Cleveland Browns DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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.

The Cleveland Browns will rest quarterback Joe Flacco for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with the team already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC for the playoffs. With the Browns resting Flacco, Jeff Driskel will make the start and P.J. Walker will back him up. The 30-year-old Driskel will only be worth looking at for fantasy managers that are in a bind in two-QB superflex leagues this weekend. He'll be playing for the first time this season. Driskel spent the 2022 season with the Houston Texans and played in seven games (two starts), going 14-for-20 for 108 yards passing, one touchdown and no interceptions. It's likely the Browns will rest other key starters on offense like receiver Amari Cooper (heel), too, so make sure to check back for updates this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (ankle) was listed as a full participant on the team's estimated report on Tuesday for the first time since he had tightrope surgery on his right ankle on Dec. 4. Pickett is trending up heading into a must-win Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but even if he is cleared to play this weekend, the Steelers are going to give Mason Rudolph his third straight start after leading the team to back-to-back wins to keep them in the playoff hunt. If the 25-year-old signal-caller is active against Baltimore, he will be the backup for Rudolph. Pickett had his best game of the season in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing for a season-high 278 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. A week later he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and kept him out of the last four games.

With the Cleveland Browns locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC for the postseason, head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that the organization is still "working through" the possibilities and balancing the objectives in terms of resting key players in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were eliminated from postseason contention with their Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The most obvious decision involves quarterback Joe Flacco, who will turn 39 on Jan. 16. He's been such a critical piece of the team's strong finish this year that keeping him safe on the sideline this Sunday makes sense. Stefanski said "we'll see" if Jeff Driskel is an option to start if Flacco is rested in Week 18. P.J. Walker would be another option to run the Browns' offense in a meaningless game.