-yard mark (Boyd with 35 yards, Higgins with 33), fantasy managers who rolled out these Bengals WRs had their days saved by TDs. Next week brings a tough matchup against the Patriots, who rank 7th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Still consider Chase a top-5 option, but Higgins is more of a low-end WR2, and Boyd a flex candidate in Week 16.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow tallied 200 passing yards, 4 TDs, and 1 INT in Sunday's win. While the yardage total isn't eye-popping, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell into the Christmas spirit early, gifting Burrow and company good field position as a result of multiple turnovers in the second half. Burrow and the Bengals are set to face off against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills in Week 16 and Week 17 respectively. Though both franchises rank in the bottom 10 of average fantasy points allowed to QBs in 2022, managers should trust Burrow with the confidence they have all season as a top-12 option.

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd (finger) is active for today’s game vs. the Bucs. He carries elevated risk playing through the dislocated finger he suffered last week.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bucs. He was limited in Wednesday and Thursday's practices but a full-go on Friday. There have been no reports on Higgins’ planned usage today, but we’re expecting him to play his usual role, barring a setback with that hamstring.

The Bengals expect to have both WRs Tee Higgins (hamstring) and Tyler Boyd (finger) in the lineup today against the Buccaneers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Both guys are listed as questionable, so we'll watch for pregame confirmation. We'll also keep an eye out for any specifics on Higgins' planned usage after he barely appeared in last week's game.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon seems to have a tough matchup with the Bucs this weekend. Tampa Bay ranks 10th toughest on RB scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed and has yielded the 6th-fewest PPR points per game to the position. But most of that has been limiting TD production. The Buccaneers sit tied for 3rd-fewest RB rushing TDs allowed. But they've also allowed 4.6 yards per rush, 11th most in the league. Two of the past 3 opponents have had a RB go over 110 yards on the ground. So it might not be as bad a matchup as the overall numbers suggest. The biggest issue for Mixon might be Samaje Perine edging him in pass routes and targets last week. The Bengals' lead back still sits in RB1 territory in our Week 15 fantasy football rankings.

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd (finger) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Bucs. He practiced all week, including a full workout on Friday, so Boyd is seemingly on track to play. He carries elevated risk, though, after dislocating a finger last week.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Bucs. He was limited in Wednesday and Thursday's practice and then a full-go on Friday. That's an upgrade from last week, when Higgins was added to the injury report on Thursday and limited on both Thursday and Friday. HC Zac Taylor confirmed on Friday that he expects Higgins to play this weekend. He, of course, carries plenty of risk after playing just 1 snap last week (after not being listed on the final injury report). We'll look for updates on Higgins' status throughout the weekend.

Bengals WRs Tee Higgins (hamstring) and Tyler Boyd (finger) were limited again in Thursday's practice. Boyd said that he has "some pain" with that finger but is preparing to play vs. the Bucs this weekend. We'll see how these guys are listed on the final injury report tomorrow.