Cleveland Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson (calf, hand) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the visiting Buffalo Bills in Week 16, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. Sampson was unable to practice all week and will miss his second straight game due to a pair of injuries. It's unclear if the 21-year-old will be ready to play in Week 17 against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. With Sampson out again, expect Trayveon Williams and Raheim Sanders to battle for backfield scraps behind rookie starter Quinshon Judkins. Sampson has really only been valuable in fantasy for the Week 1 regular season opener when Judkins was out. In the 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Sampson had a season-high 12 carries for 29 yards and caught all eight of his targets for 64 yards. Since then, he's had only two games with more than three rushing attempts.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that a decision on activating quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) to the 53-man roster will be made next week, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The deadline for the Browns to activate Watson from the Physically Unable to Perform list is next Tuesday. Watson has been ruled out for the Week 16 contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills. Even if the 30-year-old is activated from the PUP list before the Week 17 divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie Shedeur Sanders is expected to remain Cleveland's starter to close out the 2025 season. If the Browns don't activate Watson by next Tuesday, he'll be ineligible for the final two games of the year. The three-time Pro Bowler's NFL future remains incredibly murky, although he's expected to stick around in Cleveland next year and compete for the starting job with Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has officially been ruled out for the second straight game and will not dress for the Week 16 contest this Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Njoku has not practiced the last two weeks after suffering a knee injury on a touchdown grab in Week 14. It's unclear if he'll be able to play in the final two weeks of the 2025 regular season. The 29-year-old has taken a clear back seat to rookie Harold Fannin Jr. this year, catching just 33 passes on 48 targets for 293 yards and four touchdowns. With Njoku out in last week's blowout loss to the Chicago Bears, Fannin had seven catches on a team-high 14 targets for 48 yards. Fannin will have more TE1 upside for a second straight week this Sunday against Buffalo with Njoku out again.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) will be questionable for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16, according to Mike Petraglia. Higgins was limited in practices on Wednesday and Thursday and still has one more hurdle to clear to pass through the league's concussion protocol. For context, the 26-year-old wideout has had two concussions in the last several weeks, and the Bengals could be extra hesitant to throw him back out there now that they've been eliminated from the playoffs. Higgins' first concussion occurred late in the Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots, and he experienced more concussion symptoms following the Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He's missed two of the last three games and could miss another contest this Sunday. When active, Higgins is a must-start in fantasy with a 46-667-9 line on 81 targets this year.

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Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Friday that running back Michael Carter will get the starting nod in the backfield on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons with Bam Knight (ankle) done for the year, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Emari Demercado is "expected to be involved as well." Carter should handle most of the early down work for Arizona in the final three games of the season, with Demercado serving as the team's passing-down specialist. The 26-year-old returned from a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Demercado played just 11% of the snaps and had one carry for one yard and two catches for no gain on three targets. In 10 games in 2025, he's averaged only 3.2 yards per carry for 242 yards, and no touchdowns on 32 carries on the ground, adding 10 catches for 64 yards and a TD. At best, Demercado will be a low-upside RB3/flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues this weekend.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) has "looked pretty good" in his return to practice this week, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. "Getting his wind back a little bit. That's a tough injury, but particularly (for) a skill guy that runs fast and has to decelerate and accelerate. Our staff has done a good job with him. He's done a good job pushing through. We'll see how he does today," Gannon said. The head coach added that the team "will have a plan for him" when asked about any extra concern about getting his conditioning back for a return this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. After missing the last two weeks with a heel injury and four of the last five weeks due to an appendectomy, Harrison looks primed to return in Week 16. However, he could take a back seat to Michael Wilson, who has gone nuclear for fantasy managers in Harrison's absence. If Harrison is active, treat him as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Friday that he would like to re-sign running back Javonte Williams, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "He's had an outstanding season," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "I love the way he brings the wood, so to speak, when he runs. Looking forward to him hopefully being a Cowboy for a time to come." Williams is having his best NFL season in his first year in Dallas, as he enters Week 16 with career-highs in carries (230), rushing yards (1,113), and touchdowns (10) in 14 starts for the Cowboys. The 25-year-old former Denver Broncos RB has added 33 catches on 46 targets for 128 yards and another two TDs through the air. Williams suffered a neck injury in Week 15 in the first quarter, but he returned in the second half and should be good for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers. He'll be a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers this weekend.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Friday that cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) will likely need surgery and miss the rest of the 2025 season, according to Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. Bland injured his foot in the Sunday night loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 and will now miss the final three games of the regular season. The Cowboys have an extremely slim chance of making the postseason, but losing the 26-year-old defensive back is a big loss for the Cowboys as they head into a Week 16 matchup this Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. If Bland is officially ruled out for the year, he'll finish his fourth year in the NFL with a career-high 73 tackles (45 solo), three tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown, and six pass breakups in his 12 starts.

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Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (ankle, foot) has been cleared from the final Week 16 injury report and will suit up on Sunday for a big divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McMillan sat out of Wednesday's practice with ankle and foot injuries, but he returned to a full practice a day later and is ready to roll this weekend. The 22-year-old from Arizona has been the Panthers' clear WR1 all year after being selected in the first round back in April, and he's produced 59 receptions, 851 receiving yards, and six touchdowns on his 102 targets through 14 games. McMillan doesn't have more than two catches in any of the last three games, but he's also scored twice and has four total touchdowns in the last four games. Coming off a two-catch, 25-yard dud last week against the Saints, fantasy managers are counting on a bounce-back performance in a big contest in Week 16.

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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders (hip) is unlikely to return in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but it's possible that he could come off Injured Reserve to kick in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or for the regular-season finale in Week 18 against the division-rival New England Patriots, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. The 30-year-old's 21-day practice window was opened on Wednesday, but he's not ready to return yet from a hip injury that has kept him out all season. With only two games left after this week and the Dolphins eliminated from the playoffs, it's unclear why Miami would even consider bringing Sanders back, but it appears that's still a possibility. Riley Patterson will kick for at least one more week against Cincy on Sunday, and he'll be a deep-league streaming option at the position in a plus matchup.

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As expected, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Friday that running back Michael Carter will be the starting RB in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons with Bam Knight (ankle) done for the season, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. After Knight was carted off with a season-ending ankle injury in last week's loss to the Houston Texans, Carter had 18 touches for a season-high 94 scrimmage yards. The 26-year-old will be Arizona's lead back for the final three games of the 2025 season, and he'll have immediate RB2 upside this weekend as the primary RB in the desert against the visiting Falcons. However, Emari Demercado should see plenty of work as well as the expected passing-down back in an offense that loves to throw the football. Carter has averaged a mediocre 3.3 yards per carry on 67 rushing attempts for 221 yards and one rushing touchdown in his 10 games played for the Cards this year.

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton hinted earlier this week that more work could be on the way for running back Jaleel McLaughlin, according to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. "We're doing it in third-down situations with Tyler Badie and Adam Prentice," Payton said. "Jaleel, I probably need to get him a little bit more touches. I made that note after the game. Again, RJ Harvey is built in a way where he can handle a good dose of running." Harvey injured his ribs late in Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers, but he's fine and ready to go for Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harvey has had as many as 23 touches in a game since J.K. Dobbins' season-ending injury, while McLaughlin has had a high of seven. He had only two carries in Week 15. McLaughlin will probably be a little more involved to close out the season, but make no mistake, Harvey is Denver's RB1.

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According to Jonathan M Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) has returned for the team's final practice of the week. Alexander notes that Marks and defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique) will be limited participants as they work with trainers. It's excellent news for the team and fantasy managers, as the USC product played only 15 snaps last Sunday as he dealt with an ankle injury in Houston's 40-20 win over Arizona. As it stands, it's still unclear if he'll be able to suit up for Week 16's home meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders, but it's at least a step in the right direction. Owners should continue monitoring his status over the next 48 hours or so, as it would be some combination of backfield mates Nick Chubb (ribs), Dare Ogunbowale, and Jawhar Jordan working in Marks' stead if he's ruled inactive.

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Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks (ankle) is present for Friday's practice with a helmet and a trainer, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. After missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, it looks like Marks will be limited on Friday, giving him a chance to play on Sunday versus the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old has been battling an ankle injury for a while now, and he aggravated it in the first half of the Week 15 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Marks did not return, but head coach DeMeco Ryans said the young RB could have come back into the contest if the game was close. It suggests that Marks' injury isn't serious, but he'll probably at least be questionable for this weekend's game against the Raiders. Marks has clear RB2 upside if he's active, but if he's out or not 100%, veteran Nick Chubb (rib) or Jawhar Jordan could take valuable backfield touches away from him.

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Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) will return to practice on Friday, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Head coach Sean McDermott said the Bills are "just trying to manage the knee injury with reps." The team doesn't think it's something that will keep Kincaid from playing on Sunday against the hosting Cleveland Browns, but they didn't want to commit to it. It sounds like Kincaid will be questionable on Friday's final injury report, but he should be active on Sunday after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a knee injury. The 26-year-old has not had a setback with his knee injury and should be treated as a low-end TE1 in fantasy football unless something changes between now and Sunday. Kincaid's presence this weekend in Cleveland will make Dawson Knox hard to trust as a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer despite his two-touchdown performance in last week's big win over the Patriots.

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ESPN's Rich Cimini reports that New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (neck) is expected to return for Week 17's home matchup with the New England Patriots. The 21-year-old has been labeled as a non-participant at practice ever since injuring his neck during New York's 34-10 loss to the Dolphins in Week 14. It's unfortunate news for Taylor, who has been decent in his first season despite a mostly dysfunctional offense around him. With the rookie missing another contest, teammate Jeremy Ruckert will assume duties as Jets' TE1, and Jelani Woods, Andrew Beck, and Stone Smartt will mix in behind him. As it stands, Ruckert shouldn't be considered for fantasy, even in a decent outing with the hosting New Orleans Saints.

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According to head coach Aaron Glenn, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) will be shut down for the remainder of the season as he recovers from a hyper-extended knee. Wilson initially injured his knee in New York's Week 6 loss to the Broncos. After two games and a bye week's worth of rest, the 25-year-old returned to the field. However, he'd reaggravate the ailment, be placed on IR, and is now set to miss the remaining three games. Despite the Jets' offensive woes, Wilson was a bright spot, but he'll now set his sights on 2026. With the news, fantasy managers can expect Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie III to continue playing prominent roles in the team's aerial attack. Isaiah Williams has carved out a role as the third wideout working in behind them.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal may still be a viable fantasy play in Week 16 if the team continues featuring him as they have, despite teammate Omarion Hampton's return to the field. Hampton missed a massive chunk of the season with an ankle injury. While he's been back for a few weeks now and saw a modest increase in snaps during his second game, Vidal has handily out-snapped him 93-47 over that time frame. The actual touch distribution has been much closer, with the rookie leading 31-28, although it's possible LA will still lean on the former at times, considering he was an excellent stand-in while Hampton was shelved. Vidal should have some decent flex appeal for fantasy until (unless) he's phased out of the game plan in his backfield mate's favor. They'll get an improved Dallas rush defense on the road this Sunday.

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Kansas City Chiefs second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy could be in store for an elevated target share in Week 16's road outing with the Tennessee Titans, depending on the health of his running mates. It's been a strange season for the former Texas Longhorn. Worthy essentially missed the first three weeks of the campaign with a shoulder injury, and before he could really get his year on track, teammate Rashee Rice (concussion) returned from a suspension to act as KC's WR1. In the eight games together since, the 22-year-old has played a clear second fiddle. Still, there's some hope he'll see a substantial uptick in work this weekend, particularly with Rice and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) in danger of missing the game. For now, the situation is worth monitoring, as Worthy, Marquise Brown (personal), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (rib) would operate in three-wide-receiver sets if the duo mentioned above is inactive.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew has spent most of 2025 serving as his team's backup QB behind star signal-caller Patrick Mahomes (knee). However, with Mahomes suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 15, Minshew is in line to finish the 2025 season as the starter in Kansas City. Across 62 career NFL games (46 starts), Minshew has completed 63.3% of his pass attempts for 11,972 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. His most recent run as a starter came in 2024 for the Las Vegas Raiders, where he threw for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 10 games (nine starts). With a career average of 6.9 yards per pass attempt, Minshew carries limited upside. Still, he's had competent stretches of NFL quarterback play at various points in his career and will face a favorable matchup in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. Given his newfound playing time outlook, Minshew could be a low-end streaming option in two-quarterback fantasy formats.

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