Fantasy News

Ben Roethlisberger will not play in Week 17.

The Steelers are resting Roethlisberger and some other starters ahead of the postseason, and Mason Rudolph will be under center this Sunday against the Browns. This isn’t a surprise given that Pittsburgh didn’t really get a traditional bye week this season due to COVID-19 impacting their schedule. Roethlisberger’s 2020 season ends with 3,804 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, and ten interceptions in 15 games. Despite the offensive struggles late in the year, this was a very successful season for Big Ben coming off of a major elbow surgery. Roethlisberger should be fresh in the Wild Card Round as he looks to go on a run for a third Super Bowl title.

12/29/20 - 12:08 PM ET

The Rams are signing Blake Bortles.

Bortles is familiar with the Rams, and he adds more quarterback depth for Week 17 with Jared Goff likely out after right thumb surgery.

12/28/20 - 08:40 PM ET

Jared Goff underwent thumb surgery today and is unlikely to play in Week 17, according to multiple reports.

The hope is that Goff will be OK for the postseason just under two weeks from today, but it looks like the Rams will have to beat the Cardinals with John Wolford making his first career start. Assuming he doesn’t make a miraculous recovery and play this Sunday, Goff’s 2020 season ends with a 67.0% completion percentage, 3,952 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions along with 51 carries for 99 yards and four rushing touchdowns.

12/28/20 - 07:17 PM ET

Brandon Aiyuk has a high-ankle sprain.

Aiyuk will miss Week 17, so his season is over. Injury and COVID-19 issues forced San Francisco’s first-round pick to miss time, but his impressive rookie campaign ends with 60 receptions, 748 yards, and five touchdowns (plus six carries for 77 and another two scores) in 12 games. It will be interesting to see how having George Kittle and Deebo Samuel healthy in 2021 might impact Aiyuk’s targets, but his arrow is pointing straight up in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and there might even be a case to rank him as a WR1 next summer.

12/28/20 - 05:40 PM ET

The Bills placed John Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Brown was just activated off injured reserve, but he was a close contact to T.J. Yeldon, who tested positive for COVID-19. Brown is out tonight but should have a shot to be ready for Week 17 if Buffalo plays its starters.

12/28/20 - 04:46 PM ET

Joe Mixon (foot) will not play in Week 17.

Mixon has been out since mid-October, with the Bengals continuously calling him week-to-week from the time the injury occurred. It played out similarly to the A.J. Green situation last season. Mixon’s 2020 campaign ends with 119 carries for 428 yards and three touchdowns along with 21 receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown in six games. The good news is Mixon should be fully healthy and fresh for next year, and the Bengals should add more pieces to the offensive line. Mixon will turn juts 25 this summer and remains a major talent, so he may ultimately be a value in 2021 fantasy drafts.

12/28/20 - 03:26 PM ET

Sammy Watkins (calf) likely to be back for the postseason.

Watkins left yesterday’s game against the Falcons in the fourth quarter, but his calf issue is deemed a minor one. Expect Watkins to sit out for Week 17 with Kansas City locked into the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and the bye week will give the dynamic receiver time to get ready for the Divisional Round. Watkins’ regular season ends with 37 receptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns in ten games. After a solid start to the year, including in the season opener, Watkins was again limited by injuries.

Via: Ian Rapoport 12/28/20 - 03:10 PM ET