Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists.
Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games.
Refresh often for the latest information.
Don’t forget to check these out: Mike Clay’s Playbook | Week 17 Buzz
Week 17 Rankings | Expert chat (noon-1 p.m. ET)
What we were watching for early
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Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, ARI (heel): He was limited in practice again this week but is active. While we’d expect him to play at least a little bit Sunday, Michael Wilson should be the WR1 for the Cardinals, with Xavier Weaver also likely to get more looks.
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Joshua Karty, K, ARI: If you’re one of the 3% of ESPN fantasy managers with Karty still in your lineup this morning, get him out of there. He’s a healthy inactive as the Cardinals have opted to stick with Chad Ryland at kicker this week.
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Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR (illness): McMillan was added to the injury report Sunday morning, which certainly raised a lot of red flags. He is active, but you may have to hold your breath while watching.
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Dylan Sampson, RB, CLE (hand): He’s active and likely to handle lead back duties. Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams should work in tandem as backup options.
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Harold Fannin Jr., TE, CLE (groin): Fannin was a late-week add to the injury report, but especially given that David Njoku is still out, all signs pointed to him playing. He is active.
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Bhayshul Tuten, RB, JAX (finger): Tuten has been downgraded to out in advance of Sunday’s release of inactives. LeQuint Allen Jr. will back up Travis Etienne Jr. on Sunday, though there still remains a possibility we see Tuten again before the season is over.
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Charlie Smyth, K, NO (illness): The Saints don’t have any other kickers on the roster and made no efforts to rectify that situation in advance of Sunday, so it’s no surprise that Smyth is active.
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Chris Olave, WR, NO (back): Since Olave traveled with the team to Tennessee, it’s not a surprise to see he is active. Mason Tipton (groin), however, is inactive.
Ruled out before Sunday
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Matt Prater, K, BUF (quad): Michael Badgley gets another opportunity to prove he still belongs on an NFL roster.
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Rome Odunze, WR, CHI (foot): WR Luther Burden III (ankle) was removed from the team’s final injury report. He should play alongside DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus.
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Anthony Richardson Sr., QB, IND (eye): He’s not going to be activated from IR this week, so both Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard will be active for the Colts. Houston won on Saturday, eliminating Indianapolis from playoff contention, so aside from “nostalgia,” it makes little sense to start Rivers anymore — but that won’t stop it from happening.
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Jason Sanders, K, MIA (hip): Sanders continues to practice with the team, but he is clearly not yet ready to be activated from IR. Riley Patterson continues to handle kicking duties.
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Kayshon Boutte, WR, NE (concussion): There are only three fully healthy WR options for the Patriots: Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
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Mack Hollins, WR, NE (abdomen): Hollins goes on IR. DeMario Douglas (hamstring) is active, but we still may see a little extra work for No. 2 TE Austin Hooper.
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Alvin Kamara, RB, NO (knee): Audric Estime and jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill will likely split backfield duties.
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Theo Johnson, TE, NYG (illness): He’s not traveling to Vegas, so either Daniel Bellinger or Chris Manhertz could collect his targets.
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Mason Taylor, TE, NYJ (neck): Stone Smartt and Jeremy Ruckert will split the TE duties, with Smartt more likely to end up in the box score. As expected, QB Tyrod Taylor is also inactive.
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Calvin Austin III, WR, PIT (hamstring): The unlikely combination of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen will lead the way in the Steelers’ WR room, with DK Metcalf serving the first of a two-game suspension.
What we’re watching for late
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Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF (knee): Both Kincaid and Dawson Knox remain questionable to play. Jackson Hawes could be in line for a handful of targets.
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Raheem Mostert, RB, LV (ankle): If he sits, Ashton Jeanty would get backup from Dylan Laube and Zamir White.
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George Kittle, TE, SF (ankle): The fantasy playoffs and Sunday night game-time calls do not go well together, but here we are. It’s best to have Jake Tonges available for a potential pivot, because reports from Sunday morning seem to indicate that Kittle is unlikely to play.
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Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF (knee): If the injury-plagued receiver can’t go, then Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson would likely get some extra looks. However, as of Sunday morning, it was looking likely that Pearsall would play.
