Sunday News

NFL stories to inform your fantasy semifinal decisions … in two minutes or less.

Tee Higgins Is Cleared and Ready to Roll

Big update out of Cincinnati for anyone still alive in the fantasy playoffs. Tee Higgins has officially been cleared from the concussion protocol and is expected to be active this week. The Bengals even sent him to an outside concussion expert just to double-check everything and give him the green light. So this isn’t a “he’ll try it out” situation, he’s playing. So stepping back in gives fantasy managers a legit WR2 option who can swing a semifinal matchup with just a couple big plays.

Christian Kirk Expected to Play

Christian Kirk is expected to play despite popping up late on the injury report with an illness. That’s usually not a huge deal, but the timing did raise some eyebrows after he didn’t practice Friday. Schefter says he’s good to go, so availability isn’t the issue here. The real takeaway for Week 16 is that even if he suits up, Kirk hasn’t been producing, and with the fantasy semifinals on the line, this is not a spot you’re chasing.

Drake London Is Back 

Drake London is expected to return after missing time with a knee injury, and this has been trending this way all week. He’s been out since Week 12, but there’s no question who the alpha is when he’s healthy. Even after Kyle Pitts’ monster game last week, London slides right back into being the focal point of this offense. In a matchup that could turn into a shootout, London is immediately back in play as a WR1 when it matters most.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Will Play 

Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to play this week, but the Cardinals plan to ease him back in while he deals with a heel issue. He’s said it’s “good enough to go,” but this doesn’t sound like a full workload. During his absence, Michael Wilson has been putting up video-game numbers, and that matters. For the fantasy semifinals, this looks like a situation where Wilson remains the safer play, while Harrison carries more risk on a limited snap count in a week you can’t afford to miss.

49ers Injury Watch Is Back Again…

Impactfull update out of San Francisco heading into the fantasy semifinals. Ricky Pearsall missed practice on Friday with knee and ankle issues, and Kyle Shanahan’s messaging doesn’t help with clarity. At first it sounded fine, then there was “some concern,” and now it’s a “maybe” for Monday night. Even if he suits up, it’s hard to expect him at full strength. For Week 16, this is one of those spots where you absolutely need a backup plan ready, especially with Monday night uncertainty looming.

Good News Out of Denver at the Right Time

Here’s a clean one for playoff week. RJ Harvey isn’t even on the Broncos’ final injury report after practicing fully all week. He’s good to go against the Jaguars and should be treated as a solid RB2. The box scores haven’t always popped, but the touchdowns have been there, and that’s exactly what you want when margins are razor thin in the semis. If you’ve been holding your breath on Harvey, you can exhale now.

Javonte Williams: Healthy, Productive, and Loved by Jerry

Interesting combo of real-life and fantasy news out of Dallas. Jerry Jones publicly praised Javonte Williams and hinted at wanting him around long-term, which says a lot after a one-year prove-it deal. Williams already has his first 1,000-yard rushing season and double-digit touchdowns, and now he’s completely off the injury report heading into Week 16. He’s set up as a high-end RB2 against the Chargers and very much in play as a difference-maker in the fantasy semifinals. Jake Ferguson also got cleared, which helps the offense as a whole.

Looking Ahead: Davante Adams Likely Out Again

A quick peek to next week, but it matters. Sean McVay said Davante Adams will most likely miss Week 17 with a hamstring injury. We just saw what that meant for Puka Nacua, who went nuclear with 200 receiving yards in Week 16. The Rams offense didn’t miss a beat even against a strong defense, though it could slightly limit Matthew Stafford’s touchdown upside without his goal-line back. If you’re lucky enough to be planning for championship week already, this is something to file away now.

So that’s the news. Keep your eyes open as we head into NFL Sunday… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe

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