| Bucs make it official, release Antonio Brown No longer a Buc By: Mike Krueger | Jan 6 2022, 12:29 pm

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Buccaneers are releasing Antonio Brown today, league sources tell ESPN. He is, as Bruce Arians proclaimed Sunday, no longer a Buc. (Adam Schefter on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: Brown stormed off the field mid-game in spectacular fashion in Week 17 and has now been released. HC Bruce Arians noted that AB was unhappy about his first half targets while Brown and Mike Evans were on a pitch count for the game. We'll see if another team is willing to give the 33 year-old diva wide receiver yet another chance in 2022.
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| Diontae Johnson lands on Covid list Unlikely to play in Week 18 By: Mike Krueger | Jan 6 2022, 12:03 pm

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#Steelers announce that Diontae Johnson, their best wide receiver, and Kendrick Green, the rookie center, are both on the COVID list. Pittsburgh is at the #Ravens Sunday. (Aditi Kinkhabwala on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: Johnson will have a hard time getting cleared for the Steelers final game of the season against the Ravens. If he misses, we could see more targets for Ray-Ray McCloud in the short area of the field.
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| Cam Akers to play in Week 18? Full practice on Wednesday By: Mike Krueger | Jan 5 2022, 5:27 pm

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Sean McVay says Cam Akers was "full speed, flying around" at practice today and that he's looking forward to seeing him make his debut this Sunday. (Lindsey Thiry on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: Akers Achilles injury occurred in the pre-season (mid-July) so him potentially suiting up in Week 18 is quite surprising. It's difficult to project him with a heavy workload in the season finale. Sony Michel should continue to operate as the lead back.
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| Justin Fields will practice Wednesday, expected to start Ankle injury By: Mike Krueger | Jan 5 2022, 12:54 pm

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Bears coach Matt Nagy says that Justin Fields will practice in full today and start at QB on Sunday against the Vikings. (Field Yates on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: Fields last played in Week 15 against the Vikings, his opponent in Week 18. He went 26-39, for 285 yards, 1 TD with 35 yards rushing, finishing as the QB10 for the week. He's been sidelined the last couple weeks with an ankle injury.
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| Joe Burrow will take a seat in Week 18 Brandon Allen to start By: Mike Krueger | Jan 5 2022, 12:30 pm

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Joe Burrow says he does not plan to play Sunday. It is not because of his knee.
Knee is "sore but not bad, I could play if I needed to."
Resting for playoffs. (Paul Dehner Jr. on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: The Bengals are a longshot to get the No.1 seed in the AFC so expect to see a lot of the Bengals starters sit in their Week 18 game against the Browns. Tyler Boyd needs 172 yards to reach 1000 for the season, but that's not likely to happen with Brandon Allen at quarterback.
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| Joe Mixon lands on the Covid list Out for Week 18 By: Mike Krueger | Jan 5 2022, 10:45 am

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Bengals’ Pro-Bowl RB Joe Mixon tested positive today for COVID-19 and will be out Sunday vs. the Browns, per league sources.
One day earlier, the Bengals placed S Vonn Bell, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Trey Hendrickson, C Trey Hopkins, G Quinton Spain on the reserve/COVID-19 list (Adam Schefter on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: With Mixon out, expect Samaje Perine to play a lot in this game against the Browns with some Chris Evans mixed in as well. The Bengals have already clinched a playoff spot and don't have a realistic chance at the No.1 seed so their motivation this week is in question. Perine is $5300 on Draftkings.
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| Derrick Henry expected back at practice Wednesday Will likely return for the playoffs By: Mike Krueger | Jan 4 2022, 4:48 pm

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Titans are expecting star RB Derrick Henry to be at practice tomorrow, I’m told, setting the stage for a playoff return. He’s been ramping up toward this. (Cameron Wolfe on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: It's not likely that Henry plays in Week 18 but we should see him at some point during the playoffs. Tennessee currently sits as the No.1 seed in the AFC thanks to their tie breaker advantage over Kansas City. Expect a lot of D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard against the Texans on Sunday.
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| Baker Mayfield Out for Week 18 Will undergo surgery on torn labrum By: Mike Krueger | Jan 4 2022, 1:51 pm

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Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield won't play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals, coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday on Zoom. Mayfield will undergo surgery on the completely torn labrum he suffered in his left, non-throwing shoulder in Week 2 “as soon as possible,” Stefanski said. (Akron Beacon Journal)
FFToday's Take: This makes sense considering the Browns are out of the playoff picture. Case Keenum is expected to start against the Bengals. Keenum posted a 21-33, 199-1-0 line against the Broncos in Week 7. He's nothing more than a mid-range QB2 in Week 18.
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| Darren Waller likely back for season finale Missed last four games with multiple ailments By: Doug Orth | Jan 3 2022, 9:40 pm

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Rich Bisaccia said they're anticipating getting Darren Waller back this week. (Fresno Bee - Anthony Galaviz)
FFToday's Take: Waller was having a bit of a disappointing season by his standards before suffering knee and back injuries on Thanksgiving night. He also landed on the COVID list last week. The Raiders get the Chargers in Week 18 - an opponent that Waller posted a 4-50-1 line against in Week 4. Regardless of his production this season, Waller changes how opponents play the Raiders, so he will be welcomed back with open arms if he can go. He will be a TE1 option if he plays next weekend.
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| Multiple Eagles added to Covid list Monday Dallas Goedert, Jordan Howard and Boston Scott By: Mike Krueger | Jan 3 2022, 1:00 pm

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After clinching a playoff berth on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday that they have had an outbreak of players testing positive for COVID. (Philly Voice)
FFToday's Take: Dallas Goedert, Jordan Howard and Boston Scott were all added to the list ahead of their Week 18 against the Cowboys. The Eagles already have a playoff spot locked up so we may see a lot Kenneth Gainwell at running back on Saturday night.
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| Michael Gallup suffers torn ACL MRI expected tomorrow By: Mike Krueger | Jan 2 2022, 7:57 pm

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#Cowboys WR Michael Gallup, who was quickly ruled out today, suffered a torn ACL, owner Jerry Jones told reporters. Assuming the MRI confirms, he’ll be out for the season. (Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: Gallup was set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Cedrick Wilson filled in after Gallup left, posting a 6-35-1 line. He should be in there three-wide receiver sets next week against the Eagles.
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| James Conner a gametime decision Optimism the RB will play By: Mike Krueger | Jan 2 2022, 8:00 am

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Cardinals view James Conner (heel) as a game-time decision vs. Cowboys but there's optimism the RB will play, per @RapSheet
(Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
FFToday's Take: The Cardinals and Cowboys play late this afternoon so we'll have to wait midway through the early games before we find out Conner's status for certain. Chase Edmonds would be an easy RB1 if Conner sits.
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