The Indianapolis Colts will turn to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to start this Sunday’s game, as rookie QB Anthony Richardson continues to battle back and foot soreness. Richardson, who has been struggling with the injuries this week, did not practice at all and has officially been downgraded to out for the game.

Flacco, 39, brings years of experience to the Colts’ offense, having started over 170 games in his career. The team will be looking to him for stability as they face off against their Week 5 opponent. Richardson, who has shown flashes of promise in his rookie season, will be sidelined in hopes of fully recovering from the ailments.

The Colts have yet to announce further details on Richardson’s recovery timeline, but for now, Flacco will take the reins in what promises to be a crucial game for Indianapolis as they look to stay competitive in the AFC South.

-Sagar

The Dallas Cowboys have officially placed star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on injured reserve, ruling him out for the team’s final two games of the season. Lamb is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, but NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that surgery is not required for the injury.

With Lamb sidelined, the Cowboys will rely on a mix of receivers to step up in his absence. The team’s wide receiver corps for Week 17 will include Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert (who is dealing with a finger injury), Jalen Brooks (knee), KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy, and rookie Jonathan Mingo.

The Cowboys are aiming to close out the regular season strong, but Lamb’s absence leaves a significant void in their high-powered offense. While the team is hopeful for a playoff run, they will need to adapt to the loss of their top target over the final stretch of the year.

-Sagar

The Carolina Panthers have placed running back Chuba Hubbard on injured reserve due to a calf and knee injury. While the injury is not considered major, the team has decided to take a cautious approach to avoid further complications.

Hubbard, who has been a key contributor in the Panthers’ backfield, will now be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. Carolina made the official announcement shortly after the report, confirming the move.

The Panthers will likely rely on other running backs in Hubbard’s absence, as they look to maintain their offensive rhythm during his recovery. The team has yet to provide a definitive timeline for Hubbard’s return, but the priority will be ensuring his full recovery before his return to the field.

-Sagar

After sustaining a calf injury during last week’s game, Thompson-Robinson is healthy enough to start again this week. Coach Stefanski previously announced plans to start the former UCLA Bruin for the remainder of this season, but the injury provoked uncertainty. Thompson-Robinson tossed two interceptions and zero touchdowns against the Bengals last week, accumulating 157 yards through the air and 49 more on the ground. He boasts a 1:9 touchdown to interception ratio on 697 career pass attempts.

In addition to confirming their Week 17 starting quarterback, the Browns have ruled out tight end David Njoku. Njoku leads the team in receiving touchdowns and is behind only Jerry Jeudy in receptions and yards. This leaves Jeudy and Elijah Moore as the only viable pass-catchers for Cleveland this weekend. Given Thompson-Robinson’s struggles through the air, neither should be in fantasy football starting lineups this weekend. The Browns are set to take on the Miami Dolphins in their final home game of the season this Sunday afternoon.

The phrasing of Watson’s restructured deal is slightly misleading, as the Browns still owe him $92 million in fully guaranteed money until his contract expires. Still, considering the contract’s new format, the Browns put themselves in a position to manage Watson’s cap hit once his contract expires. In short, Watson will receive his $92 million in guaranteed money eventually, but the Browns have more flexibility in managing the dead cap once they part ways.

This move seemingly confirms that Watson will be on the roster for the 2025 season. However, multiple insiders are suggesting the Browns are already preparing to search for a new franchise quarterback. Whether it be through the NFL Draft or acquiring a veteran, Watson’s days in Cleveland are numbered. The organization is bracing itself for the smoothest transition possible once the time comes.

Watson signed a historic deal with the Browns in 2022, which includes $230 million in fully guaranteed money. Since then, the deal has continuously backfired. Whether it be off-the-field controversy, consistent issues with injuries, or simply underperforming expectations on the field, Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been a disaster. Before rupturing his Achilles this season, Watson played in seven games, totaling 1,148 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. On the heels of another disappointing, injury-riddled season, Watson will seemingly get one final shot to prove his worth next season under a newly restructured contract.

Reported by Trey Kroll (@TreyK_FB on Twitter/X)

Seattle Seahawks are traveling to Chicago to face the Bears in week 17. However, the Seahawks will not have the services of Kenneth Walker. Walker suffered an ankle injury late in the game vs the Vikings.

Seahawks are not eliminated from the playoff hunt yet but they are dependent on the other teams if they want to reach the playoffs. The Bears have also struggled to win a game in recent times so this can be a good opportunity for the Seahawks to win this game and be hopeful to make the playoffs.

Zach Charbonnet will replace Walker as the primary back for the Seahawks. Charbonnet has proved that he can take on a heavy workload and be productive for the offense. Fantasy managers should definitely be looking forward to starting Charbonnet during the final week of fantasy contest as he should be getting the majority of workload. Kenny McIntosh should also be getting some limited touches behind Charbonnet and may offer some relevance in a deep fantasy football leagues.

-Sagar