Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (ankle) is practicing for a third consecutive day on Thursday after missing last week's game against the Carolina Panthers due to an ankle injury. The rookie out of Florida State could be in line for more work if James Conner (knee) cannot play or is limited, but fantasy managers will have to see what their official game designations are later on Thursday and 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday. The Rams present a neutral matchup for fantasy running backs, so if Benson earns a spot start, he should be considered an RB2 option for fantasy football championship matchups.

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The Cleveland Browns placed defensive tackle Shelby Harris (elbow) on Injured Reserve on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The 33-year-old's season is over after suffering an elbow injury. Harris totaled 37 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two pass deflections, and 8.5 run stuffs in 14 games this season. With Harris sidelined, rookie Mike Hall Jr. should see more playing time as Cleveland closes the season against the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) is practicing on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with a knee injury. The three-time 1,000-yard receiver missed last week's contest against the San Francisco 49ers, but his return to the practice field could mean he's trending toward facing the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. Waddle is having the least productive season of his young career, catching 54 passes for 700 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. However, he always has spike-week upside, especially in favorable matchups. The Browns have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, so consider Waddle a boom-or-bust flex consideration if he plays on Sunday.

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Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (leg) will play on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, according to head coach Zac Taylor. The former Pro Bowler has missed six of the last seven games due to a leg injury, but his return could provide a boost for the Bengals offense against a strong Denver stop unit. The Bengals are still narrowly alive in the AFC postseason race, so getting back any reinforcements is key.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (ankle) was not spotted at the open portion of Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Turron Davenport. Pollard has not taken part in practice often over the last few weeks yet has not missed a game this season. However, with sophomore running back Tyjae Spears finally healthy, he has eaten into Pollard's workload. Spears has logged 23 touches and scored four touchdowns in his last two games. That said, fantasy managers in deeper setups will likely have to start Pollard if he's active on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, so his status should continue to be monitored throughout the rest of the week.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) will make his second straight start in Week 17 on Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, according to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Thompson-Robinson aggravated a calf injury in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but he's been able to practice on a limited basis so far this week and will be good to go this weekend. The 25-year-old took over for the benched Jameis Winston last week and struggled to move the football in his first start of the year despite facing a porous Bengals defense. DTR completed only 20 of his 34 pass attempts last Sunday for 157 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also fumbled once. He'll have a tougher matchup this weekend against Miami and could be without tight end David Njoku (knee), who he targeted 10 times last week. DTR will be a desperation low-end QB2 in fantasy.

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Updating a previous report, New York Giant rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday. Tracy also picked up a DNP on Wednesday's practice estimate, so he's firmly in danger of missing the Week 17 game this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Fantasy managers in a bind at RB or those who are in need of a flex play this weekend might want to consider picking up Devin Singletary if he's available on the waiver wire. If Tracy is ruled out for Sunday's game, Singletary's volume boost in the backfield would make him an intriguing flex option against a Colts defense that has been bad against the run in 2024. Tracy is probably going to need to practice in some fashion on Friday to avoid being ruled out entirely after aggravating an ankle injury in the team's Week 16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Check back on his status on Friday.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) was not seen at practice on Thursday during the portion open to the media. Njoku was also listed as a non-participant for Wednesday's practice estimation, putting his status firmly in question for the Week 17 contest against the visiting Miami Dolphins this Sunday. The 28-year-old will most likely have to practice in some fashion on Friday to have a chance of suiting up this weekend. Njoku missed the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to a hamstring injury but returned in last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and caught eight of 10 targets for 66 yards in quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson's (calf) first start of the year. Njoku will most certainly be on the TE1 radar in Week 17 if he can play. Jordan Akins would see an expanded role if Njoku is ruled out, but he wouldn't be worth streaming in fantasy championship matchups.

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Carolina Panthers rookie Xavier Legette (groin) is at practice on Thursday and has a chance at returning to play this Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. Legette was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, so the 23-year-old is certainly tracking towards making his return this weekend after missing last week's overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Dave Canales said early this week that Legette would need to make significant improvement in order to have a shot at playing in Week 17. It appears that Legette is making good progress, but it doesn't mean he won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's contest. And even if the rookie is able to get cleared to play against Tampa, it doesn't mean he'll have a significant role on offense behind veteran Adam Thielen. Legette hasn't scored since Nov. 3 and has exceeded 60 receiving yards only once in 2024.

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New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (hip), who was listed as a non-participant for Tuesday's practice session, is back on the field during the early portion open to the media. It's unclear exactly if Adams was able to put in a full session, but the fact that he's back on the field at all suggests the Jets were just resting the veteran pass-catcher earlier in the week. The 32-year-old's Week 17 status is worth monitoring heading into Sunday's game against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. If Adams is active this weekend, he should be considered a must-start in fantasy lineups with championships on the line. In recent weeks, he's been the Jets' clear WR1 ahead of Garrett Wilson. Adams has scored in four straight games and has 30 receptions for 441 yards and five touchdowns on 48 targets in that span. Check back on Friday to see if he carries an injury designation into Sunday's game.

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Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement and is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions, according to sources. Bridgewater will return to Detroit after serving as Jared Goff's backup last season. The 32-year-old veteran signal-caller only appeared in one game in 2023 and didn't attempt a single pass. The year before with the Miami Dolphins, he went 49-for-79 for 683 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions in five games (two starts). Bridgewater will most likely join the Lions' practice squad initially but could eventually join the 53-man active roster alongside Hendon Hooker as insurance behind Goff for the postseason. Given the time that Bridgewater has been away from the game the past year, we'd be surprised if he'd suddenly become the QB2 for Detroit when postseason action begins.

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New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) is set to practice in some capacity on Thursday after he was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report. Head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday that Tracy aggravated an ankle injury in the Week 16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old played 63 percent of the offensive snaps in the game, which was around his normal workload. Tracy's status for the Week 17 contest against the visiting Indianapolis Colts is in question, but the fact that he's returning to practice on Thursday is a good sign. However, if he doesn't practice in full by Friday, he could carry a questionable designation into Sunday's game. Tracy is an RB3/flex, at best, for fantasy managers given the Giants' poor offense. If Tracy is inactive against Indy, backup Devin Singletary would handle the lead-back role for the G-Men.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (back, foot) is missing his second straight practice of the week on Thursday and was not seen stretching with the other QBs. Richardson still has one more day to get back on the practice field on Friday, but two DNPs to open the week put him at risk of not being available to play this Sunday in a great matchup against the two-win New York Giants. If the 22-year-old second-year signal-caller is not able to gain clearance to play this weekend, veteran Joe Flacco would once again step in to lead the Colts' offense. Richardson's accuracy issues are well-documented at this point in his second NFL season, but he does offer clear QB1 potential in Week 17 if he's active against the Giants because of his rushing abilities. Fantasy managers will want to check back on his status on Friday. If Flacco ends up starting on Sunday, he'll be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.

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New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) is missing another practice on Thursday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. "See where we're at (Friday)," Daboll said. Nabers isn't officially ruled out for Week 17 on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, but two DNPs to open the week isn't a good sign. Nabers will need to get back onto the practice field on Friday to avoid being ruled out this weekend. The 21-year-old missed two games earlier in his rookie campaign due to a concussion but has played through several other minor injuries. We'd be a bit surprised if this toe injury keeps him out against the Colts, but fantasy managers will need to keep a close eye on Nabers' status going into the weekend. Even with quarterback Drew Lock now running the offense, Nabers has remained a strong WR1 for fantasy managers. Wan'Dale Robinson would be the team's WR1 if Nabers ends up being ruled out.

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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) has been making "good" progress since suffering a knee injury in last week's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. However, Gannon said he's unsure if he'll know the statuses of both Conner and rookie Trey Benson (ankle) by Thursday or if they'll be game-time decisions for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Both Conner and Benson have been limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is a good sign, but with the Cardinals eliminated from postseason contention, they may choose to play it on the safe side and either hold them both out or keep them limited if they suit up on Sunday. Conner should serve as Arizona's lead back if he's active in Week 17, but right now he should be considered more of a shaky RB3/flex for fantasy lineups.

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Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said on Thursday that the offense is preparing for their Week 17 game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins as if quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) will start. Thompson-Robinson was estimated as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Jameis Winston (shoulder) was inactive for last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, so the Browns would be down to Bailey Zappe as their starter if both Thompson-Robinson and Winston were unavailable this week. It sounds like Thompson-Robinson will be good to go in Week 17, although he won't be much of a fantasy option outside of deep superflex leagues after struggling by going 20-for-34 for 157 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions against a suspect Bengals defense last weekend. At best, DTR is a low-end QB2 option for those desperate in two-QB formats.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol on Thursday, according to head coach Nick Sirianni. Hurts was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report and could pick up another DNP on Wednesday, which clouds his status for the Week 17 game against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. Additionally, the Eagles signed QB Ian Book to their practice squad on Thursday, which is another sign that the Eagles are preparing for Hurts potentially not being available to play this weekend. It would obviously be a disaster for fantasy managers in championship matchups this weekend, and it would also be bad news for running back Saquon Barkley and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Check back on Hurts' status on Friday. If he can clear protocols, he'll be a must-start QB1 against Dallas.

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent quarterback Ian Book to their practice squad on Thursday after he visited with the team on Wednesday, according to sources. Jalen Hurts (concussion) was listed as a DNP on Wednesday's estimated practice report, while backup Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited. With Philly's QB room banged up heading into their Week 17 tilt versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Eagles now have extra QB insurance with Tanner McKee and Book. Fantasy managers that have been riding Hurts all year should be a bit worried that he won't be cleared to play this weekend. You should have a backup plan in place in case Hurts doesn't gain clearance from an independent neurologist later this week. If anyone but Hurts is under center on Sunday leading the Eagles' offense, it will be bad news for running back Saquon Barkley and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson caught two passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. The 28-year-old grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, so he got to score in his homecoming game. Watson received just two targets in this game but ended up third on the team in receiving yardage due to a 49-yard chunk play. Despite finding the endzone in this contest, Watson is typically the fourth or fifth option on any given play. His lack of volume in the passing game leads to volatility, but Watson has proven he can break off a big play in any game. The Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC with their Christmas Day win, meaning they no longer need to start their stars in the regular season. Watson and the rest of the supporting cast could see more playing time in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco handled six carries for 18 yards in the 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Pacheco was forced out of the game in the fourth quarter with a rib injury and did not return. The severity of Pacheco's rib injury is not yet known. The 25-year-old once again played second fiddle to veteran Kareem Hunt, but both backs were inefficient on the ground. Pacheco also did not receive any work in the passing game this week. With Hunt receiving more work every week and Pacheco picking up a rib injury, the Chiefs likely lean in Hunt's direction the next time both backs are active. The Chiefs have nothing left to play for in the regular season since they clinched the top seed in the AFC with this win. Pacheco should be expected to rest in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos.

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