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.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry will suit up and try to win an AFC North crown in his first season with the team on Saturday in the Week 18 regular-season finale. He's registered back-to-back games with at least 20 fantasy points in half-PPR formats, and now he sets his sights on the Cleveland Browns in the season finale. Henry posted 73 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries the last time he played the Browns and fell just shy of a RB1 status for the week. At home, Henry averages 119.0 yards and a touchdown per game, and the Browns won't have a full team of starters. He comes in as an RB1 yet again to finish off the season.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry received his favorite present of all, facing the Houston Texans run defense. Going into the Christmas game, he averaged 102.2 yards per game against them with 12 rushing touchdowns. In this one, he finished with 147 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries to go along with two receptions for 18 yards on two targets. The only time he was contained in this matchup was when he was tackled for a safety in the second quarter. Coincidentally, those were the only points the Texans scored. Henry will face off against the Cleveland Browns in the regular season finale to try to win the division.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry decided to flip the script the last two weeks after putting up a dud against the Giants, as he came back and posted 162 yards on the ground against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. On Christmas Day, he takes on the Houston Texans, who give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing backfields. They still allow 106.8 rushing yards per game, but only nine touchdowns while forcing 10 fumbles. However, it looks like Henry may get even more work in this game since Justice Hill (concussion) has been ruled out. He remains a must-start for any fantasy managers trusting him in their fantasy championships or playoffs.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a fringe QB2 in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans due to the unusual circumstances of the matchup. The Titans are an average defense against fantasy quarterbacks, but the real mystery is how long the sophomore quarterback will play. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has committed to playing starters, but with Houston already set as the AFC's No. 4 seed no matter what happens Sunday, the Texans don't have any incentive to go all-out against the Titans with Wild Card Weekend looming. As a result, Stroud's value in leagues that play Week 18 or DFS formats must be tied to the possibility he is pulled from the game at some point.

Although Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said he's banged up after the Week 17 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day last Wednesday, he was able to practice on Monday and appears ready to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Texans are already locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC for the postseason, but head coach DeMeco Ryans plans to play his healthy starters after the team got embarrassed last week. However, how long Stroud and other key starters such as wide receiver Nico Collins and running back Joe Mixon stay in the game on Sunday remains to be seen. Stroud, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, has been sacked 52 times (second-most in the NFL) and has had a rocky sophomore season. He won't be a recommended starting DFS QB in Week 18 with the potential to be pulled early on.

Per Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback C.J. Stroud and the rest of the team's starters will play in this weekend's divisional clash with the Tennessee Titans. "Everybody has to be ready to go, and that's where we are," said Ryan. "Everyone will be out there playing." Ok then. Evidently, the Texans will be out in full force for the season's final week. Despite locking up the AFC's fourth seed, the second-year coach will run out his first-string unit in Week 18 after an embarrassing 31-2 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. With the game holding no meaning for either team, it's possible that the starting squad could get a little rest anyway. Still, seeing the team's best product on the field for at least some of the action will be nice. The Texans will travel to Nashville to take on their division foes.

Cleveland Browns running backs Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) have both been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Ford sprained his ankle in the Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins and will be unavailable to play in the final game of the season. With Nick Chubb (foot) getting a late start in 2024 while recovering from a gruesome knee injury he suffered in 2023, Ford opened 2024 as Cleveland's RB1 and will finish the year as their leading rusher with 104 rushing attempts for 565 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and a team-high-tying three rushing touchdowns. With both Ford and Strong out this weekend, D'Onta Foreman will be in play as a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers as the team's lead back. John Kelly should serve as his backup.

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (ankle) is trending toward missing the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens after missing a third straight practice on Thursday. Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) has also missed practice all week for the Browns, so it will likely be D'Onta Foreman serving as Cleveland's leading ball-carrier this weekend, with John Kelly in line to serve as his primary backup. The Browns will release their final Week 18 injury report later on Thursday, with both Ford and Strong likely being ruled out for a meaningless game for the Browns. In a game that the Browns will most likely have negative game script, Foreman shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy lineups. The 28-year-old saw 13 carries for 49 yards (3.8 yards per tote) last week when Ford injured his ankle.

According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (ankle) will not practice again on Wednesday. Ford will now miss his second-straight practice and could be in danger of missing Saturday's contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status during Thursday's session. Ford left last weekend's game early due to an ankle injury. Over his past three contests, Ford has tallied 198 total rushing yards while posting a strong 8.3 YPC. No.2 running back Pierre Strong (concussion) will also not practice on Wednesday. This could leave D'Onta Foreman and John Kelly as the lone running backs during their final game of the season. Foreman would be a viable low-end RB2 if given the start.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has been on a steep backslide in the second half but looks to right the ship against the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Over the last seven games, Reed has been a top-30 fantasy wide receiver just once. In Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, Reed caught 1-of-4 targets for seven yards in a disappointing performance. The Packers' passing game has taken a backseat to the run game since Green Bay's Week 10 bye week. With a strong running game featuring a flourishing Josh Jacobs, quarterback Jordan Love hasn't needed to pass as much as when they do, targets are usually spread out amongst multiple weapons. For Week 18, Reed is more of a risky low-end flex for fantasy knowing how low the floor is with the Packers' wide receivers.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed continued his steep backslide in consistency and production as the Packers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 27-25. Reed had been a bit disappointing of late with his fantasy production with a combined eight catches for 110 yards in his last three weeks combined, but he caught his only target for six yards in Green Bay's loss. With Christian Watson (knee) inactive for Week 17's game, the hope was that targets would condense to multiple weapons in the Packers' offense. However, it was Romeo Doubs, not Reed, who was the primary recipient of those looks from quarterback Jordan Love as Doubs led the Packers in targets. Consider Reed a low-end flex option when the Packers host the Chicago Bears in their Week 18 regular season finale.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed could be in line for some more volume than he's received in recent weeks with the Packers heading to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings. Reed has been an up-and-down fantasy option over the second half of this season with just three games of five or more targets in his last nine games. In Week 17, Reed could see more volume with Christian Watson (knee) questionable for the game. If Watson were to miss Week 17, that would condense the receiving options for Jordan Love and bumps up players like Reed with less players to contend with for targets. The Vikings have given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, so the upside for Reed in Week 17 is immense, but passing volume could hold the Packers back as they've been a run-oriented offense this season. Still, consider Reed a flex play with upside against Minnesota.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is now being considered doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints after it was reported earlier on Friday that he would be a game-time decision. Otton has already missed the last two games with a knee injury and is now likely to miss a third straight as the team looks to punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Saints. Both Payne Durham (quadriceps) and rookie Devin Culp (ribs) were listed on the Week 18 injury report as well, but both have been cleared to play this weekend after practicing in full on Friday. With Otton unlikely to play, expect both Durham and Culp to share the tight end duties for the Bucs in a must-win game at home. For fantasy purposes, managers should be able to find better TE options.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) will be a game-time decision for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, according to head coach Todd Bowles. Otton has missed the last two games but returned to a limited practice on Thursday for the first time since Dec. 20, giving him a chance to suit up for a must-win game this weekend. Payne Durham (quadriceps) is also iffy for the regular-season finale for the Bucs, so in the event that both Otton and Durham are held out against the Saints, rookie Devin Culp would be in line for an elevated role for the second straight week after catching three of four targets for 52 yards in the Week 17 win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Otton went off for several weeks when receiver Mike Evans was injured, but he's since fallen to a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE1 when healthy.

According to the team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight ends Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadriceps) upgraded to limited participation during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for Otton, as he sat out during Wednesday's practice and has not seen game action since Week 15. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status on Friday as he could carry an injury designation into the weekend. After seeing an impressive 9.8 targets per game during Weeks 7 through 10, Otton has taken a step back over his previous four contests, as he has seen an underwhelming 4.3 targets per game. If Otton can turn the corner in time for Sunday's tilt against the New Orleans Saints, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in PPR formats. If both Otton and Durham cannot play, rookie Devin Culp would see an elevated role.