Fantasy Football News
Ravens Claim Diontae Johnson Off Waivers From Texans
The Baltimore Ravens claimed wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Houston Texans on Wednesday. However, per NFL rules, Johnson won't be awarded to the Ravens until after the Super Bowl, so he won't be eligible to play in the rest of the postseason. Johnson has had quite the wild ride this year, starting the year with the Carolina Panthers before being dealt to Baltimore at the trade deadline. After being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team and catching only one of five targets for six yards in four games with the Ravens, he was released and picked up by the Texans. He caught three of five targets for 24 yards in his two games with Houston before being waived, and now he's back in Baltimore. The 28-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent in March, so there's a good chance he won't open the 2025 season with the Ravens.
1 hour ago
David Montgomery Puts In Another Full Practice
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) was a full-go in practice on Wednesday for the second straight day this week. Montgomery said that he's "ready to go" for the Divisional Round game this Saturday versus the visiting Washington Commanders despite spraining his MCL in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 27-year-old missed the final three weeks of the regular season but had an extra week to rest with Detroit on bye during the wild-card round of the playoffs. It's great news for the Lions backfield that Monty will be available this weekend, as he has been the tone-setter for the team's ground game the last two seasons. He had 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries over 14 games before his knee injury, adding 36 catches for 341 yards through the air. The potential for fewer touches alongside Jahmyr Gibbs this Saturday will make him a more volatile fantasy asset, though.
1 hour ago
Chargers Want To Bring Khalil Mack Back
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz said they want to bring impending free-agent pass-rusher Khalil Mack back for the 2025 season. "I don't know if it's possible to get everybody back, but I wanna get as darn close as possible and nobody more than Khalil Mack," Harbaugh said. In addition to being a free agent when the new league year begins in March, Mack has acknowledged that he'll be contemplating retirement this offseason. Despite dropping from a career-high 17 sacks in 2023 to only six in 16 regular-season games in 2024, Mack, a three-time All-Pro, made his ninth Pro Bowl and was an integral part of a strong Bolts defense in Harbaugh's first year as head coach. If the 33-year-old does choose to play one more year, LA will have a good shot at re-signing the former first-rounder. Despite playing in 16 games, a groin injury severely impacted his production.
2 hours ago
Ray Davis Limited In Wednesday's Practice
Buffalo Bills rookie running back Ray Davis (concussion) was listed as a limited participant during the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Although it was just a walkthrough, it's good news that Davis was limited after suffering a concussion in the wild-card win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Thursday will be a much bigger test as Davis works his way through the league's concussion protocol with hopes of being active for Sunday evening's Divisional Round battle against the Baltimore Ravens. The 25-year-old will likely need to upgrade to a full session in practice on Thursday or Friday to have a realistic chance to play this weekend as the primary change-of-pace option behind starter James Cook. Davis is an explosive backup option out of Buffalo's backfield, but if he's unable to gain clearance, Ty Johnson would serve as the primary backup to Cook against Baltimore.
2 hours ago
Zay Flowers Missing From Wednesday's Practice
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) is not practicing on Wednesday ahead of the AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills. Reports suggest Flowers has an outside chance to play against Buffalo on Sunday, but missing the first session of the week is not a promising sign. The second-year pro earned his first Pro Bowl nod this season after catching 74 passes for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns. He did not miss a game this year before suffering a knee injury in the Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns, forcing him to miss the AFC Wild Card bout against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Flowers can't go this week, wide receiver Rashod Bateman, tight end Mark Andrews, and running back Justice Hill should see more work in the passing game.
3 hours ago
Robert Woods Returns To Practice On Wednesday
Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (hip) is back on the practice field on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's session due to a hip injury. The 32-year-old caught two of his four targets for 22 yards in last week's AFC Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers and is a significant contributor after season-ending knee injuries suffered by Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. Woods is not one of the better wideouts in the NFL anymore, but he provides veteran leadership and dependability in Houston's up-and-down offense. His return to practice suggests he's trending toward facing the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, but he does not have much fantasy football or DFS upside.
3 hours ago
Texans Sign Alex Erickson To Practice Squad
The Houston Texans signed wide receiver Alex Erickson to the practice squad on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. This move came after the team released veteran wideout Diontae Johnson on Tuesday and promoted Jared Wayne to the active roster. Erickson, a 32-year-old undrafted free agent out of the class of 2016, has hauled in 112 passes for 1,373 yards, and two touchdowns across 105 NFL games with the Bengals, Panthers, and Chargers. He last suited up for the Chargers in 2023. Unless Houston suffers another wide receiver injury and advances to the AFC Championship Game, it would be a surprise if Erickson sees game action.
3 hours ago
Bryce Young Finishes Second Season On High Note
After a disastrous rookie season in 2023, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young got off to a terrible start in 2024 and was benched after just two games in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the second-year signal-caller made arguably the most important 180-degree turnaround in franchise history. Young was among Pro Football Focus' highest-graded QBs in the final 11 weeks of the season, and his turnaround was sparked by improved body language and fire and much better footwork. Young's footwork ended the year "light years ahead" of where it was at in 2023 and to begin this season, according to a team source. The former No. 1 overall pick had a 61.8 completion percentage, 2,104 yards, 15 TDs and six interceptions in his last 10 starts. He won't be a QB1 in fantasy in 2025, but his turnaround gives fantasy managers hope he could eventually get there.
5 hours ago
Ray Davis Still In Concussion Protocol
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday that rookie running back Ray Davis (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol. It means that Davis probably will not practice on Wednesday after suffering a concussion in Sunday's wild-card win over the Denver Broncos. The 25-year-old could be fighting an uphill battle to clear the concussion protocol before Sunday's Divisional Round showdown against the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Even if Davis returns to practice later this week, he'll need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to get the green light to suit up on Sunday evening. With Davis up in the air to play in the Divisional Round, Ty Johnson could be in line for a bigger role behind starter James Cook against Baltimore. Johnson had a season-high nine carries for 44 yards against Denver and caught his fourth TD of the year. Check back on Davis' practice status.
5 hours ago
David Montgomery Says He's "Ready To Go"
After returning to a full practice on Tuesday, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) said he's "ready to go" for the Divisional Round clash against the visiting Washington Commanders this Saturday. Montgomery sprained the MCL in his right knee in a Dec. 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and at the time, it was reported he would undergo season-ending surgery. However, Monty never had plans to go under the knife and was always targeting the Divisional Round for his return. The six-year veteran spent every day strengthening his knee, and he said it "feels better than it did before I got hurt." Still, given the long layoff, it's unclear how much he'll play this weekend. Montgomery was averaging around 28 snaps per game before the knee injury, gaining 775 yards with 12 touchdowns in 14 appearances. He's been Detroit's tone-setter on the ground, but he'll be much more of a risk in fantasy lineups this weekend.
5 hours ago
Texans Promote Jared Wayne To Active Roster
After releasing wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday, the Houston Texans promoted wide receiver Jared Wayne from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Wednesday ahead of their Divisional Round game this Saturday on the road in Kansas City against the two-time defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs. Wayne has only been active for the Texans three times during the 2024 season and hasn't seen a single target in the passing game while playing on only 40 offensive snaps. He has had a bigger role on special teams when active, which is likely to be the case again this weekend, which means fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should look to avoid Wayne as a deep sleeper. With Johnson out of the picture now, Xavier Hutchinson and veteran Robert Woods (hip) could see more playing time behind Nico Collins and John Metchie III.
6 hours ago
Chris Jones Practices In Full
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) was able to get through a full practice session on Tuesday. The star pass rusher is trending in the right direction after missing the final two games of the regular season due to a calf injury. Despite that, Jones still finished with 37 tackles, five sacks, and one fumble forced in 15 games. The six-time All-Pro pass rusher was likely just out as a precaution and should be 100 percent ready for Saturday's playoff matchup against the Houston Texans. The return of Jones will certainly give this defensive unit a lift this weekend.
20 hours ago
Terrion Arnold Gets Through Full Practice Session
Detroit Lions defensive back Terrion Arnold (foot) was listed as a full participant during Tuesday's estimated practice session. That is good news after Arnold was forced to exit early during the regular season finale due to a foot injury. Arnold was carted off the field, which is normally never a good sign, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. That being said, Arnold is trending in the right direction ahead of this weekend's divisional-round matchup against the Washington Commanders. Arnold recorded 60 tackles and 10 passes defended in his 16 games with the Lions. He should be ready to go for this weekend, barring any setbacks.
20 hours ago
Evan Hull Signing With Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed running back Evan Hull to a reserve/future deal on Tuesday. The former fifth-round pick has spent each of the last two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He has mostly been on the practice squad with only two actual appearances in those two seasons. The expectation is that Hull will compete for a spot on the active roster during camp. He didn't see much action with the Colts, so maybe a change of scenery will help him.
20 hours ago
Ben Sinnott Is Limited On Tuesday
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott (shoulder) opened the week as a limited participant during Tuesday's practice. This comes after Sinnott was forced to exit early during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That being said, it's not shocking to see Sinnott only get through a limited session to begin the week. The 22-year-old finished his rookie season with five receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown in 17 games (two starts) with the Commanders. He's unlikely to have much of an impact on the field or for fantasy purposes with Zach Ertz healthy right now.
20 hours ago
Mecole Hardman Limited In First Practice Of The Week
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee), who remains on Injured Reserve, was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. The Chiefs opened Hardman's 21-day practice window to return from IR during preparation for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but the 26-year-old pass-catcher ultimately was not activated for that contest. The Chiefs had a first-round bye for the wild-card round of the playoffs last weekend, giving Hardman another week to recover from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 13. Even if he returns to a full practice on Wednesday or Thursday and is activated from IR on Friday, it's highly unlikely that Hardman would have a major role in KC's offense after missing the last six weeks. Before getting hurt, he had 12 catches (14 targets) for 90 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games.
22 hours ago
Jamison Crowder Sits Out Tuesday's Practice
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (hamstring, rest) was not at practice with the rest of the team on Tuesday as they begin preparing to take on the Lions in Detroit this Saturday in the Divisional Round of the postseason. The Commanders are likely just resting Crowder early in the week, so as long as he returns to practice on Wednesday or Thursday, he should be available this weekend as receiver depth for Washington. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him in playoff leagues and in DFS, though, after catching nine of 13 targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns in just six games during the regular season. Crowder played through a questionable tag in the wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday night and was not targeted at all. Both of his scores this year came back on Dec. 22 in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
22 hours ago
Zach Ertz Held Out Of Tuesday's Practice
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (rib, rest) was held out of the team's first practice of the week on Tuesday. With rest also listed next to Ertz's name on the first injury report of the Divisional Round, it's likely that his rib injury won't be serious enough to keep him sidelined this Saturday versus the Detroit Lions, but we'll keep a close eye on his practice status the next two days. As long as the 34-year-old veteran gets back onto the field the next two days, he should be available this weekend on the road in Motor City. Ertz became a much bigger part of the Commanders' offense in the second half of the season, but he was a disappointment in the three-point wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, catching just two passes for 23 yards. In a game in which the Commander will likely have to throw often this Saturday, Ertz is a prime bounce-back candidate for fantasy managers.
22 hours ago
Patrick Mahomes Practices In Full On Tuesday
According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) participated fully during Tuesday's practice. Mahomes has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury over the past month and was given Week 18 off as the Chiefs have already locked up the top seed in the AFC. However, seeing him open the week as a full participant is a great sign and suggests he will be a full-go for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. After starting the season off slow, Mahomes has begun to round into form at the perfect time. Over his previous six games, Mahomes has tallied 12 total scores, averaging 254 passing yards per game and 23.3 rushing yards per game. Fantasy managers should view Mahomes as a solid QB1 in all DFS competitions facing the Houston Texans.
23 hours ago
Dalton Schultz Limited By Shoulder Injury
Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Texans said tight end Dalton Schultz (shoulder) was limited during Tuesday's practice with a shoulder injury. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status throughout the week if he faces a setback. During their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon, the veteran tight end caught two of his four targets for 23 yards. With Tank Dell (knee) sidelined, Schultz has seen an increase in targets. Over his previous three contests, Schultz has seen 4.3 targets per game, with a high of six during Week 17. Fantasy managers should expect Schultz to bounce back this weekend facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the fourth-most PPR points to opposing tight ends.
23 hours ago
Diontae Johnson
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Ravens
