Team news: Buffalo Bills | Page 18

Wide receiver Mecole Hardman has been back at Chiefs practice for the last couple of weeks, but he has not been activated from injured reserve yet.

Head coach Andy Reid suggested on Wednesday that Hardman is likely to take that step this week.

Hardman has been sidelined by an abdominal injury and Reid said a setback on that front is the only thing that would keep him from making it back into the lineup against the Broncos, the story said. Hardman was apparently close to playing last week. Hardman had scored a TD in three straight games, a span of Weeks 6-9, before missing time, and in Week 5 had 4-73-0 line. So Hardman was heavily involved in the offense before his abdomen injury, as we stated last week.

Bills elevated WR Cole Beasley to their active roster for Saturday’s game vs. the Bears.

Related Players: Gabe Davis, Isaiah McKenzie

This shouldn't do anything to Stefon Diggs' production at all, but the call-up could affect Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie's floors, which were already wavering. Beasley has seen 24 snaps in the 2022 season, converting his lone Week 15 target into nine yards.

Texans placed WR Nico Collins on injured reserve, ending his season.

Related Players: Chris Moore, Brandin Cooks, Phillip Dorsett

The writing has been on the wall after Collins missed another week of practice. He was having a decent 2022 considering his surroundings and hopefully, he can build on that in Year 3 with a new quarterback. As it stands now, Chris Moore is an intriguing fantasy option, albeit in the Flex position. It's still up in the air if Brandin Cooks will make an impact if he were to actually take the field.

Andy Reid said there's a good chance Mecole Hardman would be activated in time to play Saturday against Seahawks.

If so, Chiefs will be whole at WR for first time in several weeks, the tweet went on to say. The team was hoping to get him back last week when his window was activated. Owners may have forgot, but Hardman had scored a TD in three straight games, a span of Weeks 6-9, before missing time, and in Week 5 had 4-73-0 line. So Hardman was heavily involved in the offense before his abdomen injury.

Kenny Pickett has to "check a box procedurally" but if there was practice he would be a full participant. Says Pickett will start on Saturday.

Related players: Mitch Trubisky

The Steelers will get more time to see what Pickett can do this season, but has already suffered two concussions this year, the other coming back in October. Pickett had been solid before his second concussion, and hasn't thrown and INT since Week 8 but only has two passing TDs over his last four, full games. He's also added a rushing TD in that span. At the very least, Pickett has turned into a game manager for the Steelers and fantasy owners.

The Steelers announced QB Mitch Trubisky will start in Week 15 against the Panthers.

This was the expected outcome after Kenny Pickett was listed as doubtful with a concussion. Trubisky and Mason Rudolph both took first-team reps in practice this week, but Trubisky seemed like the favorite to get the nod. Trubisky is our No. 30 quarterback on the board this week, not someone you'd want to rely on in the playoffs.

Steelers are listing QB Kenny Pickett as doubtful for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers, and the team plans to announce its starting QB Saturday.

Related Players: Mitch Trubisky

This sets up for another Mitch Trubisky start, but it's not one that moves the needle for fantasy. After Week 14's performance, Trubisky now has more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four) and his legs aren't something to count on anymore either, as he has accrued 29 yards on his 13 attempts in 2022.

Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks remains sidelined with a calf injury and isn’t expected to play. It’s trending toward wide receiver Nico Collins missing another game with a foot injury. Both players aren’t practicing. The Texans are set to go with Chris Moore, who caught a career-high 10 passes against Dallas, Phillip Dorsett, and Amari Rodgers as their primary wide receivers against Kansas City.

The Texans are a mess from a real and fantasy standpoint, with Dameon Pierce expected to miss multiple weeks and the offense running a hybrid two-QB system. Chris Moore is intriguing as a Flex play in Week 15, but the ceiling is capped.

The Dolphins and Bills are set to face off for the second time this season Saturday night, when several outlets are projecting heavy snow to fall on Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It would mark Tua Tagovailoa's first time playing in the snow in his NFL career, but he said apart from spending time in the cold tub last week while the team practiced in Los Angeles, he hasn't put much thought into Saturday's playing conditions.

Related players: Josh Allen

While a game in heavy snow will be fun to watch, those with fantasy stock in the game and owning Bills and Dolphins players may want to think about their lineups. It's always tough to remove players like Tua and Allen from your lineups in the playoffs, but ugly weather can sometimes mean a hit to the passing game, even though slippery conditions does favor the offense. It will be something to keep an eye on heading into the weekend. The game is scheduled to be played Saturday night.

The Chiefs may be getting one of their key offensive players back as soon as this week.

Head coach Andy Reid confirmed in his press conference that Kansas City is set to begin receiver Mecole Hardman‘s 21-day practice window, according to multiple reporters. The club is designating him to return from injured reserve.

Hardman has been dealing with an abdominal injury and was placed on IR on Nov. 17. Before suffering the injury, Hardman had 25 receptions for 297 yards with four touchdowns this season. He’s also rushed for 31 yards with a pair of scores, the story said.