Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that the team will play "some starters" in what will be a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots. McDermott also said that quarterback Josh Allen, the front-runner to win the MVP award, will start the game, but his appearance will be a "very, very short-lived amount of time." The Bills are already locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC for the postseason and have nothing to gain by beating the Patriots in the final week of the regular season. It means that Buffalo will treat this more like a preseason game. If any starters, including Allen, actually play, they might only see a series or two on offense before they are pulled for the day. With that in mind, fantasy managers still playing for a title will want to avoid the overall QB3 in points. Expect to see a lot of backup Mitchell Trubisky.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns while adding 17 rushing yards and another score in the team's 40-14 win over the New York Jets. As has been the case in a handful of Bills games this season, Allen departed early due to Buffalo's comfortable lead. The Bills led by 33 points entering the final frame. Allen found Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman for his passing scores in the third quarter. While the yardage total is low for Allen's standards, three touchdowns were enough to put him over the 20-point threshold. Allen and the Bills clinched the number two seed in the AFC so the team could rest him for the regular season finale in New England.

Every player has their off games. Look no further than Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (elbow/shoulder). The favorite to win MVP racked up 93.2 fantasy points in Weeks 15 and 16, plus over 20 in nine straight games. That made his dud against New England (184 total yards and one touchdown) even more surprising. Allen noted that he suffered an elbow contusion against the Patriots but does not carry an injury designation into the weekend. Allen should return to form against another divisional foe, the New York Jets. While New York's defense is just outside the top 10 for fewest fantasy points allowed to the position, they've surrendered the second-most rushing touchdowns (seven) to quarterbacks. If a fantasy manager survived Allen's disappointing stat line from a week ago, they shouldn't be shy about starting him again. Allen is a clear-cut QB1 for Week 17.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) is "very sore" and "needs to improve greatly" in order to have a shot at playing on Saturday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in the Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos and is questionable to play in a must-win game on Saturday. The 24-year-old will be a game-time decision this weekend, but it's sounding like he might be on the wrong side of questionable. He's having a career year with 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding 54 catches for 360 yards and four more TDs in 16 games, but Brown is shaping up as a risky RB2 in fantasy in Week 18. If he's active, he could be limited by his ankle. If he's out, Khalil Herbert would have a high floor with RB2 upside.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) will be a game-time decision for Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Zac Taylor said, "We'll see," when asked about Brown's status this weekend. Brown will almost certainly be listed as questionable on Thursday's final injury report after he did not practice all week following a mild high-ankle sprain in the Week 17 victory over the Denver Broncos last Saturday. The 24-year-old has been a top-12 fantasy RB this year, but anyone still playing for something in redraft leagues might have to look elsewhere at the position this week. If active, Brown could cede more work to backup Khalil Herbert and could be less productive in a tough matchup on the road against one of the better defenses in the NFL. Herbert will have RB2 upside on volume alone if Brown is ruled out.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) is not practicing with the rest of the team on Thursday, but he was seen working out with trainers on the side. Brown suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in last Saturday's overtime win over the Denver Broncos and hasn't been able to practice with the rest of the team all week. It remains to be seen how he'll be listed on the team's final Week 18 injury report on Thursday, but at the very least, Brown will likely be questionable to play on Saturday in a must-win divisional clash in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Coming into Week 18 action, the 24-year-old has been a must-start fantasy RB as Cincy's backfield workhorse -- he's the RB11 in half-PPR scoring -- but he could be limited or out this weekend. If Brown cannot go against Pittsburgh, Khalil Herbert would be the Bengals' RB1 in a tough matchup.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers last week. Mayfield threw for 359 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the blowout win last weekend. The 29-year-old now looks to end his 2024-2025 regular season on a high note with a plus-matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The last meeting between these teams Mayfield threw for 325 yards with four touchdowns. The Saints are banged up on both sides of the ball and this is a must-win game for the Bucs. Fantasy managers who have championship games this weekend should consider Mayfield a QB1. Otherwise, Mayfield is probably an expensive, but reliable DFS option for this weekend.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield went 27-for-32 with 359 yards and five scores in their blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield connected with his top wideout Mike Evans twice, both times in the red zone. He also found rookie wide receiver, Jalen McMillan for two scores, once from 10 yards out and the other time from 16 yards out. His fifth passing score was caught by tight end Payne Durham. Since Week 14, Mayfield has thrown at least two passing scores in each contest and tallied at least three in three of them. Over this span he has tallied at least 280.0 passing yards in each game. Mayfield will look to cap off the best season of his career with a Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints as the Buccaneers inch towards a playoff berth.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield continued his excellent season during last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Mayfield threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season. He also tossed two touchdowns which now gives him nine total touchdowns over his last three games. Now, Mayfield heads into a plus-matchup against the Carolina Panthers defense in Week 17. Mayfield has been a strong QB1 over the last three games. Fantasy managers should continue to ride with him into the fantasy championship games this weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was not asked to do much in Week 17 and will hope to be more involved in a Week 18 bout with the Cincinnati Bengals. Just a few weeks ago, Boswell drilled five extra points and three field goals in a win against Cincinnati in which the Steelers put up 44 points. The Bengals have surrendered over 26 points per contest this season, so it's no surprise this divisional contest has a healthy projected point total of 48.5. Boswell offers plenty of upside on Saturday and should remain in fantasy lineups that still have something to play for.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was successful on both his lone field goal attempt and lone extra-point try of a 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Boswell was good from 36 yards out in the third quarter but was otherwise not asked to do much as Pittsburgh's offense struggled to move the ball on Wednesday. While it is unfortunate that Boswell underwhelmed throughout the fantasy playoffs, the 33-year-old was incredibly impactful for much of the regular season and has cemented himself as one of the best kickers in the NFL. He'll close out the campaign with a divisional showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is the top fantasy scorer at his position this season and will look to finish the fantasy campaign on a high note against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Pittsburgh's top wide receiver, George Pickens (hamstring), is expected to return from a three-week absence on Wednesday, which should only benefit the offense and improve Boswell's chances of seeing the field. While the Chiefs have been stout defensively and have limited opposing kickers to the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game, Boswell has been far too consistent to bench in favor of a streaming candidate. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Boswell as a high-end option this week.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. nearly led his team to a win on Sunday Night Football, getting the team into position for a potential game-winning field goal, but the kick fell short and the Falcons ultimately lost 30-24 to the Commanders in overtime. The former first-round draft pick completed 19-of-35 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Some passes were clearly off-target, but others displayed the 24-year-old's talent level, including the game-tying touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts late in the fourth quarter. The rookie will get a chance to end the season on a high note and send the Falcons -- with some help from the Saints -- to the playoffs with a win against the Panthers in Week 18.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took over for Kirk Cousins in Week 16 and fared about as well as one could expect from a player making his first NFL start, completing 67% of his passes (18-for-27) and throwing just one interception that was a result of a tipped ball by one of his own receivers, not a poor decision or pass on his part. Although the 24-year-old did not throw a touchdown pass, it wasn't needed with Bijan Robinson rushing for 94 yards and two scores while the defense provided the other two TDs. The 2024 first-round draft pick will take on the Commanders in Week 17, a defense that ranks around the middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to QBs on the season, but has yielded the second-fewest fantasy points to the position over the past four weeks. The matchup takes place in D.C. and with playoff implications for both teams, this contest could prove to be a much stiffer challenge for the rookie quarterback. Fantasy managers looking to lock down fantasy championships will want to look elsewhere for a streaming QB, as Penix Jr. should be viewed as a low-end QB2 in Week 17.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led the Falcons to victory on Sunday in a 34-7 thrashing of the New York Giants, however, it was the run game and defense that was truly responsible for the win. Penix Jr. was 18-for-27 (67%) for 202 yards, but did not throw a touchdown and he tossed one interception, while the Falcons scored two TDs via the rush and the defense had two pick-sixes. The rookie QB wasn't asked to do too much and didn't really need to; look for more of the same next week when the Falcons take on the Commanders in D.C. in a game with playoff implications for both teams. The Commanders have been solid against the pass but not so much against the run, with one of the most fantasy-friendly rush defenses in the NFL. Saquon Barkley just ran for 150 yards and two scores against them in Week 16, so look for Bijan Robinson to carry the load next Sunday, likely leaving Penix Jr. as a low-end QB2 again in Week 17.

According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion/illness) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against the Cleveland Browns. Hill will now miss his second-straight contest. During the week he was unable to take the practice field and will set his sights on returning in the opening round of the postseason. As a result, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali will operate as the backup options behind workhorse Derrick Henry. Throughout the season, Hill has seen most of his work on passing downs. He has seen at least three targets in seven games and even saw five or more in five of them. Fantasy managers should not view Ali or Mitchell has viable options in this game as Henry should see the vast majority of attempts.

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion, illness) missed the team's final practice of the week on Thursday, meaning it's likely he'll be inactive for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, which would lead to a bigger role for Keaton Mitchell. Hill did not suit up for the Week 17 blowout win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day last Wednesday. Head coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that the team was expecting the 27-year-old pass-catching RB to return to action for the final regular season game, but after three missed practices, Baltimore will most likely list Hill as out on the final injury report on Thursday. Mitchell would see change-of-pace work behind starter Derrick Henry if Hill is out again on Saturday but would be a stretch as a starting lineup option in fantasy.

According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion/illness) is not practicing on Wednesday. Hill was also listed as a non-participant during Tuesday's estimated report and is in danger of missing Saturday's game. Hill also sat out last weekend and may miss his second-straight contest if he is unable to practice in some capacity on Thursday. Throughout the season, Hill has been deployed as the No.2 running back in the Baltimore offense and as the change-of-pace option behind Derrick Henry. Hill has seen at least three targets in seven games this season and tallied at least 30 receiving yards in each of these games. If Hill cannot return on Saturday, Keaton Mitchell will move up to the No.2 spot.

Minnesota Vikings placekicker Will Reichard is an excellent play this Sunday in a divisional bout with the Detroit Lions. The rookie missed another two kicks in last weekend's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers -- 43- and 57-yard field-goal tries that both doinked out -- to bookend his performance. Still, he hit his other two kicks (25, 50) and all three extra-point attempts. Reichard missed two kicks in another game -- the one in which he injured his quad -- but has otherwise failed to connect on only one other field goal in 2024. Additionally, he's knocked through all 38 XP attempts. The Alabama product ranks as RotoBaller's K4 ahead of this weekend.

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard gets an unfavorable spot against the visiting Green Bay Packers this Sunday. The rookie has been excellent since returning from a quad injury in Week 14. Reichard missed a field goal that Sunday in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, but he's otherwise been perfect over that stretch -; knocking through all other 17 kicks (five field goals). The Packers' D has been solid this year, allowing the sixth-fewest points per game (19.1). Still, the Vikings' offense has been among the best in the league -; clocking in at the ninth-most points scored per outing (26.4). Reichard made all five of his kicks in the two team's first meeting and should again be afforded point opportunities in the divisional clash. He's RotoBaller's K9 in Week 17's rankings.