Commanders QB Josh Johnson will start Thursday's game vs. Cowboys, HC Dan Quinn said. QB Jeff Driskel will be the backup, with QBs Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota ruled out. Johnson has been bouncing around the NFL since 2009 but hasn't started a game since 2021 with the Ravens. He's 39 years old. Despite the plus matchup against Dallas' 32nd-ranked QB defense, Johnson isn't a recommended start in any fantasy format. The matchup keeps Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in WR3 range in the Week 17 rankings.

The Raiders are placing TE Brock Bowers on IR, ending his 2025 season, according to multiple sources. Bowers has battled a knee injury for most of the year and is shutting it down (potentially in part because this weekend's game vs. the Giants could determine who gets the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft!). His absence leaves Michael Mayer as Vegas' lead TE for the final two games of the season. He posted 5-50-1 and 1-10-0 receiving lines in two games without Bowers earlier this season. Consider Mayer more of a desperation spot starter than reliable Week 17 play vs. the Giants' seventh-ranked TE defense.

Vikings RB Jordan Mason (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday. He never returned to last week's game vs. the Giants after going down on the first possession and seems unlikely to play vs. the Lions on Thursday. RB Aaron Jones, who also suffered an ankle injury on that opening possession, returned to the game and was limited on Tuesday. He should be ready to lead the backfield on Christmas.

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) was limited in Tuesday's practice. Asked about St. Brown's knee injury before practice, HC Dan Campbell said: “It’s positive news, but he’s a little irritated. There’s a little irritation. So, short week, we’ll see. But I would say it’s still positive news.” The Lions still have an outside shot at the playoffs, so St. Brown will be out there against the Vikings on Thursday as long as he's able. We'll update his status again tomorrow.

Commanders QB Marcus Mariota (right hand, quad) did not practice on Tuesday. He hasn't been ruled out for Thursday's game vs. the Cowboys, but we'd be surprised if he played. QB Josh Johnson is the likely starter for that one. The 39-year-old's last NFL start came in 2021.

49ers TE George Kittle suffered a “mid-to-low ankle sprain" in Monday night's win over the Colts, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. That's better news than a high-ankle sprain but still leaves Kittle uncertain for Sunday night's game against the Bears. We'll keep tabs on his status throughout the rest of the week. Kittle's absence would turn TE Jake Tonges into an intriguing spot starter. He averaged 6.2 targets, 4.4 catches, 41.8 yards, and 0.4 TDs in the five games Kittle missed early this season.

Bills QB Josh Allen is "day to day" with a foot injury suffered in the Week 16 win over the Browns, HC Sean McDermott said Monday. Allen got the foot twisted on a sack late in the second quarter in Cleveland. He headed into the locker room early but ultimately didn't miss any snaps. McDermott said that Allen might be limited in practice this week but is expected to play vs. the Eagles on Sunday. We'll keep a close eye on this one, but Allen can stay penciled into Week 17 fantasy lineups.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his right hand and is out for Thursday's game vs. the Lions, HC Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday. We imagine that McCarthy will also miss the season finale, but we'll keep you updated on his status. McCarthy's absence on Christmas puts QB Max Brosmer back under center. He threw for 126 yards, 0 TDs, and 4 INTs in a Week 13 loss in Seattle. The spot on Thursday -- at home for Detroit's 26th-ranked QB defense -- is much better. But Brosmer isn't even a recommended QB2 start and adds a ton of risk to Minnesota's skill-position players.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice (concussion) won't practice on Tuesday, HC Andy Reid said. That leaves Rice as a long shot to clear protocol in time for Thursday night's game vs. the Broncos. WR Tyquan Thornton (concussion) also remains sidelined and will likely miss the Denver game. That'll leave Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster as Kansas City's top three WRs, with Chris Oladokun at QB. The Chiefs are currently implied for 12.0 points.

49ers QB Brock Purdy went 25/34 for 295 yards and 5 TDs with RB Christian McCaffrey going 21-117-0 on the ground and 6-29-2 on 8 targets through the air. The 49ers team put up 48 points on the Colts with Purdy tossing every TD except a late fourth-quarter pick-six from the defense. The 49ers' offense helped elevate playoff fantasy teams to make comebacks and could be league winners next week against the Bears.

49ers TE George Kittle hurt his left ankle in the third quarter of Monday night's game vs. the Colts. He was visibly frustrated as he made his way off the field. Kittle was deemed questionable to return and remained on the sidelines, but he never made it back onto the field. He had a monster game before exiting, catching 7 of 8 targets for 115 yards and a score. But his availability for Sunday night's game vs. the Bears is now uncertain. HC Kyle Shanahan didn't have an update on the injury afterward. We'll keep you posted.

The NFL is suspending Steelers WR DK Metcalf two games for "initiating a physical confrontation with a fan" amid Sunday's win over the Lions. Metcalf is appealing the suspension, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has a "serious contusion" to his back and is considered "day to day," HC John Harbaugh said Monday. "It doesn't look like it's more than that," Harbaugh added. "He's in there getting treatment now." We'll keep tabs on Jackson's status, but we're tentatively expecting him to play vs. the Packers on Saturday night. Still, fantasy managers should make sure to have a replacement plan rostered in case Jackson can't go.

Chargers RB Kimani Vidal is considered "day to day" with a neck strain suffered in the Week 16 win over the Cowboys, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Vidal could miss time, but the belief is that it's not serious," Rapoport adds. We'll start the week projecting Vidal to miss Saturday's game vs. the Texans, which would leave Hassan Haskins as the No. 2 RB and likely mean a significant boost in volume for RB Omarion Hampton.

Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew left the game against the Titans with a knee injury. Despite some fears of a torn ACL, tests showed that Minshew's ACL is in tact. He is still expected to miss time and not return this season. Ian Rapoport reports that the injury is specifcally a bad bone bruise, non-displaced tibial plateau fracture. Minshew was placed on IR. With Minshew missing the season, the Chiefs have signed QB Shane Buechele from the Bills' practice squad. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Chiefs.

Bengals RB Chase Brown racked up 109 total yards and three scores in Sunday's blowout win over Miami. Brown became the first RB with three TDs in a quarter since Joe Mixon did it with the Bengals in 2022. In total, Brown's 32.9 PPR points topped his prior season-high by nearly eight.

Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr. caught 4 of 6 targets for 34 yards and one score in Sunday's loss to the Bills. The rookie added a goal line rushing TD.

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid was held without a catch in Sunday’s close win over the Browns. Kincaid drew only one target on a day that saw Josh Allen throw for 130 yards on 12-of-19 passing.

Jaguars WR Parker Washington racked up 6 catches for 145 yards and a TD in Sunday's decisive win over the Broncos. He led the team in catches, yards, and targets (10) despite ranking just fourth in pass routes. Washington's 70.5% route rate trailed WR Jakobi Meyers (95.5%), WR Brian Thomas Jr. (84.1%), and TE Brenton Strange (72.7%).

Browns RB Quinshon Judkins is expected to be sidelined for 4-5 months with the dislocated ankle and fractured fibula he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Bills, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That timeline would put Judkins back on the field in April or May. He'll miss part of the offseason program, but it sounds like he'll be ready for the start of training camp. The injury ultimately shouldn't have much of an impact on his 2026 outlook. Although the efficiency wasn't great this year (3.6 yards per carry), Judkins flashed more than enough -- coupled with his second-round draft capital -- to be a heavy favorite to open next season as Cleveland's lead back.