Saints DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) out indefinitely

Tue May 28 2:48pm ET
Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon is sidelined indefinitely with a torn Achilles tendon, coach Dennis Allen announced Tuesday.

The injury occurred during a running drill this offseason and will keep him out for training camp and at least the first part of the season.

Allen delivered the update after being asked about Kpassagnon's absence from the first two offseason practices that were open to reporters.

Kpassagnon, who turns 30 next month, appeared in all 17 games last season and contributed 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits. He played 37 percent of New Orleans' defensive snaps.

He has 140 tackles and 16.5 sacks in 101 career games (34 starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs (2017-20) and Saints. He won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs, who drafted him in the second round in 2017.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 16

Player Notes
Lamar Jackson Dec 20 6:50pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson endured an ugly stretch of games in November, but he got back on track with a solid two-touchdown performance against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Now, he'll look to build off that momentum during Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots in Week 16. The 28-year-old has four touchdowns and two turnovers over his last two games, rushing for a decent total of 69 yards during that span. He could have one of his better rushing games this week against a Patriots defense dealing with key injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) has already been ruled out, and linebacker Harold Landry III (knee) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee) are both questionable. Without some key run-stopping weapons, the Patriots could have trouble slowing down Jackson and Derrick Henry on the ground. The 28-year-old quarterback ranks as RotoBaller's overall QB4 for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Dec 20 6:30pm CT
D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) is officially active for Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. Although rookie running back Kyle Monangai has carved out a consistent role in Chicago's offense this season, Swift remains the Bears' primary option out of the backfield. Over his last three games, the 26-year-old has totaled 54 touches, 351 scrimmage yards, and three touchdowns. Swift remains a must-start fantasy running back ahead of Saturday's divisional battle with the Packers. He's a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Dec 20 6:30pm CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (ankle, knee) is officially active for Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after practicing in full on Friday. The 26-year-old has taken on a slightly reduced role during the back half of the season, but he has still logged a snap share north of 60% in each of his last six contests. Through 13 total games this year, he has 24 catches, 301 yards, and a pair of touchdowns, ranking as the overall TE37 in full-PPR leagues. Kmet can be dropped in most redraft formats as he continues to lose targets and snaps to rookie Colston Loveland.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 20 6:20pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receivers Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are active for Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Chicago Bears. Both players had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. Watson has emerged as the Packers' No. 1 receiver with 28 catches, 481 yards, and five touchdowns through eight games. Since making his season debut in Week 8, he ranks as the overall WR9 in full-PPR leagues. He continues to operate as a high-end WR2 in fantasy football. Meanwhile, Wicks has been productive in a depth role, catching 27 passes for 313 yards and a pair of touchdowns across a dozen contests. His presence on Saturday is key for the Packers, but he doesn't offer much value in fantasy football. Wicks can be benched or dropped to waivers in most redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Nakobe Dean Dec 20 6:10pm CT
Nakobe Dean

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) has been downgraded to out for Saturday's game against the Washington Commanders. Dean was forced to exit the game in the first quarter due to a hamstring injury. He officially won't return for the second half of this Week 16 contest. He'll finish his day with one solo tackle and one assisted tackle. The absence of Dean should mean increased snaps for Jeremiah Trotter and Smael Mondon Jr. for the rest of Saturday's contest.

From RotoBaller

Marcus Mariota Dec 20 6:10pm CT
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand) exited during the third quarter of Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was evaluated for a concussion and was cleared. However, he is still listed as questionable to return because of a hand injury. Josh Johnson will take over as the Commanders' quarterback until he can return. At the time of his departure, Mariota had gone 7-for-14 passing with 95 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Washington continues to deal with numerous injuries on both sides of the ball, and Mariota is just the latest example. The veteran quarterback only earned the start on Sunday because Jayden Daniels (elbow) was ruled out for the second consecutive week.

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Joe Burrow Dec 20 6:00pm CT
Joe Burrow

The Miami Dolphins reportedly made a strong push for quarterback Joe Burrow ahead of the 2020 season. According to Adam Schefter, the Dolphins offered the Bengals four first-round picks for Burrow before the draft. Obviously, the Bengals declined and believed that Burrow would be their franchise quarterback. The Bengals were right to gamble on Burrow, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league when healthy. After losing out on Burrow, the Dolphins decided to select Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth-overall pick during the 2020 draft. Tagovailoa has been mostly average during his time with the Dolphins and was recently benched by the organization. This trade could've completely changed the direction of the Dolphins franchise.

From RotoBaller

Jaylin Lane Dec 20 6:00pm CT
Jaylin Lane

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Lane made an early exit in the first quarter due to an ankle injury. The rookie wideout has now been officially ruled out for the second half of this contest. Lane didn't register any offensive stats before exiting this contest. His absence won't have a huge impact on this offense, given he hasn't recorded a catch since Week 11. The departure of Lane should mean increased snaps for Treylon Burks and Chris Moore for the rest of the second half.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Dec 20 5:40pm CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) is officially active ahead of Saturday's Week 16 matchup versus the Chicago Bears. Jacobs appeared to be trending in the wrong direction after not practicing all week. He was on crutches on Monday, but the knee issue won't keep him from playing in this critical divisional matchup. Jacobs will suit up, so fantasy managers can go ahead and get him active in their lineups. There is no word on any limitations, but it wouldn't be shocking if the Packers were somewhat cautious with Jacobs. Nonetheless, fantasy managers can plug in Jacobs as an RB1 for Saturday's game against Chicago.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Dec 20 5:30pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) has been ruled out for the Week 16 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Pearsall was unable to practice all week due to knee and ankle injuries he suffered during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans. He'll miss at least one game, but will hopefully return for the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The absence of Pearsall should mean larger roles for Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Demarcus Robinson. Out of the three, Jennings is the only consistent fantasy option heading into the Monday Night matchup versus the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Jaylin Lane Dec 20 4:40pm CT
Jaylin Lane

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (ankle) exited during the first quarter of Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie is officially listed as questionable to return. He suffered the injury while returning a punt prior to the start of Washington's second offensive drive. Lane had not registered an offensive statistic at the time of his departure. In his absence, Treylon Burks and Chris Moore could earn more snaps behind starting wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr.

From RotoBaller

Nakobe Dean Dec 20 4:40pm CT
Nakobe Dean

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) exited during the first quarter of Saturday's Week 16 contest. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Dean suffered the injury while tackling Treylon Burks on a completion over the middle. The 25-year-old had four sacks over his previous six games, so Philadelphia will hope he's able to return sooner rather than later. In the meantime, first-round rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell will enter the game in Dean's absence.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 20 4:00pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) should be able to go for Saturday night's divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Watson missed Tuesday's practice but practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday this week. The 26-year-old wideout was sent to the hospital after suffering injuries to his chest and shoulder during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos, but said that he was "feeling pretty good" this week and will suit up for a big matchup on Saturday night. Watson has been the Packers' most explosive pass catcher since returning in Week 8 and offers WR2 upside in a favorable matchup against the Bears.

From RotoBaller

David Moore Dec 20 4:00pm CT
David Moore

The Carolina Panthers won't activate wide receiver David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve this week, according to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer. Moore landed on IR after suffering an elbow injury during Carolina's 42-13 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 4. The 30-year-old wideout has just one catch for five yards in his four games played this season. The veteran will hope to return to action for Week 17's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo isn't a realistic fantasy option for Week 16's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Okonkwo has yet to find the end zone in 14 games this season and hasn't exceeded four catches in a game. The 26-year-old tight end is second on the team in receiving yards over the past four games, but that's more of a reflection of how poor the Titans' offense is. Okonkwo has a tough matchup on deck in Week 16 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. He's fallen outside the top 32 tight ends in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) missed practice for the third straight day on Saturday and is considered unlikely to play Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans and is set to miss more time. The second-year wideout still produced a strong receiving line despite picking up the injury, catching six of seven targets for 96 yards. Jauan Jennings should be in line to see an uptick in opportunities behind Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle in San Francisco's pass game on Monday night, with Kendrick Bourne also in line to fill in for extra reps.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Mecole Hardman

The Buffalo Bills have elevated kicker Michael Badgley from the practice squad to the active roster and activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) from Injured Reserve. Badgley will be filling in for an injured Matt Prater (quadriceps), who could be looking at a multi-game absence. The 30-year-old Badgley was signed to the Bills' practice squad after beginning the season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and 18 of his 21 extra points in seven games. Hardman, on the other hand, landed on IR after injuring his calf in his first game with the Bills in Week 11's win over the Buccaneers. The 27-year-old wideout is unlikely to be a significant factor in the Bills' offense, but should play a role on special teams in Week 16's game versus the Cleveland Browns.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) will benefit from his team's high-volume passing attack if he's healthy enough to play in Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Harrison has missed four of the last five games due to various injuries, but he's making good progress ahead of Sunday's battle of eliminated NFC teams. The former first-round pick was limited in practice this week and told reporters that he's healthy enough to play. Assuming he's confirmed as active for Week 16, Harrison should operate as a high-volume WR2. The Cardinals' passing attack has been impressive ever since Jacoby Brissett took over for Kyler Murray (foot). Brissett is averaging 43 pass attempts and 301 passing yards per game as a starter, and he has been a top-12 fantasy quarterback in each of his nine starts. Arizona's high passing volume has allowed Brissett to support fantasy-relevant performances from Harrison, Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride. Therefore, Arizona's game plan and Week 16 game script against the Falcons bodes well for Harrison to deliver a solid fantasy performance. The Falcons have allowed the fourth-most touchdowns and seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. Harrison ranks as the overall WR36 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16, but he could climb into the top 24 once he's officially confirmed as active on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Gunnar Helm Dec 20 3:30pm CT
Gunnar Helm

Tennessee Titans rookie tight end Gunnar Helm (toe) is expected to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Helm was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full on Friday. The rookie fourth-rounder has emerged as one of the few bright spots on the Titans' offense in recent weeks. He caught all four of his targets for 49 yards and his second touchdown of the season in last week's loss to the 49ers. The Texas product leads the team with 131 receiving yards over the past four games, ranking as the TE15 in that span. Helm's stock is trending up, and he projects as an upside TE2 option even in a tougher matchup on Sunday against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has given up the fifth fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Dec 20 3:30pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado is expected to handle an increased workload against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, but his fantasy outlook remains murky. He is on track to operate as the backup to Michael Carter this week after Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. While Demercado was viewed as Arizona's passing-down specialist at points earlier this season, it's unclear whether that remains his role given how well Carter has performed in the passing game lately. Carter has 19 catches over his last five games, whereas Demercado has just 10 catches through parts of 10 games this year. Rather than being a true passing-down specialist, it seems more likely that the 26-year-old will fall into a change-of-pace role, allowing the Cardinals to manage Carter's workload and keep him fresh. Demercado has shown impressive burst in the past, and his 8.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons indicates that he's capable of breaking off big plays. His fantasy value in Week 16 likely hinges on whether he's able to break off any big runs or catches against the Falcons. In other words, he'll need high efficiency to overcome a backup's workload. He currently ranks as the RB51 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

From RotoBaller