Fantasy News

Lamar Jackson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 18.

The Ravens still have a chance of making the postseason with a win and some help, but Jackson’s regular season is over. The dynamic quarterback missed the final four games (and five games overall) of the season while dealing with the bone bruise in his ankle. Jackson’s 2021 campaign ends with a 64.4% completion percentage, 2,882 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 133 carries, 676 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in 12 games. The former league MVP couldn’t make it three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons thanks to injury, but he’ll obviously offer immense upside as a QB1 option in fantasy drafts this summer.

1/7/22 - 12:50 PM ET

Ronald Jones (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 18.

Jones’ ankle injury suffered last week against the Jets is enough to keep him out for the regular season finale. Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Le’Veon Bell will lead the Tampa Bay backfield versus Carolina on Sunday. The 2021 regular season for Jones ends with 101 carries for 428 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns along with ten receptions for 64 receiving yards. It was a disappointing campaign overall in terms of playing time, as Leonard Fournette took control of the Bucs backfield, but Jones played well when he was on the field. Tampa Bay will now hope that both Jones and Fournette are back for the start of the postseason next week.

1/7/22 - 12:26 PM ET

The Eagles ruled out Miles Sanders (hand) for Week 18.

This was fully expected, with the hope being that Sanders will be able to return during the postseason after his hand injury. Sanders’ 2021 regular season officially ends with 137 carries for 754 rushing yards and 26 receptions for 158 receiving yards in 12 games. Sanders had pretty bad luck in terms of not finding the end zone, but he ran well overall when he was on the field this year. We’ll see if he can return to run behind a top offensive line this postseason.

1/6/22 - 04:00 PM ET

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (collarbone) ruled out for Week 18.

Kansas City is hopeful that Edwards-Helaire will be back for the postseason, but Darrel Williams will draw another start on Saturday with Derrick Gore mixing in behind him. Edwards-Helaire’s season didn’t go as expected due to injuries, and he’ll finish with decreased numbers nearly across the board compared to his rookie campaign with 119 carries, 517 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 129 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. It will take an increased role catching passes out of the backfield for CEH to take a Year 3 leap, but the upside is high in Kansas City’s offense.

1/6/22 - 03:15 PM ET

Justin Fields is being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Fields was set to start the season finale after missing time with an ankle injury, but that’s now highly unlikely to happen, so Andy Dalton should be under center as Chicago hopes to finish the year with a victory. It’s an unfortunate ending to Fields’ season, and the rookie went 2-8 as the starter with 1,870 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interception (plus 72 carries for 420 yards and two scores on the ground). The upside of the former Ohio State star will be a selling point for potential head coach candidates if Matt Nagy is indeed fired, but Fields—who showed flashes to be encouraged about—has work to do this offseason to be viewed as a definite franchise quarterback by next season.

1/6/22 - 12:19 PM ET

The Buccaneers are releasing Antonio Brown, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This was the expected outcome based on his antics last Sunday, and the move is now being made with Brown continuing to make noise on social media, including posting text conversations with head coach Bruce Arians. AB will now hit waivers, but pending ankle surgery makes it unlikely that he’d land with another team for the playoffs, and that’s obviously without even considering his off-field issues. Brown has made it known he wants to play in 2022, so we’ll see if he gets a fifth chance after being released/trade by the Steelers, Raiders, Patriots, and now Bucs.

Via: Adam Schefter 1/6/22 - 12:15 PM ET

The Steelers placed Diontae Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Johnson is now in jeopardy of missing this Sunday’s game at Baltimore. Hopefully the dynamic receiver is feeling OK and can get cleared soon for what will be Ben Roethlisberger’s final regular season game.

1/6/22 - 11:02 AM ET