The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they re-signed wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman to their practice squad. The Bills will reunite with Hardman after cutting him over the weekend. The 27-year-old has appeared in only two games with Buffalo this year and hasn't caught a pass on just one target. On special teams, he returned a kickoff 61 yards and recorded four yards on two punt returns. There's no guarantee that Hardman will be elevated to the active 53-man roster again for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New York Jets or for the postseason. If Hardman does see action for the Bills again, it will most likely only come via a special-teams role.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Rico Dowdle (toe) did not practice on Tuesday due to a sore toe, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. The Panthers are hopeful that he'll be ready for Saturday's big divisional showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 to decide the NFC South. Dowdle is considered day-to-day, and the Panthers wanted to give him a rest day in the first official practice of the week. As long as the 27-year-old can practice on Wednesday or Thursday, he should be fine to play in the regular-season finale. Many teams across the league will be resting players in Week 18, but not the Panthers, as they seek to win the division and secure a playoff spot. Since his last 100-yard game on Nov. 2, Dowdle has gone over 50 rushing yards three times in seven games, although one of those came in last week's loss to Seattle. Dowdle will be on the RB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers this weekend.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that rookie running back Jaydon Blue could get some snaps on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. The Cowboys have nothing left to play for but pride, and fellow RBs Javonte Williams (shoulder) and Malik Davis (eye) are banged up, potentially leading to Blue playing for the first time since Week 8. The 21-year-old has only seen action in four games in 2025 in his first year in the NFL, carrying the ball 22 times for 65 yards while adding one catch for a five-yard gain. The Cowboys essentially benched Blue in favor of Davis after the fifth-rounder lost a fumble in the Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. Depending on the statuses of Williams and Davis this weekend, though, Blue could be in play as a DFS sleeper against the G-Men.

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Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has seen his snap share drop steadily over the past three games. Now, with nothing but divisional pride on the line in a Week 18 matchup with the Browns, there is no guarantee of playing time for the 30-year-old veteran in the first year of the three-year deal he signed this offseason. For fantasy managers still playing into Week 18, there are more alluring names to be found on the waiver wire, with a pleasant number of NFL teams still playing for something in the final week of the regular season. Gesicki did finish as the TE2 as recently as Week 14, so he does represent a ceiling uncommon to the waiver wire, but with an unclear picture of how the Bengals are approaching the end of the season, he is best viewed as a desperation-only play in deeper leagues.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has finished as a top-five fantasy tight end in back-to-back weeks, helping to secure titles for the few brave managers who dared to stray from the consensus start/sit path. Okonkwo played a similar championship-winning role last season, gathering 22 receptions for 182 yards from Weeks 15-17. For fantasy managers still playing in Week 18, he becomes an interesting name on this week's waiver wire as the Titans prepare to face a Jaguars defense that has been a bottom-10 unit at defending the position. An important thing to note is that in Week 18 of 2024, Okonkwo saw only a 5% snap share. However, with an interim head coach and an unlikely shot at the number one overall pick, there is a greater expectation that Tennessee will play its starters on Sunday.

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Philadelphia running back Tank Bigsby is rostered in fewer than 20% of redraft leagues, but depending on how the Eagles approach the final week of the regular season, he could be a league winner for fantasy managers with a Week 18 title game. Philadelphia is locked into either the number two or number three seed in the NFC playoffs, and it remains unclear how much matchup manipulation they intend to take into Sunday. If the Eagles opt to rest their starters against a Commanders defense that has been the fourth most favorable matchup for fantasy running backs, Bigsby could be in line for a huge week. In a Week 8 win over the Giants, in which Saquon Barkley saw his lowest snap count of the year, Bigsby ran for a season-high 104 yards and finished as the RB20 on the week. If Barkley is rested for the final game of the year, Bigsby has RB1 potential and should be a waiver wire priority in any league that has yet to be settled.

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Cleveland Browns undrafted rookie running back Raheim Sanders was a popular waiver wire add in Week 17, with Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) lost for the year and Dylan Sampson's status uncertain heading into a divisional matchup with the Steelers. Sampson was eventually cleared to play despite his hand injury, and neither rookie was able to do much in a 13-6 win. Approaching a Week 18 matchup with the Bengals with no playoff implications, we've reached the point in the year where many teams opt to see what they've got in some of their unproven rookies. Unfortunately, Sampson also fits into this category, so another frustrating split is entirely possible. However, if either back is given the majority of the work, Cincinnati has been the most generous defense to opposing running backs all season long, providing an opportunity for one final RB1 performance.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has finished as a low-end RB2 in each of the past two weeks without cracking a 40% snap share. If the Bengals opt to rest or limit their starters, including the surging Chase Brown, Perine could be in line for a solid workload in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns with nothing but divisional pride on the line. Even if Perine maintains only his usual change of pace and mop-up duties, he has enough of a floor to keep him in consideration for a flex role against a Cleveland defense that just allowed 131 yards on the ground to a Steelers offense with no threat of a passing attack. Readily available on most waiver wires, Perine should be a top priority in any league with a Week 18 title game.

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The Dallas Cowboys released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Diggs will go through the league's waiver process, and if he's unclaimed, he'll become a free agent. The 27-year-old defensive back missed more time due to injury this year -- he missed eight games due to a knee injury -- and the Cowboys had seen enough. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of Alabama had a league-high 11 interceptions for Dallas in 2021 in his second year in the league, but Diggs has had six interceptions since and has struggled to stay healthy. In his eight games played in 2025, he had 25 tackles (18 solo), one tackle for loss, and no interceptions. Diggs has $8.5 million remaining on his salary and also has the potential to make $34 million in 2027 and 2028, so he's highly unlikely to be claimed by another team off waivers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic about the availability of wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring) for Sunday night's big divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Austin was inactive for the Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns, a game in which Pittsburgh was also without DK Metcalf (suspension). Quarterback Aaron Rodgers really struggled with a receiving corps consisting of Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek. Metcalf will be out again for Sunday night's game that will decide the AFC North division, but it looks like Austin could be back. The 26-year-old has done very little for fantasy managers in 2025 (28 catches, 317 yards, two touchdowns), but he could operate as the Steelers' WR1 against Baltimore.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (forearm) had surgery on his broken forearm on Tuesday morning and will not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he has "some level of optimism for everyone else." The expectation was that Washington would not play after he broke his arm in the Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Not only will the 24-year-old not be available for the winner-take-all game this Sunday night against the Ravens, but Washington is unlikely to be able to return for the playoffs if the Steelers take care of business this weekend. It means that Pat Freiermuth will become a slightly more attractive TE streamer in fantasy, as will Jonnu Smith. Washington's third season in the NFL will finish with 31 catches for 364 yards and a touchdown in 16 games.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic about All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt's (lung) chances of playing this Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. "We'll work him up over the course of the week and let the amount of participation and quality of participation be our guide. I'm more optimistic than I've been in previous weeks," Tomlin said. Watt has missed the last three games after having surgery to fix a partially collapsed lung. Pittsburgh could really use one of the best pass-rushers in football for a contest that will decide the AFC North division on Sunday evening. The loser will go home. Tomlin previously said Watt wouldn't play unless he put in a full week of full practices, so we'll keep a close eye on his status this week. The 31-year-old was limited all of last week before being ruled out. If Watt is active in the regular-season finale, he almost certainly won't be at 100%.

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Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt (lung) has provided optimism for head coach Mike Tomlin for Week 18. 'We'll work him up over the course of the week and let the amount of participation and quality of participation be our guide,' Tomlin said. 'I'm more optimistic than I've been in previous weeks.'

Fantasy Spin: Watt is one of the best options in fantasy if he qualifies as a DL, but he's still a midrate LB that should be considered for your lineups if he's fit to go.

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New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident Tuesday, Dec. 2. Diggs' attorney, Michael DiStefano, disclosed to the court that Diggs has made a financial offer to resolve the dispute with the alleged victim in this case. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, Jan. 23, just two days before the AFC Championship game is scheduled to be played.

Fantasy Spin: The news definitely could be a distraction, but it really doesn't affect him from a fantasy perspective this season. A suspension could occur, but it would likely take place next season. Diggs caught all six of his targets last week for 101 yards and a touchdown. He'll be a WR3 in the season finale and in playoff pools.

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Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (thigh) played through a thigh injury in his team's Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. The rookie linebacker has started all 16 games for Cleveland so far this season, recording 67 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus grades Schwesinger as the 21st-best linebacker out of 86 qualified players at the position in 2025, so his presence on the field is key for the Cleveland defense. If Schwesinger remains limited by the injury in practice this week, there may not be much incentive for the 4-12 Browns to push him to play in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Should Schwesinger be sidelined, Browns linebackers Jerome Baker and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold would both likely see more playing time against Cincinnati.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught five of his 10 targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Nacua could have had another monster performance after his 225-yard, two-touchdown performance last week, but he had multiple big plays wiped out by a penalty or a review. The superstar wideout nearly pulled off an unbelievable one-handed catch near the end of the game to put the Rams in field-goal range with a chance to tie, but he just barely lost possession of the ball as he went to the ground. It still ended up being a solid performance for Nacua, as he led the Rams' passing attack again without star teammate Davante Adams (hamstring). He's now scored five touchdowns in the past four games after having four in the first 11 games. Nacua will be in for another heavy dose of targets with Adams likely out again in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford may have sold his shot at winning MVP in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, completing 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 37-year-old signal-caller entered the game with only five interceptions on 519 pass attempts this season, but he threw three costly ones Monday night, with one of them being returned for a pick-six. It was easily the veteran's lowest passer rating of the season at 64.5, with the next closest game being 85.9 in his two-interception game in Week 13's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Stafford still managed to throw two touchdown passes, extending his streak to 10 consecutive games, twice as long as the next closest quarterback. Los Angeles will close out their regular season at home against the Arizona Cardinals before having to play on the road in the playoffs.

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Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson hauled in two of his four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Ferguson has now seen four targets and scored a touchdown in back-to-back games as his playing time has spiked over the last three contests. The rookie second-rounder finished second on the team in receiving yards on the night and continues to be an explosive playmaker in a potent Rams offense. He's recorded five catches of at least 25 yards this season, which is the most by a Rams rookie tight end in the last 35 years, according to the Los Angeles Rams PR. Ferguson is seeing a bump in routes and targets down the stretch, and looks like an exciting player to dream on in fantasy football in 2026. His usage is expected to continue expanding in the final week of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident in early December, per Frank O'Laughlin of Boston 25 News. O'Laughlin reports that Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on January 23, two days before the AFC Championship game is scheduled to take place. The 32-year-old wideout has recorded 82 catches for 970 yards and four touchdowns on 99 targets across 16 games in his first season in New England. It's unclear whether these charges will impact Diggs' availability for the postseason, but any absence would obviously be a major loss for the Patriots' offense. New England recently placed wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Injured Reserve, so the team's depth at the position may be tested going forward.

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Across 16 games in 2025, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has recorded 719 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 173 touches. While the 30-year-old lacks explosive upside, he remains an effective short-area and goal-line rusher. Hunt's touchdown production has dried up in recent weeks, as he's failed to find the end zone in any of Kansas City's last three games. However, Hunt's playing time spiked in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, as he earned more snaps (24) than fellow Chiefs running backs Isiah Pacheco and Brashard Smith combined (21). Additionally, the Chiefs will face a significantly easier matchup in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even with third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun under center, Kansas City could have a chance to move the ball against Las Vegas. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams. Hunt could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.

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