NFL Player News

Four Texans offensive players have been ruled out or deemed questionable for Sunday against visiting Denver. None is a surprise, including quarterback Case Keenum (thumb), who won't play. Also out is wide receiver DeVier Posey (ankle).

Tight end Garrett Graham (hamstring) and fullback Brad Smelley (back) are questionable.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew has been ruled out Week 16 against the Giants.

Pettigrew is dealing with an ankle injury. He was spotted on crutches this week, and was unable to practice. 

The Jaguars list seven probables for their Week 16 clash against the Titans, five of whom play defense.

The offensive players among them are tight end Marcedes Lewis (thigh) and guard Austin Pasztor (shoulder). 

The defenders are cornerback Alan Ball (shoulder), safeties Josh Evans (shoulder) and Johnathan Cyprien (thigh) and linebackers Paul Posluszny (groin) and Nate Stupar (neck).

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was not able to practice Friday.

Pettigrew is dealing with an ankle injury, and was seen on crutches earlier in the week. He has not participated in practice. His status will be updated following practice. 

Tight end Tony Moeaki will make his Bills debut on Sunday against Miami, per ESPN. Doug Marrone announced that the former Chief, who was signed by the team two weeks ago, will be active for the game.

It might behoove you and potentially surprise you to know that Packers tight end Andrew Quarless has been the ninth-highest scoring Fantasy tight end over the last three weeks, totaling 24 points. In fact, all 24 of his points have come in the last two games thanks to identical stat lines of six catches for 66 yards and one touchdown.

Quarless has been a favorite target of Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, who has made the last three starts in the absence of Aaron Rodgers (collarbone). It's looking like Flynn will make another start Sunday against the Steelers, so is it time to trust Quarless in Fantasy leagues Week 16?

Tight ends have had moderate success against the Steelers, averaging 54.2 receiving yards and 7.4 Fantasy points per week. Though, the last two weeks tight ends have totaled three touchdowns and 31 Fantasy points against Pittsburgh. Still, only two tight ends -- Rob Gronkowski and Charles Clay -- have had at least double-digit Fantasy points against the Steelers.

Quarless has played well the last two weeks, but he had favorable matchups against the Falcons and Cowboys -- two teams that have struggled against tight ends. Week 16 presents an opportunity for Quarless to potentially take a step back, despite tight ends having success against Pittsburgh recently.

It's probably safe to consider Quarless more of a No. 2 Fantasy tight end Week 16.

If Texans starting tight end Garrett Graham is going to play Sunday against Denver, he better get better in a hurry. According to interim coach Wade Phillips, the hamstring injury that prevented Graham from playing in Week 15 has not improved, per the Houston Chronicle. Phillips expressed pessimism at the possibility of Graham suiting up.

His continued absence would thrust rookie Ryan Griffin back into the starting role. Griffin caught six passes for 62 yards in the loss to Indianapolis.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham is looking at an average matchup Week 16 against the Panthers.

Carolina has been slightly better than average against opposing tight ends this season, holding them to 7.43 Fantasy points per game. The Panthers actually do a good job limiting tight end yardage, but struggle once teams get into the red zone. Tight ends have scored eight touchdowns against the Panthers. The team has only allowed 14 passing touchdowns all year, so that's a significant amount.

Even if it was a tough matchup, Fantasy owners aren't going to sit Graham. He may be coming off one of his worst games of the season, but Graham has been a Fantasy monster this year. Graham is also not affected as much by the team's home/road splits. He has four fewer touchdowns on the road, but has tallied more receptions and more yardage away from New Orleans. He continues to be a strong play regardless of matchup.

With wide receiver Cecil Shorts going on IR in the days leading up to the game, the Jaguars found themselves short on capable wide receivers Week 15 against Buffalo. So they turned to tight end Marcedes Lewis, who set season highs with four catches for 54 yards and equaled a season high with seven targets. He also scored a touchdown for a third straight game.

His matchup Week 16 against Tennessee should only further his cause. The Titans rank a discouraging 10th against the pass, allowing 225.9 yards per game, but tight ends are responsible for most of the damage against them. The Titans have allowed the 13th-most Fantasy points at the position.

Judging by the matchup data, the Jaguars will most likely lean on their running game in this one, but on those occasions when they have to pass, Lewis is the most logical target. He's about all they have left.

As a result, Jamey Eisenberg and Nathan Zegura both kind of like him this week, ranking him among their top 12 tight ends. You wouldn't bench a reliable option for him, of course, but if you're hurting at the position, he's worth a look.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was on crutches in the locker room Wednesday, two days after spraining his ankle in the loss to Baltimore, reports the Detroit Free Press. Pettigrew declined to comment on the injury.

Joseph Fauria and Dorin Dickerson were the only tight ends available as Detroit began preparing to host the Giants on Sunday. “We’ll just see where [Pettigrew] gets to over the course of the week,” coach Jim Schwartz told the paper. “We’ll have plans if he can play. We’ll have plays if he can’t.”