Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (rest) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Njoku sat out of Wednesday's practice before returning on Thursday, but fantasy managers shouldn't be worried. It sounds like the Browns are being cautious here and resting Njoku. The big tight end is dealing with multiple issues and the team wants to keep him fresh. The expectation is that Njoku will be a full-go for this weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Njoku has stepped it up this season, but he has looked even better since Joe Flacco took over under center. DFS players should certainly take a look at Njoku as a possible option for this weekend's slate.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice on Thursday. Hopkins was forced to sit out on a short week in last Thursday night's win over the New York Jets and doesn't appear close to returning for a meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. The most likely scenario is that the Browns will rest the 33-year-old kicker and any other injured players like receiver Amari Cooper (heel) as they rest up for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. Cleveland is already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC, so Hopkins is likely to miss a second straight game this weekend. If that's the case, Riley Patterson will do the kicking for the Browns in Week 18. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a kicker.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol but he will take part in the team's practice on Wednesday. Moore still needs to pass through the league's concussion protocol later this week to be cleared to play in the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Moore suffered a concussion in last Thursday's win over the New York Jets. The 23-year-old is clearly making progress, but with Cleveland having already locked up the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, they seem likely to rest any injured players like Moore. Even if Moore plays, he probably wouldn't play the entire game and would be taking passes from quarterback Jeff Driskel. UPDATE: Moore was limited on Wednesday.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice on Wednesday. Hopkins wasn't able to kick in the Week 17 win over the New York Jets last Thursday night and might be forced to miss a second straight game this Sunday to close out the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns are already locked into the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, too, so they aren't going to rush any injured players back onto the field for this one in a meaningless game. As of right now, the veteran 33-year-old booter is looking like a fantasy option to avoid in fantasy lineups in Week 18, even if he ends up being active. Riley Patterson filled in for Hopkins in Week 17 and would get the starting nod again if Hopkins is ruled out this weekend.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (illness) did not take part in practice on Wednesday due to an illness. Njoku should be feeling better by Sunday's Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, but with the Browns being locked into the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, they could choose to rest Njoku. Cleveland already announced that quarterback Joe Flacco will be rested in favor of Jeff Driskel, so Njoku's fantasy appeal has already taken a big hit with that news. The 27-year-old has caught 28 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns in the last four games and has become a must-start fantasy tight end, but that could change in Week 18 if he's out or limited this Sunday. If Njoku is rested, Harrison Bryant would become Cleveland's top pass-catching tight end.