Courtesy of Footballguys.com
CLE - RB Duke Johnson a silver lining
Source: USA TODAY Fantasy Sports
Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson is fourth among running backs in catches (68) and receiving yards (618) with one game left to play this season.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Things have not gone well for the Browns this year. Offensively, the unit was marred by turnovers all season long. One bright spot was the play of Johnson, and fantasy owners have relied on him as a flex play in PPR leagues all year long.
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KC - RB Kareem Hunt in rare company
Source: USA TODAY Fantasy Sports
Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt is just the 10th running back in NFL history to achieve at least 1,000 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in his first season. He's the first rookie running back to accomplish the feat since Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin in 2012.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Hunt showed that he can play at a high level almost immediately this year. After his first career rush that ended in a fumble (for a player who never fumbled as a workhorse in college at Toledo), Hunt made big plays as a runner or receiver. The Chiefs have won the AFC West and in the playoffs they should do what they can to feature Hunt early and often.
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DEN - QB Paxton Lynch to play in Week 17
Source: 9News.com - Mike Klis
Denver Broncos QB Paxton Lynch (ankle) will receive playing time in Week 17, according to head coach Vance Joseph.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
He'll play and he should start for the Broncos in their season finale against the Chiefs. Lynch has not earned the opportunity to start for the Broncos in two seasons. His work ethic and desire are in question, in addition to a couple of injuries (shoulder, ankle) that have prevented him from being full strength. Even if Lynch plays well in Week 17, we doubt he is an option for the Broncos to start in 2018. Expect the team to make a strong move for a quarterback (either through the draft or free agency) this offseason.
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NE - RB Dion Lewis receives a lot of snaps
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots RB Dion Lewis played a season-high 51 snaps against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15. His previous season high was 33 snaps.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Without Rex Burkhead in the lineup we saw Lewis get a much larger role. That should continue in the season finale in Week 17. Reports indicate Burkhead should be ready to return from his knee injury in the playoffs. The Patriots have a first-round bye, so he's got a couple more weeks to rest.
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NE - WR Kenny Britt may be odd man out
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots WR Kenny Britt likely will be benched when WR Chris Hogan (shoulder) is ready to play again, in the opinion of ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
No surprise here. Britt was added in December after he was waived by the Browns to give the team veteran depth. When Hogan is ready, Britt is unlikely to get a jersey on gameday.
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WAS - QB Kirk Cousins makes franchise history
Source: Redskins.com
Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback in Redskins' history with three seasons of at least 25 touchdown passes.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
All that and Cousins has not been worth locking up with a long-term contract. Washington has placed the franchise tag on Cousins each of the last two seasons. They could do that again for 2018 (for one final time) with a price tag of $34.5 million fully guaranteed for one year. Reports indicate they are scouting the top quarterbacks likely to be available in the 2018 NFL draft. Cousins may not want to come back, and they seem ready to move on. However, expect them to tag Cousins (franchise or transition) so they get something for him if (when?) they lose him.
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LAC - RB Melvin Gordon will be examined
Source: Los Angeles Daily News - Jack Wang
Los Angles Chargers RB Melvin Gordon (ankle) will have his injured ankle looked at Tuesday, Dec. 26, after rolling it a couple of times in Week 16.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Keep an eye on this situation if you're playing a championship game in Week 17. He was wearing a walking boot following the injury but has suffered similar ailments this season and been able to recover well. The Chargers are still alive in the playoff picture and will give Gordon his normal (large) workload if he can handle it. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has indicated that this situation will come down to the end of the week. Stay tuned.
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NYG - QB Eli Manning to start finale
Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan
New York Giants QB Eli Manning will start the Week 17 season finale, according to interim coach Steve Spagnuolo.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Spagnuolo confirmed Manning will start, but he also indicated they could see what others can do. That would be a hint that rookie Davis Webb could get some playing time. A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Webb has all the tools of a pro passer but he was robotic in a college career that saw him play for two schools (Texas Tech, Cal).
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PIT - WR Antonio Brown wouldn't be ready for WC game
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Updating previous reports, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown (calf) is unlikely to be ready if the Steelers had to play in a wild-card game in the postseason, according to a source.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Steelers have locked in a first-round bye with their win over the Texans on Monday. That'll give him more time to heal for their first playoff game in the Divisional Round.
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NYG - WR Sterling Shepard injures neck
Source: SNY - Ralph Vacchiano
New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard (neck) left the Week 16 game with a neck injury.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Neck injuries are tricky to deal with and the Giants should just shut Shepard down for the Week 17 finale. We'll see if that's their decision during the week.
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TEN - RB DeMarco Murray unlikely for finale
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Updating previous reports, Tennessee Titans RB DeMarco Murray (knee) is considered a long shot to play in Week 17 due to his lateral collateral sprain.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Without Murray in Week 17, the Titans will turn to Derrick Henry more than ever. The Titans will make Henry the workhorse in a tough game against the Jaguars in Week 17 with their playoff hopes still alive.
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Source: footballguys.com
CLE - RB Duke Johnson a silver lining
Source: USA TODAY Fantasy Sports
Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson is fourth among running backs in catches (68) and receiving yards (618) with one game left to play this season.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Things have not gone well for the Browns this year. Offensively, the unit was marred by turnovers all season long. One bright spot was the play of Johnson, and fantasy owners have relied on him as a flex play in PPR leagues all year long.
Back to Top
KC - RB Kareem Hunt in rare company
Source: USA TODAY Fantasy Sports
Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt is just the 10th running back in NFL history to achieve at least 1,000 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in his first season. He's the first rookie running back to accomplish the feat since Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin in 2012.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Hunt showed that he can play at a high level almost immediately this year. After his first career rush that ended in a fumble (for a player who never fumbled as a workhorse in college at Toledo), Hunt made big plays as a runner or receiver. The Chiefs have won the AFC West and in the playoffs they should do what they can to feature Hunt early and often.
Back to Top
DEN - QB Paxton Lynch to play in Week 17
Source: 9News.com - Mike Klis
Denver Broncos QB Paxton Lynch (ankle) will receive playing time in Week 17, according to head coach Vance Joseph.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
He'll play and he should start for the Broncos in their season finale against the Chiefs. Lynch has not earned the opportunity to start for the Broncos in two seasons. His work ethic and desire are in question, in addition to a couple of injuries (shoulder, ankle) that have prevented him from being full strength. Even if Lynch plays well in Week 17, we doubt he is an option for the Broncos to start in 2018. Expect the team to make a strong move for a quarterback (either through the draft or free agency) this offseason.
Back to Top
NE - RB Dion Lewis receives a lot of snaps
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots RB Dion Lewis played a season-high 51 snaps against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15. His previous season high was 33 snaps.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Without Rex Burkhead in the lineup we saw Lewis get a much larger role. That should continue in the season finale in Week 17. Reports indicate Burkhead should be ready to return from his knee injury in the playoffs. The Patriots have a first-round bye, so he's got a couple more weeks to rest.
Back to Top
NE - WR Kenny Britt may be odd man out
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots WR Kenny Britt likely will be benched when WR Chris Hogan (shoulder) is ready to play again, in the opinion of ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
No surprise here. Britt was added in December after he was waived by the Browns to give the team veteran depth. When Hogan is ready, Britt is unlikely to get a jersey on gameday.
Back to Top
WAS - QB Kirk Cousins makes franchise history
Source: Redskins.com
Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback in Redskins' history with three seasons of at least 25 touchdown passes.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
All that and Cousins has not been worth locking up with a long-term contract. Washington has placed the franchise tag on Cousins each of the last two seasons. They could do that again for 2018 (for one final time) with a price tag of $34.5 million fully guaranteed for one year. Reports indicate they are scouting the top quarterbacks likely to be available in the 2018 NFL draft. Cousins may not want to come back, and they seem ready to move on. However, expect them to tag Cousins (franchise or transition) so they get something for him if (when?) they lose him.
Back to Top
LAC - RB Melvin Gordon will be examined
Source: Los Angeles Daily News - Jack Wang
Los Angles Chargers RB Melvin Gordon (ankle) will have his injured ankle looked at Tuesday, Dec. 26, after rolling it a couple of times in Week 16.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Keep an eye on this situation if you're playing a championship game in Week 17. He was wearing a walking boot following the injury but has suffered similar ailments this season and been able to recover well. The Chargers are still alive in the playoff picture and will give Gordon his normal (large) workload if he can handle it. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has indicated that this situation will come down to the end of the week. Stay tuned.
Back to Top
NYG - QB Eli Manning to start finale
Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan
New York Giants QB Eli Manning will start the Week 17 season finale, according to interim coach Steve Spagnuolo.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Spagnuolo confirmed Manning will start, but he also indicated they could see what others can do. That would be a hint that rookie Davis Webb could get some playing time. A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Webb has all the tools of a pro passer but he was robotic in a college career that saw him play for two schools (Texas Tech, Cal).
Back to Top
PIT - WR Antonio Brown wouldn't be ready for WC game
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Updating previous reports, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown (calf) is unlikely to be ready if the Steelers had to play in a wild-card game in the postseason, according to a source.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The Steelers have locked in a first-round bye with their win over the Texans on Monday. That'll give him more time to heal for their first playoff game in the Divisional Round.
Back to Top
NYG - WR Sterling Shepard injures neck
Source: SNY - Ralph Vacchiano
New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard (neck) left the Week 16 game with a neck injury.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Neck injuries are tricky to deal with and the Giants should just shut Shepard down for the Week 17 finale. We'll see if that's their decision during the week.
Back to Top
TEN - RB DeMarco Murray unlikely for finale
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Updating previous reports, Tennessee Titans RB DeMarco Murray (knee) is considered a long shot to play in Week 17 due to his lateral collateral sprain.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Without Murray in Week 17, the Titans will turn to Derrick Henry more than ever. The Titans will make Henry the workhorse in a tough game against the Jaguars in Week 17 with their playoff hopes still alive.
Back to Top
Source: footballguys.com